Looking to improve throughput, safety, and layout in your fabrication shop? This guide covers the best fabrication lifting solutions — from overhead cranes for fabrication to jib cranes for fabrication shops, fabrication industry hoists, and vacuum lifting systems. As an independent supplier, Granada Cranes designs, installs, and maintains complete fabrication cranes and fabrication lifting equipment built around your workflow.
Common Lifting Challenges in Fabrication
- Moving sheet metal safely without damage or manual strain
- Handling welded frames and bulky assemblies between work cells
- Maintaining flow in tight bays with changing layouts
- Balancing speed, precision, and operator safety
- Staying compliant with LOLER, PUWER, and BS EN 15011
The Best Cranes for Fabrication Workshops
Overhead Gantry Cranes (Workshop Overhead Cranes)
For moving plate, beams, and complete assemblies across a bay, overhead gantry cranes provide consistent, repeatable handling. We commonly configure single girder cranes for fabrication in the 5–20 ton range — a sweet spot for most metalwork tasks.
Single Girder Cranes for Fabrication
Great for medium-duty work with excellent hook coverage and value. Ideal when you need a 10 ton overhead crane for fabrication or a 15 ton system without moving to a double girder.
Explore our capacity pages:
- 5 ton Overhead Gantry Crane
- 10 ton Overhead Gantry Crane
- 15 ton Overhead Gantry Crane
- 20 ton Overhead Gantry Crane
Jib Cranes for Fabrication Shops
Swing jib cranes bring quick, localised lifting to welding stations, cutting tables, and assembly cells. They improve ergonomics and reduce waiting time on the main crane.
Hoists & Monorails
For repetitive, linear moves, wire rope hoists, electric chain hoists, and monorail systems streamline material transfer and work-in-progress handling. These are core components of many fabrication handling systems.
Vacuum Lifting for Sheet Metal
Vacuum lifters are the safest, fastest way to move sheet, plate, and panels — essential for sheet metal fabrication lifting solutions. They reduce damage, improve speed, and cut manual handling risks.
Quick Comparison: Which Crane Where?
| Task | Recommended System | Why it Fits |
|---|---|---|
| Move sheet and plate to laser/plasma | Vacuum lifter + overhead crane | Fast, damage-free handling; minimal manual effort |
| Transfer welded assemblies between bays | Single girder overhead crane | Broad coverage; reliable, repeatable lifting |
| Local lifting at welding/fit-up stations | Swing jib crane | On-the-spot handling; improves cell productivity |
| Repetitive end-to-end moves | Monorail with chain/rope hoist | Simple, efficient line flow |
Chain vs Wire Rope Hoists in Fabrication
- Chain hoists — compact, cost-effective, great for workstations and shorter lifts.
- Wire rope hoists — faster, smoother, and built for higher capacities and longer hook paths.
Because we’re independent, we specify the right kit for your duty cycle and budget — whether that’s an SWF chain hoist for a workstation or a wire rope hoist from SWF or OMIS for bay-wide lifting.
Capacity Guides for Fabrication Shops
- 5 ton cranes — tooling, small frames, sheet packs
- 10 ton cranes — mid-size assemblies and beams
- 15 ton cranes — heavy frames and large jigs
- 20 ton cranes — large fabrications and plant items
Case in Point: Altex Engineering (Calne) Ltd
A live example from our portfolio: a 6,000 kg single girder overhead crane using an SWF low-headroom wire rope hoist, installed in a clean indoor fabrication environment. With inverter-controlled travel and condition monitoring, the system delivers smooth handling, reduced wear, and higher productivity. Read the case study.
Automation, Safety, and Compliance
- Inverter control for sway-reduced travel and precise positioning
- Anti-collision options for multi-crane bays
- Radio control and load display for better operator visibility
- Compliance with LOLER, PUWER, and BS EN 15011
Servicing, Maintenance, and Modernisation
We support the full lifecycle of fabrication cranes — from install to upgrades:
- Breakdown & repairs — rapid response, all makes and models
- Planned preventative maintenance — keep uptime high and costs predictable
- Crane modernisation — new hoists, controls, drives, and safety tech for older cranes
If you’re planning a fabrication workshop crane installation (UK) or need fabrication crane servicing and fabrication crane maintenance, we’re ready to help.
Why Granada Cranes?
- Independent — we specify across leading brands (SWF, OMIS, Stahl, Liftket)
- Built to your layout — made-to-measure systems for real-world workflows
- End-to-end delivery — design, manufacture, install, commission, support
- Nationwide engineers — fast call-out and UK-wide coverage
- Future-ready — easy to scale as your fabrication plant grows
Ready to Upgrade Your Fabrication Lifting?
Whether you need workshop overhead cranes, metal fabrication cranes, or a full crane system for a fabrication plant, we’ll design a solution that fits your space and targets.
Get in touch for a no-obligation chat with our team.
