Construction Cranes

Construction cranes are a common sight and one of the most recognizable pieces of construction equipment.  When we speak of construction cranes, we are most often referring to tower cranes.  Tower cranes consists of an arm lying horizontally along the top of the tower, with one side holding up the lifting gear and another being a dead weight to balance the material. 

Here are the basic tips you need to know about construction cranes:

• Construction cranes can hold almost 20 tons of weight.  Of course, this is close to the mast; at the end of the jib, construction cranes cannot carry that much weight.
• Not all construction cranes are tower cranes.  There are a variety of mobile construction cranes that combine the mobility of a truck crane and the functional advantages of a tower crane, such as Liebherr’s MK series of cranes.
• If you are going to be using a construction crane for an extended period of time, or for multiple projects, it might be wise to purchase a crane, rather than renting one.  If you can’t afford a new construction crane, look at used models.

Some top manufacturers of building cranes include:

• Liebherr – One of the world’s leading manufacturer’s of construction machinery, Liebherr has been in business since 1949.
• Potain – World leader in the tower crane industry and part of the Manitowoc Company, Potain is a major player in the construction industry.
• Comedil – Founded in 1962 in Italy, Comedil has grown to be a major player in the construction equipment business.