Overhead Cranes Are Common Across All Industries

Overhead cranes are used in many industrial, manufacturing and assembly environments. These cranes are devices that raise and lower a load and move it along a horizontal plane. Most overhead crane systems are controlled by an operator either remotely or through a fixed housing control.

There are a variety of different types of overhead crane including gantry, semi-gantry, cantilever gantry, storage bridge and wall cranes.

Gantry cranes are very similar to overhead cranes with the exception of the bridge for the trolleys. Two or more legs support it as the crane runs on fixed rails or another runway.

Cantilever gantry cranes are either gantry or semi-gantry cranes on which the bridge girders or trusses extend beyond the crane runway on one or both sides.

Storage bridge cranes are a type of gantry crane in which the bridge girders or trusses are rigidly or non-rigidly supported on one or more legs and may have one or more fixed or hinged cantilever ends. These long-span overhead cranes are typically used for bulk storage applications.

Wall cranes are a traveling type of crane which has a jib, with or without a trolley. These overhead cranes are supported from a side wall or lined columns of a building to which the runway is attached.

Overhead cranes are used in a variety of industries. The automotive industry utilizes overhead cranes extensively in their production facilities. Overhead cranes are also commonly used in the construction of very tall structures. Relocating cargo containers and other heavy non-assembly materials, such as blocks of concrete, is another common use for overhead cranes.

the principles of operating an overhead crane are similar to that of a conventional crane. Like any vehicle, it is the controls that differ. Learning to operate a conventional crane may open the door to a career as an overhead crane operator. ATS Heavy Equipment Training Schools can provide basic crane operation training to help get you started.