What is a Franna Crane and Why Use One?

If you’ve ever hired a crane or spent a second searching around cranes, then you’ve probably heard the term Franna Crane. 

It’s a strange word and while obvious to anyone in the industry, it often perplexes outsiders as they imagine all sorts of different things. 

Also called a Pick & Carry Crane, the Franna Crane is in essence many things, but most importantly, it’s an Aussie success story that provides an innovative and novel lifting solution that previously required more sophisticated equipment.

The Invention of the Franna Crane

This innovative crane was created by Dave Francis, an engineer who saw the need for a crane that could lift whilst mobile. 

Dave understood that if he could develop a machine that could execute fundamental lifts while moving the load, it would eliminate the need for multiple crane setups and a truck. 

In 1978, Dave implemented his concept with used vehicle parts, resulting in the development of the world’s first pick-and-carry lifting machine. 

The crane’s name resulted from the merger of Dave’s surname and the first name of his daughter, Anna.

What Is a Franna Crane?

In short, Franna cranes are a combination of a truck and a crane, offering the mobility benefits of the former and the tremendous lifting power of the latter. 

These advanced machines can pick loads and move them over long distances, eliminating the requirement for a truck for transportation and repeated crane reconfigurations. 

The Franna crane’s rapidly growing popularity gained notice from manufacturers throughout the industry. In 1999, Terex Corporation purchased Franna and rebranded the company as Terex-Franna. 

Over the years, the term “Franna” has become synonymous with any pick-and-carry crane, reinforcing the manufacturer’s success and legacy.

Differences Between a Franna and Other Cranes

A summary of the differences between Franna cranes and other models include:

• Lifting while moving: A primary differentiator is that a Franna crane can lift and carry loads whilst in motion.
• Mobility: A Franna crane can travel with loads along roadways, while other cranes require separate vehicle transportation.
• Compact design: The smaller size enables these cranes to work in confined areas inaccessible to larger equipment.
• Fast setup: Franna cranes do not require outriggers or stabilising legs, which reduces the installation time. 
• Flexibility: These cranes are easy to operate in various jobsite conditions.

Limitations of the Franna Crane

Whilst the Franna has many benefits, there are also several limitations that mean it is not always suitable to use.  

There are maximum carry loads and the danger of overturning is ever present if the crane isn’t driven by an experienced operator. 

While quicker to set up, the lack of stabilising legs and other supports mean the Franna is limited to lifting on firm level surfaces only. 

Additionally, incorrect tyre pressure or other configuration errors can lead to a derated lifting capacity of the crane and also lead to unsafe operation if not checked regularly.

Franna Cranes available from Premier Cranes & Rigging

At Premier Cranes, we pride ourselves on our commitment to safety and we methodically work through any issues with our clients to achieve maximum safety and minimum complications. We have a fleet of Franna cranes ranging from 20T, 25T and 40T and with our expertise and on the job know how you can be assured of a seamless job every time.

Proud to lead the industry with our Franna Crane fleet and people

With our range of Franna cranes, our team adopts an unrelenting vocation on planning with no reservations on any challenging lifting requirements. From awkward head-scratchers to lifting of heavy elements for civil infrastructure projects. 

We’re proud to lead the industry in client fulfillment, engaging with our experienced engineers, constantly conforming to compliance requisites, and delivering exceptional service. Our culture is driven by the tag #TeamLifting and our behaviours of transparency, respect, candor and “can-do attitude” all complement our determination and willingness to achieve desired results. 

Our people perpetuate our #TeamLifting mantra as they strive to ‘lift’ each other up with everything we do for our clients, industry partners, and the wider community. Premier’s mindset is infinite, we are proud to offer lifting solutions and equipment, including a diverse range of Franna Cranes.