Talk About Lofty Expectations!
No self-respecting, large-scale construction project involving tall buildings or the need to lift items high into the air would be complete without a tower crane. Although there are variations, all tower cranes share the same basic components:
- A base upon which the crane is mounted.
- The mast (or tower) that establishes the crane’s height.
- The slewing unit contains the gearbox assembly that allows the crane to rotate.
- The jib is the load-carrying arm and houses the trolley that moves the load in and out from the mast.
- The machinery arm houses the engine and counterweights.
- If applicable, an operator’s cab, although some tower cranes can be operated from the ground.
These behemoths are capable of lifting enormous amounts of weight (upwards of 20 tons) in the form of materials, equipment, or tools almost 250 ft. above the ground to wherever they’ll be needed. Indeed, they’re truly awe-inspiring, yet highly versatile, pieces of engineering!
The Coalition for Responsible Equitable Economic Development (CREED LA) proudly supports environmentally-responsible construction projects throughout Los Angeles that not only have a positive impact on the local community, but support LA’s working families as well.
CREED LA fights to ensure that developers pay fair wages to all the hard working construction professionals throughout the industry while simultaneously providing them with quality health care, continued training, and trustworthy retirement plans. To learn more about how our non-profit organization supports those building a better, greener world for us all, contact CREED LA at (877) 810-7473.
photo credit: http://ow.ly/triG30f10da