Tower Cranes Grow to New Heights
During the 1950s in the tower crane industry, there were many important developments in the design of these big cranes. Many different manufacturers were started making bottom slewing cranes with a telescoping mast. These machinery dominated the construction market for both apartment block and office 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, the use of luffing jibs became the standard method.
Manufacturers based within Europe were also really influential in the development and design of tower cranes. Construction locations on the continent were usually tight places. Relying on rail systems to transport a large number of tower cranes, became too costly and difficult. A number of manufacturers were offering saddle jib cranes which had hook heights of 262 feet or 80 meters. These cranes were outfitted 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 building upwards.
The long jibs on these particular cranes additionally covered a larger work area. All of these developments precipitated the practice of erecting and anchoring cranes in the lift shaft of a building. Afterwards, this is the method 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. Moreover, focus was spent on faster erection strategies with the most essential developments being made in the drive technology department, among other things.