Bridge Cranes and Overhead Cranes
For over thirty, Givens Engineering has been providing industries throughout Canada and the United States with expertly designed and engineered Bridge Cranes and overhead cranes. Our industry-leading expertise and dedicated team allow us to provide only the very best in overhead cranes and lifting solutions. We’re proud to be one of the leading manufacturers of bridge cranes and will continue to deliver professionally engineered and custom solutions to our clients.
Our G-RailTM bridge cranes are engineered for the lowest rail weight, the highest strength and the greatest versatility.
What Is a Bridge Crane?
A bridge crane, also often referred to as an overhead crane, is a piece of equipment used in industrial settings to help lift and move heavy loads and materials from one location to the next in a precise motion in a factory or industrial production facility. The hoist travels along a bridge which in turn travels along two parallel runways.
Customized Manufactured Bridge Cranes and Overhead Cranes
Bridge Cranes offer unique lifting solutions and versatility to suit a variety of industrial and production settings that may sometimes come with limitations. At Givens, we proudly create custom lifting solutions that offer more versatility and added benefits to facilitate unique work settings and environments. Our overhead bridge crane solutions are engineered to provide maximum productivity and longevity.
Benefits of G-Rail™ Bridge Cranes
Givens offers lightweight and high-performance bridge cranes unlike any other, with added benefits such as:
Lightweight Overhead Crane Capabilities
The crane profile of the G-Rail™ bridge crane, combined with our patented Slant-Truss bolt-on reinforcements, create one of the lightest lifting systems in the world. The importance of a lightweight bridge crane becomes increasingly important when you need to move a load quickly and frequently in an industrial production setting.
Patented Slant Truss Reinforcement for Bridge Cranes
The patented Slant Truss is an all-aluminum bolt-on system that significantly increases the stiffness of the G-Rail™ Bridge Crane making it one of the sturdiest bridge cranes available. When spans approach 25’, 30’ or even 35’, the weight of traditional bridge cranes increases exponentially, making them ergonomically impossible. There is simply too much weight to pull back and forth quickly. The extremely lightweight overhead crane is reinforced with the Slant Truss, makes long spans much more feasible.
Optional Reinforcement for Bridge Cranes
The Slant Truss is an optional component that can be added to the bridge crane, depending on the needs of the load. G-Rail™ overhead cranes do not need to be reinforced if the span is 4m (13’) or less. If the loading is less than the maximum rail capacity, longer spans than 4m can be used without a truss.
Let us design the perfect bridge crane for your facility.
Low-Friction End Trucks to Eliminate Binding
The key to smooth, friction-free running lies in the end trucks. G-Rail™ end trucks are rigid, as opposed to articulating, that is, the bridge crane cannot skew with respect to the runways. This means that the whole bridge of the overhead crane moves along evenly, with a decreased “pendulum effect”.
Aluminum Machined End Trucks
At Givens Engineering, our end trucks are machined from aluminum, not welded steel. This allows for an accurate and square-fit, eliminating the possibility of binding. We ensure that the guide wheels at either end of the overhead crane are properly fitted to reduce friction.
G-Rail end trucks
End truck with optional tractor drive for heavier loads
C2000 bridge crane with low-profile “strongbacks” on runways and Slant Truss on bridge
Free-Standing Support Frame for Bridge Cranes
The support frame for bridge cranes from Givens Engineering is one of the strongest on the market. Competitors state that unless movement of the support frame can be tolerated, attachment to part of the building structure may be necessary. G-Rail™ bridge cranes can be completely self-supporting, due to some of the largest columns in the industry. For instance, C250 bridge cranes have 5” x 5” columns, where competitor’s bridge cranes can sometimes only be 3” x 3” and 4” x 4”.
Overhead Bridge Cranes: A More Rigid Design
Also, our bridge cranes are stiffened by recruiting the runway itself to increase rigidity to the top of the frame. In effect, the runways of the overhead crane become part of the frame itself. The saddle clamp, which is unique in the industry, connects the header absolutely rigidly to the runway. The bridge crane headers are made of tube – not traditional I-beam or channel, adding to the stiffness in the direction of the runways.
Versatile G-Rail ™ Bridge Crane
We understand that a perfectly rectangular overhead crane is not always possible, that there are often obstacles that may need to be avoided within your workspace. If you have an unusual or custom requirement and specification for your bridge crane build, give us a call and we can discuss an alternative or solution to best suit your needs.
C250 crane using L-Columns at one end
Disengageable Tractor Drive for Bridge Cranes
We create our AT and ET tractor drives to allow it to disengage from the bridge crane rail when not in use, allowing the load to ‘free-wheel”, giving the crane operator the choice between pulling the load manually or engaging the tractor at any time. For our air tractor drives, we recommend the air motor be supplied with a small amount of oil if using frequently and continuously. However, for limited and intermittent use, the tractor can be run oil-free. We also offer electric tractor drives with VFD motors for smooth acceleration and control.
Bridge Cranes and Lifting Solutions from Givens Engineering
The bridge crane manufacturers at Givens Engineering can help find a lifting solution that best suits your specific overhead crane needs. Give us a call at 519-453-9008.
Bridge Crane Selector
Have any questions about our G-Rail™ Bridge Cranes?