Crane Design

Our founding principals were instrumental in the design of the world’s first container cranes. Liftech has been instrumental in the conceptualization and development of hundreds of cranes since then.   

We have designed cranes and crane systems for most of the world’s container crane manufacturers. For Paceco, we developed the original standard A-frame, modified A-frame, low profile dockside cranes, and RTG crane frame structures that became the industry standard. For Mitsubishi, we provided structural design for the first machinery-on-trolley (MOT) cranes to meet the strict stiffness criteria of the Port of Singapore Authority. For Paceco, Italimpianti, and Samsung, we designed the then largest low profile cranes. We provided designs of articulated booms for many dockside cranes. 

We have worked with owners and original equipment manufacturers, designing many unique projects including the first ship-in-a-slip terminal, the first elevating girder container crane, and the unique APMT FastNet concept. We pioneered most of the STS container crane features the industry now sees as standard, including modified A-frame structures, low profile shuttling booms, articulated booms, catenary support trolleys, hydraulic snag protection, hydraulic antisway, dual hoist tandem 40 cranes, and numerous automation and productivity enhancements. We invented and developed with ZPMC the design of the articulating balance crane, an STS container crane design that is similar to, but offers many advantages over, the conventional A-frame crane.  See Balance Crane

In addition to container cranes, we have worked on the designs of some of the world’s largest land-based and water-based cranes. See our Heavy Lift page.