A crane is a tower or derrick equipped with cables and pulleys that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to shift them horizontally.

Cranes are commonly employed in the construction industry and in manufacturing heavy equipment.

Construction cranes are usually temporary structures, either fixed to the ground or mounted on a purpose-built vehicle.

Cranes may either be controlled from an operator in a cab that travels with the crane, by a pushbutton pendant control station, or by infrared or radio control.

Where a cab operator is employed, workers on the ground will communicate with the operator through a system of standardised hand-signals or, in larger installations, radio systems; an experienced crew can position loads with great precision using only these signals..

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