Have you ever wondered how many different crane types there are?
Cranes are a staple in construction and have been used since ancient times to lift heavy materials. Today, there are so many options to choose from – but knowing a little bit about the different types of crane available, what they are and their uses, will help you to determine the best one for your project.
So, let’s get started.
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The crane has been a part of the working landscape since its invention in ancient Greece and is still considered an essential piece of equipment for heavy construction work and lifting tasks of all kinds.
Equipped with cables and pulleys, and based upon the application of fundamental mechanical principles, a crane can lift and lower loads well beyond the capabilities of human construction workers.
Crane design has evolved to meet the demands of a variety of industrial needs, and modern cranes often coordinate simple systems to achieve complex lifting tasks – sometimes in environments which would be dangerous for human workers.
To operate efficiently and maintain its vital stability, every type of crane must obey the laws of physics.
The two most important considerations in this respect are that the crane must not move weights which exceed its rated capacity, and that any stressful movements occurring beyond each machine’s designated plane of operation should be eliminated wherever possible.
How does it work? A crane is able to lift objects because the load is offset by counterweights which stabilise the crane, allowing it to lift and move its load.
Some cranes were once powered by steam (photographed in use in the 1960s – https://sremg.org.uk/misc/9elmscrane.html). However, most crane types are powered by electric motors, hydraulic power or an internal combustion engine, but rapid improvements in technology keep coming so we can expect to see changes in how cranes are powered during the twenty-first century.
The types and categories of cranes are given different names in different countries – there is some overlap in the list above, where multiple names are used to describe a single type of crane.
The various categories and types of crane that exist today have a range of different features. Here are some of the common features in cranes that are often considered when purchasing, using a crane hire company or contract lifting service, which are covered in a Load Chart:
The tower crane is a form of balance crane which is commonly used on urban construction sites.
This machine is anchored to the ground and provides an optimum blend of height and lifting capability which is often deployed to erect multi-storey city buildings.
Two horizontal arms jut from a central tower, with one used to suspend the heavy loads to be lifted, and the other fitted with heavy concrete blocks as a counter-weight.
A tower crane is controlled by a driver who either sits high above in a small cabin located at the top of the tower, or else uses a remote control system to operate his machine from the ground.
Mobile cranes are commonly mounted on wheeled vehicles, but cranes used for railway work are adapted to travel on rail tracks, and various floating cranes can be attached to barges when used for construction work on bridges and waterways.
Many types of crane are mobile, including Mobile Tower Cranes.
Different types of crane serve a temporary purpose, and a mobile crane may be little more than a robust steel boom fitted to a transportable platform.
The lifting arm is typically hinged to allow it to be hoisted and lowered as required.
This is usually achieved by cable systems or hydraulic mechanisms, and the whole mobile structure can be fitted with outriggers to provide further stability during on-site operations.
Driven by a hydraulic mechanism, a telescopic crane features a set of concentric tubular steel booms which can be easily extended and retracted to alter the operational height of the crane.
Usually mobile, these adaptable cranes are compact units which perform effectively where space is at a premium.
Telescopic cranes are widely used, including by rescue services, and to perform tasks such as launching and retrieving boats at the waterside.
“Static” refers to the requirement that the crane is installed in a certain place, rather than transported in by itself.
This is the stark difference between static cranes and mobile cranes.
The term “static cranes” encompasses different types of crane including tower cranes that are used to construct tall buildings, self-erecting cranes which have a small footprint and are perfect for projects in the city, and telescopic cranes that are compact and frequently employed for short-term construction jobs.
Also known as the ‘hammerhead’, this German-designed crane features a strong, steel-braced central tower on to which is fitted a mighty double-cantilever beam.
The forward section of this arm houses the lifting machinery, while the rear section contains a substantial counterbalancing weight.
Lifting and then transferring loads via a rotational movement of the whole cantilevered cross beam is the primary function of this type of crane.
However, some later models also incorporate a mechanism to move and re-position the suspended load along the front arm, adding to the versatility of the machine.
Using a hoist installed in a fixed machinery housing, or otherwise able to slide along a rail framework, this crane employs a strong overhead gantry to lift and manoeuvre extremely heavy industrial loads.
Gantry cranes and other so-called ‘overhead’ cranes – which also carry suspended loads in a similar fashion – are widely used in factories and shipyards and similar commercial locations where their robust qualities make them essential equipment.
This crane features a special mechanism in which the crane hook is designed to stay at a constant level.
As a result, up and down movements of the jib arm will only move the hook towards, or away from, the base of the crane.
The advantage of this type of movement is that the crane can be set to operate at a fixed level, relative to the ground, where such action is necessary to handle load materials with precision – often required during shipbuilding.
A special type of mobile crane fitted with caterpillar tracks, the crawler crane can be used on soft and boggy ground where wheeled vehicles would be unable to operate.
This crane is generally very stable because its broad base and tracking spreads the weight over a wide area.
These sturdy machines are useful on construction sites during the initial phase of building projects where their ability to move heavy loads over areas of soft soil is a particular asset.
Aerial cranes offer probably the greatest range of any crane type, being part of an aircraft.
Aerial cranes are attached to a helicopter with the lifting mechanism commonly used for lifting containers, temporary and pre-fabricated buildings, and timber (in the logging industry).
Lifting operations, completed using an aerial crane, are sometimes referred to as “longline”, as the load is attached to the crane by a single long line.
These helicopters can operate in a broad range of landscapes, including areas it’s simply not feasible to use any other type of crane, and areas without roads. Will drones replace helicopters as the vehicle for aerial cranes in the future?
To summarise which cranes are used for construction and industrial work, take a look at our infographic below. And if you have any questions regarding the different types of crane, or which will benefit your project, don’t hesitate to get in touch. The Bryn Thomas Cranes team would love to hear from you.
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Which type of crane should I hire?
We appreciate that knowing which type of crane is best for your project can be tricky – especially when there are so many different options available and they all have their pros and cons.
To determine the most suitable crane, there are a few factors you need to consider, including the weight of the load to be lifted, how high it has to reach, the ground conditions, and how accessible your site is.
Armed with this basic information, you should have a better idea of which crane will benefit you and your project the most.
If you’re debating between a mobile tower crane and heavy crane or a self-erecting crane and city crane, or you need an expert opinion, our team will be more than happy to guide and advise you. Give us a call on 01352 733 984.
How do the different cranes vary in price?
The cost of crane hire is dependent on numerous factors, one of the main ones being the type and size of the crane.
Larger cranes cost more than smaller cranes. This is because they usually have a greater lifting capacity, meaning they can lift and move more weight between varying heights.
The more advanced features a crane has, the more convenient it will be for you – allowing you to work productively and complete your project in less time. However, technologically advanced cranes are more expensive than older models, so it’s worth factoring this into your decision when choosing a crane to hire.
At Bryn Thomas Cranes, we pride ourselves on offering a varied fleet of cranes – providing something suitable for all projects. Despite this, we guarantee some of the most competitive prices around for crane hire.
To discuss your requirements in more detail, get in touch with us today.
What is the most common type of crane?
Whilst there is a wide range of cranes on the market today, mobile cranes are amongst the most popular. These versatile cranes are frequently employed for construction projects where heavy objects need lifting and moving across short distances.
Offering the perfect combination of height and lifting capacity, tower cranes are another common type of crane used in construction, particularly for large structures.
Here at Bryn Thomas Cranes, we provide mobile tower cranes which offer the best features of a mobile telescopic crane and conventional static tower crane in one machine. As a result, they deliver faster set-up times and can be used remotely if necessary. This makes them perfect for new build factories, city buildings, sheeting and cladding, houses, trusses and more.
What are the benefits of hiring a crane for construction work?
Cranes are indispensable machines in the construction industry, often relied on to lift and transport heavy machinery and goods, build roads, bridges, and more.
Hiring one of these machines for your project will not only work out more affordable than buying equipment outright but will enhance safety too. This is because the crane firm will ensure the crane is well-maintained and certified – giving you one less thing to worry about.
No matter what type of crane you need for your project, the team here at Bryn Thomas Cranes can offer expert guidance should you need it. If you’re new to crane hire, we can arrange a contract lift – ensuring that every aspect of the lift is executed safely and efficiently.
Another great thing about hiring a crane for your construction project is that you won’t need to make space to store the equipment when it’s not in use. As soon as you’ve finished using the crane, let us know and we’ll come and collect it from your site as soon as possible.
If you’d like to know more about the benefits crane hire can offer for your construction work, send us a message via our online enquiry form and we’ll be in touch shortly.