In the wave of global industrial intelligence and logistics efficiency, the demand for the transportation of extra-long and extra-heavy components is increasing day by day. Nowadays, tandem picks are becoming popular, and cost control and equipment flexibility have become the key indicators of the core competitiveness of enterprises. Rubber tyred gantry crane has become the core equipment of modern industry and port logistics by virtue of its unique mobility design, high efficiency load capacity and customized solutions.
Rubber tyred gantry crane is a kind of mobile lifting equipment based on rubber tire chassis, which is different from the traditional Rail Mounted Gantry Crane (RMG) in that its traveling system consists of 4 or more sets of rubber tires with high load capacity, and it can be steered and moved freely on the level ground.
Different from the complex structure of traditional multi-beam and multi-hook cranes, the rubber tyred gantry crane adopts a minimalist configuration of single beam + single hook, but realizes the core function of “full-area coverage handling”:
No dead space: the crossbeam’s lateral movement covers the entire span of the machine (typically 15-40 meters), and the hook can lift vertically up to a height of 20 meters or more, meeting the need for three-dimensional handling of large workpieces;
Low-loss transportation: through high-precision encoder and anti-shaking system, the load swaying is controlled within 5 cm, especially suitable for transportation of precision equipment or fragile goods;
Huadelift’s rubber tyred gantry crane range currently covers the 15-900 tons load range. 15-50 tons rtg’s are typically used for precision fabrication and lightweight steel structures, 50-200 tons rtg’s are used in container yards and heavy assembly, and 200-900 tons rtg’s are typically used for bridges. RTGs of 200-900 tons are usually used in bridge prefabrication and nuclear power equipment transportation.
Besides, professional rubber tyred gantry crane manufacturers usually provide the whole chain service of “demand diagnosis – program design – operation and maintenance upgrade”:
Requirements research stage: Simulate the working environment through 3D modeling, calculate the optimal span, lifting height and travel speed;
Design and manufacturing phase: adopting modular design, supporting quick replacement of wearing parts (such as tires and wire ropes) and reducing downtime;
Long-term operation and maintenance phase: equipped with a remote fault diagnosis system to monitor the equipment status in real time through the Internet of Things and provide preventive maintenance recommendations.
In container terminals, the loading and unloading efficiency of RTGs has a direct impact on the turnaround time of vessels. Its operation process can be disassembled as follows:
Precise positioning: millimeter-level alignment of container locking holes through LIDAR and visual recognition system.
Rapid lifting: driven by variable frequency motor, the lifting speed can reach 25 meters/minute at full load, which is 30% higher than the traditional equipment;
Path optimization: built-in scheduling algorithm automatically plans the shortest handling route to avoid operational conflicts.
Qingdao Port measured data shows that the day and night loading and unloading capacity of a single RTG can be up to 1,500 TEU (TEU), and together with the automated yard management system, the overall operation efficiency of the terminal has been increased by 25%, and the cost of loading and unloading of a single container has been reduced by 18%.
In logistics parks where land resources are tight, RTG’s stacking capacity becomes the core competitiveness:
Multi-layer stacking: the standard model can stack 4-5 layers of containers, and the high end model can realize 7 layers of stacking by raising the gantry, which increases the space utilization rate by 150%;
Dynamic planning: Combined with the yard management software, real-time allocation of cargo space, avoiding the efficiency loss caused by “dead-end” stacking;
Anti-collision system: build a safe working area through ultrasonic radar, and the distance between adjacent stacks can be compressed to 1.2 meters, further releasing the stacking space.
In the comprehensive logistics system, RTG assumes the core role of “inter-modal transportation connection”:
Sea and land transshipment: lifting containers directly from ships to container trucks, eliminating intermediate storage;
In-plant transfer: Realize seamless connection from workshop to warehouse in the manufacturing plant, supporting “JIT” production mode;
Special scene transfer: equipped with rotating spreader, it can complete the multi-angle turning transportation of wind power tower, chemical tanks and other shaped parts.
Compared with RMG, RTG does not require track laying in infrastructure investment projects and adopts diesel/electric dual mode for energy. In terms of maintenance cost, RTG adopts a modular design and is easy to replace. In terms of space layout, the rubber tyred gantry crane can be freely laid out. With a 10-year life cycle, RTG’s TCO is 40% lower than RMG’s, which is especially suitable for long-term heavy-duty operation.
The rubber tyred gantry crane is ergonomically optimized to reduce operating difficulties and training costs:
Panoramic cab: Equipped with a 360° camera and curved display to eliminate blind spots.
Intelligent assistance system: automatically calculates the optimal lifting angle, avoiding the operator’s judgment based on experience.
Lightweight control: the telehandler system reduces handle force by 60%, reducing fatigue damage.
The rubber tyred gantry crane has demonstrated excellent reliability under extreme conditions:
Wind Resistance: 12-stage wind resistance is standard, with anchoring system to cope with strong typhoons.
Continuous operation: Dual power switching system supports 24-hour uninterrupted operation, and the diesel generator and lithium battery pack automatically complement each other.
Precision control: Load positioning accuracy of ±10mm to meet the needs of aerospace and other high-precision industries.
Application Scenarios
Container loading, unloading and stacking: In the front and rear yards of container terminals, RTG undertakes vertical transportation of containers between ships and container trucks, and between yards and container trucks, realizing the seamless connection of “ship – truck – stack”;
Automated yard operation: with AGV trolleys, rail cranes and other equipment, it builds an intelligent yard system to support 24-hour unmanned operation.
Core Value
Efficiency breakthrough: the average daily container handling capacity of a single rubber tyred gantry crane can reach 1200-1500TEU, which improves the operating efficiency by 20% compared with the traditional rail-mounted gantry crane (RMG), and significantly shortens the time of ships in port.
Cost control: no need to lay tracks, initial infrastructure costs reduced by 30% -50%, and diesel / electric dual-mode power system to reduce energy consumption.
Manufacturing: Mobile solutions for handling large workpieces
Application Scenarios
Heavy assembly: wind power equipment factories move 100-meter blades and towers, automobile factories lift and transport vehicle molds, and engineering machinery factories transfer large structural parts;
Workshop logistics: connecting machining workshop and assembly workshop, realizing workpiece transfer under “zero inventory” JIT (just-in-time) production mode;
Precision equipment transportation: semiconductor factories handling photolithography machines, wafer carriers and other high-precision equipment, requiring millimeter-level positioning accuracy.
Core Value
Flexible production: all-terrain mobility adapts to complex floors in workshops (epoxy floors, wear-resistant floors), supports dynamic switching of multiple production lines, and increases equipment utilization by 35%;
Safety and security: anti-shaking system controls the load shaking amplitude within 10cm, with laser anti-collision radar, to avoid collision damage of precision equipment;
Cost savings: alternative to multi-equipment cooperative handling (such as forklift + traveler combination), reduce equipment procurement and maintenance costs, single plant annual operating costs can be reduced by 15% -20%.
Logistics parks and warehousing centers: optimization of space and efficiency.
Application Scenarios
Cargo stacking and sorting: Multi-layer stacking of palletized cargo and containers in open storage yards or semi-closed warehouses;
Cross-area transshipment: connecting warehousing area and transportation area, realizing the efficient connection of the whole process of “inbound – storage – outbound”;
Emergency logistics: in disaster scenarios such as earthquakes, typhoons, etc., quickly move to temporary sites for material loading and unloading and deployment.
Core Value
Dynamic Layout: No need for fixed tracks, real-time adjustment of the operation area according to the direction of cargo flow, to cope with the unexpected needs of e-commerce logistics, such as “bursting warehouses”;
Value-added space: through the ability of multi-layer stacking, the volume rate of the warehouse can be increased to 3 times of the traditional flat storage, and the storage cost per unit area can be reduced by 40%;
Energy industry: the transportation of ultra-heavy equipment is the choice of immediate needs
Application Scenarios
Wind power project: transporting wind power blades over 80 meters, 300-ton tower and nacelle components, working in mountainous and coastal areas and other complex terrain;
Nuclear power engineering: lifting and transporting nuclear island reactor pressure vessel (single piece weight over 500 tons), steam generator and other over-limit equipment;
Petrochemical industry: transporting large-scale chemical equipment such as 100-ton crackers and storage tanks, and supporting the construction of oil refineries and LNG receiving stations.
Core Value
Extreme working condition adaptation: Equipped with ultra-wide wheelbase chassis and hydraulic suspension system, it can drive stably on roads with a gradient of 20° and a mud coefficient of 0.6, and its passability is 30% higher than that of traditional cranes;
Precise positioning: the inertial navigation system combined with the ground marking points, realizing ±10mm alignment accuracy, meeting the millimeter-level installation requirements of nuclear power equipment;
Safety redundancy: dual braking system (mechanical brake + eddy current brake) and load torque limiter ensure zero accidents in the transportation of ultra-heavy equipment.
Construction engineering: key equipment for prefabricated construction
Application Scenarios
Bridge prefabrication: Handling prefabricated components such as segmental girders, cover girders, etc., and short-distance transportation between girder yards and construction sites;
High-rise buildings: lifting and transporting steel modules and precast concrete wall panels to support “modular construction” of assembly buildings;
Infrastructure: lifting and transferring of subway shield machine components and high-speed rail panels to meet the needs of narrow space operation.
Core Value
Construction speed-up: single RTG can handle up to 5,000 tons per day, which improves efficiency by 3 times compared with traditional car crane + flatbed truck combination and shortens bridge erection cycle by 20%;
Site saving: In the compact urban construction site, the all-wheel steering realizes “in-situ turn-around”, reducing the occupation of the working site by 50%;
Quality control: constant speed translation technology avoids collision of components, with tilt sensor real-time monitoring of the balance state, prefabricated components breakage rate from the industry average of 2% to 0.3%.
Comparison of Advantages: RMG relies on fixed track, with high initial infrastructure investment (cost of single meter of track is about 20,000 RMB), and cannot adapt to changes in site layout; RTG has the flexibility of “buy-as-you-go”, which is especially suitable for temporary yards or switching scenarios of multiple operation areas.
Applicable scenarios: RMG is suitable for super-large automated terminals (e.g. Shanghai Yangshan Port), while RTG is more suitable for small and medium-sized ports, inland yards and industrial plants.
Essential difference: Overhead Crane is fixed on top of the plant, and its operation range is limited by the track span; RTG, as a ground mobile equipment, can cover more than 95% of the area in the plant, especially suitable for open yard and cross plant handling.
Cost Comparison: The bridge crane needs to be equipped with steel structure of the plant, the comprehensive cost of a single unit is 20-30% higher than RTG, and it is difficult to relocate to a new plant.
Load capacity: the maximum tonnage of mobile cranes usually does not exceed 500 tons, and long-time heavy-duty operation is easy to cause tire wear; RTG with a special chassis design, can achieve 900 tons of stable lifting, suitable for long-term heavy-duty working conditions.
Operational characteristics: Mobile cranes rely on outriggers for support, and it takes 15-30 minutes to retract and retract the outriggers for transferring; RTG does not need outriggers, and it can be driven directly to the work point, which improves the efficiency by more than 50%.
Mobility: Gantry cranes are mostly rail-type or semi-mobile, RTG’s all-terrain mobility makes it more passable on the unhardened ground (such as dirt and gravel);
Cost-effectiveness: the manufacturing cost of gantry cranes of the same tonnage is 15-20% higher than RTG, and the maintenance complexity is higher.
Conclusion: Choose Rubber Tyred Gantry Crane, Choose Future Competitiveness!
Rubber tyred gantry crane has become a value benchmark in the material handling field by virtue of its flexible mobility, superb adaptability, cost-effectiveness and intelligent evolutionary potential. The lithium-ion Rubber tyred gantry crane has a range of up to 8 hours, and with its fast charging technology (80% in 30 minutes), it is gradually replacing diesel models, reducing carbon emissions by 70%. Contact our professional team today for a customized rubber tyred gantry crane solution and make efficiency and flexibility your core competence!
