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 that had telescoping mast. These machinery dominated the construction business for apartment block and office construction. A lot of of the top tower crane manufacturers discarded the use of cantilever jib designs. Instead, they made the switch to luffing jibs and eventually, using luffing jibs became the standard method.
Manufacturers based in Europe were also heavily influential in the development and design of tower cranes. Construction areas on the continent were often constricted places. Depending upon rail systems to transport a large number of tower cranes, became very expensive and difficult. Some manufacturers were providing saddle jib cranes that had hook heights of 80 meters or 262 feet. These cranes were equipped with self-climbing mechanisms which allowed sections 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 inside the lift shaft of a building. After that, 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, climbing mechanisms and technology, faster erection strategies, and new control systems. Additionally, focus was spent on faster erection strategies with the most essential developments being made in the drive technology department, among other things.