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2550 BCE
Causeways
Causeways were used to pull stone blocks on wood sleds up the side of the pyramids. Water was put on the ramps to lessen friction while hauling the blocks. -
1500 BCE
Sumerians
The idea for cranes came from pulley systems which were first used by the Sumerians in Mesopotamians around 1500 B.C. -
700 BCE
Ancient Greeks
Ancient Greeks developed primitive versions of the crane before we originally thought. It turns out the ancient Greeks had created cranes as early as 700-650 B.C. -
515 BCE
The Greek's Modern Cranes
By 515 B.C the ancient Greeks already had blueprints for modern cranes. Carved in stone were the components for this present day crane design. -
Period: 287 BCE to 212 BCE
Archimedes of Syracuse
The first-ever compound pulleys were produced by Archimedes from Syracuse who used them to lift a whole warship with its crew. In 230 B.C the Romans invented the treadwheel crane and used it to build temples and other buildings. -
Hydraulic Crane
After French mathematician, Blaise Pascal studied hydrodynamics and hydrostatics, he formulated a new understanding of fluid and density (hydraulic principals). Using those principles, Blaise invented hydraulic cranes. -
Horizontal Movement
A book in 1550 contained the design for the first-ever crane which could move its cargo horizontally. This was unfortunately just a diagram, not a real-life crane. In 1666, Claude Perrault built the horizontal moving crane and the plan finally became a reality. -
Iron Cranes
Cranes were being made in iron starting in 1834 due to the rise of ironworks. In 1851 hand-powered cranes began to run on steam. -
Smart Cranes
With the development of electronic and communication technologies, cranes have become automated. This has improved the safety of the workplace and made it more cost-efficient. Some new features include: anti-collision cells, load limiters, and radio controls. -
All-Terrain Cranes
Cranes nowadays are a lot stronger, safer, and can carry more weight. The maximum load capacity of a Liebherr all-terrain crane is a whopping 1200 tons, and the maximum hoist height is 188 meters. These advanced cranes can also operate on all-terrains (where it gets its name).
