Types of Construction Crane

Types of Construction Crane

Meta Description: Discover the various construction cranes used in different terrains and projects. From mobile and tower cranes to specialized stackers, find the right crane for your lifting needs.

Construction projects require heavy machinery for various lifting and moving tasks. Cranes are one of the most essential equipment used across different construction sites. However, with various types of cranes available, it is important to understand their key differences to select the right one for the job.

This article provides an in-depth overview of common crane types used in construction, along with their unique features and suitability for specific project needs.

Key Takeaways:

• Various crane types are used across construction sites for efficient lifting based on project needs and terrain.
• Mobile cranes, like rough terrain and crawler varieties, provide flexibility, while tower cranes maximize reach.
• Specialized floating, aerial, and bulk-handling cranes address unique lifting needs.
• Choosing the right crane involves considering factors like load weight, required positioning accuracy, and site accessibility.
• Proper crane selection ensures safe and productive material movement for on-time project completion.

Understanding the Evolution and Uses of Construction Cranes 

Cranes have become integral to construction sites, lifting heavy loads to build tall buildings and infrastructure. Their design and applications have evolved significantly from ancient times to address the growing needs of the industry.

This article discusses the developmental journey of cranes and highlights the common types used today, along with their key features to handle tasks across various construction projects efficiently.

A Brief History of Construction Cranes 

Cranes have a long history dating back to ancient Greece when the first basic design was developed to aid construction. Over the following centuries, advancements were made to replace manual pulley systems with powered lifting mechanisms, especially during the Industrial Revolution.

Today’s modern cranes offer enhanced capabilities compared to earlier designs with the development of mobile, static, floating, railroad, aerial, and other specialized types. Each addresses lifting requirements more effectively on construction sites.

Common Types of Construction Cranes

Different cranes include mobile cranes like rough terrain, crawlers, carry decks, and vehicle-mounted cranes suited for different terrains. Tower cranes mounted on tall structures provide maximum reach. Telescopic, overhead, and gantry cranes installed on-site improve efficiency.

Floating cranes are constructed for marine projects while aerial cranes access difficult locations. Specialized stackers and bulk-handling cranes automate repetitive tasks.

Choosing the right crane depends on lifting needs, terrain, and safety factors to complete various construction activities successfully.

1. Mobile Crane

Mobile cranes are highly versatile and form the backbone of lifting activities across construction sites. Ranging from rough terrain cranes to carry deck varieties, each mobile type addresses specific terrain and accessibility needs for efficient lifting and movement of heavy loads.

Truck-mounted, crawler, and other wheeled mobile cranes feature in most projects, handling tasks from the initial site development to the final completion of structures and infrastructure with unparalleled flexibility.

2. Truck-Mounted Cranes 

Truck-mounted cranes consist of a boom mounted on a truck chassis for highway travel between work sites. Fitted with outriggers for stability while lifting, they suit tasks requiring frequent shifting within a project area.

The truck acts as the carrier to transport the entire crane to the location where its overhead reach and lifting capacity are effectively used. Depending on the model, it can rotate 180 or even 360 degrees to lift materials using its hydraulic mechanism.

3. Crawler Crane 

Crawler crane has a robust caterpillar track system enabling outstanding mobility even on soft or uneven terrain where wheeled cranes cannot access. The broad footprint of the tracks distributes weight effectively without sinking or getting stuck.

Crawler varieties feature telescopic or fixed booms to lift heavy loads to construct tall buildings, bridges, and other infrastructure. Some models have enhanced flexibility with an adjustable boom that can be elevated or lowered as a ‘luffing’ action. Crawler cranes are well-suited for long-term projects.

4. Rough Terrain Cranes 

Rough terrain cranes are highly maneuverable mobile machines designed for operation in rugged environments off-road. Equipped with four large tires instead of tracks, they can navigate through challenging job sites that other vehicle-mounted or crawler cranes cannot access.

Fitted with telescopic boom extensions and stabilizing outriggers, rough terrain cranes are well-suited for lifting heavy loads in tight and uneven terrain. Their versatile configuration supports working in space-constrained areas for tasks like constructing remote bridges and buildings.

5. Carry Deck Cranes 

Carry deck cranes are compact yet versatile mobile machines ideal for confined construction sites and indoor spaces. Mounted on four wheels for 360-degree rotation, their small footprint allows easy navigation. As one of the newer crane types, carry deck cranes evolved from earlier pick-and-carry models for lifting loads that require a low-profile machine.

Due to their ability to maneuver in very tight spaces while clearing overhead obstacles, they are well-suited for tasks like installing trusses, beams, and equipment on buildings under development. Carry deck cranes are simple to transport and set up, making them suitable for frequent shifting within crowded job sites.

Fixed Cranes for Heavy Lifting

Fixed cranes installed on construction sites provide maximum lifting capacity and reach for maneuvering heavyweight materials to greater heights. Tower, overhead, gantry, and other fixed varieties with stationary masts efficiently facilitate material movement throughout projects.

1. Tower Cranes 

Tower cranes are common on large construction sites, particularly for building tall structures. Fitted with powerful lifting machinery, tower cranes have a telescopic boom that extends horizontally on a rotating platform mounted on a mast, anchored securely to the ground or structure on a concrete base.

Hammerhead and luffing tower crane models are widely used, with the latter featuring an adjustable jib arm. Tower cranes are an integral part of the project, growing taller along with the building as it rise to effectively lift loads and balance heavy building materials at varying elevations.

2. Hammerhead Cranes

The hammerhead crane is a robust fixed crane commonly used on large construction sites. It features a horizontal jib that can rotate a full 360 degrees around the mast at a fixed level. This heavy-duty design resembles an upside-down L-shape, making it well-suited for lifting various materials.

Hammerhead tower cranes are very stable and reliable for precise material handling. Their immense lifting capacity also allows the balancing of heavyweight loads at different elevations of tall buildings under development.

3. Telescopic Crane 

A telescopic crane is a fixed crane equipped with an extendable, collapsible boom that functions like a telescope. This unique telescopic boom system enables the crane’s reach to be adjusted based on project needs, providing flexibility not seen in other fixed crane types.

Mounted on static foundations or even truck carriers for portability, telescopic cranes are highly adaptable for tasks across construction sites and some rescue operations. Their compact design allows easy transport and setup at different locations.

Specialized Cranes for Unique Needs

While common crane types handle standard lifting tasks, specialized machines address unique project requirements like mass material movement and operating in hazardous conditions.

1. Bulk Handling Cranes 

Bulk handling cranes are designed specifically for tasks requiring the movement of large volumes of bulk materials. Fitted with a grabbing mechanism instead of a hook, these heavy-duty cranes can efficiently collect, hold, and transport bulk commodities like coal, grains, and minerals in massive quantities.

Their long reach and bucket configuration allow swift loading and unloading of bulk cargo from various transport modes and storage facilities. Bulk-handling cranes greatly improve productivity and are well-suited for port construction involving bulk cargo transfer.

2. Overhead and Gantry Cranes 

Overhead and gantry cranes are fixed crane varieties commonly installed inside factories, warehouses, and other indoor construction sites. An overhead crane has a hoist traveling along an overhead beam, while a gantry crane has two legs with a hoist in between.

Both types efficiently lift and transfer materials and equipment over long distances through their horizontal range of motion. Gantry cranes are also widely used at ports for loading and unloading heavy cargo from ships using their robust lifting capacity.

3. Aerial Crane 

Aerial cranes mounted on truck carriers provide mobile access to difficult locations for lifting that other crane types cannot reach. Equipped with extendable and articulating booms, aerial cranes can position their lifting hooks in narrow spaces over multi-level structures.

Suitable for tasks like the glazing of high-rise buildings, their elevated work platform holds operators safely for precision material placement and assembly activities. Aerial cranes require height and positioning flexibility in construction, maintenance, and rescue operations.

4. Sky Cranes

Sky cranes are specialized heavy-lift aerial cranes capable of transporting and positioning extremely heavy loads in remote locations. Mounted on a helicopter, they can lift loads several times heavier than the aircraft’s unladen weight and fly them to construction sites only accessible by air.

Used extensively in industries like power lines and pipeline construction, they are also valuable for disaster relief efforts requiring the delivery of large payloads.

5. Bridge Cranes 

Bridge cranes, called overhead cranes, are fixed gantry cranes commonly used in industrial facilities like factories, warehouses, and workshops. They consist of parallel runways with a traveling hoist bridge running on a system of tracks.

These Cranes are highly efficient for lifting and transferring materials over long distances through their horizontal range of motion.