In the world of material handling, the best way to safely lift, lower and reposition heavy loads is through the use of cranes.
Cranes can be required in different settings such as automotive plants, construction, engineering, manufacturing and offshore sites. As a result, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all crane type.
Instead, it’s essential to choose a crane that suits the environment, application and overall load requirements.
At Metreel, we can supply your business with many types of cranes. But for this post, we’ll focus on the difference between gantry cranes and jib cranes.
Jib Cranes
In many ways, it’s easier to picture how a jib crane works because the term ‘jib’ refers to the rotating arm on the crane.
Jib cranes can be mounted on the wall or floor, which offers flexibility depending on not just the application, but also any space constraints within your building.
While jib cranes have a lower lifting capacity than gantry cranes, they excel whenever there is a need to perform localised lifting tasks that are confined to a set area of your building. For instance, over a workstation where rotation is required (Metreel jib cranes have an arm rotation up to 270°).
Jib Crane Advantages
- Arm (jib) rotates up to 270°
- SWL up to 1,000kgs
- Can be mounted on the floor or wall
- Great for installing in compact areas to perform repetitive lifting tasks
- Span of up to 6 meters
- Powder coating or custom finishes available
- Low maintenance crane
Jib Crane Considerations
So long as you select a crane that is perfect for your application, there shouldn’t be any downsides to a jib crane or any other type of crane.
That said, a jib crane isn’t suitable if you require extreme lifting capacity, or if the movement of the crane in terms of its available rotation isn’t sufficient for your needs. So long as neither of these aspects aren’t an issue, a jib crane could provide the ideal solution.
Gantry Cranes
A gantry crane is a type of overhead crane which has either a single or double girder configuration. It features a horizontal bridge supported by legs making the crane able to move on wheels or tracks.
Ideal for heavy lifting applications including in outdoor settings, gantry cranes are usually considered when there is a reason not to incorporate an overhead runway system.
Larger gantry cranes often run on tracks that are embedded into the ground. However, smaller gantry cranes can be portable. If so, they run on casters or wheels allowing the crane to be moved.
Gantry Crane Advantages
- Metreel gantry cranes have a lifting capacity of up to 2,000kgs
- Capable of longitudinal, lateral and vertical lifting
- Ideal for construction, warehouses, shipping yards and similar industrial settings
- Also great for indoor use when overhead runway systems are not feasible
- Portable gantry cranes available
Gantry Crane Considerations
Due to their increased lifting capabilities, gantry cranes require a higher financial investment compared with jib cranes. Additionally, they are more complicated to install and maintain.
However, with over 50 standard models of gantry cranes available here at Metreel, there are plenty of options to mitigate potential limitations.
Metreel – Discover Our Gantry Cranes And Jib Cranes
Just like our cranes, there’s a lot of heavy lifting involved when it comes to choosing the right material handling product for your business! That’s because not only are cranes a considered investment, but there is a lot to factor in to ensure the needs of your operations will be met.
Hopefully, the above overview of gantry vs jib cranes has shed some light on the key differences. But if you need any more information, or want to explore our other crane options then the Metreel team would be more than happy to help.
Take a look around our website to view more details about our products, including our gantry cranes and jib cranes.
You can also give us a call on 0115 647 0422 or fill out our contact form for further assistance.