Which Overhead Crane Do I Need for My Workshop?
Plant managers and procurement specialists search overhead crane solutions with very practical questions:
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Can a single-girder overhead crane handle my load?
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When should I pay extra for a double-girder overhead crane?
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What parameters besides lifting tonnage should I check before ordering?
Many buyers only compare tonnage and initial price, yet end up facing insufficient headroom, early component failure, building overload risk, and unexpected downtime.
Your workshop has unique ceiling height, building load limits, daily operating cycles and production requirements. The right overhead bridge crane depends on your real-site conditions, not just price or rated capacity.
This buying guide answers real-world customer questions, compares core configurations, and walks you through critical engineering checks to help you make a correct, cost-effective purchasing decision.
Single-Girder VS Double-Girder Overhead Crane: Key Differences
Structural design determines lifting capacity, headroom, stability and service life.
Single-Girder Overhead Crane
Best fit for light-to-medium workloads (1-20 ton).
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Lighter self-weight, lower load on building runway beams
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Lower investment & installation cost
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Compact and flexible operation
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Who should choose it? Maintenance shops, small processing plants, facilities with low-frequency lifting tasks.
Double-Girder Overhead Crane
Designed for medium-to-heavy-duty industrial production.
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Higher structural rigidity and running stability
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Better maximum lifting headroom
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Supports higher FEM/ISO duty classes for continuous operation
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Who should choose it? Steel processing workshops, manufacturing plants, 24/7 continuous production lines, applications requiring heavy-cycle lifting.
Three Critical Questions to Answer Before Buying Overhead Crane
Before requesting quotation, clarify these three site-related questions. They directly decide whether your crane will work reliably long-term.
1. Which installation type fits my building: Top-Running or Under-hung (Underslung)?
Top-Running Overhead Crane
Runs on top of runway beams supported by building columns.
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Suitable for heavy load requirements
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Delivers maximum available lifting height
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Widely adopted for most standard industrial workshops
Under-hung (Underslung) Overhead Crane
Hangs from the bottom flange of existing building beams.
Choose an under-hung crane if:
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Your workshop has low ceiling height
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You cannot add extra support columns on site
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You want to keep full floor space unobstructed
2. What FEM / ISO duty class does my actual working cycle require?
Duty class reflects how heavily and frequently you use the crane. It is one of the most frequently ignored but decisive factors for service life.
Using a light-duty crane for non-stop heavy-cycle work will cause gearbox wear, motor overheating, brake damage and structural cracks.
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Light duty A1-A3 Intermittent use, equipment maintenance, occasional lifting
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Medium duty A4-A5 Regular daily factory production
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Heavy duty A6-A8 24/7 cyclic lifting, automated handling, steel-mill working conditions
Ask yourself: How many lifting cycles per day? Is it intermittent or round-the-clock production? Match duty class to your real usage.
3. Can my existing building support this overhead crane? Runway beam & hook approach
Every overhead crane creates wheel pressure under full-load lifting.
If building runway beam cannot bear the wheel pressure, safety hazards will occur.
You need to confirm:
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Has your supplier completed runway beam load calculation based on your building structure?
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How close can the hook reach workshop walls (hook approach distance)? Double-girder models deliver better hook approach and higher lifting headroom, making better use of your workshop floor space.
Power Supply Options for Overhead Crane
Select power solution according to your crane span and working environment:
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Sliding wire power supply Short & medium-span indoor workshops
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Cable reel power supply Long-span, frequent-travel applications
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Insulated busbar system Dust-proof, high-efficiency heavy-duty sites
All electrical kits comply with international industrial safety standards for stable, low-failure operation.
