What Exactly Is a Crane?
Since its inception in ancient Greece, the crane has remained a cornerstone of the working landscape, continuing to be regarded as indispensable equipment for heavy construction and all manner of lifting tasks. Equipped with robust cables and pulleys, and built upon fundamental mechanical principles, a crane operator possesses the capability to lift and lower loads far exceeding the capacities of human construction workers alone.
Crane design has progressively evolved to meet the demands of various industrial requirements.1 Modern types of cranes frequently integrate simple systems to accomplish complex lifting tasks—sometimes within construction site environments that would be hazardous for human laborers.2
How Does a Crane Function?
To operate efficiently and maintain its crucial stability, every type of crane must adhere to the laws of physics.3 The two most critical considerations in this regard are that the crane must not move weights exceeding its rated capacity, and that any stressing movements occurring beyond each machine’s designated plane of operation should be eliminated whenever feasible.
So, how does it work? A construction crane is able to lift objects because the load is counterbalanced by opposing weights that stabilize the crane, enabling it to lift and maneuver its load.4
How Are Cranes Powered?
Some cranes were historically powered by steam.5 However, most modern crane types derive their power from electric motors, hydraulic systems, or internal combustion engines.6 Nevertheless, rapid advancements in technology are continually emerging, suggesting we can anticipate further changes in how cranes are powered throughout the twenty-first century.
What Are the Different Types of Cranes Used in Construction and Industry?
The following outlines various types of cranes utilized across construction and industrial sectors. Note that names and categories of cranes can differ across countries, and there may be some overlap in terminology.
- Tower Cranes
- Mobile Cranes
- Static Cranes
- General Cranes
- Heavy Cranes
- Telescopic Cranes
- Mobile Tower Cranes
- Self-Erecting Tower Cranes
- Vehicle Mounted Cranes
- Rough Terrain Cranes
- All-Terrain Cranes
- Rail Cranes
- Telescopic Handler Cranes
- Harbour Cranes
- Floating Cranes
- Level Luffing Jib Cranes
- Giant Cantilever Cranes
- Gantry Cranes
- Aerial Cranes
- Mobile Truck Cranes/Truck-Mounted Cranes
- Carry Deck Cranes
- Bridge Cranes
- Stacker Cranes
What Features & Capabilities Do Different Types of Cranes Have?
The various categories and types of cranes available today possess a range of different features for crane operators. Here are some common features in crane technology that are often considered when purchasing a crane or utilizing a company’s contract lifting service, typically detailed in a Load Chart:
- Lifting capacity – The maximum weight the crane can lift.7
- Lifting range – The necessary vertical and horizontal reach for the lift.
- Lift angle – A crucial consideration, as a higher angle of lift often correlates with a decrease in lifting capacity.8
- Working radius – The operational area the crane needs to cover.
- Mobility – The available space for the crane to operate. Is a mobile tower crane required?
- Weight & dimensions – The positioning of the crane itself is vital; the size and mobility of the crane must align with the constraints of the construction site.9 When outriggers are extended, lifting capacity is affected, so a confined space necessitates a specific type of crane.10
- Setup time – Some projects demand minimal disruption, so the rapid setup time offered by mobile tower cranes, for example, is a significant advantage.11
- Night working – Quieter operations and appropriate lighting may be mandatory for nighttime work.
Types of Crane In-Depth
Here, we delve into the different types of cranes used in construction and industry:
Tower Crane
The tower crane is a form of balance crane commonly utilized on urban construction sites.12 This machine is anchored to the ground and delivers an optimal blend of height and lifting capability, frequently deployed for the erection of multi-storey city buildings.13 Two horizontal arms extend from a central tower: one is used to suspend the heavy loads to be lifted, while the other is fitted with heavy concrete blocks as a counter-jib.14 A tower crane is controlled by a driver who either sits high above in a small cabin at the top of the tower or employs a remote control system to operate the machine from the ground.15
Mobile Crane
Mobile construction cranes are typically 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 for construction work on bridges and waterways. Many types of cranes are mobile, including Mobile Tower Cranes.16
Different types of cranes serve a temporary purpose, and a mobile crane may be little more than a robust steel boom fitted to a transportable platform.17 The lifting arm is typically hinged to allow it to be hoisted and lowered as required.18 This is usually achieved by cable systems or hydraulic mechanisms, and the entire mobile structure can be fitted with outriggers to provide additional stability during on-site operations.
Telescopic Crane
Driven by a hydraulic mechanism, a telescopic crane features a set of concentric tubular steel booms that can be easily extended and retracted to alter the operational height of the crane.19 Usually mobile, these adaptable cranes are compact units that perform effectively when space is limited.20 Telescopic cranes are widely used, including by rescue services, to perform tasks such as launching and retrieving boats at the waterside.
Static Crane
“Static” refers to the requirement that the crane is installed in a specific place, rather than being transported under its own power.21 This is the stark difference between static cranes and mobile construction cranes. The term “static cranes” encompasses different types of cranes, including tower cranes used for constructing tall buildings, self-erecting cranes which have a small footprint and are perfect for city projects, and telescopic cranes that are compact and frequently employed for short-term construction jobs.22
Giant Cantilever Crane
Also known as the ‘hammerhead crane’, this German-designed crane features a strong, steel-braced central tower on which is fitted a mighty double-cantilever beam.23 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 entire 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, enhancing the machine’s versatility.24
Gantry Crane
Utilizing 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 maneuver extremely heavy lifts and industrial loads. Gantry cranes and other so-called ‘overhead’ cranes—which also carry suspended loads in a similar fashion—are widely used in factories, shipyards, and similar commercial locations where their robust qualities make them essential equipment.25
Level-luffing Crane
This crane features a special mechanism where the crane hook is designed to maintain a constant level. As a result, upward and downward 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.
Crawler Crane
A specialized type of mobile crane fitted with caterpillar tracks, the crawler crane can be utilized on soft and boggy ground where wheeled vehicles would be unable to operate.26 This crane is generally very stable because its broad base and tracking system distribute the weight over a wide area. These sturdy machines are particularly 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 distinct asset.27
Aerial Cranes/Flying Cranes
Aerial cranes offer arguably the greatest range of any crane type, being integrated into an aircraft. Aerial cranes are attached to a helicopter with a lifting mechanism commonly used for lifting containers, temporary and pre-fabricated buildings, and timber (in the logging industry).28 Lifting operations completed using an aerial crane are sometimes referred to as “longline” operations, as the load is attached to the crane by a single long line.29 These helicopters can operate in a broad range of landscapes, including areas where it’s simply not feasible to use any other type of crane and areas without roads. Drone cranes with heavy lifting capabilities are becoming more prevalent as technology advances and they become less cost-prohibitive.30 In some cases, these drones are leveraging automation technology to achieve even greater efficiency.31
Truck Mounted Crane
A truck-mounted crane, also known as a crane truck or boom truck, is a type of mobile crane that is mounted on a truck chassis or trailer.32 This configuration allows the crane to be transported to different job sites and provides greater mobility compared to a stationary crane. Key features of a truck-mounted crane include a truck chassis, a telescopic or articulating boom that can extend and retract to lift and move heavy loads, and hydraulic outriggers that can be extended to provide stability and prevent tipping during lifting operations.33 Truck-mounted cranes typically have a lifting capacity ranging from a few tons up to 50 tons or more and are commonly used in construction sites, utility work, emergency response, and maintenance and repair.
Types of Crane for Construction & Industrial Projects Infographic
To summarize which cranes are used for construction and industrial work, refer to our infographic below (not provided in text, but acknowledged). And if you have any questions regarding the different types of cranes, or which will benefit your project, do not hesitate to get in touch. The Bryn Thomas Cranes team would be delighted to hear from you.