Tower Cranes Grow to New Heights
Within the tower crane industry, the 1950s showcased numerous significant milestones in tower crane design and development. There were a range of manufacturers were starting to make more bottom slewing cranes which had telescoping mast. These machinery dominated the construction market for office and apartment block construction. Many of the leading tower crane manufacturers discarded the use of cantilever jib designs. In its place, they made the switch to luffing jibs and eventually, the use of luffing jibs became the regular practice.
Manufacturers based in Europe were also really important in the design and development of tower cranes. Construction sites on the continent were usually constricted areas. Having to rely on rail systems to move a large number of tower cranes, became very difficult and expensive. Some manufacturers were providing saddle jib cranes which had hook heights of 262 feet or 80 meters. These cranes were outfitted with self-climbing mechanisms that enabled sections of mast to be inserted into the crane so that it can grow along with the structures it was building upwards.
These particular cranes have long jibs and could cover a bigger work area. All of these developments precipitated the practice of building and anchoring cranes in the lift shaft of a building. Then, this is the method that became the industry standard.
The main focus on tower crane design and development from the 1960s started on covering a higher load moment, covering a bigger job radius, faster erection strategies, climbing mechanisms and technology, and new control systems. In addition, focus was spent on faster erection strategies with the most important developments being made in the drive technology department, amongst other things.