30
Dec
For increased productivity and profitability, many companies are looking for machines which can be used for various tasks at the same. This means finding versatile machines which offer more flexibility and maneuverability. One of the most versatile and flexible machines used for construction and mining applications is the crawler crane. It is a large and heavy-duty lifting machine capable to deal with heavy lifts with ease. The crawler crane offers many advantages in terms of powerful performance and superior lifting results. However, this lifting machine has gone through a lot of changes and upgrades throughout the years.
The first gas-powered crawler crane has been introduced in 1911 by Bucyrus Company. This crane was known by the name Type 14. With maximum lifting capacity of 47 tons and with 18.3-m long lattice boom, Type 14 was a major “hit” on the market at that time. This crane was known for its incredible lifting capacity, great boom outreach, various engine options and ability to perform different lifting applications. Because of its poor ergonomics, Type 14 required a physically strong operator with a good understanding in mechanics. Beside the negative sides, Type 14 was the perfect lifting machine which was heavily used on the construction sites all over the world.
Today, there are many different models of crawler cranes, with capacities ranging from 100 to over 3,000 tons. A typical modern crawler crane is consisted of a house, a lattice or telescopic boom, side frames, a carbody, wire ropes, a hoist and sheaves. Since it is colossal and incredibly stable, the crawler crane don’t come with outriggers for further stability. Instead of wheels, the crawler crane comes with heavy-duty tracks which are responsible for the amazing stability.
This versatile crane type can move around a job site and carry out each lift task with ease and little set-up, since it doesn’t need outriggers. It can also complete heavy lifts which cannot be completed with any other crane types.
However, the crawler cranes have some disadvantages.One of most interesting facts is that the transportation of the crawler cranes is the biggest issue. Because it comes with big tracks, the crawler crane needs to be transported with a special-purpose vehicle from one site to another. For more efficient transportation, the crawler crane, needs to be disassembled into smaller parts and then pulled by one or two purpose vehicles with a trailer. The total transportation cost is very high, especially if the next job site is a lot of kilometers away.
