The river cruise ship “Eastern Star” sunk in the Yangtze River in China recently. It was a tragedy involving the sudden loss of hundreds of people. The shallow-draft boat overturned in what Chinese weather authorities have called a cyclone with winds up to 80 miles per hour. What happens when a ship sinks? Sometimes they… Read more »
Tips for Maintaining Construction Cranes
People need to take good care of construction cranes because they’re valuable, helpful pieces of equipment. When maintained well, they can last a long time and serve their purpose as needed. As for tips for maintaining construction cranes, you should have a maintenance checklist and use it, recording any problems you find or repairs you… Read more »
How are Construction Cranes Raised?
Modern skyscrapers exist thanks to cranes. How are construction cranes raised so they can assist in the assembly of a tall building? Good question. Have you ever assembled an artificial Christmas tree? When you do, you typically have a base, a pole, and several branches to put together to make the tree look right. You’ll… Read more »
How Do You Know if Someone is Qualified to Operate a Crane?
Crane operation can be a delicate and detailed job, which makes it all the more important to be sure that the person behind the controls is well informed and qualified to run the machine. While most operators have years of experience, there are some ways to help be fully confident in a worker’s qualifications. In… Read more »
A Lesson in Crane Safety
Recently in Dallas, a crane, operated by a contractor working for the Dallas Museum of Art, toppled over while hoisting beams for a party tent being erected on the museum grounds. According to the local CBS affiliate’s coverage of the incident, winds were light and the weather was generally favorable, making it likely that the… Read more »
Why It’s Better for Businesses to Rent Rather Than Buy
Moving heavy objects from 6 to 600 tons would require the strength of many men, but thankfully, today, there are strong cranes to do those heavy lifting jobs quickly and efficiently. The thing about cranes is this: they’re expensive to own. You’ve got to have a large and proper place to store them, you’ve got… Read more »
Hydraulic Crane Oil Filters: What’s Inside?
The fascinating thing about a complex machine is how such simple parts can work together to accomplish extraordinary tasks. Hydraulic cranes are a perfect example of this, using plain old water to lift incredibly large and heavy objects. As simple as those individual parts might be, a problem with just one of them can cause… Read more »
Crane Maintenance Tips
It has been an especially cold winter in New England, and brutal weather conditions take their toll on people as well as cranes. Astro Crane is a Massachusetts-based company known for crane services and crane rentals. With an extensive fleet of hydraulic cranes, ranging between 6 and 600 tons, Astro Crane rents cranes for projects… Read more »
Here are Four Things You Need to Be a Heavy Lift Crane Operator
As much as we love cranes, we know this: that operating one isn’t a laughing matter. Once you get behind the wheel of a heavy lift crane, you’re now responsible for a serious machine. And that isn’t something you learn how to handle overnight. If you’re interested in taking the time out to train yourself,… Read more »
How Hydraulics Work: The Basics
Hydraulics can do some pretty amazing things. Of course, one can deduce that the hydro in hydraulics has something to do with water. But most people have never even taken a moment to consider what in the world water would have to do with the gigantic cranes that hover over city skylines. Hydraulic machines are… Read more »