When you need to move materials along a horizontal axis, a gantry crane could be just what you’re looking for.As the name suggests, an overhead gantry crane is a crane built atop a gantry, which is a single or double girder structure supported by freestanding legs. These legs can be fitted with wheels or move along a rail, thus making gantry cranes incredibly useful, mobile hoisting equipment systems.Single girder gantry cranes have one bridge beam supporting the crane hoist trolley, while double girder cranes have two, with the hoist trolley travelling on rails. Typically, the former is more lightweight and takes up less space, with double girder systems having increased size and bulk, but double systems can actually sometimes be easier to install as they do not require additional support beams.Gantry cranes range in size from compact shop configurations through to massive, high-capacity outdoor cranes like those found in shipbuilding yards. Being not permanently fixed to location gives gantry cranes a wide number of flexible applications, with the ability to lift materials such as machine parts, steel plates, beams and even vehicles themselves.While a jib crane is anchored from a single point of contact and freestanding variants can rotate up to 360º, gantry cranes are limited to vertical lifts and movement along the horizontal girder. However, they are generally more portable and manageable than jib cranes. For highly trafficked areas, gantry cranes are a cost-effective way to streamline your material handling and provide a safer, more productive workplace.If you’re looking for a convenient lifting solution without the commitment of a permanent fixture or overhead bridge crane, consider a gantry crane. Here’s what you’ll need to keep in mind:
Your budget
Single or double girder gantry configuration, with double generally only used for specialist lifting requirements
The distance between the crane wheels and the size of goods to be moved across the gantry
The span of the gantry and the space around – can you easily navigate around it when it is in use?
Whether you want your crane hoist to be electric,air or vacuum powered.
From ergonomic vacuum lifting equipment tested to stringent Australian and international standards, we’ve got you covered. Not sure what you need? MHS has over 25 years of experience in providing the highest quality handling solutions to Western Australia.We’ll design and implement a system that is best suited to your unique business needs, saving you money and ensuring your employees are looked after.
