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Cranes, Manipulators & Machinery Manufacturer in the United States

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Low-Headroom Bridge Cranes

Bridge Cranes Solutions for Low-Headroom


Discover our floor-mounted bridge cranes featuring a workstation crane design (see image) and engineered to optimize the workspace. These cranes boast a sleek design with slant trusses and headers atop runways, bridges, and hoists, effectively minimizing weight and cost. Our groundbreaking Slant Truss technology provides a solution by reinforcing rail strength without significantly adding weight.

One common challenge encountered in real-world projects is the ‘low-headroom problem’: an overhead obstruction restricts the height of the crane, but a load has to be lifted to a maximum height. At Givens, we’ve developed various innovative methods to tackle low-headroom issues, such as our Rail-on-Rail Reinforcement and more, ensuring our crane systems deliver exceptional performance and adaptability.

Rail-on-Rail Reinforcement


Givens has developed a “Rail-on-Rail” reinforcement as a viable alternative to the Slant Truss for bridge cranes. While slightly heavier and costlier than the Slant Truss, it offers a more compact profile.

The Rail-on-Rail reinforcement comprises the main rail, like a C2000, paired with a rail one size smaller (such as a C1000 rail), bolted together for added strength. (see image)

Designated by specific numbers and capacities, Rail-on-Rail arrangements use the following nomenclature, incorporating Rail-on-Rail Clamps (RRC):

  • C250-RRC   250kg capacity
  • C500-RRC   500kg capacity
  • C1000-RRC  1000kg capacity
  • C2000-RRC   2000kg capacity

This standardized system allows for varied capacities while maintaining structural integrity in the bridge crane applications.

Raised End Trucks


Another solution for maximizing headroom involves the use of “Raised End Trucks.” Our Raised End Trucks elevate the bridge to align with the runways, creating additional headroom. However, this design restricts the hoist’s travel long the bridge, limiting the movement to the distance between runways.

Designated as ETR (End Truck Raised), this type of end truck is available in various capacities to accommodate different load requirements:

  • C250-ETR: 250kg capacity
  • C500-ETR: 500kg capacity
  • C1000-ETR: 1000kg capacity
  • C2000-ETR: 2000kg capacity

These standardized ETR configurations offer increased headroom and suit various load sizes, making them adaptable for different uses in bridge crane setups.

Raised Carriage Design


A raised carriage represents the third solution for low-headroom, elevating the hoist or balancer between two bridges. The downside is that the added weight of the second bridge and the carriage itself requires manual operation by the operator. Despite this drawback, the raised carriage serves as an effective solution for situations where low-headroom is a concern.

If you are wondering how to solve your low-headroom problem, contact us today for a solution!  We have the experience and the technology to find the best outcome for your application.

Have any questions about our low-headroom bridge cranes?