I walked into a maintenance shop in Vietnam last year. They had 4 fixed jib cranes — one at each work bay. Each one cost them money, took up floor space, and only half of them were in use at any given time. The owner asked me: "Is there a cheaper way to cover more workstations?"
That is exactly the problem a traveling jib crane solves.
Think of it as a jib crane on wheels — it runs along a rail system, either on the floor or mounted to the wall, and serves a linear path instead of just one circle. One crane. Multiple stations. Less equipment cost. More coverage.
I have sold these to truck repair shops in Saudi Arabia, assembly lines in Poland, and electrical workshops in Indonesia. Every time, the decision comes down to the same question: how many positions do you need to lift at, and can a single mobile crane cover them all?
This guide covers what a traveling jib crane is, standard specs, the two main mounting types, how the pricing works, and the best applications I have seen them deliver real ROI.
What Is a Traveling Jib Crane?
A traveling jib crane is exactly what it sounds like — a jib crane that travels.
Instead of being bolted to the floor or wall at one fixed point, the whole assembly mounts on a carriage that moves along a rail. The boom can still rotate 270° to 360° to reach around the carriage. But now the carriage itself can reposition along the track, extending the coverage from a single circle to a whole corridor.
Key difference: A fixed jib crane covers a circle. A traveling jib crane covers a rectangle — width from the boom radius, length from the rail travel distance. That rectangle can span the entire length of your workshop if you install the rail that long.
Two main mounting options exist:
- Floor-rail traveling jib crane — The rail is mounted on the workshop floor. The jib column rides along the rail on a heavy-duty carriage. Best for open workshop floors where you can pour a concrete foundation for the rail.
- Wall-mounted traveling jib crane — The rail is mounted to the wall at a height. The jib boom hangs from the wall rail. Best for narrow aisles where floor space is already tight. Commonly seen in automotive repair shops and warehouse picking lanes.
Both types share the same principle: the jib moves linearly to extend its working area. Your choice depends on your building layout and whether the floor or the wall has the space and structural capacity.
Standard Specifications at a Glance
Here is what a typical SIEC European-standard traveling jib crane looks like. We build these to FEM standards with branded components throughout:
| Parameter | Standard Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Lifting Capacity | 0.125 – 2 tons | Most orders: 0.5t, 1t, 2t |
| Jib Radius | 2 – 6 m | Longer radius = lower capacity |
| Lifting Height | 2 – 6 m | Depends on building clearance |
| Travel Distance | Custom per rail length | Common: 6–30 m of rail |
| Travel Speed | 10 – 20 m/min | Manual push or powered travel |
| Rotation Angle | 270° – 360° | 360° requires clearance around rail |
| Hoist Type | Chain hoist / Wire rope hoist | Chain for lower capacity, wire rope for 1–2t |
| Control Mode | Pendant / Radio remote | Remote control is most popular |
| Mounting Type | Floor-rail or ceiling-track | Depends on workshop layout |
| Power Supply | 380V / 415V / 480V, 3-Phase | Single-phase available for small hoists |
| Design Standard | FEM / European Standard | CE certified available |
The 1-ton floor-rail configuration is by far our best seller. Most maintenance shops and small assembly lines have loads in the 300–800 kg range. A 1-ton unit gives them a comfortable safety margin without overspending on capacity they will never use.
Traveling Jib Crane vs Fixed Jib Crane: Which One Fits Your Shop?
I get asked this almost every week. Here is a direct comparison from what we actually ship:
| Factor | Traveling Jib Crane | Fixed Jib Crane |
|---|---|---|
| Coverage shape | Rectangle (radius × track length) | Circle (radius only) |
| Number of workstations served | Multiple (1 crane = 3–4 stations) | One station per crane |
| Equipment cost (2-station) | USD 4,500–7,500 (1 crane + rail) | USD 6,000–10,000 (2 cranes) |
| Floor space used | Rail footprint only | Column base at each station |
| Installation complexity | Higher — rail alignment is critical | Lower — just mount and level |
| Capacity range | 0.125 – 2 tons (standard) | 0.125 – 5 tons (some go higher) |
| Best use case | Linear production / multiple bays | Single dedicated workstation |
| Maintenance | Rail + wheels + carriage need inspection | Simpler — no moving structure |
My rule of thumb: If you need lifting at 3 or more positions within 20 meters of linear space, buy one traveling jib crane. If you only need lifting at 1 or 2 isolated spots, buy fixed jib cranes — the simpler installation and lower maintenance tip the scales. I have seen too many shops buy 5 fixed jib cranes when 2 traveling units would have done the same job for 40% less money.
Where Traveling Jib Cranes Deliver the Most Value
Based on actual installations we have done, here are the five applications where a traveling jib crane consistently outperforms the alternatives:
Vehicle & Equipment Maintenance Bays
This is the number-one application. Think of a truck repair shop with 4 service bays in a row. A traveling jib crane on an overhead rail serves all 4 bays — lifting engines, transmissions, and axles at whichever bay has a vehicle in it. One crane. Four bays. We supplied 3 traveling jib cranes to a truck depot in Nairobi last year. They replaced 8 chain blocks and a mobile gantry that was always in the wrong spot.
Small Assembly Lines
Assembly lines in small-to-medium manufacturing typically have 3–6 workstations along a linear path. A traveling jib crane moves from station to station, bringing the hoist directly to where the heavy part needs lifting. The operator pulls the crane to the station, positions the part, lets the line continue. No overhead bridge crane footprint. We designed a system for a furniture assembly line in Poland — one 500-kg traveling jib crane covers 5 stations along 18 meters of track.
Warehouse Picking & Loading
In warehouse aisles where forklifts cannot easily reach, a traveling jib crane mounted to the warehouse wall or a structural column provides point-of-use lifting. Operators move the crane along the picking aisle to access shelving positions, then lift loads onto carts or conveyors. A customer in Malaysia uses a wall-mounted 250-kg traveling jib crane in a narrow freezer aisle — no forklift can maneuver in there, but the crane glides along the wall track perfectly.
Automotive Repair Shops
Regular car repair shops that handle transmissions, differentials, and suspension components. Most have 2–4 bays. Instead of installing a chain block over every bay, a single traveling jib crane on a ceiling track covers all bays. The shop in Vietnam I mentioned earlier — they went from 4 unused jib cranes to 2 traveling units covering 6 bays total. Their monthly lifting cost per bay dropped by 60%.
Testing & Laboratory Facilities
R&D labs, quality control centers, and testing facilities that need to move heavy instruments between test stations. The loads are usually light (200–500 kg) but the equipment is expensive. A traveling jib crane with a chain hoist and precision pendant control lets technicians move test fixtures between stations safely — no forklifts near sensitive lab equipment. We installed one for a materials testing lab in Germany. They move 400-kg concrete samples between 4 test stations daily.
Pricing: What to Expect in 2026
These are real numbers from recent SIEC quotes. Your final price depends on capacity, jib radius, rail length, hoist type, and control options:
| Capacity | Jib Radius | Rail Length | Hoist Type | Price Range (FOB) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.25 ton (250 kg) | 2 – 3 m | 6 – 10 m | Chain hoist | USD 2,400 – 4,000 |
| 0.5 ton | 3 – 4 m | 10 – 15 m | Chain hoist | USD 3,200 – 5,500 |
| 1 ton | 3 – 5 m | 10 – 20 m | Chain hoist / Wire rope | USD 4,500 – 8,000 |
| 1.5 ton | 3 – 5 m | 12 – 20 m | Wire rope hoist | USD 6,000 – 10,500 |
| 2 ton | 3 – 6 m | 15 – 25 m | Wire rope hoist | USD 7,500 – 14,000 |
Add roughly USD 1,000–2,500 for the rail mounting hardware and brackets. Foundation work for floor-mounted rails varies by location — typically USD 500–2,000 depending on local concrete rates. Wall-mounted systems need a structural assessment of the wall before installation, usually USD 300–800 from a local engineer.
Cost comparison example: A workshop needs to cover 4 workstations spread across 15 meters. Option A: 4 fixed jib cranes at USD 3,500 each = USD 14,000 total. Option B: 1 traveling jib crane (1-ton, 15-meter rail) at USD 6,500 + USD 1,500 rail hardware = USD 8,000 total. The traveling crane saves 43% on equipment alone — plus less maintenance, fewer moving parts to inspect, and only one hoist to service instead of four.
Key Design Features to Consider
Manual Push vs Powered Travel
Most traveling jib cranes under 1 ton use manual push for travel — the operator simply pushes the crane along the rail. It is simple, cheap, and maintenance-free. Above 1 ton, or if the rail is longer than 15 meters, I recommend a powered trolley with a travel motor. Pushing a 2-ton assembly by hand on a 20-meter rail gets tiring fast. A powered trolley adds roughly USD 1,500–2,500 to the system but makes the operator's job much easier.
Rail Profile Selection
Not all rails are created equal. We use hot-rolled steel I-beam profiles matched to the crane capacity. The rail must be straight, level, and aligned within ±2 mm over its entire length. A misaligned rail causes the carriage wheels to bind, the crane to drift sideways under load, and premature wear on both wheels and rail. We provide shim packs and adjustment brackets with every rail kit to make alignment easier during installation.
End Stops and Bumpers
Every traveling jib crane needs end stops at both ends of the rail. These are non-negotiable — they prevent the carriage from running off the rail. We use rubber-buffered steel end stops that absorb impact if the operator accidentally over-travels. For powered travel cranes we also add limit switches that cut power 100 mm before the end stop, so the carriage never hits the stop at full speed.
Hoist Selection: Chain vs Wire Rope
For traveling jib cranes, chain hoists dominate the 0.25–1 ton range. They are compact, inexpensive, and the chain hangs straight down regardless of the jib boom angle. Wire rope hoists become the better choice above 1 ton or when lifting height exceeds 6 meters. The wire rope spools more evenly on the drum at taller lift heights, and the rope itself lasts longer in dusty environments.
Installation Considerations
Here is what I tell every buyer before they order a traveling jib crane:
- Floor rails need a proper foundation. The concrete slab under a floor-mounted rail must be at least 150 mm thick with reinforcement. If your workshop floor is thin or cracked, you will need to cut out a section and pour a new foundation strip. We had a customer in Bangladesh who skipped this step — his rail sank 8 mm in the first 6 months, and the crane started binding on the rail. Cost him more to fix than the foundation would have cost upfront.
- Wall rails need a structural engineer. The wall must support the crane's weight plus the live load, plus the moment created by the boom reaching out. A 1-ton traveling jib crane with a 4-meter boom creates roughly 4 ton-meters of bending moment on the wall connection. That is significant. Get the wall checked before ordering.
- Rail alignment is everything. I cannot stress this enough. The crane will not perform properly if the rail is out of level or alignment by more than a few millimeters. We include detailed installation drawings with every order, and we recommend hiring a competent steel fabricator for the rail installation. Do not let general laborers do this job.
- Plan for electrical supply. If you want powered travel or a radio remote, you need to run power along the rail. We use conductor bar systems (similar to what overhead crane runways use) bolted to the side of the rail. The crane picks up power through sliding carbon brushes. This is a clean, reliable system, but the electrical contractor needs to install it correctly — phase-to-phase insulation is critical under workshop conditions.
Real example: A maintenance shop in Nigeria ordered a 1-ton wall-mounted traveling jib crane from us. Rail length was 18 meters. Their wall — a 200-mm reinforced concrete wall — was perfect for the load. But the rail installers rushed the alignment. Three months later the crane was grinding on every pass. We sent a supervisor from our team to re-align the rail in 2 days. Cost USD 600 in travel. The shop has been running smoothly for 14 months since.
European Standard vs Local Manufacturing
For the rail system specifically, the difference between European-standard and locally-fabricated traveling jib cranes is significant:
- Rail tolerances — European-standard rails are hot-rolled to tight profile tolerances (±1 mm on flange width). Local fabricators may use standard structural I-beams where the flange width can vary by 3–5 mm along the length. That causes the carriage wheels to ride unevenly and wear out faster.
- Carriage wheel design — CE-certified traveling jib cranes use forged steel wheels with hardened treads and sealed bearings. Cheaper units use cast iron wheels with open bearings that seize up in dusty environments within 6 months. We have replaced dozens of cast iron wheels under warranty — we stopped offering them entirely in 2024.
- Boom structure — FEM standards require the jib boom to be designed with a safety factor of at least 1.5 on yield strength. The boom cross-section is optimized to minimize weight while maintaining deflection limits of L/250 at the boom tip under full load. Local designs often use oversized beams that make the assembly heavier and put more stress on the rail and carriage.
- CE certification — All SIEC traveling jib cranes carry CE certification under the Machinery Directive. This means the entire system — rail, carriage, boom, hoist — is designed, manufactured, and tested as a unit. The documentation package includes load test certificates, weld inspection reports, and a declaration of conformity. This matters for insurance, site safety audits, and resale value.
SIEC builds European-standard traveling jib cranes with CE certification. The upfront price is higher than a locally-fabricated alternative, but the total cost of ownership over 10 years is lower — fewer breakdowns, no rail replacement, no wheel failures, and a hoist that still runs smoothly after a decade of daily use.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a traveling jib crane typically last?
The structural steel (rail, boom, carriage frame) lasts 20+ years with basic maintenance. The hoist needs periodic service — chain replacement every 3–5 years under normal use, wire rope every 2–4 years. The carriage wheels and rail surface should be inspected annually for wear; wheel replacement is typically needed every 5–8 years depending on usage frequency and load weight. A well-maintained traveling jib crane in a clean indoor workshop sees very little structural wear.
Can I extend the rail length later?
Yes — provided the new rail section matches the existing rail profile exactly. We recommend ordering the foundation or wall brackets for the full planned rail length even if you only install part of it initially. Adding rail later is a matter of bolting on new sections, re-aligning the full length, and adding end stops at the new ends. We designed an expandable system for a customer in Thailand — they started with 10 meters of rail and extended to 22 meters a year later when their workshop expanded.
What is the lead time for a custom traveling jib crane?
Standard configurations (0.5–1 ton, standard jib radius, up to 15-meter rail) ship in 30–45 days from order. Custom configurations (special rail length, powered travel, longer jib radius) take 45–65 days. Sea freight from China to most destinations adds 20–35 days. Air freight is available for urgent orders — adds cost but cuts transit to 5–7 days. We ship worldwide and handle all export documentation including CE declaration, packing list, and bill of lading.
Can I use a traveling jib crane on uneven floors?
Not with a floor-mounted rail system — the rail must be straight and level within ±2 mm over its full length. If your floor has a slope or uneven spots, a wall-mounted traveling jib crane is a better option because the wall-mounted rail is independent of floor level issues. For floor-rail systems on slightly uneven concrete, we can supply shim kits to level the rail, but more than 10 mm of adjustment across the rail length requires grinding or re-pouring the foundation strip.
Do you provide on-site installation support for traveling jib cranes?
We provide detailed mechanical and electrical installation drawings, step-by-step manuals, and video walkthroughs with every order. For larger or more complex installations we can arrange on-site supervision by a SIEC engineer. We also partner with local crane service companies in over 15 countries who can handle installation, alignment, and commissioning. Rail alignment is the most critical step — if your local team has not done it before, we strongly recommend using one of our partner companies or requesting our engineer on-site.
What safety features come standard?
All SIEC traveling jib cranes include: overload limiter (cuts hoist power at 110% of rated load), emergency stop button on the pendant or remote, mechanical end stops at both rail ends, travel limit switches on powered units, slack rope detection on wire rope hoists, and a manual brake release for emergency lowering. CE-certified models also include redundant braking on the hoist and an anti-drop safety device. The rail system itself includes a grounding conductor for electrical safety.
Ready to Cover More Stations with One Crane?
Traveling jib cranes are one of the most cost-effective ways to bring flexible lifting to a multi-station workshop. One crane on a rail replaces multiple fixed jib cranes, saves floor space, and reduces your total equipment investment.
I have seen machine shops in Vietnam, truck depots in Kenya, and electronics assembly lines in Poland all switch to traveling jib cranes and cut their lifting equipment costs by 30–50%. The math is simple: if you need to lift at 3 or more positions along a linear path, one traveling crane beats multiple fixed cranes every time.
Not sure which configuration fits your shop? Send us your floor layout with dimensions and your typical load weights. We will tell you within 48 hours whether a traveling jib crane is the right solution — and give you a firm price if it is.
Read more on our Traveling Jib Crane product page, or check out our guide on Fixed Jib Cranes if your lifting needs are concentrated at a single station.
Need Help Choosing the Right Traveling Jib Crane?
Tell us your load, workshop layout, and rail length — we will recommend the best configuration within 24 hours.
Data Sources:
SIEC Cranes product specifications (2026) · FEM 9.661 design standards · CE Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC · ISO 9001:2015 quality management · Industry price surveys across Asian, Middle Eastern and European markets (2025–2026) · SIEC field installation records (2020–2026)