- Mar 25, 2026
- Case Studies
2T BZ Pillar Mounted Jib Crane for Maintenance Workshop
A 2-ton BZ Pillar Jib Crane for Australia - the ideal solution for easy lifting and maintenance services in small to medium sized workshops. This reliable crane will help you increase your productivity!
A Australian construction machinery maintenance workshop needed a reliable lifting solution for heavy components under tight space constraints. The facility performed repairs on large equipment – truck engines, excavator transmissions, travel motors, etc. Each workstation handled a different machine part, with weights ranging from a few hundred kilograms up to 2 tons. The existing overhead handling was inflexible: only one traveling crane in the shop, causing bottlenecks, and forklifts could not reach or position parts precisely in narrow bays. The customer wanted to equip the maintenance station with a lifting system while avoiding additional loads on the workshop structure and floor.
Lifting Challenges in the Maintenance Workshop
In a heavy-equipment repair shop, operations often involve lifting large assemblies in confined spaces. In this case, each repair station needed its own lifting point. The workshop's layout included multiple maintenance bays side by side. Waiting for a overhead crane to cover all bays caused delays. Forklifts were ineffective: they could not reach between the machines or make fine vertical adjustments. Forklifts struggle with precision in tight areas.
- Limited flexibility: Only one crane for many bays, leading to downtime as parts waited to be lifted. Some stations had no coverage at all.
- Forklift limitations: Narrow spaces prevented forklift entry, and heavy parts often required two operators to align manually.
- Variable load weights: Some parts were near 2 T (heavy engines/transmissions) and others were only tens of kilograms (small accessories). Using a single large hoist for all tasks would be inefficient.
The ideal solution had to be space-efficient and versatile. A fixed jib crane at each bay would free up the floorspace and provide fast, precise lifting right at the station.
Our Solution: BZ Pillar-Mounted Jib Crane
We proposed and delivered the BZ-series pillar (floor) jib crane, customized for the customer's workstations. Each jib crane has:
- Boom Length: 6.0 meters. This covers the entire workstation radius, allowing full access over the repair area.
- Rotation: 360° slewing around the column. With a heavy-duty slewing gear, the crane can freely swing the load in any direction, giving maximum flexibility.
- Lifting Height: 6.7 meters from floor to highest hook, maximizing lift under a typical workshop roof height.
- Mounting: Pillar-mounted, anchored to the concrete floor with a robust baseplate. This freestanding design provides stability and a full circular swing without needing wall support.
We offer cranes that cover the entire workbench, with a working range of the boom and all-round rotation to ensure that there are no dead ends in the lifting operation. The operator can place the load anywhere around the column or move it above the work area.
BZ Pillar-Mounted Crane Design
- Stable Construction: The jib's vertical column is built from high-grade steel with a robust base plate. This pillar is anchored into the concrete foundation with heavy anchor bolts. As a result, the crane resists tipping even at full 2 T load and full outreach. The Yuantai-designed BZ jib has sufficient structural strength to handle dynamic lifts – for example, their manuals specify M3 duty and CE-standard steel hooks, ensuring the crane components are overbuilt for safety.
- 360° Slew Mechanism: The large double-bearing slewing mechanism at the top of the column allows the boom and lifting mechanism to rotate freely through 360° for complete coverage of the work area. One operator can operate the machine from any direction without any obstacles.
- End-of-Arm Features: The 6-meter boom is reinforced with a box beam structure to prevent deflection under load. At the beam end, we retrofitted the trolley with a mechanical limiter to safely limit travel. The lifting trolley has a double beam design for better load distribution.
- Low-Profile Underneath: We ensured the bottom of the beam is kept as high as possible (within the 6.7 m lift height) by using a shallow-design beam and rail. This maximizes the hook height under the jib – critical since workshop ceilings in maintenance shops are often limited.
- Electrical and Controls: We use a shallow beam and rail design to ensure that the bottom of the beam stays as high as possible. This maximizes the height of the hook below the boom - which is critical because maintenance shops often have limited floor heights.
- Safety Features: We equipped the hoists with overload clutches and limit switches (upper/lower travel limits). Each hoist has a mechanical brake that holds the load on power loss. The jib's column includes a removable pin to lock the rotation when maintenance is performed. All welding and fabrication followed ISO welding codes to ensure durability.
In summary, the design is a lightweight but robust pillar-mounted jib crane optimized for the shop floor. It solves the customer's problems by being both space-saving (only the pillar occupies floor area) and by putting the 2T lifting point exactly where it is needed.
Specifications and Performance
Below are the key parameters of the supplied jib crane system:
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Crane Type | Pillar-mounted floor jib crane |
| Boom Length | 6.0 meters |
| Slewing Range | 360° rotation |
| Lifting Height | 6.7 meters |
| Column Height | Approximately 7.5 m above floor |
| Hoists Provided | 2× electric chain hoists: 2T, 1T |
| Control Mode | Pendant push-button; emergency stop |
| Duty Classification | A3–A4 |
| Baseplate/Foundation | Floor-anchored with heavy bolts |
| Rotation Gear | Integrated slewing gear |
| Construction Material | High-tensile structural steel |
Each 2T hoist has lift speeds of about 7.5m/min (fast) and 0.75m/min (slow) under no load, which is typical for these industrial hoists. The 1T hoist lifts roughly twice as fast due to smaller motor. We customized the chain lengths to achieve the full 6.7m lift. Because the duty is moderate, the motors and gearboxes were sized for continuous use but not overspecified (to keep energy use low). The overall system is designed to operate without overheating on multi-shift schedules. During factory testing, we proved each hoist to 125% of capacity per industry standard. The pillar and jib welds were ultrasonically tested, and all dimensions were verified.
Yuantai 2T Jib Cranes for Light Duty Applications
Implementation and Project Management
Our project execution prioritized reliability and minimal disruption:
- Site Survey: We first confirmed the site environment of the customer's workshop, and first determined the location and clearance of the ground bolts. It was also determined that the floor slab could withstand the load of the boom.
- Design Customization: After understanding the parameters required by the customer, our engineers started designing the crane and designed the drawings. We customized this crane according to the customer's application. We offer 1 ton and 2 ton chain hoists for both heavy and light lifting needs.
- Fabrication: In our certified fabrication plant, the column and beam were precisely machined. We used Q345B steel for high strength at low weight. The baseplate was thickened, and all holes for bolts were laser-cut for accuracy. Welding met ISO standards and was inspected to avoid defects.
- Installation: Customer technicians followed our instruction manual to anchor the pillar and bolt the boom. The slewing bearing and hoists were assembled on site. Electrical wiring was connected by the client's electricians. We remotely guided the initial setup.
- Testing: Upon receipt of the crane, they performed a final load test on site. A 2-ton pulley block is lifted using two cranes and the boom is rotated around. Testing did not reveal any structural issues. Limit switches were also commissioned to maximize safe operation and the emergency stop function was verified.
Safety and Standards
Safety was integral to this project. We adhered to relevant standards and conducted rigorous testing:
- Load Testing: Each hoist was tested with 125% of rated load (2.5 T) before and after installation. The jib structure itself was proof-loaded on a test stand by simulating full-lift lateral forces. All tests passed without permanent deformation.
- Compliance: The crane meets ISO 12100 safety and CE Machinery Directive requirements. Components like the chain hoists are EN-validated. For example, the hoists' hooks are forged alloy steel and meet CE safety norms. Our fabrication process is ISO 9001 certified.
- Overload Prevention: Both hoists have torque limiters so they slip if overloaded. This protects the structure and the motor. We also provided a chart for operators to understand safe load combinations.
- Operator Training: We ensured operators knew to follow standard safety checks (hook latches, chain integrity, rail inspections). We supplied a checklist based on HSE guidelines (daily and monthly).
- Emergency Measures: The crane includes an emergency stop accessible on the pendant. This cuts power instantly. During tests, we confirmed the emergency stop halts motion immediately.
By following engineering best practices, we ensured this crane provides a safe lifting environment. The customer's safety officer expressed confidence because we documented every safety feature and test result. The installation met Australian factory safety laws and international norms.
FAQs
Q: Why use a 2-ton pillar jib crane instead of forklifts or overhead cranes?
A: A pillar jib crane provides a dedicated lift at each workstation, eliminating waiting and congestion. Unlike forklifts, a jib crane can swing heavy parts exactly where needed. Overhead cranes require building supports and cover larger areas; in a repair shop with multiple discrete stations, individual jibs are more practical and cost-effective.
Q: What are the main benefits of pillar-mounted jib cranes?
A: Pillar jibs are self-supporting and offer full 360° rotation, maximizing reach in all directions. They are quick to install and can be relocated if needed. They also minimize floor obstructions.
Q: How does this crane ensure operator safety?
A: Safety features include: mechanical brakes on the hoists to hold loads, emergency-stop controls, upper/lower limit switches to prevent over-travel, and overload clutches. We installed the crane per standards (anchored properly, rated steel, etc.). We also provided full safety training.
Q: Could this jib crane be used in a different industry or country?
A: Absolutely. This 2T pillar jib crane design is generic enough for any maintenance or production environment around the world. We have delivered similar cranes to auto shops in Europe, factories in Asia, and maintenance yards in Australia.
