Most people have heard of cranes but not too many people are familiar with derricks. Both are used to lift and move heavy items, and while they’re similar, they’re also different. An Overview of Cranes and Derricks So what’s a good definition of both a crane and a derrick in order to differentiate between the… Read more »
The Evolution of Construction Cranes
Most tall buildings built today have cranes to thank! Construction cranes allow city skylines to grow taller. If we didn’t have cranes, New York City, for instance, would look a lot different– a lot “lower to the ground,” for sure. In many ways, cranes are the backbone of the construction world. Advances in Construction Crane… Read more »
Precautions to Take When Operating a Construction Crane
Operating a crane is a big deal– if it’s not done properly and safely, it could result in someone losing their life. It could also result in expensive damages to whatever is around it. Think about this: a crane has the ability to lift an item that weighs thousands of pounds– thousands! And it lifts… Read more »
Why Crane Operators Are Highly Valued in the Marketplace
Crane operators make good money. Their job is challenging but doesn’t require years of advanced study. So how does a person become a crane operator? The Process of Becoming a Professional Crane Operator Typically, a young person graduates high school, takes some trade school courses and then completes general crane operator training followed by an… Read more »
The Process of Crane Rigging
When a load is live and under a hook, it has been lifted thanks to crane rigging, which requires a combination of math, geoengineering and mechanical information in order to get it right and prevent accidents. Shapes, weights and riggings may vary, but one thing’s for sure: riggers need to know about lifting requirements and… Read more »
Using Construction Cranes in Bad Weather
Have you heard of the term “weathervaning” as it relates to cranes? If you were in a major city where a tower crane was spinning around thanks to powerful winds, that’s weathervaning. Now most people would assume that a tall crane like that, spinning around in the wind, wouldn’t be safe or normal, but it… Read more »
Reasons to Use a Full Service Crane Company
If you were planning on selling your house, would you want to go with a realtor who is well-established and devotes all their time and energy to selling houses, or someone who just got their real estate license and is doing it “part time?” Ideally, you’d choose the full time, experienced person to work… Read more »
The Different Roles on a Crane Jobsite
When you rent a crane from Astro Crane, there are several crane operation jobs involved at most construction sites. What are some of those jobs and/or roles? Crane Operator A crane operator drives and operates the crane. Before (and after) work, they will also inspect the crane to make sure everything looks good, and they… Read more »
How to Maintain a Crane’s Chain Hoist
If and when you rent a crane from Astro Crane, you might be dealing with a chain hoist. What are some safety tips for a crane’s chain hoist? Routine Maintenance For starters, perform routine maintenance on the crane’s hardware to make sure it’s operating efficiently. Astro Crane does this, and if/when you are in possession… Read more »
Experience is Key When Selecting a Crane Operator
If you had a classic car that you’ve spent hours and hours working on, would you trust your 16-year-old nephew to drive it? Probably not. Why? Because a 16-year-old does not have much (if any) experience driving cars. The same idea applies to operating cranes. Would you trust an expensive piece of machinery in the… Read more »
