Aicrane Lifting Equipment

Gantry cranes are essential pieces of material handling equipment used across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding, logistics, and precast concrete production. One of the most critical specifications of any gantry crane is its lifting capacity—the maximum load that the crane can safely lift. Different types of gantry cranes are designed to handle various weight categories, and understanding their typical capacity ranges helps users select the right equipment for their specific operations.

In this article, we explore the common capacity ranges for the main types of gantry cranes, including single girder gantry cranes, double girder gantry cranes, rubber tyred gantry cranes (RTG cranes), rail mounted gantry cranes (RMG cranes), semi gantry cranes, straddle carrier gantry cranes, portable gantry cranes, and marine boat hoists. We also touch on some application examples to help users better understand how these capacities relate to real-world tasks.

1. Single Girder Gantry Cranes

Typical Capacity Range: 1 to 20 tons

Single girder gantry cranes are commonly used in light to moderate duty applications. They are designed with a single beam (girder) supported by legs that run on wheels or rails. These cranes are simple in structure, cost-effective, and suitable for general material handling tasks in workshops, warehouses, and small outdoor yards.

• Light-duty versions (1–10 tons): Frequently used for moving tools, molds, machinery parts, or pallets in small to medium production facilities.
• Medium-duty versions (10–20 tons): Suitable for small steel fabrication plants, construction sites, or loading/unloading operations.

While the upper capacity limit can reach up to 20 tons, the majority of single girder gantry cranes operate within the 3–10 ton range.

2. Double Girder Gantry Cranes

Typical Capacity Range: 10 to 500+ tons

Double girder gantry cranes feature two parallel beams and are structurally more robust than single girder models. They are commonly used in heavy-duty and high-capacity applications.

• Standard heavy-duty applications (30–100 tons): Widely used in precast concrete yards, heavy equipment manufacturing, steel yards, and construction material handling.
• Super heavy-duty models (100–500+ tons): Customized cranes used in shipyards, hydroelectric plants, nuclear facilities, and large-scale bridge or tunnel construction projects.

Double girder gantry cranes can also be fitted with specialized lifting devices such as grabs, magnets, or spreaders to accommodate specific tasks.

3. Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTG Cranes)

Typical Capacity Range: 30 to 100 tons (per lift)

RTG cranes are mobile gantry cranes commonly used in intermodal container terminals and logistics hubs. They operate on rubber tyres and are known for their flexibility and high productivity.

• Container handling RTGs: Usually handle 40-foot or 20-foot containers, with a standard lifting capacity of 40.5 to 65 tons (including the spreader and container).
• Industrial RTGs: Custom RTG rubber tyred gantry cranes used in workshops or concrete yards may range from 30 to 100 tons, depending on the nature of the load.

Modern RTGs can feature advanced steering modes (e.g., 90°, diagonal, carousel) and are often powered by diesel or electric drives.

4. Rail Mounted Gantry Cranes (RMG Cranes)

Typical Capacity Range: 40 to 65 tons (standard), up to 100+ tons (custom)

RMG cranes are large gantry cranes that run on fixed rails, mainly used for container stacking and handling in ports and rail terminals.

• Standard RMGs: Feature capacities around 40.5 to 50 tons, aligning with standard ISO container weights.
• Heavy-duty RMGs: Can be designed to handle larger components like wind turbine blades, large concrete beams, or oversize machinery, sometimes exceeding 100 tons.

These rail mounted cranes offer high stacking precision and are often integrated with automated control systems for terminal efficiency.

5. Semi Gantry Cranes

Typical Capacity Range: 1 to 50 tons

Semi gantry cranes are a hybrid design where one side of the crane runs on a rail mounted on the ground, while the other side runs on an elevated runway (like an overhead crane).

• Light-duty versions (1–10 tons): Used in workshops with space constraints or partial overhead crane coverage.
• Medium-duty versions (10–50 tons): Ideal for steel processing, assembly lines, or manufacturing environments where full gantry structure is not feasible.

Semi gantry cranes are often tailored to fit into existing structures and save floor space.

6. Straddle Carrier Gantry Cranes

Typical Capacity Range: 35 to 150 tons

Straddle carriers or straddle-type gantry cranes are self-propelled, mobile units often used in precast concrete plants or logistics operations to transport long or bulky loads.

• Concrete beam handling: Common capacities range from 50 to 100 tons, depending on the weight and length of precast components.
• Heavy duty models: Can be designed to carry up to 150 tons, particularly in infrastructure and bridge construction projects.

Their ability to straddle loads allows them to move beams, pipes, and containers without external transport vehicles.

7. Portable and Adjustable Gantry Cranes

Typical Capacity Range: 0.5 to 10 tons

These are small, often mobile gantry cranes that can be manually pushed or mounted on wheels. They are commonly used in garages, workshops, maintenance areas, or small warehouses.

• Light-duty use (0.5–3 tons): Tool and parts handling in maintenance shops or automotive repair.
• Medium-duty portable models (3–10 tons): Customizable portable cranes used for machinery installation, engine replacement, or mold handling.

While they do not match the lifting power of larger gantry cranes, their flexibility and ease of use make them valuable for many light-duty applications.

8. Marine Boat Hoists (Travel Lifts)

Typical Capacity Range: 10 to 1200+ tons

Marine boat hoists, also known as boat travel lifts, are a special type of gantry crane used in marinas, shipyards, and boatyards to lift, transport, and launch boats and yachts.

• Standard models: Common capacities are 50, 100, and 200 tons, often used for fishing boats, yachts, and sailboats.
• Heavy-duty marine lifts: Large shipyard models can handle 500 to 1200 tons, accommodating cargo ships, naval vessels, and superyachts.

The capacity must consider the total boat weight, including fuel, equipment, and passengers.

Summary Table: Common Gantry Crane Capacity Ranges

Final Thoughts

Choosing the right gantry crane involves more than just picking the type—it also requires a clear understanding of the required lifting capacity for your application. Overestimating capacity can lead to unnecessary investment, while underestimating it can cause safety hazards and equipment damage.

If you are unsure about which type or capacity is suitable for your operations, it’s best to consult a professional crane supplier. Aicrane, for example, offers a wide range of gantry crane solutions tailored to various industries and load requirements, from lightweight portable models to ultra-heavy double girder gantries and marine hoists.

Need help sizing your crane? Contact us today for expert consultation and custom solutions.