Mini Cranes Boost Efficiency and Versatility on Tight Jobsites
The mini crane market continues to grow, noted Colt Vacek, USA product manager at Jekko. “As the performance and ease of use of these machines continues to advance, it places mini cranes in a position to address equipment costs in tight budgets,” he said. “The more versatile mini cranes become, the more jobs that single piece of equipment can accomplish.”
Michael Gnazzo, president of Innovativ Hoisting, Böcker’s U.S. distributor, expects more companies to turn to mini cranes to improve jobsite efficiency. “As the skilled labor shortage continues, these machines allow smaller crews to accomplish more in less time,” he said. “That’s one reason they are gaining traction across a variety of industries.
“The most popular applications we see for mini cranes are where compact footprints are essential,” Gnazzo added. “That includes roofing, prefab construction and building restoration where mini cranes allow for set up in tight spaces and often closer to the work area. In addition, their design makes them ideal for weight-sensitive surfaces, reducing the risk of property damage.”
One application that may seem unique but is increasingly common is using mini cranes to install large glass curtain walls on the exterior of skyscrapers, related Colt Vacek. “Due to their small footprint and precise controls, mini cranes can be positioned on individual floors of a high-rise under construction,” he explained. “In those applications, mini cranes streamline the installation process by lifting and place the outer glass panels with precision.”
When it comes to compact cranes, reach and capacity often lead the conversation, Vacek noted. However, he added, maneuverability and physical dimensions are just as critical on tight jobsites.
Considerations when specifying a mini crane, according to Michael Gnazzo, include site accessibility as well as the crane’s maximum height, reach and load capacity. “It’s important to review load charts and plan where exactly the crane will be positioned on the jobsite, since load capacity decreases as outreach increases,” he added.
Latest Models
Introduced about a year ago, the Jekko SPX328 mini crane has a maximum height of over 56 feet and at the same time, when folded, is compact enough to pass through a standard single door. The model, designed with features for the rental industry, includes the Jekko Touch Experience, a user interface that displays a live load chart and stability area on the 10-inch touch screen display, which also includes tutorials for crane functions and operations without the need of Wi-Fi or Internet. An additional feature is Jekko Dynamic Pressure Control that allows for precise load handling and jerk free movement.
Böcker’s latest innovation is the AHK 36e, a fully electric mini crane featuring a battery capacity of 12.2 kWh and an electric winch that also recovers energy when the load is lowered and feeds it back into the battery. The electric mini crane can be charged with a 230 V household socket. If there is insufficient fuse protection on site, the charging power can be reduced.
The new Böcker electric AHK 36e features the manufacturer’s crane control system in combination with radio remote control, which facilitates automatically controlling both set-up and dismantling. Like all Böcker cranes it come equipped with Böcker Connect, a remote monitoring system that offers GPS tracking, performance data and diagnostic tools, allowing crane companies to support operators remotely and troubleshoot issues faster.
The new Hoeflon C30e is a fully electric mini crane offered by UP Equip, a Quebec-based company that serves as the manufacturer’s North American distributor. Designed for a wide range of applications, the Hoeflon C30e is used in industrial maintenance and installation, and construction projects, including glass and façade installation, and other confined space indoor lifting tasks, especially where emissions and noise are concerns.
Powered by a lithium battery, the Hoeflon C30e can be charged using standard 230 V or 400 V power sources. The mini crane features the company’s Stepless Infinite Leg Positioning system for precise stabilization on uneven terrain, and extendable and variable supporting legs for stability and adaptability in confined spaces.
Part of the mini crane’s design as well is an endless rotation capability for unrestricted movement and a narrow width of 48 inches for access through standard double doors. The machine can perform lift and carry operations without the need to set the outriggers.
The C30e can be equipped with various attachments, including a fly jib to extend the crane’s reach and height. Additionally, tool options include the company’s Multiclaw for gripping beams, Multifork for pallet handling and Multivac for glass installation.s, Multifork for pallet handling and Multivac for glass installation.
