Types of Gantry Cranes, Select Right Crane Type for You
Main types of gantry cranes from light duty small portable gantry to heavy duty goliath gantry cranes with capacity from 0.25 ton to 500 ton to meet various material handling needs. Is a gantry crane the best option for your situation? We look at all of the different options available, including light duty gantry cranes and heavy duty gantry cranes, as well as how to choose the right gantry cranes for your applications.
Gantry crane systems are available in a very wide range of configurations and with wide crane specifications from 0.5 ton to 500 ton. A gantry crane is the ideal tool for material handling at the applications, from lifting vehicle engines to loading storage containers in cargo docks.
In the following, the main types of light duty gantry cranes and small gantry cranes and large gantry cranes for your reference to get the right types of gantry crane for your selection.
Main types of light duty gantry cranes & Small gantry cranes
For light load material handling, the light duty gantry cranes, which is also know as the small gantry cranes or portable gantry cranes are widely used. For the small gantry cranes are portable and flexible, which is economical, convenient and versatile for various light loads handling with capacity from 0.25 ton to 10 ton. They are equipped with manual hoists, electric chain hoist or wire rope hoist for specific use or applications. In the following , the main types of small gantry cranes are presented for your reference.
- Portable gantry cranes
- Adjustable gantry cranes
- Rail mounted gantry crane
- Aluminum gantry cranes
Portable Gantry Crane System
A portable small gantry crane is much smaller and lighter in weight. It has no fixed location and is moved around any facility using casters or rubber wheels to hoist and support various materials and load types. This gantry system's portability allows it to be available when needed but hidden when not, saving space and improving floor space flexibility.
Adjustable (Telescoping) Gantry Crane System
An adjustable gantry crane has variable dimensions to accommodate different working environments and lifting requirements. This includes movable placement along the I beam (gantry span), movable height, and movable base width. The system also has the advantage of being much more maneuverable around the working place and work area.
Rail mounted gantry cranes
Rail travelling mobile gantry crane, small & economical rail gantry crane with capacity up 10 ton. Customized rail portable gantry crane is up 20 ton. It is a light duty rail mounted gantry crane, which much simple design and cost-effective configurations. √Portable Ganty Type: Rail Travelling Gantry , √ Capacity : 1~20 ton, √ Span:15m √Height: 10m
Aluminum gantry cranes
Types of aluminum gantry cranes, with portable gantry, fixed gantry, adjustable height / span gantry design for selection.Aluminium gantry cranes are available from various gantry crane designs including, the fixed height gantry crane and adjustable gantry, roller mounted portable gantry cranes & stationary aluminium gantry , etc. √Portable Gantry Type: Aluminum Gantry , √ Capacity : 1~10 ton, √ Span & Height: Customized.
Main Types of Heavy Duty Gantry Crane Systems
Compared with the small gantry crane, the heavy duty gantry cranes are used for large and heavy loads handling invarious application. They can be used indoors and outdoors. The most frequently used types of heay duty gantry cranea are including the following crane designs:
- Single girder gantry crane
- Double girder (semi) gantry crane
- Truss gantry crane
- Box gantry crane
- L-shaped gantry crane
- U-shaped gantry crane
- Workstation (caster-mounted) gantry crane
Full Gantry Crane System
A full gantry crane system is conceivably the most common arrangement of a gantry crane. This consists of two supporting legs, one at each side, which travel generally in a straight line along two rails on the floor. The floor rails are integrated into the floor's top surface to produce a flush surface that motorized vehicles like trucks, trolleys, and forklifts can roll over without causing any disruption.
Full Gantry Crane System - heavy duty gantry crane type
Semi-Gantry Crane System - heavy duty gantry crane typeSemi-Gantry Crane System
A full gantry crane is with two supporting leg on both side, which enable it have no requirement of supporting facility or structures. Whereas, a semi-gantry crane system can be designed with one leg riding on wheels or rails and the other side using a runway system connected to building columns or supporting structures. Depending on the circumstances, this could be internal or external. The main advantage of such a system is that it saves a significant amount of floor (work) space and, unlike a bridge crane, does not require two runways.
Single Girder Gantry Crane
A single girder gantry crane has one bridge beam and a hoist trolley that runs on the crane's lower portion. A single girder gantry crane's components include the main beam, support legs, cross beam, crane drive, controls, and hoist. Single beam gantry cranes can use European hoists as well as a variety of electric hoists including the cd/md wire rope hoist and electric chain hoist, according to the type of handling loads and applications. They can be configured as semi- or two-leg gantry cranes and can be customized to meet the needs of the job.
Double Girder Gantry Crane
The bridge of a double girder gantry crane is made up of two girder beams. It is designed for extremely heavy duty applications and can have a top running trolley. Double girder gantry cranes have a large span, a high lifting capacity from 3 ton to 500 ton, and excellent stability. A double girder gantry cranes can be designed with A frame gantry legs U frame gantry leg, and box type gantry legs and truss type gantry legs, which will be selected accordingly.
Truss Gantry Crane
The truss type gantry crane are specially designed for windy application. The main girder and supporting legs of the truss type gantry cranes are made of the connected shafts or steel bars. The trolley may have a driver's cabin and run on top of the truss girder. Truss gantry cranes are light in weight and require little wheel pressure. . Truss gantry cranes can be designed as any of the various types of gantry cranes, ie., single girder, double girder, full & sell gantry cranes, regardless of the girder and frame construction.
Box Gantry Crane - heavy duty gantry crane typeBox Gantry Crane
The box type gantry crane refers to the gantry cranes, designed with a four-sided box main beam. It also can be constructed into single girder and double girder design. Box girder gantry cranes have a longer bridge span and a higher load capacity due to their box structure design with higher reliability, which are used for extremely heavy duty material handling. Box type gantry cranes are typically used in situations where an overhead crane cannot be installed. The box-style girder is supported by A-frame columns on heavy-duty wheels.
L Shaped Gantry Crane
A special type of single beam gantry crane with L-shaped legs . The L-shaped gantry crane legs' design allows it to handle long pieces. It is used in warehouses, freight yards, and railroad terminals. An L-shaped gantry crane has a load capacity of five to fifty tons, with a low dead weight and low wheel pressure. For long-distance operations, it can be designed with a soft start to ensure stable and smooth movement.
U Shape Gantry Crane
A U-shaped gantry crane is a type of double-girder gantry crane with support legs shaped like a "U." The U shape design allows for more space between the legs and the double girders, making it suitable for lifting heavy loads. The trolley of the u shaped gantry crane is designed to fit between the two girders and can be equipped with one or two hoists. Furthermore, the girders can be extended on one or both sides to form cantilevers for easier loading and unloading. U-shaped gantry cranes can travel on fixed rails with little resistance.
What are the main types of industrial gantry cranes ?
Because of the wide range of gantry crane designs that allow for varying sizes and lifting capacities, almost any industry can benefit from the use of a gantry crane. They are most commonly found in factories, shipyards, scrap yards, rail yards, steel mills, and special construction sites. Smaller portable gantry cranes and telescopic gantry cranes, on the other hand, are commonly use for light loads handling in shops and wood/metalworking shops to help with hoisting and supporting heavy and awkward loads.
As for different industrial applications, there are general use gantry cranes, and processed gantry crane designed for the particular industrial applications. In the following, few of the industrial gantry cranes are presented for your reference.
Gantry crane for general use
A general use gantry crane is one that is used in a common application environment with no special requirements, such as, explosion proof, corrosion resistance and others, which needs special treatment or gantry crane parts and components. This types of gantry crane is the most popular because it can lift heavy items and materials and has a lifting capacity of less than 100 tons. For different types of loads handling, the gantry crane can be equipped with different below the hook attachments, such as, electromagnets, grab or hook, etc.
Hydropower station gantry crane
The gantry crane at the hydropower station is used to lift and start the sluice gate, as well as to perform installation work. The hydropower station gantry crane has a lifting capacity of 80-500 tons. This type of gantry crane is a tailored gantry cranes. If you have any need, please feel free to contact us.
Ship building gantry crane
A shipbuilding gantry crane is used for ship maintenance and assembly. It is typically outfitted with two trolleys: one traveling on the rail's top flange and the other on the rail's under flange, used for turning over large objects. The shipbuilding gantry crane has a lifting capacity of up to 100-1500 Ton.Customized gantry features are available.
Container Gantry Crane
For large a mounted of container handling, the container gantry cranes are widely used at container ports. The truck transports the container from the ship to the container yard, and the container gantry crane stacks or loads the container onto the truck to transport it, which speeds up the entire work cycle.
A container gantry crane has 3-4 layers and 6 rows of capacity. There are two types of gantry cranes: tyre-mounted and rail-mounted.
Workstation Gantry Crane
Workstation gantry cranes are small and designed to lift lighter materials and goods. They are designed to lift a workpiece and transport it to a workbench for processing. Workstation gantry cranes remain stable and stationary when loaded. For lifting and moving workpieces, the hoist uses a wire rope or chain. The type of work and the required capacity influence the selection of a workstation crane.
How to select the right type of gantry crane for your application?
How do you choose a gantry crane for your application? Choosing the right type of gantry crane will significantly reduce the gantry crane price. There are several factors to consider when choosing a gantry crane.
Types or model of gantry crane required
Which type of gantry crane do you need, portable gantry , Single girder gantry or Double girder gantry crane?
Single girder gantry cranes are typically suitable and sufficient for capacities of 32 tons or less, spans of less than 35 meters, and no other special functions. If the working conditions necessitate a larger leg clearance space and a faster working speed, as well as the frequent lifting of heavy and large objects, a double girder is a much better choice.
As for small portable gantry cranes, the is suitable for application for light loads handling with capacity around 10 ton, for not so frequently use.
Span and cantilever length design for the required gantry
The span of a gantry crane is an important factor influencing the crane's quality. When selecting a crane type, if it can meet the equipment being used and in standard span conditions, you should reduce the span.
The use of gantry cranes
Will you need to use a gantry crane at all times during the day? Are there multiple areas where hoisting and maneuvering are required? How is your workspace organized? Do you have enough floor space to accommodate a portable gantry crane? When needed, a portable gantry crane can be easily moved to different production areas and stored when not in use.
Gantry crane cost
Another consideration in the cost of a gantry crane will be how the installation will affect plant operations. There will be an additional cost if operations must be paused to allow for installation, or if installation must take place outside of regular hours or on public holidays.
Because they do not require any structural modifications to your plant or workspace, portable gantry cranes are extremely simple to install by the end user.
