A rail mounted gantry crane is a type of crane fitted on a frame structure raised on side supports so that it can straddle the workplace or the load it lifts. This frame can span to even one hundred meters wide enabling the crane to move from left to right. Gantry cranes can vary from small shop cranes that can be used to lift small loads or motor vehicles and engines in a garage to enormous heavy duty cranes that can lift the heaviest loads in the world. The world’s strongest gantry crane, known as Taisun in Yantai China, can lift 20,000 metric tonnes.
Gantry cranes and overhead cranes are often used interchangeably, but the biggest distinction is that the gantry crane can be wheeled on a rail, which makes it mobile whereas the typical overhead cranes are fixed on location.
The most distinct feature of the rail mounted gantry crane (grua pórtico transtainer) is its mobility. It can be wheeled, and this makes it very useful in the construction of items of monstrous proportions. For instance, a gantry crane was used in the construction of HMS Queen Elizabeth, one the largest warships ever built for the United Kingdom Royal Navy. The aircraft carrier is 284 meters long and 65,000 tonnes. The gantry crane was therefore very essential as it could move overhead along the length of the ship from bow to stern during construction.
Gantry cranes can lift loads to heights of up to 70 meters. This has the advantage of increasing a yard capacity by allowing wider and higher stacking of loads. They are therefore excellent in terminals and ports that require to maximize vertical space due to unavailability of space. Even of more importance is they can move when hoisting loads beneath them, bearing in mind that these cranes can move two or more vertically stacked containers at ones, either sideways or along its rail. Since a typical truck cannot do this, their mobility means a terminal does not need to have trucks to move containers over short distances. If you want more information, please click www.gruaportico.cl/grua-transtainer/
Full gantry cranes, where the load remains beneath, do not require counterweights. Counterweights are used to exert an opposite force in normal cranes, therefore providing balance. Counterweights are irrelevant because the beam is normally heavy-duty, thus can withstand the load beneath it and the side supports are strong enough to resist the torque created by the load.
Generally, gantry cranes require minimal maintenance. There is a substantial reduction of emissions and noise more so if they are electric cranes (gruas eléctricas). Electric cranes see increased energy efficiency and reduced running costs. Gantry cranes are fitted with sway prevention mechanism with makes them less hazardous during work. In addition, since most are rigid, robust structures, it makes them optimum for automation. This can enable the installation of container tracking mechanism, positioning systems, and even remote operation options.
Modern cantilever gantry cranes have power regeneration options which makes them super-efficient, low consumers of power and ultimately environmental friendly. This, in turn, results in increased productivity.