Cranes have proven to be vital tools around the globe for various industrial activities especially in construction, maintenance, manufacturing and mining. They are also useful in theatrical production. In fact, when it comes to cranes, their application goes from the ordinary to the extreme. If you are wondering what a crane is, it’s a hoisting machine. It is also referred to as Gantry or Derrick. The machine which comprises pulleys and wires is operated electrically or hydraulically. Its major work is to lift equipment.
If you can remember about the construction of the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, you will clearly see the relief cranes have brought into this world. Back then, this project was built manually. They had to transport the granite stones which weighed 25 to 80 tones for more than 800 km without using any machine. Just imagine, they only depended on carts to lift and shift those heavy stones. In the current world, that kind of construction would have been easier and would have taken a shorter period. The cranes have brought sanity in handling heavy lifting jobs, otherwise a nightmare for humans.
There are different types of cranes used for different types of lifting jobs. Each crane is specific for a certain job. If you are having a construction project, most probably you will need different types of cranes. Therefore, since it would be pretty expensive to buy different types, crane hire becomes the best option. In that case, this article will discuss the various types of cranes used in construction, their applications, benefits and anything else you need to know about them. Hence, after reading this, you will be in a better position to select the best crane for your construction needs.
Types of cranes
Below are different types of cranes used in construction and their most suitable tasks.
1. Tower cranes
Tower cranes are the most commonly used cranes. Developed in Europe, tower cranes popularity has grown throughout the world. They are majorly used in the construction of tall buildings. That’s because they are designed to work for as high as 265 feet or as low as 230 feet. Their lifting capacity is approximately equal to 20 tons. When in use, they are fixed to the ground using a very strong concrete base. They are then anchored by large bolts to allow easy removal when construction is done.
2. Vehicle-mounted crane
Vehicle-mounted cranes are mounted on vehicles to allow easy movement. Remember cranes are only needed on the construction site for a certain time after which they are removed. These types of cranes are the easiest to remove from the site because they are already loaded on the vehicle. After you are through with them, the owner will just drive them away. Actually most cranes are vehicle-mounted for this same reason. However, if the kind of construction you are doing will require heavy cranes, then this option won’t be applicable.
Now, not every vehicle is suitable for this kind of job. To begin with, the wheels of such trucks should be made with rubber to avoid faster wear and tear. The other thing is the base of the vehicle. It must be provided with outriggers to provide stability to the crane during work.
3. Rough terrain crane
This type of crane is a unique type of a vehicle-mounted crane. Since it is mounted on an undercarriage which has rubber tires, it is able to move with ease on both paved roads and rough terrains. Rough terrain crane is a special crane with more number of wheels than the normal vehicles. It is designed like this to help balance the vehicle without overturning even in rough terrains. For this type of crane, outriggers are used to ensure its stability.
4. Floating crane (1)
Floating cranes are especially useful in the construction of ports and bridges. They have also been used to load and unload the ships. Their capacity can go up to 9000 tons. Hence, they also come in handy if a ship sinks in the water. They can help lift it from the water.
5. Floating crane (2)
Other type of floating cranes are usually used in waterway construction sites. For example, when constructing a dam, a bridge or a port, you will need a specific floating crane. To use it, you will have to install it on special barges or on pontoons.
6. Crawler crane
These are mobile cranes which don’t require outriggers for stability. Crawler cranes have a lifting capacity of between 40 tons to 3500 tons. While crawler cranes are mobile at the construction site, to move from one site to another, they will need to be disassembled and loaded on a truck for transportation.
7. Aerial cranes
Aerial cranes are exclusively used to lift extremely heavy loads. They are helicopters is nature and that is why they are useful in instances where conventional cranes are unable to deliver. Furthermore, aerial cranes are helpful in relief and disaster mitigation programs at the construction site.
The bottom life
The above types of cranes are common in construction. Some of them can also be used to assemble equipment inside a manufacturing plant as well. Now that you know the different types of cranes, make sure when looking for crane hire Liverpool, you get the right crane for the right job. It won’t only save you the trouble of working with the wrong crane, but it will also be cost-effective.
Cranes majorly help in lifting very heavy loads that otherwise would be impossible with a human. Before you begin to work with a crane, it is important to acquire some training. This will help protect you from accidents. The employer should also take the necessary measure to protect the workers. Come to think of it, if an employee falls from a tower crane that might be the end of him. Therefore, to avoid losing lives, proper training and safety measures of those using cranes should be looked at all the time.
