Tower Cranes Grow to New Heights
Throughout the 1950s in the tower crane business, there were many important developments in the design of these big cranes. Many different manufacturers were started making bottom slewing cranes with a telescoping mast. These machines dominated the construction industry for both 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 regular method.
Within Europe, there were major improvements being made in the design and development of tower cranes. Often, construction locations were constricted areas. Having to depend upon rail systems to move several tower cranes, became too difficult and expensive. Some manufacturers were offering saddle jib cranes which had hook heights of 80 meters or 262 feet. These kinds of cranes were outfitted 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 constructing upwards.
These specific cranes have long jibs and can cover a larger work area. All of these developments precipitated the practice of erecting and anchoring cranes in the lift shaft of a building. Then, this is the technique that became the industry standard.
From the 1960s, the main focus on tower crane development and design started to cover a higher load moment, covering a bigger job radius, climbing mechanisms and technology, faster erection strategies, and new control systems. In addition, focus was spent on faster erection strategies with the most essential developments being made in the drive technology department, amongst other things.