What is a bridge crane?

In the simplest of terms, an overhead crane is a machine, or piece of equipment, that allows you to lift and move heavy materials from one location to another in a precise manner. There is no “one size fits all” approach to defining an overhead crane, as each overhead crane is carefully designed and engineered for a specific purpose or application to suit a business’ material handling needs.
Overhead cranes can be designed and built in all kinds of configurations, and different components can be swapped out or engineered to improve its capacity and performance. Some of the most popular reasons for using an overhead crane include:

1. Loading or unloading materials from a truck
2. Moving materials around a facility more efficiently than a tow motor or manpower can
3. Flipping or pulling dies in and out of stamping machines at a manufacturing facility
4. Feeding raw material into a machine at a manufacturing facility
5. Moving pieces or parts down an assembly line in a controlled fashion
6. Moving containers around a shipyard or railyard

In addition to simplifying some of the processes described above, there are two main reasons why a company would want to install an overhead crane, or a series of overhead cranes, in their facility:

1. Efficiency—Overhead cranes are more efficient than using a group of workers or tow motors to lift and move material and can work up to 2-3 times faster. Think about how a manufacturer, mill, or warehouse can streamline their processes and procedures by introducing an overhead crane to automate the lifting, maneuvering, and unloading of materials at their facility.
2. Safety—Another advantage of installing an overhead crane in a manufacturing, assembly, or warehousing facility. Cranes can be used to lift and move materials in extreme environments and can handle corrosive or dangerous materials like hot metals, chemicals, and heavy loads. A workstation or jib crane can be put in place to help workers move heavy objects in a controlled manner and help cut down on repetitive motion injuries and muscle strains.