What is a wall mounted jib crane?
A wall mounted jib crane is a jib crane whose pivot bracket is fixed to an existing structural column or load-bearing wall, rather than to a floor-mounted pillar of its own. A horizontal boom slews about that bracket, and a hoist and trolley travel along the boom to lift and position the load within the swing arc. Because there is no base plate or foundation column occupying the floor, the configuration reclaims floor space and suits work cells laid out against a wall or building line.
Sorian designs, manufactures and installs wall mounted jib cranes to AS 1418, with the hoist and any radio remote supplied as matched components. The two common variants are the wall-bracket jib (a fixed pivot, boom slews) and the wall-travelling jib (the whole jib runs along a wall-mounted track, sweeping a long rectangular zone).
How a wall mounted jib crane works
The wall bracket transfers two reactions into the building: a horizontal pull at the top pivot and a horizontal push at the bottom pivot, forming a couple that resists the overturning moment of the load at reach. The supporting structure — column, wall and their connections — must be verified to carry those reactions, which is why the building steel or concrete is part of the design, not an afterthought. Slew is usually manual (the operator walks the load around) but can be motorised. Hoisting is by an electric or manual hoist sized to the rated load.
Typical specifications
| MRC (Maximum Rated Capacity) | Commonly 125 kg to ~2 t for wall-bracket jibs; heavier capacities are feasible where the supporting structure allows. |
| Reach (boom length) | Typically 2 m to 7 m. Longer reach increases the moment and the wall reactions for a given load. |
| Slew arc | Up to about 180 degrees for a wall-bracket jib (the wall blocks the rest). A freestanding pillar jib is needed for full 360-degree coverage. |
| Slew actuation | Manual push is standard; motorised slew is available for heavier or higher-cycle duties. |
| Duty class | Generally light to moderate (around A2-A4 under AS 1418), matched to lift frequency. |
| Mounting | Bolted bracket to a verified steel column or load-bearing wall; no floor foundation required. |
When a wall mounted jib crane is the right choice
- Floor space is at a premium — no pillar or base plate means the floor below stays clear for traffic, machinery or storage.
- Sound structure already exists — a building column or load-bearing wall can be verified to take the pivot reactions.
- Coverage of roughly half a circle is enough — the work happens in front of the wall, not all around a point.
- Localised, repetitive lifting — loading a machine, a welding bay, a packing station or a vehicle bay against a wall.
- Lower capex than a pillar jib — reusing the building structure avoids a foundation and a fabricated column.
- Working under another crane — a wall jib can serve a cell beneath the path of an overhead bridge crane without interfering with it.
Limitations to weigh up
- The building must take the load. The column or wall and its connections have to be checked for the horizontal reactions; weak or unknown structure may need reinforcement or rule the option out.
- Slew is restricted. You cannot get full 360-degree coverage — the wall is in the way. If you need all-round reach, a freestanding pillar jib is the answer.
- Capacity is bounded by the structure. Very heavy loads at long reach generate large reactions that an existing wall may not accept.
- Mounting height is fixed by the structure. Under-boom clearance depends on where a sound fixing exists on the wall or column.
Wall mounted vs other jib configurations
A wall-bracket jib reuses the building and saves floor space, but trades away full slew and depends on the structure. A freestanding (pillar) jib stands on its own foundation, gives up to 360-degree slew and does not load the building, at the cost of a foundation and floor footprint. A wall-travelling jib runs the jib along a wall-mounted track to sweep a long rectangular area rather than an arc. Choosing between them is a structural and coverage question — what the building can carry, and the shape of the zone you need to serve.
Talk to an engineer
If you are weighing a wall mounted jib crane, the deciding factor is usually the structure it bolts to. Send through your load, reach, the swing arc you need and a note on the wall or column and we will confirm whether a wall-bracket jib suits, or whether a pillar or travelling configuration is the better fit, and design it to AS 1418.
Frequently asked questions
What is a wall mounted jib crane?
A wall mounted jib crane is a slewing jib whose pivot bracket bolts to an existing structural column or load-bearing wall instead of to its own floor pillar. A boom swings about the bracket and a hoist travels along it, giving localised lifting coverage of up to about 180 degrees while leaving the floor below clear.
How much can a wall mounted jib crane lift?
Wall-bracket jib cranes commonly carry a Maximum Rated Capacity (MRC) from around 125 kg up to about 2 tonnes, with heavier capacities possible where the supporting structure can take the reactions. The achievable capacity is governed by the load combined with the reach, because both drive the horizontal forces into the wall.
Does a wall mounted jib crane need a foundation?
No separate floor foundation is required, which is one of its main advantages. Instead, the existing column or load-bearing wall and its connections must be verified to carry the horizontal pivot reactions. If that structure is not adequate, it may need reinforcement before the jib can be installed.
Can a wall mounted jib crane slew a full 360 degrees?
No — the wall blocks part of the swing, so a wall-bracket jib typically slews up to about 180 degrees. If full 360-degree coverage is required, a freestanding pillar jib mounted on its own foundation is the right configuration.