Four facts decide the crane type: the heaviest load and how it is lifted, the building (a runway on its structure or not), how many hours and how close to capacity the crane works, and the atmosphere, from outdoor weather to heat or explosive gas and dust. Answer those and the type follows.
Five questions, in order. Stop at the first one that gives you an answer.
Two answers can be right at once. A plant often needs an overhead crane for the hall and jib cranes at the machines.
Start from the heaviest load, then add everything hanging under the hook: lifting beam, spreader, C-hook, ladle. That total is the capacity the crane is sized for. Our standard selection runs from 250 kg to 160 t; above 160 t we engineer per project.
Span is the distance between the two runway rails. It decides girder size, and with it the single or double girder choice. Our double girder cranes reach 32 m at 100 t as standard, single girder cranes 30 m; longer spans are engineered as special projects. Check the columns and the building structure early: the wheel and foundation loads the crane transfers are calculated and issued per project.
Lifting height is how far the hook travels. Headroom is the space between the top of the runway rail and the roof. Low headroom points to an underhung or side-mounted hoist on a single girder crane; the longest hook path, up to 30 m, comes with a double girder crane.
Two cranes with the same capacity can have very different lives: one lifts twice a day, the other close to capacity on three shifts. Duty class captures that, as a FEM class (1Bm to 5m) or an ISO class (M3 to M8). A class set too low wears the mechanism early; a class set too high costs weight and money. The duty class guide explains how the class is set.
The purchase price is one part. Energy, maintenance, spare parts and the cost of a stopped line add up over the years. Inverter drives, the right duty class and an annual maintenance contract keep that total down. If an existing crane is the problem, modernising an existing crane can be the better answer than a new one.
| Type | Carried by | Standard capacity | Standard span / reach | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single girder overhead crane | Runway on the building | 250 kg – 12 t | 30 m | General manufacturing, assembly, stores |
| Double girder overhead crane | Runway on the building | 250 kg – 160 t | 32 m at 100 t | Heavy loads, long hook path, cab or walkway |
| Gantry crane | Its own legs on floor rails | 12 t single · 160 t double | 32 m | Outdoor yards, halls without runway structure |
| Semi-gantry crane | One runway, one leg | 12 t single · 160 t double | 32 m | Buildings that carry a runway on one side only |
| Jib crane | Its own column | 250 kg – 5 t | 2.5 – 5 m arm | One machine or loading point |
| Wall-mounted jib crane | A building column or wall | Per project | 180° slew | Workstations along the structure |
| Wall-travelling jib crane | A runway on the wall | Per project | Per project | A line of stations under a main crane |
| Monorail system | A fixed beam | Up to 12 t | Follows the route | Fixed transfer routes, lines |
| Process crane | Runway on the building | Per project | Per project | Ladle handling, charging, continuous duty |
| Explosion-protected crane | Any of the above | Per project | Per project | Gas Zone 1–2, dust Zone 21–22 |
Values are our standard selection. Larger capacities and spans are engineered per project. Duty classes from FEM 1Bm to 5m (ISO M3 to M8) across the range.
A machining hall, 8 t, 22 m span, one shift. A single girder overhead crane covers the hall. Jib cranes at the two heaviest machines take the short lifts off the main crane.
A steel stockyard outdoors, no building structure. A double girder gantry crane on floor rails, with the outdoor temperature range and wind load in the calculation.
A hall whose side wall cannot carry a runway. A semi-gantry crane: a runway on the strong side, a leg on a floor rail on the other.
A paint mixing room classified as Zone 1. An explosion-protected crane. Hoist, motors, brakes and controls are selected and certified for the zone, as one system.
Send us the load, span, lifting height, the hours the crane works and a photo or drawing of the building. Our engineering team works through the six points with you and tells you which type fits, including when a smaller or simpler crane is enough.
FAQ
Add the heaviest load and everything hanging under the hook: lifting beam, spreader or ladle. That total is the capacity. Leave margin only where the load itself may grow; oversizing adds weight and cost to the crane and the building.
Single girder suits lighter loads and moderate spans and puts less load on the building. Double girder takes heavier loads, longer spans and the longest hook path, and it carries a cab or a walkway. Our single girder cranes run to 12 t and double girder cranes to 160 t as a standard selection; above that we engineer per project.
If the building can carry a runway, an overhead crane leaves the floor free. If it cannot, or the work is outdoors, a gantry crane runs on its own legs and floor rails. A semi-gantry crane covers the case where only one side can carry a runway.
A jib crane serves one point: a machine, a loading station. An overhead crane covers the whole area. Many plants use both, with jib cranes taking the short, frequent lifts.
Every electrical and mechanical component that could ignite the atmosphere is selected for the zone: gas Zone 1–2 or dust Zone 21–22. The crane is certified per project by a notified body. Gas group and temperature class are defined per project.
Get in touch
Send the load, span and working conditions. Our engineering team replies with the questions that matter for your plant.
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