Cranes are mainly divided into bridge cranes, jib cranes, light and small lifting equipment, and other special-purpose types. Among them, bridge cranes, gantry cranes, tower cranes, and mobile cranes are the most common.
Based on structural form and working characteristics, the classification system of cranes is clear and specific:
Classification by Structure and Function
Bridge Cranes: Use a horizontal bridge as the main load-bearing structure, supported at both ends by rails. Suitable for fixed locations such as workshops and warehouses.
Bridge Cranes (also known as "overhead cranes"): Spanning across the top of a factory building, the trolley runs along the main beam. Widely used for material handling within factories.
Gantry Cranes (commonly known as "gantry cranes"): Have a portal frame, with outriggers running directly on ground rails. Suitable for open-air operating environments such as ports and freight yards, offering high site utilization.
Jig Cranes: Rely on a variable-amplitude jib for lifting, offering high flexibility and adaptability to various terrains.
Tower Cranes: Fixed to the building foundation, excelling in vertical transportation during high-rise building construction. Mobile cranes: Including truck cranes, tire cranes, and crawler cranes, these have autonomous mobility and are commonly used in the field or temporary construction sites.
Gantry cranes: These are rotating boom structures with a base, primarily used for container loading and unloading at docks.
Lightweight lifting equipment: Simple in structure and easy to carry, suitable for light loads or auxiliary operations.
Jacks, pulleys, electric hoists, winches, etc., some of which can be used as lifting mechanism components for large cranes.
Other special-purpose types:
Cable cranes: Suspend loads using wire ropes, suitable for construction in complex terrains such as mountainous areas and bridges.
Mast cranes: Composed of a mast body, lifting system, and stabilization system, commonly used in specific engineering scenarios such as equipment installation.
Mechanical parking equipment: Belonging to the category of special lifting equipment, used for vehicle handling in multi-story parking garages.
