Top Crane Types for Construction Applications and Beyond

A Brief History of Cranes

The history of cranes stretches back centuries, with early examples appearing in various cultures.
Since the dawn of civilization, humans have sought ways to lift and move heavy objects. From the ramps and levers used in the construction of the pyramids to the marvels of modern engineering helping the construction of skyscrapers such as Burj Khalifa, cranes have played a pivotal role in shaping our world.

What Are Cranes?

In the simplest terms, a crane is a specialized machine designed to move materials both vertically and horizontally. In present times, this is achieved by employing a coordinated system consisting of a boom, hoist, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves. This combination allows cranes to lift and reposition heavy objects within the arc of the boom's reach. Cranes are effective due to utilizing simple mechanisms, such as levers and pulleys, to create a mechanical advantage for lifting tasks. As a result, cranes have become an indispensable tool in various sectors, including enabling the efficient movement of materials in construction, facilitating the loading and unloading of cargo in transportation, and supporting the assembly of ships, heavy equipment, and more in manufacturing.

Who invented Cranes?

Imagine a simple lever with a bucket on one end and a weight on the other. That's the shaduf, the earliest crane design which had a lever mechanism and was used to lift water for irrigation. This “crane” was invented all the way back in Mesopotamia (modern Iraq) circa 3000 BCE. The shaduf subsequently appeared in ancient Egyptian technology circa 2000 BCE. From there, things got more complex.

Greece and Rome took crane technology to new heights, literally, by using winches, pulleys, and even treadwheel cranes powered by people or animals. They faced some serious challenges lifting those massive stones, but with multiple capstans, they got the job done. Fast forward to the Middle Ages, and treadwheel cranes made a comeback for building those impressive Gothic cathedrals. These weren't perched on scaffolding like we might imagine, but placed on the ground or even inside the building as construction progressed. They were powered by windlasses with spokes and cranks, and eventually some even swiveled for dockside work. The Middle Ages also saw the rise of stationary harbor cranes, like gantry and tower cranes, which replaced older methods for loading and unloading cargo. These harbor cranes often boasted double treadwheels for faster loading as efficiency was key. Finally, the Renaissance revisited the idea of lifting towers, similar to what the Romans used.

In modern times, cranes come in a multitude of shapes and sizes with astronomical lifting capacities reaching upwards of 20,000 tons (Yes, twenty thousand metric tons! You read that right!).

With giga construction projects, gigantic mining operations, gargantuan infrastructure builds and more, cranes are a universal sight, and a necessity, on most job sites. Whether you’re moving building materials to the top floors of a skyscraper, or lifting a bridge’s pre-fabricated girders into place, these robust machines come in handy in a multitude of industries including construction, mining, oil & gas, automotive, ship and airplane building, concrete manufacturing, and many more.

These champs of the heavy machinery world are built by a variety of manufacturers including Liebherr, Konecranes, Manitowoc, Sany, Tadano, Kobelco, Zoomlion, among many.

Types of Cranes

Modern cranes available for sale or rent in today’s market can be broadly categorized into two main types:

Mobile cranes

These cranes are mounted on vehicles or have their own treads for transportation and operation in various locations. They provide flexibility but may have limitations in lifting capacity and height compared to static cranes.

Some examples include:

-Crawler cranes:

These robust cranes, featuring continuous tracks similar to what you can find on tanks, excel on uneven or unstable terrain where other mobile cranes might struggle. They are frequently used at the beginning of construction projects when the ground is freshly torn up.
Their large size, powerful system of hydraulics, and heavy lifting arm Allow them to lift the heaviest weights of all the mobile cranes used on construction sites. As the authorized distributor of Kobelco crawler cranes, Al Marwan provides models with lifting capacities of up to 600 tons.
Example models include: Al Marwan’s range of Kobelco crawler cranes, going up to 600 tons, includes the immediately available 250-ton model 7250S crawler crane, the 80-ton CKS800, the 55-ton model 7055, among many.

-Rough-terrain cranes:

These cranes often feature a telescoping arm. Built for off-road dominance, rough-terrain cranes boast powerful tires and four-wheel drive to conquer challenging landscapes. However, they are smaller and lighter, which allows them to be used in tighter spaces than the crawlers. These cranes are not as powerful or stable, so they cannot handle lifting as much weight.
Example models include: The 30-ton Tadano GR-300EX, the 60-ton Tadano GR-600EX, the 90-ton Liebherr LRT 1090, and more.

-All-terrain cranes:

These versatile machines can handle both highway travel and off-road maneuvering, making them suitable for a wide range of project needs. These cranes are mounted on trucks with anywhere from 6 to 18 wheels and can lift substantially larger weights (up to 1200 tons) than rough-terrain cranes. To accomplish this, some assembly may be required at the worksite, including installing the outriggers and boom weights.
Example models include: The 50-ton Manitowoc GMK3050-3, the 70-ton Sany SAC700E, to name a couple.

-Vehicle-mounted cranes:

These cranes offer great flexibility at a relatively low cost. These vehicles don’t need to be hauled to and from job sites and are safe for traveling on public roads. This makes them ideal for construction companies that may not require heavy lifting and have multiple projects at the same time.
These cranes may also be called a boom truck, a truck crane, or a truck mounted crane (TMC).
Example models include: The 1-3 tons Hyva HA truck mounted crane, the 6.5-ton Hyundai HD120 truck crane, and many others.

-Carry deck cranes:

Small, four-wheeled cranes with a rotating boom and operator's cab, suitable for confined spaces and are often used in construction and transportation applications. They can only handle weights of up to 30 tons, which they load onto their deck and haul away.
Example models include: The 4.5-ton Broderson IC-40, the 9.5-ton Broderson IC 80, and more.

Static Cranes

These cranes are fixed in one location during operation and offer greater stability for lifting heavier loads and reaching greater heights. However, they lack mobility.

 

Static cranes include:

-Tower cranes:

A mainstay in high-rise construction, tower cranes boast impressive heights and exceptional reach. Their modular design enables them to grow alongside the rising structure. Modern tower cranes are a balanced crane design, offering a combination of height and lifting capacity, ideal for constructing tall buildings.

Popular tower crane designs include:

1.Hammerhead cranes:

T-shaped design with a horizontal boom extending outwards, resembling a hammerhead. Commonly used in ports and shipyards for loading and unloading cargo.
Example models include: The 20-ton Terex SK 415-20, the 40-ton Potain MD 689 M40, to name a few.

2.Luffing jib cranes:

The luffing crane is more expensive than the hammerhead, but can be more efficient with a smaller rotation radius, allowing it to be used in tighter construction sites. Due to its smaller footprint, it can also be used where multiple cranes are operating at the same time.
Example models include: The 18-ton Sany SLT260(T5531-18), the 12-ton Liebherr 195 HC-LH, and more.

3.Self-erecting cranes:

Relatively speaking, the self-erecting cranes are the lightweights of the static crane family. They are designed to be easily set up and dismantled.
Self-erecting cranes are ideal for working in tight spaces or for shorter-term construction jobs. Their major shortcoming, however, is that they cannot lift as much weight as the other types of tower cranes.
Example models include: The 1.8-ton Potain Igo 13, the Potain 4-ton Igo 32, and many more.

-Overhead cranes:

Overhead cranes, often referred to as bridge cranes, help navigate overhead spaces to move goods along a designated plane. These cranes play a central role in streamlining production lines and optimizing workspace efficiency in indoor and some outdoor environments. Bridge cranes include top running cranes, underhung cranes, and monorail cranes.
Example models include: The 12.5-ton Konecranes gantry cranes, the GH 5-ton top running single-girder overhead cranes, and more.

-Jib cranes:

A cantilever arm mounted to a wall, or attached to a column or another overhead structure, with a hoist at the end of the arm for lifting within a limited radius.
Example models include: The 5-ton Finework Cranes wall mounted jib crane, the 2-ton Konecranes pillar-mounted jib crane, and many more.

-Level luffing cranes:

Similar in appearance and function to the tower luffing cranes, the level luffing cranes have one major difference, they do not have trolleys that run along the jib. Instead, the hook block is fixed at the end of the jib, and the jib itself moves up and down to move the load. This design allows the load to stay level while being lifted.
This type of crane is most often used for shipbuilding and loading and unloading freight.
Example models include: The 110-250 tons Genma level luffing cranes, among others.

Factors to consider when choosing a crane

Choosing the ideal crane for your project requires careful consideration of several factors:

-Project Requirements: Lifting capacity, reach, and the type of materials being handled are crucial considerations.
-Site Conditions: The terrain, available space, and presence of obstacles will influence crane selection.
-Project Timeline: Mobile cranes offer flexibility for shorter projects, while fixed cranes are better suited for long-term construction.

By understanding the capabilities of each crane type and carefully evaluating project needs, construction and other industry professionals can make informed decisions to optimize efficiency and safety on every project. For more on choosing cranes available for sale in UAE, KSA, Oman, and beyond, contact our team of experts to answer all your queries.