YZ Steel Mill Ladle Crane For Foundry

The YZ Steel Mill Ladle Crane is a heavy-duty overhead crane specifically designed for foundries and steelmaking workshops handling molten metal, with typical lifting capacities ranging from 50 to 500 tons, spans up to 35 meters, and lifting heights tailored to ladle size and workshop layout. Contact our professional engineering team today to discuss your application and receive a tailored ladle crane solution.
Important Parameters
  • Lifting Capacity: 50–500 t
  • Span: up to 35 m
  • Lifting Height: customized
  • Duty Class: A7 / A8

Product Introduction

YZ Steel Mill Ladle Crane for Foundry Specifically engineered for molten steel handling in foundry workshops and steelmaking processes, this crane excels in high-risk, heavy-duty applications such as ladle tilting, transfer, and precise positioning.

The overhead ladle crane​ features systematic reinforcement for the high-temperature, high-dust, and heavy-load conditions typical of foundry and steelmaking environments. The hoisting mechanism, wire ropes, hook assemblies, and motors utilize metallurgical-grade components, complemented by thermal insulation, protective coatings, and high-temperature-resistant materials to minimize thermal radiation impact on critical parts.

For safety and control, this ladle crane employs a metallurgical-grade dual-braking system, electrical interlock protection, and multiple redundant designs. The control system supports variable frequency speed regulation and multi-mode operation, enabling smooth lifting, precise positioning, and synchronized operation. This reduces molten steel swaying risks while enhancing operational safety and production efficiency. Variable frequency speed control, remote control, or cab operation modes can be configured according to foundry process requirements to achieve stable lifting and accurate positioning. Additionally, the equipment incorporates intelligent upgrade interfaces supporting operational monitoring and status feedback, delivering a safe, stable, and efficient molten steel handling solution for foundries.

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Types
Parts
Working Principle

Types of Steel Mill Ladel Cranes

At different stages of steel production, varying demands exist for the load capacity, safety ratings, and operational intensity of lifting equipment. YZ Steel’s ladle cranes can be custom-designed to meet the requirements of each steelmaking phase, covering applications from medium-sized casting operations to ultra-heavy primary smelting scenarios.

Based on ladle dimensions, process layouts, and work cycles, we provide tailored solutions including: medium-duty casting ladle cranes (50–100 tons), heavy-duty steel mill ladle cranes (120–250 tons), and ultra-heavy-duty steel mill ladle cranes for primary smelting (300–500 tons), ensuring optimal performance, safety, and efficiency at every stage.

All YZ ladle cranes are fully customizable in load capacity, span, lifting height, duty cycle, control mode, and safety configurations to precisely match specific steelmaking processes. Contact our professional engineering team for technical consultation and customized ladle crane solutions.

Heavy-Duty Steel Mill Ladle Crane (120–250 t)

50–100 t Foundry Ladle Crane

50–100 ton foundry ladle crane is designed for medium-sized foundries and steelmaking workshops. This ladle crane features a compact double-girder structure with enhanced heat resistance, making it ideal for routine molten metal lifting and transfer operations. It offers stable performance, precise control, and high safety levels, ensuring reliable operation in continuous-duty metallurgical environments. Widely used in foundries, steel rolling mills, induction furnace workshops, and medium-scale steel plants.

Lifting Capacity: 50–100 t
Span: 18–28 m
Lifting Height: 10–25 m
Duty Class: A7 (Metallurgical duty)

Medium-Capacity Foundry Ladle Crane (50–100 t)

120–250 t Heavy-Duty Steel Mill Ladle Crane

This 120–250 Ton Heavy Duty Steel Mill Crane is designed for safe handling of large molten steel ladles under extreme temperatures. With reinforced box girders, dual braking systems, and high-reliability hoisting mechanisms, it ensures smooth, precise, and secure ladle transportation. It is widely applied in converter workshops, electric arc furnace (EAF) plants, and large steel mills requiring high-duty-cycle operations.

Lifting Capacity: 120–250 t
Span: 22–35 m
Lifting Height: 15–30 m
Duty Class: A7 / A8

Ultra-Heavy Steel Plant Ladle Handling Crane for Primary Steelmaking (300–500 t)

300–500 t Steel Plant Ladle Handling Crane for Primary Steelmaking

Specifically designed for primary steelmaking and continuous casting processes, this Steel Plant Ladle Handling Crane delivers maximum safety, structural strength, and operational reliability. Featuring redundant safety systems, heat-resistant electrical components, and precise variable-speed control, it is built to withstand long-term high-temperature and high-load operation. Commonly used in large integrated steel plants, converter steelmaking shops, and continuous casting lines.

Lifting Capacity: 300–500 t
Span: 25–38 m
Lifting Height: 20–35 m
Duty Class: A8 (Heavy metallurgical duty)

Steel Mill Ladel Crane Parts

Steel Mill Ladle Cranes typically adopt a metallurgical-grade bridge crane structure, comprising a load-bearing framework, hoisting and traveling mechanisms, an electrical control system, and multiple safety devices. They are specifically designed for the safe handling of molten steel under high-temperature, heavy-load, and continuous operation conditions. All systems work in concert to ensure operational stability, reliability, and precision.

YZ Steel Mill Ladle Crane For Foundry

Main Girder: High-strength welded box-type structure with high rigidity and fatigue resistance, capable of enduring prolonged exposure to heavy ladle loads and impact stresses.
End Carriages: Connect and support the main girder, enabling longitudinal travel of the entire crane. Ensure smooth operation under long-span conditions.
Hoisting Mechanism: A metallurgical-specific lifting system equipped with high-safety-factor motors, reducers, and wire ropes to achieve reliable lifting.
Trolley: Supports the hoisting mechanism and traverses the main girder horizontally, enabling precise positioning of the ladle.
Ladle Hook / Lifting Device: Designed for high-temperature resistance and impact resistance, specifically for ladle handling operations.
Travel Mechanism: Drives the main and trolley cranes for smooth operation, designed for frequent starts/stops and continuous duty.
Electrical & Control System: Supports variable frequency speed control and multiple control modes, enhancing operational stability and safety.
Safety Devices: Integrated dual braking, overload, limit switch, and interlock protection provide multi-level safeguards for molten steel handling.

To learn more about the functions of safety devices, read the article: “Overhead Crane Safety Devices: Types, Functions, and Working Principles”

Working Principle

The YZ-type casting ladle crane primarily operates through the coordinated action of two independent hoisting mechanisms: the main hoist drives the gantry hook beam, responsible for safely lifting ladles filled with molten metal; the auxiliary hoist is used for pouring molten steel, assisting in ladle rotation, or handling other auxiliary equipment. Its working principle can be summarized as follows:

The YZ Ladle Handling Crane employs electric drives for its main and auxiliary travel mechanisms and hoisting systems. Utilizing the gantry hook of the main hoist, it lifts ladles containing molten steel. Coordinated with the auxiliary hoist, it facilitates ladle transfer or casting operations. The entire unit incorporates high-temperature resistant design, dual braking systems, and redundant wire rope configurations to ensure safe and stable liquid metal transfer within extreme environments characterized by high temperatures and heavy dust.

 

Common Lifting Attachments

The lifting device is the component that directly contacts or approaches the molten metal ladle, requiring exceptional structural strength and thermal insulation capabilities. As it operates continuously within the thermal radiation range of liquid metal exceeding 1500°C while enduring static and dynamic loads of hundreds of tons, the YZ crane primarily employs the following lifting devices tailored to diverse process requirements:

Standard Gantry Hook

Standard Gantry Hook

Featuring a laminated high-toughness structure and thermally insulated reinforced beam design, it maintains load-bearing capacity even with localized damage. This makes it the safest and most widely used lifting device for standard ladle handling.

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Rotatable-Spreader-Beam-for-Ladel

Rotatable Spreader Beam

Integrated slewing bearings and drive systems enable precise 360° rotation of ladles in mid-air, enhancing alignment accuracy and operational efficiency in complex workstations.

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Specifications

Weihua offers YZ series overhead ladle cranes with both double-girder and four-girder structures. Below are the technical parameters for these two types to help you quickly compare and select the right model. We can customize the design according to your process requirements and factory conditions. For a complete parameter table or a customized solution for your project, please get in touch with our engineering team for detailed selection charts and quotations.

Double Girder Casting Ladel Crane Specifications

Capacity(t)Lifting Height(m)Speed (m/min)Total Power (kw)Recomend Rail (kg/m)
Main/Aux hookAux hookMain hookMain HookAux. hookTrolleyCrane
16/3.212152.5~9920~3830~7019.4~49.552.8
20/527.5~62.5
25/528.1~72.9
32/5151730~8029.7~11063.69
40/52~930~7030.5~111.5
50/102~7946.4~130
63/1021231.5~7946.4~157
75/2026281.7~7718~3081~18488.96

Four-beam Casting Ladel Crane Specifications

Lifting capacity(t)125/32140/32160/32180/50200/50225/65240/80280/80320/80
Working classA7
Span(m)19192728.52827222224.5
Lifting height(m)Main hook242225272632252928
Auxiliary hook262426292634272932
SpeedMain hook7.67.89.87.56117127.5
Aux. hook9.79.7121010119.61010
Main trolley383643.5404141354029
aux.trolley3937.543.5383839.5384039
crane767384807884808058
Max wheel load(KN)505535485525530550545735750
Steel track recommended380V 50Hz 3-phase A.C. 
Power sourceaux. trolley

Features

YZ Steel Mill Ladle Cranes are specifically engineered for molten steel handling in steelmaking and casting processes. They deliver safe, stable, and high-precision operation under high-temperature, heavy-load, and continuous-duty conditions. Featuring metallurgical-grade structural reinforcement, specialized hoisting systems, and multiple safety protection configurations, these cranes meet critical production demands including ladle transfer, positioning, pouring, and auxiliary operations.

Metallurgical-Grade Safety Design
Incorporates high safety factor structures, dual braking systems, and multiple interlock protections to minimize molten steel handling risks.
Exceptional High-Temperature Heavy-Load Adaptability
Critical components incorporate heat-resistant and thermal insulation protection, ensuring long-term stable operation under molten steel thermal radiation and impact loads.
Smooth Operation and Precise Positioning
Variable frequency speed control and an optimized transmission system effectively minimize ladle sway, enabling accurate positioning and efficient docking.
High Customization and Scalability
Parameters, lifting attachments, and intelligent functions can be customized according to process requirements, flexibly adapting to diverse steelmaking and casting production lines.

Application

YZ Steel Mill Ladle Cranes are primarily used for molten steel handling and process integration in steel mills and large foundries, covering the entire process from tapping, refining to pouring. They ensure safe transfer and precise positioning of ladles under high-temperature, heavy-load, and continuous operation conditions, serving as critical equipment for maintaining continuous molten steel production and operational safety.

Converter/Electric Arc Furnace Tapping Area: Designed to carry and transfer high-temperature ladles, featuring high load capacity and impact-resistant structures.

Steel Refining Stations (LF, RH, etc.): Enables frequent short-distance movement and precise positioning of ladles with smooth operation, effectively minimizing molten steel agitation.

Continuous Casting Machine Pouring Area: Used for ladle positioning and pouring operations, with optional rotation or weighing functions to enhance pouring precision and production efficiency.

Internal Transport Corridors in Foundry Workshops: Handle continuous molten steel transfer between multiple workstations, adapted for high-temperature environments and prolonged operation to ensure stable production rhythms.

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For more information on the various types of steel mill cranes and how to select the right one, see the article: “Steel Mill Crane Selection Guide: Types, Applications, and How to Choose”

Custom Ladle Cranes

Weihua offers a complete range of YZ ladle cranes, including double-girder and quad-girder configurations, with flexible lifting capacities, spans, hoist heights, control modes, and safety options to meet diverse steelmaking and casting process requirements.

We customize lifting capacity, span, hoist height, duty class, control methods, and auxiliary functions according to specific production layouts and ladle dimensions. Contact our team anytime for technical consultation, system design, and project support.

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YZ Steel Mill Ladle Crane Diagram
YZ Steel Mill Ladle Crane Diagram

Ladel Cranes​ Manufacturer and Supplier

Weihua is a leading manufacturer and supplier of ladle cranes in China. We possess robust in-house manufacturing capabilities, advanced production equipment, comprehensive CE/ISO international certifications, and decades of experience in heavy-duty lifting solutions. We deliver ladle cranes that operate safely and reliably under high-temperature, heavy-load, and continuous-duty conditions. Our dedicated engineering and service teams provide end-to-end solutions encompassing technical consultation, customized design, manufacturing, installation guidance, and after-sales support. Contact our expert team today to discuss your project requirements and receive a tailored ladle crane solution along with a detailed quotation.

Weihua Crane Factory

After-Sales Service

Weihua, founded in 1988, has evolved into a global leader in China's intelligent manufacturing field. We specialize in smart crane R&D and production while offering AGV solutions. Our professional engineering, delivery, and after-sales teams provide one-stop technical support, customized solutions, on-site installation guidance, and rapid-response global services to ensure every project operates safely and efficiently.

Global Technical Support Team
Delivering remote guidance, on-site commissioning, and operator training to ensure rapid equipment deployment.
Comprehensive Spare Parts & Supply Chain System
Maintaining long-term inventory of critical components to guarantee swift delivery and sustained maintenance.
One-Stop After-Sales Service
Providing end-to-end professional support from installation and commissioning to upgrades and troubleshooting.
Regular Inspection & Maintenance Programs
Equipping clients with maintenance manuals to extend crane lifespan and reduce failure rates.
Looking for a reliable crane manufacturer? Weihua will be your trusted partner! Feel free to contact us anytime to discuss your project requirements, receive technical advice from our professional engineering team, and obtain a customized quote. Let Weihua leverage its proven manufacturing capabilities and comprehensive service system to deliver efficient, safe crane solutions that enhance operational efficiency and ensure your project's success!

FAQ

What is a YZ Steel Mill Ladle Crane used for in foundries?

A YZ steel mill ladle crane is designed for lifting, transporting, and positioning molten metal ladles in foundries and steel plants. It is mainly used during smelting, pouring, and refining processes, where high-temperature molten steel or iron must be handled safely and precisely.

What makes YZ ladle cranes suitable for high-temperature molten metal handling?

YZ ladle cranes are engineered with heat-resistant structures, reinforced load-bearing components, and specialized safety systems to withstand extreme temperatures and heavy-duty operating conditions. Critical parts are designed to prevent deformation and ensure stable operation when handling molten metal.

What safety features are included in a YZ steel mill ladle crane?

Typical safety features include dual braking systems, overload protection, emergency stop functions, limit switches, and thermal protection for key components. These systems significantly reduce operational risks and ensure safe ladle handling in steelmaking and foundry environments.

What capacity range is available for YZ ladle cranes?

YZ steel mill ladle cranes are available in a wide range of lifting capacities, commonly from 50 tons to over 500 tons. The crane configuration can be selected based on ladle size, molten metal weight, and specific production requirements.

Can YZ Steel Mill Ladle Cranes be customized for different foundry processes?

Yes. YZ ladle cranes can be fully customized in terms of lifting capacity, span, lifting height, working class, control mode, and safety configuration to match different foundry layouts and steelmaking processes. Custom ladle hooks and lifting devices are also available.

Customize Your Lifting Solutions

Contact us now via email: [email protected], or fill in the form below.

Please specify your requirement by referring to the following aspects:
  • Which crane product do you need?
  • What is the maximum lifting capacity (in tons) required for your project?
  • Could you specify the lifting height (in meters) needed?
  • Can you provide details on the working environment, such as ground conditions, space limitations, and any obstacles?
  • What is the expected frequency of use and the duration of the project?
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