Warehouse Cranes: Types, Applications, and Benefits

Cranes are utilized across many different settings and industries. In warehouses, cranes are often used to lift palletized or boxed products to elevated storage levels. Facilities with high-bay racking often require cranes to ensure items can be properly loaded and unloaded.

In modern warehouse operations, cranes may be essential to ensure the efficient movement of goods throughout your facility. This equipment can be manually controlled or semi-automated. Some smaller cranes are fully robotic and can be used to lift, palletize, and pack products.

Implementing the right cranes in your warehouse can improve safety and productivity. You can more effectively move heavier items and pallets without placing your employees at risk of injury. The following serves as a comprehensive guide to warehouse cranes, including their benefits and applications.

What Are Warehouse Cranes?

A crane is a type of lifting mechanism that makes it possible for heavy items to be lifted and transported around any warehouse or manufacturing facility. While each type of crane comes with different features and mechanisms, they typically use ropes, chains, or hoists to lift items vertically from the ground. You can customize cranes to ensure your warehouse needs are met.

For example, weight capacities can be anywhere from 250 pounds to 15,000 pounds depending on the size and design of the crane. By using one or more cranes in your warehouse, your employees will be able to minimize strain, which should limit injuries and improve operational efficiency.

Types of Warehouse Cranes

From stacker to gantry, there are many types of cranes that can be used in a warehouse, each of which should be paired with specific applications.

Stacker Cranes

The purpose of a stacker crane is to effectively store and retrieve pallets automatically. These systems move in height, depth, and length to facilitate the loading and unloading of goods. This is a type of automated storage and retrieval system (ASRS) that’s built to transport goods in high-density storage and high bay systems. Many stacker cranes are outfitted with modern technology that helps to maximize space efficiency and boost warehouse productivity.

Workstation Cranes

Workstation cranes are designed with a bridge-like structure that allows them to be self-supported. Instead of relying on the surrounding building structure, these cranes can be positioned anywhere in a facility. They come with floor-mounted supports that make them suitable for horizontal transportation and assembly line applications.

Jib Cranes

A jib crane is usually mounted to the floor but equipped with a building support beam. These cranes are capable of hoisting and rotating to transport loads across short distances. They have a 360-degree range of motion. There are numerous types of jib cranes at your disposal, which include the following:

• Freestanding crane
• Mast-type crane
• I-beam crane
• Articulation crane

Articulation cranes come with an extra joint that allows for more precise movements. While most jib cranes are floor-mounted, they can also be wall-mounted or freestanding.

Gantry Cranes

A gantry crane is made on a movable framework. This framework is referred to as a “gantry”. These cranes are available in numerous sizes, which allows them to be used for a wide range of applications. Since gantry cranes are portable, they are ideal for small and large-scale operations. Smaller gantry cranes are typically found in automotive shops as well as warehouses.

Overhead Cranes

There are many types of overhead crane systems available to you, all of which accommodate efficient transportation. These are fixed-track systems that can help you transport items around your warehouse with ease. The various styles of overhead cranes include the following:

• Ceiling-mounted
• Freestanding
• Underhung
• Monorail

Other Types

There are also several other types of equipment and cranes you can buy for your warehouse. For example, some companies offer ergonomic lifting devices as well as monorail cranes and hoists. Assess your facility’s needs to determine which type of crane is right for you.

Applications of Warehouse Cranes

Cranes can be used to support many unique applications in warehouses and distribution centers. As mentioned previously, they can lift up to 15,000 pounds and are fully customizable.

Assembly

With an overhead crane, you’ll be able to transport raw materials and parts through the entire assembly process efficiently. These cranes can help you streamline some of the more repetitive tasks that take place during this process. Once you integrate these cranes into your operations, you should experience productivity boosts.

Transportation

Cranes are also suitable for loading and unloading finished products from trailers, trucks, and other vehicles. These systems can help you reduce the amount of human labor you require. They can also maximize space efficiency in your warehouse.

Warehousing and Storage

Industrial cranes can be used to move finished products to your warehouse from any type of container, which means that they are effective when paired with storage applications. You can also access them when you need to transport goods to a specific client. A crane allows you to maximize space utilization by storing large items vertically.

Safety and Ergonomics

If you’re searching for ways to improve worker safety in your warehouse, cranes can help you accomplish this goal. Your employees won’t need to worry about being injured when lifting heavy loads.

Benefits of Warehouse Cranes

There are many advantages associated with warehouse cranes. Whether you buy a jib crane or overhead crane, you’ll receive a system that improves workflow and keeps your employees safe.

Increased Safety and Improved Ergonomics

As touched upon previously, cranes allow you to improve safety in your facility by lifting heavier objects without manual labor. You can use this type of equipment to prevent manual lifting strain.

Improved Workflow and Productivity

Since cranes are designed to lift loads vertically, they can effectively bypass certain objects on the warehouse floor. The fast movement of these cranes supports improved workflow and productivity in your facility. You’ll benefit from quicker operations and increased throughput.

Maximized Storage Space

Cranes give you everything you need to move goods to high areas that are otherwise inaccessible to your employees. You’ll be able to utilize vertical space in your warehouse.

Cost-Effectiveness and Low Maintenance

Even though cranes are designed to lift heavy loads that reach up to 15,000 pounds, they come with simple designs, which is why they are easy to maintain and should last for years. Because of the simplistic design, these systems are somewhat affordable and can be paired with different warehouse sizes.

How to Choose the Right Warehouse Crane for Your Operations

To ensure you choose the right crane for your operations, consider factors like the types of goods you need to lift, capacity, and the size of your warehouse. Once you identify the items that need to be lifted, you can calculate the weight to ensure you buy the right crane.

It’s also important that you don’t purchase a high-capacity crane if you only need to transport small loads over short distances. If you opt for a low-capacity crane even though you need to move heavy pallets, worker injuries will be more likely. If the crane collapses, the load could also be damaged.

Consider the type of load you need to move as well. A tank that’s filled with a hazardous liquid may require a special lifting technique. Once you determine the type of load, consider estimating the lift height. The length of the system’s boom dictates how high the goods can go. If you need to lift to extreme heights, it may be a good idea to use a tower crane.

Before you buy a warehouse crane, estimate how much it might cost. Keep in mind that there are many cost factors to consider, which include everything from crane type and installation to customization. A manual crane will often cost less than a semi-automated one. Smaller cranes might be available at a lower price than larger ones.

You may also be tasked with obtaining multiple cranes, which will invariably cost more money. Cranes with higher weight capacities typically cost more. The capacity you need for your warehouse can be determined based on the weight of your goods and the rigging that the crane will be attached to.

Consider the maintenance needs and frequency of use as well before you purchase a crane for your warehouse. While most cranes have minimal maintenance needs, automated ones typically come with more intricate parts that require regular maintenance. If you intend to use the crane frequently, choose one that will last for years.

Conclusion

To improve your facility’s space utilization and facilitate a speedier loading and unloading process, you may need to purchase a crane for your warehouse. These systems can efficiently transport heavy loads that weigh thousands of pounds, which can help you reduce the number of workplace injuries that occur. Once you implement cranes into your operations, you’ll benefit from improved safety, space management, and operational efficiency. Select the right crane type by evaluating your company’s specific needs.