Development of Tower Cranes from the advent of Industrial Revolution

The onset of industrial revolution brings many types of innovative machinery, which ease out many occasions including construction, manufacturing and transportation of heavy materials. One of the best innovation and invention by the industrial revolution was the modern tower cranes that are still used, although with some ‘improvements’ and ‘enhancements’.

In 1838, William Armstrong, a lawyer turned industrialist cum businessman, designed a hydraulic (water-powered) crane which was one of the most innovative technology of that time. The design of that crane used a ram in a closed cylinder. The ram was forced down through a pressurized fluid, which was allowed to enter the closed cylinder. A valve was present with the cylinder which regulated and synchronized the amount of intake of pressurized fluid, relative to the load on the crane

The first ever modern cranes were used for transportation and were set up at British harbors for loading and unloading cargo in the late 19th Century. They quickly became the essential structures for the loading and unloading of containers and different heavy materials from ships.

Afterwards, German made crane named hammerkran crane, was also developed with few adjustments to the earlier crane.