Bridge Cranes - When an application requires hoist coverage over a rectangular area, such as a manufacturing bay, a bridge crane is required. With it, a hoist can be positioned at any point within the rectangle, permitting lifting, lowering and transportation throughout the area. A bridge crane rides on runways, which are a parallel pair of beams that are attached to the building columns and permit the horizontal movement of the bridge crane structure.

Bridge cranes come in a number of different configurations, such as top running or under running, single girder or double girder. There are relative advantages to each approach, and the proper selection can only be determined once the application and physical constraints are examined.

Jib Cranes - When a hoisting application can not be accommodated by the line coverage of a monorail, but does necessitate the rectangular coverage of a bridge crane, a jib crane is often the best solution. Jib cranes consist of a horizontally mounted beam, not unlike a monorail, but that can swing in a semi-circle or full circle. Jib cranes are sometimes attached to building columns or can be free standing whereby the boom is attached to the column of the jib crane, that is fastened to your floor.

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Gantry Crane - A gantry crane has a hoist in a trolley which runs horizontally along gantry rails, usually fitted underneath a beam spanning between uprights which themselves have wheels so that the whole crane can move at right angles to the direction of the gantry rails. These cranes come in all sizes and some can move very heavy loads, particularly the extremely large examples of industrial and manufacturing applications.