Tower Cranes Grow to New Heights
Throughout the 1950s in the tower crane industry, there were many significant developments in the design of these huge cranes. Many different manufacturers were started producing bottom slewing cranes with a telescoping mast. These kinds of machinery dominated the construction industry for both office and apartment block construction. Many of the top tower crane manufacturers didn't utilize cantilever jib designs. Instead, they made the switch to luffing jibs and eventually, utilizing luffing jibs became the regular method.
In Europe, there were major improvements being made in the design and development of tower cranes. Often, construction sites were constricted places. Depending on rail systems to transport a large number of tower cranes, ended up being too inconvenient and expensive. A number of manufacturers were providing saddle jib cranes that had hook heights of 262 feet or 80 meters. These kinds of cranes were equipped with self-climbing mechanisms that enabled parts of mast to be inserted into the crane so that it can grow along with the structures it was constructing upwards.
The long jibs on these specific cranes also covered a bigger work area. All of these developments precipitated the practice of erecting and anchoring cranes in a building's lift shaft. Afterwards, this is the technique which 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 larger job radius, faster erection strategies, climbing mechanisms and technology, and new control systems. Moreover, focus was spent on faster erection strategies with the most essential developments being made in the drive technology department, amongst other things.