A 500-ton Tadano AC7.450-1 all-terrain crane from Reynolds Rigging & Crane Service sets a 36,000-pound module for a hospital being built by Boldt Co. The complete module and the rigging beam came from Bildt, a new division of Boldt. in a factory-like setting, then delivers them to a construction site for installation as major segments of a building.
Fans of modular construction say it saves time and cost while also improving quality and safety, compared to building a structure the traditional way— piece by piece.
The modular technique can be used to build whole structures or be combined with traditional piece-by-piece construction when a hybrid approach makes the most sense.
Thomasnet. com says studies show modular construction can reduce construction-site manpower by up to 40 %, shorten project timelines by up to 50 % and reduce cost by up to 20 %.
That’ s because the modules are manufactured off site in controlled facilities using repeatable processes that can be fine tuned for quality, productivity and economy.
Modular construction also improves efficiency, productivity and safety on the construction site because it reduces congestion, the number of workers and the amount of equipment working there.
Picking Right Crane is Essential
But because modules are picked off delivery trucks and set in place when they arrive, the crane or cranes that are on the job must be reliable and selected carefully.
“ With modular construction, there is often only one crane per building, so the crane is the heart of the project,” said Joseph Patton, North American sales manager for tower crane manufacturer Comansa.
Fortunately, the process of choosing the right crane in modular construction is the same as for traditional methods of construction.
As with any project involving a crane, picking one that fits the available space and delivers the needed capacity, horizontal reach and lifting height is essential.
Depending on a job’ s requirements, the best crane could be a lattice-boom or telescopic-boom crawler crane, an all-terrain, a roughterrain, a truck crane, a T-type or luffing-boom tower crane or even some combination of cranes.
Patton said that as construction modules grow larger and building heights rise higher, tower crane manufacturers are rolling out models with more reach and capacity to meet the need.
“ Today, many tower crane manufacturers offer models with maximum capacities of more than 40 U. S. tons, and in some cases 70 U. S. tons, or more,” said Patton.
Besides just weighing more, larger modules often also present challenges in motion
Left: Two Comansa 21LC1050 flat-top tower cranes set modules for a multi-story building. Built to handle big modules, the 21LC1050 can deliver capacities to 55.1 U. S. tons and have up to 295 feet of jib.
www. contractorshotline. com May 15, 2026 17