A crane is an essential piece of the plant list for large-scale construction projects. Construction projects use intricate and heavy machinery on a daily basis, yet in many instances, procurement officers do not end up selecting the most suitable machinery for their project, leading to potential delays and increased operation costs. Choosing the right crane will save your project from such drawbacks and will also ensure the working environment is safe and productive. Here, we look at the most popular types of cranes for hire.
A truck-mounted crane is a self-propelled loading and unloading crane which is mounted on a truck body with a working section consisting of a rotating cantilevered boom. This crane has a load capacity of 2.5 to 16 ton and is predominantly used for:
Sidelifter cranes are used to hoist shipping containers for loading or unloading. They are capable of lifting and transporting ISO standard containers. These cranes are predominantly used for:
A rough terrain crane is a crane mounted on an undercarriage with four rubber wheels, designed for picking up and carrying items off road and on rough terrain applications and surfaces. Outriggers are used to help level and stabilise the crane when hoisting. They're used for:
All terrain cranes have the ability to drive on public roads at the regulated speed limit and can also operate on rough terrain using all wheels and crab steering. All terrain cranes combine the driving ability of truck mounted cranes and the manoeuvrability of rough terrain cranes. These cranes a commonly used for:
A pick and carry crane has the ability to travel on public roads and designed to pick up a load and carry it to its destination. These cranes have the ability to carry loads over varying distances across and between job sites. Their lifting capacity ranges from 10 - 20 ton and they are predominantly used for:
A carry deck crane is a small, 4 wheel crane with a 360 degree rotating boom in the center. These cranes can hoist loads in a confined space and have the ability to load it onto its deck in order to move it to another site. Common uses for these cranes are:
A telescopic handler crane is similar to a forklift but has an extendable boom like a crane. Originally these cranes could not rotate, only lifting in one direction. Recently manufactures have designed them to rotate 360 degree and, like the rough terrain crane, they have outriggers for stabilisation. They are often used for:
Some floating cranes are mounted on pontoons and others on barges. These cranes can be use to carry heavy loads such as entire sections of bridges and salvaging sunken ships. These cranes are used for:
Ultimately, the crane you choose depends on your application. Take the time to consider exactly how and where you’ll be using the crane, and you can be confident you’ll hire the right crane for your project.
Once you have selected the right crane for your project, you must decide whether to wet or dry hire. This can have a large influence on the success of your project and must be carefully evaluated. The eBook below outlines the pros and cons of both wet and dry hire to help you make an educated decision in order to ensure the success of your project.