The World’s Biggest, Strongest and Tallest Cranes

When it comes to the biggest and strongest machines in construction, cranes usually both outweigh and out-power every single piece of heavy lifting equipment in the yard. These powerhouses of the construction world help make what seems impossible possible, often lifting other pieces of heavy machinery into place. Some of the world’s largest construction companies use these mega machines to build mega structures; let’s take a look at three of the biggest, strongest and ultimately 'nastiest' cranes in the world.

Tadano GR-1450EX-2

The number three spot in terms of lifting power on the ground has to go to the GR-1450EX-2, a rough-terrain crane developed by the Japanese company Tadano. This conventional lifting rig has less than conventional specs when it comes to lifting power. Weighing in at over 145 tonnes, this monster of a crane features three axels to provide a sturdy yet manoeuvrable base of function, combined with a six-axle, single cylinder telescopic boom that spans 61 metres. Using its two-stage lattice hydraulic tilt-jib that bi-folds, this mega crane adds an impressive 18 metres to the existing 61-metre main boom arm. Impressive.

Featuring Tadano’s custom Hello-Net remote controls system integrated as standard, the GR-1450EX-2 is able to feed telemetry data to a computer or mobile device for a full diagnostics and operational integrity report in the palm of your hands. While cranes with the lifting power of this puppy are not all that common, it’s becoming hugely important for fleet and site managers to know exactly what operations are going on with their machines. This means a more efficient worksite and also enables them maintain the highest level of safety on the job.

Taisun

The second super crane on our list is the ol’ Gantry Crane 2.0. Also named the Taisun, after the biggest mountain in the Shandong province of China, this gantry crane features the ability lift over 20,000 tonnes in a single shot. After taking over seven years to arrange and plan, it took a further year to be constructed and tested. Once put into work, it lifts an average of 7-10,000 tonnes per lift and is able to operate quickly and with an efficiency that is unmatchable for a gantry crane.

The Taisun is the world’s strongest crane available today, and with its ability to be able to lift over 10,000 cars in a single lift, you can see how it made a name for itself in the world of heavy lifting equipment. This beast of a machine is built for the single purpose of lifting semi submersibles in the Yantai Raffles shipyard in Shandong. Holding the Guinness World Record for the heaviest weight ever lifted by a crane, Taisun is a formidable force in lifting.

Kockums Crane

 

The world’s biggest crane in existence today in terms of sheer size is still considered to be the Kockums Crane. This mega crane was built in 1973 in Sweden to be used in the Malmo docks as its main heavy lifting crane. Used to build over 75 ships in its time, the Kockums Crane stands at a height of 138 metres, with a rail width of 175 metres and features a rail length of a staggering 710 metres. These large numbers do not take away from the Kockums ability to lift heavy loads at such a height, with regular lifts of 1,500 tonnes made easy. The Kockums was later sold to Hyundai Heavy Industries and now resides in Ulsan, South Korea where it stands tall above the crowd to still be crowned the king of all cranes.

 

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Technology & Mobile Cranes

The mobile crane has become an increasingly popular machine in industry, and it is becoming the preferred option as far as cranes and lifting equipment go. These machines are used greatly in construction to shift building materials, while warehouses and factories make use of them to load and unload. Depending on the industry they are operating in, companies’ lifting demands are somewhat diverse, so utilising a versatile crane that can be used to complete many tasks is a priority. New technology has allowed for this. We look at some of the latest developments in mobile crane technology below.

Mobile Crane

The multi-functionality of the mobile crane is one of its best characteristics. It can travel long distances to work sites, and its all wheel drive capability allows it to function well in just about any terrain conditions. Like with all cranes, new technology has been developed to make the operation of this machine more straightforward and convenient. Best of all, it’s lower operating costs too.

A mobile crane is usually a wire controlled machine mounted on a truck or rubber-tired carriers. There is a telescopic boom on the truck platform fitted with hydraulic power, chains and a control panel, so it has the ability to lift heavy loads.

Advanced telescoping or lattice boom capable cranes can be operated in diverse areas for difficult lifting purposes. New Auto Cat technology has enabled them to function faster and more smoothly. Modern cranes are also built with improved safety features, which is possibly the biggest priority in the manufacturing of machinery.

Lifting Equipments

Another recent technological advancement that has been extremely beneficial has been GPS tracking systems. Installed into the crane, this provides information about distance traveled for fuel consumption and regulatory compliance. If you've hired a large number of cranes, GPS systems also allow the tracking of their locations and status. In the case of mobile cranes, which often travel long-distances, it can be very helpful to know exactly where the machine is at all times.

Quicklift utilises these features and has a modern fleet consisting of more than 20 well maintained machines. Technological advances are being developed all the time and we are committed to providing these advantages to our customers. Not only that, but our team will guide you through every step of the process to help you get the right crane for the job and get the work done on-site as quickly and safely as possible.