Friday roundup: cranes and general rental | towers for turbines | modern training | learning a luffer

Yongmao STF3080 with a 200 tonne capacity to an under hook height of 200 metres. This crane incorporates common design features pioneered by Krøll. Photo: H-G Kessel

Crane and Transport Briefing started the week with a look at the place of cranes in the wider equipment rental market.

How does the crane business fit into the wider equipment rental world?

We think of the crane business as a distinct sector with its own characteristics and identity, and that’s both natural and appropriate, but it is also a sub-sector within the global US$100 billion equipment rental market.

How does the crane rental business fit into the wider rental market? We had a look at what the annual IRN100 survey of the world’s largest equipment rental businesses tells us about the place of crane rental. This annual survey, carried out by ICST sibling magazine International Rental News (IRN), reveals 12 crane companies in the top 100 but what is these companies’ share of the total revenues generated by the 100 companies?

The IRN100 survey also highlights key trends, such as consolidation and the place of rental specialists in sectors like power, temporary accommodation, aerial platforms, and cranes.

Read more about the key crane rental trends from the 2024 IRN100 ranking.

Power towers: large luffing cranes for wind turbine work

When luffing tower cranes were first used to erect wind turbines they were adapted versions of standard models for construction applications. Now there is an increasing number of specially developed models for wind work. Many of them are from Asia, notably Japan and China.

Our special correspondent and global tower crane authority Heinz-Gert Kessel has written a comprehensive report on what’s available and what is in development, including a lot of practical detail relating to speed of erection and dismantling, performance, easy relocation and much more.

These are all large luffing jib tower cranes, typically with a freestanding height of 200 metres and capable of lifting 180 to 200 tonnes. That makes them good for the assembly, including all the major components, of onshore wind turbines in the 5 to 7 megawatt class.

They are truly impressive machines that may well carve out a niche for themselves in a still-expanding market.

Read more in the first part of a series about these large luffing jib tower cranes for wind work.

How crane operator training is adapting to modern needs

Our industry is experiencing a transformative shift in how operators are trained, with technology being pivotal in shaping the future. Traditional classroom instruction and hands-on, in-seat training are evolving, as new tools like virtual reality (VR) simulators, blended learning approaches and digital assessments become more widespread.

Insight from leading experts in North America, namely Bruce Kabalen of A1A Software, Andrew Kauser of Industrial Training International, and Dana Jackson of North American Crane Bureau, discussed how these trends are reshaping operator education. From the rise of hybrid learning to the growing acceptance of simulators and VR training, they explore how today’s operators are being prepared for real-world challenges through innovative methods.

As the crane and rigging sector faces a critical skills gap, these advances in training are crucial in attracting new talent and ensuring that operators are equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills.

Read more about the next generation of operator training techniques.

Cooler at the top: trying out a big luffing jib

Using the full luffing jib on a big all terrain crane for the first time is not a job for the faint hearted. For peace of mind it can be helpful to seek assistance.

That is exactly what a German crane rental and contract lifting specialist did on a project to lift a small cooler unit onto the roof of a 100 metre tall building. Several parameters complicated the job, not least of which was the need to place the load with a hook height of 125 metres and on a 70 metre radius.

The team from Scholpp Kran and Transport called in a technician from the crane’s manufacturer Tadano to help make sure everything went well on this high level top job with a big all terrain crane and its even bigger luffing jib.

Read more about making the first use of this 450 tonner’s big luffing jib less daunting.