Why You Should Use Mobile Cranes Instead of Tower Cranes

If you are about to embark on a new project and you are not sure which type of crane will be the most suitable, you should consider certain factors. Many project managers opt for tower cranes, but using mobile cranes provide many benefits that may go unnoticed. Before you choose your cranes, it will help to get an understanding of mobile cranes and how they can be advantageous to your project. Consider the following factors:

• Range of movement: Tower cranes are fixed to a particular location and, as a result, their range of movement can be restricted. Because mobile cranes are mobile, they can move around to pick up and deliver loads to areas that may be difficult to reach for tower cranes. Mobile cranes are particularly practical in urban areas, where space is often restricted. They can move through narrow areas and can be used in spaces where entry is restricted.

• Easy and quick to set up: A tower crane requires a lot of time to set up, because it must be installed safely and securely. Mobile cranes can be set up and be ready to work within a much shorter space of time and, as any project manager knows, time is money! A quick setup also means that the time it takes to complete certain tasks is vastly reduced, and this benefits the entire project.

• Saving space: Because mobile cranes typically have a small footprint compared to tower cranes, they are great to use in restrictive spaces. A mobile crane can usually tackle the same jobs as a tower crane on any building site, but it needs a lot less space to do so.

• Strength: There is a perception that mobile cranes are not as strong as tower cranes, because they are usually smaller. While certain tower cranes are definitely designed to carry and transport extremely heavy loads that mobile cranes probably could not deal with, the average mobile crane has all the power and strength to deal with the typical loads that the average tower crane has to contend with. Mobile cranes have heavy-duty axles and powerful hydraulics, and they are able to lift very heavy loads in a safe and efficient manner.

• Easier to deal with: When a tower crane breaks down, or parts need to be replaced, considerable downtime is needed to get it operating again. Mobile cranes are easy – they provide you with the luxury of a quick swop, and the work can go on again. Reducing downtime significantly reduces project costs, and a quick yet safe fix on the site can contribute significantly towards the success of a project.

• Cost-effective: Mobile cranes are undeniably more cost-effective to use than tower cranes. To install and build a tower crane, cost-intensive labour is used, and it takes time to do. Mobile cranes, on the other hand, require very little setup time, and this reduces time and cost during this phase of the project.

If you would like to know more about whether to use mobile cranes for your project, contact our team at Kanu Equipment for more information.