Tower Cranes Grow to New Heights
Within the tower crane business, the 1950s featured numerous important milestones in tower crane design and development. There were a variety of manufacturers were starting to produce more bottom slewing cranes which had telescoping mast. These types of machines dominated the construction market for apartment block and office construction. Many of the top tower crane manufacturers discarded the use of cantilever jib designs. As an alternative, they made the switch to luffing jibs and in time, utilizing luffing jibs became the regular method.
Manufacturers based in Europe were also heavily influential in the design and development of tower cranes. Construction sites on the continent were often tight areas. Relying on rail systems to move several tower cranes, became very expensive and difficult. A number of manufacturers were offering saddle jib cranes which had hook heights of 80 meters or 262 feet. These cranes were equipped with self-climbing mechanisms that enabled 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 specific cranes additionally covered a larger work area. All of these developments resulted in the practice of building and anchoring cranes in the lift shaft of a building. Afterwards, this is the technique which 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 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.