Tower Cranes Grow to New Heights
In the 1950s in the tower crane business, there were numerous important developments in the design of these large cranes. Many different manufacturers were started producing bottom slewing cranes with a telescoping mast. These machines dominated the construction market for both apartment block and office construction. Many of the leading tower crane manufacturers didn't use cantilever jib designs. Instead, they made the switch to luffing jibs and in time, the use of luffing jibs became the regular practice.
Manufacturers based within Europe were also heavily influential in the development and design of tower cranes. Construction sites on the continent were normally tight areas. Depending on rail systems to move several tower cranes, ended up being very costly and inconvenient. Some manufacturers were offering saddle jib cranes that had hook heights of 262 feet or 80 meters. These types of cranes were outfitted with self-climbing mechanisms which allowed sections of mast to be inserted into the crane so that it could grow along with the structures it was building upwards.
The long jibs on these specific cranes also covered a bigger work area. All of these developments precipitated the practice of constructing and anchoring cranes inside the lift shaft of a building. Afterwards, this is the technique which became the industry standard.
The main focus on tower crane development and design from the 1960s began on covering a higher load moment, covering a bigger job radius, climbing mechanisms and technology, faster erection strategies, and new control systems. Moreover, focus was spent on faster erection strategies with the most important developments being made in the drive technology department, amongst other things.