Small Crane

In the industrial landscape, the term Small Crane does not refer to a light-duty or non-critical piece of equipment. Instead, it describes a class of essential, permanently installed lifting systems designed for high-frequency, localized material handling. While they may be smaller in scale than massive gantry or port cranes, these machines are the backbone of production lines, workshops, and assembly cells, routinely handling loads from 500 kg to 20 tons.

This category includes critical equipment such as:

• Jib Cranes: These cranes, which can be pillar-mounted or wall-mounted, provide a circular or semi-circular area of coverage for lifting and moving loads within a specific work cell.
• Workstation Bridge Cranes: These are complete, scaled-down overhead crane systems, often running on freestanding structures, designed to provide full rectangular hoist coverage over a specific manufacturing or assembly area.
• Monorail Hoists: Consisting of an electric hoist that travels along a single, fixed beam (monorail), these systems are ideal for moving materials along a defined, linear path, such as from one machine to the next.

The Non-Negotiable Role of the Hoist Brake

While the crane itself may be considered “small,” the potential energy of a suspended load is immense. Consequently, the braking system on a small crane’s hoist is arguably its most critical component. In virtually all modern electric hoists, the primary holding and safety brake is an integrated, fail-safe motor brake.

This is not a simple brake; it is an engineered safety device with a specific design:

• Spring-Applied: The braking force is generated by a set of powerful springs that are mechanically engaged by default. The brake is always “on” unless power is applied to release it.
• Electromagnetically Released: When the operator presses the “lift” or “lower” button on the pendant, an electromagnetic coil is energized. This coil creates a magnetic field that overcomes the spring force and releases the brake, allowing the motor to turn.
• Inherently Fail-Safe: The moment power is cut—either intentionally by the operator, due to a power outage, or because of a component failure—the electromagnetic field collapses. The springs instantly and automatically re-engage the brake, providing a positive, mechanical lock on the motor shaft and securely holding the load in place.

The term “Small Crane” belies the critical safety function these machines perform. Their ability to safely and reliably handle heavy loads is not a function of the motor or the gearbox, but of the robust, fail-safe brake integrated within the hoist. This small but vital component provides the ultimate guarantee against load drift or a catastrophic drop, making it the heart of the crane’s safety system.