When you think about overhead cranes, you may picture the huge cranes that are used to move shipping containers or that are installed inside of giant warehouses. While these cranes are impressive, they aren’t the only option available. There are also much smaller overhead cranes available that are ideal for use in workshops.
The main advantage of using a workshop overhead crane is that it reduces the need for heavy lifting. Trying to lift something heavy up off of the ground can put a tremendous strain on your body. Oftentimes, this results in back injuries or other types of pain.
As a general rule of thumb, you should avoid trying to lift items that weigh more than 50 pounds without assistance. You should also avoid lifting large or bulky items, no matter how much they weigh. Situations like these increase the likelihood of injuries.
Although there are a lot of different tools and devices out there that can assist with heavy lifting, cranes are one of the most efficient solutions. Since they are installed overhead, they are ready to go at a moment’s notice. That means that you don’t need to waste time setting them up. Instead, you can start using them right away, allowing you to get your work done more quickly.
They also usually don’t take up any room on the floor. The only exception would be a pillar-mounted jib crane. Even still, the amount of space required to operate one of these cranes is far less than you would need to run a forklift or pallet jack.
That means that you can use more of your floor space without having to leave large pathways or openings for equipment to get through. This allows you to put every square inch of your workshop to use, making it possible to maximize your space.
Even if your building doesn’t have a lot of room overhead, there are cranes available that could work. Many models are designed for spaces without a lot of extra headroom. With these cranes, the trolley is usually mounted on top of the crane rather than underneath, putting the hook height further above the floor.
There are several different types of cranes that you can use in your workshop, depending on your needs. Traditional bridge cranes have a girder that spans the distance across the entire building. It is attached to wall-mounted runways on either end, allowing it to move from one end of your workshop to the other.
Jib cranes are usually mounted on walls or posts near individual workstations. They also can be mounted on a pillar that is attached to the floor.
Finally, gantry cranes can also be used in workshops. These cranes have two legs connected by a girder at the top. They can be wheeled around your workshop so that you can use them in different locations.
Workshop overhead cranes offer a lot of advantages. If you are looking for an easy and efficient way to lift and move heavy items, an overhead crane like these may be a good solution.