Leading Crane Manufacturers

Overhead cranes are impressively diverse mechanisms used to lift, lower, and generally transport loads of various shapes, sizes, and weights. Also, commonly known as lifting cranes or hoist cranes, most overhead cranes can crane and hoist and loads that weigh up to approximately 1,000 tons. Read More…

Overhead Cranes Overhead cranes are impressively diverse mechanisms used to lift, lower, and generally transport loads of various shapes, sizes, and weights. Also, commonly known as lifting cranes or hoist cranes, most overhead cranes can crane and hoist and loads that weigh up to approximately 1,000 tons.

Gorbel®, Inc. is an innovator and leader in producing bridge cranes for the industry. Gorbel® provides a wide variety of overhead handling solutions that handle loads from fifty pounds up to forty tons. Contact us today and we will work with you to find the best product for your unique application. Call or visit our website for additional information.

Gorbel Inc. $$$

PWI cranes are ready to help with any of your material handling needs. Our overhead bridge cranes are typically for heavy-duty material handling needs. Workstation cranes are lightweight and can be installed in any workspace. Jib cranes provide an excellent way to transfer material from on station to another. Gantry cranes work great for moving overhead cranes to different areas. Our team is...

PWI $$$

Handling Systems International has become a premier leader in the crane manufacturers industry through our hard work and dedication. All of our cranes are built to fit the exact specifications of our customer's needs. We are committed to providing our customers with unbeatable service, high-quality products, and competitive prices.

Handling Systems International $$$

We are Givens Lifting Systems, Inc., a leading company specializing in providing high-quality lifting solutions, with a primary focus on cranes. With our extensive expertise and commitment to innovation, we have established ourselves as a trusted partner for various industries worldwide.

Givens Lifting Systems, Inc. $$$

At YorkHoist, we specialize in providing top-notch solutions for material handling through our extensive range of electric hoists and cranes. Our offerings include bridge cranes, jib cranes, monorails, and tailor-made solutions, catering to a diverse spectrum of needs. With capacities ranging from ¼ ton to 100+ tons, we pride ourselves on delivering reliable and robust equipment

YorkHoist $$$

Nelson distributes overhead cranes with capacities of up to 150 tons for double-girder cranes and up to 15 tons for single-girder cranes. We also provide technical service and support. In addition, Nelson is capable of modernizing and upgrading your current equipment.

Nelson, Inc. $$$

ProservAnchor© specializes in high-quality bridge cranes, gantry cranes and jib cranes. We also provide OSHA inspections, complete installations, refurbishing, weight testing and repairs. For more information about our products and services, please call or visit our website.

ProservAnchor Crane Group $$$
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Crane Applications

Powered either by hydraulics, internal combustion, or electric batteries, they usually serve commercial and industrial crane applications. They are found in paper mills, automobile manufacturing facilities, refineries, and more. Common applications include: the initial construction and subsequent maintenance of paper machines and heavy press roles, raw material handle, hot metal storage, and steel refinement.

History of Cranes

The precursor to the modern crane was born in 6th century BC Greece. At this time, the Archaic Greeks replaced ramps and cranes in construction with the winch and pulley hoist. Later, they invented the compound pulley.

After this, the Romans worked on improving the winch and pulley hoist until they created the treadmill crane. It was the main crane for 1000-plus years, until the fall of the Roman Empire. In the Middle Ages, though, the treadmill crane was rediscovered and put to use once again.

During the Industrial Revolution, engineers began creating cranes that we might recognize as such today. This started with William Armstrong, who in 1838, created the first hydraulic water-powered crane. Also, around this time, German manufacturers began mass producing overhead cranes.

Between the late 1800s and the early 1900s, scientists and engineers had come up with many new ways of externally powering machines, including overhead cranes. These included: electric motors, internal combustion engines and steam engines. The first steam powered overhead crane, for example, was installed in 1860. A mechanical engineer named John Ramsbottom installed it at the workshop of a British railway engineering facility called Crewe Railway. In 1876, inventor Sampson Moore produced the first electric overhead crane. (Mass production of these began around 1910.) The Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, London used his crane to hoist guns. They used this crane for a little over 100 years. In 1980, it was retired and moved to a museum in Birmingham, Alabama. The tower crane debuted in 1908.

During the mid-20th century, we saw the development of more versatile cranes. For instance, the first mobile cranes were developed in Germany after World War II by a team of engineers led by Hans Liebherr. Today, great companies like Gorbel Crane are making overhead cranes that are stronger and more adaptable than ever.

How Cranes Work

No matter the overhead crane type, they basically function using a series of pulleys and cables. These pulleys and cables do their hoisting, lifting, lowering, carrying and positioning from either a single or a pair of overhead steel beams, or girders, to which they are attached. From these girders they also gain structural support.

Different overhead cranes work using different additional power lending mechanisms attached. Examples include: counterweights, hydraulic cylinders, chain hoists, levers and pivoting extended arms.

Types of Cranes

As noted earlier, overhead cranes are quite diverse. They are available in a number of configurational varieties, including overhead stacker cranes, overhead jib cranes, overhead gantry cranes, and overhead bridge cranes.

Stacker cranes move vertically or horizontally on tracks so that they can reach and move items. They are used frequently as forklift alternatives in warehouse areas that are not appropriate for human access and with CNC operated warehouse systems.

Jib cranes are smaller, workstation-appropriate cranes, suitable for work on military vehicles and in industrial plants. Their movable hoist is supported on one side by a vertical support, called a jib or boom, or a wall fixture. From this support, a beam reaches out on a pivot as the trolley moves the hoist. Notice that jib cranes are not the same thing as semi-gantries, which have a fixed arm while jib crane arms can move horizontally at 180 degrees.

  • Jib cranes are of many types and styles and do not use runways.
  • These are stand-alone or wall-mounted and have a variety of capacities, spans, and heights.
  • Jib cranes are space-saving and very economical.
  • It offers a rotation of 180-360° and works best in small spaces.

Gantry cranes are built atop gantries, which consist of two movable support structures used to straddle a workspace or object. Sometimes, a crane is only supported by one of these and a counterbalance. If this is the case, the crane is renamed a semi-gantry, half gantry, or cantilever gantry crane. Crane gantry subtypes include: ship-to-shore gantry cranes, full gantry cranes, portable gantry cranes, rubber tyre gantry cranes, and workstation gantry cranes, which work with smaller items in more compact environments.

  • It is similar to bridge cranes, but it uses legs to support trolleys and hoists.
  • The crane legs move on the fixed rails that are either embedded in or laid on the top floor.
  • Gantry cranes work well where there is no need for overhead runways.
  • These cranes work well outdoors, like in shipyards, railyards, etc.

Most often, gantry cranes are for large applications, such as bridge construction, monument construction, ship cargo loading and unloading, metalworking, and ship and vehicle movement.

Bridge cranes, sometimes called track cranes, are quite similar to gantry cranes, in that they both use structural support beams and a trolley to straddle their workload. The main difference between the bridge crane and the gantry crane is the fact that, while the structure of gantry cranes is usually completely mobile, bridge cranes have fixed structures, with only a movable hoist.

  • It has two overhead runways built into the building support system.
  • It has two types of configuration, a single girder, and a double girder.
  • Bridge cranes help in up and down movement on the runway.
  • Bridge cranes are also divided into two types depending upon their capacity and environment.
  • Process cranes are heavy-duty for specific needs (class D, E, and F).
  • These are top running, double girder configurations and customized to perform specific and high capacity lifts.
  • Process cranes are used in automotive assembly plants, steel mills, container yards, and lumber mills.
  • Modular cranes are economical and are used for class C and, with some engineering, can also be used for class D.
  • These cranes are usually found in smaller manufacturing facilities, smaller-sized mills, and machine shops.

They operate with the help of a set of overhead rails. Instead of being used for construction, bridge cranes are mostly utilized for manufacturing or maintenance applications at one facility. Bridge cranes are popular for the ergonomic, organized workspace they allow, and for being safe and easy to handle.

Tower cranes are cranes designed for demolition and construction applications. They feature: a tall mast, a bolted down base and a slewing unit used for rotation.

Mobile cranes are any portable crane. Mobile cranes are usually mounted on a land vehicle, ship or airplane for transportation.

Rubber tyre gantry cranes are mobile gantry cranes used to stack or ground containers.

Overhead shop cranes are overhead cranes used in auto shops. With it, workers in shops can access and work on the underside of vehicles. An overhead crane is a type of equipment or a machine used to lift or move heavier objects from one place to another with great precision. Overhead cranes are designed according to their needs and applications. These cranes are manufactured in all types of configurations. However, the parts can be engineered or swapped out to increase the efficiency, capacity, and performance of the cranes.

  • These are helpful for loading and unloading materials from trucks.
  • They help the movement of materials more efficiently in a facility.
  • They help in flipping and pulling dyes from the stamping machines.
  • They are also used in manufacturing facilities for feeding raw materials into machines.
  • They help with controlled movement of materials.
  • Overhead cranes are also used for moving containers on shipyards or railyards.

Similar to overhead cranes are lifting mechanisms called electric wire rope hoists.

Electric wire rope hoists are used to lift and lower extremely heavy loads. Overhead electric hoists are mounted directly to the ceiling or to a single girder. They are driven by an electric motor and use wire rope, or wire strands surrounding a rubber core, to do the hoisting.

Workstation Cranes are specially designed for ergonomic means of moving and lifting loads.

  • These cranes are lighter-duty and work well in smaller spaces.
  • These cranes can be free-standing or ceiling-hung.
  • These can be under-running or over-running.
  • Workstation cranes are versatile and can be customized according to needs.

Monorail cranes use a trolley to carry hoists along a single path

  • It is commonly found in production or assembly lines.
  • The materials are usually run back and forth in a straight line.
  • The switches, branches, and elevation changes can make a curved path.
  • These cranes are designed for lifts.

Crane Equipment Components

Typical crane components include: a bridge, a hoist, a crane attachment, a trolley.

The bridge is an overhanging arm from which cranes gain the majority of their lifting power. The hoist is a raising and lowering component; it connects on one end to the bridge and on the other end to the crane attachment. The attachment may be any number of tools, but generally it is a hook, a fork, an auger, or a grapple. It is connected to the hoist via wire rope or nylon cables. Finally, the trolley is an electrically or mechanically powered mechanism that moves the hoist along the bridge. Sometimes, the trolley also has attachments, like the boom. Booms are attached to the trolley horizontally, where they assist in hoisting and lowering.

Components of Overhead Cranes:

Crane Hoist 

The hoist raises, lowers, holds, and lifts the load. It is done by using a chain or rope. The hoist can be operated manually by using electricity or air pressure.

Hook of Crane

The load is supported by the hook. The hook is attached to the hoist.

Trolley Component

The trolley is the component that holds the hoist and moves horizontally to fix the position of the hoist and hook before picking up the load. Trolleys are categorized as under running and top running.

Crane Bridge

A bridge is the structural and fundamental component that helps to connect the runways and also helps in moving the hoist forward and backward using a trolley. A bridge is actually a load-bearing beam, and it runs along the width of the building. It consists of one or two beams referred to as single girder and double girder. These girders are made up of rolled steel. Sometimes, fabrication can be done by welding the beams into steel box designs.

Crane Runway

It is the main part of the building structure as beams. The crane moves on the runways.

Runway Rails

Rails are there on runways on which the crane moves. It is used to move the bridge back and forth.

End Trucks

End trucks are used to move the bridge up and down by utilizing the wheels present. End trucks are located on either side of the bridge. The wheel configuration is 2,4,8 depending on the movement of the crane. 

Bumpers

Bumpers are designed to absorb the crane energy and reduce its impact. It is done by controlled rest and minimized forces when the crane reaches its endpoint.

Controls 

Controls are usually present on the panel of the crane and from there, all the movements of the crane are controlled.

Benefits of Cranes

Overhead cranes offer their users a slew of benefits. These include: efficiency, safety, versatility, relative ease of use, low labor costs and low maintenance costs.

Efficiency
Overhead cranes have few moving parts, yet they can move materials and products far heavier than their more complicated counterparts (forklifts, lifting excavators, etc.). Not only that, but they can do their work using a lower amount of energy and less fuel. Overhead cranes increase work efficiency 2-3 times compared to manpower.

Safety
Because overhead cranes are generally controlled using wireless controls, operators are much safer during operation than they once were. Overhead cranes minimize on-site accidents if used properly by a skilled worker. To load and unload the cranes, they do not even need to be in close proximity, just at a safe distance within view. Loading and lifting dangerous chemicals or machinery becomes easier with these cranes. Overhead cranes offer a lot of safety in warehouses or manufacturing facilities.

Versatility
Overhead cranes are versatile in a few different senses of the word. First, if the bridge is equipped with a few extra tools, users can use one crane to perform many separate tasks. Second, overhead cranes can be modified in-shop to take on new or changing applications. Third, they are appropriate for both indoor and outdoor use. Fourth and finally, many lifting applications are laid out in such a way that cranes can adapt to them quite easily.

Ease of Use
Relative to other lifting equipment, overhead cranes are easy to operate. For one, overhead cranes do not require manual lifting; the bridge and attachments do most of the work. For two, while training for comparable lifting equipment can take weeks, training for overhead crane use usually only takes a matter of days.

Labor Costs
Another advantage of overhead cranes is the fact that it generates much lower labor costs than other equipment like it. This is because one operator can handle the overhead crane loads, and they do not need to worry about driving around.

Maintenance Costs
Finally, because overhead cranes have so few moving parts, they are easier to maintain and they break down less often. This spells lower maintenance costs for you.

Crane Design and Customization

When designing an overhead crane, crane manufacturers consider application specifics like: work space dimensions, load weight, frequency of use, length of application (long term or short term), standard requirements, mobility requirements, etc.

Based on these applications, manufacturers can decide details like: crane dimensions, whether to go with single girder crane or double girder crane design, crane type, crane lifting capacity, etc.

Every overhead crane is customizable. As a general rule, crane manufacturers may produce overhead cranes with custom dimensions and with special features or attachments that meet the needs of individual applications. For example, to meet height requirements of winch hardware, they may produce the bridge crane with either using single girder or double girder design. Bridge cranes with these girder designs are known as single girder bridge cranes and double girder bridge cranes, respectively.

The Future of Remote Crane Monitoring Systems

Wireless remote crane management systems make data accessible to operation and safety personnel, improve productivity, and increase precision and accuracy of movements. These factors have a massive impact on operations’ forecasting and profitability.

Advantages of Remote Crane Monitoring Systems

Remote crane monitoring systems have a lot of benefits, including a quick collection of accurate data, improved safety, increased productivity, and longer service life. They are most beneficial to continuous and mission-critical operations. But adapting them to any application would streamline logistics activities, reduce space needs, and lower labor costs, leading businesses to achieve greater revenues. 

Conventional crane setups do not allow the acquisition of information in real-time. In such cases, authorized personnel need to connect a computer to the crane to access data essential for day-to-day decisions and detect any operational dangers. In other situations, the operator maneuvering the machine relies on the hand signals of another person for guidance. These practices are both time-wasting and compromise personnel safety. With remote crane monitoring systems, these situations would not exist anymore. Furthermore, future developments such as those stated below would make more sophisticated, safe, and productive crane operations.

Additional Features Depending on Business Needs

It is natural for growing businesses to increase capacity over time. Thus, having a transport system that can deliver high demands safely and efficiently is a must. Future developments in crane technology would enable businesses to scale up with the help of features that they can add, remove, or modify as needed. These include faster remote diagnostic, more robust maintenance monitoring, and automated positioning.

Smart Operations for Better Scheduling of Maintenance Procedures

Smart and interactive service panels attached to cranes allow easy communication of any faults in the crane system. Therefore, the operators receiving quick and accurate signals about the crane’s status would be able to give immediate actions about the situation. Additionally, recommendations for inspection, preventive maintenance procedures, and replacement come with the intelligent crane system. These capabilities help maximize the availability of crane systems. They prevent costly downtime and extend the service life of the crane and parts such as wire ropes.

Compact and Economic Crane Design

Remote crane monitoring systems open more opportunities for the creation of compact cranes. Smaller cranes can operate in tighter places. Remote monitoring ensures precise and safe positioning of loads because of its ability to communicate through wireless connections, even in hard-to-reach areas. This innovation also includes the use of recyclable materials, which significantly lower the manufacturing costs of cranes.

Wireless remote crane management systems make data accessible to operation and safety personnel, improve productivity, and increase precision and accuracy of movements. These factors have a huge impact on operations’ forecasting and profitability.

Choosing a Right Overhead Crane

Overhead cranes are of many shapes and sizes to streamline the production process. But there are some factors to consider before choosing the right type of crane. These are:

  • The motion of the overhead crane.
  • Type and weight of the load.
  • Location of the crane, either indoor or outdoor.
  • Usage of the crane.
  • Capacity required.
  • The span of the crane.

Crane Safety and Compliance Standards

To ensure the long working life and correct and safe functioning of any overhead crane, operators must attend to its maintenance with frequent inspections. To help maintain standardized and adequate crane working conditions, OSHA has published a set of guidelines, to which operators may refer.

However, in short, the maintenance requirements of overhead cranes are as follow: On a monthly basis, operators must check running ropes and end connections for problems like fraying, broken strands, and wear. Daily maintenance includes: checking hoist chains and end connections for twisting, distortion or wearing, checking hooks for cracks or deformations, checking hydraulic and pneumatic components for leaks, and checking operating mechanisms for maladjustments.

Also, it is important to periodically inspect overhead cranes for corrosion, deformation or cracking, to check drums and sheaves for cracking or wearing, and to keep an eye out for issues like loose bolts or rivets, sprocket and chain wear, problematic brake part and system wear, and general part distortion. Often, it helps to have a crane kit on hand with which you can quickly replace any of these system elements. Furthermore, it is essential that review of the state of electric and fossil fuel motors, indicators, and electrical components, including limit switches and pushbuttons, not be neglected.

It should also be mentioned that for safety reasons, crane operation requires that only a certified and trained individual in operating the crane machine can act as the operator due to the nature of this challenging task.

Mobile Elevated Work Platform Inspection

Mobile Elevated Work Platforms (MEWP) are very commonly seen in warehouses. These platforms help work at certain heights safely. To ensure that MEWPs are fall-proof and safe to work with. Inspection courses go a long way. These courses enable employees to avoid any unnecessary accidents. These trainings help workers learn

  • Good maintenance regimes for equipment.
  • To apply OSHA inspection standards.
  • How to identify faults and document those.
  • Hands-on inspection and recommendations for safer MEWPs.

OSHA Safety Certificate

This certification is necessary to maintain occupational safety and health of employees. It covers

  • Construction (1926) and General Industry (1920) standards.
  • How to use the Federal Register.
  • The health risks that can occur in a workplace.
  • Identifying and eliminating workplace hazards, not in compliance with OSHA standards.
  • Designing customized safety and health protocols related to one’s own work environment.

Certifications for Lifting Equipment

There are two major types of certifications for lifting equipment:

  1. Thorough Examination: The purpose of this type of certification is to examine the equipment, especially before its first use, to see if it is properly designed and fitted. Afterward, all lifting equipment needs visual inspection by certified employees. These inspections should be carried out at regular intervals.
  2. Load Testing: These types of certifications qualify employees to perform lifting tests with appropriate loads for each type of equipment. These tests are also performed before the first use and after regular intervals later.

Things to Consider About Cranes

If you’re considering purchase an overhead crane, we can’t stress this enough—it’s very important that you work with an experienced and reliable overhead crane manufacturer. If you don’t, you could end up with, at best, a poorly matched crane or, at worst, a terrible accident with staff.

Find a manufacturer you can trust by checking out those we’ve sandwiched in between these information sections. We’ve provided for you the complete profiles of several crane companies we trust. Before you check them out, we recommend you put together a list of your specifications, so that you can compare and contrast as you go. Don’t forget to write down you budget, your delivery timeline and your standard requirements. When you’ve completed your list, take some time browse our list. Pick out three or four companies that appear to potentially best match your needs and reach out to each of them. You can either send a request for a quote or call them for a direct conversation. We prefer the latter approach, because it allows you to better gauge a crane supplier’s customer service attitude. Once you’ve spoken with each of them, compare what each can offer, and choose the one you think is right for you.

Crane Manufacturer Informational Video

 

Crane Manufacturers Power Pages

Gantry Crane

Gantry Crane

A gantry crane is an overhead crane that has an overhead beam supported by freestanding legs and moves on wheels, a track, or rail system carrying a bridge, trolley, and hoist. Workshops, warehouses, freight yards, railroads, and shipyards use gantry cranes as their lifting solution as a variation of overhead or bridge cranes...

Jib Cranes

Jib Cranes

A jib crane is a lifting device with an arm or boom that extends off the main body of the crane to provide extra reach and has a lattice design to lower the weight added to a load. The design of jib cranes allows them to work...

Overhead Cranes

Overhead Cranes

An overhead crane is a type of heavy duty machinery that is capable of moving extremely heavy loads and equipment from one location to another in a safe and precise manner using the overhead space of a manufacturing facility. Due to the nature of the work they perform...

Electric Hoist

Electric Hoist

Electric hoists are material handling equipment used for lifting, lowering, and transporting materials and products. They are powered by an electric motor and have a controller to adjust the lifting parameters...

Hydraulic Lifts

Hydraulic Lifts

A hydraulic lift is a device for moving objects using force created by pressure on a liquid inside a cylinder that moves a piston upward. Incompressible oil is pumped into the cylinder, which forces the piston upward. When a valve opens to release the oil, the piston lowers by gravitational force...

Lift Tables

Lift Tables

A lift table is a platform capable of holding materials and raising, lowering, and adjusting them to any height to meet the needs of an application and the user’s requirements. Lift tables are supported by a strong, rigid, and stable base frame placed flat on the floor, in a pit, or equipped with casters or wheels...

Wire Rope

Wire Rope

Wire rope is a collection of metal strands that have been twisted and wound to form the shape of a helix with the purpose of supporting and lifting heavy loads and performing tasks that are too rigorous for standard wire...

Pallet Stackers

Pallet Stackers

A pallet stacker is a machine designed to assist the user in lifting, moving and handling palletized materials with ease. A pallet itself is a flat and horizontal structure used to support goods in a sturdy fashion...

Push Pull Cable Controls

Push Pull Cable Controls

A push pull cable control is used for the transmission of multi directional precision control of mechanical motion. The many varieties of push pull cables or controls are adaptable to a wide range of applications and...

Lifting Products

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