What is the Difference Between a Crane and Jib?

When your operations require repetitive heavy overhead lifting, then it is likely you will call upon a jib crane. This equipment is the workhorse of material handling in the quarry industry and is critical to keeping operations moving in stone fabrication shops.

If you have unique lifting tasks, then a jib crane is able to maneuver in tight access areas and can move upwards of 30,000 lbs of stone products.

What is a Jib Crane Used for?

Heavy lifting operations can really slow production, which cuts into valuable profits. A jig crane is used to make quick work of the heavy lifting that is common for fabrications that must move uncut stone slab to cutting, finishing, and final inspection cells.

These cranes are versatile, yet with only a few working parts, they are easy to operate. The equipment consists of both a jib or arm that projects out from either an overhead crane, boom, hoist, or mast. When choosing a crane, important specifications include the boom reach, hoist capacity, and power requirements.

When rotational power is needed, electric or pneumatic powered lines can be connected to assist in rotating the boom and the lifted material up to 360°.

What is a Jib?

The jib is the arm that suspends from an articulating boom crane or overhead rail crane. The jib allows for added maneuverability, which is in addition to the up and down hoisting action of a crane. This greater range of motion that a jib provides is extremely useful in stone fabrication operations.

While a crane can be used without a jig, you must have a crane or other attachment to use a jig. Often, stone processing operations happen in tight areas, which makes a jig mounted on a crane beneficial to speeding up production.

Different types of Jib Crane Systems

Choosing the right type of jib crane system depends on the weight and span capacities required, the amount of floor space or the floor layout of your operations, and if your operations would benefit from rotating or articulating motions.

The different types of crane systems include:

Freestanding Jib Cranes – These are permanent installations where the crane mast or other baseplate supports are secured within the concrete during the pouring phase of installation.

Foundation-less Jib Cranes – This system mounts the crane base plates to a 6″ reinforced concrete slab. These systems are faster to install and can support weights of up to 1000 pounds.

Mast Jib Crane – When a structural concrete base system is not possible, this crane uses an overhead steel beam structure to support the crane and jib. These cranes are extremely tough, reaching up to 40 feet in both horizontal span and vertical height.

Wall-mounted Jib Cranes – When individual work bays require independent lift systems, a wall-mounted jib crane uses the structural wall to support a monorail or overhead bridge crane. Often, an articulating jib is mounted on the crane that add swivel motions to reach under, around, or into containers or storage areas.

Cantilever Mast Cranes – These jib systems are have a smaller footprint and depend on a cantilevered beam support arm to lift materials or equipment located below the mast.

Visit BACA Systems online to discover how our heavy lifting and robotic solutions can increase your productivity, decrease manpower, and grow revenue for your stone fabrication business. At BACA Systems, we have the solutions to streamline your in-house processing with fully automated cutting line equipment.