Types of cranes are diverse in the industrial sector, and they play a major role in manufacturing, shipping, oil and gas, mining, and maritime industries. Cranes are heavy material-handling machines that use levers and pulleys to operate a long, truss-like arm, enabling them to raise, lower, and transport loads that small machines or humans cannot handle. In simple words, industrial cranes are mechanical devices that move heavy loads and connect the processes, components and structures, ensuring smooth operations in many industrial sectors.
There are different types of industrial cranes, catering to specific tasks and suiting different needs or applications. They are used to meet the changing demands of material handling, lifting, transporting and structural assembly across countless industries.
Industrial cranes are designed for specific tasks, load capacities, and working environments. Examples include electric overhead tower (EOT) cranes, jib cranes, gantry cranes, etc. Understanding different types of cranes is crucial for industries to choose the appropriate crane type or equipment to complete their jobs safely, efficiently, and effectively.
Types of Cranes
A wide variety of cranes are used worldwide. Although cranes are commonly used in various industries, we typically refer to them as overhead, gantry, and jib cranes. These cranes can be categorised into two main types: Static Cranes and Mobile Cranes. For easier understanding, here is a tabular representation of these cranes in terms of their characteristics:
| Static Cranes | Mobile Cranes |
| Fixed to the ground or any structure. | Mounted on wheels, tracks, or a vehicle to be moved easily. |
| Zero mobility, as these cranes are fixed in place. | They are highly mobile, allowing them to travel between work sites. |
| Longer set-up time due to permanent or semi-permanent installation. | Quick setup and ready to operate upon arrival. |
| Ideal for higher load capacity due to a strong foundation. | Ideal for short-term projects, loading, and flexible job sites. |
| Best for high-rise buildings, bridges and large constructions. | The crane’s stability depends on ground conditions, terrain and outriggers. |
| The initial installation and dismantling costs are high. | Lower initial cost, but crane transportation cost and fuel charges are high. |
| The cranes are less flexible as they can work within a fixed radius. | Highly flexible, as these cranes can be moved and relocated to multiple sites. |
Static Cranes: Fixed Cranes
Designed to lift and move loads in near or limited space, these cranes are fixed in a position, either permanently installed or anchored to a structure or an area. Some examples are Tower cranes used in high-rise construction sites, overhead cranes in warehouses or factories, gantry cranes used in shipyards, etc. The following are the crane types that come under static cranes:
- Tower Crane
Tower cranes are largely used in constructing tall buildings. They are anchored to the ground or structures to ensure stability and can lift heavy materials to significant heights. These cranes have operating cabs from which the entire crane’s operation can be controlled. The tower cranes have tall masts, slewing units (to handle rotation), a horizontal jib (working arm), and a counter-jib to balance the load. Tower cranes provide exceptional lifting capabilities to significant heights.
- Overhead Crane (Bridge Crane)
The overhead crane or bridge crane is used inside factories or warehouses, with parallel runways and the travelling bridge spanning an area. A hoist runs along the bridge, enabling the movement of materials horizontally across a large area. These cranes are ideal for lifting and moving heavy items within an enclosed facility.
- Gantry Crane
Gantry cranes are slightly similar to Overhead cranes; these cranes are supported by freestanding legs that move on a wheel or a track. Gantry cranes are largely used in shipyards, outdoor yards, and heavy manufacturing areas where structural support is absent. These cranes are versatile and can handle substantial loads.
- Jib Crane
Jib cranes have a horizontal arm or jib fixed to a vertical mast or a wall structure. The jib can usually rotate, allowing for the lifting and moving of the materials to different areas within a limited radius. Jib cranes are mostly used for repeated lifting in smaller areas, assembly lines or workstations.
- Monorail Crane
As the name suggests, these cranes work along a single rail, mounted on specially built structures. The hoist travels on a fixed path, making it ideal for production lines or areas where materials are moved between particular points. Monorails are efficient and help in continuous and linear movement.
- Bulk-Handling Crane
A Bulk-Handling Crane is used for lifting and moving large quantities of heavy, loose materials such as grains, sand, minerals and coal. They usually have a grab or clamshell bucket that scoops and holds the material loads efficiently. Bulk-handling cranes are mostly used in ports, shipping yards, and several industrial plants. They aid in quick loading and unloading operations, ensuring easy bulk-material management.
- Hammer-head crane
The Hammer-Head crane, or giant cantilever crane, has a fixed horizontal jib mounted on a vertical tower, similar to a hammer shape. The trolley moves along the horizontal jib, and the materials to be lifted move horizontally. They are mostly used in the construction of tall buildings, dockyards, and industrial projects, where the material movement requires precision and heavy-load lifting capability.
- Stacker crane
Stacker cranes are automated machines commonly used in warehouses and automated storage and retrieval facilities. They move horizontally and vertically over an aisle between storage racks to pick and unload, mostly pallets or containers. They enhance storage density and efficiency, reducing manual handling, which makes them ideal for high-volume, high-precision industrial requirements.
Mobile Cranes: Movable Cranes
Mobile cranes are typically mounted on vehicles or tracks, allowing them to move to different work sites. Mobile cranes are flexible and can lift in various locations and terrains. For example, Truck-mounted cranes for easy transport via road, crawler cranes to move on track for rough and soft grounds, and floating cranes (on barges) for marine constructions are some of the movable cranes. The following is a list of cranes that come under mobile cranes:
- Truck-Mounted Crane
Truck-mounted cranes generally have two parts: the carrier (truck) and the boom (arm). These cranes are mounted on a standard truck chassis, offering road mobility and access between operational sites. These cranes do not require a special setup and are ideal for quick lifting operations in urban and industrial areas.
- Crawler Crane
Crawler cranes are equipped with tracks instead of wheels. These cranes provide excellent support and stability on soft, uneven, or rough terrain. Capable of lifting heavy loads, they are ideal for large-scale construction projects.
- Telescopic Crane
This telescopic Crane is equipped with a boom that has several nested parts that extend or retract using hydraulic techniques. The telescoping action allows the crane to adjust the reach and height easily. They are versatile and are widely used in construction, rescue operations, and transportation industries.
- Rough Terrain Crane
Rough Terrain Cranes are ideal for off-road projects and rough terrain. They have large rubber tires and four-wheel drive. They are compact, strong, and suitable for lifting materials on uneven surfaces like mining areas, construction sites, and infrastructural projects.
- All-Terrain Crane
All-Terrain Cranes are truck-mounted cranes with the rough terrain crane features. All-terrain cranes are highly versatile and can travel on roadways at speed and lift in difficult locations without additional or complicated setup.
- Floating Crane
Floating cranes are mounted on pontoons or barges and used for marine construction, salvage operations, and loading or unloading heavy materials at sea or ports. They are ideal for bridge building, offshore oil platforms, and dockyards.
- Pick and Carry Crane
Pick and carry cranes are compact and mobile, designed to lift and transport loads for short distances without outriggers. These cranes are widely used in workshops, industries and small construction projects for quick and easy material handling.
Benefits of Industrial cranes
Industrial cranes are designed with different features based on load capacities, sizes, lifting heights, etc., and are suited to every need. Here are the benefits of industrial cranes
- Industrial cranes help transport heavy equipment, making it easier to handle heavy machinery and parts.
- Industrial cranes provide easy material handling in remote or hard-to-reach locations, making resources more accessible.
- By reducing the need for manual lifting, industrial cranes improve workplace safety and physical protection.
- They enhance the viability and productivity of manufacturing, construction, shipping, and logistics industries.
- As they provide strong structural stability, industrial cranes ensure safe, reliable and effective operations across industries.
How to Choose the Right Crane for Your Operations?
Choosing the ideal crane for your operations is crucial to ensure safety, efficiency and cost-effectiveness. It not only affects the daily operations but also influences future processes such as crane refurbishment, maintenance strategies, preventive maintenance planning, and the overall longevity of the equipment.
Proper Knowledge of different crane types and their careful selection is critical; choosing an appropriate crane that suits your purposes also helps plan for operational sustainability and reducing unexpected operational downtime.
For example, if you need to lift machinery at multiple construction sites, you might need a telescopic mobile crane, and if you need to organise pallets in a large warehouse, you might need a stacker crane. For a high-rise building construction, you might need a tower crane and a Gantry crane to lift and move heavy loads across an outdoor assembly dock without ceiling support. The following are some guidelines on how to choose the right crane for your needs:
- Understand the load requirements.
- Assess the lifting height and reach.
- The site conditions and frequency of use.
- Understand and evaluate the mobility needs.
- The environment and weather.
- Budget and running costs.
- Compliance and safety regulations.
- Scope for improvement or change.
Crane Installation and Maintenance with Ocean
Industrial cranes are part of nearly all industrial operations, simplifying processes, reducing cost, and enhancing safety. Ocean Ltd, the leading engineering company in Oman, provides the best crane installation and maintenance services across various industries. Our team of expert engineers plans, selects and manages crane usage on site. Our skilled crane technicians handle crane installation, inspection, maintenance, repairs and refurbishments of cranes to meet our clients’ specific requirements.
Optimise your operations and diagnose the condition of your cranes with Ocean Ltd. To learn more about our crane services and how we can support your industrial needs, contact us today!
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