Tower Cranes Grow to New Heights
During the 1950s in the tower crane business, there were many important developments in the design of these big cranes. Numerous manufacturers were started making bottom slewing cranes with a telescoping mast. These kinds of machines dominated the construction business for office and apartment block construction. Many of the top tower crane manufacturers didn't use cantilever jib designs. In its place, they made the switch to luffing jibs and eventually, using luffing jibs became the standard method.
Manufacturers based in Europe were also heavily influential in the development and design of tower cranes. Construction sites on the continent were usually tight places. Depending upon rail systems to move several tower cranes, became very costly and difficult. A number of manufacturers were providing saddle jib cranes which had hook heights of 262 feet or 80 meters. These kinds of cranes were outfitted with self-climbing mechanisms which allowed sections 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 specific cranes additionally covered a bigger work area. All of these developments precipitated the practice of building and anchoring cranes in the lift shaft of a building. Afterwards, this is the technique 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, climbing mechanisms and technology, faster erection strategies, and new control systems. Moreover, focus was spent on faster erection strategies with the most essential developments being made in the drive technology department, among other things.