Tower Cranes Grow to New Heights
Within the tower crane business, the 1950s showcased numerous significant milestones in tower crane development and design. There were a variety of manufacturers were starting to make more bottom slewing cranes that had telescoping mast. These types of machines dominated the construction market for both office and apartment block construction. Many of the top tower crane manufacturers abandoned the use of cantilever jib designs. In its place, they made the switch to luffing jibs and in time, the use of luffing jibs became the standard practice.
Manufacturers based within Europe were also heavily important in the design and development of tower cranes. Construction areas on the continent were normally constricted areas. Relying upon rail systems to move several tower cranes, ended up being very 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 equipped with self-climbing mechanisms that enabled parts of mast to be inserted into the crane so that it can grow along with the structures it was constructing upwards.
These specific cranes have long jibs and could cover a bigger work area. All of these developments precipitated the practice of building and anchoring cranes in the lift shaft of a building. Then, this is the method that became the industry standard.
From the 1960s, the main focus on tower crane design and development started to cover a higher load moment, covering a larger 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, among other things.