bridge crane vs. gantry crane vs. jib crane is presented for you to select the correct type of crane for your application. Check the similarities and differences of bridge crane, gantry crane and jib crane now. Get your custom crane from crane supplier.
Bridge crane and gantry cranes or both used primarily in industrial applications. Both types are very common in manufacturing facilities and material handling locations such as ship yards where they are used to handle bulk material or shipping crates. Light duty applications are common for gantry cranes and they can often be found in mechanics shops.
A bridge crane, also called a bridge crane, has pillars that are fixed in the ground. The track is set up above, and you guide your heavy objects along this track.
Bridge crane is a very common shop crane in North America. It is characterized by a trolley supported by one or more Bridge crane which travel up and down a pair of runway beams. The unique characteristic of a bridge beam is that the runway beams are high in the air supported be either columns in a standalone crane system or built into the structure of the building. At the ends of the bridge beam, there is an end truck that guides the crane down the length of the runway beams.
A gantry crane works with hydraulic crane systems or bridge crane hoists the can be raised or lowered. The track runs at floor-level, but can be raised and lowered with hydraulics or be fixed. The gantry crane systems allow for ease when maneuvering goods in small or tight spaces.
A gantry crane shares many of the same components as a bridge beam. They usually consist of one or more Bridge crane carrying a trolley spanning over where the load will be lifted. The major difference is that there is one set of vertical supports at each end of the bridge for support and the end trucks run at ground level. The end truck crane system used for carrying the structure down the length of the runway can vary depending on application and duty. On light weight crane systems, it is common for the end trucks be made of four casters and have the unit pushed around by hand. On heavier duty applications, the crane will run down a track and be powered similar to a bridge beam.
Price:
The main differentiation between the two is that a gantry crane will be significantly cheaper to build. A bridge crane requires substantially more structure to support the load which will increase the overall cost in of the crane. Bridge cranes require columns down the full length of the crane to support the two run way beams where as a gantry crane only requires on set of upright structures and no run way beams. A gantry crane’s ability to use the floor as a supporting structure will cut thousands of lbs worth of steel and labor from a typical installation.
Use of space:
A gantry crane obviously has no columns but has a track running on the ground down the length of the runway. This requires people to section off this part of the shop and pretty much dedicate it for only the crane. In a bridge beam crane system, everything is in the air so the space below the crane can be used for walkways, doors or storage. You won’t have crane coverage in this area but at least it’s not dead space. So a bridge crane will net you better use of space for an identical area of coverage.
Crane Safety and Maintenance:
Both crane systems need annual maintenance and inspections completed by qualified person. A bridge crane will have more components off the ground making inspection more difficult. With a gantry crane, all of the working parts are on the ground and easily accessible. On that same note, because the gantry crane has tracks that are on the ground they will be more susceptible to damage. Gantry cranes also pose an increase safety risk since there are electrical and pinch points at ground level.
Ability to Transfer Loads:
One aspect of gantry cranes that I think is grossly underutilized is the fact that you can cantilever a load past the vertical upright and get it outside of the crane coverage area. This is really common in shipyards where there is a cantilevered section of a gantry crane on one side to pick shipping containers off of ships and move them between the uprights for storage. There is another cantilever out the other side to load trucks. This is only possible in a gantry style crane system since Bridge crane have fixed runway beams blocking this operation. I see potential for this kind of operation in a hybrid crane system over a steel yard where the cantilevered section is used to unload steel from a truck that parks parallel to the length of the crane. The material can be sorted and stored under the main body of the crane. The other application that I can think of is transferring a load from one shop bay to the other across the crane boundaries. To do this with a bridge beam you have to put the load down and move it across the dead space by some other means but with a gantry crane you could just use a cantilevered section to move the load across.
Temporary Installation:
A gantry crane would really shine is in the conditions where the crane system is just a temporary installation in a building. If you were to rent a shop or factory rather than investing in the money for a bridge crane that would never come out of the building, you could build a gantry crane system that could with relative ease be moved to a different location at a different date.
A Jib crane doesn't have a designated track like the bridge crane and gantry cranes, and so instead jib crane gives its users specific maneuverability. The electric hoist, as well as the trolley, gets mounted on a boom that pivots. A wall jib crane pivots 180 degrees, where as a floor-mount can spin in a complete circle (360 degrees). This type of lifting is more basic than gantry crane or bridge cranes. For starters, these crane are not nearly as strong. They can carry roughly no more than 5-tons. Jib cranes allow for easy lifting, but they are not designed to bring items from one side of a factory to the next. Both wall-traveling and freestanding jib cranes are generally used for moving machine tools, for fabrication, and for assembly. They help individuals at workstations do their jobs more effectively.
Each type of crane can be built with specific configurations and specifications that allow individual factories or companies to do work that is unique to them. For a full break down of Types of cranes and their configurations you should reach out to a local crane and hoist building company. Figuring out the perfect crane or hoist alone can be difficult.
Bridge crane vs. Gantry crane vs. Jib crane is presented for you to understand a few of the less mentioned benefits of one type of crane over the other so that the correct type of crane can be selected for your application. If you have any doubt on the overhead crane, gantry crane, jib cane, and other lifting equipment such as, winch, trolley and hoist, please feel free to contact us.
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