Cranes - Integral Part Of The Construction Industry

The cranes are very useful machines in the construction sector because they are capable to simplify the work at the construction site, especially when heavy weight items or materials need to be lifted and transferred to certain heights. Generally, a crane is a piece of construction machinery designed for lifting materials with the help of many cables and pulleys. The cranes simplify the work of the construction worker at the job site, because without the cranes the tasks of loading, unloading or lifting materials need to be completed manually. These machines enable workers to complete their work in a quick and efficient manner. Many different crane models and types can be found, and each one is used for different purpose. The following article will present various crane types that are very common at the construction sites across Australia.

Tower Crane. The tower crane is the most commonly used crane type in the construction sector. This particular type has been invented in Europe and it is globally used. It is used basically for the construction of tall buildings and structures, because the tower crane can reach heights up to 80 meters. It can be extended up to 60-70 meters and can lift loads with weight up to 20 tons. The tower crane is strongly secured on the ground with concrete blocks for high stability. Special mechanisms are used for raising the crane up in the sky, and for lowering the tower crane down to the ground.

Vehicle Mounted Crane. Because the cranes are widely used, sometimes they can be mounted on special vehicles. These crane types are very popular because they can be moved very easily from one place to another. The vehicle mounted cranes can move on roads and highways, and no additional equipment is required for the transportation of these lifting machines to the construction sites. When these cranes are used, the outriggers of the vehicle need to be extended horizontally for stability.

Terrain Crane. There are two main types in this category: rough terrain crane, and all terrain crane. The rough terrain crane is one special crane model that is mounted on a truck. A undercarriage is used for these crane types so that they can be mounted on trucks. The undercarriage includes rubber tires which can be used in off-road terrains. Outriggers are also used for stability. The all terrain cranes are ideal machines for various industrial projects, off- road and on- road applications. These crane types are not affected by the weather or by the ground conditions. They are designed with built in frames, digital displays and safety devices.

Crawler Crane. This is a mobile crane, and with this type outriggers are not used for stability. For the crawler crane a chassis is used for mounting. The chassis includes track set rather than tires. These cranes have lifting capacity of about 40 to 3000 tons. The crawler crane needs to be dismantled into smaller pieces for easy transportation from on to another location.

Floating Cranes. The floating crane is another type of mobile crane which is generally used in the construction of waterways like ports, dams or bridges. These cranes are usually mounted on a specially designed boats.

Sky Cranes. These cranes are also known as aerial cranes. Basically they are helicopters that have the ability to lift and to transfer very heavy materials and loads. The sky cranes are very useful and effective in situations when the traditional tower crane cannot be used. They are also used for disaster and risk relief programs.