Many users who are new to electric hoist and crane have the same doubt: What is the difference between hoist and crane? Are they different? As a professional crane and hoist supplier, Yuantai crane will tell you our point on the difference between hoist and crane.

What is hoist?

Electric Wire Rope Hoist

Electric Wire Rope Hoist

Euro-spec Electric Wire Rope Hoist

Euro-spec Electric Wire Rope Hoist

Electric Chain Hoist

Electric Chain Hoist

Hoist is a lifting mechanism. It can be divided into fixed type hoist and traveling type hoist (hoist with trolley). The fixed type hoist can only lift up and down. The traveling type hoist is used with I-beam or H-beam steel, which can be lifted up and down or moved left and right. Therefore, for hoist, the working area is a point or a line if you view from the top of the hoist.

What is crane?

Double Girder Overhead Crane

Single Girder Overhead Crane

Double Girder Overhead Crane

Double Girder Overhead Crane

Gantry Crane

Gantry Crane System

Crane is a lifting system. You can see we use the word “System”. For example, Overhead Crane is composed of main girder, end beam, lifting mechanism (hoist or electric open winch trolley), electrical system and safety device. Compared with electric hoist, the design is more complicated. It can lift heavy objects vertically and move them horizontally within a certain range. So, you can see, the working range is an area, not a line or a point.

Based on the above information, what is the difference between hoist and crane?

Design:

-Crane is a complex machine with multiple purposes.
-The design of the hoist is simpler than that of the crane, and it is usually a subsystem of the crane.

Motion direction (working range):

-Both hoist and crane are used to lift and lower loads.
-In addition to moving the load vertically, the crane can also move the load laterally.
-The hoist can only move the load on the vertical line, and cannot move the load laterally.

Maybe this article is helpful to you. If you want to view more information about hoist, please click here: Electric Hoist Types.
If you want to view more information about cranes, please click here: Crane Equipment.