A factory overhead crane is a bridge crane installed on runway beams inside factories, workshops, and warehouses. It moves along elevated rails to lift and transport materials, components, machinery, and finished products throughout the working area, keeping the floor space clear for production and logistics activities.
The crane consists of a bridge girder, hoist, trolley, end carriages, and an electrical control system. It is widely used for material handling, equipment assembly, production line support, and maintenance work in manufacturing plants, steel fabrication shops, machinery workshops, warehouses, and other industrial facilities.
Factory Overhead Cranes are available in a wide range of configurations to meet different lifting capacities, workshop layouts, and production requirements. As a professional crane manufacturer, Weihua provides single girder, double girder, suspension, workstation, and customized overhead crane solutions for factories, warehouses, steel plants, and manufacturing facilities. Based on lifting capacity, span, headroom, and operating conditions, our engineering team can customize the most suitable crane system for your application. Explore the overhead crane types below to find the right solution for your project.
A single girder overhead crane is a light to medium-duty factory lifting system composed of one main beam and an electric hoist. It is commonly used in general manufacturing workshops, warehouses, and assembly lines where lifting tasks are not continuous and load requirements are moderate. The structure is compact, installation is relatively simple, and it fits most standard workshop layouts.
It is widely applied in parts handling, light equipment lifting, and routine material transfer inside production facilities.
Lifting Capacity: 0.5 – 20 tons
Span: 7.5 – 28.5 m
Lifting Height: 6 – 30 m (or customized)
Working Class: A3 – A5
For an in-depth look at single-girder EOT cranes, read the article: What Is a Single-Girder EOT Crane?
A double girder overhead crane adopts two parallel main beams, providing higher rigidity and stronger load-bearing performance. It is used in heavy industrial environments such as steel plants, heavy machinery manufacturing, the energy industry, and large assembly workshops. The crane is suitable for frequent lifting cycles and demanding working conditions.
It is commonly selected where stability, lifting height, and heavy-load operation are required.
Lifting Capacity: 5 – 500 tons
Span: 10.5 – 35 m
Lifting Height: 6 – 50 m
Working Class: A5 – A8
For detailed information on double-girder EOT cranes, see: What Is a Double-Girder EOT Crane? Structure, Working Principle, and Applications
An underslung overhead crane is a suspended crane system running on rails installed beneath the roof structure. It is suitable for workshops with limited building height or where overhead runway installation is restricted. This design improves usable floor space and allows flexible movement in production lines.
It is commonly used in assembly areas, maintenance workshops, and indoor production zones with constrained structural conditions.
Lifting Capacity: 0.5 – 10 tons
Span: 3 – 22.5 m
Lifting Height: determined by factory roof structure / can be optimized
Working Class: A2 – A5
The performance and reliability of a factory overhead crane depend on the quality of its major components. It consists primarily of three major systems: mechanical, metal structures, and electrical.

The hoisting mechanism is the main lifting unit of the crane. It uses a drum, wire rope, and hook assembly to raise and lower loads.
The crane trolley carries the hoisting mechanism and moves the load across the bridge girder.
The trolley travel mechanism drives the trolley along the bridge girder for horizontal load movement.
The crane travel mechanism moves the entire crane along the runway rails inside the workshop.
The wheel assembly supports the crane and guides movement along the runway rails.
The electrical control system controls crane operation and movement through motors, sensors, and control devices.
The safety protection system helps prevent overloads, overtravel, and other operational hazards.
Together, these components provide the lifting, movement, control, and safety functions required for daily factory operations. If you’d like to gain a deeper understanding of the product’s components and how it works, you can read the article “Overhead Crane Working Principle: Components, Motion & Operating Process”
| Parameter |
Specifications |
| Lifting Capacity | 3t, 5t, 10t, 16t, 20t, 32t, 50t, 100t, 200t+ |
| Span | 10.5m, 13.5m, 16.5m, 19.5m, 22.5m, 25.5m, 28.5m, 31.5m |
| Lifting Height | 6m – 30m or Customized |
| Working Class | A3 – A7 |
| Hoisting Speed | 0.5 – 30 m/min |
| Trolley Travel Speed | 40 – 60 m/min |
| Crane Travel Speed | 20 – 135 m/min |
| Power Supply | 3-Phase, 380V, 50Hz (Customizable) |
| Structure Type | Single Girder / Double Girder |
| Control Mode | Pendant / Remote / Cabin |
Note: Specifications vary according to lifting requirements, workshop dimensions, duty cycle, and operating conditions. Custom configurations are available for different factory environments and material handling applications.
Factory overhead cranes are used across a wide range of industrial sectors where materials, equipment, and products require efficient movement.

Moving raw materials and finished products.

Handling steel plates, beams, and structural components.

Transporting large equipment and assemblies.

Supporting production lines and component handling.

Handling molds during machining and maintenance.

Loading, unloading, and inventory movement.
These are typical application examples. If your factory operation is not listed, contact us for professional recommendations and customized crane solutions.
Depending on different industrial spans, lifting capacities, and working duties, enterprises often need to match different types of equipment. If your operations involve handling exceptionally long, oversized, or special loads that require tandem lifting and high precision, you may want to consider our Double Hoist Overhead Crane solution. If you are still unsure which one best fits your working conditions, you can read our comprehensive analysis: How Many Types Of EOT Crane Are There? to find the most accurate solution in global procurement.
Factory overhead cranes provide an efficient and cost-effective material handling solution for manufacturing plants, warehouses, steel mills, and other industrial facilities. Their optimized structure, flexible configurations, and reliable operating performance help improve productivity, maximize workspace utilization, and reduce long-term operating costs.








Proper crane selection requires evaluation of both operational demands and facility conditions.
When selecting the right factory overhead crane, factors such as lifting capacity, span, lifting height, duty cycle, and workshop conditions must be considered. Read the article “Overhead Crane vs. Gantry Crane: Key Differences, Applications & How to Choose” to learn how to select the right model.
WEIHUA provides customized overhead crane solutions for manufacturing plants, steel processing facilities, machinery workshops, warehouses, power plants, and other industrial operations. Optional features include radio remote control, variable-frequency drives (VFDs), anti-sway technology, intelligent monitoring systems, explosion-proof configurations, and corrosion-resistant designs. Customized solutions help improve material handling efficiency, optimize workspace utilization, and support safe, reliable long-term operation.
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WEIHUA is a professional factory overhead crane manufacturer and supplier, providing lifting solutions for manufacturing plants, steel processing facilities, warehouses, logistics centers, power plants, and other industrial applications. Our overhead cranes are available in a wide range of lifting capacities, spans, lifting heights, and duty classifications, with customization options to match different workshop layouts, production processes, and operating conditions.
Backed by extensive engineering experience, advanced manufacturing capabilities, and comprehensive service support, WEIHUA delivers reliable, efficient, and durable crane systems designed for long-term industrial operation. Contact our team to discuss your lifting requirements and receive a customized factory overhead crane solution tailored to your project.

A factory overhead crane is a bridge-type lifting system installed on runway beams inside a factory, workshop, or warehouse. It is used to lift and transport materials, components, machinery, and finished products throughout the facility.
The required lifting capacity depends on the heaviest load being handled, including lifting attachments. Common factory overhead cranes range from 3 to 50 tons, while heavy industrial applications may require capacities of 100 tons or more.
A single girder overhead crane uses one main beam and is suitable for light to medium-duty applications. A double girder overhead crane uses two main beams and is designed for heavier loads, larger spans, higher lifting heights, and more demanding operating conditions.
Headroom requirements depend on the crane type, lifting height, and hoist configuration. Low-headroom designs are available for workshops with limited overhead space.
Routine inspections should be carried out daily before operation, with periodic inspections performed according to operating frequency, working conditions, and local safety regulations.
Common safety devices include overload limiters, travel limit switches, emergency stop systems, anti-collision devices, warning alarms, and safety brakes.
Yes. Factory overhead cranes can be customized based on lifting capacity, span, lifting height, duty class, control method, power supply, and special operating environments.
Installation time varies depending on crane size, workshop conditions, and project scope. Standard installations typically take several days to a few weeks after site preparation is completed.
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.
Contact us now via email: [email protected], or fill in the form below.
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