Gantry Crane

A gantry crane is a type of overhead cranes with freestanding supporting leg or legs that moves on crane rail / crane track , or crane rail system, carrying crane bridge, consisted one beam or double beams with hoisting trolley system for material handling. Gantry cranes have lifting capacities ranging from a few hundred pounds to several hundred tons, which can be up to 550 ton with processed crane design. They are very efficient and cost-effective material handling to lift and move loads of various type, size or weight.

Gantry cranes are typically used in open areas or outdoor use where a closed area is not required, but they can also be used indoors such as workshops warehouse, and maintenance room, etc. The design, engineering, fabrication processing and providing all types of technical service for the gantry Crane are available from us. No matter which industrial sector you are in, we are able to provide you one-source gantry crane services, typically, in shipyards, rolling mills, enterprises serving the iron and steel industry, stock areas, marble shops, industrial facilities in machinery manufacturing, and any business that needs to lift loads. Although gantry cranes are commonly referred to as open area cranes, outdoor cranes or external cranes, they also can be used in enclosed spaces, with no cantilever, etc.

Main Types of Gantry Cranes & ComparisonGantry cranes come in a variety of types and styles, varying with different loads and lifting capacities. Due to diverse shapes and sizes, gantry cranes can be used in a variety of industrial applications. The distinction between types of gantry cranes is determined by crane girder configuration, crane size, and hoisting trolley, etc.

Though the typical impression of a gantry crane is one of a permanent immovable lifting mechanism for heavy duty material handling, there are portable and mobile versions of gantry cranes for light loads handling. Because gantry cranes can be operated for a wide range of lifting works, each type of gantry crane is selected and adapted for the conditions where it is adopted.

Gantry cranes are classified into different types based on configurations, designs, and lifting capacity, which are interacted in a variety of ways to define the type of gantry crane for the specific applications.

Full gantry crane

The full gantry crane is the standard configuration of a gantry crane, consisting of a cross beam, supporting legs, and a lifting hoist . Gantry Cranes can run on rubber tyred wheels, or move on embedded rails or tracks, or be portable with castors which will be selected based on their designs.

Semi Gantry Crane

A semi-gantry crane has one supporting leg on one side of main girder and the other side is supported by a wall-mounted I beam. A semi-gantry crane is made up of a bridge, crane mechanism, trolley, and hoist. Semi-gantry cranes are combined the advantages of overhead and gantry cranes which can be used both indoors and outside. Gantry cranes are frequently used under the beneath an overhead crane to improve work productivity without interfering with the overhead crane's operation.

Portable Gantry Crane

Portable gantry cranes are light in weight and have movable wheels or casters which make the small gantry crane more flexible. The small portable gantry cranes are come in the types of steel gantry crane and aluminum portable gantry crane and the lifting capacity of portable gantry crane are from 500kg to 10 ton, and up to 20 ton and the lifting heights and spans come in diverse of designs. Portable gantry cranes are a cost-effective alternative for infrequent lifting needs that perform as well as a permanent crane. They can be moved about a facility for material handling at your request.

Adjustable Gantry Crane

Adjustable cranes come in a variety of sizes and can be portable or stationary. They can adjust their height, width, and horizontal beam to accommodate a load. The versatility and convenience of an adjustable gantry crane are two of its advantages. Though light duty adjustable gantry cranes are widely used. Many gantry cranes, regardless of type can be designed with the adjustable features to meet the different material handling requirements.

Single Girder Gantry Crane

A single girder gantry crane has one bridge beam with a hoist trolley that suspends on the lower flange of crane beam girder. . The main parts and components of a single girder crane are consisted of the main beam, end carriages, support legs, , crane drive, crane controls, and electric hoists, including the electric chain hoist and wire rope hoist, which are selected according to the type of work and application conditions. Single girder gantry cranes can be configured as semi leg / one leg gantry or two leg gantry cranes which is also dependent to on your working conditions.

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 or under running trolley. Double girder gantry cranes have a large span, a high bearing capacity, and excellent stability. A double girder gantry crane has a lifting capacity of 3 ton to 550 ton and can be semi- or two-leg designed with A frame legs or U frame legs.

Truss Gantry Crane

A truss gantry crane refers to the type of gantry crane with the its main girder made of steel made truss girder and the trolley runs on top of the truss girder and a driver‘s cabin is equipped with double truss beam designs. Truss gantry cranes are light in weight and exert little wheel pressure. Truss gantry cranes can be designed as any of the various types of gantry cranes, regardless of the girder and frame construction.

Box Gantry Crane

A box gantry crane has a box shaped girder as the crane bridge.With box girder design, the gantry cranes allows them to have a longer bridge span and greater load capacity.The box girder gantry cranes can be single box girder gantry design with the hoist trolley under the beam or double box girder gantry for extraordinarily heavy duty lifting with the lifting trolley moves on the top of box girders. The box style girder is supported by A-frame legs or U frame legs that rest on heavy duty wheels.

L Shaped Gantry Crane

The L shaped gantry crane is a single girder gantry crane with with L shaped supporting legs. The design of the L shaped gantry crane legs makes it capable of large and long heavy objects or loads.The L leg gantry crane is also widely used in freight yards, railroad terminals, and warehouse, with capacity of 5 ton -32 ton. Based on your lifting requirements and application conditions, the L leg gantry cranes can be designed with a soft start for long travel operation to make sure your gantry crane move stably and smoothly.

U Shape Gantry Crane

A U frame leg gantry crane is a type of double girder gantry crane with the support legs designed in the shape of a U, which provides extra space between the legs and between double girders to make the handling of large loads such as containers more convenient and efficient. The lifitng trolley is installed between the two girders which may consisted of 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 be run on fixed rails for low running resistance or on rubber-tyred wheels for greater portability.

Workstation Gantry Crane / Portable Gantry Crane

Workstation gantry cranes are small gantry crane with rollers or castors which are supposed to lift lighter materials and goods. They are portable and mobile, with the purpose of lifting a work-piece and transporting it to a workbench for processing. Workstation gantry cranes with manual travelling design remain stable and stationary when loaded. With motorized travelling design, the portable gantry crane can be movable under loading . For lifting and moving workplaces, the hoist is equipped with a wire rope or chain. The selection of workstation gantry crane or portable gantry crane are determined by its required lifting capacity and the types of loads to be handled.

Comparison of types of gantry cranes

Dongqi Crane can provide a complete range of gantry cranes, i.e., portable gantry cranes, full gantry cranes and semi-gantry cranes including, single girder, double girder, single leg, double leg, and different cantilever styles for indoor or outdoor use.

Full gantry crane vs. Semi gantry crane

To begin, gantry cranes are typically classified as full gantry cranes, semi-gantry cranes, gantry cranes with cantilevers, and gantry cranes without cantilevers. Their features are as follows:

• Full-gantry crane: There is no overhang on the main beam, and the trolley is carried out within the main span.
• Semi-gantry cranes: The height difference between the legs can be adjusted to meet the needs of the construction site.
• Double girder gantry crane vs.Single girder gantry crane
• Double girder gantry crane is one of the most common type of overhead crane. The structural force of double girder gantry crane structure, as well as the effective use of the site area, are both reasonable. Double girder gantry cranes have a large span, overall stability, and a wide range of options, but their quality is higher and their price is higher than single-girder gantry cranes of the capacity. Based on the primary beam structure, double girder gantry crane can be grouped in to box beam and truss beam gantry crane. And usually, the box girder double girder gantry crane design is more frequently adopted.
• The single girder gantry crane has a simple structure, which is simple to produce and install, and has a low mass. The main beam of single girder gantry crane is usually adopted the box shaped construction to provide enough rigidity for loads handling, with capacity from 1 ton to 20 ton. Single girder gantry crane can designe with L-shaped legs and C-shaped legs. The L-shape is simple to make and install, with good stress conditions and providing larger space for hoisting loads with large and long volumn. The C-shaped legs are angled or curved to allow for a considerable amount of lateral space for the loads to pass through.
• Box girder gantry crane vs. Truss girder gantry crane
• Box type:Steel plates welded together to form a box construction with great safety and stiffness. It's usually reserved for gantry cranes that have a lot of tonnage or enormous tonnage. High cost, heavy weight, and low wind resistance are all downsides of the box girder.
• Truss type: Angle steel or I-beam welded truss girder design has the advantages of low cost, light weight, and strong wind resistance. Huge deflection, low rigidity, relatively low reliability, and frequent detection of welding spots are all disadvantages of truss girder gantry cranes due to the large number of welding points and faults in the trusses themselves.

Adjustable gantry crane vs. Portable gantry crane v.s. Rail mounted gantry crane

In terms of mounting types , gantry cranes can be divided into several varieties, including:

• Adjustable gantry cranes are designed for warehousing applications, where products must be moved through aisles, entrances, around impediments, and over or under obstructions. In welding facilities, fabrication industries, and other places, an adjustable gantry crane is frequently used to raise pieces and equipment into place.
• The portable gantry crane is adaptable, with the ability to be replaced and relocated, as well as the ability to travel quickly and easily to and from a job site.
• A rail-mounted gantry crane is used to move big loads through a defined route, either manually or mechanically
• Rubber typred gantry crane is used in yards or ports for large loads handling such as, containers, boats, long and heavy precasting concrete, etc.

A gantry crane's components are classified into three categories: mechanical, structural, and electrical, no matter it is a small mobile gantry crane or a heavy duty goliath crane for use in a shipyard. All gantry cranes have girders or beams either with one or two that are parallel to the ground or floor.

Though certain gantry cranes can be attached to a structure, they all have legs that are either box or, truss leg design with the shape of A frame or U frame. The main parts and components of gantry cranes are the girders, beams, and legs, which distinguish it from overhead or bridge cranes.

Gantry Crane Parts & Components: How Gantry Cranes are Made

Frame

The main structure of a gantry crane is mainly made of main girder or beam and its supporting legs. In the case of a semi-gantry crane, the structure is cross beam and one supporting leg. The crane girder or crane beam is the main supporting structure of the load. The size, length, and number of crane girders are determined by the working duty of gantry crane, the weight of the lifting loads, and the operation environment. In terms of supporting legs, the gantry crane is usually adopt rigid supporting legt on one side and flexible supporting on the other side to reduce deadweight and account for span deviation.

Trolley

The trolley, which can be attached to the top or bottom of the crane girder, moves the hoist horizontally along the girder. In terms of trolley design, there are three types including the low headroom trolley, general use trolley and double girder trolley.

By adding or removing washers, the distance between trolley wheels can be adjusted to make the trolley to match the girder . Screw adjustment trolleys make adjustments with a screw mechanism. Wheel bumpers keep the trolley from colliding with other objects, and side guide rollers keep it from swaying.

Hoist

The electric hoist or manual hoist on a gantry crane is a form of lifting equipment which are installed on the trolley frame to lift and lower the load vertically, and and trolley carry the electric hoist to move back and forth horizontally . Gantry Hoists can be either electric chain hoist or electric wire rope hoists.

The configuration of the wire rope or chain, as well as the blocks and drum of the hoist, is referred to as reeving system. The many types of reeving have an impact on headroom, lifting speed, and capacity. The gap between the beam and the hook is known as headroom. The number of ropes or chains is referred to as single or double.

Power

The trolley and hoist are powered by a festoon, which is a type of wiring. The crane is powered by power from the busbar, or receiving station, which is supplied to the bridge panel. The hoist, trolley, and bridge are all powered by cables that extend from the panel to the hoist and bridge drives. A gantry crane can be powered by direct AC, induction AC, or synchronous power.

The diagram below shows a festoon system using spherical cables.

Hook

• Hooks are designed and manufactured in accordance with the GB/T 10051-1988 standard.
• The hook is a single forged hook that was forged by DG20.
• To prevent the lifted loads from being unhooked, all hooks include hook closures.
• To ensure the wire rope's service life, the diameter of the pulley must be greater than 20 times the diameter of the wire rope.
• Protective covers or devices are used on the pulleys to keep the wire rope from jumping out of the groove.

Coupling And Drive Shaft

Using a safe and reliable drum-shaped gear connection to connect each mechanism's transmission components, conveying torque while adjusting for angular and radial deviation caused by a particular installation fault, and increasing the transmission device's dynamic characteristics.

The transmission shaft is made of 45# steel, and its strength and torque transmission are ensured by a rigorous strength calculation.

Drum Group

The drum device is mainly composed of drum gear ring, drum, intermediate shaft device, bearing base and limit guide rod device. Rope grooves are machined on the drum to make the wire ropes orderly arranged.

Wire Rope

The wire rope complies with the regulations in GB 8918-2006 “Wire Ropes for Important Uses”.

Wheel Set

The diameter and material of the wheel are chosen based on the wheel's maximal supporting force under the most adverse situations to ensure that the wheels are not overburdened.
The wheel material is ZG340-640, and it is heat treated and quenched using advanced power frequency heat treatment.
The wheel tread and inner surface of the wheel flange must be free of flaws, and welding repairs are not permitted.

Electric Motor

The motor's insulation class is F, and its protection class is IP54/IP55.
The motor features a sensible structure, consistent performance, good quality, huge overload capacity, and strong mechanical strength.

Reducer

The reduction is a crane-specific reducer with high carrying capacity, efficiency, and minimal noise and vibration.

Brake

The brake is an electro-hydraulic block brake from the YWZ series, which is stable, safe, and dependable.

Controls

The controls of a gantry crane give the operator direct control of the crane‘s movements and the hoist. There are several varieties of crane control methods, ranging from wired or remote control for a small sized gantry crane to cabins and booths where the operator rides on the crane or sits in a location to observe crane movement.

The popular trend in gantry crane operations has been to move the operator out of a cabin and have them operate the crane from the ground. In those situations, the operator uses a pendant or remote radio control that has buttons, levers, or other command mechanisms to move and position the gantry crane.

A gantry crane's controls allow the operator complete control over the crane's motions and the hoist. Crane control methods vary widely, from wired or remote control for a small gantry crane to crane cabins and booths where the the crane operator operate and monitor crane movement.

Generally, for the single girder gantry crane for universal use is usually adopt the pendant or remote radio control with buttons, levers, or other command devices while for double girder gantry crane with higher capacity or for specialized application, the crane driver's cabin will be recommended.

A gantry crane is a type of overhead crane that is supported by freestanding legs that travel on wheels or along a track or rail system. When there is a cause not to use an overhead runway system, gantry cranes are frequently considered.

These are usually utilized for outdoor applications or to supplement an existing overhead bridge crane system. A gantry crane, unlike a bridge crane, does not require permanent runway beams and support columns because it is not attached to the building's support structure. When compared to a comparably specified bridge crane, this can result in considerable material cost savings and be a more cost-effective alternative.

Heavy duty gantry crane

Larger gantry systems may run on an embedded rail or track, usually in a straight line in a specialized work area. Smaller portable gantry systems can be moved about a facility on castors or wheels for maintenance or small fabrication operations.

Cranes with a full gantry or semi-gantry are widely employed in large fabrication applications or in outdoor yards such as rail yards, shipping and container yards, steel yards, and scrap yards.
They're also used in cement and precast applications for places where slab concrete is formed and cured. Their design enables them to be utilized outside while also allowing forklift trucks and other motorized traffic to work and pass beneath them.

Light duty gantry crane

Portable gantry cranes are typically used to raise and hold items in place while they are being worked on, produced, or assembled. Although the load isn't necessary transported throughout the facility, the gantry can be relocated to operate on various pieces or equipment.

In comparison to a jib crane or workstation crane, portable gantry systems can provide more flexibility. A jib crane is usually installed on a poured concrete base, and once it's in place, it's there for good. A smaller portable gantry crane can do the same job as a jib crane, but it can be moved about your warehouse as your company grows and you start optimizing and laying out warehouse space.

Gantry cranes are one of numerous hoisting mechanisms featuring a trolley and hoist for moving heavy items and cargo. Gantry cranes are popular because, in addition to their high lifting capacity, they come in a wide range of sizes, from small workshop cranes to enormous shipyard cranes. Gantry cranes are a versatile instrument that may be used in both small and large industrial settings. In most cases, a gantry crane is employed instead of an overhead crane, which may or may not be suitable for the purpose.

Industrial Applications of Gantry Crane

Gantry cranes are employed for a variety of industrial and construction purposes, depending on their size, lifting capacity, and ability to move about the work area. That’s why you should select a gantry crane with proper dimensions. Here are a few examples of gantry cranes in operation.

Manufacturing Plants

Gantry cranes are used in a variety of production sectors, ranging from small to medium to large scale. Gantry cranes are most commonly used in the automobile, steel, and airplane manufacturing industries. You can employ single or double girder, portable, and adjustable gantry cranes depending on the purpose. Small single-girder gantry cranes, for example, are used in the automobile industry to put engines into cars or to handle the mold to the processing line.

Shipyards

For shipbuilding, the double girder gantry crane are widely used which are to lift extremely heavy loads..They can be used to transport large ship parts and components from the production site to the ship, such as the engine or fuel tanks. For one shipbuilding platform, serveral dozen of lifting cranes may be needed at the same time.

Warehouses

Various types of gantry cranes, ranging from light duty single girder cranes to heavy duty double girder cranes, can be used depending on the size and weight of the cargo. Small gantry cranes on rollers or castors can also be used to handle loads freely without the requirement for tracks or rails.

Construction

Portable gantry cranes are popular in the construction industry because they are easy to disassemble, load, and relocate to a new position. They can be used to move and lift a variety of items, including small concrete blocks, steel girders, and lumber. Construction on a large scale, on the other hand, necessitates heavy-duty overhead gantry cranes with double or single girders. They can be used to move huge loads vertically to almost any location on a construction site.

Shipping Docks, Airports, and Railway Yards

Heavy-duty gantry cranes are also used to lift huge containers at shipping docks (or ports), airports, and railway yards. In these locations, mobility is quite important. As a result of its capacity to maneuver while carrying huge loads, rubber-tired gantry cranes are in high demand in train yards and seaports.

Yuantai Crane Factory has more than 30 years of manufacturing experience and is the top crane manufacturer and supplier in China.

Here, we can provide you with the best quality and the most competitive price.

Yuantai Crane have over 30 years of experience engineering, manufacturing, and installing gantry crane systems.