What is an overhead crane?
The main components of an overhead crane
An overhead crane consists of several main components:
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Crane girder(s)
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End carriages
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Hoist(s) or winch(es)
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Trolley(ies)
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Control panel
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Control box
Read more about the different crane components.
The overhead crane travels along a crane runway structure and is usually electrically powered. The crane runway structure — which is not part of the overhead crane itself — must be strong enough to support the weight of the crane and the maximum permitted lifting capacity.
When an overhead crane has one girder, it is referred to as a single-girder overhead crane. If the crane has two girders, it is called a double-girder overhead crane. The crane girders are often made of an H-profile beam. For very heavy loads or long girders (large spans), a box section is frequently used, also referred to as box girders.
