Tower Cranes Grow to New Heights
Within the tower crane business, the 1950s showcased many significant milestones in tower crane design and development. There were a range of manufacturers were starting to make more bottom slewing cranes which had telescoping mast. These machinery dominated the construction market for office and apartment block construction. Many of the leading tower crane manufacturers abandoned the use of cantilever jib designs. As a substitute, they made the switch to luffing jibs and eventually, the use of luffing jibs became the standard practice.
Manufacturers based in Europe were also really influential in the development and design of tower cranes. Construction areas on the continent were often tight places. Relying on rail systems to transport several tower cranes, became too expensive and inconvenient. A number of manufacturers were offering saddle jib cranes that had hook heights of 262 feet or 80 meters. These kinds of cranes were outfitted with self-climbing mechanisms which allowed sections of mast to be inserted into the crane so that it could grow along with the structures it was constructing upwards.
The long jibs on these particular cranes also covered a larger 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 which 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 bigger job radius, climbing mechanisms and technology, faster erection strategies, and new control systems. In addition, focus was spent on faster erection strategies with the most essential developments being made in the drive technology department, amongst other things.