Tower Cranes Grow to New Heights
Within the tower crane industry, the 1950s showcased numerous significant milestones in tower crane design and development. There were a variety of manufacturers were starting to produce more bottom slewing cranes that had telescoping mast. These equipments dominated the construction market for both apartment block and office construction. Many of the leading tower crane manufacturers didn't utilize cantilever jib designs. In its place, they made the switch to luffing jibs and eventually, using luffing jibs became the regular method.
Manufacturers based within Europe were also really important in the development and design of tower cranes. Construction areas on the continent were often tight areas. Depending on rail systems to transport several tower cranes, ended up being too difficult and costly. A number of manufacturers were offering saddle jib cranes which had hook heights of 80 meters or 262 feet. These kinds of cranes were equipped 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 building upwards.
The long jibs on these particular cranes additionally covered a bigger work area. All of these developments resulted in the practice of erecting and anchoring cranes inside the lift shaft of a building. Then, this is the method 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, faster erection strategies, climbing mechanisms and technology, and new control systems. Moreover, focus was spent on faster erection strategies with the most significant developments being made in the drive technology department, amongst other things.