Tower Cranes Grow to New Heights
During the 1950s in the tower crane business, there were many significant developments in the design of these large cranes. Many different manufacturers were started producing bottom slewing cranes with a telescoping mast. These machinery dominated the construction industry for office and apartment block construction. Lots of of the top tower crane manufacturers didn't use cantilever jib designs. In its place, they made the switch to luffing jibs and in time, using luffing jibs became the regular method.
Manufacturers based in Europe were also heavily influential in the development and design of tower cranes. Construction areas on the continent were normally tight places. Relying upon rail systems to move several tower cranes, became very inconvenient and expensive. Some manufacturers were offering saddle jib cranes that had hook heights of 80 meters or 262 feet. These types of cranes were equipped with self-climbing mechanisms which enabled sections of mast to be inserted into the crane so that it can grow along with the structures it was building upwards.
These specific cranes have long jibs and can cover a bigger work area. All of these developments led to the practice of building and anchoring cranes in a building's lift shaft. Then, this is the technique that became the industry standard.
The main focus on tower crane design and development from the 1960s began on covering a higher load moment, covering a larger job radius, faster erection strategies, climbing mechanisms and technology, and new control systems. Additionally, focus was spent on faster erection strategies with the most essential developments being made in the drive technology department, amongst other things.