Overview
Cranes are common construction machinery. It can be mainly divided into two categories: static (fixed) and mobile crates. Each type has its own characteristics and applicable scenarios.Let’s follow this article to learn about different types of crane and their characteristics, and application scenarios of different cranes.
Two Core Types of Construction Crane
Main Types of Mobile Crane
1 Truck-Mounted Cranes
It is a hydraulic crane installed on the chassis of ordinary freight trucks, which has dual functions of transportation and lifting. You can transport goods while loading and unloading them yourself. It is divided into two types: Knuckle boom and Stiff boom. The tonnage is mostly 2-20 tons, which belongs to medium and small tonnage lifting, not heavy lifting equipment
2 All-Terrain Cranes
Abbreviated as AT crane. The main feature is a multi axle dedicated off-road chassis. Two independent engines, one for road driving and one for lifting operations. It is legal to drive on highways, as well as to work off-road on muddy, gravel, and rugged construction sites.
3 Rough-Terrain Cranes
Abbreviated as RT crane. Equipped with dedicated off-road tire chassis, it is not legal to drive on the road. It must be transported to the construction site by a flatbed trailer, and after arriving at the site, it can be moved and transferred on its own.
4 Crawler Cranes
Walk on steel track undercarriage. The wide tracks distribute the weight of the entire machine to the ground. The mainstream is lattice boom, which can be matched with auxiliary arm and super lifting device. Covering a tonnage of 40-3500 tons, it is the most powerful mobile crane in terms of lifting capacity. Cannot drive directly on the highway, must be disassembled into tracks, main arm, counterweight and other components, transported to the construction site by flatbed trailer, and then assembled on site.
The undercarriage contains a large number of wear parts: track shoes, bottom rollers, top rollers, idlers, and drive sprockets
5 Carry Deck Cranes
Carry deck cranes, also known as pick‑and‑carry cranes, are compact wheeled mobile cranes. Their key feature is a flat load‑carrying deck built into the chassis. They can lift loads and also transport heavy items on‑board for short‑distance travel. Equipped with telescopic booms and 360‑degree rotation, they can deploy hydraulic outriggers for stable lifting. With a low‑profile body and tight turning radius, they can operate inside factories, warehouses and confined sites where larger cranes cannot access. Their lifting capacity ranges from 5 to 25 tons. They are widely used for plant maintenance, machinery installation and material handling in limited‑space environments, but they are not suitable for long‑distance highway travel.
6 Floating Cranes
Floating cranes, also called crane barges or floating derricks, are marine‑based mobile cranes mounted on a barge or specialized vessel. They are either self‑propelled or towed into position by tugboats. Equipped with sophisticated ballast systems to counter‑balance lifting loads, they remain stable amid waves and currents. They deliver extremely heavy‑duty lifting capacity for water‑borne projects. Floating cranes are widely used for bridge construction, port development, offshore wind installation, ship‑wreck salvage and shipbuilding work. They can reach locations inaccessible to land‑based cranes, but their operation is limited by sea‑state conditions.
Main Types of Static Crane
1 Tower Cranes
Tall in size, often fixed on concrete, used for the construction of high-rise buildings.
2 Hammerhead Cranes
Also as known as Top kit tower crane. There is a protruding tower head at the top, which relies on pull rods to hold the horizontal lifting arm and balance arm. The tension rod structure can achieve a very long arm length, and at the same arm length, the rated lifting capacity is high.
3 Self-Erecting Tower Cranes
Equipped with a hydraulic self erecting system, no auxiliary crane is needed for assembly. The bottom is equipped with counterweight blocks, which do not require pouring cement for fixation. But the overall lifting tonnage is relatively small. Due to limited arm length and height, it is generally used in small and medium-sized projects.
4 Overhead (Bridge) Cranes
The main beam of the bridge is erected on the column track above the factory building. The left and right movement of the crane is achieved by the lateral movement of the lifting trolley along the main beam. The entire bridge can move forward and backward along the tracks on both sides of the factory building to achieve the movement of the crane. It is divided into two types: single main beam and double main beam, with double main beam having a larger lifting weight. However, bridge cranes rely on the structure of the factory building, so they cannot leave the workshop for transfer.
5 Gantry Cranes
The main beam has landing legs on both sides, and the bottom of the legs walks on the ground track, no longer requiring the support of the factory structure. Full door, half door, single cantilever, double cantilever. It can be used indoors or outdoors, with a wide range of lifting capacities from a few tons to several hundred tons. Commonly used in outdoor docks, shipyards, outdoor construction sites, etc.
6 Jib Cranes
The core structure is a jib. One end is fixed on the column or wall, and the other end is suspended outward. The jib can rotate around the pivot point (180 ° -360 °) to form a fan-shaped or circular workspace.
How to Choose the Right Type of Crane for Construction
When choosing a crane, the following factors should be considered: Meet the maximum lifting conditions while considering site, transportation, cost, and operating environment.
1 Load weight
When you pick a crane’s rated lifting capacity, you need to look at both the maximum tonnage shown on the nameplate and the actual lifting capacity. The lifting radius and lifting height of the crane will affect the actual rated lifting weight.
2 Working site conditions
Firstly, it is the bearing capacity of the ground. If it is soft soil, riverbanks, or muddy construction sites, it is necessary to prioritize the use of crawler cranes with lower ground pressure. If the ground is hardened, a crane such as a truck crane can be used.
3 Transition and transportation conditions
Another very important factor when selecting a crane is the limitation of transportation conditions, including local road transportation conditions, road transportation conditions around the construction site, and site conditions for assembly and disassembly.
4 Construction frequency and usage cost
If you work at a long‑term fixed construction site, you should go for fixed cranes like bridge cranes and gantry cranes. If your job sites change often, you’d better pick a movable crane instead.
5 Regulations and safety standards
Are there any certification requirements for cranes in the local area, including overload protection, torque limiters, wind speed limits, and other safety requirements.
Conclusion
In summary, choosing suitable types of crane should take into account various factors on site. Some sites with complex construction requirements may require the comprehensive use of multiple cranes.
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