Product Range · Overhead Lifting

Overhead Cranes Australia — Engineer-Designed for Every Application

Five product families, one engineering approach. Whether you're lifting 125 kg at a single workstation or 50 t across a fabrication bay, Sorian designs, supplies and installs the right crane for your operation — Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and regional sites.

Choosing the right overhead crane comes down to three questions: what area does the lift need to cover, what's the heaviest single load, and what does the building or site let you mount? Different combinations land you on different crane types. A jib crane and a gantry crane both lift loads — but they solve different problems, and using one where the other belongs is the single most common reason crane projects go wrong.

This page summarises the five product families we supply and where each one fits. For deeper technical specifications, follow the link on each card to the dedicated product page.

01 / Product Range

Five crane types — pick by application.

Jib Cranes

Freestanding, wall-mounted, pillar-mounted, track-mounted and articulated. 125 kg to 3.2 t with reach up to 6 m. The right choice for point-of-use lifting at a fixed workstation, loading bay or maintenance pit.

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Overhead Bridge Cranes

Single-girder up to 20 t and double-girder up to 50 t, with spans up to 28 m. Full-bay coverage on building runway beams. The standard answer for manufacturing, fabrication and process facilities.

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Workstation Cranes

Cold-rolled enclosed-track or aluminium runways, free-standing or underslung. 125 kg to 2 t MRC with spans up to 14 m. Quiet, modular, low-friction — built for repetitive production lifting.

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Gantry & Portal Cranes

Workshop, fixed portal and mobile. 500 kg to 6 t. Self-supporting on floor rails or castors — no overhead structure needed. The right choice for outdoor yards, leased premises and low-clearance buildings.

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Electric Hoists

Electric chain hoists 125 kg to 20 t and wire rope hoists 1 t to 250 t. Supplied as standalone units to replace or upgrade existing cranes, or as part of a complete crane package.

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02 / At a Glance

Compare the five crane types.

Capacity ranges, span/reach, the application each is best suited to, and whether it sits in our standard range or needs custom engineering.

Crane Type Capacity Span / Reach Best For Standard / Custom
Jib Cranes 125 kg – 3.2 t Reach to 6 m Workstation lifting, loading bays, maintenance pits Standard
Overhead Bridge (EOT) 500 kg – 50 t Span to 28 m Full-bay coverage, fabrication, manufacturing, process Standard to 20 t single-girder; engineered above
Workstation Cranes 125 kg – 2 t MRC Span to 14 m Repetitive production lifting, assembly, machining cells Standard
Gantry & Portal 500 kg – 6 t Span to spec Outdoor yards, leased premises, no overhead structure Standard
Electric Hoists 125 kg – 250 t n/a (lift unit) Standalone hoist or part of crane package Standard
03 / How to Choose

Not sure which crane fits?

Our selector tool asks three questions — coverage area, capacity, and what your building or site lets you mount — and gives you an engineer-reviewed recommendation. No prices, no obligation, just the right crane type for your application.

If your application is more complex — multiple cranes, custom configurations, retrofits, or borderline duty cycles — talk to us directly. A qualified mechanical engineer reviews every enquiry before we respond.

Use the crane selector → Talk to an engineer →

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between an overhead crane and a jib crane?

An overhead bridge crane covers an entire bay — it travels along runway beams that span the building, with a hoist that traverses the bridge. A jib crane covers a fixed circle around a single pivot point, mounted to a column, wall or pillar. Bridge cranes are the answer when loads need to move across the whole shop; jib cranes are the answer when lifting happens at one defined workstation.

Which crane is best for my workshop?

It depends on three things: the area you need to cover (point-of-use vs full-bay vs outdoor), the heaviest single lift, and whether your building can carry the crane structurally. Most fabrication shops up to 5 t use a single-girder EOT bridge crane. Workstations doing repetitive lifts at one location use jib or workstation cranes. Open yards and lightweight buildings use gantries. Use our crane selector for an engineer-reviewed recommendation.

Do I need WorkSafe design registration?

WorkSafe design registration is required in Australia for cranes with Maximum Rated Capacity (MRC) greater than 10 tonnes. Below that threshold, registration isn't required but the crane must still be designed, installed and commissioned to AS 1418 with engineering documentation. Sorian manages the design registration process where it applies, including the registered engineer's review.

How long does delivery and installation take?

Standard cranes within our standard range typically run 8 to 14 weeks from order to commissioning. Larger single-girder, double-girder, double-trolley or long-span cranes are quoted with a project schedule. Runway upgrades or new column structures can extend the timeline by 4 to 8 weeks. Jib cranes and workstation systems generally land at the shorter end of the range; large EOT bridge cranes at the longer end.

Can I get a custom configuration?

Yes. Most Sorian cranes are engineered against the customer's specific application — building structure, duty cycle, load profile, environment. Custom variants we commonly engineer include explosion-proof for hazardous areas, food-grade stainless for processing, hot-dip galvanised for coastal exposure, double-trolley for tandem lifts, and articulated booms for reach into machine enclosures. Send us your application and we'll come back with an engineered specification.

Ready to scope a crane?

Send us your application — capacity, span, structure and location — and we'll come back with an engineered recommendation and a fixed price.

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