Pros and Cons of Crane Types

Pros and Cons of Crane Types

Meta Description: Explore the pros and cons of various crane types, from tower to mobile cranes, to make informed decisions for your construction projects.

This article provides an overview of different types of cranes used in various industries, along with their key features and applications. Cranes are indispensable heavy-lifting equipment classified based on mobility, power source, and job site access.

The following sections describe the most commonly used crane categories, including their pros and cons, to help understand the right equipment for diverse lifting needs.

Key Takeaways

• Tower, mobile, overhead, and gantry cranes are suitable for industrial and construction sites depending on mobility and workspace needs.
• Rough terrain, floating, and all-terrain cranes offer versatile lifting solutions for challenging job sites and marine environments.
• Telescopic, jib, and static cranes have specialized applications requiring variable height and localized or stationary lifting.
• Choosing the right crane involves considering lifting capacity, outreach, mobility, and the specific project requirements.

Understanding the Crane Types

Many types of cranes are used across various industries such as construction, shipping, mining, and manufacturing. Some of the most common crane types include tower, mobile, overhead cranes, gantry, rough terrain cranes, truck-mounted cranes, crawler cranes, floating cranes, jib cranes, and telescopic cranes.

Each type has its configuration, lifting capacity, mobility, and suitability for specific applications like lifting heavy objects, tall buildings, bridge construction, and other large-scale construction projects. It is important to evaluate the pros and cons of each crane type to select the right equipment for the job.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Various Crane Types

Here are each crane type’s possible pros and cons, including tower crane, mobile crane, crawler crane, rough-terrain crane, and many more.

1. Tower Cranes

Tower cranes are the most commonly used types in large-scale construction projects involving tall buildings and structures. They have a fixed mast/tower and can achieve immense heights using jacking systems, enabling them to lift loads to the highest levels of high-rise buildings under construction.

Tower cranes are also suitable for bridge construction activities that require lifting heavy materials and loads high into the air.

Pros

• Tower cranes provide excellent height and lifting capacity compared to mobile cranes, which are essential for lifting loads over 100 feet. Their lifting capacity often ranges between 5 and 100 tons.
• They are ideal for construction sites that involve erecting tall buildings and structures like skyscrapers, where repetitive lifting of loads to the highest levels is required daily.
• Tower cranes deliver high efficiency because they are fixed in place. There is no need for assembly/disassembly or moving them around the site between lifts, making them suitable for repetitive lifting tasks on a construction site or fixed building.

Cons

• When set up or removed from the construction site, tower cranes require extensive assembly and disassembly using heavy-lifting equipment like mobile cranes. Their assembly and disassembly process is complex and lengthy, typically taking several weeks. This downtime can significantly impact the project schedule.
• Due to the large number of parts and specialized equipment needed, tower cranes tend to have high initial setup costs. Transporting them to and from the job site also incurs huge costs since they must be dismantled into several truckloads of parts.
• Once erected, tower cranes have minimal mobility as they are anchored to the building structure. This restricts them from being moved to lift loads at other locations within the large construction site or nearby sites. Their fixed location means mobile cranes are still needed to lift loads in areas out of reach of the tower crane.

2. Mobile Cranes

Mobile cranes are commonly used on construction sites that require heavy lifting but also good maneuverability and access to remote locations. They are known for their high mobility and are often the preferred choice for job sites that involve lifting loads to construct bridges, buildings, lay foundations, etc.

Pros

• Mobile cranes offer excellent mobility and maneuverability compared to tower cranes. They can be easily transported between construction sites on public roads using their engine and hydraulic-powered crawler tracks or rubber tires, providing easy access to remote and hard-to-reach job sites.
• Their ability to self-load and move independently on temporary tracks or all-terrain tires makes them suitable for lifting heavy objects and materials like pre-cast segments, steel beams, equipment, and more at construction, mining, or infrastructure projects.
• Mobile cranes can perform multiple pick and carry functions at large-scale projects, safely lifting loads weighing several tons for placement with precision at different site locations using their horizontal boom and winch system.

Cons

• Mobile cranes’ maximum height and lifting capacity are generally lower than tower cranes, making them less suitable for jobs requiring lifts of more than 150-200 feet. Their lifting capacity is typically between 5 and 50 tons.
• The operational costs of mobile cranes, such as fuel, maintenance, and crane operator wages, tend to be higher than crawler or rough terrain cranes, which are more mobile on rough terrain and construction sites.
• Mobile cranes need relatively stable and level ground surfaces to operate safely. Their outriggers are susceptible to sinking or tilting on uneven, soft, or unstable ground, potentially leading to accidents. Proper ground preparation and essentials are important when using mobile cranes for lifting at construction sites.

3. Crawler Cranes

Crawler cranes are widely used in heavy-lifting applications in large construction, mining, and infrastructure projects that involve lifting loads in challenging terrain conditions.

Pros

• Powered by a diesel engine and equipped with crawler tracks instead of wheels, crawler cranes offer excellent stability and traction even on soft, muddy, uneven, and rough terrains commonly found at construction sites. Their wide tracks help distribute the crane’s weight and load for safe lifting operations.
• Due to their robust and stable design, crawler cranes are ideally suited for heavy and precise lifting of components like pre-cast segments, heavy machinery, and equipment where load balancing is critical. They can lift loads weighing several hundred tons to heights of over 180 feet.
• Unlike mobile cranes, crawler cranes do not require trailers for transportation. Their crawler undercarriage enables them to self-load and transport between job sites on public roads or temporary tracks without additional hauling equipment, improving their flexibility.

Cons

• While crawler cranes can self-load for transport, their top transport speed is slower than mobile cranes with wheels or tracks. This is because the crawler tracks have more friction and do not allow for higher speeds on public roads.
• Due to their heavier construction, extensive use of crawler tracks, and operation in rugged conditions, crawler cranes tend to have higher maintenance, fuel consumption, and repair costs than mobile cranes.
• The continuous rotation of the wide crawler tracks during lifting or transport can potentially cause some ground damage by churning up soft earth and leaving track marks, which requires restoration. This is an important factor for environmentally sensitive or landscaped job sites.

4. Rough Terrain Cranes

Rough terrain cranes are commonly used for heavy lifting activities on construction sites with unprepared or uneven terrain conditions that are challenging for regular mobile cranes.

Pros

• Equipped with extra-wide and deep tracks or crawler undercarriage, rough terrain cranes offer excellent mobility and stability on rough, muddy, soft, and uneven terrain commonly found at infrastructure, mining, and sizeable on-site construction projects. Their robust design allows operation even in terrain unsuitable for wheeled mobile cranes.
• Due to their powerful configuration, rough terrain cranes are suitable for handling heavy lifting requirements at road, dam, and bridge construction sites and mining and excavation sites where regular mobile cranes face limitations.
• With lifting capacities ranging between 30 and 400 tons using their extendable boom system, rough terrain cranes can lift heavier loads than regular mobile cranes of similar specifications operating in similar terrain conditions.

Cons

• While rough terrain cranes offer excellent mobility on challenging terrains, their maximum outreach and lifting capacities are generally lower than stationary tower cranes to lift components at high heights while constructing tall buildings and structures.
• Rough terrain cranes still require reasonably stable and compacted ground conditions for safe and efficient lifting operations despite having robust tracks or crawlers. Very uneven, soft, or unstable ground poses risks.
• Due to their powerful configuration of a larger carrier machine, extra heavy-duty tracks, and stronger boom/cable system, the initial acquisition costs of rough terrain cranes are higher than regular mobile cranes of equivalent lifting capacity.

5. Floating Cranes

Floating cranes are specialized heavy-lift equipment used in marine construction, shipbuilding, and offshore projects that require lifting over water.

Pros

• Floating cranes are ideally suited for heavy lifting applications in marine environments, such as constructing and maintaining offshore oil rigs and platforms, wind farms, ports, and harbors, where access is only possible via water.
• With powerful lifting capacities ranging between 100 and 3,000 tons using their large booms, floating cranes can lift hefty loads and components over water for placement or assembly.
• Many floating cranes are self-propelled through an integrated propulsion system, enabling them to transport themselves between different job sites without requiring a heavy lift vessel.

Cons

• Due to their inability to transport over land, floating cranes can only be used at marine construction sites, shipyards, and offshore projects near navigable waterways.
• Their complex design incorporating a floating hull, marine propulsion, and heavy lifting capability produces higher operational costs than conventional land-based mobile or tower cranes.
• Specialized crews trained in marine operations are required to transport, operate, and maintain floating cranes due to safety considerations of working over open water.

6. Overhead and Gantry Crane

Overhead and gantry cranes are commonly used in industrial facilities, shipyards, warehouses, and manufacturing plants to lift heavy loads repetitively over designated work areas.

Pros

• Overhead and gantry cranes are highly efficient for repetitive lifting, lowering, and transferring heavy loads within their pre-defined work areas in factories, warehouses, and industrial facilities. This makes them suitable for mass production.
• Compared to mobile cranes, overhead and gantry cranes take up minimal floor space, allowing for optimal use of space within the facility.
• With their fixed rails or beams and powered hoist, these cranes enable precise positioning and placement of loads within their coverage area with millimeter accuracy.

Cons

• Both overhead and gantry cranes have fixed tracks constrained to designated work zones, which makes them immobile, unlike mobile cranes that can access different locations.
• Installing overhead beams and bridge girders incurs higher initial costs than jib cranes that can be mounted on floor or wall pillars.
• A robust building structure is required to anchor the crane rails, beams, and bridge girders for safe operation and to withstand the weight of heavy loads.

7. Telescopic Crane

Telescopic cranes are commonly used in construction, shipping, and industrial applications that require lifting loads at variable heights.

Pros

• Telescopic cranes are versatile and adaptable for confined job sites and spaces. Their extendable and retractable boom design allows them to access and lift loads in restricted areas that other crane types may not be able to reach.

Cons

• While telescopic cranes are highly maneuverable, their maximum lifting height and capacity are generally lower than that of tower cranes used for heavy lifting of structural components and materials during the construction of tall buildings and bridges. The maximum load they can lift is typically 5-10 tons.

8. Jib Crane

Jib cranes are commonly used for material handling within industrial facilities, manufacturing plants, and shipyards.

Pros

• Jib cranes have a compact design with a horizontal jib or boom that occupies very little floor space, making them suitable for localized lifting of loads within a specific radius or work area.
• Their compact size allows easy installation on walls or columns of buildings, bridges, or other structures for lifting at height.
• Jib cranes can be easily repositioned along their mounting structure to suit changing material flow requirements within a facility.

Cons

• The short jib or boom arm of jib cranes limits their reach and outreach, making them unsuitable for applications requiring lifting loads from longer distances.
• Their lifting capacity is typically lower than 5 tons, restricting their use to lighter load-handling applications within confined areas.
• Jib cranes cannot be used for lifting loads over obstacles as their height is constrained by the mounting height on walls or columns.

9. All-Terrain Cranes

All-terrain cranes can operate in diverse terrain conditions, making them a versatile lifting solution.

Pros

• Equipped with robust tracks or all-terrain tires, these cranes offer excellent mobility and traction on paved roads and off-road conditions like construction sites and rugged landscapes.
• Their ability to self-load and transport between job sites eliminates the need for additional hauling equipment, improving flexibility.
• With lifting capacities ranging from 30 to 300 tons, all-terrain cranes can handle heavy lifting requirements across multiple industries, including construction, energy, and infrastructure development projects.

Cons

• The robust undercarriage and powerful configuration result in higher initial acquisition costs than regular mobile cranes of equivalent capacity.
• Track maintenance and repair or all-terrain tires incur additional expenses over the long run compared to cranes with regular road tires.
• Transport between sites far apart may involve over-dimensional permits and police escorts depending on the crane size, width, and load.

10. Static Cranes

Static cranes are designed for applications requiring lifting loads from a fixed location for extended periods.

Pros

• Static cranes’ robust stationary design provides excellent stability and lifting capacity for long-term or permanent installations at construction sites, factories, and shipyards.
• As they are permanently installed, static cranes do not require frequent assembly/disassembly, reducing total operational costs over the lifespan.
• Maintenance needs are lower than mobile cranes as static cranes do not face wear from transportation.

Cons

• Due to their fixed location, static cranes lack proper mobility for lifting loads at different areas of a large facility or comprehensive site.
• Shifting an existing static crane installation to a new location requires major engineering and dismantling work.
• Higher initial costs involve putting the crane in concrete or mounting it on a substantial weight-bearing foundation.