Tower Cranes Grow to New Heights
In the 1950s in the tower crane industry, there were many important developments in the design of these big cranes. Many different manufacturers were started producing bottom slewing cranes with a telescoping mast. These kinds of machinery dominated the construction business for apartment block and office construction. Many of the leading tower crane manufacturers didn't utilize cantilever jib designs. Instead, they made the switch to luffing jibs and eventually, the use of luffing jibs became the regular method.
Manufacturers based in Europe were also really influential in the design and development of tower cranes. Construction areas on the continent were normally tight places. Relying on rail systems to move several tower cranes, ended up being very difficult and expensive. Some manufacturers were providing saddle jib cranes which had hook heights of 262 feet or 80 meters. These 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 particular cranes also covered a larger work area. All of these developments resulted in the practice of building and anchoring cranes inside the lift shaft of a building. Then, this is the method which became the industry standard.
From the 1960s, the main focus on tower crane design and development started to cover a higher load moment, covering a larger job radius, climbing mechanisms and technology, faster erection strategies, and new control systems. Additionally, focus was spent on faster erection strategies with the most significant developments being made in the drive technology department, among other things.