Girder crane can be defined as one of the most important kind of crane used extensively for lifting of various loads. As defined by its construction, a girder crane employs one or several horizontal girders that hold the hoist and are located on beams or trolleys. These cranes are especially favored in areas where lifting of object and their delicate transportation is needed. Being a construction plant, girder cranes have a multitude of applications in developing structures together with manufacturing industries in moving heavy sections, materials, and items.
This blog aims to define what a girder crane is, types of girders, and the advantage of girders in industrial use.
Types of Girder Cranes
There are several types of girder cranes; every type is created to perform in a certain way or for a specific ambition. Below are some of the most common types of girder cranes:
Single Girder Crane
A single girder crane is comprised of one horizontal beam propped on two end cars with the hoist travelling along the beam. These cranes are best suited for light – moderate loads and are useful where headroom is restricted.
Applications: Industries such as; Warehousing and storage facilities, small-scale production industries, production lines.
Advantages:
- Some models of girder cranes being cheaper than other types of cranes.
- It cost lesser and has more flexibility being lighter in weight and easier to install.
- Suits places that have small floor areas and low ceiling heights.
Double Girder Crane
A double girder crane includes a system which has two parallel beams on which the crane’s hoist travels along. Double girder Crane are of greater capacity than single Girder Crane and is used where larger loads are likely to be encountered in industries.
Applications: Big industries such as ship building industry, steel industries and big manufacturing industries.
Advantages:
Can lift heavier loads.
- Longer lasting, lasting longer than the average set of retreaded tires for commercial use.
- Can handle greater spans and greater lifting heights as compared to the cantilevered type.
Box Girder Crane
Box girder crane has a girder in a box like shape to add more strength and rigidity to the structure. This design enables the model to lift even much heavier loads in comparison to other forms of girder cranes.
Applications: Essentials use include; large construction sites, heavy manufacturing such as steel works or automobile industry, shipbuilding.
Advantages:
- Maintenance is very easy and is very resistant to stress levels.
- It is ideal for long span and heavy loads.
- Because they are specially designed for use where lifting is heavy and frequent, these types of slings are ideal.
Overhead Girder Crane
The overhead traveling crane is suspended on rails and can be transferred across the entire range of a structure. These cranes can especially be of immense operation in industries, especially in factories and or ware houses where there is need to transport materials over larger distances.
Applications: factories such as the steel industries, the automobile industry and the logistic centers.
Advantages:
- I can save much floor area by being over-head.”
- It can cover a large working area.
- Best used when there is need for a material to be conveyed over and over in a particular area.
Gantry Girder Crane
A gantry girder crane is actually like an overhead girder crane, but is not fixed on tracks overhead but the wheels or rails are on the ground. Another type of crane is the gantry crane and is widely used due to its flexibility and is normally used in outdoor areas such as the shipyard or the construction site.
Applications: Outdoor projects that require big space, handling of containers, and mega construction projects.
Advantages:
- Transportable since it can be either installed and adapted to wherever it is needed at any particular time.
- This is very ideal for use in outdoor conditions.
- This is an important requirement especially if the candidate should be capable of performing a number of tasks with a lot of ease.
Advantages of using girder cranes
Below are some of the key advantages of using girder cranes:
High Load Capacity
A girder crane is particularly used for lifting and traveling with heavy loads. Four- and box girder cranes can actually lift several hundred tons as well as distribute the weight evenly. Due to the high load carrying capacity they are ideal for use in construction, manufacturing, and shipping companies where they frequently move heavy loads.
Efficient Material Handling
A major potential for girder cranes is to transport material from one place to another in a manner that is most effective. From lifting and moving heavy machinery; carrying raw materials from one processing point to another; to moving the final products; girder cranes make the movement of the material faster and easier.
Customization and Versatility
These cranes can be designed to fit the particular requirements of a sector in production. The type of crane can be changed to give it various abilities for loads, heights and spans of the crane. Further, the cranes can be fitted with different types of hoists, trolleys and accessories to suit a given job or task in particular.
Maximizes Floor Space
Overhead and gantry girder cranes makes very good choices in those places that seem to have very little open floor space. These cranes travel overhead or along rails, and thus, do not take up much floor space and availability of space is well utilized. It is especially useful in those sectors such as warehouses and production facilities where space is extremely confined.
Safety and Precision
In reference to the safety implication for the worker and the material being handled, anti-collision features are built into the girder crane. Some of these cranes possess automatic control systems, enabling the cranes to be mobilized efficiently and, therefore, eliminate human influence. These safety features are useful where risks are high such as; construction places, factories, chemical industries among others.
Selection of the Right Girder Crane
Hunting for the appropriate girder crane depends on some parameters like the kind of the load, the hoist height, the length, and the sort of use. Here are some key considerations when choosing a girder crane:
Load Requirements: Consider the weight of the loads that you wish to transport in order to choose a crane that will suit your needs.
Space Constraints: Based on the layout of your facility consider the floor space to determine if an overhead, gantry or a single/double girder crane is most appropriate for your operations.
Frequency of Use: If operations are continuous, having a stronger kind of crane such as a double girder or box girder crane may be needed.
Environmental Factors: In case you are going to use the crane outdoors or in a dangerous zone, you should purchase a gantry girder crane instead of another one.
Conclusion
Girder cranes find numerous applications in distribution centers, manufacturing sectors, construction business among others, and provide the needed solutions to deliver heavy loads and transfer various materials. Various types include single and double girder cranes, overhead and gantry cranes and these machines bring about safety, increased productivity, and better operations.
Krantechnik cranes is the premium supplier for European girder cranes which is used in India, which offers products which are customized according to the industry requirements. From plain and simple operations to complex ones, Krantechnik Cranes provides a number of tried and tested products such as single, double, overhead, and gantry cranes.