Tower Cranes Grow to New Heights
During the 1950s in the tower crane industry, there were numerous important developments in the design of these huge cranes. Numerous manufacturers were started producing bottom slewing cranes with a telescoping mast. These equipments dominated the construction business 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, using luffing jibs became the standard practice.
Manufacturers based in Europe were also heavily influential in the design and development of tower cranes. Construction sites on the continent were often tight places. Depending on rail systems to transport a large number of tower cranes, became too difficult and expensive. Some manufacturers were providing saddle jib cranes that had hook heights of 80 meters or 262 feet. These cranes were equipped with self-climbing mechanisms that allowed 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 erecting and anchoring cranes inside a building's lift shaft. Afterwards, this is the technique that 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 bigger job radius, faster erection strategies, climbing mechanisms and technology, and new control systems. Additionally, focus was spent on faster erection strategies with the most significant developments being made in the drive technology department, amongst other things.