Once you decide to put a crane in your facility, the first question is what area it needs to cover. A monorail hoist carries the load along a single line, a jib crane covers a circular area around one point, an overhead bridge crane covers the whole of a rectangular area, and a gantry crane carries the load with a movable frame that stands on the floor. The right choice depends on where the load is picked up and where it goes.
The beam runs along a single line and the hoist travels back and forth on it. If the load follows the same path every time, this is the most economical solution, for example on a production line, between machines or at a loading ramp. The beam can be straight, curved or fitted with switches. There are more details in our guide what is a monorail hoist? You will find the models on our monorail chain hoists and monorail wire rope hoists pages.
A jib crane is an arm that is fixed to a column or a wall and swings horizontally. The hoist travels along this arm. This means it can take the load to any point within a circle whose radius is the length of the arm. Column-mounted models usually swing through a wider angle, and wall-mounted models through a narrower one.
It is ideal for jobs with frequent lifts in a small area beside a machine, a workbench or a loading point. Typical examples are loading parts into a CNC machine or changing moulds at a press. For models, see our jib cranes page.
An overhead bridge crane has a bridge that moves along two parallel runways, with a hoist that travels along the bridge. This lets the hoist reach every point of the rectangular area between the runways. It is used in factories where heavy loads have to be moved to any part of a hall.
Because it covers a large area, the installation is large too. It needs two runway lines, the columns or building structure that carry them, and a bridge girder. That means more steel, a heavier load on the building and a higher investment.
A gantry crane is a frame with two legs that stands on the floor. The hoist travels along the beam at the top. Models on wheels can be moved from one place to another. It is used when you do not want to put any load on the building, when the ceiling is not suitable or when you work outdoors. Typical uses are taking machines apart in a workshop, warehouses and maintenance areas. See gantry cranes.
| Feature | Monorail hoist | Jib crane | Bridge crane | Gantry crane |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area covered | A single line | A circular area | The whole of a rectangular area | The area under the frame, movable |
| Load on the building | On the ceiling or columns | On a column or wall | On the runway columns and the building | None, it stands on the floor |
| Installation | Medium | Easy to medium | Extensive | Easy |
| Investment cost | Low to medium | Low to medium | High | Low to medium |
| Best suited to | Repeated moves along the same route | Work at a machine, workbench or station | Heavy loads anywhere in the hall | Outdoor, temporary or mobile work |
In many facilities these systems work side by side. For example, an overhead bridge crane handles the heavy moves along a hall while jib cranes take care of the smaller jobs at the stations. Or a monorail line coming from the loading ramp drops the load into the working area of a jib crane. This way the large crane is not kept busy for no reason.
Send your sketch and answers to us on WhatsApp, and we can work out together which system suits you. For capacity and duty class, see our article how to choose hoist capacity. For costs, see monorail hoist prices.
A monorail hoist carries the load along a single beam. A jib crane works on a swinging arm fixed to a column or wall, and covers a circular area with a radius equal to the length of the arm.
For the same capacity a monorail hoist is usually more economical, because it needs only one beam and a simpler installation. But if the load has to reach every point of the area, a monorail is not enough and you need a bridge crane.
Where no load can be put on the building, where the ceiling is not suitable, or where the work is outdoors. Gantry cranes on wheels are moved from place to place for taking machines apart and for maintenance work.
It depends on how it is mounted. Column-mounted jib cranes usually swing through a wider angle, while wall-mounted ones swing through a narrower angle because of the wall. The slewing angle is decided when the model is chosen.
Yes, this is common. For example, a bridge crane or a monorail hoist along the hall can work together with jib cranes at the stations.
We explain what a monorail hoist is, how it works, its parts and types, and how to choose the right model, all in one place.
Read more: What Is a Monorail Hoist? Types, Parts and How to Choose One →Why can two monorail hoists with the same capacity have very different prices? We explain the eight factors that set the price and how to get the right quote.
Read more: Monorail Hoist Prices: 8 Factors That Determine the Price →We compare chain and wire rope hoists in a single table and explain, with examples, which one is the better choice for which job.
Read more: Chain Hoist or Wire Rope Hoist? Choosing a Monorail Hoist →The load, the lifting height and the beam length. Send them on WhatsApp or give us a call and we'll come back with a model and a price.
