What are gantry and jib cranes?

Gantry cranes are large, movable cranes with a horizontal beam supported by legs, often running on rails or wheels, designed for lifting and transporting heavy loads across wide areas. Jib cranes have a horizontal arm (jib) mounted on a vertical mast or wall, allowing loads to be lifted and rotated within a limited radius, making them ideal for precise, localised lifting tasks.

What are the main differences between gantry cranes and jib cranes?

Feature	Gantry Crane	Jib Crane
Size	Large, covers wide areas	Compact, fits smaller spaces
Movement Range	Moves along tracks or wheels, wide	Rotates 180–360°, limited radius
Lifting Capacity	Higher, for heavy-duty tasks	Lower, for lighter loads
Installation	Freestanding, rails/wheels	Floor or wall-mounted
Best Use	Construction, shipping, manufacturing	Workshops, assembly lines, maintenance

Where are gantry cranes commonly used?

Construction sites: Moving steel beams, concrete, and machinery

Shipping ports: Lifting and stacking containers

Rail yards and outdoor yards: Handling heavy, bulky items

Large manufacturing facilities: Transporting heavy components between workstations

Where are jib cranes most effective?

Workshops and assembly lines: For repetitive, precise lifting over a workstation

Maintenance departments: Lifting machinery or parts into place

Warehouses: Moving objects in confined or awkward spaces

Service bays: Where localised, rotational lifting is needed

What are the advantages of jib cranes?

Space-saving: Suitable for compact areas

Precise load positioning: Arm rotation up to 270°

Flexible mounting: Can be floor- or wall-mounted

Low maintenance: Simple design and operation

What are the advantages of gantry cranes?

High lifting capacity: Handles very heavy loads

Wide coverage: Moves across large areas or outdoors

Versatility: Can be portable (on wheels) or fixed (on rails)

Efficient for large-scale operations: Ideal for construction, shipping, and heavy fabrication

How do I choose between a gantry crane and a jib crane?

Consider:

Space constraints: Jib cranes for small, fixed areas; gantry cranes for large, open spaces

Load requirements: Gantry cranes for heavy-duty lifting; jib cranes for lighter, repetitive tasks

Movement needs: Jib cranes for localised rotation; gantry cranes for long-distance transport