Tower Cranes Grow to New Heights
In the 1950s in the tower crane industry, there were numerous significant developments in the design of these big cranes. Many different manufacturers were started making bottom slewing cranes with a telescoping mast. These types of equipments dominated the construction business for both office and apartment block construction. Many of the leading tower crane manufacturers abandoned the use of cantilever jib designs. Instead, they made the switch to luffing jibs and eventually, using luffing jibs became the standard method.
Within Europe, there were key improvements being made in the development and design of tower cranes. Usually, construction sites were tight places. Having to rely upon rail systems to move several tower cranes, became too difficult and expensive. Some manufacturers were offering saddle jib cranes that had hook heights of 80 meters or 262 feet. These cranes were outfitted with self-climbing mechanisms that allowed 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 also covered a larger work area. All of these developments precipitated the practice of erecting and anchoring cranes inside the lift shaft of a building. After that, this is the method which became the industry standard.
The main focus on tower crane development and design from the 1960s started on covering a higher load moment, covering a larger job radius, faster erection strategies, climbing mechanisms and technology, and new control systems. Furthermore, focus was spent on faster erection strategies with the most significant developments being made in the drive technology department, among other things.