Single Girder Overhead Crane: The Complete Guide

I've been in the crane business long enough to know one thing: most buyers don't need a massive double girder system. They just think they do.

Walk into any small-to-medium factory in Vietnam, Poland, or Saudi Arabia, and you'll see single girder cranes doing the heavy lifting — literally. They're the workhorses that keep production lines moving, warehouses humming, and budgets intact.

So here's a clear, no-fluff guide to single girder overhead cranes. What they are, what they cost, when to buy one — and when to walk away.

What Exactly Is a Single Girder Overhead Crane?

One beam. One hoist running on the bottom flange. That's it.

Unlike double girder cranes where the trolley rides on top of two beams, the single girder design uses an under-running hoist that hangs from the bottom of a single I-beam. The whole thing travels on end trucks along parallel runway tracks.

Standard Specs at a Glance

Here's what a typical SIEC single girder overhead crane looks like on paper:

Parameter	Typical Range
Lifting Capacity	1 – 20 tons
Span	3 – 31.5 meters
Lifting Height	6 – 18 meters
Working Duty	A3 – A5 (Light to Medium)
Hoist Options	Wire rope hoist or chain hoist
Crane Travel Speed	10 – 30 m/min
Trolley Travel Speed	10 – 20 m/min
Control	Pendant or wireless remote
Power Supply	380V / 415V / 480V, 3-phase, 50/60 Hz

The 5-ton and 10-ton configurations are our most requested by far. That's the sweet spot for metal fabrication, machine shops, and logistics warehouses.

Single Girder vs Double Girder: The Real Difference

I get asked this every single week. Here's the honest breakdown:

Factor	Single Girder	Double Girder
Price	20–35% cheaper	Higher initial investment
Headroom needed	Less — hoist runs below the beam	More — trolley sits on top
Max capacity	Up to 20 tons	Up to 500+ tons
Lift height	Limited by hook-to-beam clearance	Higher — hook space is smaller
Maintenance	Simpler, cheaper	More complex
Duty cycle	A3–A5 (light to medium)	A5–A8 (medium to heavy)
Travel speed	Moderate	Faster
Installation time	2–3 days	4–7 days
Best for	Workshops, warehouses, light fab	Steel mills, shipyards, heavy industry

Where Single Girder Cranes Work Best

Not every factory floor needs a monster crane. Here's where single girder really earns its keep:

Manufacturing Workshops

Machine loading, assembly line feeding, part handling — these are daily grinds, not heavy lifts. A 5-ton or 10-ton single girder crane handles them without the cost premium of a double girder system.

Warehouses & Distribution Centers

Goods receiving, storage retrieval, truck loading. Single girder cranes give you the coverage at a fraction of the price of a double girder or gantry setup.

Steel & Metal Fabrication Shops

Moving steel plates, pipes, and fabricated components. If your heaviest piece is under 10 tons and you don't run 3-shift continuous operation, single girder is your crane.

Automotive Parts Plants

Engine blocks, transmissions, body panels — all well within the 5–10 ton range that single girder handles comfortably.

How to Pick the Right Single Girder Crane

Here's the process we use at SIEC with every buyer:

1. Know your max load. Add 20% safety margin to your heaviest piece. A 5-ton crane is fine for 4-ton loads, but if you ever plan to lift 6 tons, go to 10 tons.
2. Measure your span. The distance between runway rails determines the beam size. Under 20 meters is standard. Above 25 meters and the beam gets heavy enough that double girder starts looking competitive.
3. Check headroom. Single girder needs less vertical space because the hoist runs below the beam. This is a big advantage in low-ceiling buildings.
4. Think about duty cycle. How many lifts per hour? If it's 10–20 lifts on a light workload, any single girder works. If you're running 40+ lifts per hour, upgrade to a higher duty class.
5. Decide on controls. Pendant is simple and cheap. Remote control costs more but lets the operator stand in a safer position with better visibility.

What About European Standard Compliance?

If you're exporting to Europe, the Middle East, or Southeast Asia, you'll hear a lot about "European standard" cranes. Here's what that actually means:

• CE certification — required for the European market. Covers machinery safety, electrical compliance, and structural integrity.
• FEM standards — the European material handling design code. Classifies cranes by duty cycle (1Am to 4m) which maps to A3–A8.
• ISO 9001 — quality management. Most serious Chinese manufacturers (including SIEC) are ISO 9001 certified.

A CE-certified single girder crane from a reputable Chinese manufacturer gives you the same performance as a European-built unit at 30–50% lower cost. The key is verified certification, not just claims on a website.

Estimated Costs (2026)

These are ballpark figures from our actual quotes. Your price depends on span, hoist type, control options, and destination:

Capacity	Typical Span	Estimated Price (FOB)
3 ton	10–15 m	USD 6,000 – 10,000
5 ton	12–18 m	USD 8,000 – 15,000
10 ton	14–22 m	USD 12,000 – 22,000
15 ton	16–25 m	USD 18,000 – 30,000
20 ton	18–28 m	USD 25,000 – 40,000

Add roughly USD 2,000–5,000 for installation and another USD 3,000–8,000 for the runway steelwork, depending on your building structure.

Final Thoughts

Single girder overhead cranes are the most practical choice for 7 out of 10 industrial buyers. They're affordable, easy to install, and reliable for the light-to-medium workloads that make up most of the market.

The mistake I see most often? Buyers overspecifying. They buy a double girder system for 5-ton loads because they think it's "better." Better at draining your budget, maybe. Single girder is purpose-built for this sweet spot — and it does the job well.

Still unsure? Talk to us. We've shipped cranes to 40+ countries and we can give you a straight recommendation — not a sales pitch.

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Data Sources:
SIEC Cranes product specifications (2026) · FEM 9.751 crane classification standards · CE Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC · Industry price surveys across Asian and European markets