Introduction of overhead cranes
An overhead crane is a crane in an industrial environment. An overhead crane is erected on two parallel tracks, consisting of one, two, or more beams.
Overhead cranes help you lift or move heavy loads from one location to another precisely through hoisting mechanisms, trolleys, and running gear.
Using an overhead crane can significantly increase productivity and make your job easier. Of course, the premise is to choose the right kind of overhead crane.
An Overhead crane is a kind of material handling equipment, and different types of overhead cranes can be used according to different usage environments.
Reading the following articles will help you choose the best overhead crane for you.
Bridge Cranes
Bridge cranes may be the first type of crane you think of. Moreover, overhead cranes are the most important type of overhead cranes. Therefore, in many cases, when overhead cranes are mentioned, the first thing that comes to mind is bridge cranes.
Bridge cranes are built in buildings and usually use the building’s own rigid structure for support and operation. In modern plant construction, steel structures are built in advance for the operation of overhead cranes. If your plant does not have them, you can only purchase steel structures separately or use gantry cranes.
The bridge crane is located at the top of the building and can lift and move materials arbitrarily in the workshop. And can run on rails, moving back and forth inside the building.
Common overhead cranes have two types: single girder and double girder.
Single Girder Overhead Crane
Single girder overhead cranes have an I-beam to support load handling.
Single girder overhead cranes are lighter in their own weight.
Double girder overhead crane
Double girder overhead cranes have the use of two I-beams to support the load.
The load capacity of the double-girder overhead crane is stronger.
Single girder vs double girder
| Attributes | Single Girder Overhead Cranes | Double Girder Overhead Cranes |
|---|---|---|
| own weight | relatively light | Heavier |
| load capacity | up to 15 tons | up to 550 tons |
| usage frequency | Relatively small | relatively more |
| price | relatively cheaper | relatively more expensive |
Bridge crane use
Overhead cranes have a wide range of uses. In modern factories, as long as you need to carry heavy objects that exceed the human body in the production process, overhead cranes are your best helpers.
Overhead cranes are installed at high altitudes and make working in your building more efficient.
Can be used in the following scenarios.
Bridge crane cost
Single girder overhead cranes are relatively inexpensive, usually in the thousands to tens of thousands of dollars.
The cost of double-girder cranes is relatively expensive, usually between tens of thousands of dollars and millions of dollars, but it is worth it and can bring you higher work efficiency.
Gantry Cranes
What is a gantry crane?
The gantry crane is a crane installed on the gantry. Also, its hoist is located at the top of the gantry, so it is also a kind of overhead crane.
Among them, the gantry is a movable frame, and the bottom can be a tire or a track.
For more details on gantry cranes, I will write an article in the near future: What is a gantry crane and add the link here.
Gantry crane application
There are many types of gantry cranes, which are briefly divided into three types here: portable gantry cranes, rail-mounted gantry cranes, and rubber-tyred gantry cranes.
A portable gantry crane is a smaller gantry crane commonly used in garages and smaller fabrication shops. It usually has heavy-duty casters so it can be moved easily.
If you need to move and handle up to 10 tons and do not use it frequently, then a portable gantry crane will be your best choice.
Rail-mounted gantry cranes can only run on fixed rails and are suitable for frequent outdoor movements, ranging from 1 ton to more than 500 tons.
If you are in an external, fixed area and need to handle materials frequently, then the rail-mounted gantry crane is your most suitable choice.
The other is the rubber-tyred gantry crane, which is suitable for moving and handling materials in unstable outdoor areas. The most commonly used are container yards, docks, and other places to handle containers.
Comparison Table
| Attributes | Portable gantry cranes | rail-mounted gantry cranes | rubber-tyred gantry cranes |
|---|---|---|---|
| own weight | relatively light | Heavier | Heavier |
| load capacity | up to 10 tons | up to 500 tons | 40 tons to 80 tons |
| usage frequency | Low | high | middle |
| Use the venue | Movable, complex road | Fixed venue | Movable, smooth road |
| power | manual, electric | electric | electric, diesel |
| Price | $1000 to 15000 | $3000 to $5 million | $80,000 to $250,000 |
Gantry Crane Cost
Portable gantry cranes are less expensive and for just a few thousand dollars you can have a gantry crane that can move tens of thousands of pounds. Ideal for home mechanics and infrequently used workshops, garages, etc.
Larger gantry cranes can be more expensive, including rail-mounted gantry cranes and rubber-tyred gantry cranes. It is affected by the lifting weight, lifting height, span, etc. of the gantry crane. But it’s all worth the money and increases your productivity.
Jib Cranes
The jib crane can be rotated, and its handling range is a circle or a sector, and it is characterized by only one side being fixed. This force makes it incapable of handling heavier materials.
They do not have the same lifting capacity as overhead cranes and gantry cranes, usually up to 10 tons.
There are three common installation methods for jib cranes: portable jib cranes, freestanding jib cranes, and wall-mounted jib cranes.
Jib cranes are usually used for personal workstations, garages, shops, personal jobs in factories, and supplementary handling below overhead cranes.
Comparison Table
| Attributes | portable jib cranes | freestanding jib cranes | wall-mounted jib cranes |
|---|---|---|---|
| own weight | relatively light | relatively light | relatively light |
| load capacity | up to 2 tons | up to 10 tons | up to 5 tons |
| a fixed way | not fixed | Bottom fixed | wall fixing |
| power | manual, electric | manual, electric | manual, electric |
Jib crane cost
A jib crane is usually in the thousands of dollars, and the higher the weight that needs to be moved, the more it will cost, but it usually doesn’t exceed $10,000.
Workstation Cranes
The feature of workstation cranes is that they do not need buildings as supports, they have their own floor support, so workstation cranes are also called Freestanding Workstation Cranes, and Workstation Bridge Cranes.
There are many times when you may not need an overhead crane that spans the entire width of the building, or you may need to do material handling in a small area to supplement the overhead crane.
Therefore, it is very necessary that you use a workstation bridge crane.
Workstation Cranes uses
Workstation overhead cranes are the most popular choice for shops, garages, automakers, and more.
They do not depend on building structure and can be prevented almost anywhere.
Their lifting capacity is 50kg to 3 tons.
Workstation Crane Cost
Workstation cranes can cost anywhere from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars, and the main factors that affect the price are the lifting capacity, the space covered, and how many hoists are required.
Monorail Cranes
The monorail crane is the most unique of all overhead cranes, it can only move up and down, unlike other overhead cranes that can move left and right.
However, the monorail crane has its unique place, its running trajectory can be adjusted according to the curved track.
When you need to move around curves in some factory structures, then monorail cranes are your best choice.
Monorail Crane Application
Because monorail cranes can adjust the track according to some unique situations, monorail cranes are best used on assembly lines. Usually, the upper limit of lifting material is 5 tons.
Monorail Crane Cost
The cost of a monorail crane mainly depends on how many hoists you need to install, as well as the length of the track, and the curve. Common monorail crane prices range from a few thousand dollars to tens of thousands of dollars.
Conclusion
After you read all, you will definitely have a clearer understanding of overhead cranes and understand the purpose and function of different overhead cranes. Choose the overhead crane that works best for you.
In each type of overhead crane, we briefly mentioned the cost of the crane. However, different environments may have different requirements for cranes, and these will affect the price of the crane.
If you still have some doubts about the crane, you can consult our engineers. Our team members will answer your questions. And provide you with an estimate for a crane or hoist that will make your business more efficient.
