Tower Cranes Grow to New Heights
Within the tower crane industry, the 1950s showcased numerous important milestones in tower crane development and design. There were a range of manufacturers were starting to make more bottom slewing cranes that had telescoping mast. These machinery dominated the construction business for office and apartment block construction. A lot of of the top tower crane manufacturers discarded the use of cantilever jib designs. In its place, they made the switch to luffing jibs and eventually, using luffing jibs became the regular method.
Manufacturers based in Europe were also really influential in the design and development of tower cranes. Construction areas on the continent were often constricted places. Having to rely on rail systems to transport several tower cranes, became very inconvenient and costly. A number of manufacturers were offering saddle jib cranes that had hook heights of 262 feet or 80 meters. These cranes were outfitted with self-climbing mechanisms which enabled parts of mast to be inserted into the crane so that it can grow along with the structures it was constructing upwards.
The long jibs on these specific cranes additionally covered a bigger work area. All of these developments resulted in the practice of constructing and anchoring cranes in the lift shaft of a building. Then, this is the technique that became the industry standard.
From the 1960s, the main focus on tower crane development and design started to cover a higher load moment, covering a larger job radius, faster erection strategies, climbing mechanisms and technology, 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.