Gantry cranes are indispensable heavy – duty equipment in the industrial field, playing a key role in cargo handling, engineering construction and other scenarios. Understanding their types, uses and mastering purchasing skills is of great significance for enterprises to carry out work efficiently and reduce costs. This article will introduce you to the relevant content in detail to help you make a more appropriate choice.
- Single – beam gantry crane: This type of crane is composed of a single main beam, with a relatively simple structure, light weight and low cost. Its lifting capacity is usually between 5 – 50 tons, which is suitable for handling medium and small tonnage goods. For example, in small and medium – sized factories, warehouses and other places, it is used to transport raw materials, parts and so on. Due to its light weight, installation and movement are relatively convenient, but it has certain limitations in large – span and large – tonnage operations.
- Double – beam gantry crane: It has two main beams, with a more stable structure and stronger bearing capacity. The lifting capacity can reach dozens of tons or even hundreds of tons, and the span is also larger. It is widely used in large ports, shipyards, steel plants and other places that need to handle heavy goods, and can efficiently complete the hoisting and handling tasks of containers, large equipment, etc. However, its cost is relatively high, and the difficulty of installation and maintenance is slightly greater.
- Gantry crane without cantilever: There are no cantilevers at both ends of the main beam, and the working range is mainly concentrated in the area under the main beam. It is suitable for scenes where the site is relatively regular and goods are stacked centrally, such as cargo transfer in some special warehouses.
- Single – cantilever gantry crane: One end of the main beam has a cantilever, and the other end has no cantilever, which expands the working range of one side. It is often used in places where there is a need for cargo loading and unloading on the shore or one side of the track, such as small ports, wharves, etc., and can handle goods on both the inner side of the track and the cantilever side.
- Double – cantilever gantry crane: Both ends of the main beam have cantilevers, with the largest working range, which can cover the areas on both sides of the main beam. It is widely used in large freight yards, storage yards and other places that need a large range of operations, and can effectively improve the efficiency of cargo loading and unloading.
- Rail – mounted gantry crane: It runs along a fixed track, with a fixed running track and high operation accuracy. It is suitable for places with relatively fixed operation areas, such as port container yards, workshops of large factories, etc. The laying of the track requires a certain amount of preliminary investment, but it runs stably and has a strong bearing capacity.
- Rubber – tyred gantry crane: It walks on tires, with high flexibility, not limited by the track, and can move freely between different sites. It is often used in scenes where goods are stacked scattered and the operation site needs to be changed frequently, such as construction sites, temporary freight yards, etc. However, its running speed is relatively slow, and its bearing capacity is slightly weaker than that of the rail – mounted type.
In ports and wharves, gantry cranes are the core equipment for loading and unloading containers. Rail – mounted double – beam gantry cranes, with their characteristics of large lifting capacity and large span, can quickly and accurately lift containers from cargo ships and place them in designated yards or transport vehicles, greatly improving the cargo throughput of the port. Rubber – tyred gantry cranes can move flexibly in the yard to stack and transfer containers.
In factories and workshops, gantry cranes are used for handling raw materials, installing and debugging equipment, and stacking finished products. Single – beam gantry cranes are suitable for small and medium – sized factories to handle lighter parts and raw materials; double – beam gantry cranes can be used for hoisting large equipment, such as the installation of machine tools, heavy machinery, etc.
Construction sites often need to transport heavy materials such as steel bars, cement, prefabricated components, and rubber – tyred gantry cranes are the first choice because of their flexibility. It can move freely on the construction site, cooperate with tower cranes and other equipment to complete the transfer and hoisting of materials, ensuring the smooth progress of construction.
In freight yards and warehouses, gantry cranes are used for loading, unloading, stacking and transferring goods. Double – cantilever gantry cranes can cover a large operation area, improving the efficiency of goods storage and turnover; single – beam gantry cranes are suitable for handling lighter goods in small and medium – sized warehouses.
Before buying a gantry crane, you must first clarify the operation needs. This includes the maximum weight of the goods to be handled, the operation span, the operation height, and the size and environment of the operation site. If you are handling containers in the port, you should choose a double – beam rail – mounted gantry crane with large lifting capacity and large span; if you are using it temporarily on a construction site, a rubber – tyred single – beam or double – beam gantry crane may be more suitable.
Regular manufacturers have complete production qualifications, advanced production equipment and mature production technology, which can ensure the quality and performance of products. You can learn about their production strength and reputation by checking the manufacturer’s business license, production license, product certification and other materials. At the same time, check the manufacturer’s customer cases and reputation, and choose the manufacturer with a good reputation in the industry.
The configuration of the equipment directly affects its performance and service life. Pay attention to the core components such as the main beam material, motor brand, reducer model, and control system of the crane. The main beam should be made of high – strength steel to ensure sufficient bearing capacity; the motor and reducer should choose well – known brand products, which run stably and have low failure rates; the control system should be easy to operate, sensitive and reliable, and preferably have safety functions such as overload protection and limit protection.
Gantry cranes are large – scale equipment, and after – sales service is crucial. When buying, you should find out whether the manufacturer provides installation and commissioning services, whether there is a sound warranty policy, and whether it can provide spare parts and maintenance services in a timely manner. Good after – sales service can ensure the normal operation of the equipment, reduce the downtime caused by faults, and reduce the operating costs of the enterprise.
On the premise of meeting their own needs and quality requirements, compare the quotations of different manufacturers. But don’t just pursue low prices. Consider factors such as equipment quality, performance, and after – sales service comprehensively, and choose products with the highest cost – effectiveness. Some low – price equipment may be shoddy in materials and configuration, and may have more problems in later use, which will increase costs instead.
By understanding the types, uses and purchasing skills of gantry cranes, enterprises can choose suitable equipment according to their actual situation, so as to improve work efficiency, reduce operating costs, and provide a strong guarantee for production and operation. In the purchasing process, be sure to choose carefully to ensure that the equipment can meet the needs of long – term and stable operations.
