Grab type gantry crane purchase focus guide

In the field of port transportation, mine stacking, hydropower and water conservancy, building construction, etc., grab gantry cranes have become the preferred equipment for heavy bulk material handling by virtue of their compact structure, high efficiency and high degree of automation. But in the face of the many brands, models and configurations on the market, how to accurately select and avoid “spending more money”? This article to “buy grab gantry cranes before the eight key issues” as an outline to help you quickly clarify the needs, to do a good job, buy at ease, with peace of mind.

Question 1: Use of the scene and operational requirements

First of all, you need to clarify your operating environment: is the seaport container yard heavy tons of bulk loading and unloading? Or is it the stone gripping in mining silo? Or water conservancy projects in the sand and gravel loading and unloading? Different scenarios correspond to the form of grab (mechanical grab, hydraulic grab, hydraulic rotary grab, etc.), grab capacity (1m³ ~ 10m³ ranging), as well as the span of the crane, lifting height are different. Therefore, before selecting the type, please provide detailed site parameters to the manufacturer in combination with the annual handling capacity, single loading and unloading capacity and operation frequency to get the optimal configuration.

Question 2: How to match the type and capacity of grapple?

Grab is the “arm” of the equipment, common four-valve type, six-valve type, open and close type, etc., the capacity from 0.5m³ to 10m³, according to the characteristics of the material (loose, viscous, lumpy) with free. If it is used for loose powder material, four-flap type can be chosen; if it grabs large stone material, six-flap type is more stable; sticky material needs to be equipped with anti-sticking coating or screw discharge device. Reasonable matching of grabs can greatly improve the loading and unloading efficiency and reduce the breakage rate.

Question 3: Do the span and lifting height meet the production requirements?

The span directly affects the working width, and the lifting height determines the unloading height, both of which are usually linked to the size of the storage area or the height of the ship's side. If the span is too small, it will not be able to cover the working surface; if the lifting height is not enough, it will be difficult to stack or load the ship. It is recommended to measure on the spot, make the working profile, and reserve 10%~15% safety margin, and confirm the appropriate mechanical structure size with the manufacturer.

Question 4: Working environment and protection level

Different environments, cranes need to have the appropriate protection: seaside salt spray environment requires anticorrosion paint, salt spray resistance; open-air operations need to prevent rain, wind and sand; extreme cold or high-temperature areas, it is necessary to optional anti-freeze oil circuit, temperature control devices or high-temperature heat-resistant materials. After confirming the environmental level, the thickness of the coating, the level of seals and the protection of electrical components (such as IP65/IP67) should be agreed in the contract.

Issue 5: Core components and brand quality

The core components of grab gantry cranes include motor, reducer, wire rope, traveling track and electrical components. Prefer well-known brands at home and abroad, such as Siemens, Schneider, ABB and other electrics, Taiwan Shangyin, Møller Drive and other reducers, and require certificates of conformity, inspection reports and three-package commitment. Although the cost of branded parts is higher, but the service life is longer, the failure rate is lower, more cost-effective in the long run.

Issue 6: Energy saving and intelligent level

Modernized grab gantry cranes have commonly used frequency control, energy feedback braking, motor soft start and other energy-saving technologies, which can reduce power consumption by 20% to 30%; intelligent monitoring system can monitor real-time data such as load, displacement, fault alarms, and support remote diagnosis and maintenance. According to the enterprise's energy saving and emission reduction needs, it is recommended to choose products with PLC control, human-machine interface (HMI) and IoT cloud platform access capabilities.

Question 7: Structural design and material selection

Load-bearing structures such as main beams, cross beams and leg frames should be made of high-strength Q345D or higher-grade steel, and the cross-section shape should be optimized through finite element analysis to ensure that lightweight and high rigidity coexist. Reasonable welding process and anti-cracking design can avoid quality problems such as cracking and deformation. Non-destructive testing (UT/MT) pass rate and material inspection report can be agreed in the contract to ensure structural safety.

Issue 8: After-sales service and life cycle cost

After the equipment is put into operation, timely maintenance and spare parts supply is the guarantee for continuous and stable operation. High-quality manufacturers generally provide lifelong service, 24-hour response, spare parts door-to-door and replacement services. Before signing the equipment procurement contract, you should understand their national service network, whether they have branches and spare parts stores in your location, and clarify the warranty period, maintenance response time and cost breakdown, and do a good job of assessing the whole life cycle cost.



Selection of grab gantry cranes, not only to “ask the right”, but also to “see through”. By sorting out the above eight key issues, you can make an all-round consideration from the use of the scene, product performance, structural materials, the level of intelligence and after-sales service and other dimensions. If you have more questions about grab capacity, intelligent upgrade or energy-saving transformation, welcome to contact our team of professional engineers, we will provide you with customized solutions.

Why choose us?
Dongqi Crane has provided grab gantry crane solutions for 1200+ customers worldwide:
✅ Patented technology: self-developed “double closed-loop hydraulic control technology” to improve the efficiency of grab closure by 40%;
✅ Cost advantage: large-scale production + own supply chain, the price is 15% lower than the industry average;