With load capacities from 1 to 500 tons, industrial cranes provide the strength needed to lift, lower, carry and relocate what cannot be moved by smaller machinery or mere human power. Large outdoor cranes are mostly used in the construction of buildings and structures like bridges or highway systems, and in large lifting applications Continue reading
Crane Manufacturer image courtesy of Gorbel Inc.
Humans have hungered for reaching far beyond what’s physically possible with our bodies alone. From the Tower of Babel to the modern Skyscraper, man devised ways to move loads greatly exceeding his normal capacity, creating Continue reading
The Pyramids or Stonehenge might seem like marvels to us even today, as modern architecture and construction relies on heavy duty material handling equipment to transport and maneuver beams and other weighty loads, and move them to the necessary heights. Where would society be without Continue reading
All cranes are in a sense mobile. Gantries and jibs can have mobile supports, and bridge cranes that are part of a building’s overhead structure still have track and trolley rail systems with moving parts. And, in the broad picture, all cranes are meant to move loads from one location to another. However, for the following, I will be referring to Continue reading
Overhead Crane image courtesy of Brehob Corporation.
At a time when Ireland’s troubles were raging, there came a great announcement from one of Northern Ireland’s largest employers, Harland & Wolff. They were going to build two enormous gantry cranes to further their reputation and reach as one of the largest shipbuilders in the world. The first was completed in 1969 and the second in 1974. Named after biblical figures symbolizing grand strength, Continue reading
Before cranes were invented, the primary means of vertical load motion was the use of ramps. Then, in the late 6th century BC, the Ancient Greeks introduced the winch and pulley hoist. The new lifting technique meant that instead of a few large stones being used, several smaller ones were more practical. This switch from the ramp to crane technology was favored by the Greeks because Continue reading
Bridge Crane image courtesy of Otsego Crane & Hoist Company.
I don’t know about you, but taking a trip on a trolley sounds pretty good to me. I envision a relaxing tour of something I’ve never seen in a different city or surrounded by nature. In this day and age, it seems almost whimsical to take a ride on a tram, cable car or streetcar Continue reading
Track cranes can be considered synonymous with bridge cranes. However, let us make a distinction for the following; let’s call bridge cranes any crane on a track overhead, and let’s focus on stacker cranes that move on tracks in the aisles of Continue reading
You can turn yourself into a jib crane, just stand up and hold one of your arms straight out from your shoulder, making a right angle to your body. Now, Continue reading
Workstation cranes can move loads that weigh between 150 and 4,000 pounds, utilized in factories, warehouses and machine shops to complete industrial processes. Workers could never manufacture, assemble, and install heavy duty industrial equipment, or manufacture steel without the use of cranes. And, smaller workstation cranes handle Continue reading