Spotlight Cranes

By Seth Skydel

Joseph Patton, sales manager at Linden Comansa America, pointed to the growing use of tower cranes in industrial construction.“ While this sector has traditionally been dominated by mobile cranes, tower cranes are becoming more prevalent due to their ability to handle higher lifts and larger loads,” he said.“ Tower cranes also improve efficiency at power plants and large-scale manufacturing facilities, where there is no room for roadways and a small footprint is needed.”

Bradley Calaman, key account manager for Manitowoc( manufacturer of Potain cranes), said they are seeing tower crane use increase on data center building projects.“ Historically, these jobs have used crawler cranes to perform tilt-up work for prefabricated walls,” he said,“ but some contractors are finding that a tower crane can perform the same work for about the same cost, and there is no need to move the crane. That removes operations from the job plan and increases efficiency on the site.

“ We’ re also seeing companies replacing their laydown yard cranes and forklifts with strategically placed tower cranes,” Calaman continued.“ The removal and maneuvering of telehandlers or similar equipment can be difficult through a packed yard but a tower crane that doesn’ t have to drive up and down rows allows for more space to store more equipment. A tower crane also runs on electric power, which benefits companies looking to decarbonize their operations.”

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Linden Comansa expects all tower cranes to shift to PLC systems to enhance control and precision while anti-collision systems, which prevent cranes from coming into dangerous proximity with other equipment or structures, are improving safety on jobsites.

Combined Advantages

When it comes to specifying and sourcing tower cranes, noted Tobias Scholz, head of market management at Liebherr-Werk Biberach GmbH, working with a crane manufacturer and dealer offers numerous advantages.“ Manufacturers can offer customized solutions that are tailored to the specific requirements of the project,” he said.

“ Operators also benefit from technical support, training and maintenance services that increase operational efficiency,” Scholz continued,“... and dealers can help with the procurement of spare parts and accessories, which minimizes downtime and lowers the total cost of ownership.”

Robert Kohler, vice president at Crane Tech Solutions LLC, which supplies and services JASO tower cranes, pointed out that local dealers can add value because they understand the intricacies of the local market.“ We also provide factory trained technicians and that typically leads to more uptime,” he added.

It’ s the best of both worlds for Wolffkran.“ Working with the crane manufacturer and a dealer together gets you the customer service of a local dealer with the full support of the manufacturer that designed the crane,” Good said.

“ Operators and owners can make sure they are sourcing a crane that fits their needs exactly by working directly with a manufacturer,” said Calaman.“ We can even offer case-by-case designs if the

March 2025 • www. cranehotline. com