Gantry cranes
A gantry crane carries its own legs, so it puts no load on your building. Use one outdoors, in a leased shed, or anywhere a bridge crane runway isn't practical.
When a gantry crane makes sense
A gantry crane is a bridge on legs. Instead of running on runway beams attached to the building, it runs on rails set into the floor or on wheels. That makes it the usual answer when:
- The building isn't rated for crane loads, or you lease it and can't modify the structure
- The lifting is outside, in a laydown yard, precast yard or loading area
- You only need lifting over part of the floor
- The crane needs to move between jobs or sites
Types of gantry crane
| Mobile (portable) gantry | Steel or aluminium frame on lockable castors. Pushed by hand to where it's needed. Typically up to about 5 t. Good for workshops, pump stations and maintenance work. |
|---|---|
| Rail-mounted gantry | Motorised travel along floor rails. Covers a long work area under heavy, repeated use. Single or double girder. |
| Semi-gantry | One leg on a floor rail, the other side running on a beam on the building wall. Useful along one side of a shed. |
| Adjustable-height gantry | Telescopic legs so the beam height can be set for the job or to fit through doorways. |
What we need to quote
- Safe working load, span between legs and the hook height you need
- Indoors or outdoors, and the floor or ground condition
- Whether the crane needs to travel, and how far
- Power available, or whether a manual or battery option is preferred
Rail-mounted gantries need a slab or footing that can take the wheel loads. We check this during the site visit so there are no surprises once the crane arrives.
Compliance
Gantry cranes are designed to AS 1418 and generally require design registration with your state regulator. Portable gantries are supplied with their rated capacity marked and the documentation you need for your plant register.
Common questions
Gantry crane or bridge crane: which is cheaper?
If your building can already carry a runway, a bridge crane is often cheaper per metre of coverage. If the building needs new columns anyway, a gantry crane can come out ahead because it doesn't need them.
Can a gantry crane be used outdoors?
Yes. Outdoor gantries are specified for wind, weather and the ground they run on, with protected motors and controls.
Do mobile gantry cranes need a licence to operate?
Operator requirements depend on the crane type and your state. Most light portable gantries don't need a high-risk work licence, but operators still need training. We'll tell you what applies to your crane.
Tell us what you need to lift.
Send the load, span and lift height if you know them. If you don't, we'll come and measure.