Owing to the rise in industrialisation and automation in various sectors of the economy, the use of equipment has been increasing day-by-day. New and advanced equipment are introduced constantly in different parts of the world. These pieces of equipment are used in several applications ranging from food processing and material handling to construction and transportation.
Gantry cranes are also one of those pieces of equipment that are used in today’s time. Most people might not possess knowledge regarding gantry cranes. Some people might even have heard about it for the first time while reading this article. The reason attributing to this fact is that such machines or equipment are used at workplaces.
So, people who are not a part of the business unit, industry, or sector, where a gantry crane is used, will not come to know about its use or functioning. We have shared some essential details about gantry cranes through this article. We hope you will find this article helpful.Â
What Exactly is Gantry Cranes?
Gantry cranes or overhead gantry cranes are one type of overhead cranes used to lift heavy objects. Overhead gantry cranes replace overhead bridge cranes in many applications across industries and geographical locations. Bridge cranes have to be tied to the support structure of a building. They don’t run or operate on an overhead runway system that has beams and support columns.
Instead, these cranes run on a track on the floor or ground level. You don’t have to get a runway system or structure built, and therefore, you can save a lot of money. A gantry crane can be installed quickly and smoothly. Freestanding legs that move on wheels or along tracks support a gantry crane. Being made from steel, these freestanding legs are highly strong.
As you must have understood by now, gantry cranes run on the ground. A pair of end trucks carry the legs of a gantry crane along the floor runway. In some cases, gantry cranes that are large may run on a straight track embedded in the ground.This track is built in a work area where the crane will be used not to face any hassle.
On the other hand, portable gantry cranes, i.e., small-sized gantry cranes, run on wheels or castors. The biggest advantage of such portable gantry cranes is that they can be moved around in a work area easily for completing the tasks such as fabrication, repairs, and maintenance. Gantry cranes have either a single or a double configuration system.
Why and Where are Gantry Cranes Used?
Gantry cranes can be used for both indoor and outdoor applications. But in the majority of the cases, these cranes are used in outdoor environments. The specific use of each gantry crane depends largely on its type. There are four different types of gantry cranes.
It’s worth mentioning here that gantry cranes can also be used by keeping them below an overhead bridge crane. The design of a gantry crane, irrespective of its type, is quite flexible. So, it can be used for a variety of applications. You should keep certain points in mind while using gantry cranes for your business. For example, for outdoor use, gantry cranes should be made from rust-proof material like stainless steel.
What are the Different Types of Gantry Cranes?
As mentioned earlier in this article, there are four different types of gantry cranes. They are full gantry cranes, semi-gantry cranes, portable gantry cranes, and adjustable gantry cranes. Every business enterprise chooses the type of gantry crane that suits their needs.
Full gantry cranes comprise two legs that ride on a track in a straight line. Trucks, forklifts, scissor lifts, and other motorised equipment can rollover this type of gantry crane. A semi-gantry crane has one leg that rides on rails or wheels. The other side of the crane rides on a runway system that is connected to columns or a sidewall of the building. Due to their design, semi-gantry cranes take less space.
We have already discussed the design and advantages of portable or small-sized gantry cranes in this article. An adjustable gantry crane can be transported from one location to another without difficulties. As its name suggests, it’s adjustable, and so, you can change the height of the beams.
Conclusion
Gantry cranes are an excellent piece of equipment that can be used at a wide range of places, including but not limited to construction sites, fabrication workshops, shipping yards, and junkyards. Their main purpose is to lift things and hold the same until some kind of work is being carried out on those things.