Lifting Gantry Versatility: The Different Applications That A Gantry System Can Be Used For

Gantries have been used since at least the 15th century. Their usefulness has ensured that they have been consistently improved ever since. In the modern world, gantries are still used in many different environments and for a wide variety of applications. Here are just five of them.

Construction

Gantries in construction are typically used for handling large and/or heavy materials. In general, a gantry system for construction will allow for some level of horizontal movement as well as vertical movement.

In the construction environment, the main benefit of a gantry lifting system is increased safety. When human workers have to lift challenging items regularly without mechanical assistance, they become fatigued. This makes them more vulnerable to injuries both at and outside the workplace. It also puts them at greater risk of accidentally injuring other workers.

The second most important benefit is greater efficiency in operations. Using gantries in construction is often much faster than using human labour for the same tasks. Furthermore, a gantry system typically operates with a higher level of precision than you would expect from a human.

Manufacturing

In manufacturing, a gantry lifting system is often used to transport parts and assemblies between different stages of production. Manufacturers may also have a gantry system to help with loading and unloading tasks.

As with gantries in construction, the main benefit of a gantry lifting system in manufacturing is improved safety. In the manufacturing industry, workers also often have to handle large and/or heavy items. Providing them with mechanical assistance makes this work less tiring and, hence, reduces the risk that fatigue will lead to accidents.

The second most important benefit is efficiency, particularly speed. Manufacturing operations are generally designed to work as a series of processes undertaken in a set order. This means that any delay to one part of a system will almost inevitably lead to delays in all the others.

Warehousing

In warehousing, gantry systems are mainly used to optimise the storage and retrieval of goods. As in manufacturing, a gantry lifting system may also be used to facilitate the receipt and dispatch of goods.

Safety is also a key benefit of using a gantry system in warehousing. Although some goods stored in warehouses may not be heavy or particularly large (even in bulk), regular manual lifting can lead to issues such as repetitive strain injury. It can also provoke fatigue, which is a major cause of accidents.

Another major benefit of using a gantry lifting system is that it can be integrated into an automated storage and retrieval system (AS/RS). These systems can significantly increase both the speed and accuracy of storage and retrieval. This not only lightens the load on workers but can also meaningfully improve customer satisfaction.

Maritime

The container shipping industry literally could not exist without gantry cranes. Ship-to-shore gantries handle the transfer of containers between sea and land. Other gantries are often used for broader heavy-lifting tasks on land.

As shipping containers can easily weigh over ten tonnes, it’s essential for the maritime industry to have a reliable, safe and efficient way of getting them from one place to another. Moreover, the faster ports can move cargo safely, the more cargo they can handle. The more cargo they can handle, the more profit they can make. 

Aerospace

In the aerospace industry, specialist gantry systems are used to facilitate the assembly and maintenance of aircraft and their components. The main benefit of this is that it improves safety for humans by limiting their exposure to manual handling and its associated risks. 

The secondary benefit is that it also reduces the risk of damage to aircraft components. Even when these are large and heavy, they are also often complex and delicate. Moreover, the nature of aerospace means that no risks can be taken with them. Using a gantry system is, therefore, a sensible precaution to ensure they are treated with the care they need.

To find out more about steel gantries and how they can help your lifting processes, please get in touch with SHEARFORCE today! 

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