Cranes are mechanical equipment specially designed for lifting and moving heavy objects. They consist of a main arm, counterweight, hook, and control system, and can be operated safely and efficiently at high altitudes or in complex environments. Cranes are not only "strongmen" in the construction process, but also an important guarantee for improving work efficiency and safety.
1. Crane classification and use
According to structure and function, cranes can be divided into tower cranes, mobile cranes, crawler cranes and bridge cranes.
- Bridge crane
Bridge crane, also known as bridge hoisting machinery, is a type of crane that spans across buildings connected by steel skeleton beams. It includes single-beam bridge cranes and double-beam bridge cranes. Its characteristics are that it can span a large distance in space, has a large lifting capacity, and is suitable for the handling and lifting of large objects. Bridge cranes are widely used in various workshops, freight yards, docks and other places.
- Tower crane
Tower cranes are cranes with vertical steel structures as their support system, and are usually used in construction sites and high-rise buildings. They are characterized by stable structure, strong lifting capacity, large working range, and the ability to install and use independent brackets. Tower cranes are mainly used for the lifting, assembly and handling of building materials to improve the efficiency and quality of construction.
- Mobile cranes
Mobile crane is a kind of equipment that can be flexibly moved, including all-terrain cranes and wheeled cranes. It is suitable for construction sites that need to be frequently moved. It is flexible and convenient to operate and has strong adaptability. It can be quickly moved to the location where the operation is required as needed, and is used for various temporary lifting operations. Mobile cranes are generally composed of a body, a boom and outriggers, and are widely used in ports, warehouses, transportation, road construction and other occasions.
- Crawler cranes
Crawler crane is a kind of equipment with crawler as the walking mechanism. Because crawler has good off-road performance and load-bearing capacity, it is suitable for complex terrain and low-load-bearing sites. It has excellent stability and passing ability and is suitable for operation on construction sites with poor soil conditions. Crawler crane has the characteristics of strong adaptability and good peer ability. It is widely used in construction sites, farmland irrigation, energy construction and other occasions.
- Marine crane
Marine cranes are mainly used for boring loading, unloading and handling in ports, docks and ships. Marine cranes are usually configured at the hatch of the ship, and their jibs can move in the horizontal and vertical directions to better complete the loading and unloading operations.
2. Advantages of crane
Compared with traditional manpower or mechanical methods, cranes have obvious advantages such as high efficiency, precision and safety.
- Efficiency . Compared with manual handling, cranes can quickly reach the destination and place the goods at the designated location, saving manpower and time costs and greatly improving work efficiency.
- Precision . Cranes can precisely control the position and angle of objects during transport and loading and unloading. This precision avoids the scratches and damage that may occur in traditional transport methods and improves the accuracy of object handling.
- Safety. Crane operators can control the lifting, lowering, and retracting of equipment in a safe position, avoiding the risk of personal injury and equipment damage that may occur during manual operation. In terms of transporting dangerous goods and working at height, cranes provide higher safety and a safer operating environment for workers.
- Flexibility and adaptability . Different types of cranes (such as tire cranes, bridge cranes, etc.) have different characteristics and scopes of application. They can be selected and adjusted according to specific operating environments and needs, providing a high degree of flexibility and adaptability.
These advantages make cranes an indispensable part of modern construction projects, with a wide range of applications covering everything from large-scale infrastructure to small residential construction.
3. How to choose a crane that suits the needs of the construction site
Choosing the right crane for your jobsite is a multifaceted process. Here are some key steps and considerations to ensure you choose the right crane for your jobsite.
3.1 Clarify work requirements
- load capacity
Determine the maximum load weight that the crane needs to bear and select the appropriate crane according to the load weight. For example, for the main structure hoisting of a large industrial plant, you may need to choose a 500-750kN crawler crane and a 350-1000kN truck crane.
- The scope of work
Choose according to the working range of the crane, including horizontal moving distance, lifting height, working radius, etc. Choose the appropriate boom length for different working environments and needs.
- working frequency
Considering the operating frequency of the crane, choosing a suitable crane can improve working efficiency and lifespan.
3.2 Consider the working environment
- Indoor or outdoor
Choose a crane based on whether the working environment is indoors or outdoors. Outdoor working environments may require special designs such as rain protection and corrosion resistance.
- Narrow area
If the construction site is located in a narrow area, you may need to choose a smaller and more mobile crane.
- Open construction
If the plant adopts an open construction plan, it may be necessary to consider using a double-machine lifting or a single-machine lifting method to lay the sleeper pad on the equipment foundation.
3.3 Select control method
Depending on the work requirements, you can choose manual control, remote control or automatic control. For production lines that require high efficiency, automatic control may be more suitable; for some special scenarios, remote control may be more flexible and convenient.
3.4 Ensure safety performance
The safety performance of the crane is the primary factor in selection. It is necessary to ensure that the selected crane has complete safety features, such as safety limiters, overload protection devices, emergency stop devices, etc.
3.5 Consider maintenance
Choosing a jib crane that is easy to maintain can not only reduce the subsequent maintenance costs, but also ensure the long-term stable operation of the equipment. It is necessary to consider the structural design of the crane, material selection and the convenience of maintenance.
3.6 Develop a reasonable cost budget
Under the premise of meeting the work requirements and safety performance, the cost budget needs to be considered. This includes the purchase cost, installation cost, maintenance cost and possible upgrade cost of the crane. Through a reasonable cost budget, you can choose a cost-effective cantilever crane.
3.7 Considering the manufacturer or supplier
The manufacturer or supplier's reputation, after-sales response speed, service personnel quality and technical personnel professional level are also factors to consider when choosing a crane. In-depth communication with the manufacturer or supplier can help you understand the performance and characteristics of the crane more accurately, so as to choose the most suitable crane.
3.8 Conducting site investigation and assessment
For large or complex projects, it is essential to conduct a site survey and assessment. This can help you understand the actual situation of the workplace more accurately and ensure that the selected crane can fully adapt to the working environment and needs.
4. Summary
In summary, choosing a crane that suits the needs of a construction site requires comprehensive consideration of work requirements, working environment, control method, safety performance, maintenance, cost budget, and factors of the manufacturer or supplier. By carefully evaluating and comparing the characteristics and performance of different cranes, the most suitable crane can be selected to meet the actual needs of the construction site.
