Our team recently manufactured and installed a new 1T capacity Swing Jib Crane after a total in-house fabrication. The crane has a height of 4.5m from the underside of the beam to the finished floor level. The radius of the arm is 4.25m, with a manual slew, an electric hoist, and an electric travelling trolley. This Swing Jib Crane was installed for a customer in Hertfordshire.
If you’re looking for a new crane that’s designed specifically to your operations, contact us today.
Overhead Cranes and Gantry Cranes are two of the most popular cranes in the industry and although they do a very similar job in terms of heavy industrial lifting, they do have their differences. It’s important to know the difference between an Overhead Crane and a Gantry Crane before choosing one for your operations. In many situations, it might be what you’re lifting, moving, and manufacturing which makes the choice of Overhead or Gantry for you. Your building structure and size will likely also play a part in that decision.
An Overhead Crane is a type of industrial lifting system used to lift, lower, and move heavy loads horizontally across a workspace. Overhead cranes are commonly installed in factories, workshops, warehouses, and manufacturing facilities where regular heavy lifting is required. The crane operates on elevated runway beams and uses a hoist and trolley system to transport loads safely and efficiently around the working area. Overhead cranes are designed to improve lifting safety, reduce manual handling, and increase productivity in industrial environments.
A gantry crane is a type of overhead lifting crane designed to move heavy loads across a working area. Depending on the application, gantry cranes can be fully supported by their own legs running on ground-mounted rails or be designed as overhead gantry cranes that operate on elevated runway beams within a building.
Overhead cranes operate on elevated runway beams inside a building structure. Gantry cranes are often mobile and are self-supported by their own legs and often don’t rely on building structure. However, in some cases, gantry cranes may run on wheels on elevated gantry steelwork and look similar to an overhead crane. The image below shows an example of this where the crane has been stooled up on the gantry steelwork to provide further lifting height.
Overhead cranes a permanently fixed to the elevated runway and aren’t mobile. Due to the fact overhead cranes operate on elevated runway beams they leave the floor space free in your workshop. This allows space for other machinery, other cranes that can work in conjunction with overhead cranes such as swing jib cranes, and more space for your engineers/operators. Gantry cranes are more flexible as they can operate on wheels or rails to move to different locations in and around the working area. However, the legs and rails they operate from may prove difficult to work around in some instances, minimising floor space in your working area.
Overhead cranes will often require a longer design and installation process to ensure the existing building structure is strong enough to meet the weight of the crane itself, along with the added weight of the crane’s accessories and what it will be lifting. In most cases, at Harold Potter, we design a solution that meets the structural demands, added steelwork may be required. Overhead cranes are primarily designed for solutions that are indoors although they can be provided outdoors.
Gantry cranes on the other hand rarely need as long a process or changes to your building structure as they operate on wheels or rails mounted to the ground. They are self-supporting and handle the weight load of the crane beam, and what it’s lifting through its own legs, which are often designed in an A shape. Gantry cranes are found outdoor more often than overhead cranes due to the reliance of existing structure for overhead cranes.
Gantry cranes are applicable in both indoor and outdoor workplaces, however smaller gantry cranes that are designed for indoor use aren’t the best option for outdoor work. This is due to the added variable of the weather which will impact a crane’s performance and durability. It’s likely for heavy-duty outdoor lifting that standard indoor gantry cranes can’t handle, that a goliath crane will be advised. Goliath cranes are a much larger form of gantry that is specifically engineered to manage factors such as the wind and rain, while maintaining maximum safety.
Overhead cranes on average will typically offer you a greater lifting capacity compared to a gantry crane. However, gantry cranes provide a wider range of lifting capacities if you include huge heavy-duty goliath cranes that can lift up to hundreds of tonnes. Both overhead and gantry cranes provide good lifting capabilities at common weights for businesses from 500kg to 10 tonnes, but overhead cranes are chosen more the heavier lifting in that weight bracket. Some of our recent case studies show examples of overhead cranes being used for 3.2T and 7.5T & 8T lifting.
The cost of overhead cranes and gantry cranes aren’t set in stone and are dependent on an abundance of factors ranging from the crane itself, the hoist, added steelwork, the span and wheels on the runways, and the foundations of your building. Crane costs are variable, but factors such as higher lifting capacity, single vs double girder and other variables requiring more materials will come with a higher cost.
Both overhead and gantry cranes are top choices for businesses throughout the UK. There is no right or wrong on which is better, it just depends on which crane suits your business the best. The main difference between the two are the operation with overhead cranes relying on existing building structure, whereas gantry cranes are free-standing. Other differences are the mobility and floor space, along with the installation process with gantry cranes providing more mobility, overhead cranes providing more floor space and the installation process of an overhead crane is more likely to be longer due to potential of added steelwork to support the crane.
If you require an Overhead Crane or Gantry Crane for your business, contact us today.
We recently completed an installation of a 12.5T Safe Working Load (SWL) Goliath crane with a 30 metre span at JRL Trent Precast in Skelmersdale. The crane was installed with travel beacons, storm anchors, wireless remote controls, and anti-collision sensors to prevent unwanted collision with long travel and cross travel buffers.
In the images below you can see the main beam leaving our workshop in Mansfield.
Contact us if you require cranes for your business by filling in the contact form below or by calling 01159 838 111.
We have installed 4x 5T Safe Working Load (SWL) Single Girder Overhead Gantry Cranes. These are new cranes, where we have designed a solution to allow for additional lifting height by stooling the cranes up, as seen in the images. The cranes have been fitted with our latest technology, including: anti-collision sensors, slow down stops at the end of the gantry, remote controlled movement of the cranes and hoist, and the new load monitor hoist which displays the weight lifted digitally on the hoist. The load monitor hoist will also alert the operators if they have exceeded the recommended maximum load, reinforcing operator safety .
Our team have done a great job from the design & manufacturing through to the upgrades and installation on these Overhead Gantry Cranes.
Contact us if you require cranes for your business by filling in the contact form below or by calling 01159 838 111.
When an overhead crane breaks down, every hour of downtime can impact productivity, project schedules and revenue. One of the biggest challenges that businesses face is discovering that a critical crane spare part is on a long delivery lead time. In some cases, manufacturers may quote several weeks or even months before replacement crane parts become available.
So, what happens if your crane parts are on a long delivery and your business needs them urgently?
At Harold Potter, we hold extensive stocks of obsolete crane spares that can significantly reduce downtime when replacement parts are difficult to obtain.
Many overhead cranes and lifting systems remain in operation for decades. While this demonstrates the durability of industrial lifting equipment, it can create challenges when crane spare parts eventually require replacement.
Some crane components become difficult to source because the original manufacturer no longer produces them. In other cases, the crane model itself may have been discontinued, or the component has become obsolete. Supply chain disruptions, overseas manufacturing and specialist electrical equipment can also increase delivery times.
At Harold Potter, we regularly help customers source replacement crane components that are no longer readily available through original manufacturers. Our extensive stock of crane spare parts and obsolete crane spares allows us to support equipment from a wide range of manufacturers.
If your crane is out of service due to a failed component, the first step is to identify the exact crane part required.
At Harold Potter, we can often determine whether the required crane spare is available from stock, whether an equivalent component can be supplied, or whether an obsolete crane part can be sourced from our existing inventory. In some cases, refurbishment or upgrading to a modern replacement component may also be possible.
The sooner the issue is identified, the sooner replacement crane parts can be sourced and downtime reduced.
Yes. Many obsolete crane spares can still be sourced even when the original manufacturer no longer supplies them. Over many years, we have built up a large inventory of discontinued crane parts. In many situations, sourcing a replacement part from stock can reduce downtime from several months to just a few days.
Yes. We stock a wide range of crane spare parts, replacement crane components and obsolete crane spares for many different crane manufacturers.
Through decades of crane design & manufacture, refurbishment and servicing, we have built an extensive inventory of crane parts that includes both current and discontinued components. This allows us to support customers operating older cranes as well as modern lifting equipment.
Our team regularly assists businesses that require urgent crane spares, hard-to-find crane components and replacement parts that are no longer supported by the original manufacturer.
This is a common concern, particularly for older overhead cranes and hoists. Even if the original crane manufacturer no longer trades, replacement crane parts may still be available.
In many cases, equivalent components can be sourced or adapted to suit the existing equipment. Where original parts are completely unavailable, modern replacement systems or upgrades may provide a practical long-term solution.
Businesses can minimise crane downtime by taking a preventative approach to maintenance and spare parts management.
Routine crane servicing and planned preventative maintenance help identify ageing components before they fail. Regular inspections can also highlight parts approaching the end of their service life, allowing replacement crane spares to be sourced before they become a problem.
For critical lifting equipment, keeping key crane spare parts readily available can significantly reduce disruption should a failure occur. At Harold Potter, we can also advise on commonly replaced crane components that may be worth holding in stock.
If your crane is out of service and replacement parts are on a long delivery, we can help. Our experienced team can help identify hard-to-find crane parts, source suitable replacements and minimise costly downtime.
Contact our team today to discuss your crane spare parts requirements and get your lifting equipment back in operation as quickly as possible.
For many businesses, overhead cranes are an essential part of daily operations. Whether you’re lifting steel fabrications, machinery, tools, heavy materials or industrial equipment, a crane helps improve productivity, safety, and efficiency. If unexpectedly the power to your operations becomes faulty or goes out, you may find yourself asking some of these questions below:
If your crane relies on electrical power for lifting and travel motions, a power failure can bring operations to a standstill. Fortunately, there are solutions available, including manually operated cranes and manual chain control systems that allow lifting equipment to continue functioning when electrical power is unavailable.
In these situations, businesses may experience delays in production and unexpected downtime. To reduce operational disruption, many organisations choose to install cranes that incorporate manual backup operation or use manual chain hoists as part of their lifting equipment strategy.
Yes. While many modern overhead cranes are electrically powered, cranes can also be operated manually.
A manual overhead crane uses hand-operated chain systems to perform lifting and travelling movements. Instead of pressing buttons on a pendant control or wireless remote control, the operator pulls chains to move the load.
Manual cranes provide a simple and reliable lifting solution where electrical power is unavailable or unnecessary.
A manual chain hoist crane uses a hand chain to raise and lower loads.
The operator pulls the chain, which drives a geared lifting mechanism inside the hoist. This allows heavy loads to be lifted with relatively little effort while maintaining excellent control. Manual chain hoists are commonly fitted to overhead cranes, gantry cranes, and jib cranes. Despite being manually operated, these systems can safely handle substantial lifting capacities when correctly specified.
In addition to lifting and lowering loads, a manual crane can also move horizontally.
A manually operated trolley travels along the crane beam using a second chain. By pulling the second chain, the operator can move the load along the span of the crane without the need for electrical power.
Depending on the crane design, manual operation can include Manual hoist travel which moves the load left and right along the beam, manual bridge travel which moves the entire crane along the runway, and manual lifting which raises and lowers the load using a chain hoist.
At Harold Potter, we design and manufacture overhead cranes, gantry cranes, goliath, and semi-goliath cranes and lifting equipment to suit the exact requirements of each customer.
Most modern crane installations utilise electric hoists, and remote controls to maximise efficiency. However, we can also supply fully manual cranes or cranes with backup manual operation. Manual chain operation can provide an additional layer of flexibility and resilience for your lifting operation, in case of any unwanted disruptions.
Our team will assess factors such as lifting capacity, duty cycle, frequency of use, working environment and operational requirements before recommending the most suitable crane system.
Absolutely.
Although electric overhead cranes are the preferred choice for many industrial environments, manual cranes remain widely used across the UK. Manual crane systems are particularly suitable when power may be inconsistent or not available, crane budgets are lower, and simplicity and reliability are prioritised.
For lighter-duty applications, a manual crane can provide an effective and economical lifting solution.
Yes. Manual cranes and manual chain hoists are specifically designed to operate without electrical power.
A manual overhead crane is a crane that uses hand-operated chain mechanisms to lift, lower and move loads rather than electric motors.
A manual chain hoist is a lifting device that uses a hand chain and gearing system to raise and lower loads safely.
Yes absolutely. When correctly specified, installed, maintained and operated, manual cranes provide a safe and reliable lifting solution.
This depends on your lifting requirements. Electric cranes are generally best for frequent lifting and higher productivity, while manual cranes can be ideal for lighter-duty applications, remote locations or as a backup lifting solution.
Whether you require a fully powered overhead crane, a manual chain-operated crane, or a bespoke lifting solution that combines both, Harold Potter can help.
With decades of experience designing, manufacturing, installing and maintaining cranes throughout the UK, we can recommend the most suitable lifting equipment for your operation.
Contact our team today to discuss your requirements and find the right crane solution for your business.
We recently installed a 3.2T Safe Working Load (SWL) Overhead Crane into the workshop at Aburnets in Ilkeston. We used the existing building structured and designed the rails, and full system to suit the existing building. The crane will be used for the lifting of beams and the manufacturing of hair nets.
“We have used Harold Potter for years. We have a long-standing relationship as they have always offered a reliable friendly service. Harold Potter are great at problem-solving, are very contactable, and easy to work with. It’s a collaborative two-way working approach, and they work with you to give you the knowledge on what you need. Harold Potter supplied us with a 3200kg SWL gantry crane that was installed and adapted to the existing building structure.”
If you need expert crane & lifting solutions, contact our team today!
Installation of two Overhead Cranes for Garmendale Engineering in Ilkeston. This project included the design and manufacturing so the cranes we supplied would fit into two existing but separate workshops. Harold Potter installed one 7.5T Safe Working Load (SWL) Overhead Crane in one building, and a second crane was a 8.5T SWL Overhead Crane. These cranes are used in assistance of moving and constructing engineering solutions for theme park rides and carriages.
“Harold Potter are our one stop Overhead Crane supplier and will be for years to come. They are always there for us in terms of contact and are reactive problem solvers. They offer an incredibly quick turnaround to meet our ever-demanding schedules. We have had a 7500kg SWL Overhead Crane and an 8000kg SWL Overhead Crane installed. Harold Potter don’t only supply the crane, they engineer a solution to fit in existing building structures and properties. Harold Potter worked with us to design the rails, the track, and the system. They offered great advice on which crane we needed and explained the pros and cons of the options we had. They even assisted us with whether to use pendant controls or remote controls for our crane. We have an existing service contract, and our cranes have been ultra reliable since installation. We would be lost without them.”
If you need expert crane & lifting solutions, contact our team today!
Installation and modification of multiple Overhead Cranes at the Vistry Group factory in Coalville. We installed two Overhead Cranes with two chain hoists that have a Safe Working Load (SWL) of 1T. We also installed another crane that was a tandem system to an existing crane so we changed the hoist on the existing crane. Finally, we did a gantry extension with a buzz bar installation.
The cranes are used in the Vistry Group factory for lifting and handling of large timber frames and panels that are used for the housing industry.
“We (The Vistry Group) were initially recommended by another crane company near Nottingham who couldn’t provide the service we were after. So they recommended Harold Potter. Harold Potter has supplied us with multiple new cranes, modifications to existing cranes that weren’t originally supplied by them, breakdown callouts and more. We have completed a variety of projects with Harold Potter that we are very pleased with. We are currently working together through their service contract offer. They have always been there when we have asked, and we can really feel the benefit of a local company that we can rely on. We are always appreciative of the direct contact with the Harold Potter team. They always find a solution to any issue we come across. Our work consists of lifting timber frames and panels. Harold Potter have been perfect in supplying the correct crane for our operations. We look forward to calling upon Harold Potter for new cranes when the time comes for a new project.”
If you need expert crane & lifting solutions, contact our team today!
Choosing the right crane for your business’ operations is vital and usually consists of variables such as the industry you’re in, what you need the crane for, and more. Buying a new or refurbished crane is a long-term business investment and it is key you fully understand your needs from the crane. That’s why this crane guide will breakdown the key factors in the decision-making process of purchasing a new crane.
The all-important question – how much weight do you need to lift?
Making sure this amount isn’t your average or isn’t too projected low is key, as it could lead to issues further down the line. This is an important step of the process. For example, if your business in the future requires a heavier lifting capacity, then it is less cost-effective to increase the lifting capacity of the crane after installation, than it is to opt for a crane that can handle heavier loads initially.
Businesses operating in smaller workshops may only need a lifting capacity of 500kg to 2 tonnes. Whereas, businesses operating in heavy industrial work, may need larger overhead or goliath cranes that have a capacity of up tens to hundreds of tonnes.
Overhead travelling cranes are commonly used inside factories, engineering workshops and manufacturing facilities. These cranes run on elevated runway beams and provide lifting coverage across the workshop floor.
Single girder overhead cranes are typically suited to lighter lifting duties and smaller spans, while double girder cranes are often used for heavier capacities, increased hook height and more demanding workloads.
Goliath cranes are commonly used outdoors or in areas where existing buildings cannot support an overhead crane system.
These cranes run on floor-mounted rails and are ideal for steel yards, depots, ports, heavy fabrication work. Semi-goliath cranes can also be used where one side of the crane is supported by the building structure and the other side runs on ground rails.
Swing jib cranes are compact lifting solutions designed for smaller lifting tasks. They are commonly used at individual workstations, machine loading areas or workbenches.
Jib cranes are often installed alongside overhead cranes to improve lifting efficiency within specific sections of a workshop.
Crane span refers to the width the crane must travel across, while lifting height determines how high the crane can safely lift materials.
Both factors are crucial during the crane design process. A larger span may require stronger crane girders, additional structural support and different crane configurations.
You should also consider available headroom, roof height, existing machinery, and potential future workshop layout changes. Maximising lifting height can significantly improve the usability of the crane, particularly in workshops where space is limited.
The working environment plays a major role in selecting the right crane system. Overhead cranes typically rely on existing building structure so would be an indoor system, whereas large goliath cranes that are free-standing would be found outdoors in yards and depots.
Indoor cranes are usually integrated into the building structure or supported on dedicated crane steelwork. These systems are protected from weather conditions and are ideal for controlled production environments. Overhead cranes are preferred indoor to goliath cranes as they free up floor space as the rails/legs are not on the building floor. Therefore, this means there is more space for your staff, and any other small lifting systems like swing jibs which can coincide with overhead cranes.
Outdoor cranes must be designed to withstand environmental conditions such as weather and temperature changes. This is why goliath cranes are often preferred for outdoor applications, as they operate independently from the building structure. They also feature longer spans so can span across sites that may be longer than an existing building. They can also be dismantled ad move across sites giving more freedom than an overhead crane.
One of the most overlooked parts of the crane selection process is the building itself.
Not all workshops or industrial units can support an overhead crane without modifications. Structural considerations may include the strength of existing steelwork, column loadings, existing building foundations, runway beam support and roof structure limitations.
In some cases, additional crane supporting steelwork may need to be installed before the crane itself can be fitted. In other cases, the underlying building foundations may cause issues with being able to withstand the weight from adding a 10-tonne overhead crane for example. This is why a professional site inspection is essential before moving forward with a new installation.
Depending on your budget and application, both new and refurbished cranes can offer benefits. A new crane allows for a completely bespoke solution designed around your exact operational requirements. Refurbished cranes can provide a more cost-effective option for businesses looking to improve lifting capabilities while reducing initial investment costs. The right choice will depend on your budget, required specification, and any future expansion plans.
Selecting the right crane supplier is just as important as choosing the crane itself. An experienced crane manufacturer can help identify the best solution for your building, lifting requirements and future business growth.
At Harold Potter we design & manufacture, refurbish and install overhead cranes, goliath cranes, semi-goliath cranes and jib cranes for businesses across the UK. Our team works closely with customers to provide lifting solutions tailored to their operational requirements and working environments. We offer site visits from our expert teams to assess your options. We provide excellent service throughout design and installation, and provide maintenance and legal inspection plans for LOLER compliance.
If you need a new or refurbished crane for your business, contact us today to have a discussion around your needs and requirements.
Call us on 01159 838 111.
Fill in our contact form here.
