In a monorail system, the hoist and trolley run on a single stationary length of beam. It allows two axes of hook movement: up/down and forward/back along the monorail beam. There is no lateral motion with the monorail system. Because of their inherent speed and efficiency, monorail systems are an effective method of moving and positioning loads to specific, repeated locations. They can be highly automated, controlled by computers or programmable logic controllers (PLCs).
Monorail Configurations
All monorails are, by definition, configured as underhung systems.
Monorail beams can be either suspended from the ceiling or supported by a floor-mounted frame.
Although there is no lateral motion in a monorail as there is in a bridge or gantry crane system, monorail beams can be designed and fabricated to include curves, spurs, switches and other features which allow the user significant flexibility in materials movement.
Monorails are often used for repetitive production jobs, such as paint booths, and in environments where there are significant obstructions or where only a narrow travel path is available.
They are best used in applications where materials are to be transported from one fixed point to another fixed point, or through a process; e.g., painting, blasting, or delivering hot metal from a furnace to a fixed pouring location.
Advantages of Monorail Cranes
Monorails are typically less expensive than bridge and gantry cranes because they have no cross girders, and monorail beams contain far less steel than bridge crane runways and gantry tracks.
Because they contain less steel, monorails are also usually lighter than bridge cranes and place less stress on the buildings that support them.
Monorails with ceiling-suspended beams allow for more productive use of floorspace than do gantry cranes because gantries require the user to leave a travel path for the gantry track.
