Cranes are crucial equipment items needed in many different types of operations. AtProtek Crane Solutions, we offer an extensive line of cranes to meet most requirements for lifting and moving heavy loads on assembly lines, in repair facilities, and for shipping products. Here are four types of cranes more often used in commercial and industrial operations:

Jib Cranes: Jib cranes have a horizontal arm (jib) that supports a movable hoist. The arm is usually fixed to a wall or a floor-mounted pillar, allowing for a circular range of motion from forty-five to three hundred sixty degrees. 

Applications for Jib Cranes include the following:

• Workstations: Handling materials at individual stations, especially in repetitive tasks as part of an assembly line.

• Dockyards: Loading and unloading cargo ships.

• Maintenance: Lift and suspend loads such as appliances or engines to assist with repairs and maintenance.

Mobile Cranes: Mobile cranes are mounted on a truck, railcar platform, or other mode of transportation for increased versatility. These cranes have a telescoping boom to reach heights unobtainable by different types of cranes.

Applications for Mobile Cranes include these tasks:

• Construction: Lifting materials to the higher floors of a building.

• Emergency Services: Assist in rescue operations and disaster recovery.

• Utility Work: Infrastructure repair will include power lines and streetlights.

Overhead Cranes: Overhead cranes, or bridge cranes, lift and transport heavy loads horizontally across a workspace and are used primarily in industrial operations. Overhead cranes consist of parallel rails mounted on I-beams, bracketed to two steel columns with a steel bridge spanning the gap. A hoist, providing the lifting function, travels along the bridge. 

Applications for Overhead Cranes include the following:

• Manufacturing: Moving heavy machinery and inventory within factories.

• Warehousing: Unloading deliveries, shelving, and shipping goods.

• Assembly Lines: Assisting in assembling large equipment items or products.

Gantry Cranes: Gantry cranes are similar to overhead cranes but are supported by freestanding columns that move on wheels or a track. Depending on the size, they can operate indoors or outdoors and can be moved manually or using battery power.

Applications for Gantry Cranes include these tasks:

• Construction Sites: Lifting and moving materials for large construction projects.

• Shipyards: Assembling and moving large ship components.

• Freight Yards: Handling shipping containers and outsized heavy cargo.

To learn more about the types of cranes we sell and what brands and models we carry, contact Protek Crane Solutions at (855) 776-8354. You can view our inventory at our website, follow us on Facebook and X, and stay up to date with us on Instagram and Pinterest.