Different Types of Cranes

Different Types of Cranes

Choosing the right crane for construction and industrial projects is essential for safe and efficient operations. This article provides an in-depth overview of the various crane types, including their key features and specialized application areas.

Whether you need to lift heavy loads at job sites, handle bulk materials, or place structural elements, understanding the different crane options available can help you select the best equipment for your lifting needs.

Key Takeaways

• There are two main categories of cranes – mobile cranes that can be transported between sites and fixed cranes permanently installed for heavy lifting needs.
• Mobile cranes include rough terrain, crawler, carry deck, floating, and truck-mounted types suited to different terrain and lifting applications.
• Fixed cranes like tower, overhead, and hammerhead cranes are well-suited for large, long-term construction projects requiring frequent or heavy lifts.

Understanding the Different Types of Cranes

Whether you need to lift heavy loads for construction sites, job sites, or other industrial environments, choosing the right type of crane is essential. There are many crane types, each with specialized uses and lifting capabilities. It’s important to understand the variety of options available.

1. Mobile Cranes

Mobile cranes provide incredible versatility and are widely used for various tasks. They are commonly seen on construction sites, manufacturing facilities, chemical plants, shipping yards, etc.

Mobile cranes can be mounted on either tracks or wheels, making them mobile enough to navigate tight spaces. Common mobile crane types include crawler cranes, rough terrain cranes, carry deck cranes, floating cranes, truck-mounted cranes, and all-terrain cranes.

2. Carry Deck Crane

Carry deck cranes are a type of mobile crane well suited to job sites with limited space. One of the more compact crane options, they have four or flanged wheels for maneuvering. Their small size allows navigation of tight spaces, making them helpful in lifting objects into large structures.

Carry deck cranes are also known as deck cranes and are easily transported between short-term construction projects.

3. Crawler Crane

Crawler cranes are well-suited for job sites with soft or uneven terrain thanks to their tracks instead of wheels. The rubber tracks provide crawler cranes incredible stability even on unimproved ground, allowing them to traverse work areas without sinking.

They are commonly used on construction sites and industrial environments like chemical plants. Some crawler cranes have a telescopic boom that allows the crane to adjust in size, making them highly adaptable for lifting heavy loads or large structures.

Their tracks make crawler cranes useful for long-term projects that require lifting materials on railway tracks or crawler tracks.

4. Floating Crane

Floating cranes, also called crane vessels or ships, are mobile cranes specially designed for lifting loads and performing rescue jobs at sea, near ports, or offshore, like oil rigs. As floating equipment, these cranes have a long history of aiding generations working in shipping yards, shipbuilding, and port construction.

Common floating crane types include sheerleg, floating sheerlegs, floating derricks, and semi-submersible cranes. They provide lifting capacities suitable for heavy materials and objects, with hydraulic mechanisms allowing rotation and operation of jib arms from the crane-mounted control cabins.

5. Rough Terrain Crane

Rough terrain cranes are well-suited for off-road job sites and areas with difficult terrain. They can traverse rough areas and uneven ground thanks to their large rubber tracks or flanged wheels, providing stability for lifting heavy objects or loads.

Rough terrain cranes are commonly used on construction sites and in industrial environments like chemical plants, manufacturing facilities, and mining operations.

Their ability to lift loads in tight spaces makes them useful for short-term construction projects and rescue jobs. Telescopic booms allow rough terrain cranes to adjust their reach.

6. Truck-Mounted Crane

Truck-mounted cranes are highly mobile because they consist of two parts: the carrier truck and the lifting boom. This allows for easy transportation between job sites without additional equipment.

Their ability to travel public roads also benefits portable, short-term projects. Truck-mounted cranes are frequently used to lift materials for tall buildings, bridges, and other construction projects.

Counterweights and outriggers provide stability for lifting heavy loads. Special truck-mounted cranes aid in inspecting and maintaining railway tracks, highways, and more.

Mobile Cranes in Detail

With so many different types of mobile cranes available, it’s important to understand the key features and specialized uses. Choosing the right mobile crane can make or break a project, so let’s explore some popular options more deeply.

Carry Deck Crane Features and Uses

Carry deck cranes are well-suited for jobs requiring work in tight spaces, like lifting heavy objects or materials into large structures on construction sites. Their compact size and maneuverability between flanged wheels or rubber tracks allow navigation of tight job sites and short-term projects.

A 360-degree rotating carry deck provides flexibility to lift loads from various angles. Their simple setup makes carry deck cranes easy to transport between jobs, useful for portable lifting needs.

Crawler Crane Features and Uses

Thanks to their tracks, crawler cranes excel at lifting loads even on unprepared terrain. The rubber tracks provide incredible stability without sinking on soft or uneven ground, such as chemical plants, manufacturing facilities, and mining operations.

Telescopic boom configurations allow crawler cranes to adjust their reach depending on the lifting needs, such as placing heavy objects or lifting materials for tall buildings and bridges. Their long-term durability makes crawler cranes well-suited to construction projects requiring lifts along crawler tracks or railway tracks.

Floating Crane Features and Uses

Floating cranes are specially designed to lift heavy loads working at sea, near ports, or offshore oil rigs. Common types include sheerleg and semi-submersible cranes capable of lifting loads suitable for heavy materials, objects, or structures.

Hydraulic mechanisms allow rotation of the crane-mounted jib arms and control of lifting operations from onboard cabins. Their ability to aid generations working on shipping yards, shipbuilding, and port construction projects cement floating cranes as versatile equipment for water-based job sites.

Rough Terrain Crane Features and Uses

• Equipped with large rubber tires or tracks for traversing rough terrain and soft ground
• Suitable for heavy lifting needs on off-road job sites like construction, mining, and rescue operations
• Capable of operating in tight spaces and lifting loads into large structures
• Configured with telescopic boom and outriggers for stability while lifting heavy objects

Truck-Mounted Crane Features and Uses

Truck-mounted cranes are highly versatile thanks to their ability to drive between projects on public roads. Commonly used for:

• Lifting materials and structural elements during the construction of tall buildings, bridges, and wind farms
• Placing heavy components needed for infrastructure projects like roads, railways and ports
• Performing maintenance and inspections requiring lifting capacity on highways, utility lines, and other fixed structures

Fixed Cranes in Detail

Understanding fixed cranes’ key attributes and applications is important for their effective use in different environments. Let’s explore some common fixed crane types.

Bridge/Overhead Crane Features and Uses

Bridge cranes, called overhead cranes, are well-suited for heavy lifting needs in industrial environments like manufacturing facilities, chemical plants, and shipyards. Their fixed design, either gantry or jib configurations, provides reliable lifting from floor-mounted pillars.

Overhead cranes are commonly used for the repetitive lifting of heavy loads or materials between workstations.

Bulk-Handling Crane Features and Uses

• Equipped with a specialized grabbing mechanism and bucket for lifting heavy bulk materials
• Commonly used in ports and facilities that handle large volumes of commodities
• Suitable for lifting loads of coal, minerals, grains, and other loose materials for shipping
• Hydraulic controls allow the operation of the grabbing arm from a permanently installed control station

Hammerhead Crane Features and Uses

Hammerhead cranes are well-suited for construction sites and projects that require heavy lifting capacity. Their horizontal, rotating lever design provides incredible stability while racking loads back and forth. It commonly places structural elements and lift materials into tall buildings, bridges, and large structures.

The movable trolley along the jib arm adds flexibility. Hammerhead cranes are assembled to provide lifting support throughout job sites and projects.

Stacker Crane Features and Uses

Stacker cranes are permanently installed automated machines well-suited for repetitive lifting needs in warehouses and manufacturing facilities.

Their forklift-like design allows the stacking of storage racks or the movement of materials between work areas. They are commonly used in environments requiring lifting in extreme temperatures or hazardous conditions.

Telescopic Crane Features and Uses

• Equipped with a hydraulic telescopic boom that can adjust in length for varying reach needs
• Suitable for construction sites requiring the lifting of heavy objects into tall buildings or bridges
• Mounted on a fixed base or truck carrier for transport between projects or job sites
• Telescoping ability provides flexibility to lift loads at different heights efficiently

Tower Crane Features and Uses

Due to their fixed, tall design, tower cranes are well-suited for heavy lifting needs on large construction projects. They commonly place structural elements on high-rise buildings, factories, chemical plants, etc.

Fixed to the ground for stability, with counterweights balancing lifting loads. A movable trolley and rope/cable configuration allow the racking of materials across job sites from the crane’s elevated position.