What Are the Different Types of Overhead Cranes Available?

Antony Smith II • April 19, 2024

There are several different types of overhead cranes that are available. Learn about these different type of overhead cranes below.

Gantry Cranes

An overhead crane built on a gantry (movable framework supporting large equipment), the smallest can move a few tons and are quite mobile, while the largest are often used at shipping and container yards.

Jib Cranes

These cranes look much like an upside-down letter “I” and are usually floor mounted via either their own support or a building’s support beam. They are ideal for doing multiple lifts over short distances because they are equipped with an electric chain hoist and can be rotated by hand.

Bridge Cranes

These cranes are built inside of a building and use the building’s structure as its support. Their hoist enables them to move left or right, while the track they are on will allow them to move backward and forward through a building.

Workstation Cranes

Bridge cranes with their own floor-mounted supports, they are ideal for companies that only need to life materials in just one part of a building.

Monorail Cranes

The hoist of these cranes move up and down instead of side to side. The rail can be adjusted for curves, which make these cranes quite useful when you have to work around specific structures within your factory.

Top and Under-Running Cranes

Also known as single girder and double girder bridge cranes. “Top running” and “under running” refers to how these cranes are mounted within your building. Top-running cranes are cheaper to operate, but only are feasible if your factory or building has a high ceiling to which it can be mounted.

Contact us to learn more about our cranes and other equipment in our inventory.

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How Can an Overhead Crane Improve Your Facility’s Workflow?

September 29, 2026

As production demands grow, inefficient material movement can create bottlenecks, increase manual handling and contribute to unnecessary downtime. The right overhead crane system can help facilities move materials more efficiently, make better use of floor space and improve control throughout the production process. Overhead cranes are used across manufacturing and industrial environments to move heavy or difficult loads safely and efficiently. The right system depends on your facility layout, load requirements, workflow and production goals. What Is an Overhead Crane? An overhead crane is an industrial lifting system used to move materials vertically and horizontally through a facility. Unlike floor-based equipment, overhead cranes use the space above production areas, helping keep valuable floor space available for equipment, workstations, storage and material staging. Overhead crane systems can include bridge cranes, gantry cranes, jib cranes, freestanding systems and automated cranes, depending on the application. How Overhead Cranes Boost Production Efficiency Move Materials More Efficiently Overhead cranes move loads along controlled paths, helping operators transport heavy or difficult materials between work areas with greater precision. In facilities where material movement is slowing production, the right crane system can reduce unnecessary handling, improve load positioning and help keep work moving between production steps. Make Better Use of Facility Space Because overhead cranes operate above the production floor, they can help reduce dependence on floor-based material handling equipment and keep aisles and work areas more accessible. This can be especially valuable in facilities where production equipment, storage, workstations and material staging compete for limited floor space. Reduce Manual Handling and Injury Risk Overhead cranes reduce the need for workers to manually lift, push, pull or reposition heavy materials. This can help reduce physical strain and lower exposure to handling-related injuries, particularly in repetitive or high-capacity applications. By moving loads in a controlled and predictable manner, overhead cranes can also improve operator control and reduce the need for workers to physically guide heavy materials through the production process. Proper training, pre-lift planning and routine equipment inspections remain essential to safe crane operation. Bohl Crane offers overhead crane training to help companies build the knowledge and skills needed to operate equipment properly.