Industry Insights
In 2017, the U.S. bridge crane market was estimated to be USD 1.21 billion and is expected to grow over the forecast period. Bridge cranes are widely used for the displacement of heavy loads and are usually deployed in warehouse and manufacturing unit. The lifting component run parallel on the hoist and is directed manually, with wired controlled remote and/ or wireless remote. These are deployed in factory or warehouse premises for loading, off-loading, and handling of heavy materials. Increasing demand form manufacturing and warehousing industry is expected to provide growth opportunity for the market over the forecast period. Increased in freight volume is projected to have positive impact on the industry in the foreseeable future. For instance, according to the American Truck Association, around 13 - 15 billion tons of freight is expected to move by trucks in 2017 and is projected to reach 18 - 20 billion tons by 2028, which is expected to provide growth opportunity for the bridge cranes in the U.S. in near future. Moreover, increasing freight movement by rail is further projected to boost the demand for the market over the forecast period.
U.S. bridge crane market revenue split, by application, 2017 (% share)
Manufacturers are providing customized overhead cranes and are focusing on technological sophistication to attract more customer. These cranes help in making material handling operation smooth resulting in reduction in product damage and have variable speed options which anticipated to attract more customer resulting in increased in demand over the forecast period. Manufacturing is one of the important sector in the United States and major contributor to the country’s GDP. Improving economy is expected to have positive impact on industrial output which is poised to boost the demand for the bridge cranes in the U.S. over the forecast period.
Segmentation by type
• Under running bridge & stack-storage
• Single-girder overhead
• Double-girder overhead
• Gantry
• Others
The basic factors of the overhead crane comprise lifting capacity, lifting height, working level, working speed and span. The most commonly used series are 5 ton, 10 ton, 16 ton, 20 ton, 32 ton, and 50 ton. Single-girder overhead cranes held larger market share in the 2017 and expected to grow over the forecast period. Single girder overhead cranes are widely used in many industries. This crane can lift weight up to 15 tons. This crane consists of single-girder supported on two end trucks. Easier installation, lower maintenance & service cost, lower production cost, cost effective for light to medium duty cranes, and low support structure cost due to lower overall weight properties makes this crane most preferred. However, lower capacity rating, and reduced hook height may hamper market growth.
Each type has its unique characteristics and application area. Greater capacity and maximum span, extra hook height, and ideal for lifting heavy equipment characteristics of double-girder overhead cranes is anticipated to add market growth over the forecast period. However, complexity design of these cranes leads to high cost.
Gantry cranes are expected to grow with fastest CAGR over the forecast period owing to the increasing transportation by sea. Gantry cranes are widely used in marine operation. This type of crane is usually deployed in ship building industry. These types of cranes are also deployed for material handling at sea port. Capacity strength, custom height, mobility benefits are anticipated to add market growth over the coming years.
Segmentation by application
• Industrial
• Warehousing & transportation
The U.S. bridge crane industry is expected to posse’s huge potential owing to growing concern regarding product safety, increasing process efficiency, and rising demand from end application industries. Industrial segment is expected to grow over the forecast period owing to the growth of automobile and manufacturing sector in the foreseeable future. In automobile industry, these cranes are used for lifting heavy materials such as chassis, body of vehicle and other related parts. These cranes facilitate easy movement of material with lower damage.
Warehouse and transportation segment projected main its dominant position throughout the forecast period. Increasing material handling by trucks and rail route is projected to boost the demand of overhead hoists in the country over the forecast period. Reduction of time, reduction in product damage, safe & easy control benefits are anticipated to add bridge cranes market growth for warehousing & transportation applications. In order to avoid floor obstructions, increased safety, improved load control, improved ergonomics, easy lifting of loads, and customizable properties of bridge cranes is anticipated to create more demand over the coming years. It is mostly used in water treatment plants, hot metal, modular home manufacturing, general contractors, shipbuilding, steel service centers, metal & chemical processing, steel fabrication, injection molding, construction, and military & government.
Competitive landscape
Bridge crane industry in United States is fragmented in nature with large number of industries operating in this country. Some of the well-known players in this industry include Cargotec Corporation, Konecranes, Terex Corporation, GH CRANES CORPORATION, and GORBEL INC. Manufacturers in this industry are offering customizable bridge cranes in order to fulfill customers demand. Customizable cranes for precise placement, high duty cycles, tight dimensional constraints, bulky loads, systems with multiple cranes, maximizing lift height, and for hazardous environment has created competition among multiple players operating in this country.
