Double Girder Overhead Crane with Grab: A Comprehensive Solution for Bulk Material Handling

I. Product introduction

1. Overview of the Double Girder Overhead Crane with Grab

The Double Girder Overhead Crane with Grab is a high-performance, heavy-duty lifting system engineered for the precise and efficient handling of bulk materials in demanding industrial environments. Unlike conventional overhead cranes that primarily rely on hooks or lifting beams, this model is equipped with a mechanical four-rope double-clamshell grab bucket, allowing it to scoop, lift, transport, and unload large volumes of powdered, granular, or irregularly shaped bulk goods with exceptional control.

Its box-shaped double girder bridge is built for maximum rigidity, enabling the crane to support higher lifting capacities and greater spans while maintaining stability during operation. The double girder configuration also allows the integration of a grab trolley with dedicated mechanisms for both lifting and opening/closing the grab, ensuring smooth, synchronized movements.

The Double Girder Overhead Crane with Grab in action at a power station, ensuring a continuous and efficient supply of coal fuel

2. Why It’s Essential in Modern Industries

In many industrial settings—such as power plants, steel mills, ports, cement plants, and waste recycling facilities—there is a constant need to move large volumes of raw materials quickly and safely. Manual labor or conventional cranes without specialized grabs often fall short in terms of efficiency and safety.

The Double Girder Overhead Crane with Grab addresses these challenges by:

• Maximizing productivity – capable of handling 5–20 tons of material per lift, with a maximum lifting height of 18–26 meters.

• Reducing operational costs – minimizing manpower requirements while maintaining high throughput.

• Enhancing workplace safety – the operator controls the grab from an enclosed cabin, avoiding direct contact with hazardous materials.

• Offering versatile grab orientation – the grab opening can be set parallel or vertical to the main girders, allowing for flexible operation in different working spaces.

With its customizable span (10.5–31.5 m) and adaptable power supply (standard 380V, 50Hz, 3-phase or tailored to your facility), this crane can be designed to fit the exact operational needs of your project. It is not just a lifting device—it’s a complete bulk material handling solution built for efficiency, durability, and reliability.

II. Structure & working principle

1. Main components

The Double Girder Overhead Crane with Grab is built on a robust structure and specialized mechanisms, ensuring reliable performance in heavy-duty applications. Its main components include:

• Box-Shaped Double Girder Bridge: The primary load-bearing structure, fabricated from high-strength steel plates. This design ensures rigidity, stability, and minimal deflection even under heavy loads.

• Grab Trolley: Houses the grab bucket and is equipped with both the hoisting mechanism and the opening/closing mechanism for efficient material handling.

• Trolley Traveling Mechanism: Enables the grab trolley to move smoothly along the bridge girders, covering the entire span for precise positioning of the grab.

• Operator Cabin: An enclosed, ergonomically designed cabin providing the operator with comprehensive control over the crane's movements, grab operations, and safety systems.

• Electrical Control System: Features advanced electronic components and control panels, offering smooth speed regulation, overload protection, and automated functions to enhance safety.

2. Lifting device – Four-Rope Double-Clamshell Grab

The crane's lifting device is a mechanical four-rope double-clamshell grab bucket designed to handle a variety of bulk materials, including coal, ore, sand, clinker, and scrap.

• Four steel wire ropes: Two ropes are dedicated to the hoisting function, while the other two control the opening and closing of the grab.

• Separate drums for hoisting & opening/closing: This ensures that each movement is controlled independently yet coordinated seamlessly during operation.

• Parallel or vertical opening direction: The grab's opening direction can be configured to align either parallel or perpendicular to the bridge girders, optimizing loading and unloading processes in different site layouts.

3. Working principle

The operational cycle of the Double Girder Overhead Crane with Grab is designed for maximum efficiency and precision:

• Grab positioning: The operator moves the trolley to position the grab precisely above the material pile.

• Grab closing: The opening/closing mechanism is activated, lowering and securely closing the grab jaws to scoop the desired amount of material.

• Lifting: Once the grab is fully closed, the hoisting mechanism is engaged. The four ropes evenly distribute the load, ensuring stability throughout the lifting process.

• Traveling & placement: The trolley and bridge travel mechanisms work together to transport the loaded grab to the designated unloading area.

• Material release: The opening/closing mechanism is activated in reverse, precisely releasing the material into the desired location.

This synchronized dual-mechanism operation allows the crane to handle large volumes of material quickly without compromising accuracy or safety, making it an ideal solution for both indoor facilities and open-air industrial sites.

III. Technical specifications

1. Specifications table

Built for performance and reliability, the Double Girder Overhead Crane with Grab offers a robust set of technical specifications designed to meet the demands of heavy-duty industrial applications.

2. Comparison with Other Lifting Solutions

Key takeaways from the comparison:

• Superior bulk material handling: Unlike hook-based cranes, the grab crane can directly scoop loose materials without additional containers, significantly improving efficiency.

• Higher stability and simpler maintenance: The four-rope mechanism ensures even load distribution and requires simpler maintenance compared to more complex hydraulic systems.

• Ideal for continuous heavy-duty work: The double girder structure is designed for higher capacity, longer spans, and longer duty cycles, making it far more suitable for demanding industrial environments than single girder models.

IV. Key features & advantages

1. Unmatched efficiency in bulk material handling

This crane is designed to handle loose bulk materials such as coal, ore, sand, clinker, scrap metal, and other powdered or granular substances.

• Rapid operation cycle: The grab can scoop, lift, transport, and unload materials in a continuous, high-speed cycle, significantly increasing throughput.

• Minimized material loss: The clamshell design closes securely, minimizing spillage during transfer, especially for fine-grained materials.

• Continuous operation: Designed with a heavy-duty A6–A8 duty class, the crane can operate for extended periods without overheating or excessive wear, making it ideal for 24/7 applications like in coal bunkers or steel mills.

2. Robust double girder design for stability and capacity

The box-shaped double girder bridge is exceptionally rigid and stable. This structural advantage enables the crane to lift 5-20 tons (including grab weight) with minimal deflection while spanning 10.5-31.5 meters.

• Superior stability: The design reduces sway and vibration, ensuring a stable lift over long travel distances.

• Extended service life: The heavy-duty structure withstands the toughest industrial conditions, from high-temperature steel plants to outdoor port terminals, ensuring a longer service life and a better return on investment.

3. Versatile operation and precision control

The crane offers unmatched operational flexibility, combining customizable grab orientation with advanced control systems.

• Flexible Grab Orientation: The grab can be configured for a parallel or vertical opening direction, adapting to different site layouts, from elongated storage facilities to confined loading pits.

• Safe, Ergonomic Cabin Control: Operators work from a fully enclosed, ergonomically designed cabin, providing clear visibility and complete control. This design minimizes operator fatigue while protecting them from dust, debris, and hazardous materials. Remote control options are also available for added flexibility.

4. Custom-engineered for your environment

Each crane is built to meet the specific demands of your project, ensuring a perfect fit and optimal performance.

• Full customization: We tailor every crane to your facility's specific lifting height, span, and power supply. Options for international voltage and frequency requirements are available.

• Optimized grab design: The grab bucket's capacity, shape, and clamshell design can be customized to handle the unique properties of your specific materials, whether light and bulky or heavy and dense.

• Built for harsh conditions: The crane is protected with anti-corrosion coatings and sealed components to guard against dust, moisture, and extreme temperatures, guaranteeing reliable performance year after year.

Bottom line: The Double Girder Overhead Crane with Grab is not just a lifting machine—it is a complete, high-performance bulk material handling system. By combining strength, precision, adaptability, and durability, it delivers a clear competitive advantage and a long-term return on investment for any industry that relies on fast, efficient material transfer.

Versatile application in handling loose bulk materials like wood chips and biomass, optimizing production processes

V. Applications & operation guidelines

1. Key applications

The Double Girder Overhead Crane with Grab is designed to serve a wide range of industries that require fast, efficient, and safe bulk goods. Thanks to its high capacity, versatile grab configurations, and durable construction, it can be adapted to various operational environments:

Steel industry:

• Handles iron ore, limestone, and other raw materials in blast furnace feeding systems.

• Transfers slag and other by-products from smelting processes.

• Example: In a steel mill, the crane operates continuously to supply raw materials to the furnace without production delays.

Power stations:

• Loads and unloads coal into bunkers or feeds it to conveyors.

• Handles fly ash and other combustion residues.

• Example: A coal-fired power plant uses the crane to maintain a steady coal supply to boilers, reducing fuel handling time by over 30%.

Ports and shipping terminals:

• Loads and unloads bulk cargo such as sand, gravel, grain, or scrap metal.

• Efficiently moves materials between vessels and storage areas.

Cement plants & construction materials:

• Handles clinker, gypsum, sand, and other raw materials.

• Feed production lines in cement grinding units.

Waste recycling facilities:

• Moves scrap metal, shredded waste, or biomass fuel.

• Sorts and transfers recyclable materials to processing stations.

An effective solution for recycling facilities, safely and productively loading and sorting waste and scrap materials

2. Operation & maintenance guidelines

Safe operation procedures

To ensure maximum efficiency and safety, operators should follow these steps:

• Pre-operation checks: Thoroughly inspect wire ropes, grab jaws, electrical systems, and safety devices before starting.

• Positioning: Move the trolley and bridge to position the grab precisely above the material pile.

• Grabbing: Lower the grab, activate the closing mechanism to scoop the material, and ensure it is securely closed before lifting.

• Lifting and traveling: Lift the load smoothly, avoiding sudden movements, and transport it to the designated unloading area.

• Unloading: Open the grab slowly to prevent material spillage or damage to surrounding equipment.

• Shutdown: Park the grab in a safe position, switch off the power, and lock the control cabin when not in use.

Regular maintenance & inspection

Routine maintenance is key to extending the crane's lifespan and reducing unscheduled downtime:

• Daily: Check the grab mechanism, inspect wire rope wear, test the brakes, and verify the control system's responsiveness.

• Weekly: Lubricate moving parts, tighten any loose bolts, and inspect sheaves for wear.

• Monthly: Test load limiters, inspect structural components for cracks or corrosion, and check the alignment of drums and pulleys.

• Annually: Conduct a full system inspection with load testing, replace worn ropes or components, and update safety certifications.

Tips for extending service life

• Avoid exceeding the crane's rated lifting capacity (including the grab's weight).

• Use the appropriate grab type for the material to minimize wear and tear.

• Operate on a clean, obstruction-free runway to prevent unnecessary strain on the mechanisms.

• Train operators on both normal and emergency procedures to reduce human error.

Bottom line: By combining proper operation with regular maintenance, the Double Girder Overhead Crane with Grab can operate at peak performance for decades, offering a high return on investment while ensuring workplace safety.

VII. Your questions answered & partnering with us

1. Frequently asked questions (FAQs)

Q: Can the Double Girder Overhead Crane with Grab be used outdoors?

Yes. With proper protective coatings, weatherproof electrical enclosures, and a regular maintenance schedule, the crane can operate reliably in outdoor environments such as ports, shipyards, and open storage yards.

Q: Is the lifting capacity inclusive of the grab bucket’s weight?

Yes. The rated capacity (5–20 tons) already includes the weight of the grab, ensuring safe and accurate load handling at all times.

Q: Can the grab bucket be replaced with a different type?

Absolutely. The grab can be customized or replaced with a model designed for specific materials, such as lighter clamshell grabs for grain or heavier-duty designs for scrap metal.

Q: Does the crane support remote control operation?

Yes. While the standard configuration uses a cabin control system, a remote control can be added for greater flexibility and enhanced operator safety.

2. Why Choose Us?

When investing in a Double Girder Overhead Crane with Grab, choosing the right supplier is just as important as the equipment itself. Here’s why clients trust us:

• Proven experience: With over a decade of designing, manufacturing, and installing industrial lifting systems across diverse sectors, we have the expertise to deliver.

• Tailored solutions: We customize every crane’s capacity, span, height, and grab configuration to precisely match your operational needs.

• Uncompromising quality: Our cranes are built with certified high-strength steel, precision-machined components, and undergo strict quality control at every stage of production.

• Expert installation & commissioning: Our engineers ensure your crane is operational and fully optimized from day one.

• Comprehensive after-sales service: We provide ongoing support, including operator training, spare parts supply, routine maintenance, and emergency technical assistance.

Related products

• Double Girder Overhead Crane – The ideal solution for heavy-duty lifting in large workshops
• Electric Hydraulic Grab Bucket – Designed for ports and waste-handling plants
• K Series Gearbox – Robust and stable performance for power transmission
• AGBS Drum Coupling – Efficient torque transmission for lifting systems
• SWL Screw Jack – Precise and safe height adjustment

 Upgrade your bulk material handling capabilities today!

Contact our team for a custom Double Girder Overhead Crane with Grab solution that fits your exact needs, budget, and site conditions.