Tower Cranes Grow to New Heights
In the 1950s in the tower crane business, there were numerous important developments in the design of these huge cranes. Many different manufacturers were started making bottom slewing cranes with a telescoping mast. These types of equipments dominated the construction market for office and apartment block construction. A lot of of the top tower crane manufacturers discarded the use of cantilever jib designs. Instead, they made the switch to luffing jibs and in time, utilizing luffing jibs became the regular method.
Manufacturers based in Europe were also heavily important in the design and development of tower cranes. Construction locations on the continent were usually tight areas. Relying upon rail systems to transport a large number of tower cranes, became too inconvenient and expensive. A number of manufacturers were providing saddle jib cranes which had hook heights of 80 meters or 262 feet. These kinds of cranes were equipped with self-climbing mechanisms that allowed parts of mast to be inserted into the crane so that it can grow along with the structures it was building upwards.
The long jibs on these specific cranes additionally covered a larger work area. All of these developments precipitated the practice of erecting and anchoring cranes inside the lift shaft of a building. After that, this is the technique which became the industry standard.
The main focus on tower crane development and design from the 1960s began on covering a higher load moment, covering a bigger job radius, climbing mechanisms and technology, faster erection strategies, and new control systems. Additionally, focus was spent on faster erection strategies with the most essential developments being made in the drive technology department, amongst other things.