- Mar 21, 2025
- Case Studies
10T Floor-Mounted Jib Crane for an Industrial Facility
See how Yuantai Crane installed a 10 ton floor mounted jib crane in a metal fabrication facility with limited space and overhead crane coverage, improving localized material handling efficiency.
10 Ton Floor Mounted Jib Crane Case Study for Metal Fabrication
A precision metal fabrication company needed a dedicated lifting solution for a work area that its existing overhead cranes could not reach. The company had been using steel platform carts to move components in this area. As production volume increased, this method became less practical for handling heavier components and maintaining a smooth workflow.
After reviewing the customer's workshop layout, lifting requirements, and existing material handling process, Yuantai Crane supplied a 10 ton floor mounted jib crane with an electric chain hoist. The freestanding crane provided a dedicated lifting point at the workstation without requiring a new overhead crane runway.
Project Summary
| Project Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Customer Industry | Metal Fabrication |
| Crane Type | Floor Mounted Jib Crane |
| Rated Capacity | 10 Ton |
| Hoist Type | Electric Chain Hoist |
| Installation | Floor Mounted |
| Slewing | 360° rotation configuration |
| Main Application | Steel plates, machine components, and welded assemblies |
| Main Challenge | Existing overhead crane could not reach the required work area |
| Previous Handling Method | Steel platform carts and manual material handling |
| Main Objective | Provide dedicated lifting and positioning at a fixed workstation |
Customer Background
The customer operates in the metal fabrication industry, where steel components, machine parts, and welded assemblies must be moved and positioned throughout the production process.
The workshop already had overhead cranes. They handled the larger lifting tasks across the main production areas. However, one section of the facility was outside the available overhead crane coverage.
This created a localized material handling problem.
The customer had been using steel platform carts to move components through this area. The method worked when the loads were manageable and production demand was lower. As the customer's order volume increased, however, the limitations became more noticeable.
The company needed a dedicated lifting system that could serve this work area without rebuilding the existing overhead crane system.
The Customer's Lifting Challenge
The customer was not simply looking for a 10 ton crane.
They needed a crane that could work within an existing production layout and solve a specific handling problem.
Three factors shaped the equipment selection.
1. The Existing Overhead Crane Could Not Reach the Work Area
The workshop already used overhead cranes, but their runway coverage did not extend to the target workstation.
Extending the existing overhead crane system would have required changes to the crane runway and building structure. It would also have created a larger project than the customer needed.
The problem was therefore not a lack of lifting capacity across the entire factory. It was a lack of lifting coverage at one specific location. A localized lifting system was a better fit.
2. Steel Platform Carts Added Handling Steps
Before the jib crane was installed, workers relied on steel platform carts to move components through the area.
A cart can move a load horizontally, but it does not provide the same lifting and positioning capability as a crane. When a component needs to be raised and placed on a workbench or another working position, additional handling steps may be required.
For a growing production operation, these extra steps can interrupt the workflow.
The customer wanted to bring the lifting point closer to the workstation instead of repeatedly moving the load between handling equipment.
3. The Available Area Required a Compact Solution
The customer had a fixed work area with limited room for additional material handling equipment.
A new overhead crane runway was not the most practical option. A large mobile lifting system would also have introduced additional floor traffic.
The customer therefore needed a crane with its own support structure and a defined working radius.
This made a floor mounted jib crane a suitable option for the application.
Why We Recommended a 10 Ton Floor Mounted Jib Crane
After reviewing the customer's requirements, Yuantai Crane recommended a 10 ton floor mounted jib crane.
The key decision was not based on lifting capacity alone.
We considered how the crane would interact with the customer's existing workshop, where the load needed to be picked up, where it needed to be placed, and how much space was available around the workstation.
Independent Floor-Mounted Support
A floor mounted jib crane uses a supporting column fixed to the floor. The crane does not depend on an overhead crane runway for support.
This was important for this project because the customer's existing overhead crane could not reach the target area.
The freestanding design created a dedicated lifting point where the customer needed it.
It also avoided the need to extend the existing overhead crane runway into the work area.
For the customer, the benefit was straightforward: the new crane solved a local lifting problem without changing the entire workshop's overhead crane system.
10 Ton Lifting Capacity
The customer required a lifting solution capable of handling loads up to 10 tons.
The 10 ton rated capacity gave the workstation a dedicated lifting capability for the heavy components handled in this part of the production process.
Capacity selection should always be based on the actual load, lifting method, duty cycle, load geometry, and applicable design requirements. The crane should never be operated above its rated capacity. OSHA's material-handling requirements similarly state that cranes must not be loaded beyond their rated load except for permitted testing.
360° Working Area
The floor mounted jib crane was configured for 360° rotation.
This allowed the boom to swing around the supporting column and serve the surrounding work area.
For the customer, the value of rotation was not simply a larger specification.
It reduced the need to reposition the load using carts or other handling equipment. The operator could pick up the load, swing it toward the required position, and lower it at the workstation.
The actual usable working area still depends on the crane's boom length, column location, lifting height, surrounding structures, and any required slewing limits. These dimensions should be confirmed during engineering design.
Electric Chain Hoist
The crane was equipped with a 10 ton electric chain hoist.
An electric hoist provided powered lifting and lowering instead of requiring workers to manually raise heavy components.
The selected low-headroom configuration was also intended to make better use of the available vertical space.
For a workstation application, this matters because the useful lifting height is determined by more than the nominal crane height. The hoist configuration, beam position, hook height, building clearance, and load height all affect how much usable vertical space remains.
Compact Workstation Coverage
The customer did not need a crane to cover the entire production hall.
They needed lifting support at a specific location.
A floor mounted jib crane matches this type of requirement because the column can serve as a dedicated lifting point while the boom covers a defined circular work area.
This helped the customer add lifting capability without occupying the floor area required by a larger traveling crane system.
Crane Configuration
The final solution combined the jib structure with an electric chain hoist to provide localized lifting and positioning.
The main configuration included:
- 10 ton rated lifting capacity
- Floor mounted supporting column
- Rotating jib arm
- 360° slewing configuration
- 10 ton electric chain hoist
- Workstation-focused lifting coverage
- Controls selected according to the customer's operating requirements
The exact boom length, lifting height, foundation dimensions, electrical configuration, and duty classification should be taken from the final project drawing and equipment specification.
This is important when comparing jib cranes from different suppliers. A quoted lifting capacity alone does not tell you whether a crane will provide the required hook height, working radius, or operating performance in your facility.
How the Crane Changed the Material Handling Process
The most important change was the position of the lifting equipment in the workflow.
Before Installation
The customer's existing process depended on overhead cranes where coverage was available and steel platform carts in the area outside that coverage.
This meant that the local workstation did not have its own lifting point.
When heavy components needed to be moved or positioned, workers had to rely on other material handling methods.
After Installation
The new floor mounted jib crane created a dedicated lifting point beside the work area.
The operator could lift the component with the electric hoist and swing it toward the required workstation position.
This reduced the dependence on platform carts for lifting and positioning tasks in the crane's working area.
The result was a more direct material handling process:
Pick up → Lift → Slew → Position
instead of relying on separate equipment for different stages of the movement.
Ergonomic Considerations
Reducing unnecessary manual lifting was also an important part of the solution.
NIOSH identifies heavy or frequent lifting, pushing and pulling, bending, twisting, and awkward postures as physical risk factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Its Revised NIOSH Lifting Equation is used to assess the risk associated with two-handed manual lifting tasks.
The jib crane does not remove the need for safe load handling practices.
Instead, it provides mechanical assistance for loads that would otherwise require significant manual handling.
For this customer, the practical benefit was the ability to lift and position heavy components at the workstation without relying on workers to manually move the load through every stage of the process.
Proper load attachment, rated capacity, operator training, inspections, and safe operating procedures remain essential. OSHA also requires lifting slings to be used within their rated capacities and inspected according to applicable requirements.
Installation and Commissioning
The floor mounted jib crane was installed with minimal disruption to the customer's production operation.
The installation was completed in under one day, based on the original project record.
The installation process included positioning the supporting structure, installing the jib assembly, mounting the electric chain hoist, and completing the necessary commissioning checks.
Before the crane is placed into regular service, the installation should be checked against the approved design and equipment requirements.
For example, relevant checks may include:
- Hoisting and lowering operation
- Slewing operation
- Hoist and control functions
- Brake operation
- Limit devices where applicable
- Structural and fastening condition
- Load rating and identification
- Safe operation of the lifting accessories
Applicable local regulations and the crane manufacturer's inspection and testing requirements should always take priority for the actual project.
Project Results
The customer gained a dedicated lifting system for the area that was outside the existing overhead crane coverage.
The project addressed three practical problems at the same time:
| Before the Jib Crane | After the Jib Crane |
| Overhead crane could not reach the target area | Dedicated lifting point at the workstation |
| Steel platform carts were used for local material movement | Crane provided powered lifting and positioning |
| Heavy components required more handling steps | Load could be lifted and slewed within the working area |
| Existing overhead crane system was not extended | Local lifting capacity was added without a new overhead runway |
| Limited lifting support at the workstation | 10 ton lifting capacity available at the selected location |
The main result was not simply the addition of another crane.
The project gave the customer a dedicated lifting solution for a specific production bottleneck.
That distinction is important when selecting lifting equipment. The best crane is not always the largest or most versatile system. It is the system that fits the load, workspace, workflow, building conditions, and operating requirements.
Why a Floor Mounted Jib Crane Was the Right Fit
For this project, the customer already had overhead cranes.
The issue was coverage.
A floor mounted jib crane filled the gap between the existing overhead crane system and the workstation that needed dedicated lifting support.
This type of solution can be particularly useful when:
- A specific workstation needs dedicated lifting equipment
- Existing overhead cranes do not cover the entire production area
- A new overhead runway is not justified for a localized lifting task
- Floor space is limited
- Loads need to be lifted and positioned within a defined work zone
- The customer needs a fixed lifting point rather than a mobile crane
The final selection should still be based on a site-specific engineering review. Boom length, lifting height, column position, foundation, load characteristics, duty cycle, rotation requirements, and surrounding obstructions all affect the appropriate crane design.
Other Applications for Floor Mounted Jib Cranes
The same basic lifting concept can be applied to other industrial work areas.
Manufacturing and Assembly
A jib crane can provide point-of-use lifting for machine components, tooling, fixtures, and assemblies.
Instead of moving a heavy component across the workshop to reach a crane runway, the lifting point can be positioned close to the workstation.
Machine Maintenance
Maintenance teams often need to remove and reinstall motors, pumps, gearboxes, molds, and other heavy components.
A dedicated jib crane can provide controlled lifting support close to the equipment being serviced.
Warehousing and Material Transfer
A jib crane can also serve a fixed loading or transfer station.
It can lift loads between a vehicle, pallet, workbench, or other defined handling point without requiring a full overhead crane system.
Metal Fabrication
Metal fabrication facilities frequently handle steel plates, welded assemblies, fixtures, and machine components.
A properly designed jib crane can support localized lifting tasks at welding, assembly, machining, inspection, or finishing stations.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a 10 ton floor mounted jib crane?
A 10 ton floor mounted jib crane is a freestanding jib crane designed to lift loads up to a rated capacity of 10 tons within its designed working area. The crane uses a floor-supported column and a horizontal jib arm. A hoist mounted on the jib provides vertical lifting.
Why use a floor mounted jib crane instead of an overhead crane?
A floor mounted jib crane is often suitable when lifting is concentrated in one workstation or when an existing overhead crane cannot reach a particular area. It can provide dedicated lifting support without extending an overhead crane runway.
Can a floor mounted jib crane rotate 360 degrees?
Yes. Floor mounted jib cranes can be designed with different slewing ranges. The crane in this project used a 360° rotation configuration. The actual usable rotation should be confirmed based on the site layout and any required mechanical limits.
Is a 10 ton jib crane suitable for metal fabrication?
It can be suitable for metal fabrication when the load, working radius, lifting height, duty cycle, and workshop layout match the crane design. Typical applications include handling steel components, welded assemblies, machine parts, tooling, and fixtures.
Does a floor mounted jib crane require an overhead support structure?
No. A freestanding floor mounted jib crane uses its own supporting column. The foundation and anchoring arrangement must be designed for the crane's loads and site conditions.
How do I choose the right jib crane capacity?
Start with the heaviest load that the crane must handle, then consider the load's geometry, lifting accessories, working radius, lifting height, operating frequency, and duty cycle. The crane should be selected and operated within its rated capacity.
What information should I provide when requesting a jib crane quotation?
A supplier will normally need the required lifting capacity, lifting height, boom length or working radius, rotation requirement, load type, working environment, power supply, control preference, installation conditions, and duty cycle. A workshop layout or drawing is also useful because column position and surrounding obstructions can affect the final design.
Related Jib Crane Solutions
If your lifting requirements differ from this project, Yuantai Crane also supplies other jib crane configurations.
Get a Customized Jib Crane Solution
Every workshop has different lifting requirements.
The right jib crane depends on more than rated capacity. Your available space, load characteristics, working radius, lifting height, foundation, duty cycle, and workflow all affect the final design.
If you are handling heavy components in a metal fabrication plant, machine shop, warehouse, or production facility, Yuantai Crane can review your application and recommend a suitable jib crane configuration.
