Cranes have become indispensable to the construction industry, with new technology meaning the variety of cranes available is increasing all the time. From specialised tasks to general construction, it’s critical to select the appropriate crane type for your job, with a number of parameters to consider. Before you choose a crane for your business, think about the crane’s life cycle, frequency of usage, topographical conditions, weather, and load type.
Pick and carry cranes, crawler cranes, all-terrain cranes, and rough terrain cranes are some of the most popular types of cranes used in Australia. Each crane type has its own set of applications and features.
Pick-and-Carry Cranes
Because of their adaptability and flexibility, pick-and-carry cranes have become popular in Australia as an excellent choice for both small and large operations. The Franna crane is a popular form of Pick-and-Carry crane that is widely utilised in Australia, and we keep this model as part of our hire crane fleet.
Franna cranes are mobile, hydraulic cranes that can be driven on the road, making them perfect for a wide range of tasks.
The lifting capacity of Franna cranes ranges from 10 to 25 tonnes, with different models catering for loads less than 10 tonnes.
These cranes can cope with site access challenges and height limits, effortlessly moving through small places with a Franna pick and carry crane, due to their compact size and simple transportability.
Mining, construction, shipping and transportation, shipbuilding, nuclear power plants, and ordinary lifting operations all employ these cranes.
Pick and carry cranes are not only capable of working on challenging sites, but they also have a minimal setup cost, allowing them to be both productive and cost-effective.
Crawler Crane
Crawler cranes are excellent for difficult work and have a wide range of applications. These well-known cranes are widely used in Australia for everything from minor lifting to heavy jobs. They can handle significantly more than the Franna crane, up to 660 tonnes, demonstrating their usefulness in a variety of industries.
They, like other cranes, have a minimal installation cost in terms of both time and money, and they can be readily transported. Many Crawler cranes are now available with optional extras like boom extensions, allowing you to customise your crane to your exact needs.
These cranes are positioned on mobile platforms and unlike some cranes, can be used at variable heights. This movable track keeps the crane steady throughout the operation, making it a particularly safe crane in the hands of qualified operators. They, like other cranes we’ll look at later, can work on a variety of surfaces.
While crawler cranes are workhorses when it comes to weighty load, smaller projects will benefit from the versatility of a Franna crane. Nonetheless, it is an important crane to assess each project – there will be a crane perfect for every site.
All-Terrain Cranes
While the other two cranes are excellent for general-purpose operations in Australia, cranes with highly specialised uses, such as the all-terrain crane, are worth considering. Instead of the Franna crane, which may be more beneficial smooth and level ground, all-terrain cranes work on difficult terrain.
All terrain cranes are a type of mobile crane. Other cranes need to be transported using additional vehicles, these cranes can be driven on public highways with ease, reducing transportation costs to your site.
All-terrain cranes have an average lifting capacity of more than 1000 tonnes, and may be used for everything from container lifts to lifting materials on municipal building projects, making them extremely adaptable.
Rough Terrain Cranes
In Australia, rough terrain cranes combine the best features of a mobile crane with those of an all-terrain crane in one highly-specialised crane type. Built with reinforced large wheels and bigger engine, they are designed to withstand harsh environments and rough terrain.
Unlike a mobile crane, rough terrain cranes can fit into tiny spaces, similar to a Franna crane since they are also compact. As a result, they are very mobile and functional.
This post has hopefully shown that cranes come in a range of shapes and sizes, each with its own set of applications and features. Before your project begins, consider the site, including access and terrain. Are you able to transport the crane on another vehicle or would you rather have a crane to drive directly to the site? To get help making a decision, call us and talk cranes with our knowledgeable staff.
If you have any questions or what like some more information about different types of cranes, get in touch with your local Diesel Mechanic Sunshine Coast today.
