The Types of Cranes Used in Mining
In the mining industry, various types of cranes are used to perform a wide range of tasks, such as:
- Lifting heavy equipment at machinery around the site
- Moving mined materials
- Transporting personnel to difficult-to-reach areas
- Helping in performing maintenance work
The choice of crane depends on the specific requirements and conditions of the mining operation. In this article, we will take a look at some of the more common cranes you might find in mining or mineral extraction sites and what sorts of jobs those cranes do best.
1. Mobile Cranes
Mobile cranes These are some of the most common cranes used for everything from road construction to building projects. Mobile cranes are often the most versatile, as they can be used on a wide variety of job sites and can traverse challenging terrain.
Due to this versatility, mobile cranes can easily be repositioned to different locations within a mining site. They are used for tasks like lifting heavy machinery, loading and unloading materials, and assisting with other general construction and maintenance.
2. Crawler Cranes
A crawler crane is a type of mobile crane characterized by its robust chassis with tracks or crawlers instead of wheels. These tracks or crawlers provide stability and enable the crane to move over uneven or rough terrain, making it suitable for various construction and heavy lifting tasks, including those in mining.
They are often used for heavy lifting in mining operations, especially when the ground conditions are challenging.
3. Overhead Cranes
Overhead cranes, also commonly referred to as bridge cranes, are pretty standard across industrial environments that require frequently moving heavy loads between set points indoors or outdoors.
They are often used in mining workshops and maintenance facilities to lift and move heavy equipment, machinery, or resources from processing. They function similarly to gantry cranes, except that the rails they move on are not located at the base, moving the entire crane structure, but rather the rails are generally incorporated into a building structure overhead of any workers.
4. Personnel Hoists
Personnel hoists go by a couple of different names, including man baskets or suspended platforms. These are used to transport workers and miners safely into and out of underground or pit mines. They are equipped with cages or platforms and are designed primarily for vertical transportation in shafts.
There are two broad categories of personnel platforms: boom attached and suspended. Both come with different uses, pros, and cons. While boom attached is more prevalent in other industries, the second broad category of lifted personnel platforms, the suspended variety, is more common in mining. Just like it sounds, this involves the man basket or similar personnel platform hanging from the tip of an existing crane structure.
5. Dragline Excavators
Dragline excavators are massive machines used in open-pit mining. Unlike conventional excavators that use a bucket on a hydraulic arm to dig and load material, dragline excavators use a large bucket suspended from a boom.
The bucket is attached to a cable, which is raised and lowered by a hoisting system, making this excavator type a highly specialized type of crane system. The term "dragline" comes from the action of dragging the bucket across the ground to excavate material.
Parker’s Crane and Hauling Solutions
The best tools for operating a crane safely are experience, communication, and proper training. With over 40 years of moving and using cranes, Parker’s Crane Service has the expertise you need for safe, reliable crane operations, no matter the job site or weather
We pride ourselves on safety and our Zero Accident Philosophy and conduct many detailed safety measures when performing a job to ensure that no project carries unnecessary risk. We perform the following for every single job we take:
- Pre-Lift Job Assessments
- Daily Risk Assessments
- On-Site Hazard Analysis
- Routine Management Audits
With a fleet of well-maintained hydraulic truck cranes, we offer not only the best equipment but can also help with site installation, maintenance, and operation. Our crew is OSHA and MSHA-compliant to ensure your site and crew safety.
Parker's Crane provides not only quality crane rental and rigging but also heavy hauling services throughout the Carolinas and the East Coast. Contact us if you would like to discuss your needs and whether or not our services and equipment will work for your construction project. We provide free on-site quotes and evaluations.