A mini crane is a compact crane small enough to pass through a standard doorway, travel in a lift or work inside a building, yet capable of lifting loads of several tonnes. The best-known type is the spider crane, a tracked mini crane whose four outriggers fold out from the body like the legs of a spider. Once set up, the outriggers give a stable base on a very small footprint, and the crane can lift glass panels, steel beams, precast elements and machinery in places no conventional crane can reach.
Mini cranes fill the gap between manual handling and full-size mobile or tower cranes. They are used in city centres, shopping centres, atriums, factories, historic buildings and gardens, and they have become a standard tool for glazing contractors and curtain wall installers.
Brief History of Mini & Spider Cranes
Mini cranes originated in Japan, where dense cities and small building plots created a need for compact lifting machines. The Japanese company Maeda, established in 1962, is widely credited with developing the first mini crawler cranes and remains one of the reference names in the segment. Another Japanese manufacturer, Furukawa Unic, applied its experience with truck-mounted loader cranes to compact tracked machines.
From the 1990s onwards, mini cranes spread in Europe, North America and Australia, often through specialist dealers and hire companies. European manufacturers, especially in Italy and the Netherlands, developed their own ranges, adding features such as articulated jibs, hydraulic fly jibs, electric drives and advanced remote controls. The segment has grown steadily as building methods have shifted towards large glass units, prefabricated elements and interior lifting work.
How a Mini or Spider Crane Works
A spider crane is a complete crane in a very compact package.
- Tracked undercarriage. Rubber tracks carry the machine and protect finished floors. Some models can reduce their width to pass through doorways about 60 to 80 centimetres wide, depending on the model.
- Outriggers. Four folding outriggers are deployed before lifting. They can be set in different positions to fit the available space, and the crane’s control system adjusts the permitted capacity to the outrigger layout.
- Boom. A telescopic boom, sometimes combined with an articulated or knuckle boom section, extends from the compact body.
- Winch and hook. A hydraulic winch lifts the load. Many cranes can also be fitted with a fly jib or searcher hook for extra reach.
- Power. Most mini cranes have a small diesel or petrol engine, often combined with an electric motor for indoor work. Fully battery-electric models are increasingly common.
- Controls. Operation is usually by radio remote control, which lets the operator stand in the best position to see the load. Tracks and outriggers are often operated from the same controller.
Types of Mini & Spider Cranes
Spider Cranes
The classic tracked mini crane with four folding outriggers and a telescopic boom. Capacities range from under one tonne to about eight to ten tonnes on the largest models.
Mini Crawler Cranes
Tracked cranes that can lift and, in some cases, travel with a load on the tracks without outriggers. They are useful when the load must be moved short distances on site.
Knuckle Boom Mini Cranes
Compact tracked machines fitted with an articulated boom similar to a loader crane. The folding boom allows lifting over and around obstacles and inside buildings.
Mini Pick-and-Carry Cranes
Small wheeled or tracked cranes that carry loads suspended from the boom, used in factories and warehouses. They overlap with the pick-and-carry cranes described in a separate entry.
Electric and Indoor Models
Battery-electric or mains-powered mini cranes are used in shopping centres, hospitals, airports and other enclosed spaces where exhaust emissions and noise must be avoided.
Size Classes
| Class | Typical maximum capacity | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Very small | up to about 1 t | Indoor work, glass, small components |
| Small | about 1 to 3 t | Glazing, interior fit-out, gardens |
| Medium | about 3 to 5 t | Curtain walls, steel, precast |
| Large | about 5 to 10 t | Heavier structural and industrial lifts |
Figures are indicative. Maximum capacity is available only at short radius.
Attachments
The most important attachment for mini cranes is the vacuum lifter, used to install glass panels, stone slabs and cladding. Other common tools include fly jibs, searcher hooks, man baskets where rules allow them, glass manipulators, forks and pipe or beam clamps. Many manufacturers offer dedicated glazing kits that combine a mini crane with a vacuum device capable of rotating and tilting the panel. Other combinations include beam clamps for steel erection inside buildings and hydraulic manipulators for placing heavy panels precisely against a facade or frame.
Transport and Setup
Most mini cranes are light enough to be moved on a small trailer or a light truck, and many can climb ramps or stairs on their own tracks when the manufacturer permits it. On site, the crane travels to the lift point, deploys its outriggers and levels itself, a process that often takes only a few minutes. Some models can be dismantled into modules to fit through very small openings or into goods lifts, and then reassembled inside the building. This short setup time is one of the main reasons mini cranes are hired for jobs that last only a few hours.
Main Manufacturers
- Maeda, the Japanese pioneer of mini crawler cranes.
- Unic (Furukawa Unic), a Japanese manufacturer of spider cranes and loader cranes.
- Jekko, an Italian manufacturer of mini cranes and compact pick-and-carry machines.
- Hoeflon, a Dutch manufacturer of compact cranes.
- BG Lift, an Italian producer of spider cranes.
Main Uses of Mini & Spider Cranes
- Installation of glass panels, curtain walls and facade elements.
- Steel and precast erection inside buildings and in confined areas.
- Placement of machinery and equipment in factories and plant rooms.
- Maintenance work in shopping centres, airports and stations.
- Building work in city centres, courtyards and gardens.
- Restoration of historic buildings where access is very limited.
Choosing a Mini or Spider Crane
- Access first. Check doorway width, floor load capacity, ramps and lift dimensions before choosing the machine. The smallest crane that can reach the lift point is often the one that fits.
- Floor loads. Outrigger pads concentrate loads on suspended slabs. Spreader plates and a structural check may be needed.
- Capacity at radius. Mini cranes lose capacity quickly as the radius grows. The load chart for the actual outrigger setup must be checked.
- Power source. Indoors, an electric or battery model avoids fumes. Outdoors, a diesel unit offers longer running time.
- Attachments. For glazing, the crane and vacuum lifter should be chosen together, as the attachment weight reduces the net capacity.
Safety
Mini cranes are small, but the loads they lift are heavy and the working spaces are tight. The main risks are overturning on poor ground or on weak floors, overloading at radius, crushing between the load and structures, and dropped loads, especially glass. Operators must set outriggers on firm surfaces with suitable pads, follow the load chart for the actual outrigger configuration and never lift outside the envelope allowed by the control system. Exclusion zones are important, as the operator often stands close to the load. Vacuum lifters need regular inspection and must never be used on dirty or porous surfaces outside their rating.
Trends and Technology
The main trends in mini cranes are electrification, smarter controls and larger capacities. Battery-electric models now cover much of the range and allow full-day indoor work. Variable outrigger systems with automatic capacity calculation let the crane work in irregular spaces while staying within its limits. Larger spider cranes of eight to ten tonnes compete with small mobile cranes on some jobs. Remote controls with displays show load, radius and stability in real time, and some manufacturers offer operating data via telematics.
Key Terms
- Spider crane: a tracked mini crane with four folding outriggers.
- Outrigger configuration: the arrangement of the outriggers, which determines the permitted capacity.
- Fly jib: an extension fitted to the boom tip for extra reach.
- Vacuum lifter: a device that holds glass or smooth panels by suction.
- Searcher hook: a hook fitted to the boom or fly jib for lifting at a fixed point.
Frequently Asked Questions
How small can a spider crane be? The smallest spider cranes can pass through a single doorway of well under one metre and weigh around one tonne, while still lifting several hundred kilograms or more.
Can a spider crane travel with a load? Usually not with outriggers deployed. Some mini crawler cranes and pick-and-carry models are designed to move with a suspended load at reduced capacity.
Can mini cranes work indoors? Yes. Electric and battery models are designed for indoor use, and rubber tracks protect finished floors.
What is the difference between a spider crane and a spider lift? A spider crane lifts loads with a hook, while a spider lift is an aerial work platform that lifts people in a basket.
Do mini cranes need a qualified operator? Yes. Although they are small and remote controlled, mini cranes are cranes, and operators need specific training and, in many countries, a recognised qualification.
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