Mobile Crane Application Scenarios and Model Examples

Mobile cranes are versatile lifting machines tailored for specific operational environments and tasks. The choice of crane model—be it a compact truck crane, a rough-terrain crane, or a massive all-terrain crane—is dictated by the unique challenges of the work scenario, including site accessibility, terrain, lift requirements, and mobility needs.

1. Key Application Scenarios and Suitable Crane Types

Each scenario demands a crane with specific features for optimal performance and safety.

• Urban Construction & Tight-Access Sites:
  • Challenges: Narrow streets, overhead obstacles, limited setup space, need for minimal disruption.
  • Ideal Crane Type: Compact truck cranes (2-3 axles) with a short tail swing or telescopic booms that minimize space requirements. Often feature city or street-friendly configurations.
  • Typical Capacity: 20 to 55 tons.
• General Building & Industrial Construction (Open Sites):
  • Challenges: Lifting steel, precast concrete, and MEP equipment to moderate heights over a wide area.
  • Ideal Crane Type: Standard truck cranes (4-5 axles) or all-terrain cranes. Balance of capacity, reach, and road mobility between sites.
  • Typical Capacity: 50 to 150 tons.
• Rough Terrain & Infrastructure Projects:
  • Challenges: Unpaved, muddy, or uneven ground at bridge sites, dams, or undeveloped industrial areas.
  • Ideal Crane Type: Rough-terrain cranes (RT) with 4x4 drive and large, rugged tires. All-terrain cranes (AT) also excel here, offering both off-road capability and road travel.
  • Typical Capacity: 40 to 120 tons (RT), up to 1,000+ tons (AT).
• Heavy Industry & Petrochemical Plants:
  • Challenges: Lifting extremely heavy, dense loads (vessels, reactors) within congested plants, often at high precision.
  • Ideal Crane Type: Large all-terrain cranes or truck cranes with high capacity, extensive boom/jib combinations, and excellent load control systems. Often require special counterweight configurations.
  • Typical Capacity: 200 to 800+ tons.
• Wind Farm Erection:
  • Challenges: Lifting heavy components (nacelles, blades) to great heights (100m+) in remote, often windy locations with soft ground.
  • Ideal Crane Type: Ultra-high-capacity all-terrain cranes or specialized wind farm cranes with extreme boom heights, high lifting capacity, and enhanced mobility on access roads.
  • Typical Capacity: 500 to 2,000+ tons.

2. Model Examples by Scenario and Brand

International Brand Models

• Liebherr (Germany):
  • Urban: LTM 1040-2.1 (40T compact)
  • General Construction: LTM 1100-5.2 (100T)
  • Wind Farms/Heavy Lift: LTM 11200-9.1 (1,200T)
• Tadano (Japan):
  • Rough Terrain: TR-800XL (80T rough-terrain)
  • All-Terrain: ATF 220G-5 (220T)
• Grove (USA):
  • General/Industrial: GMK5150L (150T all-terrain)

Chinese Brand Models

• XCMG (徐工集团):
  • Urban: QY25K5C (25T truck crane)
  • General Construction: XCA60 (60T all-terrain)
  • Wind Farms/Heavy Lift: XCA1800 (1,800T all-terrain)
• SANY (三一重工):
  • Rough Terrain/General: STC800T (80T truck crane)
  • Heavy Industry: SAC22000T (2,200T all-terrain)
• Zoomlion (中联重科):
  • Urban/General: ZTC800V (80T truck crane)
  • Mega Projects: ZAT18000H (1,800T all-terrain)

Crane Application Scenario and Model Reference Table

Conclusion: Selecting the right mobile crane is a strategic decision based on the application scenario. Urban projects demand compact, agile cranes. Open construction sites benefit from versatile all-rounders. Rough terrain necessitates specialized rough-terrain or all-terrain models. Heavy industry and wind energy push the limits of crane technology, requiring ultra-high-capacity machines. Both international (Liebherr, Tadano) and Chinese (XCMG, SANY, Zoomlion) brands offer robust solutions across all scenarios, with Chinese manufacturers now leading in the maximum capacity segment for megaprojects while international brands maintain strong reputations for technology and reliability in complex, precision-focused applications.