Jib Cranes: British Industry’s Unsung Heroes

When someone mentions the phrase ‘cranes’ we tend to think of tower cranes, those huge cranes that litter the skyscrapers of cities such as London and Manchester for example. But there’s another type of crane that’s been quietly revolutionising the industry across the UK – the humble jib cranes. But these are versatile pieces of kit, these aren’t the imposing cousins you see on the land, these are absolute workhorses in factories, in warehouses, in workshops up and down the country.

What on Earth is a Jib Crane?

Before we get into to what a jib crane is let’s get our heads around it. In simple terms, it’s a crane with a horizontal arm (that’s the jib) that supports a movable hoist. The lift and move range of the crane can be circular and this arm can swing in an arc for the lift and move of the loads around in the circular area. It’s a mechanical version of those claw machines you see at the seaside, but with a lot more practical use and very little chance of losing your prize.

Types of Jib Cranes: A Great Deal More Variety Than a Box of Quality Street

Just like there’s more than one way to skin a cat (not that we’d recommend trying), there’s more than one type of jib crane.

1. Wall-mounted jib cranes: The latter are located on a wall or column, useful where floor space is limited.

2. Free-standing jib cranes: These are upright and don’t require anything, so they can be placed at any position they require.

3. Articulating jib cranes: They have a double arm that can fold in on itself, which give them extra length and flexibility.

Why Bother with a Jib Crane?

You may be wondering why you would look for a jib crane instead of some other kind of lifting solution.

Space-Saving Marvels

Many offices are a lot tighter than a pair of jeans after the post-Christmas dinner. Jib cranes are great because they can be tucked away and don’t take up any precious floor space.

Precision Lifting

Jib cranes are so precise, you’d think a Swiss watchmaker would be proud of them. Or perhaps you have a delicate piece of machinery that needs to be lowered down precisely one millimetre? A jib crane’s your best mate.

They Have the Middle Name Versatile

Jib cranes are more versatile than a Swiss Army knife; they cargo move trucks in a bustling warehouse, they will help you with intricate assembly work in a high-tech factory. In the lifting world, they’re the jack of all trades.

Jib Cranes in Action: Not just Lifting, but Shifting British Industry

But maybe you think they bring jib cranes to life and are only workhorses, but these are fun to watch in action. So, let’s whistle that stop tour and find out where you might see them.

Manufacturing Maestros

Jib cranes are the unsung heroes of production lines moving across the UK’s manufacturing plants. In car factories they’re lifting engine blocks, moving sheets of steel in metalworking shops and making themselves indispensable generally.

Warehouse Wizards

Jib Cranes are gold in the world of logistics and warehousing. They’re loading and unloading trucks faster than you can say “next day delivery”, keeping our insatiable appetite for online shopping satisfied.

Maintenance Marvels

These cranes are a mechanic’s best friend to use when keeping heavy machinery in tip top shape. Lifting out heavy pieces for repair or replacement is helping backs, speeding up work.

The Future of Jib Cranes: Not Just a Flash in the Pan

How jib cranes evolve is mirrored by how British industry itself evolves. But we are seeing some interesting developments going on, which are going to make these already very useful machines even more useful.

Smart Cranes for Smart Future

They are on their way to becoming a part of the Internet of Things. That is about cranes that can monitor how well they are doing, predict when they need to be maintained, and even mingle with other systems in a smart factory. Your head is going to spin from this.

Wrapping Up: More than you think, Jib Cranes

That’s it – a bit of a whirlwind tour of the world of jib cranes. These mechanical marvels form part of industrial middle class – buzzing factories, high tech workshops – moving silently about, lifting, shifting and generally making it a little easier for workers all over the country.