Heavy Duty Crane
Gearbox
System

Overhead (EOT) cranes typically use a combination of a hoist gearbox and a travel gearbox. For hoist applications, a planetary or helical gearmotor with high starting torque capacity handles rapid acceleration and deceleration cycles. For travel drives (cross-travel and long-travel), gearboxes with smooth torque transmission prevent lateral load swinging. Our crane gearboxes are rated for Class FEM M4 (60% duty cycle) or Class M5 (100% duty cycle for heavy industrial use).

For a 10-ton overhead crane, the hoist gearbox must handle 10,000 kg load plus hook weight (typically 250–400 kg), multiplied by safety factor 1.5 for shock loading. This means a rated capacity of at least 15,000 kg at the wire rope drum. Our standard H3 series planetary hoist gearbox handles 5–20 ton capacity with ratios from 1:40 to 1:80. For travel drives, a helical gearmotor with integrated fail-safe brake is standard.

FEM (Fédération Européenne de la Manutention) duty classes range from Class 0 (intermittent, <15% duty) to Class 6 (continuous, 100% duty, >630 cycles/hour). For most industrial overhead cranes, Class M4 (60% duty) or M5 (100% duty) is appropriate. Using a gearbox rated below the actual duty class leads to premature failure. We specify based on your actual usage — not just the load capacity.

Visual inspection every 500 hours: check for oil leaks, abnormal noise and housing temperature. Oil change every 3,000–5,000 hours or annually, whichever comes first. For gearboxes in high-dust steel mill environments, reduce to 2,000-hour intervals. Brake inspection and adjustment every 1,000 hours. Our gearboxes include a lubrication plate with service intervals clearly marked.

Yes. We supply crane gearboxes with standard IEC motor mounting flanges (B3/B5) that match most existing crane manufacturers' specifications. Our engineering team reviews your current gearbox model number, mounting dimensions and shaft sizes to confirm compatibility. We also supply retrofit kits with modified input flanges and output shaft adapters for non-standard installations.

24 months from ship date or 12 months from start of operation, whichever is earlier. Warranty covers manufacturing defects in materials and workmanship. It does not cover damage from incorrect lubrication, improper installation, overload or environmental conditions outside the rated specification. We maintain spare parts stocks for all standard series — critical spare delivery within 48–72 hours for emergency situations.

ISO 9001:2015 for quality management, CE marking for European market entry, GB/T standards for Chinese domestic compliance. For specific projects, we provide material certificates (EN10204 3.1), weld inspection records and non-destructive testing reports as required. ATEX-certified models (II 3G Ex ec IIC T4 Gc) available for hazardous area crane applications in mines and chemical plants.

A hoist gearbox is designed for vertical lifting loads with high starting torque, frequent stop-start cycles and emergency braking. It requires a holding brake (external or integrated) and often a mechanical torque limiter. A travel gearbox (for cross-travel or long-travel) is designed for horizontal motion, requiring smooth torque for inching control and precise positioning without load swing. They have different duty ratings and thermal considerations.