How each crane type is built and what that means in practice
Jib cranes
A jib crane is a fixed or semi-fixed lifting device with a horizontal boom (the jib) that pivots around a vertical mast. The mast is either anchored to a structural floor column (column-mounted), bolted to a reinforced wall (wall-mounted), or set as a free-standing mast anchored to a reinforced floor slab. A hoist travels along the underside of the boom, giving a curved working arc rather than a rectangular footprint.
The rotation available depends on the mounting type and boom design. Wall-mounted units are typically limited to 180° or less by the wall itself, though articulating-boom variants can reach up to 270°. Column-mounted and free-standing mast units can rotate up to 360°, though the usable arc may be reduced by adjacent structure, machinery or racking. Confirm the rated rotation for the specific model being specified before placing an order.
Because the mounting point carries the entire eccentric load, jib cranes demand a civil engineer's sign-off on the anchor structure before installation. That is not a formality your customer can skip: the rated capacity of the crane is only valid when the mounting meets the manufacturer's structural specification. A wall-mounted jib also imposes an overturning moment on the wall — the forces are very different from a simple shelf bracket.
The practical payoff for that fixed investment is speed. A trained operator can swing the boom and position the hoist quickly within the working arc. For a machining cell, a press line, or a loading dock with a fixed truck position, a jib crane cycles faster than a portable system and keeps the floor around it clear.
Gantry cranes
A gantry crane is a bridge crane carried by two vertical legs running on ground-level rails or wheels instead of overhead runway beams. The hoist travels along the bridge (the horizontal beam between the legs), giving a rectangular working envelope that matches the span and the travel length of the rail or wheel path.
Portable gantry cranes — the wheeled, adjustable-height type common in maintenance shops — can be repositioned without any civil work. Fixed-leg gantry cranes running on embedded rails are more substantial structures, but they still do not require overhead building attachment, which makes them viable in facilities with inadequate roof structure or open-air yards. Note that the embedded rail civil works for fixed-rail gantries may still require landlord approval or local planning permits, depending on the jurisdiction.
The tradeoff is floor space and load path discipline. The legs and rails occupy real estate, and moving a load perpendicular to the bridge travel requires repositioning the whole crane or using a second axis of travel. Setup time for a portable gantry also adds to each lift cycle, which matters when a customer is lifting many times per shift.
The three questions to ask before recommending either type
- What is the full working envelope? Map the pick point and the set-down point. A jib crane covers a sector (arc); a gantry crane covers a rectangle. If the load path crosses between two arcs or requires linear travel beyond the jib's rotation limit for its mounting type, a jib crane cannot do the job alone.
- What is the available hook height? Measure from the finished floor to the lowest obstruction in the lift zone — pipes, light fittings, structural members. Then subtract the hoist body height and the rigging height (sling, shackle, hook) to find the usable hook height. If that number does not clear the load at the pick and set-down points, the crane of any type will not work in that bay without structural changes.
- Is there a rated mounting point? For a jib crane, a structural engineer must confirm the column or wall can carry the rated load plus the eccentric moment at the boom radius. If the facility is a pre-engineered metal building, a tilt-up panel structure, or a leased space where the landlord restricts modifications, fixed mounting is usually not available. A gantry crane then becomes the practical option by default.
Do not accept a visual estimate of structural adequacy
A column that looks solid may not be rated for the eccentric load a jib crane imposes. Require a structural engineering assessment or the building's original load schedule before specifying a column-mounted or wall-mounted jib. If your customer cannot produce one, route them to a gantry solution or to a structural engineer before the sale proceeds.
Head-to-head comparison: jib crane vs. gantry crane
Key selection criteria compared across both crane types| Criterion | Jib Crane | Gantry Crane |
|---|
| Working envelope shape | Sector (arc): wall-mounted typically 180° or less; articulating-boom wall-mounted variants up to 270°; column-mounted and free-standing mast up to 360°, with usable arc potentially limited by adjacent structure | Rectangle defined by span width and rail or wheel travel length |
| Mounting requirement | Rated structural column, reinforced wall, or reinforced floor slab (free-standing mast); engineer sign-off required in each case | Floor-level rails or wheels; no overhead building attachment needed |
| Hook height | Determined by boom height minus hoist body; fixed once installed | Adjustable on portable models; fixed on rail-mounted models |
| Portability | Not portable once installed | Portable (wheeled models) or semi-permanent (rail models) |
| Lift cycle speed | Fast within arc; operator swings boom quickly | Slower on portable models due to setup; faster on fixed rail models |
| Floor space consumed |
Critical checks that are easy to overlook
The working envelope on paper rarely matches the working envelope in the field. Columns, machinery, racking, and pedestrian corridors all reduce the usable arc of a jib crane or the travel path of a gantry. Before sourcing a unit, ask your customer for a dimensioned floor plan with obstacles marked. If they do not have one, a site visit — or at minimum a photo set with a tape measure in frame — is worth the effort before a unit ships.
Hook height is the most commonly underestimated factor. Customers often quote the ceiling height and forget to deduct the depth of the bridge beam, the hoist body, the hook block, and the rigging. On a low-ceiling facility this can reduce the usable hook height to a point where the crane cannot lift the load clear of its pallet or fixture. Work through the clearance calculation with the customer before the order is placed, not after.
Duty classification also matters for sourcing. A crane used many times per shift in a production cell is under very different stress than one used occasionally to offload deliveries. Manufacturers publish duty class ratings based on design standards such as ISO 4301 or FEM 1.001, and applicable national or regional lifting regulations — such as OSHA 1910.179 in the United States or LOLER in the United Kingdom — specify inspection intervals and competency requirements. Confirm which design standard and regulatory framework apply in your customer's jurisdiction, then match the rated duty class to the actual cycle count. This protects both the customer and the resale value of the unit on your books.
Use the load path, not the load weight, as your primary filter
Dealers often start the conversation with lifting capacity. Capacity is important, but the load path — where the load starts, where it needs to go, and what it passes over or near — eliminates one crane type or the other faster than any other single criterion. Resolve the load path first.
Facility types and which crane fits each one
A heavy manufacturing bay with reinforced concrete columns and a fixed workstation layout is the natural home of a column-mounted jib crane. The structure is there, the workflow is repetitive, and the speed advantage of the jib pays back over time.
A maintenance workshop that services equipment at multiple bays, or a facility that changes its floor layout seasonally, suits a portable gantry crane. The unit moves when the work moves. The same logic applies to a contractor operating across multiple job sites: the crane loads onto a trailer and travels with the crew.
An open fabrication yard with no overhead structure requires a gantry crane or a mobile crane; a jib is simply not applicable. Conversely, a cleanroom or paint booth with strict floor cleanliness requirements may favour a jib crane because rails and wheels on the floor introduce contamination paths.
Leased facilities deserve special attention. A tenant who installs a column-mounted jib must either remove it at lease end or negotiate its value with the landlord. A wheeled gantry crane is an asset the tenant takes with them. When your customer is not the building owner, clarify this before the specification is finalised.
Choose a jib crane when / choose a gantry crane when
Choose a jib crane when:
- The lift zone is fixed and repetitive — a machining cell, a press feed, a single loading position.
- A rated structural column, reinforced wall, or reinforced slab is confirmed by a structural engineer.
- Lift cycle speed matters and the arc covers the full required load path.
- The customer owns the building and can make permanent modifications.
- Floor space at ground level must be kept clear for forklifts, pedestrians or trolleys.
Choose a gantry crane when:
- The load path spans multiple bays or work areas that a single jib arc cannot cover.
- There is no rated mounting point — pre-engineered building, open yard, or lease restriction.
- The crane must relocate between job sites or facilities.
- Hook height flexibility is needed because loads or rigging heights vary.
- The customer wants to preserve the option to reconfigure the facility without civil rework.
How to source and compare units for your inventory
When sourcing either crane type for resale, pull the load test certificate and any inspection records. Under most major lifting equipment regulations, cranes must be proof-tested at installation and re-inspected at defined intervals by a competent person; confirm the applicable standard and inspection interval in your customer's jurisdiction. A crane without documentation is a liability, not an asset.
Check that the Safe Working Load (SWL) or Working Load Limit (WLL) marking is physically present and legible on the hook, hoist and beam — not only on the data plate or paperwork. On second-hand units this marking is frequently worn, painted over or missing, and its absence is a compliance issue in most jurisdictions. Also verify the manufacturer's data plate or original specification sheet is attached and matches the inspection records.
For gantry cranes, examine the leg base plates and wheel assemblies for deformation or weld repairs. Check the hoist for brake condition, hook latch, and load chain or wire rope wear, and inspect the trolley suspension and wheel flanges — worn or cracked wheel flanges are a common failure point on second-hand units.
For jib cranes sourced from a decommissioned facility, check the pivot arrangement — whether a plain pin-and-bracket, a thrust-bearing assembly, or a slew ring — for wear, seizure, or play; this is one of the most failure-critical components after extended service. Also confirm the trolley wheels or slider still track squarely. Note that a jib crane that has been dismounted may need re-engineering for its next mounting situation — the original structural calculations do not automatically transfer to a new location.
Before comparing units, confirm your customer's hook height calculation, load path map, and mounting assessment. Then browse current listings in the material handling and cranes inventory and use the compare tool to place two units side by side on rated capacity, hook height and physical dimensions before making a sourcing decision. If the specific configuration your customer needs is not listed, a Wanted request lets relevant sellers respond directly.
EasiMachines is independent and not sponsored by any crane or lifting equipment manufacturer. Any brand names referenced in listings are trademarks of their respective owners.
Pricing a used crane accurately
Crane values vary significantly with capacity, reach, duty class, hoist type and compliance status. The EasiMachines valuation tool gives a directional price range based on available market data. Use it as a directional starting point for pricing conversations; a third-party inspection report will sharpen your own assessment of where within that range a specific unit sits.
Frequently asked questions
Can a used jib crane be relocated and reinstalled in a different facility?
Yes, but the original structural calculations apply only to the original mounting point. A structural engineer must assess the new mounting location independently, confirm the column, wall or slab rating, and issue a new sign-off before installation. The crane itself must also be inspected and proof-tested after reinstallation before it is returned to service, regardless of its condition at the previous site. Confirm the specific requirements under the lifting equipment regulations that apply in the destination jurisdiction.
What documents should a dealer require when buying a used gantry or jib crane?
At minimum: the manufacturer's data plate or original specification sheet, the proof load test certificate from the most recent installation, any inspection or re-certification records, and the maintenance log if one exists. Also confirm that the SWL or WLL marking is physically present and legible on the hook, hoist and beam — not only in the paperwork. In many countries, cranes must be inspected at defined intervals by a competent person; a gap in inspection records reduces both the compliance status and the resale value of the unit.
A customer has a low ceiling. Does that automatically rule out a gantry crane?
Not automatically, but it narrows the options. Portable gantry cranes come in adjustable-height configurations, and some models are designed specifically for low-headroom environments. The usable hook height — ceiling minus beam depth, minus hoist body, minus rigging — must clear the load at both pick and set-down points. Work through that calculation with the customer before ruling either crane type in or out.
How do dealers handle the situation where a customer insists on a jib crane but lacks a rated mounting point?
A free-standing mast jib crane is an option in some cases: the mast is anchored to a reinforced floor slab rather than to a wall or column, which removes the wall or column loading concern. The floor slab must still be assessed by a structural engineer for the anchor loads. Alternatively, route the customer to a structural engineer who can advise on whether an upgrade to the existing structure is feasible and cost-effective before the crane is purchased.
