Jib cranes
A jib crane gives one workstation its own hoist. Freestanding, wall-mounted or column-mounted, from 125 kg to 5 t.
Where jib cranes work best
A jib crane is a single arm that swings around a post or wall bracket, with a hoist running along the arm. It covers a circle, so it suits a machine tool, a welding bay, a loading point or an assembly station where one operator needs to lift parts on and off.
Compared with an overhead crane, a jib is quicker to install, needs no runway and leaves the rest of the floor clear. Several jibs along a line often cost less than a bridge crane over the same area.
Types of jib crane
| Freestanding (pillar) | A column bolted to a foundation or a suitable slab. Up to 360° rotation. Can go anywhere on the floor. |
|---|---|
| Wall-mounted | Brackets on a building column or wall. About 180° rotation. No floor space used, but the column must be checked for the loads. |
| Column-mounted | Clamped to an existing steel column. Fast to install where the column is strong enough. |
| Articulating | A jointed arm that reaches around obstructions and into machines. |
The slab question
A freestanding jib puts a large overturning moment into the floor. Depending on capacity and arm length, it can bolt to an existing slab of adequate thickness and strength, or it needs its own foundation block. We check the slab before quoting, because this is the most common hidden cost on a jib crane job.
Size one up yourself
Our crane configurator walks through the six things we need to know — capacity, reach, height under the boom, rotation, hoist and controls — and sketches it as you go so you can sanity-check your own numbers. It takes about two minutes and you get a quote back within one business day.
What we need to quote
- Load to be lifted and the arm length (reach) you need
- Height under the arm and the lift height
- Where it will be mounted, and the slab thickness if you know it
- Manual or powered rotation, and pendant or radio control
Common questions
Can a jib crane be mounted on my existing slab?
Smaller jibs often can, if the slab is thick and strong enough. Larger capacities and longer arms usually need a dedicated foundation. We check before quoting.
What's the maximum reach of a jib crane?
Most jib arms are between 2 m and 8 m. Longer arms are possible but the capacity and foundation need to suit.
Do jib cranes need design registration?
Requirements vary by state and crane type. Many jib cranes don't need design registration, but they must still be designed to AS 1418 and kept on your plant register. We'll confirm what applies.
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.