High Achievers: What Are the Benefits of Mobile Cranes?

Cranes of all types are a vital tool in the construction industry for a range of manoeuvring, assembling and lifting tasks. In particular mobile cranes are stand-out assets for projects of all sizes, where their convenient set up and compact size make them the perfect vehicle for completing a variety of tasks.

Like an ordinary static crane, the mobile edition is a mechanical lifting device featuring a suspended lattice or hydraulic telescopic boom. The static variety is a fixed structure that can only move loads along a set path, whilst the mobile version features a tread or wheels and can be moved to different job sites.

Read on for a complete overview of the different types of mobile crane, and the benefits they can contribute to your building project.

Types Of Mobile Crane

Mobile cranes generally feature a single lifting arm as well as some form of wheels to assist in their manoeuvrability. Within this crane category there are several types, including:

Crawler cranes - this large type of mobile crane is fitted onto sizeable heavy vehicles, where treads like those on tanks allow them to move over wet and muddy ground

Rough terrain cranes - these are similar to the crawler, but are much lighter and smaller, which allows them to be used in more confined spaces

All terrain cranes - these are truck-mounted cranes that are suitable for driving on the roads, ideal for moving regularly between project sites

Carry deck cranes - this is a small deck mounted crane used for lifting lighter loads from one area to another within a single construction site

Vehicle mounted cranes - also called boom trucks, this is another truck mounted crane type that can drive on roads, and can lift very heavy loads, some up to 110 tonnes

Benefits Of Using A Mobile Crane

Mobile cranes provide a range of advantages for construction sites, where their various types and attachments are suited to a whole array of environments. Some of the many benefits they can bring are listed below.

Mobility

A tower crane is a large, permanent fixture that offers little to no manoeuvrability on a construction site. This cannot be removed or returned easily if building is delayed, leading to mounting hiring costs.

In comparison, a mobile crane is well suited to a project of any length, where it can be hired on a short or long term basis. They also come in a range of sizes, where each has varying lifting capabilities. This means you can hire multiple cranes for different jobs and for different lengths of time.

As most mobile cranes are truck mounted, they can easily be driven to and from the construction site, or positioned exactly where you need them in a large construction area. This will help make your project more efficient.

Compact Size

Mobile cranes are much smaller than the fixed tower crane variety. This means they can be easily driven through country lanes or busy urban landscapes without causing major disruption or delays.

Their size also means they can be stored onsite or nearby at little extra cost until they’re needed. This compact design also allows for precision lifting and manoeuvring capabilities, where you can complete jobs with a high level of care and accuracy.

Convenience

A mobile crane is a lot more convenient to use and manage than a large tower crane. Because of its size, it is a lot quicker to set up, where you don’t have to go to much trouble to prepare the site. Most mobile cranes can work with a range of terrains, especially the all-terrain and lightweight varieties.

Mobile cranes also come in one piece and so once they are secured on your site they are immediately ready to use, saving you time and money that would be spent on extended hiring costs for a tower crane. As they are mobile and compact, this crane type is also more readily available than the fixed variety, meaning it will be relatively easy to source and hire a vehicle.

Versatility

The wide variety of mobile cranes available mean that they are a very versatile piece of machinery, usable in a range of projects and industries. These can include:

●    Construction projects - mobile cranes are an essential tool for moving and lifting an array of building materials

●    Roofing - these cranes can reach jobs at high heights and carry out sensitive repairs with precision

●    Power transmission work - the mobility and compact nature of these cranes mean they are ideal for working with electricity in potentially dangerous environments

●    Heating and air conditioning work - mobile cranes can hoist and move units of all weights in both domestic and commercial projects

●    Wind turbine installations  - this crane type can handle all types of terrain and so are ideal for delivering renewable energy products to farms and other locations

Environmental Considerations

As mobile cranes are often moving between construction sites, they do contribute to harmful carbon emissions being released into the atmosphere. New innovations in crane technology are tackling this problem by introducing eco-friendly cranes that run on biofuels such as HVO. Another option is to make a switch to biodegradable hydraulic fuel alternatives. Recent developments in electric cranes could also help to make the industry greener. Other crane operations are focused on localised supply chain management to reduce excessive driving.

Hiring vs Buying

Hiring a mobile crane is an appropriate solution for most. There are lower upfront costs involved, where you can hire or rent a crane on a flexible contract that can incorporate transportation and maintenance. The rental company is also responsible for storing the crane and taking care of any safety checks.

Buying a crane may suit those looking to make a long term investment in their building resources. Ownership means you don’t have to pay extra for transportation and you can utilise the vehicle whenever you need to.

Ultimately users will need to weigh up the costs of each option, and assess the scale of their project to understand how their crane will need to be used.

Crane Hire Companies: What To Look For

There are multiple mobile crane companies on the market right now. Here’s a list of things to look out for when making your all-important selection:

●    Safety - can the company demonstrate they follow all safety procedures, are their machines well-maintained, and do they have proof of insurance

●    Experience - how long have they been in business for, and are their employees fully qualified in a range of appropriate areas

●    Customer service - how quickly can they provide you with a hiring contract, and do they respond well to queries

●    Equipment - do they have everything you would like to hire readily available, are their vehicles relatively modern and in working condition

●    Reputation - it’s always advisable to read online reviews or seek out word-of-mouth feedback before choosing a hire company

Mobile Crane Hire From Nick Sampson: Mechanical Engineering Services Ltd

At Nick Sampson we have an array of mobile cranes available to hire at affordable rates. Our all terrain and city-class vehicles lift a variety of weights, where our heavy duty cranes can manage loads up to 160 tonnes.

Our cranes also come with a variety of attachments and additional technology options, including Liccon planner software, appointed slinger signals, block grabs and rubbish steps.

Other Services

In addition to our crane hire work, we also perform a range of other commercial and industrial services and repairs. These include:

Heavy haulage - transportation of large machinery, crane haulage, plant haulage, sculpture relocation and installation

Repair work - commercial vehicle repairs, plant and recycling machinery repairs, forklift repairs

Specialised services - HIAB services and sales, fabrication and coded welding, tachograph analysis

About Nick Sampson

Our company began in 1987 as a one-man vehicle repair business based in north Devon. We now have two busy sites in Barnstable, where we employ a dedicated and professional team of over thirty experts.

We are proud to be certified members of the Construction Products Association, where we ensure all our products and services are delivered with a focus on safety and customer care.

Contact us today for more information about our services or to make a pricing enquiry.