Givens Engineering is proud to be the leading provider in custom-designed jib cranes and material handling solutions. Our specially-designed and manufactured jib cranes are considered the most lightweight in the industry and are developed to meet the unique material handling needs of our clients.
Our team of expert engineers, designers, machinists and welders create custom-designed jib cranes for manufacturers throughout Canada. We offer industry-leading expertise and customization that allows us to create the ideal piece of machinery for your unique needs and situations.
What Is a Jib Crane?
A jib crane consists of a column and a boom that pivots about the column. It is used as a less expensive alternative to a bridge crane and is often used in situations where the 4 columns of a bridge crane would occupy too much space. Jib cranes are made in 2 different styles:
- the predominant ‘straight’ jib
- the less common ‘articulated’ jib, which is higher in weight and cost
G-Rail™ Jib Cranes
Rethinking the Jib Crane
Why don’t engineers specify jib cranes more often? The weight of the boom is the jib crane’s number one problem! At Givens Engineering, we manufacture our jib cranes to be the lightest in the industry. This minimizes the rotational momentum, which is essential when working with this style of crane. If the boom is too heavy, operators will not want to use a jib crane, because part transfers are too slow.
A secondary problem with floor-mounted jib cranes is that they often require a concrete foundation. Our installation process is quick and efficient because usually there is no expensive foundation to be installed.
Jib Crane Advantages
Lightweight Boom
Typically, jib cranes are avoided by engineers due to the momentum of the boom which can slow down the operator. At Givens Engineering, we have created one of the most lightweight aluminum booms on the market to ease this common problem. If you’re considering a boom made primarily of steel, you should reconsider!
Our unique designs are lightweight thanks to the G-Rail profiles which provide a higher moment-of-inertia to weight ratio. These jib cranes also have an unusually high torsional stiffness compared to traditional profiles; the height of the profile is much greater that the width, maximizing the stiffness-to-weight ratio.
Foundation-less Jib Cranes
Our baseplates are unusually large, so that in most cases, the jib crane can be bolted directly to a factory concrete floor. However, all installation details must be specified by a Professional Engineer. Our team can ensure that foundation-less jib cranes are correctly and professionally installed and secured.
Power Rotation
At Givens Engineering, we’re proud to offer customization options, including the option to add an air tractor when power rotation is needed. Our jib cranes also allow for loads to be moved manually; simply disengage the tractor drive with the push of a button.
Types of Jib Cranes Manufactured by Givens Engineering
At Givens Engineering, our team engineers and manufacturers two unique styles of jib cranes in-house:
Straight Jib Cranes
Straight jib cranes make up over 95% of jib crane sales, because they are cheaper and lighter than articulated jibs. The hoist rolls along the horizontal boom, which is made of aluminum G-Rail.
Articulated Jib Cranes
Articulated jib cranes are ideal for situations where there are obstructions or limitations that a straight jib crane cannot accommodate. For example, if a jib crane has to reach around a building column, a straight jib cannot do this, but an articulated jib can. However, the articulated jib is made of steel and is more expensive.
Stainless Steel Jib Cranes
Stainless Steel jib cranes can be purchased in a straight or articulated jib format and are manufactured for material handling to withstand repeated wash-downs and allow for water to shed off the unit quickly.
For more information about all of our customized lifting systems and solutions, contact the expert team at Givens Engineering.
Have any questions about our G-Rail™ Jib Cranes?