In the world of overhead cranes, there is more than one type of crane to choose from. Your choice of crane will depend on the layout of your factory or workshop. For the most part, you should be able to choose between a jib crane or a gantry crane. With modifications, these cranes can be made to work for many different manufacturing needs.

The Jib Crane and Its Uses

A jib crane is a horizontal arm that is mounted to a wall or to a pillar. The arm may be designed to telescope or rotate as needed. You can also choose to have the telescoping and rotating processes automated, or you can handle these processes manually. While the design of the jib crane is pretty basic, it can be used for many different applications.

You could mount a jib crane next to a cauldron to use for lifting raw materials into the cauldron. You could also put a jib crane on the top floor of a multi-story warehouse, and the crane could then be used to lift materials to any level of the structure. A rotating jib crane can be used to lift materials from a loading platform onto the bed of cargo cars on a train. When you choose a jib crane, you will need to be specific about the type of jobs you will use the jib crane for so that the crane manufacturer can design a crane to meet your needs.

The Gantry Crane and Its Uses

A gantry is a structure that is designed to span an area. For example, you could build a gantry which spans from one end of your factory to the other or from one side of a railway yard to the other. A crane is then suspended on a sled. The crane will retract a cable to lift objects and the sled is used to then move the object from place to place. 

Gantry cranes work well in assembly lines and in other situations where you have a multi-step manufacturing process lined out in a linear pattern. Auto manufacturers will use gantry cranes to bring raw materials into a manufacturing plant and to move their vehicles through every stage of the manufacturing process. 

While crane manufacturers will likely have standard models that you can choose from, you should not feel like you are locked into a specific model. By working with crane manufacturers, such as American Equipment Inc, you can collaborate to design a crane that will perfectly meet your manufacturing needs. 

Share