Cranes are present in construction, transportation, and many other heavy industries. From lifting heavy materials to the assembly of large equipment, cranes are engineering marvels that significantly simplify labor-intensive tasks. Among the wide variety of cranes available, some have achieved greater popularity due to their versatility, load capacity, and adaptability to different environments. Let’s take a look at the most common types of cranes with the help of one of the leading crane companies in Houston.
Common types of cranes
Floating Cranes
As the name suggests, floating cranes are specialized cranes designed to operate on water bodies. They are often mounted on pontoons or barges, enabling them to assist in the construction of bridges, ports, and offshore facilities. Additionally, they play a crucial role in shipbuilding and salvage operations.
Floating cranes offer a significant lifting capacity, with some able to lift thousands of tons. This immense power combined with their flexibility makes them an essential asset in large-scale maritime projects. However, their operation requires expertise as they need to balance the load capacity against the stability of the floating platform to prevent capsizing.
Crawler Cranes
Crawler cranes are characterized by their mobility and stability, making them a popular choice for construction sites with uneven terrain. They are mounted on a set of crawler tracks that provide enhanced stability, allowing them to lift heavy loads without requiring outriggers.
The main advantage of crawler cranes is their ability to move with heavy loads, which can be a game-changer in large construction projects. However, they are quite massive and require significant effort for transportation and assembly. Their lifting capacity can range from around 40 to over 1000 tons, depending on the model.
Carry Deck Cranes
Compact yet powerful, carry deck cranes are a versatile addition to any construction site. These cranes are distinguished by their small size and a 360-degree rotating boom located in the center of the machine. A key feature of the carry deck crane is its ability to lift a load, carry it to the desired location, and then deposit it with precision.
Carry deck cranes are ideal for spaces where maneuverability is constrained. Their compact design allows them to move within tight spaces, while their carrying deck can transport loads or even personnel from one location to another. They are commonly used in factories, chemical plants, and construction sites with limited space.
Stacker Cranes
Stacker cranes are typically found in warehouses or storage facilities where they handle inventory management tasks. They are usually automated and guided by a computer-controlled system that can precisely locate and retrieve items from specific positions.
Stacker cranes offer advantages when it comes to storage space optimization and inventory management efficiency. They can reach considerable heights and work in narrow aisles, enabling organizations to store more items in less space. They contribute to enhanced productivity by reducing the time required for inventory handling and decreasing the risk of human error.
Hammerhead Cranes
Renowned for their unique structure, hammerhead cranes, also known as tower cranes, are a common sight in city skylines where high-rise construction is ongoing. The crane’s working arm, known as the jib, is set at right angles to the tower, giving it a shape reminiscent of a hammerhead shark.
Hammerhead cranes are valued for their height and reach, enabling them to lift materials to great heights. They are indispensable in the construction of skyscrapers and large buildings. Despite their large size, these cranes offer exceptional precision, making them suitable for tasks requiring careful placement of loads.
Fixed Cranes
Fixed cranes, as the name suggests, are permanently attached to a single location and provide incredible stability for high-capacity lifting operations. They are generally used in applications where consistent heavy lifting is required, such as shipping yards, heavy-duty manufacturing facilities, and construction sites. Fixed cranes are renowned for their high lifting capacities and can support the heavy-duty requirements of most industrial applications.
Jib Cranes
Jib cranes are versatile lifting machines that feature a horizontal member, known as a jib or boom, which supports a movable hoist. The jib is often fixed to a wall or floor-mounted pillar. The unique design allows for a 180 to 360-degree rotation, offering maximum versatility within its operating space. They are most often found in industrial premises and are used for loading or unloading goods in specific areas.
Gantry Cranes
Gantry cranes are similar to overhead bridge cranes, but their entire structure, including gantry, is typically wheeled. They can be used both indoors and outdoors and are capable of moving along a track or on fixed rails. Gantry cranes are suitable for lifting heavy objects and are often employed in shipyards, railyards, or when erecting large structures like bridges.
Bridge/Overhead Cranes
Bridge or overhead cranes consist of a beam that bridges the workspace, with a trolley and hoist running back and forth across its length. They are commonly found in industrial environments, particularly in areas where heavy lifting is involved. The crane’s ability to lift and move loads over the workspace without the need for floor space makes it a popular choice for warehouses and manufacturing facilities.
Telescopic Cranes
Telescopic cranes offer a boom that consists of a series of tubes fitted one inside the other. A hydraulic mechanism extends or retracts these tubes to increase or decrease the total length of the boom. This type of crane is typically used for short-term construction projects, rescue jobs, and in situations where the lifting radius and angle may change during operations.
Tower Cranes
Tower cranes, a common sight in many cityscapes, are used to construct tall buildings. They have an incredible vertical lift capacity and can reach heights that other crane types cannot. The main components of a tower crane include a base bolted to a large concrete pad, a vertical tower, and a horizontal jib along which the lifting gear travels.
Bulk-Handling Cranes
Bulk-handling cranes are designed to carry out continuous, high-capacity lifting operations. They are often found in ports and shipyards, where they are used for loading and unloading bulk cargo such as coal, grain, or mineral ores. These cranes are equipped with a grab or bucket, which can handle a large amount of material at once.
Get in Touch with Bobcat Contracting – One of the Top Crane Companies in Houston
If you need crane rental services, you can’t go wrong with Bobcat Contracting. We are a top-rated crane company in Houston, equipped with an extensive fleet of cranes suitable for a wide range of operations. Our team of highly skilled operators is ready to handle any project, large or small. With our excellent safety record and commitment to customer satisfaction, you can trust us with your lifting needs. Contact Bobcat Contracting to discuss how we can support your next project with the ideal crane rental.