When ground conditions become challenging, the ability to move safely can make all the difference. This is where a crawler crane offers one of its key advantages: tracks allow the machine to reach areas where a wheeled solution may encounter greater limitations, while providing a wide and continuous contact surface.

For BGLift, the crawler system is therefore much more than a solution for moving across difficult terrain. It is an integral part of the machine’s design, contributing to its ability to operate in different working conditions while maintaining control, stability and ease of operation.

What is a crawler crane?

A crawler crane is a lifting machine mounted on a chassis equipped with tracks rather than wheels. This configuration allows the machine’s weight to be distributed across a wider surface and makes it possible to tackle terrain and routes that may be more challenging for a conventional machine.

The track provides continuous contact with the ground, allowing the machine to move across uneven surfaces and reach working areas characterised by difficult conditions.

This is particularly useful on job sites where the machine has to move before the lifting operation can even begin: reaching the work area becomes an integral part of the job.

When wheels are not enough

Not all surfaces on a job site are the same. Uneven ground, slopes, irregular surfaces and difficult routes can make moving a wheeled machine more challenging.

Tracks allow the machine to handle these conditions differently, thanks to their large contact area with the ground.

A crawler crane can therefore be used in situations where mobility and lifting capability need to work together, reaching areas that require a machine capable of adapting more effectively to the characteristics of the terrain.

For BGLift, designing a crawler machine starts with a very practical question: how can the crane reach the point where it needs to work, even when the route is not straightforward?

Long tracks: a larger contact surface

Particular attention has been given to track length in BGLift crawler cranes.

A longer track increases the machine’s contact area with the ground. This allows the machine’s weight to be distributed across a wider support base, an important characteristic when working in conditions where load distribution needs to be carefully considered.

It is therefore not simply a matter of mobility. The geometry of the undercarriage also contributes to the machine’s behaviour during operations.

This becomes particularly relevant on multi-level construction sites, where the machine may need to operate on elevated surfaces and where weight distribution becomes an important factor when planning the operation.