There are so many cranes on construction sites in every city worldwide that it seems strange that we rarely see them being transported from one location to another. There are many different types and sizes of cranes, from small mini crawler cranes to massive tower cranes that can be as much as one hundred feet tall. Where these vast building tools are stored when they are not in use, and how they are moved from place to place is something of a mystery to many people. Here is some information you may find interesting.
How do cranes travel?
For many construction sites in inner cities, the largest cranes need to be built on site. Tower cranes are often transported between sites as separate components before being assembled where they are needed. According to Sky News, the biggest crane in the world, “Big Carl”, which came from Ghent in Belgium and is now being used at Hinkley Point, had to be transported on over 250 wagons.
Large tower cranes are often built on site using smaller pieces of machinery such as a davit crane or a mobile telescopic crane that can be more easily transported on a large lorry from A to B. However, some cranes are able to construct themselves by lifting up segments and adding them to the supporting tower. Once on site, mobile cranes are able to move around the construction area and larger tower cranes can often swivel to reach different areas..
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Where are cranes stored?
Because of the sheer number of building projects, many of the largest cranes are in use nearly all the time. However, between projects they may be broken down and stored inside as individual components, being constructed again on site. Some mobile cranes are stored in crane yards located in inner cities close to ongoing construction projects or in private storage. Some may remain on transport lorries overnight in between projects.
Cranes can be hired from companies such as https://www.gmh.co.uk/transition-piece-davit-cranes/ for various construction projects and transported to the site where they are needed. Cranes are also used in other sectors such as the automotive industry and for offshore constructions such as wind farms.
Because the tallest cranes are not transported in single units, we often accept their presence on the skyline without a thought for the logistics involved.
