Workstation jib cranes: Essential things you need to know

What are workstation jib cranes?

Workstation jib cranes are lightweight, compact boom-type lifting devices specifically designed for scenarios such as individual workstations or designated workshop units. They offer greater flexibility in application and provide improved ergonomics compared to traditional jib cranes. Mountable on walls or floors, they can also be moved with a movable base, making them ideal for short-distance, high-frequency, and intensive lifting operations.

Capable of three-dimensional material handling via chain hoists or lifting trolleys, it features agile rotation, minimal footprint, and expansive operational space. When wall-mounted, it rotates up to 180 degrees; when floor-mounted, it rotates up to 360 degrees.

What are the components of a workstation jib crane?

• Pillar: The vertical steel columns used to support the entire equipment are fixed to the concrete ground at their lower ends with anchor bolts; if the workstation jib crane is wall-mounted, its pillar will be served by the wall or factory building columns.
• Horizontal jib: A rotating arm extending horizontally from the column, capable of rotating up to 360°.
• Chain hoist: The core component of a jib crane, enabling the vertical lifting of loads via chain slings or wire ropes.
• Trolley: Horizontal movement along cantilever tracks enhances flexibility in positioning heavy loads.
• Rotating mechanism: Composed of a series of bearings or bushings, enabling the cantilever to rotate horizontally with precision.
• The handle: Simply press a button to raise, lower, or stop the load. The handle sends signals to the crane, allowing for safer control without needing to be near the load.

What are the features of a workstation jib crane?

• Ergonomic operations reduce workers’ fatigue.
• Simple and convenient installation. Floor-mounted units are typically installed directly onto the concrete floor using chemical anchor bolts; wall-mounted units are commonly secured with through bolts or clamps.
• Compact design, ideal for limited or confined spaces.
• The low requirements for application scenarios enable seamless integration into existing environments.
• Low-maintenance and purchase cost.

In which industries can workstation jib cranes be used?

Automotive components manufacturing industry

Automotive manufacturing production lines are characterized by high precision and labor-intensive assembly tasks, demanding speed, accuracy, and frequent operations. Workstation jib cranes provide support for assembling engine blocks, transmissions, and other automotive components. Mounted alongside production line stations, these jib cranes enable effortless and precise component assembly, reducing worker fatigue while minimizing errors caused by repetitive, strenuous tasks. They are fully adaptable to the compact layouts and confined spaces typical of assembly shops or field installations.

Mechanical processing industry

Machine processing refers to the use of machinery, technology, and mechanical principles to manufacture high-precision mechanical parts and components that meet technical specifications. This involves processing a series of equipment such as lathes, milling machines, drilling machines, and other devices to produce finished parts. When equipment or manufactured components are excessively heavy or require precise installation, cantilever cranes provide targeted solutions to these challenges while eliminating the difficulties and time consumption associated with manual alignment. Simultaneously, the flexibility of cantilever cranes ensures both efficiency and quality in production lines.

Food and beverage industries

These industries typically feature high humidity and strict foreign object control requirements. Therefore, whether for raw material feeding, finished product packaging, or maintenance and cleaning of molds and conveyor belts, cantilever cranes enable flexible and efficient material handling while ensuring contamination-free production of food or beverages.

Pharmaceutical industry

Biopharmaceutical or drug formulation production typically occurs in cleanrooms, where strict control over airborne particulate levels (dust) is maintained. Many pharmaceutical reactor vessels feature extremely heavy lids equipped with precision sensors, necessitating the use of jib cranes for smooth lifting during cleaning or maintenance. Additionally, jib cranes are employed for centrifuge loading/unloading and material handling, and their stability and safety ensure uninterrupted pharmaceutical production.

Warehousing and logistics industries

With the rapid development of e-commerce, the warehousing and logistics industry has grown increasingly vital. Companies strive to store more goods in smaller spaces while ensuring precise transportation. Consequently, workstation jib cranes are commonly deployed at loading docks, warehousing centers, and palletizing/de-palletizing zones to transfer or sort bulk heavy components, wooden crates, oversized express packages, and similar cargo. In high-density warehouse environments, wall-mounted cranes prove particularly practical within spatial blind spots or areas restricted to forklifts. Their streamlined operation facilitates rapid order fulfillment and reduces inventory holding times.

Wind power and the energy industries

Offshore wind farms, pump rooms in hydroelectric power stations, and nacelles of onshore wind turbines represent precision operation zones within the wind power and energy sector that operate under extreme conditions. These environments are characterized by severely restricted space, harsh conditions, stringent safety requirements, and exceptionally high maintenance costs. As an indispensable auxiliary tool, the cantilever crane offers full rotational flexibility even in confined spaces, enabling obstacle avoidance. Its compact design maximizes effective lifting height within extremely low ceilings or cabins.

Summary

In summary, the workstation jib crane is an efficient, flexible, and economical material handling solution tailored for modern high-efficiency production environments. With its compact structure, outstanding ergonomic design, and perfect adaptability to confined spaces, it has become the ideal choice for enhancing operational efficiency at specific workstations and reducing worker labor intensity. Across all industries, it delivers maximum operating radius and lifting height within minimal floor space constraints, making it an indispensable asset in modern industrial production. DGCRANE continues to provide workstation jib cranes that excel in performance, efficiency, durability, safety, reliability, and innovative intelligence—meeting the diverse demands of contemporary industrial applications.

Zora Zhao

Expert in Overhead Crane/Gantry Crane/Jib Crane/Crane Parts Solutions

With 10+ years of experience in the Crane Overseas Export Industry, helped 10,000+ customers with their pre-sales questions and concerns, if you have any related needs, please feel free to contact me!

WhatsApp: +86 189 3735 0200

Email: zorazhao@dgcrane.com