Crane Operators Should Avoid Wires to Cause Major Fires

Using a crane to do construction can make certain jobs significantly easier, but if you are not careful, you can do serious damage when you take the controls of one. In order to avoid major accidents, crane operators need to be aware of all of their surroundings at all times, and they need to look… Read more »

Liebherr to Showcase Technology at MINExpo

AstroCrane’s massive fleet carries a full range of cranes for hire, including the mammoth 600-ton Liebherr that extends up to 470 feet. If you have never experienced the massive capabilities of Liebherr equipment, plan on heading to Las Vegas in September for a showcase to take your breath away. Liebherr USA may have its fingers… Read more »

Know the Different Types of Crane Mats

When you are thinking about your upcoming construction job, have you considered the type of crane mats that you will need to get the job done the right way? If you didn’t already know, there are several types of crane mats; each with its own specific purpose. Below we will cover the different types, along… Read more »

How Do Tower Cranes Work?

When you look up in the sky and see a tower crane lifting something to the top of a building, do you ever wonder how these amazing machines work? Growing up right by the big cities, we see them all the time and they are so majestic in the way that they can lift something… Read more »

Improper Crane Operation Can Lead to Project Delays

Cranes are incredibly useful tools for construction projects, but they can also be incredibly dangerous if not handled properly. Stories of accidents with cranes – sometimes when they are not even on the job – have become too common. That’s because too many companies don’t bring in a certified crane operator or crane rigger. Let’s… Read more »

Advice for Becoming a Certified Crane Operator

Used in construction as well as at manufacturing plants and transportation centers, cranes require plenty of training to use safely and certification is a requirement for individuals interested in making a career using a construction crane. Unlike many other careers that involve the use of heavy equipment, crane operation often begins with a training program,… Read more »

Looking Back: The First Hydraulic Crane in the US

Hydraulic cranes may be common today, but as recently as the 1940s most cranes were still friction operated. Roy Billings, Milwaukee Hydraulics Corp. president, saw an opportunity to improve the portability, safety and difficulty of operating cranes by using hydraulics, and by 1946, Milwaukee Hydraulics had developed America’s first hydraulic crane. The first crane produced… Read more »

Cranes on Cranes – Check Out this Tower Crane Time Lapse

Have you ever seen an enormous skyscraper constructed from the ground up? Have you ever wondered how contractors build such tall, massive buildings? The fact is tall buildings require even taller cranes, often called tower cranes. These behemoths must be installed in sections in a process that takes several days – sometimes weeks – to… Read more »

‘Smart Iron’ and the Future of Construction Sites

You have probably heard of the “Internet of Things,” but “smart iron” may take the idea of interconnected appliances and apply it to job site machinery and equipment. Caterpillar CEO Doug Oberhelman recently announced at a Munich press conference that a “digital transformation” in the heavy equipment industry is essential , and Cat plans to… Read more »