Optimizing Tower Crane Performance: A Guide to Wire Rope Selection

Intro

Today we’re going to find out how tower cranes are different from mobile cranes.

How are tower cranes different from mobile cranes?

A tower crane is different from a mobile crane in a bunch of different aspects. The reeving systems are different, The fall lengths are, are very, very high, they’re fixed cranes, so they’re built on site, and they vary, every tower crane is a little bit different, it varies in height, lifting capacity. It’s more of a duty cycle type of application. It’s a lot of up and down, very, very consistently. So it puts different stresses on the wire rope.

Why are tower crane rope needs different?

I think there’s a lot of assumptions that the ropes are identical and they are the same, and that you can basically put any rope on a tower crane. As we dig more into the tower crane business, we realize that is absolutely not true. Rope selection is very, very important on tower cranes. As the fall lengths get longer, as these cranes are getting bigger and bigger, it is putting a limit on a regular rope. In certain instances, there are some crossover, there are some ropes that you might be able to, you know, on smaller tower cranes, you know, there might be some similar ropes that you could put on a smaller tower crane that you could on a mobile crane. Tower cranes are just like mobile cranes in the aspect that the OEMs are dictating what ropes the cranes are coming over from the factory.

How are tower cranes evolving?

Some of the newer cranes are starting to mirror the mobile crane industry and starting to use fittings and sockets on the end of those ropes. So as those machines are coming over to the US and are getting replaced in the US, we’re starting to get the data and learn what fittings are going on particular machines.

The importance of inspecting crane ropes before tower cranes are erected

Field inspections are very difficult for tower cranes, just because of the logistics of it. They’re hard to inspect in the field, they’re very high up, you can’t get access to the entire rope, and you can’t look at the entire rope. So making sure the proper rope is on the machine before it gets fully erected is very important. Doing yard inspections and drum inspections before they erect the tower crane can make a difference on how long that that rope lasts, and possibly avoid having to replace that rope in the field.

What ASME standard do tower cranes fall under?

Tower cranes are unique in the fact that they do have their own ASME Standards, it’s B30.3, that is different than mobile cranes.

How do you maintain tower crane ropes?

Maintenance on tower cranes is like any crane, the rope needs to be treated correctly in order for it to last, it needs to be properly lubricated, it needs to be handled correctly, it needs to be installed correctly, to make sure that it’s installed with… there’s no torque in the rope or any issues with the rope on the installation. And it needs to be inspected as often as possible to make sure that there’s no issues with the rope itself, because if there are issues, the ropes are going to continue to get worse through use.

How do you install tower crane ropes?

The installation of tower crane ropes is very difficult if the tower crane is erected. Most of the time, the customers are doing the installation themselves, and they actually have to connect the ropes together and run it through the existing reeving system or the existing system to be able to get it up at height, and get it installed on the crane itself.

How can you get help with your tower crane rope needs?

We have a dedicated team of wire rope specialists that’d be glad to help with any of the tower crane needs for our customers. They can contact us at our email SpecialtyRopesGroup@MazzellaCompanies.com.

If you’re looking for more information on how Mazzella’s wire rope and spooling service can help you, then check out MazzellaCompanies.com, the link is in the description below. I hope this video was helpful in understanding the different wire rope needs that come with maintenance and operation of a tower crane. If you found this video useful, informative, entertaining, or you just feel like being friendly, then hit that like button, so we can get this information out to everyone who needs it. Subscribe and hit the bell so you never miss a video. If you have a question, drop it in the comments. My name is Ben, and I’ll see you in the next one.