The lowest crane quotation is not necessarily the lowest project cost. A price may cover the bridge, hoist, trolley and basic controls while excluding runway work

For a typical top-running overhead crane, span is the horizontal distance between the centerline of one runway rail and the centerline of the opposite runway rail.

A rail-mounted gantry crane follows a fixed runway and is normally the better starting point for a stable production or storage lane, repetitive high-duty handling, heavy loads

For cranes in regular service, inspection programs commonly separate work into daily or pre-shift checks, frequent inspections and periodic inspections. In terminology used by U.S. OSHA 1910.179,

For a top-running overhead crane, span is normally measured horizontally from the centerline of one runway rail to the centerline of the opposite runway rail

Choose a ship-to-shore crane (STS) for vessel loading and unloading at a marine berth. Its defining parameters are vessel outreach, backreach, lifting height, rail gauge, rated load under the spreader, hoisting/travel speeds, wind condition and target ship moves per hour.

Start with four linked decisions: capacity must cover the load and all applicable lifting accessories; lift must cover actual hook travel while fitting the available headroom; speed must balance cycle time with load control

Choose a full-gantry crane when the lifting area is outdoors, the building cannot accept crane reactions, independent foundations are preferred, or the runway must remain structurally separate from the facility

OSHA 1910.179 is the federal general-industry standard for overhead and gantry cranes with the covered travel characteristics. A buyer should use it to define what must be incorporated into the equipment and what must be completed at the workplace before the crane enters service

For an initial budget estimate, a crane manufacturer normally needs the crane type or application, rated capacity, span, lifting height, operating location, approximate duty