The most common type of crane is the mobile crane. There are a few different kinds of mobile crane such as truck mounted, rough-terrain, crawler and floating. Pick and Carry cranes, often called Franna cranes, are also very common around Australia. They are very similar to mobile cranes, but are designed to pick up a load and carry it to a new destination, rather than working in a stationary position.
Unlike more conventional cranes, mobile cranes generally have limited mobility when lifting and will usually only rotate 180 degrees. Some of the larger, more expensive mobile cranes are capable of rotating 360 degrees.
When mobility from site to site isn't necessary, many will opt for a tower crane. Tower cranes are large, fixed machines that can generally lift far more than a mobile crane can. These machines are mostly found on large construction sites and roadworks projects. Large concrete blocks are attached to the tail end of the lifting jib (the part of the machine that lifts the items) to help balance the crane and to increase the lift capacity.
All cranes come with a manufacturer lift standard, explaining the maximum weight the crane can lift safely. This is usually around 75% of what the crane can theoretically lift, as most States and Countries prefer the 'safer is better' approach.
Aside from roadworks and standard construction projects, cranes are also used for loading and unloading containers off ships, as well as bridge and port construction projects. In the latter case, you will generally find floating cranes are the machines of choice. As the name suggests, these cranes float on the water, either through pontoons or specialised barges. They are a great choice for loading or unloading heavy, awkward loads off a ship, or moving entire sections of a bridge in a construction project.
Picking the right crane will depend on the needs of your project and your budget. A small to mid-scale construction project will probably be fine with a mobile crane or two, while a large bridge or skyscraper might be better off with a tower crane. As always, check with the manufacturer for specifications and lifting capacity.
