Not all mobile cranes were created equally. Some jobs require extra horsepower than others, which is when the help of a crawler crane can be invaluable.
What we recognise as a crane, is a machine that is used to lift and move heavy loads, machines, materials, and goods for a variety of purposes. From construction to manufacturing to shipbuilding and material loading, cranes are used in a wide variety of settings, sectors and projects.
Mobile cranes are an instrumental piece of equipment, mounted on a truck base and controlled by pulleys and cables. One of the biggest benefits that mobile cranes provide is their level of flexibility and movability, especially in situations where multiple obstructions are present. Mobile cranes can be used to access narrow passages and sites that have limited space, making them a practical solution for many job sites.
Cranes are often required for extremely heavy yet delicate jobs, and sometimes even a standard mobile crane isn’t enough to conquer the task at hand. At this point, many turn to using a crawler crane as a means to an end - but what are they, and how do they work?
An Introduction To Crawler CranesCrawler cranes are purposefully designed to make short work of the toughest jobs. They are available in a broad range of lifting capacities for applications in a wide variety of fields, and are commonly used for heavy-duty foundation work.
In essence, a crawler crane is a form of mobile crane, but is regarded as the smallest and largest possible varieties. Crawler cranes are cranes mounted on an undercarriage with a set of tracks, or crawlers, that provide stability and mobility. Fundamentally, they are heavy duty machines that utilise ‘tank-like’ treads in order to move throughout a construction site, and can lift in excess of 2500 tonnes.
While a crawler crane can lift the heaviest of loads, they also require the most on-site assembly out of all the mobile crane varieties. Depending on the size of the crane and weight of loads it is intended to lift, onsite assembly may include attaching the tracks, assembling the lattice boom and any additional counterweights. Due to their sheer size and treads, crawler cranes are not road legal.
As previously mentioned above, crawler cranes use tracks for movement, such as those found on a tank. Unlike other cranes, crawler cranes do not use outriggers for stability. The lattice boom is lighter than booms found on other cranes, so crawler cranes have a wider operating radius due to the lesser boom weight.
One of the features that enables the crawler crane to lift enormous weights is the counterweight. The counterweight provides the needed stability and support when the crane is used for lifting heavy items. Some large crawler crane models are equipped with counterweights that can be up to several tonnes. There are also crawler cranes with custom made booms that can reach several hundred metres into the air, which makes them ideal for large-scale construction projects.
The primary advantage of using a crawler crane is that since the crane is stable on its tracks with no outriggers, they can move around on site and perform each lift with little set-up.
Sourcing A Mini Crawler Crane In South East QueenslandLindores Mobile Cranes (LMC) is a mobile crane and labour hire business that has unequalled experience in the construction industry spanning two generations. In operation since 2009, we’re a family owned business and are also proud owners of Brisbane’s only Humma crane.
At LMC, we pride ourselves on knowing what our customers require, and aren’t afraid to think outside of the box with suggestions in order to reduce costs and increase productivity. If you would like to explore your options regarding crane hire in South East Queensland or aren’t quite sure where to start, get in touch with us today.