Cost-effective lifting
Often more cost-effective than double girder systems where the lifting requirement does not demand a heavier-duty configuration.
UK-Wide · Design · Manufacture · Install
Single Girder Overhead Cranes
Granada Cranes designs, manufactures and installs single girder overhead cranes for industrial sites across the UK — a practical, efficient and cost-effective lifting solution for workshops, warehouses, production facilities, engineering sites and manufacturing environments.
One main bridge beam
Light & medium-duty lifting
Efficient use of space
UK-wide design & install
Designed around one main bridge beam, a single girder crane provides reliable overhead lifting while making effective use of available space — often suited to lighter and medium-duty applications where a full double girder crane may not be required. Whether you need a new crane, a replacement for an existing bay, or advice on the right configuration, Granada Cranes can help specify, install, test and maintain the right system.
01 · Overview
What is a single girder overhead crane?
A single girder overhead crane uses one main bridge beam to support the hoist and lifting system. The crane travels along runway beams or rails, allowing loads to be lifted and moved across a defined working area.
Single girder cranes are widely used in industrial environments because they offer a strong balance of performance, efficiency and cost. They can be an ideal choice where the required capacity, span and duty cycle do not demand a double girder system.
Commonly used for
- Manufacturing sites
- Engineering workshops
- Warehouses
- Fabrication facilities
- Maintenance bays
- Assembly areas
- Production lines
- Material handling areas
- Loading & unloading zones
- Light & medium-duty industrial lifting
02 · Suitability
When is a single girder crane the right choice?
A single girder overhead crane is often the right choice when a site needs reliable overhead lifting without the additional structural requirements, cost or complexity of a double girder system. It may be suitable if:
Lifting is light to medium-duty
The span suits a single bridge beam
Used in a workshop, warehouse or factory
Lifting height works with a single girder
You need a cost-effective solution
The structure suits runway beams/steelwork
You want to reduce manual handling
Regular but not extreme heavy-duty lifting
Granada Cranes can assess your site, lifting capacity, working area, headroom and usage requirements before recommending the most suitable crane configuration.
03 · Specification
Single girder crane design and specification.
Every single girder overhead crane should be specified around the site, the load and the way the crane will be used day to day. Choosing the wrong configuration can lead to poor performance, unnecessary cost or operational restrictions.
Granada Cranes can advise on the correct crane design and supporting structure to suit your operation — balancing capacity, span, headroom and duty cycle against your building and working environment.
Key specification considerations
- Safe working load
- Span
- Lifting height
- Available headroom
- Duty cycle
- Building structure
- Crane runway requirements
- Hoist type
- Travel speed
- Control method
- Power supply
- Working environment
- Future maintenance access
04 · Benefits
Benefits of single girder overhead cranes.
A single girder overhead crane can provide a dependable and efficient lifting solution for many industrial applications.
Efficient use of space
Operating overhead keeps floor space clear and allows loads to be moved safely across the working area.
Suits many environments
Commonly used in workshops, warehouses, manufacturing facilities and production environments.
Flexible specification
Designed around your required capacity, span, lifting height, hoist type and control method.
Lower structural demand
Compared with heavier-duty configurations, a single girder system can be more practical for certain buildings and environments.
Long-term support
Backed after installation with servicing, maintenance, inspection, repairs and modernisation.
05 · Single vs Double
Single girder vs double girder overhead cranes.
The choice depends on the lifting requirement, span, headroom, duty cycle and site conditions. Granada Cranes can advise which option is more suitable for your site.
Single girder
Usually suited to lighter and medium-duty applications where one bridge beam can provide the required performance — often the most practical and cost-effective solution.
Double girder
Usually more suitable for heavier loads, longer spans, higher duty applications or where greater lifting height is required — the safer or more efficient long-term option in those cases.
06 · Hoists
Hoists for single girder cranes.
The hoist is a key part of any single girder overhead crane. The correct specification depends on the load, lifting height, duty cycle, operating speed and working environment — using suitable equipment such as electric chain hoists or wire rope hoists depending on the application.
Granada Cranes can advise on the right hoist setup for your crane, matched to how the system will be used and maintained over its working life.
Hoist setup considerations
- Lifting capacity
- Hoist type
- Lift height
- Speed requirements
- Control method
- Maintenance access
- Duty cycle
- Safety features
- Replacement & future servicing needs
07 · Installation
Single girder crane installation.
Installation must be carefully planned around the building, working area, access and lifting application. The crane, hoist, runway system and supporting structure all need to work together safely.
Granada Cranes can support the full installation process, from initial site survey through to testing, certification, handover and ongoing aftercare.
Our installation support can include
- Site survey & lifting requirement review
- Crane design & specification
- Crane runway & rail assessment
- Supporting steelwork requirements
- Hoist & control system selection
- Professional installation
- Testing & certification
- Handover & aftercare
- Ongoing servicing & maintenance
08 · Applications
Single girder cranes for UK industrial sites.
These systems are particularly useful where loads need to be lifted and moved repeatedly within a defined area. Typical applications include:
Moving raw materials
Loading & unloading components
Supporting assembly processes
Moving fabricated parts
Handling machinery parts
Supporting maintenance teams
Improving workshop efficiency
Reducing manual handling risks
Supporting production workflows
Whether the crane is required for occasional lifting or regular production use, Granada Cranes can help specify a solution that suits the site and the way your team works.
09 · Why Granada
Why choose Granada Cranes?
The crane needs to be correctly specified, safely installed and properly supported throughout its working life.
Independent crane expertise
Experience across a wide range of crane systems, hoists and industrial lifting applications.
Complete crane support
From initial specification through manufacture, installation, testing, certification and ongoing maintenance.
Practical specification advice
We help you decide whether a single girder crane is right, or whether another configuration would suit your site better.
Long-term servicing
Servicing, maintenance contracts, inspections, repairs and modernisation after installation.
UK-wide industrial support
Helping businesses across the UK improve lifting safety, reliability and efficiency.
10 · Get Started
Planning a single girder overhead crane project?
If you are planning a new crane system, replacing an existing crane or reviewing your lifting setup, Granada Cranes can help. To work through the requirements, it helps to know:
What you need to lift
Required lifting capacity
Approximate span
Required lifting height
Available headroom
Site layout
Building structure
How often the crane will be used
Any existing runway beams or rails
Installation, testing & servicing support
Even if you do not have all of this information yet, our team can help you work through the requirements.
FAQs
Single girder overhead crane questions.
What is a single girder overhead crane?
A single girder overhead crane is a crane system that uses one main bridge beam to support the hoist and lifting equipment. It is commonly used in workshops, warehouses, manufacturing sites and other industrial environments.
What is the difference between single girder and double girder cranes?
A single girder crane uses one main bridge beam, while a double girder crane uses two. Single girder cranes are often suitable for lighter and medium-duty applications, while double girder cranes are usually used for heavier loads, longer spans or more demanding duty cycles.
What lifting capacities are single girder cranes suitable for?
The suitable capacity depends on the crane design, span, duty cycle, building structure and application. Granada Cranes can advise on the correct capacity and configuration for your site.
Are single girder cranes suitable for workshops?
Yes. Single girder overhead cranes are commonly used in workshops, engineering facilities, fabrication areas and maintenance bays where reliable overhead lifting is required.
Can Granada Cranes install a single girder overhead crane?
Yes. Granada Cranes can support the full process, including site survey, specification, supply, installation, testing, certification and maintenance.
Can a single girder crane be fitted with a wire rope hoist?
Yes. Depending on the lifting requirement and crane design, a single girder overhead crane can be specified with suitable hoisting equipment, including electric chain hoists or wire rope hoists.
Is a single girder crane cheaper than a double girder crane?
In many suitable applications, a single girder crane can be more cost-effective than a double girder crane. However, the right option depends on the required lifting capacity, span, headroom, duty cycle and site conditions.
Can you service and maintain single girder cranes?
Yes. Granada Cranes provides servicing, maintenance, LOLER inspection support, repairs and modernisation for overhead crane systems.
Single Girder Cranes · UK-Wide
Speak to a single girder crane specialist.
Need help choosing the right crane system for your site? Granada Cranes can specify, install, test and maintain single girder overhead cranes for industrial environments across the UK.
