With each type of tower crane having different functions and capabilities, we’re taking a deeper look into luffing jibs, saddle jibs and remote-controlled cranes, to help you with your next construction project.
Luffing jib cranes
A conventional luffing jib tower crane is a type of tower crane that features a jib which can move up and down, or “luff,” to change its angle relative to the vertical mast. They have a rope and pulley system to allow a crane operator to raise and lower the jib to alter the radius of the jib.
These cranes are ideal for residential and urban areas with limited space as they can lift heavy weights high without oversailing boundaries or colliding. They can park with the jib close to vertical to keep it out of the way of nearby buildings or roads or property that you do not have permission to oversail.
Luffers can be placed close to each other maximising ‘hook time’ for sites with large volumes of lifting work.
Bennetts also operates a range of hydraulic luffing jib cranes, which use hydraulic cylinders to adjust the angle of the jib rather than ropes and pulleys. This allows for the crane to have a smaller out-of-service radius, so are also perfect for small urban sites. They are more energy-efficient because hydraulic rams need less power than the motor that luffs the jib on a conventional crane.
Luffers produce higher base loads so the base is larger and more expensive. They cost more to hire and erect and dismantle, so you use a saddle jib in preference to a luffer unless a luffer has to be used because a saddle jib oversails neighbouring property, or you need multiple hooks close together.
Saddle jib
A saddle jib crane can be identified by their structure with a vertical tower supporting a fixed horizontal jib. Saddle jib cranes are available in a wide range of heights and jib configurations making them extremely versatile for the majority of building projects. They can be supplied on three types of base, ballasted, fixing angles or rail travelling to suit site requirements.
The key benefit to hiring a saddle jib crane is their ability to lift vertically and then horizontally so they are better suited to city centres then mobile cranes for long hires and can work in much higher wind speeds, minimising time winded off. They’re also very stable and are easy to assemble and disassemble. This makes relocating to different areas of your project very efficient.
Saddle jib or top-slewing cranes also require less space at ground level than a self-erecting crane. However they are less appropriate in busy urban sites then luffers, where over-sailing buildings is a problem, because the jib cannot be raised and lowered to different angles.
Remote-controlled cranes
Remote-controlled cranes are the cheapest option. These cranes are ideal for smaller, shorter building projects. They can often be used instead of a mobile crane, which is usually much more expensive per day to hire.
The benefits of using a remote-controlled crane include simple and fast erection, they’re cheap to transport and potentially one man can act as the driver and banksman and carry out other tasks when the crane is not in use.
One or more site employees can be trained to operate the remote-controlled crane, ensuring sites can easily cover operator absence.
Our team
Our team of crane experts are on hand to help you with any crane-related questions. If you’d like to further discuss which type of crane would best suit your construction site give us a call at +44 (0)1453 811754 or email sales@tower-crane.co.uk.
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