The invention provides a crane assembly for lifting a load comprising: a pair of guides (2) positioned parallel to one another; a carriage (4,40) associated with each guide (2) and movable along each guide (2); a bridge (1) having an attachment point (8) for attaching the load, the bridge (1) being attached between the carriages (4,40) through connector arms (3), each connector arm (3) being attached through a lower end (31) to the bridge (1) and pivotable (5) at least about an axis perpendicular to the bridge, each connector arm (3) being attached at an upper end (32) to the corresponding carriage (4,40) through a multi-axis joint (33,35); wherein each multiaxis joint (33,35) is connected to the corresponding carriage (4,40) through a low friction thrust bearing (6)configured to rotate with initial movement of the corresponding carriage (4,40).

A method for handling of an offshore wind turbine component includes using a vessel having a hull on which a motion compensating crane is mounted. The crane includes a main boom; a main boom luffing assembly; a mobile hoist cable suspension member; and a hoist winch and a hoist cable driven by the hoist winch. An object suspension device is suspended from the hoist cable. The mobile hoist cable suspension member is supported by a motion compensating support device that is fitted to the tip end of the main boom, the motion compensating support device including one or more motor powered motion displacement actuator assemblies and a motion compensating support device controller. The method includes connecting the offshore wind turbine component to the object suspension device; and operating the motion compensating support device to provide motion compensation in at least one direction of the object suspension device and the connected offshore wind turbine component. The crane is provided with one or more nacelle position detectors that are configured and operated to sense at least one of actual position and actual motion of the nacelle or of one or more components in or on the nacelle, and the one or more nacelle position detectors are linked to the motion compensating support device controller.

A method of constructing a structure in which an item is to be installed at an elevated height on the structure. Hoists are hung from the structure. A platform is moved from ground level and positioned at a first elevated position between ground level and the hoists. The platform is attached to the hoists at the first elevated position. After the platform has been attached to the hoists, the item is moved onto the platform. The item is lifted on the platform to a second elevated position for installation at the elevated height on the structure and the item is installed at the elevated height.

A lifting apparatus for mounting on an upper edge of a wall to transfer an item from a location on a first side of the wall to a location on a second side of the wall. The lifting apparatus may include a wall mounting assembly configured removably mounting on a portion of the wall including and adjacent to the upper edge of the wall. The wall mounting assembly may include a saddle structure configured to create a receiving space for receiving the upper edge of the wall and a portion of the wall adjacent to the upper edge of the wall. The lifting apparatus may also include a davit assembly mounted on the wall mounting assembly and configured to facilitate lifting of an item adjacent to a wall on which the wall mounting assembly is mounted.

The invention relates to a construction machine having a mast and a lifting element which can be moved up and down along the mast with a hoist rope. The hoist rope can be activated by means of two rope winches. At least one first rope winch is designed as a free fall winch, wherein the hoist rope can be lowered in free fall. To lower the hoist rope a controller is provided, with which the first rope winch, which is designed as a free fall winch, can be switched into a free fall mode. Meanwhile, a second rope winch is operated in force-locking manner.

The invention relates to a method and a construction and/or a materials-handling machine for guiding and moving a working head, in particular a 3D print head, wherein at least three revolving tower cranes are attached to each other with their booms, wherein according to one aspect of the invention a guide beam carrying the working head is attached to at least two trolleys of two revolving tower cranes, and the working head is adjusted and moved in its working position by moving the trolleys along two booms of two revolving tower cranes.

The invention relates to a construction machine having a mast and a lifting element which can be moved up and down along the mast with a hoist rope. The hoist rope can be activated by means of two rope winches. At least one first rope winch is designed as a free fall winch, wherein the hoist rope can be lowered in free fall. To lower the hoist rope a controller is provided, with which the first rope winch, which is designed as a free fall winch, can be switched into a free fall mode. Meanwhile, a second rope winch is operated in force-locking manner.