The Different Types of Cranes
Cranes: we see them on construction sites around the world, usually towering above everything else. The sky-high, vertigo-inducing cranes are probably what comes to mind when the word is mentioned, but there are actually multiple types of crane that play important roles in various construction applications.
Vehicle Mounted Crane
Cranes are not small or light objects. Moving them around without a vehicle would be impossible, which is why they are vehicle-mounted. As cranes are temporary and often needed in different areas, especially in a large scale project, it’s important that they can be moved easily. When the vehicle is stationary, outriggers are deployed to help stabilise the crane.
Tower Crane
The most visible and most well known type of crane. Used for constructing tall buildings, these cranes stand as high as 265ft, with a lifting capacity of up to 20 tonnes. When the construction project is in progress, these cranes are fixed to the ground using a concrete base and large bolts, to provide stability and also simple removal once the project is over
Crawler Crane
The clue is in the name! These kinds of cranes are equipped with tank-style tracks, but they are equally adept at travelling on tarmac as they are on dirt. These cranes can be used as an alternative to truck mounted if desired.
All-Terrain Crane
Like a vehicle-mounted crane, but without the vehicle mounting. These cranes move around construction sites on their own, heavy-duty off-road tyres. With an enormous potential lifting capacity (between 40 and 500 tonnes), they can deal with almost anything, and their tyres mean they can easily navigate rough terrain and soft dirt, even while carrying a heavy load.
Telescopic Handler Crane
These types of cranes are extremely useful for multiple applications in a construction project. Normally, they are used for moving pallets of bricks or other materials, as their telescopic arm can rotate 360 degrees and reach relatively high areas. When the crane is being used, outriggers are deployed to keep it stable.
Telescopic Crane
Similar in name but different in size and operation to the aforementioned handler crane, these cranes feature extending arms that use hydraulics to reach great heights. They are commonly used for building signal towers, as well as unusual operations like lifting boats from water.
Railroad Crane
As the name suggests, these cranes are used for building railway lines. They have train-like wheels on the bottom and can only move using a railway line, which is ideal for the installation, maintenance and repair of the tracks that cover so many miles of the world.
Aerial Cranes
By far the most spectacular crane on this list, aerial cranes, also known as sky cranes, are suspended from the bottom of a special helicopter and used to transfer loads to targets that are difficult to reach by land.
As you can see, there are many types of crane in existence today, and we’ve not even covered them all here. Each crane is perfect for a different purpose, and it’s these mechanisms that allow construction companies to build structures so efficiently and safely.
At Health and Safety Training Ltd, we are very proud to be able to provide a wide range of training programmes for candidates of varying skill levels, from complete beginners to experienced professionals. For more information, please get in touch with us today and we will be more than happy to help.
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