Cranes are probably the most well-known units used on construction sites. This fact might be supported by their enormous size and the ability to see them from quite a far distance. Cranes are some of the biggest machines in the world. When gazing up at them, it seems as if the arm of the crane is almost touching the sky.
The largest cranes fall into the category of static cranes. Static cranes are the most common cranes used in all kind of building constructions. As urban construction is one of the major pillars of the global economy, Kitmondo has decided to focus on these particular items and describe the biggest strengths and weaknesses they offer to modern construction sites.
Strengths of static cranes
Static cranes are known for their ability to fulfill the hardest tasks on construction sites. Cranes make construction work much easier and save a lot of time. Their utility is highly important and their position in building projects is irreplaceable. They are used on many different types of construction sites where moving and lifting large and heavy objects is required.
Static cranes perform a wide range of work which is required for construction projects. Another characteristic of static cranes is their capacity. They are designed to bear the heaviest construction materials and to lift them onto very high heights.
As the name of the category implies, static cranes are not designed to move on the ground. They are rooted tightly into the field and are precisely fixed to prevent any fall overs. They are known for their high stability thanks to their precisely fixed locations. The cranes are carefully weighed down to be supportive and stable when they are moving with their loads. Their balance is also supported by other backup tools, for example, ballast blocks, which are held in place at the end of the tower crane arm.
Cranes themselves encourage the safety of the working place. Trying to move with bulk material and heavy loads without cranes would be really dangerous. Cranes are designed according to the strictest safety guidelines so they can be operated to carry heavy loads high in the air. Pair highly trained and skilled staff together with static cranes, and construction work becomes much easier and safer.
Weaknesses of static cranes
Despite the grounding stability of these cranes, the industry has seen numerous accidents of crane fall-overs. The installation and positioning of a static crane is a small but difficult construction itself. It is complicated to fix a static crane into the ground. The installations demand highly attentive work which requires effort, time, and money. Taking proper precautions is one of the most crucial steps when building cranes in the construction sites. The immensity of static cranes has fatal consequences when falling down.
Other weaknesses of static cranes are their prices of purchasing or even renting. The cost of cranes itself, as well as money spent on maintenances and repairs, are really high. The process of bolting the crane into the ground in construction sites also requires a large amount of money. Nonetheless, it is important to note that despite all of these expenses that come with using cranes, they are still incomparable with the wide range of efficiencies they provide. The numerous of advantages outweigh the total expenses in profit.
Another crucial part of including a crane onsite is choosing the right place to plant the crane. Before bolting, serious consideration should be given to many factors, including the size of the construction site and the weather conditions – especially strong winds which can cause calamitous incidents when a crane is not built in the right place.
Static cranes have numerous advantages that make difficult construction work doable and much easier. On the other hand, it is important to remember their weaknesses. Keeping them in mind will help keep respect for the heavy construction machines the cranes are. Using them in the right way and knowing their strengths and weaknesses facilitates the best performance in developing new modern sites.
