One of the primary reasons for the widespread use of tower cranes in tall building construction is their ability to facilitate efficient vertical construction. Tall buildings require the transportation and placement of heavy materials at significant heights, which traditional construction methods cannot easily manage. Tower cranes offer the necessary lifting capacity, reach, and stability to carry out these tasks effectively and safely. Their ability to lift and move materials precisely and with control is vital to the safety of the workforce and the timely progress of construction projects.

In major metropolitan cities such as Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Delhi, as well as in smaller cities like Ahmedabad and Pune, rapid urbanization and increased real estate development have led to a notable trend in vertical construction. With limited land for expansion and high population density, India is quickly becoming a focal point for high-rise buildings and tall structures. Tower cranes are indispensable in the construction of these towering buildings, as they enable efficient material handling, faster construction timelines, and, most importantly, a safer working environment on construction sites.

The adoption of precast construction technology in India has further emphasised the need for tower cranes. Precast construction, which involves prefabricating building components off-site before assembling them on-site, requires cranes with higher lifting capacities to handle and place large, heavy components with precision. As the demand for large-scale infrastructure projects and high-rise developments grows, the need for cranes capable of lifting and positioning precast elements has increased, making tower cranes essential in these projects.

Advancements in technology have played a significant role in improving the efficiency and safety of tower cranes. Modern cranes are equipped with cutting-edge automation and control systems, which enhance their accuracy and precision. Remote monitoring systems allow operators to access real-time crane data, helping to ensure that maintenance is carried out proactively and that potential malfunctions are detected early, preventing downtime and minimising safety risks. Additionally, technologies like Building Information Modeling (BIM) help coordinate the work of the tower crane with other construction processes, optimising both productivity and safety on-site.

Mayank Pundir, Country Head, ACE Tower Cranes Division, explains the growing importance of tower cranes in India’s construction landscape: "While a majority of Indian structures, both residential, commercial, and infrastructure, are being built the cast-in-place or in-situ mode, there is a growing popularity for precast technology within the Indian construction community. Precast construction technology is not new in India. It has been adopted in India for many years, but was mostly limited to civil structures such as tunnels, bridges, flyovers, and underpasses. However, until a decade ago, adoption of modern and innovative construction technology and practices by the Indian realty sector was slow, and therefore, precast, though widely used across the globe for its inherent advantages, did not catch the fancy of the industry.”

He adds, "According to industry experts, apart from certain countries in Asia-Pacific, the rest of the world is increasingly using precast as their mode of construction in a majority of projects. The construction industry in India is around $500 million, and precast has only a 2 per cent share compared to the traditional method of construction. However, a gradual shift is occurring, and precast building technology is rapidly gaining a foothold in the Indian market, with primary among them being the need for affordable housing."

ACE has responded to this demand by offering higher capacity tower cranes, ranging from 10t to 25t capacities, which play a vital role in the precast construction industry. Mayank Pundir notes, “These machines are used to lift, shift, and lower the precast structures. For the precast industry, tower cranes have become the most essential and valuable assets because they make the work easier and faster at project sites.”

Schwing Stetter India, another key player in the industry, also offers advanced tower cranes designed to meet the growing demands of high-rise construction. VG Sakthikumar, Chairman and Managing Director, Schwing Stetter India, emphasises, “Schwing Stetter tower cranes bring more ease into project execution. Our most advanced tower crane for building a skyscraper is in the range of 10-tonne to 100 metric tonne capacities in India. Given the need for faster completion of real estate projects, tower cranes, especially of higher tonnage, will be required for handling the heavy concrete and steel sections. In fact, demand for tower cranes with heavier lifting capabilities has been growing in India over the past four to five years, especially with the advent of 3D precast construction technology now being adopted by several project developers.”

Schwing Stetter India is also importing higher-capacity tower cranes from XCMG to meet the needs of the Indian market, including luffing and jib cranes that are available on demand. As part of their commitment to innovation and safety, Schwing Stetter has focused on improving crane safety features, making them essential tools for modern construction.

XCMG tower cranes, in particular, are designed with a focus on safety. Their cranes come with standard safe load indicators, ensuring that materials are handled accurately and within their rated load capacity, which is crucial for preventing accidents. Additionally, the split-type mast sections of these cranes take up less space during transportation and are easier to handle, making them more efficient to erect and operate. They can also be equipped with anti-collision devices, allowing multiple cranes to operate safely in close proximity, which is especially beneficial for large-scale projects with several cranes working simultaneously.

One of the most popular units for high-rise construction from Potain is the MR 418 luffing jib crane. This crane features full frequency-controlled mechanisms for precision control, ensuring that the lifting of materials is done accurately and safely. Its streamlined design optimises the available space on the job site, simplifying assembly and disassembly. The MR 418 also offers additional benefits, including the optional 270 LVF 120 hoist, which provides excellent lifting capabilities for high-rise buildings, including super-tall structures that exceed 200 meters in height.

Zoomlion, a leading global manufacturer, has introduced the R2000-720 tower crane, which holds the world record for the largest tower crane. With a 720-ton capacity and a 1,312-foot height, the R2000-720 was designed with innovations in weight balancing, structure, and intelligent control systems, making it capable of handling extreme working conditions such as high winds, heavy loads, and challenging environments. A spokesperson from Zoomlion explains, “The R2000-720 has made innovations and breakthroughs in weight balancing, structure, intelligent control, and other technologies, addressing multiple global challenges for ultra-large tower cranes operating in extremely complex working conditions, such as strong wind, high humidity, and heavy load. It's not just the world's largest, but also the strongest tower crane.”

Zoomlion’s new design incorporates mobile balancing weight technology that enhances hoisting performance by more than 60 per cent. Additionally, the R2000-720’s design includes a high load-bearing, lightweight structure, which is more than 20 per cent smaller than traditional designs, improving transportation, installation, and disassembly efficiency. The crane's advanced intelligent control system, with 50 intelligent technologies, ensures a millisecond response time, further enhancing safety and operational efficiency.

Looking forward, tower cranes will continue to be integral to the construction of tall buildings worldwide. Their advanced safety features, lifting capabilities, and integration with cutting-edge technologies will play a crucial role in shaping the future of urban skylines. As demand for tall buildings and high-rise projects increases, tower cranes will remain at the forefront of the construction industry, ensuring that these projects are completed safely, on time, and with minimal risk to workers and the public.