Left and Above: The Böcker AHK 36 has a tip height of 118 feet, a maximum load capacity of 5,290 pounds, and a hoisting radius of up to 90 feet.
Lightweight and Maneuverable
increasingly common is using mini cranes to install large glass curtain walls on the exterior of skyscrapers, related Colt Vacek.“ Due to their small footprint and precise controls, mini cranes can be positioned on individual floors of a highrise under construction,” he explained.“ In those applications, mini cranes streamline the installation process by lifting and place the outer glass panels with precision.”
When it comes to compact cranes, reach and capacity often lead the conversation, Vacek noted. However, he added, maneuverability and physical dimensions are just as critical on tight jobsites.
Considerations when specifying a mini crane, according to Michael Gnazzo, include site accessibility as well as the crane’ s maximum height, reach and load capacity.“ It’ s important to review load charts and plan where exactly the crane will be positioned on the jobsite, since load capacity decreases as outreach increases,” he added.
Latest Models
Introduced about a year ago, the Jekko SPX328 mini crane has a maximum height of over 56 feet and at the same time, when folded, is compact enough to pass through a standard single door.
“ Using a traditional truck crane would have required shutting down the street,” said Michael Gnazzo, president at Innovativ Hoisting.“ Instead, a roofing contractor working on a building in Boston that was bordered on one side by a busy street and on the other by a tight courtyard used a Böcker AHK 36 mini crane. With the crane’ s wireless remote control, they were able to drive the compact machine through the narrow courtyard, and thanks to its light weight over landscaped areas without causing damage.”
The Böcker AHK 36 is trailer-mounted and has a GVWR of only 9,980 pounds, meaning it is towable without needing a driver with a CDL. The mini crane can also be equipped with an optional personnel basket attachment that transforms the machine into a 95-foot boom lift.
The model, designed with features for the rental industry, includes the Jekko Touch Experience, a user interface that displays a live load chart and stability area on the 10-inch touch screen display, which also includes tutorials for crane
16 August 8, 2025 www. contractorshotline. com