China's crane industry is growing rapidly, but the tower foundation sector still lags behind to some extent.

Looking back at the 60-year development history of China's tower crane industry, we see how it has grown from scratch to become a major player—scaling up steadily and gradually establishing a relatively complete system and product portfolio. Today, China is capable of producing tower cranes ranging from 100 kN·m to 52,000 kN·m, meeting not only domestic construction project needs but also exporting extensively to markets around the globe, particularly making small-batch exports to advanced economies and regions in Europe and North America. As a result, China has firmly established itself as a global powerhouse in tower crane manufacturing. However, in recent years, amid rapid market shifts and intense competitive pressures, China's leading tower crane manufacturers have significantly increased their investments in research and development as well as production capabilities. As a consequence, the technological gap between Chinese manufacturers and their international counterparts has narrowed considerably. That said, there still remains a noticeable disparity in overall structural design, performance, and quality—particularly in areas such as manufacturing precision and reliability—when compared to those of more advanced nations.

　　First, product quality varies significantly. Currently, China boasts substantial tower crane production, with positive developments across the board—companies are increasingly aware of branding and have established robust sales networks. Tower crane standards are also aligning more closely with international benchmarks and are steadily being refined. However, despite these advancements, product quality remains uneven, with wide disparities. On one hand, there are well-established, reputable enterprises that boast strong technical capabilities and consistently deliver high-quality products. On the other hand, some companies struggle with inferior manufacturing equipment and weaker technical expertise; they enter the market by offering razor-thin prices and employing unconventional, often unregulated methods to secure manufacturing and inspection certifications. Such practices not only undermine industry integrity but also pose a serious threat to established, legitimate manufacturers.

　　Currently, basic components and fundamental research in China lag behind. Compared to developed countries, Chinese tower crane products still face significant gaps, primarily due to: - The reliability of domestically produced components—such as electrical, hydraulic, and transmission parts—still needs improvement; - Insufficiently advanced process equipment, testing instruments, and quality-control methods; - A lack of in-depth foundational research, including quantitative analysis of key structural elements and comprehensive reliability studies. These shortcomings not only compromise the quality and reliability of the entire machine but also increase the risk of accidents. Moreover, the relatively low-quality configuration of transmission mechanisms has become a major bottleneck, severely limiting the overall technological performance and hindering the further development of China’s tower crane industry.

　　The product structure still needs adjustment. In recent years, China's tower crane industry has experienced rapid growth—but most products remain largely similar, leading to severe overcapacity in medium- and small-sized models. Back in the 1980s, China introduced a standardized model classification system with the original intention of simplifying unified management and making it easier for customers to choose. While this approach enhanced standardization, it has largely stifled the diversity of tower crane products and slowed down technological advancements. In contrast, developed markets develop products precisely based on what their specific demands require—ranging from ultra-small cranes with lifting capacities as low as 10–20 kNm to massive giants capable of handling loads up to 100,000 kNm. Meanwhile, self-erecting tower cranes, widely used in developed countries, remain relatively rare in China.