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What Is A Gantry Crane？
A gantry crane is a heavy-duty lifting device with ground-supported legs and a horizontal bridge. It operates on ground-level rails, unlike overhead cranes hanging from building structures. Therefore, Dafang gantry cranes handle containers, steel beams, heavy machinery, and bulk materials in manufacturing, logistics, and construction industries.
Here, a gantry crane is explained in detail, including its definition, structure and components, working principle, application, specs etc. You learn more info about a gantry crane for your needs.
Introduction to Dafang Gantry Cranes
A gantry crane is a large outdoor lifting device with a door-shaped steel frame mainly for heavy-load handling. Comply with the international safety standards (CE, ISO, EAC etc.), it eliminates the need for manual handling of bulky items and reduces workplace injuries while boosting efficiency.
Gantry crane is a heavy-duty lifting device distinguished by ground-supported legs (unlike overhead cranes hung from roofs), with a horizontal main girder spanning between its legs. It handles 5-300 tons, suiting medium-to-heavy tasks.
The common types of gantry cranes include single girder gantry crane, double girder gantry crane, semi gantry crane (one leg on rail, one on the ground for narrow spaces), truss type gantry crane or container lifting type gantry crane. Its different design enables flexible, long-distance lifting, fitting outdoor large-scale material transport needs.
L Type Single Girder Gantry Crane
A Type Double Girder Gantry Crane
Key Features:
- Various Types: Single Girder, Double Girder, Truss Type, Semi-beam Type, Container Lifting Type
- Capacity Range: 1-800 tons
- Ground-Based Operation: No building structure required
- Outdoor Capability: Weather-resistant design for open-air use
- Flexible Coverage: Moves along rails for wide-area material handling
It has key components: main girders (top load-bearing structure), supporting legs (connecting girders to the ground), a traveling trolley (moves along girders), and a hoisting mechanism (lifts goods via hooks/spreaders). Unlike EOT cranes (running on overhead factory rails), its legs ride on ground rails, letting it operate in open areas. It’s widely used in ports, freight yards, and heavy industry to handle containers, steel beams, or large machinery.
Dafang Gantry Crane Structure and Components
The gantry crane consists of main beam, raveling trolley, supporting legs, the hoisting mechanism, gantry crane traveling mechanism, the power supply system, cab, safety devices and other crane spare parts. The functions of each indispensable part are as follows:
- Main Girder: The top load-bearing core structure that supports the traveling trolley and the weight of lifted goods.
- Traveling Trolley: Moves along the rails on the main girder, carrying the hoisting mechanism to realize horizontal transport of cargo.
- Support Legs: Vertical structures connecting the main girder to the ground, ensuring the crane’s stability; some have wheels for moving on ground rails.
- Crane Travel Mechanism: Installed at the bottom of support legs, driving the entire crane to move along ground rails for long-distance operation.
- Hoisting Mechanism: Includes motor, drum, and steel rope; drives the hook up and down to complete the lifting and lowering of heavy objects.
Different Gantry Crane Types
Gantry cranes can move or lift materials in construction sites, bridge construction sites, shipbuilding sites, hydropower plants and ore zones. Dafang Crane, a professional gantry crane manufacturer and supplier in China, offers different kinds of gantry cranes. Such as single girder gantry cranes, double girder gantry cranes, semi gantry cranes, truss gantry cranes etc.
If you want to better understand different types of gantry cranes and their application scenarios. The following article will help to choose the most suitable types of gantry cranes to enhance productivity.
Single Girder Gantry Crane
MH Single Girder Gantry Crane
L Type Single Girder Gantry Crane
- As the most standard and widely used single girder model, it features a single box-type or truss-type main girder.
- Capacity: 5-32 tons
- Span: 3-31.5 meters
- Applications: Warehouses, small freight yards, construction sites
- Advantages: Lower cost, lightweight structure, easy installation
- Best For: Light-to-medium loads, budget-conscious operations
L Type Single Girder Gantry Crane
- It has an L-shaped support leg. One side is short (closely attached to walls or columns), and the other side is a standard long leg (riding on ground rails). It saves horizontal space and is suitable for narrow working areas.
- Capacity: 5-20 tons
- Design: L-shaped leg saves horizontal space
- Applications: Narrow workshops, factory edge areas and small logistics yards
- Advantages: Space-efficient for constrained layouts
Double Girder Gantry Crane
U Double Girder Gantry Crane
A Type Double Girder Gantry Crane
U Type Double Girder Gantry Crane
- The unique U-shaped main girder structure allows long or bulky goods (e.g., steel beams, large profiles) to pass through the girder gap easily.
- Capacity: 5-550 tons
- Design: U-shaped girder allows long cargo to pass through
- Applications: Steel plants, profile processing workshops
- Advantages: Handles oversized loads, excellent lateral stability
A Type Double Girder Gantry Crane
- Featuring A-shaped support legs, this design reduces wind resistance, enhances structural rigidity, and saves space at the leg base.
- Capacity: 5-800 tons
- Design: A-shaped legs reduce wind resistance
- Applications: Ports, large freight yards, heavy machinery factories
- Advantages: High structural rigidity, harsh environment capability
- Duty Rating: A5-A7 for intensive operations
Container Yard Gantry Crane
- The unique U-shaped main girder structure allows long or bulky goods (e.g., steel beams, large profiles) to pass through the girder gap easily.
- Mobility: Diesel or electric-powered wheels
- Flexibility: Repositionable across yard
- Applications: Container terminals, intermodal facilities
- Capacity: 40-65 tons (loaded containers)
Rail Mounted Container Gantry Crane
- Featuring A-shaped support legs, this design reduces wind resistance, enhances structural rigidity, and saves space at the leg base.
- Operation: Fixed rail system
- Advantages: Lower operating costs, automated capability
- Applications: High-volume container terminals
- Capacity: 40-50 tons with precise positioning
Semi Gantry Crane
BMH Single Girder Gantry Crane
BMH Single Girder Semi Gantry Crane
- Features a single main girder, with one set of support legs riding on ground rails and the other side relying on factory walls or concrete columns.
- Capacity: 2-10 tons
- Applications: Narrow workshops, small yards
- Cost: Lower than full gantry cranes
- Installation: Utilizes existing building structure
BMG Double Girder Semi Gantry Crane
- Adopts two parallel main girders, with one side having support legs (on rails) and the other side supported by fixed structures.
- Capacity: 5-320 tons
- Applications: Heavy industry workshops, large freight yards
- Performance: Heavy-duty operations with frequent use
Truss Gantry Crane
MH Single Girder Truss Gantry Crane
- Features a single truss main girder (lightweight, material-saving structure) with an offset trolley running along one side of the girder.
- Capacity: 5-20 tons
- Advantages: Lower self-weight, reduced cost, easy maintenance
- Applications: Small factories, warehouses
MG Double Girder Truss Gantry Crane
- Adopts two parallel truss main girders, with the trolley moving between the two girders.
- Capacity: Up to 300 tons
- Applications: Ports, heavy industry, large-span coverage
- Performance: High working class for continuous operation
What is a gantry crane used for？
A gantry crane is suitable for open-area heavy-load lifting and transport across multiple sectors:
- Steel Industry: In steel production facilities, users use these gantry cranes extensively for lifting and moving steel products. Steel products include steel billets, types of steel, and steel profiles.
- Heavy Machinery Manufacturing: In the assembly process of heavy machinery, clients usually employ Dafang gantry cranes for assembling large-scale machine components. These components have massive engine blocks and the structural frames.
- Warehousing & Logistics: In the warehousing and logistics sector, these gantry cranes are responsible for moving heavy cargo from one place to another, and also for handling industrial equipment that is often bulky and difficult to move by other means.
- Ports & Terminals: At ports and terminals, customers use them for container handling operations. They need to load and unload containers from ships and trucks and transfer bulk material.These cranes also deal with materials which needs to be handled carefully, like coal, and ore.
- Construction Sites: On construction sites, like handling high-rise buildings and bridge projects, users use them for transporting cement, sand, and bricks. Moreover, they also transport reinforcement materials like steel bars, and precast components.
- Shipbuilding: In the shipbuilding industry, Customers use them for the assembly of large sections of ships. During the hull construction process, these cranes could lift and position huge ship components.
Construction Sites
Precast Plants
Warehouses
Manufacturing Workshops
Construction Projects
Precast Industry
Gantry Crane Specification
Single Girder Gantry Crane
| Main Mode | L/MH/BMH |
|---|---|
| Lifting Capacity | 1-32 ton |
| Span | 3-31.5 m |
| Lifting Height | 6-24 m |
| Lifting Speed | 8,0.8/8 m/min, 7,0.7/7 m/min |
| Working temperature | -25℃～+40℃ |
| Power Supply | 3 Phase AC 380V 50HZ |
| Control mode | Remote Control/Pendent control/Cabin Control(customized) |
| Work Duty | A3-A5 |
Double Girder Gantry Crane
| Main Mode | A/U/BMG |
|---|---|
| Lifting Capacity | 5-800 ton |
| Span | 5-35 m |
| Lifting Height | 5-30 m |
| Lifting Speed | 2-8 m/min, 1-20 m/min |
| Working temperature | -25℃～+40℃ |
| Power Supply | 3 Phase AC 380V 50HZ |
| Control mode | Remote Control/Pendent control/Cabin Control(customized) |
| Work Duty | A3-A7 |
Notice: The items listed only for reference. Customizable solutions are available.
China Gantry Cranes Types Quotes
| Types | Lifting Capacity | Price(USD) |
| Single Beam Gantry Crane | 1-32 ton | $5000 ~ $60000, depending on specifications |
| Double Beam Yard Gantry Crane | 5-500 ton (Special-purpose modes up to 800 ton) | $35000 ~ $80000, depending on specifications |
| Semi Gantry Crane (Single/Double Beam) | 2-10 ton, 5-320 ton | $12000 ~ $500000, depending on specifications |
| Truss Gantry Crane (Single/Double Beam) | 3-20 ton, 60-300 ton | $8000 ~ $600000, depending on specifications |
How to Choose the Right Gantry Crane Type
Consider These Factors:
- Load Capacity: Maximum weight including rigging equipment (add 20-30% safety margin)
- Span Requirements: Distance between support points
- Lifting Height: Vertical distance from ground to highest position
- Duty Cycle: Operating hours and frequency (A3 light, A5 moderate, A7 heavy)
- Environment: Indoor vs. outdoor, temperature extremes, corrosive conditions
- Space Constraints: Full gantry vs. semi-gantry for limited width
- Budget: Initial cost vs. operating costs over equipment life
Selection Rules:
Under 20 tons + limited budget: Single girder gantry crane
20-100 tons + frequent use: Double girder gantry crane
Space-constrained: Semi gantry crane
Large spans (30m+): Truss gantry crane
Container handling: RTG or RMG specialized cranes
Professional Gantry Crane Supplier in China
Now, you must have a comprehensive understanding of what is a gantry crane and you must know how to choose the most suitable types of gantry cranes to improve your working efficiency.
If you have interests in eot cranes, freestanding cranes, yard cranes, jib cranes, port cranes or crane parts, just directly contact our technicians and business manager. Later we will offer you the most professional guidance and support.
Why Choose Dafang Gantry Cranes
Henan Dafang Heavy Machinery Co., Ltd. is a top 10 crane manufacturer in China with 20 years of gantry crane manufacturing experience. We've delivered 80,000+ units to 130+ countries worldwide.
Dafang Crane Supplier's Advantages:
- Complete product range: single/double girder, semi, truss, container cranes
- Custom engineering for specific applications
- International certifications: CE, ISO, EAC
- Professional installation guidance and training
- Long-term spare parts availability
- Competitive pricing with proven quality
Get Your Gantry Crane Quote
Whether you need a 5-ton single girder gantry crane for your warehouse or a 300-ton double girder system for heavy industry, our engineering team provides application analysis and competitive quotations.
Contact Dafang Crane for technical specifications, pricing, and delivery information tailored to your material handling requirements.
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-Professional Gantry Crane Manufacturer & Supplier in China
