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A girder structure on which a handling device travels, allowing it to reach every point of a line or area. Designs include the single-girder system for one line, the area system of main and cross girders, and the monorail with switches. From roughly three similar workstations it is usually cheaper than individual units.
A rail system – also called a light crane system – consists of profile rails in or on which trolleys run. A hoist or a handling device hangs from the trolley. A device that only lifts thus becomes an installation serving a line or a whole area.
Unlike an overhead travelling crane, a rail system is normally moved by hand. It is intended for loads that a person guides at the workstation, not for transport across the building.
Which layout fits depends on whether a line, an area or several separate zones are to be served.
A rail system does not support itself. It is suspended from the roof structure, tied to building columns or placed on its own supports. Which variant is possible is decided by the structural capacity of the building – so the question of load reserve comes before the choice of system.
Many systems are suspended on articulated hangers. The rails then align themselves under load, and dimensional deviations of the building do not cause constraint forces in the system.
The operator sets in motion not only the load but everything that travels with it: trolley, hoist and – on an area system – the entire bridge. The lower this moving mass and the better the wheels, the smaller the force for starting and stopping. Aluminium profiles have the advantage here; steel profiles at long spans and higher loads.
With long bridges or heavy loads, moving by hand becomes laborious. Travel drives are then worth considering.
Three points are regularly considered too late. First, the energy supply: compressed air, power and signals have to travel along. Second, collisions with lighting, ventilation, sprinklers and cable trays under the roof. Third, extension: the grid of the main girders determines where workstations can stand in future.
A rail system with a hoist is a crane. In Germany it falls under DGUV Vorschrift 52 and is inspected before first use and periodically thereafter.
What Entracon offers here is on the matching page.
See what we offer| Layout | Working area | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| Monorail | One line | Row of machines, assembly line |
| Area system | Rectangular area | Work zone with several stations |
| Monorail with switches | Branched route | Linking separate zones |
| Free-standing gantry | Line or area | Buildings without load reserve, rented premises |
Aluminium is lighter; the bridge moves with less force and the building structure is loaded less. Steel is economical at long spans and higher loads. The decision follows from load, span and suspension spacing.
Yes. Together with the hoist it counts as a crane and is inspected before first use and periodically – in Germany as a rule at least once a year by a competent person.
Normally yes, because the systems are modular. Additional bridges and longer runways are simple; changing the suspension grid is laborious. Anyone expecting growth plans the grid for it from the start.
As a rule of thumb from about three similar workstations located next to each other. One device on the rail then serves all stations, and the floor stays clear of pillars.
Weightless handling – floating instead of lifting.
View DeviceThe jointed boom with a wide radius.
View DeviceThe whole area covered – in X and Y.
View GuidesOne unit at eight stations beats eight units.
View GuidesThe circle is cheaper. The area is usually right.
ViewOne short conversation usually settles more than three quotations. Call or write — you will reach an engineer directly.
Start typing – for example “balancer”, “SAP” or “pipe stress”.
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