Most projects in the building industry involving heavy lifting will use some form of crane to do the job. These days, anybody can see a crane or two at a construction site. Still, you might ask, “What are cranes used for?”

Hook Crane Services is a leading crane rental service in Arizona that services many businesses across multiple sectors. As experts in crane machine functions and applications, we know that these machines are integral to numerous industries, structures, applications, and more. Here, we shed light on the different types of cranes for construction and industrial projects. 

What Is a Crane?

Cranes are machines that lift, move, and drop heavy loads like lumber, steel beams, vehicles, and other items for multiple purposes. Though many people associate cranes with construction sites, they’re also important equipment in other sectors like shipbuilding, material loading, and manufacturing. 

Unlike other heavy-duty equipment, cranes don’t need power or separate machinery to work. Though modern renditions use basic technology like hydraulic systems and electric motors, the crane’s main components are wire ropes, chains, and sheaves, which form a pulley system for heavy loads.

Crane safety is a must. Since the crane’s operator stays in one position when using the machine, they must know the best practices for lifting and moving items.

Common construction, commercial, and industrial crane applications include:

• Building bridges
• Moving vehicles
• Transporting scrap metal
• Handling shipping materials
• Hauling construction materials
• Lifting mobile homes
• Fixing cell phone towers
• Laying railroad tracks
• Installing commercial and industrial HVAC equipment

Mobile Cranes vs Static Cranes: What’s the Difference?

Despite the many types of cranes, the equipment usually falls into two categories: static and mobile. A static crane is a permanent fixture on the ground or a building that lifts and transports items along a specific path. A mobile crane uses wheels or treads to move, making them more versatile since they don’t have fixed path restrictions. 

Mobile crane designs allow them to easily carry materials around a job site using a boom with sheaves, wire rope, and a hook. It’s common for mobile cranes to need counterweights or outriggers as well as on-site assembly, unlike static cranes that stay in one area. 

Popular Types of Cranes

When answering, “What are cranes used for?” it’s important to consider crane type. Here are several common cranes and their uses. 

Tower Cranes

The cranes that you see at construction sites with tall structures are likely tower cranes. They’re fixed to the ground on a concrete base, yet they can carry heavy-duty materials for long distances, making them ideal for making tall buildings. 

Harbor Cranes

Harbor crane operations are for handling cargo, containers, and bulk materials at ports for ships. They’re a type of dockside gantry crane, which means the equipment is on a structure with a rail-frame hoist configuration and freestanding legs. Harbor cranes are ideal for managing heavy loads around shipyards that can’t accommodate an overhead crane system. 

Overhead Cranes

Overhead cranes are permanently fixed horizontal beams on a rail or track that move up and down. They’re standard at certain construction sites, warehouses, and facilities that do repetitive hauling and transporting. The purpose of these cranes is to make it easier and safer to lift and lower loads in a bay of up to 400 tons. 

Crawler Cranes

A crawler crane is part of the mobile crane variety. Also called boom lattice cranes and telescopic crawlers, these machines are the biggest mobile cranes available.

They feature a sturdy mobile base with threads resembling those on a tank. With a crawler crane, you can easily lift items over 2,500 tons. While they likely require on-site assembly, most telescopic crawlers don’t need outriggers for stability. 

All-Terrain Cranes

Unlike rough terrain cranes, which are suitable for off-road mobile crane applications, all-terrain cranes can travel on nearly any surface. This type of crane sits on multiple tires and has a telescoping boom that extends and retracts to pick up items. It’s an excellent choice when lifting and lowering materials in confined spaces. 

Rent a Crane for Your Next Building Project in Arizona From Hook Crane Services

What are cranes used for? This machine’s heavy-lifting equipment capabilities make it indispensable to the construction and industrial industries. When companies in Arizona need to rent a crane with professional operators, drivers, and riggers, they turn to Hook Crane Services.

The professionals at Hook Crane Services have almost 50 years of experience as a crane rental service. Today, we have an impressive fleet of 11 cranes with MSHA and NCCCO-certified operators. Reliable services and outstanding customer support are our specialties. Contact us at (520) 323-0963 for a free equipment rental quote.