How Do They Build Cranes on Construction Sites?
If you’ve ever driven by a major construction site, you’ve probably witnessed some very large cranes at work building some even larger structures. If you’ve driven by the same site multiple times, you probably noticed the building gradually growing larger. You may even have taken note of the fact that the crane that’s being used in the building process is also getting larger. Perhaps you realized that this must somehow mean that the construction of cranes themselves takes place on construction sites.
Whether you’re wondering about the above things because you have an interest in operating cranes and other heavy machinery, considering a job in the construction industry, or are just curious, the crane experts at West Coast Training have the answers. Read on to learn about the construction of cranes on construction jobsites.
It All Starts With a Strong Foundation
Because cranes are so heavy and so tall, they have a high center of gravity. While they do have counterweights added to help with balance, if they are not anchored to the ground very securely, they run the risk of wobbling and even falling over. Needless to say, this would be disastrous on any construction site, so it’s crucial that all cranes have a very strong foundation.
Before the construction of cranes can begin, a large concrete foundation is created. This holds the crane in place despite the massive amount of weight it carries and moves.
It Takes Heavy Machinery to Build Heavy Machinery
Heavy machinery as large as the tower cranes you see being used in the construction of large buildings cannot be transported all at once. Each individual piece of the crane is massive and requires specialized haulers to transport it. Once the separate parts have arrived on the site, workers can go to work assembling the crane.
Of course, a tower crane needs to be built in an upward direction, and what heavy equipment is best for building things vertically? Cranes, of course! This means that the large tower cranes you see on heavy construction jobs have likely been put together by several other smaller and more mobile cranes.
Adding the Rigging
The final step in the construction of cranes is to add the rigging: the pulleys and powerful cables that will be used to transport the massive amounts of materials a tower crane is built to handle. Once this part has been completed, the crane can actually handle the rest of the construction process itself. It will have the ability to build itself upward and ultimately be put to use on large-scale building projects.
After the project is complete, the process is reversed, and the crane is disassembled in much the same way it was first built. The tower is reduced in height so that the rigging can be safely removed. In the end, smaller cranes and other heavy equipment will take the larger crane apart and send it off to its next jobsite.
If crane operating sounds like the job for you, we have the training school to get you started. Reach out to an admissions specialist at West Coast Training today, and take your first steps toward an exciting new career.