There are a couple different types of gantry cranes that you can have installed. These cranes are actually built on top of what is called a gantry. This is simply a structure that will support the hoist and trolley that will be used to move the merchandise up and down, plus back and forth. They can be called portal cranes or overhead cranes, and even bridge cranes in some cases. The main distinction between most of them is that some of cranes are built outdoors, whereas others are built indoors, and each one requires a completely different support structure.
Outdoor Gantry Cranes
These cranes are typically used to maneuver containers off of ships, or lift extremely heavy objects for other industrial activities. They typically have a fixed location, with the exception of the trolley hoist that moves back and forth, and the runway girder on either side, giving them a little bit of mobility. Unlike a regular crane that will have a pivotal boom where the merchandise can be moved from one place to the next, these are limited in regard to linear movements, and the outdoor gantry cranes are supported by names that come up to girders, creating the entire support system.
Indoor Gantry Cranes
Those that are indoors are very similar to those that are outdoors with a couple noticeable differences. First of all, they can use the structure of the building that they are in for the supporting beams and therefore they may not be needed. Second, they are used to transition objects from one location to the other which could be several hundred feet in some cases. And how door gantry crane typically only moves the cargo containers from the ship to the dock in a very limited unidirectional manner, whereas indoor Gantry cranes can be used to convey merchandise throughout an entire facility. Finally, the ones that are outdoors tend to lift more and can actually exceed 1000 tons, whereas indoor ones usually peak out at about 100 tons on average. This is because of how they are designed, having limited space inside, whereas a much larger gantry and structural apparatus can be constructed for the ones that lift so much more apart from a building.
After you have looked at the differences, you simply need to decide which crane will be best for your business. If you are in charge of a warehouse operation, then and indoor gantry crane will definitely be the one that you will want to use. If you have an outdoor business such as building bridges, constructing buildings, or unloading large boats, then an outdoor gantry crane will be the best choice. These simple distinctions make it possible for us to understand which one should be purchased for the purposes that we have in mind. This will also allow the business owner to get multiple quotes on how much they will cost, helping them to make a final decision on the indoor or outdoor gantry crane that they need to purchase.