To complete a construction project in a hassle-free manner, most people choose to hire cranes rather than buy them. Why? Well, the reason is quite simple. Reputable and experienced crane hire companies in Perth or elsewhere offer you a safe, flexible, and cost-effective way to achieve your project goals. Although numerous types of cranes are available in the market, tower cranes have always been one of the most sought-after types. Whenever there’s a requirement for lifting and moving large tools like generators and acetylene torches, concrete, steel, bridge beams, heavy construction modules, or pre-cast concrete panels, people choose a tower crane as it’s not only self-building but also extremely simple in both its construction and operation. Added to that, it makes transporting heavy materials easier and also helps you complete the project in a much faster way with minimal or no workplace accidents at all.
The role of tower cranes in the construction industry can’t be overlooked. They cut costs of time and manpower in the process, keep you on schedule, and most importantly, speed up construction. In this blog, we will discuss all the important aspects of tower cranes that you should know about. Keep reading till the end.
- What are tower cranes?
Lifting materials up to 19.8 tons and soaring up to 265 ft tall, a tower crane is an inverted L-shaped structure that consists of a jib, mast, base, cabin for the crane operator, and a slewing unit at the top. It’s equipped with sheaves, chains, and a hoist rope and is used to lower, lift, and transport heavyweight materials around the construction site.
Should you be located in Perth or surrounding areas and are looking for the best crane hire companies in Perth, reach out to ABC Crane Hire. We provide a wide range of tower cranes at competitive rates.
- What are the most popular types of tower cranes?
Although there are many types of tower cranes available in the market today, here are the most sought-after types:
Luffing Jib Cranes: This type of tower crane is mostly used in industrial equipment installing fields where high perching is needed to lift large equipment.
Self-Erecting Tower Cranes: Designed for long service life and excellent productivity at economical operating costs, a self-erecting tower crane is perfect for small construction sites.
Derrick Cranes: A derrick crane consists of a mast and lifting arm and can be remotely operated, with or without wires.
Hammerhead Tower Cranes: Being one of the most common types of tower cranes, a hammerhead crane provides excellent maneuverability and it can be adapted to work well for any job site.
- How to operate a tower crane?
While operating a tower crane, a team of certified individuals including operators, riggers, spotters, and other specialists is needed to ensure the loads are safely moved around the site. Due to this reason, most people hire crane rental companies that provide local crane hire services. The professionals always abide by industry safety standards while operating a crane.
To operate a tower crane, each member of the team is assigned a particular job. For instance, the operator’s job is to run the crane from the cabin, while the “person in charge” will assess and oversee the overall lifting operation. Similarly, the crane coordinator’s responsibility is to prevent crashes by scheduling the lifts and mitigating their sequence. Finally, the crane operator will operate the crane that includes lifting and moving materials as directed by others.
- How much weight can tower cranes lift?
Although a tower crane can lift and transport massive loads at a time, it does have its limitations. The maximum jib reach is approximately 230 feet, and the maximum load that tower cranes can lift is 18 metric tons. However, they can lift that much weight only if the load is positioned at the end of the jib. So, should you want your crane to have the maximum lifting power, make sure to keep loads as close as possible to the crane’s center.
Wrapping Up
Whether you are constructing a single-story house or a high-rise building, a tower crane is a common fixture at any major construction site. If you have been looking for the best crane hire companies in Perth, you can reach out to ABC Crane Hire. With more than 17 years of experience in the field, we provide a wide range of cranes to meet your lifting requirements. To get in touch with us, call us at (08) 95245502.