Tower Cranes Grow to New Heights
Within the tower crane industry, the 1950s showcased many significant milestones in tower crane design and development. There were a range of manufacturers were beginning to produce more bottom slewing cranes which had telescoping mast. These types of machinery dominated the construction market for both office and apartment block construction. Many of the top tower crane manufacturers discarded the use of cantilever jib designs. As a substitute, they made the switch to luffing jibs and in time, using luffing jibs became the standard practice.
In Europe, there were key improvements being made in the development and design of tower cranes. Often, construction locations were tight places. Depending upon rail systems to transport several tower cranes, became very difficult and expensive. Some manufacturers were providing saddle jib cranes which had hook heights of 80 meters or 262 feet. These types of cranes were outfitted with self-climbing mechanisms which enabled parts of mast to be inserted into the crane so that it could grow along with the structures it was constructing upwards.
These particular cranes have long jibs and can cover a bigger work area. All of these developments precipitated the practice of building and anchoring cranes inside the lift shaft of a building. Then, this is the method that 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. Furthermore, focus was spent on faster erection strategies with the most important developments being made in the drive technology department, among other things.