Material handling is an essential part of nearly all modern industries, including construction, manufacturing, logistics, and shipbuilding. Getting the right type of lifting equipment can be critical to the success of the industry. Gaining productivity by using lifting equipment can not only get the job done faster, but it allows for the safety and precision of lifting heavy loads. Of all the lifting solutions available, the gantry crane is probably the most versatile. Gantry cranes are strong, economical, as well as adaptable to a variety of functions.
What is a Gantry Crane?
A gantry crane is an overhead lifting equipment using a bridge supported by two or more legs, which rides on wheels or moves on rails. Compared to fixed overhead cranes, gantry cranes can be installed in open working areas and allows for flexibility in design (into both commercial and industrial environments). Gantry crane can be used in a variety of industries, including construction, shipping, manufacturing and logistics. Gantry cranes are designed as portable cranes to lift heavy loads quickly and efficiently with safety and stability.
Gantry cranes are different from overhead cranes in that gantry cranes do not require structures built into the building being supported by the crane. Gantry cranes differ from jib cranes which typically have a smaller working area. Because of the design gantry cranes can allow for the movement of heavier pieces of equipment for those operations where cranes are needed to move entire work sites over distances.
Types of Gantry Cranes
Gantry cranes can come in various forms depending on the operational requirements. Businesses can choose from multiple types of gantry cranes:
- Full Gantry Crane: Supported by columns on both sides. Generally used in large industrial environments or outdoor yards.
- Semi-Gantry Crane: One side of the gantry runs on a rail and the other has a leg. Suitable for areas willing to limit the gantry crane to a partial area of the environment.
- Portable/Mobile Gantry Crane: Lightweight, easily assembled and moves, Used mostly in workshops and temporary jobsites.
- Custom Designed Gantry Crane: Tailored to your preference when needing customized lifting, load capacity, or span reach.
Every type of gantry crane has specific benefits, so companies will typically source a solution that meets their operational requirements restricted by their space.
Key Features and Benefits
If you’re thinking of investing in a gantry crane, there are lots of benefits to any operation:
- Large Load Capacity: Gantry cranes can lift loads from a few tonnes to hundreds of tonnes.
- Mobility and Flexibility: Can be installed inside and outside, then moved along tracks or wheeled bases as needed.
- Less Cost: Less infrastructure is required compared to overhead permanent cranes, therefore saving money on installation.
- Safety and Reliability: Requires robust engineering which supports safe and stable lifting.
- Faster: Reduces manual handling and increases turn around time.
Typical Uses for Gantry Cranes
Gantry cranes are remarkably flexible and can be utilized in a variety of applications:
- Construction Sites: Lifting of heavy building material, steel beams, or pre-fab pieces.
- Warehouses and Logistics: Moving large products, pallets, and equipment efficiently.
- Shipyards and Ports: Moving containers, parts of ships, and other heavy maritime equipment.
- Manufacturing Plants and Workshops: Moving machinery, raw materials, and final products.
These various applications illustrate the reason gantry cranes are indispensable to industries when it comes to selected and reliable ways to pick up and move materials.
Choosing the Best Gantry Crane for Your Industry
Choosing a gantry crane involves a few key considerations:
- Load Limits: Find the maximum weight your gantry crane will be lifting.
- Span and Height: Ensure the crane spans enough space in the working area, and the height will allow lifting without hitting any obstacles.
- Interior or Exterior Use: The environment and environmental conditions including exposure to the elements and space.
- Mobility: Determine the type of crane that fits your requirements best: a stable gantry crane or a mobile gantry crane.
- Flexibility: There are specific cranes designed by certain businesses that necessitate certain unique features, such as motorised motion or variable height.
It is by consulting industry experts, as well as by determining your own operational requirements, that you may be able to make your investment an efficient and secure long-term solution.
Safety and Maintenance
A gantry crane should be in the highest possible condition to be safe and efficient:
- Frequent Examination: Check structural parts and any hoists and rails where wear and tear are spotted.
- Training of the Operators: The staff is supposed to be trained and certified to use the crane safely.
- Load Testing: Load testing should be conducted periodically to ensure there is no overloading.
Oiling: Check, lubricate, and maintain the brakes and change the worn parts as soon as possible. - Manufacturer Guidelines: Operators should always follow the operational and safety instructions.
With the right amount of maintenance and safety in mind, businesses can prolong the life of their gantry crane and minimize downtime.
Conclusion
Gantry crane is the most powerful and versatile material handling solution in the industry where material handling reliability is the most important factor and they can comfortably pull off heavy materials at construction sites or relocate equipment in warehouses and shipyards with unmatched flexibility, efficiency and safety of the displaced materials. Having been able to learn about the various styles, features and applications, businesses can now make better choices in relation to the crane that most efficiently met their business needs.
