Overhead crane is important industrial equipment designed for maintenance and manufacturing applications. These cranes comprise of parallel runways along with travelling bridge and spanning gap. A lifting tool or hoist travels along the bridge, ensuring it is able to lift and move heavy materials from one place to another. All overhead cranes are different, and these are engineered according to specific purpose or material handling needs of a business or an industry.
The overhead cranes are often designed in various configurations and come with advance components which are incorporated to increase the performance and capacity of these machines. Some of the key characteristics of this crane are:
- Move materials around the facility efficiently compared to manpower or conventional tow motor
- Loads and unloads heavy materials in a seamless manner on the trucks
- Pulling dyes or flipping into the stamping machines in a manufacturing unit
- Moving various parts or pieces around the assembly line in an organized manner
- Moving the large containers in a rail yard or shipyard.
What Are the Different Types of Overhead Cranes?
There are many types of overhead cranes available and the most popular ones amongst them are mentioned below:
- Gantry Cranes: These cranes come with suspended runways and have legs that support the bridge, hoist and trolley. Further, these legs are capable of travelling on fixed rails or other supporting element on the top of floor. These are usually used in facilities where you cannot have the traditional overhead crane. They are meant for outdoor applications, where columns and beams cannot be installed.
- Bridge Cranes: In the bridge crane there are two runways that are fixed to support structure of buildings. Those with either double or single grinder configuration are defined as bridge overhead cranes. These are able to move up and down along the runway and have the hoist and trolley installed from side-to-side. With the help of trolleys, the operator can position the hook of hoist, before lowering or raising it.
- Workstation Cranes: The workstation cranes are meant for ergonomic applications. These are capable of lifting and moving the loads with minimal effort and that too in a small workspace. These are typically lightweight and can shift materials over 150 lbs with the highest capacity being 2 tons. Such overhead cranes are used for managing repetitive loads and provide ease of work flow and better productivity. These cranes can either be fixed to the ceiling or remain freestanding, based on what your preferences are.
- Monorail Cranes: The monorail cranes are usually seen in assembly and production lines, as these are able to carry the load in one single path. The trolleys present in them tend to connect I beams and runs flat on the surface. They are able to take the materials in a straight line from one end to another. These can either be curved, branches, tracks with various switches or multiple elevations.
What Are The Benefits of Using Overhead Cranes?
There are several benefits of using overhead cranes in your facility and some of them are:
- Enhanced workflow
- Lowers the transportation expenses
- Reduces material or product damage
- Reduces workplace accidents
- Eco-friendly solution that decreases environmental impacts
Therefore, when you are planning to revamp your manufacturing or associated facilities then don’t forget to incorporate overhead cranes. These are exceptional industrial equipments that will help you make the most of your business and that too without spending too much for the same. Plus, there are various options in the market, giving you the opportunity to choose the one that meets your requirements.