How To Choose The Perfect Heavy-Duty Crane

Do you need to lift or move heavy goods?

Heavy loads – weighing several hundreds or even thousands of tonnes – are hoisted all over the world, all of the time.

But because every load is different, having the right type of crane and lifting equipment is vitally important.

Luckily, we supply only the best Liebherr and Grove heavy-duty cranes, here at BJW Cranes, and our team will gladly assist you in choosing the perfect one for your project.

Below, we’ve compiled a short list of the factors you need to consider to ease the process of selecting a suitable crane.

 

·         Size and weight of the load

When hiring a heavy-duty crane, you need to make sure that the load capacity is suitable for the load in question.

Opting for a crane that has a lower capacity than the weight you need to lift increases the risk of failure and injury on-site, whereas a capacity that’s too high is likely to slow operations down – costing your business valuable time and money.

 

·         Lift height

Heavy-duty cranes have a long, fixed or hydraulic arm that’s attached to the cab and used to lift heavy objects, such as pallets of bricks or other construction materials. This is called a ‘boom’.

Knowing the minimum lift height of your project will help to narrow your options down when choosing a crane with a suitable boom length.

In most cases, as the height of the lift increases, the weight a heavy-duty crane can support reduces simultaneously.

But most crane companies will provide a crane load chart to show their crane’s boom length, rated capacity and reach radius, allowing you to decide on the right one for your lifting operation.

 

·         Accessibility of the worksite

Before deciding which heavy-duty crane to hire for your upcoming project, you need to check how accessible your worksite is.

For example, if there are narrow roads and tight bends, choosing a crane with a  compact length, such as the Grove GMK 5150-L, will allow for easy access.

Alternatively, if there is limited space or restricted access, it may be worth choosing a heavy crane that can be assembled on-site.

It’s also a good idea to check for obstructions, including tall trees, high-rise buildings and power lines close to your construction site, as these can affect the ease and performance of your crane when transferring heavy loads.

 

Need an expert opinion?

The team at BJW Cranes have specialised in heavy-duty crane hire for more than two decades – providing only the most reliable cranes and lifting solutions.

Whilst we’re continually investing in our fleet to accommodate the diverse needs of our clients, we’re confident we can assist you in choosing the best heavy-duty crane for your project.

So, why not get in touch?

We’re always on hand to help and would love to hear from you.

Simply call us on 01724 289 501 or drop us an email at office@bjwcranes.co.uk, and we’ll get back to you shortly.