Portable Gantries

Choosing the Right Portable Gantry

The most suitable portable gantry depends on more than the weight of the load. The lifting capacity, available height, required span, working environment and how often the gantry needs to be moved should all be considered.

Key factors include:

• Working Load Limit (WLL) – the gantry must have a suitable rated capacity for the intended load and lifting arrangement
• Span – the distance between the gantry legs needs to provide sufficient clearance around the load and the working area
• Height under beam – available lifting height can be important when working in workshops, vehicles, machinery areas or other restricted spaces
• Portability – lightweight or demountable gantries can be easier to transport, assemble and store
• Construction material – steel provides a robust solution for many workshop and industrial applications, while aluminium can provide a lighter option where portability is particularly important
• Floor conditions – mobile gantries with castors require a suitable, level and load-bearing surface
• Hoist and trolley compatibility – the lifting equipment and beam trolley must be suitable for the gantry’s rated capacity and configuration
• Working environment – indoor workshops, outdoor sites and temporary lifting locations may require different gantry designs

Where lifting requirements change regularly, an adjustable or demountable gantry can provide greater flexibility than a fixed lifting system.

Types of Portable Gantries

Our portable gantry range includes different designs for workshop, maintenance, site and industrial lifting applications.

Mobile Workshop Gantries

Mobile workshop gantries provide a practical lifting solution for garages, maintenance departments, engineering workshops and production environments where loads need to be moved or positioned at different locations.

Steel mobile gantries can provide a robust solution for regular lifting tasks while allowing the gantry to be positioned over the load when required. Depending on the design, features can include castors, adjustable configurations and compatibility with manual or powered hoists.

Lightweight Steel Gantries

Lightweight steel gantries are designed to provide the strength of a steel lifting structure while remaining practical for applications where the equipment needs to be moved or stored.

The DALE PORTC Workshop Light Steel Gantry, for example, uses the Erikkila PROSYSTEM® light crane system and is available from 250kg to 1t WLL, with spans and heights suitable for workshop and light industrial applications.

Explore the Full Dale Lifting and Handling portable gantry range.

Aluminium Portable Gantries

Aluminium portable gantries are particularly useful where low equipment weight, transportability and rapid assembly are important.

The WiMAG portable gantry range includes lightweight aluminium designs that can be assembled and dismantled for transportation between locations. The WiMAG 525, for example, has a 500kg WLL and adjustable height and beam span, with individual components designed for practical manual handling.

This type of gantry can be particularly useful for contractors, maintenance teams and engineers who require a temporary lifting point at different locations.

Explore the WiMAG Portable Gantry Range.

Steel Mobile Lifting Gantries

For heavier workshop and industrial applications, steel mobile lifting gantries can provide greater lifting capacities while retaining the flexibility of a movable system.

Our DALE range includes workshop and steel mobile gantries covering different WLL requirements, including models from 250kg through to 5t.

Depending on the model, options can include braced or unbraced designs, different beam spans and heights, and configurations suitable for use with compatible lifting equipment.

Portable Gantries for Different Applications

Portable gantries can be used where a fixed lifting system isn’t available or where lifting requirements change between locations.

Typical applications include:

• Workshop maintenance and machinery servicing
• Motor, pump and gearbox removal
• Equipment installation and positioning
• Manufacturing and engineering operations
• Construction and site maintenance
• Vehicle and plant maintenance
• Warehouse and stores operations
• Loading and unloading applications
• Temporary lifting points
• Mobile engineering and maintenance work
• Lifting and handling in confined or restricted areas

The appropriate gantry should always be selected according to the specific load, lifting arrangement, working environment and manufacturer’s requirements.

Portable Gantries for Temporary and Mobile Lifting

One of the main advantages of a portable gantry is the ability to create a lifting point without installing permanent overhead lifting equipment.

A mobile gantry can be positioned over the load when required and moved or dismantled afterwards. This can make it particularly useful for maintenance teams, contractors and facilities where lifting requirements are occasional or take place across different areas.

Demountable designs can also be useful where the gantry needs to be transported between sites or stored when not in use.

However, portability does not remove the need to consider the suitability of the floor, working area and complete lifting arrangement. Mobile gantries should only be used on suitable surfaces and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.

Gantry Hoists and Beam Trolleys

A portable gantry is normally used with a suitable hoist and, where required, a beam trolley to raise and position the load.

Depending on the gantry design and application, compatible equipment can include:

• Manual chain hoists
• Electric chain hoists
• Push or plain beam trolleys
• Geared beam trolleys
• Beam trolley and hoist combinations

The hoist, trolley and any lifting accessories must have suitable capacity and be compatible with the gantry and intended lifting arrangement.

Some portable gantries are supplied with a beam trolley as part of the system, while others can be configured according to the user’s requirements. For example, the WiMAG 525 is supplied with an integrated beam trolley and offers optional accessories including a manual chain hoist and trolley locking device.

Portable Gantry Safety and Working Load Limits

Portable gantries are lifting equipment and must be selected, assembled and used correctly for the intended application.

Before lifting, the gantry should be positioned on a suitable surface and assembled in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions and inspected by a competent person. The rated Working Load Limit (WLL) must not be exceeded, and the complete lifting arrangement should be checked to ensure the gantry, hoist, trolley and lifting accessories are suitable for the load.

Particular attention should be given to:

• Ground or floor condition
• Gantry assembly and locking mechanisms
• Castors and wheel condition on mobile models
• Beam trolley compatibility
• Hoist capacity
• Load stability
• Centre of gravity
• Vertical lifting and avoidance of side loading
• Keeping personnel clear of suspended loads

Portable gantries should only be operated by suitably trained personnel and inspected and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer’s requirements and applicable lifting regulations.

Portable Gantry Inspection and LOLER

Portable gantries and the lifting equipment used with them should be appropriately inspected and maintained to ensure they remain suitable for use.

Depending on the equipment and application, lifting equipment may be subject to thorough examination under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations (LOLER).

Inspection requirements can include examination of the gantry structure, lifting points, connections, castors, beam trolley and associated lifting equipment for conditions such as damage, deformation, excessive wear or corrosion.

If you need support with lifting equipment inspection, LOLER examinations, testing or certification, our team can help with your requirements.

Contact our Manchester and Sheffield teams about your LOLER requirements.

Bespoke and Specialist Gantry Solutions

Standard portable gantries can provide an effective solution for many lifting applications, but some requirements may call for a more specialised system.

Where factors such as lifting capacity, span, height, access restrictions or the working environment fall outside a standard configuration, our team can help identify a suitable lifting solution.

Working alongside our divisional partner Dale Lifting and Handling Specialists, Lifting Gear Products can provide technical support and tailored lifting solutions for more specialist applications.

This can include helping to select a suitable gantry configuration, compatible hoist and trolley equipment, or developing a lifting solution around the requirements of the application.

Need Help Choosing a Portable Gantry?

If you’re unsure which portable gantry is suitable for your application, our team can help.

Tell us the load weight, required WLL, available height, required span, lifting environment and how the gantry needs to be moved or positioned, along with any other requirements you have.

We can help you identify a suitable portable gantry and compatible lifting equipment for the application.

Browse our range of portable gantries or contact our team to discuss your lifting requirements.