Gantry Crane
A gantry crane, also known as a portal crane, is a type of crane built atop a gantry, which is a structure used to straddle an object or workspace.
New and Used Gantry Cranes with Hoists
Gantry cranes are highly versatile and widely used for heavy lifting and material handling. They are categorised based on their application and size, ranging from small, portable models (like A-frame or portable gantry cranes) used in workshops for light loads, to massive shipyard or container cranes essential for loading and unloading cargo ships. Key components include the bridge (spanning the width), the trolley (which moves along the bridge), the hoist (for vertical lifting), and the supporting legs. The ability to span large distances and handle substantial weights makes them indispensable in various industrial and transportation sectors.
Gantry crane types
- Single girder: A common and cost-effective type, featuring one main girder for lifting loads.
- Double girder: Provides higher lifting capacities and is suited for heavy-duty applications, found in steel plants and shipyards.
- Full gantry: A standard gantry crane with two upright columns and a horizontal beam, often referred to as a standard or A-frame gantry crane.
- Semi-gantry: Combines a floor-mounted rail with an elevated rail on one side, which saves space.
What Are The Main Types of Gantry Cranes
Gantry cranes are typically categorised by their structure, mobility, and the number of bridge girders.
Full Gantry Crane
Structure: Consists of a bridge beam supported by two vertical legs that run on rails embedded in the floor or ground.
Key Feature: Entirely self-supporting. The hoist and trolley run along the bridge.
Applications: Ideal for outdoor storage yards (like container yards, scrap yards, or rail yards), large fabrication shops, and precast concrete operations, where they can straddle a wide workspace.
Semi-Gantry Crane
Structure: A hybrid design. One side of the bridge is supported by a vertical leg that runs on a ground rail, while the other side is supported by an end truck that runs on an elevated runway attached to the building column or support structure.
Key Feature: Saves floor space compared to a full gantry, as one side uses the building structure.
Applications: Used in indoor facilities or workshops where maximising floor-level operational space is critical, or for parallel operations beneath an existing overhead bridge crane.
Portable/Workstation Gantry Crane
Structure: Smaller, lighter-duty models, often mounted on caster wheels (rubber tires). They are usually adjustable in height and span.
Key Feature: High mobility. They can be rolled around a shop or facility when unloaded for flexible, on-demand lifting.
Applications: Workshops, garages, maintenance bays, HVAC installation, and light manufacturing for tasks like lifting automobile engines or small machinery (typically less than 10 tons).
Rubber-Tired Gantry (RTG) Crane
Structure: A type of full gantry that runs on heavy-duty rubber tires instead of fixed rails.
Key Feature: Excellent maneuverability. They can move freely across vast container yards and straddle multiple lanes of containers or railway tracks.
Applications: Container ports and intermodal yards for stacking and moving containers.
Single vs. Double Girder Design
Gantry cranes are also classified by the number of main horizontal bridge beams (girders), which dictates their capacity and hook height.
Single Girder Gantry Crane
Structure: One main bridge beam. Hoist runs under the beam.
Lifting Capacity: Light to Medium-Duty (typically up to 20 tons).
Hook Height: Lower, as the hoist hangs below the single girder.
Cost: More economical (lower material and installation cost).
Ideal Use: Fabrication shops, maintenance, general warehousing, limited headroom.
Double Girder Gantry Crane
Structure: Two parallel bridge beams. Hoist runs on rails atop the beams.
Lifting Capacity: Heavy to Extremely Heavy-Duty (often 20+ tons up to hundreds of tons).
Hook Height: Higher, as the hoist sits on top of/between the two girders.
Cost: Higher initial cost (more material and complex installation).
Ideal Use: Shipyards, steel production, heavy manufacturing, outdoor yards, and applications requiring very high lift capacity/span.