The Advantages Of Adjustable Portable Gantries In Industrial Operations
Gantries have long been standard equipment in industrial operations. Adjustable and portable gantries deliver all the benefits of traditional A-frame gantries plus a range of extra benefits. Here is a quick guide on what you need to know about them.
What Is An Adjustable Gantry?
A regular A-frame gantry is a static frame that can be used to lift and move a load. An adjustable gantry can be adjusted vertically.
SHEARFORCE offers unique rotating gantries in both steel and aluminium. These gantries offer similar functionality.. Steel adjustable gantries weigh 63 kg (each side). Aluminium adjustable gantries weigh approximately 50 kg (each side).
In addition to the vertical movement of the mast, the aluminium gantry allows for the vertical movement of each foot independently, thus making it even more suitable in small confined spaces such as congested plant rooms.
Steel gantries tend to be the better choice for businesses prioritising robustness and where the floor loading needs to be quite light, as the base of the gantry does not have a point load, but pressure over a large area.
Why Adjustable Portable Gantries Are Preferred In Industrial Operations
There are numerous reasons why adjustable gantries are preferred over traditional fixed gantries in industrial operations. Here are just five of the main ones:
Cost-Effectiveness
The versatility of adjustable gantries means that a single adjustable gantry can often replace multiple fixed gantries. The SHEARFORCE rotating gantries are particularly versatile.
While adjustable gantries do require time to be reconfigured for different uses, reconfiguring adjustable gantries still tends to be quicker than swapping out fixed gantries. This means that downtime is minimised. It also eliminates the potential for confusion about what gantry is to be used where.
Furthermore, reducing the number of gantries in use also reduces the associated costs of each gantry. These would typically include maintenance, storage, transport and insurance.
Safety
With adjustable gantries, operators can adjust the height of the gantry to suit the working environment and/or the load. The SHEARFORCE rotational gantries also allow the width to be adjusted by rotating the head.
Adjustable gantries offer much more precise control over positioning the chain block directly over the centre of gravity of the load. This significantly reduces the risk of accidents involving humans and damage to equipment and/or materials.
Space Efficiency
The SHEARFORCE adjustable, rotating gantries are the perfect, if not the only, choice for areas with limited floor space (and/or low ceilings). This includes crowded production facilities, warehouses, and maintenance areas.
The fact that the SHEARFORCE adjustable, rotating gantries can be configured to suit their environment means that they can adapt easily to workflows. This means that they can be used to prevent bottlenecks and promote seamless, continuous operations.
Portability
Adjustable gantries typically feature wheels or casters, allowing them to be easily moved within a facility. This portability enables rapid reconfiguration of the workspace, supporting dynamic operational needs.
For instance, a gantry can be quickly relocated to different production lines or maintenance areas as required. This flexibility reduces downtime associated with transporting heavy machinery or materials.
Even steel adjustable gantries are more portable than traditional fixed gantries. Aluminium adjustable gantries take portability to a whole new level.
The SHEARFORCE steel gantry comes in its own bags (1 per side)
To find out more about our adjustable gantries and how they can help you, please get in touch with us today!
Image Source: Canva
