Bridge cranes come in a range of types to suit different applications and need whether it is a factory manufacturing job or transporting heavy goods there is a bridge crane suitable to complete the task. Before making a choice, it’s essential to consider your lifting requirements, and mounting options, whether you require an overhead crane, girder crane, or a top running crane. A higher budget may be more financially demanding however the overhead crane equipment is also less likely to breakdown and the material is manufactured with durability in mind.
Single girder cranes consist of one main girder that supports a hoist mounted on an underrunning trolley. These models of cranes can accommodate capacities ranging from 15 tons to 65 feet in span.
Under Hung
Under-hung bridge cranes are an ideal solution for facilities with limited headroom space that cannot accommodate top-running overhead systems. These cranes attach directly to ceiling trusses or roof structures, making them perfect for workshops and warehouses with low headroom requirements where a top-running system would not be practical.
Under-hung single girder cranes tend to be less costly than top-running models of the same capacity, as they utilise gearing instead of push/pull operation. They are suitable for use with manual chain hoists, air hoists, electric hoists and air balancers.
The under-hung bridge crane can be created in several varieties, such as UHSG, KBDK and KBT models. These cranes are commonly employed at high-production rate assembly plants or facilities that need a lower lifting capacity.
These bridge cranes feature wide-flange structural bridge beams and a trolley that rides on the bottom flange of those beams. They come in single-girder or double-girder configurations.
Another benefit of these systems is that they don’t need auxiliary columns or gantry legs to support them, enabling multiple services and side-by-side operations in a large bay. Unfortunately, they do have some drawbacks such as lower-rated capacities (usually around 10 tons) and the need to ensure supporting beams can support both the weight of a crane and its load.
No matter your specific need, bridge cranes can enhance efficiency and productivity by eliminating wasteful movement and making it simpler to position loads precisely where they need to go. Your choice of the crane should be tailored to the particular requirements of your business and facility, so consult with a crane expert before making any final decisions. Konecranes sales staff is more than happy to assist you in finding the perfect bridge crane that meets your performance requirements. Contact us today for a consultation, and we can determine which style of bridge crane is suitable for your facility as well as provide information on maintenance programs that guarantee peak uptime for years to come!
Top Running
Top-running overhead bridge cranes come in a range of capacities, from 1/4 ton to 100 tons. They are supported by the building structure or runway support columns and ideal for lifting large loads in tight quarters.
These overhead cranes have long been a reliable solution for many industries and provide years of reliable service. They come with manual chain hoists, electric chain hoists or electric wire rope hoists and can be customised to suit your needs. Optional features such as radio remote control, independent travelling pushbutton stations, anti-collision systems, travel limits for the hoist and trolley, custom variable frequency controls with up to 1000:1 control ratio, full or service platform along with horns/lights overload protection stacker masts weight readout are available as well.
Underhung single and double girder cranes offer more overhead floor room, providing greater clearance. They’re especially useful in areas with limited headroom as their higher hook height makes for easier loading and unloading. Furthermore, these systems can be interlocked so multiple systems can run side-by-side without interfering with each other.
Another advantage of top running cranes is that they are operated by the operator rather than having a series of motors push/pull them. This gives the operator control over speed, which helps improve production efficiency and lower operating expenses.
These overhead cranes can be employed in a variety of light service applications such as steel fabrication, steel processing, steel mills, railroad equipment repair and farm implement repairs; coal, electricity, defence and aerospace sectors. Furthermore, they have special environments like spark-resistant or explosion-proof zones, clean rooms or nuclear reactors as well as food processing plants.
These overhead cranes can be utilised in a variety of industrial settings, from mining and steel processing to steel mills and railroad construction. Additionally, they’re ideal for special environments such as spark-resistant or explosion-proof zones, molten metal handling, clean rooms, nuclear plants or food processing operations.
Over Running
Over-running bridge cranes are a reliable option for heavy-duty lifting and material handling tasks. Their large capacity lifting capabilities don’t cause floor obstructions, and they come in various configurations to meet different requirements.
These overhead travelling cranes consist of a hoist, trolley and bridge that traverse an elevated runway system. They come in either single or double girder configurations depending on the application; usually featuring either single or dual hoists with top or under-running styles available.
These overhead travelling cranes typically feature a hoist that moves left or right and a trolley that moves along with it along the bridge girder. They may also be equipped with tracks so the entire system can move forward or backwards within an edifice or connect to other cranes.
Single girder cranes with overrunning motions are used in a variety of industries and can handle loads up to 15 tons. Because these cranes are lightweight, they typically have lower maintenance costs compared to heavier-duty options.
These cranes typically use a single I-beam as their bridge girder, though it may also be constructed out of wide flange beams for larger capacities. Furthermore, they offer various hoist options to meet your specific lifting requirements such as electric chain hoists or wire rope electric hoists.
If your building has a tall ceiling, you may want to consider using a top-running overhead bridge crane which has more capacity than under-running single girder cranes. Unfortunately, top-running cranes require more upkeep and thus costlier upkeep compared to their under-hung counterparts.
Another option is an under-hanging bridge crane, which can be built with lighter capacities of 10 tons or less. These are ideal for small factories, warehouses and manufacturing plants that don’t have very high ceilings.
Overhead bridge cranes can be divided into two primary categories: process cranes and modular cranes. The former is designed for continuous high-duty lifting needs, while the latter are more general-purpose options that can be tailored to suit your specific application. Both types are manufactured according to CMAA Class A, B or C specifications.
