Crane Engineering Insights — Standards, Selection, Compliance
Technical guides for engineers, facility managers and procurement teams specifying overhead lifting in Australia. Written from the engineer's chair — the questions we get asked on every quote, with the answers worked through against AS 1418 / AS 2550 by our in-house mechanical engineer, B.E. (Mech.).
How to Choose a Crane Supplier
The engineering, compliance, documentation and lifecycle questions to ask before you buy — and the red flags that separate engineers from box-shifters.
Read the guide →AS 1418 Explained
The Australian crane design standard, demystified. Structure of the AS 1418 series, what each part covers, key concepts (duty classes, design life), how it interacts with AS 2550.
Read the guide →Do I Need WorkSafe Design Registration?
State-by-state guide to crane design registration thresholds. When it's required, what documentation is needed, who signs off, typical timeline and cost.
Read the guide →Jib Crane vs Gantry Crane — How to Choose
Comparison: footprint, capacity, mobility, install complexity, cost. Which one suits your application — with a decision tree.
Read the guide →Single Girder vs Double Girder Crane
Structural comparison: capacity, hook height, span limits, duty class capability, cost difference. When each makes sense.
Read the guide →Jib Crane Slab Thickness — What's Required?
Engineering walkthrough: typical slab requirements by capacity and reach, factors affecting thickness, how to assess existing slab adequacy.
Read the guide →Crane Duty Classes Explained — A1 to A8
What the A1–A8 duty scale means, how load frequency and load spectrum set the class, why it drives fatigue design, and what to check in a quote.
Read the guide →How to Choose an Overhead Crane
An engineer's five-decision walkthrough — coverage, capacity, structure, duty and environment — that points you to the right crane type.
Read the guide →Got a specific question?
The articles cover the questions we get most often. If yours isn't here, send it through — every enquiry gets a written reply from a qualified mechanical engineer, usually within one business day.
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