Materials

The most important material used to manufacture cranes is steel. Steel is an alloy of iron and a small amount of carbon. For structures that do not require very high strength, a common form of steel known as carbon steel is used. Carbon steel contains less than 2% of elements other than iron and carbon. The most important factor in determining the properties of carbon steel is the amount of carbon present, which ranges from less than 0.015% to more than 0.5%.

And in the other hand for structures that require great strength, particularly in cranes designed to lift very heavy objects, a variety of substances known as high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels are used. HSLA steels contain relatively low levels of carbon, typically about 0.05%. They also contain a small amount of one or more other elements that add strength,which include: chromium, nickel, molybdenum, vanadium, titanium, and niobium. Besides being strong, HSLA steels are resistant to atmospheric corrosion and are better suited to welding than carbon steels.

Depending on the exact design of the crane, a wide variety of other materials may be used in manufacturing. Natural or synthetic rubber is used to make tires for mobile cranes.