What Does A Gantry Crane Mean In Construction?

What Does A Gantry Crane Mean In Construction?

A gantry crane is a type of overhead crane that uses legs to support the bridge, trolley, and hoist. These legs travel on wheels or ride on rails implanted in the ground, allowing for flexibility in design and eliminating the need for support columns and permanent runway beams.

Gantry cranes are typically used for outdoor applications or below an existing overhead bridge crane system. They are also used to lift and hold something in place while it’s being worked on, fabricated, or assembled.

According to OSHA regulations, all new gantry cranes constructed and installed after August 31, 1971, must meet the design specifications of the American National Standard Safety Code.

Designated personnel are only permitted to operate a gantry crane covered by this section. Additionally, inspections must be performed at regular intervals to ensure safety.

What Are The Different Types Of Gantry Cranes?

There are three main types of gantry cranes: fixed-height gantries, adjustable gantries, and portable gantries.

1. Fixed height gantries are constructed to a specific height needed for a specific application.
2. Adjustable gantries can be designed with variable height and span design, allowing the end user to change the height of the beams.
3. Portable gantry cranes are smaller lighter-duty gantry systems that run on casters or rubber wheels, allowing them to be moved throughout a facility to handle various materials or loads.

Track-mounted gantries have manual or motorized travel over a fixed route, while relocatable gantries have a modular design that doesn’t require existing support structures.

Portable A-Series and E-Series Gantry Cranes are available in steel or all aluminum with adjustable heights up to 5 tons.

What Is The Difference Between Overhead And Gantry Cranes?

The main difference between an overhead crane and a gantry crane is how they are mounted.

An overhead crane, often referred to as a bridge crane, is shaped like a moveable bridge and is attached to the interior structure of a building, mounted onto the girders that support the roof and walls.

A gantry crane, on the other hand, has an overhead bridge supported with its own frame. Gantry cranes are usually on wheels or mounted onto a track, making them more flexible and versatile than bridge cranes.

Overhead cranes have the highest maximum lifting capacity because they are mounted into a building’s structure, while gantry cranes have the advantage of being mobile when loaded.

What Are The Advantages Of A Gantry Crane?

Gantry cranes offer many advantages over other types of lifting devices.

1. They are versatile and can be used indoors or outdoors, in steel or aluminum construction, with adjustable heights, spans, or treads. This allows for loads to fit into tight spaces and makes them suitable for a wide range of applications.
2. Gantry cranes are also self-sufficient and supported by their own A-frames, making them more flexible and mobile than bridge cranes.
3. Additionally, gantry cranes have excellent lifting capacities and can be used in a variety of scenarios.
4. They are also often on castors to create a mobile lifting device which allows for a more cost-effective solution that can service across an entire facility.

What Is The Disadvantage Of A Gantry Crane?

The main disadvantage of a gantry crane is that it takes up space on the floor area due to the girder being attached to the leg of the gantry. This can be an issue if there is limited floor space or other equipment or personnel operating nearby.

Additionally, gantry cranes are usually only suitable for outdoor use and cannot provide as high a lifting height as double girder cranes.