The world's smallest tower crane
The M40R recovery crane is the world's smallest capacity luffing tower crane. The crane is developed by Marr Contracting with its manufacturing partner Favelle Favco. It is designed to remove other cranes from the top of buildings and has the ability to be placed on almost any roof structure.
Uses include lifting building materials such as air conditioning units and cooling towers but is also often used to recover cranes from the top of buildings during construction. The design places smaller loads into existing support structure and allows for slewing coverage and can also be used to erect larger cranes for heavier lifting.
The M40R was initially used to remove the cranes from the top of the 297.3m tall Eureka Tower in Melbourne, Australia.
Lift ability
- Lift capacity: 3 tonnes
- Maximum radius: 15 metres
- Lift/radius ratio: 3 tonnes/ 11 metres
- Capacity: 2 tonnes at 15m radius
- Main winch hoist capacity: 3 tonnes
- Maximum allowable operational wind speed: 20 metres/second
- Compatible with 100% renewable diesel (HVO100)
More information on the M40R capability can be found in the M40R data sheet.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
Featured articles and news
A safe energy transition – ECA launches a new Charter
Practical policy actions to speed up low carbon adoption while maintaining installation safety and competency.
Frank Duffy: Researcher and Practitioner
Reflections on achievements and relevance to the wider research and practice communities.
The 2026 Compliance Landscape: Fire doors
Why 'Business as Usual' is a Liability.
Cutting construction carbon footprint by caring for soil
Is construction neglecting one of the planet’s most powerful carbon stores and one of our greatest natural climate allies.
ARCHITECTURE: How's it progressing?
Archiblogger posing questions of a historical and contextual nature.
The roofscape of Hampstead Garden Suburb
Residents, architects and roofers need to understand detailing.
Homes, landlords. tenants and the new housing standards
What will it all mean?
The Architectural Technology podcast: Where it's AT
Catch-up on the latest episodes.
Edmundson Apprentice of the Year award 2026
Entries now open for this Electrical Contractors' Association award.
Traditional blue-grey slate from one of the oldest and largest UK slate quarries down in Cornwall.
There are plenty of sources with the potential to be redeveloped.
Change of use legislation breaths new life into buildings
A run down on Class MA of the General Permitted Development Order.
Solar generation in the historic environment
Success requires understanding each site in detail.
Level 6 Design, Construction and Management BSc
CIOB launches first-ever degree programme to develop the next generation of construction leaders.
Open for business as of April, with its 2026 prospectus and new pipeline of housing schemes.
The operational value of workforce health
Keeping projects moving. Incorporating unplanned absence and the importance of health, in operations.





















