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Tower cranes dominate the market in construction and have done for many years. In congested cities, for high-rise buildings, where available footprints are small, lift distances are large, and projects are costly, they are the obvious and almost universal solution.

Tower cranes are a staple of any urban skyline. They tackle the more difficult tasks on a building construction site: lifting and setting steel at every floor level, pouring concrete or setting precast panels in place, and placing the permanent electrical and mechanical systems for final installation. These heavy-lifting machines make site logistics planning possible for larger buildings especially in very tight urban spaces. They’re great for speeding up building construction, keeping the project on schedule and cutting costs of time and manpower in the process.

Without these tower cranes, the city skylines would look completely different as the hoists, chains, wires and ropes on these machines make construction work, previously considered hazardous, safer and more efficient. Whether it is building a bridge, railway or other structure, there is always a specific tower crane that can complete the job.

Different types of tower cranes are available in the market and selecting the right crane for the job definitely requires preliminary preparation and planning but is an absolutely essential process, as it not only ensures that construction site is safe for workers and the public, but also can help reduce costs and inefficiency, keeping the project on track, budget and schedule.

The most common types of tower cranes used around the world are hammerhead tower cranes. Hammerheads are do-it-all-in-open-space tower cranes. They are especially reliable for precise, accurate handling of a wide variety of heavy materials. These cranes are extremely versatile in their uses, as they can be used to lift virtually any volume of materials and work on most job sites. Due to their unique design, these instruments can carry heavy loads, saving construction workers and manager’s substantial time and money.

In the hammerhead crane, a long horizontal jib is attached to a vertical (mast) tower. One end of the jib extends horizontally at the workplace, while the other end has counter balance weights. A trolley runs along the jib horizontally carrying the cable and hook. This allows the hook to be positioned at any position along the jib. The operator rides in a cabin at the intersection of jib and tower. Hammerhead crane have an A-shaped structure on top of the mast, connecting the jib and counter jib, known as an “A-frame.” This type of tower crane typically requires a second crane to assemble and disassemble parts at the workplace.

It's common to have limited space and clearance when working with a tower crane in an urban metro area and downtown work sites. Hammerhead crane’s A-shaped structure on top of the mast and long jib arm can have disadvantage working at such tight and congested work sites. A luffing tower crane is ideal for building projects where there's not much space on either side of the site. A luffing crane is able to raise or lower its jib, and that allows it to reduce the slewing radius. A luffing tower crane is also a good choice for work sites where two or more cranes are working at the same time. This is because the slewing radius is highly reduced in comparison to standard tower crane types. The luffing tower crane also has a higher lifting capacity because the weight is transferred from the crane's jib much more effectively.

The luffing jib tower crane, AKA a luffer, can be identified by its counterweight, set close to the cab. It also has an extended diagonal arm attached to the top of the mast at an angle. This arm can move from 30 degrees to vertical, enabling the operator to position the crane into tight spaces. Luffing jib tower crane typically has a higher capacity then the hammerhead crane but this functionality comes at a cost, they are usually more expensive than hammerheads. Being expensive they can only be used when absolutely needed.

The traditional hammerheads have been ceding ground and market share. Tower luffers have taken some of that share; but flat-tops, also called topless cranes, have taken more, and increasingly are preferred. Several factors make flat-tops desirable. Flat-tops lack the A-frame or cat-head above the tower, and lack also the pendant lines that connect the top of the A-frame to the jib and counter-jib. Having no superstructure means that they can be used closely together: the jib of one crane can pass under that of its neighbour with less height clearance needed to avoid collisions. Thus for multi-crane projects they have an advantage. Ease and simplicity of erection is another plus. The absence of the extra metalwork and bracing simplifies erection and means that they can be assembled on-site more easily and more quickly. They are also a great option for working near airports or power plants. One disadvantage, though, is that the A-frames and pendant lines of conventional tower cranes impart strength. Lacking this bracing means that flat-tops lift comparatively less load than traditional hammerhead tower cranes.

When projects need a tower crane’s fast transport and setup, Self-Erecting Tower Cranes (SETC) are best bet. Simple, rapid and entirely autonomous, self-erecting tower cranes are especially suited to construction sites which are of short duration, requiring frequent operations of transport, setting up, erection and dismantling. SETCs have horizontal jibs attached to masts mounted on either moving or static ballasts. From this base, they can assemble themselves without a second crane, saving time and, in many cases, money. They provide good reach and lifting capacity while having a small footprint, making them suited to operating within tight spaces. It is normally operated using a crane remote control, though in some cases an operator cab may be fitted to the tower section. They are lighter than hammerheads and luffing jibs, and can be easily moved from one site to another.

Increasing construction activities and development of high-rise commercial and residential structures across the country due to rapid urbanization and government initiatives adopted to promote the construction of smart cities are driving the tower crane market growth. Deciding which crane is right for any objectives can be an overwhelming task, as the range of options available is limitless. There is an enormous variety of cranes in the market — each designed for a specific function or use.