Types of Cranes
Overhead cranes play a vital role in many industry sectors, including manufacturing, warehousing, and construction. If you need to lift and move heavy equipment at a plant or industrial facility, cranes provide a safe and effective solution. When you have the right crane for the job at hand, you can extend your reach and expand your operational capabilities. Not all cranes are created equal, however, with differences in size, capacity, and ergonomics influencing the range of potential applications.
According to the Occupational Health and Safety Administration, about 100 employees are killed and almost 95,000 are injured every year while operating forklifts in all industries. Cranes are a viable material handling alternative to forklifts in many situations.
When choosing a crane for your business, it’s important to select a model that’s right for the project and the environment. If a crane has worked well in a similar building, it doesn’t mean it’s the best crane for your facility or application. When you get the right crane, you are likely to operate more efficiently and streamline all aspects of your workflow. Let’s take a look at common types of overhead cranes and hoists so you can get the perfect model for your needs.
Types of overhead cranes
Overhead cranes are a specialized type of crane found in many industrial environments. Two of the most common configurations are jib cranes and bridge cranes. Other examples include gantry cranes, monorail cranes, and workstation cranes. Regardless of the name, all overhead cranes have a parallel runway configuration with a traveling bridge that spans the gap.
Jib cranes
A jib crane is a common type of crane where a horizontal member supports a moveable hoist. This member is fixed to the wall or floor, with the jib either fixed or providing lateral movement depending on the application. Jib cranes are used in many manufacturing plants, industrial facilities, and distribution centers. They are also seen on some military vehicles. Air and electric chain hoists feature a similar construction to jib cranes. However, hoists are normally a special construction fitted to the top floor of a building to enable the movement of goods between floors.
Jib cranes are named after the jib or jib arm, which is a horizontal or near-horizontal beam that supports the load clear of the main support. In most configurations, jib arms are attached to a vertical mast or tower. In other configurations, they may be attached to an inclined boom. When a crane design does not include a jib arm, and the load is hung directly from a boom, it is often still referred to as a jib.
Bridge cranes
A bridge crane is the common name used to describe all overhead cranes. It also refers to a particular configuration that features an elevated runway system that runs the length of the building. Bridge cranes include both single and double girder bridge arrangements, and both types enable three dimensions of movement.
The bridge part of a crane is the only section that is ever in motion. It supports the lifting device and facilitates load movement. Bridge cranes are similar to monorail cranes, with the former designed to work with rectangular work areas and the latter designed to cover work areas of various shapes. Monorail cranes move along a linear path and can link areas together.
Types of hoists
Hoists are similar to cranes but feature a more simple form of construction. While cranes can move loads in any direction, hoists simply lift and lower materials from one place to another. Hoists are designed to lift loads through chains or ropes, with most modern hoists operated either electrically and pneumatically. Cranes also include a hoist section, which describes the lifting component of a crane that travels along the bridge.
Air and electric chain hoists
There are many types of hoists in operation across industry sectors, some of which are manually operated and others of which are operated electrically or pneumatically. While all hoists use chains, ropes, or fiber to actually lift the load, different technology is used to control the lifting mechanism. Electric chain hoists use a powerful electric motor, and pneumatic hoists use compressed air to eliminate the need for a suitable power supply. While electric hoists are generally more powerful than air hoists, air hoists are typically much lighter and more portable.
Wrapping up
Finding the right crane or hoist for your environment and application requires careful research and consideration. By comparing different products based on weight, height, cost, and speed, it becomes easier to select the perfect equipment for the job at hand. If you would like to learn more about our cranes, please review our lifting equipment or contact Handling Solutions today.
Industrial lifts come in all different sizes, specs, shapes, and designs. Although most lifts are built to be as versatile as possible, each type suits a particular application, industry, or use case. Understand your elevation requirements in order to determine the most suitable type of lift for your needs.If you’re still stuck on choosing the best type of lift for your business, Handling Solutions Inc. is here to help. Don’t hesitate to reach out by requesting a quote or call 704-554-7117 for more information about lifting equipment.
