Luffing Cranes for Easier Lifting

Some lifting situations require a specific type of crane. With increasing frequency, that kind of crane is the luffing crane. Luffing cranes, which are capable of most heavy to extremely heavy lifts, have a major advantage over straight boom arm cranes – they can make dead horizontal lifts when their job arm is raised. They can even do it when the jib is practically vertical.

The luffing crane was originally designed in the early 20th century, using a mechanical device at the top of the job to keep the hook level. Essentially, this is the definition of “luffing” – keeping a hook level no matter what the elevation or declension of the jib from which that hook is hanging. Luffing cranes of all types and sizes have this in common. They can lift something at a dead level plane even if their jib heads are way up at an acute angle.

This becomes extremely useful in situations where many cranes are needed to make lifts in a tight area. Because the luffing crane can lift while its jib head is up in the air, a whole circle of cranes can be used simultaneously, without fear of confusion or accident. The mechanism of each crane keeps its load level, and allows it to be picked up from almost directly at the bases of the luffing cranes. In this fashion, multiple hooks can be put to work on the same site or even on the same part of a site project. That will speed building time up dramatically and can thus help with company profits and client quotes.

A luffing crane is ideal where there are air space restrictions in place. That is because the head of the crane can be lowered to a safe level without fear that the load the crane is lifting will go off a straight axis. The luffing crane is also extremely good at lifting in very tight spaces. It can pick up a load from its own feet, simply by straightening its jib arm until it stands almost vertical. The mechanics of the luffing cranes means that the load can be picked up level even with the jib raised to this extremely acute angle.

That said, of all lifting gear the luffing crane is king (or queen). It can perform almost any lift in almost any place. And that makes it the standard for use, for convenience and for safety. The luffing crane, then, is the standard piece of lifting equipment for the British building industry. So next time you see a straight up jib arm and a horizontal load, remember that luffing cranes are making building possible in the tightest of places.