Pick-and-Carry Cranes

A pick-and-carry crane is a mobile crane designed to lift a load and drive with it, without setting up outriggers. Where a conventional mobile crane must stop, extend its outriggers and level itself before every lift, a pick-and-carry crane picks up the load on its wheels and carries it to where it is needed. This makes it fast and flexible on sites where loads must be moved many times over short distances.

The best-known form is the articulated pick-and-carry crane, which has a front section carrying the cab and boom and a rear section with the engine, joined by a central pivot. The type is especially common in Australia, where the Franna brand became so widespread that “Franna” is used as a generic name. Smaller industrial pick-and-carry cranes, often called yard or plant cranes, are used worldwide in factories, warehouses and maintenance yards.

Brief History of Pick-and-Carry Cranes

Cranes that could carry loads on their wheels existed long before the modern pick-and-carry crane. Industrial yard cranes, rough terrain cranes and early mobile cranes were often used to move loads short distances, and in the United Kingdom compact rubber-tyred cranes were common in factories and railway yards in the mid-twentieth century.

The articulated pick-and-carry crane took shape in Australia. In the early 1980s the Australian engineer Dave Francis developed the first Franna crane, naming it after himself and his daughter Anna. The design combined articulated steering, a telescopic boom and the ability to travel on public roads, and it quickly became a staple of the Australian crane hire industry. Franna later became part of Terex. In Europe, and especially in Italy, several manufacturers developed their own industrial and articulated pick-and-carry cranes for factories, shipyards and construction sites.

How a Pick-and-Carry Crane Works

The key idea is to lift and travel with the load while staying stable on the wheels alone.

Chassis. Articulated models have two chassis sections joined by a central pivot. Steering is by folding the machine at the pivot, which gives a tight turning circle.
Boom. A telescopic boom is mounted at the front, usually without slewing. On articulated cranes, the boom can effectively move sideways as the crane steers, because the front section turns relative to the rear.
Counterweight and stability. The engine and counterweight at the rear balance the load. Capacity depends on the boom angle, radius, articulation angle and ground conditions.
Load chart. Pick-and-carry cranes have different charts for travelling with a load, for stationary lifts, and for different articulation angles. On uneven or sloping ground, capacity can be much lower.
Controls and safety systems. A rated capacity limiter monitors the load, radius and articulation angle and prevents unsafe movements.
Road travel. Many articulated pick-and-carry cranes can travel on public roads at normal traffic speeds, so they drive to the job without a transport vehicle.

Types of Pick-and-Carry Cranes

Articulated Pick-and-Carry Cranes

The classic Australian type, with a centre pivot, telescopic boom and road travel capability. Capacities are commonly in the range of about 15 to 40 tonnes.

Industrial Pick-and-Carry Cranes

Compact cranes used inside factories and warehouses, often with electric or battery power and solid tyres. Some have slewing booms, and many are designed to work on concrete floors and in narrow aisles.

Rough Terrain Pick-and-Carry Cranes

Machines with larger tyres and more ground clearance for mines, shipyards and outdoor yards.

Mini Pick-and-Carry Cranes

Very compact electric or diesel cranes, often with rubber tracks or small wheels, which overlap with mini cranes described in a separate entry.

Mobile Cranes Used in Pick-and-Carry Mode

Many rough terrain and all terrain cranes can travel with a suspended load within limits set by the manufacturer, but this is a secondary function rather than their main purpose.

Size Classes

Class	Typical maximum capacity	Typical use
Compact	up to about 10 t	Factories, warehouses, maintenance
Medium	about 10 to 25 t	Construction sites, industrial plants
Large	about 25 to 40 t	Steel erection, precast, infrastructure
Heavy	about 40 t and more	Mines, heavy industry, special projects

Figures are indicative. Capacity when travelling with a load is much lower than stationary maximum capacity.

Attachments

Pick-and-carry cranes usually work with a hook block, but they can be fitted with other tools to extend their use. Common options include fly jibs for extra reach, pallet forks, man baskets where local rules allow them, lifting beams and spreader bars, and pipe or beam clamps. Industrial models are often equipped with winches, rotating hooks and remote controls for precise positioning of machinery. Some manufacturers offer a flat deck on the chassis, as on North American carry deck cranes, so that small loads and tools can be carried together with the suspended load. Any attachment reduces net capacity, and the load chart must reflect the tool fitted.

Main Manufacturers

Terex Franna, the Australian brand that defined the articulated pick-and-carry crane.
Valla, an Italian manufacturer of industrial pick-and-carry cranes.
Ormig, an Italian producer of mobile and pick-and-carry cranes.
Galizia, an Italian manufacturer of industrial and articulated cranes.
Broderson, an American manufacturer of industrial carry deck cranes.
Jekko, an Italian maker of compact cranes, including pick-and-carry models.

Main Uses of Pick-and-Carry Cranes

Moving and placing steel beams, pipes and precast elements on construction sites.
Loading and unloading trucks in yards, depots and factories.
Maintenance and shutdown work in refineries, power plants and mines.
Installation of machinery and equipment in industrial buildings.
Civil works, including drainage, culverts and road furniture.
Shipyard and port handling of heavy components.

Choosing a Pick-and-Carry Crane

Know the travel capacity. The load chart for travelling with a load is different from the stationary chart. Plan lifts using the correct chart and articulation angle.
Ground conditions. These cranes depend on firm, level ground. Slopes, soft ground and potholes quickly reduce stability.
Road travel. For work on many sites, a road-registered articulated crane saves transport time and costs.
Indoor or outdoor. Electric and battery models, solid tyres and compact dimensions suit indoor use. Diesel models with larger tyres suit outdoor sites.
Compare with other cranes. For long reach or lifts at height, a mobile crane with outriggers or a crawler crane may be safer and more productive.
Operator experience. Pick-and-carry cranes demand specific training and experience, as their behaviour when travelling with a load differs from that of cranes on outriggers.

Safety

Pick-and-carry cranes have a specific safety profile. Because they lift on their wheels without outriggers, they are more sensitive to slopes, uneven ground, articulation angle and travel speed. Rollover incidents have been a recognised risk with articulated cranes, especially when travelling with a load on a slope or turning sharply. Operators must use the correct load chart, keep the load low and close to the machine while travelling, travel slowly and avoid sudden steering or braking. Rated capacity limiters, slope indicators and stability monitoring systems are important, and some jurisdictions have introduced specific rules and guidance for this type of crane.

Trends and Technology

The main developments in pick-and-carry cranes focus on stability and safety. Newer machines monitor slope, articulation angle and load continuously and adjust the available capacity in real time. Cab design, visibility and camera systems have improved. Electric and battery-powered industrial models are spreading, particularly for indoor work. Manufacturers are also offering higher capacities and longer booms, making pick-and-carry cranes a more versatile alternative to small mobile cranes on some jobs. Telematics and data logging record loads, travel and slope readings, which helps hire companies and site managers review how the machines are used and plan training. Lighter materials and new boom profiles are also used to raise capacity without increasing overall weight, which matters for machines that must remain road legal.

Key Terms

Pick and carry: lifting a load and travelling with it without using outriggers.
Articulation angle: the angle between the front and rear sections of an articulated crane.
Rated capacity limiter: an electronic system that monitors the load and prevents overload.
Travel chart: the load chart that applies when the crane is moving with a load.
Franna: a brand name widely used in Australia as a generic name for articulated pick-and-carry cranes.
Carry deck crane: a North American term for an industrial crane with a deck for carrying materials.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does pick and carry mean? It means lifting a load and moving it with the crane, without setting up outriggers.

Why are pick-and-carry cranes so common in Australia? The articulated Franna crane was developed there in the 1980s, and its road mobility and speed of setup made it popular with the crane hire industry.

Are pick-and-carry cranes safe on slopes? Only within strict limits. Slopes greatly reduce stability, so manufacturers specify maximum slopes and reduced charts, and operators must follow them.

Can a normal mobile crane pick and carry? Some rough terrain and all terrain cranes can travel with a load within manufacturer limits, but at reduced capacity and usually only for short distances.

Can pick-and-carry cranes use outriggers? Some models have stabilisers or outriggers for stationary lifts, which increase capacity. The distinctive feature of the type is that it can also lift and travel without them.