5 Cranes Used in Construction

16th May 2019

Cranes play an essential role in every construction site. Of course, they don’t come in one shape or size. Depending on the industry and specific job, you may need a big heavy lifter, a clever little agile crane for site access or something that can tolerate uneven terrain. Visit a variety of construction sites and you’re likely to see a range of different cranes, each fit for a particular purpose. Here are 5 of the most common.

1. Tower Crane

Tower cranes are the ones you see perched atop skyscrapers. They’re a modern form of a balance crane and can reach up to 1000 metres high. When fixed to the ground, they offer the best combination height and lifting capacity, making them ideal for constructing skyscrapers.

2. Franna Crane

Mobile cranes are the most commonly used type of crane in construction today. This is because they offer versatility and mobility. Franna cranes are ‘pick and carry’ cranes, used to transport load to and from warehouses and job sites as necessary. They are handy for carrying building materials to sites and manoeuvring around tight areas. At Surf City Cranes, they come in 12-15T, 16-20T or 25T capacity.

3. Rough Terrain Crane

Uneven, rough terrain is common on many building sites. In these situations, rough terrain cranes are ideal. These mobile cranes are mounted on a truck with off-road wheels as well as outriggers that extend vertically and horizontally to level and stabilise the crane when hoisting loads. Traditionally, alternatives would involve having crawlers instead of wheels like on an excavator. The compact frame and improved mobility of these crane trucks make them a better option when it comes to travelling to and from and navigating around a job site.

4. All Terrain Crane

Like rough terrain cranes, all terrain cranes are mobile crane trucks capable of travelling on and off road. They are versatile and powerful, with loading capacities ranging from 35T to 130T. The stabilising deployment of the crane during a lift gives it a secure base to lift heavy loads for all types of jobs, conditions and surfaces

5. Hiab Truck Crane

Hiab truck cranes combine the benefits of a mobile crane with a traditional transport truck. A flat tray allows you to transport a large volume of goods while a powerful crane mounted on the tray allows you to lift and load goods as desired. The truck generally features all-terrain wheels as well as stabilisers on both sides of the truck to steady the crane’s foundation and ensure crane safety during operation.

Crane Hire – Gold Coast and Brisbane

Do you need to hire a mobile crane for a domestic or commercial job? Surf City Cranes offer a variety of quality crane trucks for hire on the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Ipswich. Ask our friendly experts about our different cranes and their capabilities and accessories. Call us today on 0421 665 654 or 0402 269 535 or contact us online.