5 Ton Overhead Crane: Complete Selection Guide for Modern Workshops | SLKJCrane
A 5 ton overhead crane is one of the most widely used lifting solutions in small and medium-size workshops, warehouses and maintenance bays. It is compact, efficient and cost-effective for daily lifting tasks such as handling steel profiles, machinery parts, molds, pallets and equipment.
At SLKJCrane (Henan Shenli Machinery Technology Co., Ltd.), we design 5 ton bridge cranes that combine safe lifting, optimized headroom and low maintenance, tailored to your building layout and working conditions in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and other regions.
In this guide, you will learn:
What a 5 ton overhead crane is and common configurations
How to choose between single girder / double girder / low-headroom / underslung / European type
What key technical parameters really mean (span, lifting height, duty class A3/A5/A6, speeds, power supply)
What affects a 5 ton overhead crane price
Typical application industries and regional considerations
Practical installation & maintenance tips
FAQ with the most common questions from buyers
1. What Is a 5 Ton Overhead Crane?
A 5 ton overhead crane (also called a 5 ton bridge crane or 5 ton EOT crane) is an industrial lifting system that travels on runway beams above the working area. It is composed of:
Bridge: single girder or double girder steel structure
End trucks and wheels: running along runway beams
Lifting mechanism: electric wire rope hoist or electric chain hoist
Power & control system: electrical panels, cables, pendant or remote control
Safety devices: limit switches, overload protection, emergency stop, rail sweeps, buffers, etc.
Compared with forklifts or mobile cranes, a 5 ton overhead crane provides “air-borne transportation” along the entire span of your workshop, avoiding floor congestion and reducing manual handling.
For customers with broader lifting needs, our general overhead crane solutions cover capacities from 1t up to 320t.
2. Common 5 Ton Overhead Crane Configurations
Depending on your building structure, working space and duty requirements, 5 ton cranes can be configured in different ways.
2.1 5 Ton Single Girder Top Running Overhead Crane
This is the most popular solution for:
General manufacturing and assembly workshops
Steel structure fabrication
Equipment maintenance bays
Small warehousing and logistics centers
Features:
Economic steel structure, easy to install
Typically working duty A3–A5
Short delivery time and simple maintenance
2.2 5 Ton Low Headroom Overhead Crane (For Limited Net Height)
In existing plants, the biggest challenge is often insufficient headroom: the distance from floor to roof steel is limited, but the lifting hook must reach a certain height.
A low-headroom 5 ton overhead crane:
Uses a special low-headroom hoist and end-carriage design
Minimizes the distance from hook to top running rail
Allows you to gain extra lifting height without rebuilding the workshop
2.3 5 Ton Underslung / Suspension Overhead Crane
When the building cannot support traditional top-running runways, a 5 ton underslung crane (suspension crane) can be hung directly from the roof structure or ceiling beams.
It is ideal for:
Light steel structure buildings
Production lines with many columns where top-running runways are difficult
Areas where you need to bypass obstacles on the floor
Travel speeds are usually lower than top-running cranes, and the working duty is typically light to medium.
2.4 5 Ton European Standard (FEM) Overhead Crane
For customers who require higher performance, quieter operation and more precise control, we recommend a European standard 5 ton overhead crane (FEM/DIN design).
Key benefits:
Compact structure and ultra-low headroom
Inverter (VFD) control for smooth lifting and traveling
Lower wheel loads, smaller runway size and reduced building cost
Easier integration with future automation or semi-automatic positioning
2.5 5 Ton Double Girder Overhead Crane
Although 5 tons is not a very high capacity, a double girder design may still be preferred when:
You need a very large span and long traveling distance
You require maximum hook height under the same roof
The crane will be equipped with specialized attachments (e.g. grabs, magnets, special lifting beams)
You want to reserve structural capacity for future capacity upgrades
Double girder cranes allow the hoist trolley to run on top of the girders, achieving greater lifting height and better load distribution.
3. How to Choose the Right 5 Ton Overhead Crane
Instead of choosing only by price, you should select a configuration according to your building, workload and environment. Below is a quick selection guide:
3.1 According to Building & Headroom
New workshop with enough height
→ Standard single girder top-running 5t crane or European single girder crane.Old plant with limited headroom
→ Low-headroom overhead crane or LDP style (offset trolley) crane to gain hook height.Light steel structure, difficult to install runways on columns
→ Underslung / suspension 5 ton overhead crane.
3.2 According to Working Duty & Frequency
Crane duty classes (A3 / A5 / A6, etc.) reflect how frequently and how intensively the crane will operate:
A3 – Light duty
Infrequent lifting, low utilization
Simple maintenance lifting, small repair shops
A5 – Medium duty
Daily production lifting, moderate working hours
General manufacturing, assembly, fabrication
A6 – Heavy duty
High utilization, multi-shift operation
Steel fabrication lines, intensive material handling
If your crane will be used several hours every day or in two shifts, selecting A5 or A6 design is critical to ensure service life and safety.
3.3 According to Environment & Industry
High temperature, dust, heavy welding sparks
→ Choose high-temperature cables, additional protection for motors, heat shields for hoist and control panels.Outdoor, coastal or chemical environment
→ Enhanced anti-corrosion coating, stainless fasteners where needed, rain covers for motors and hoist, optional storm-locking devices.Explosion-risk or flammable environments (e.g. some chemical or oil & gas applications)
→ Explosion-proof design and components according to required rating (we can design special solutions on request).
3.4 Lifting Mechanism: Wire Rope Hoist vs Chain Hoist
For 5 tons, electric wire rope hoists are most commonly used due to better speed, smoothness and suitability for medium duty.
You can explore our hoist portfolio here:
Electric hoists for overhead cranes – including low-headroom models, double-speed and inverter-controlled types.
4. Key Technical Parameters Explained
When you send us a project inquiry, we typically ask for:
Lifting capacity: 5 tons
Span (S): center-to-center distance of runways
Lifting height (H): floor to hook highest position
Building height & net clearance: roof steel elevation, existing obstacles
Working duty: A3, A5, A6 or your working hours per day
Working environment: indoor/outdoor, temperature range, dust, corrosive gases
Power supply: e.g. 380V/50Hz/3Ph, 415V/50Hz, 440V/60Hz, 480V/60Hz
Control mode: pendant, remote control, or pendant + remote
4.1 Span & Lifting Height
Span should match your building column grid. Larger spans require stronger girders and runways.
Lifting height depends on the tallest load and any equipment under the hook. In low-headroom solutions, the hook can reach closer to the roof, maximizing usable height.
4.2 Duty Class (A3/A5/A6)
Duty class affects:
Motor size and duty rating
Hoist and gearbox design
Structural fatigue resistance
Choosing a lower class than your actual usage may reduce upfront cost, but will quickly increase breakdowns and maintenance.
4.3 Speeds & Control
Standard 5 ton overhead cranes offer:
Hoisting speed (single speed / dual speed / inverter)
Cross travel speed
Long travel speed
With VFD (inverter) control, operators can:
Start and stop smoothly without impact
Position the load more precisely
Reduce swinging and increase safety
Extend mechanical and structural life
4.4 Power Supply & Regional Standards
For markets such as the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa, we frequently design cranes to:
380V / 400V / 415V, 50 Hz
440V / 460V / 480V, 60 Hz
We also consider:
Sand, dust and high ambient temperatures in Gulf countries
High humidity and coastal corrosion in South and Southeast Asia
Unstable power supply, recommending proper protection and soft-start / VFD solutions
5. 5 Ton Overhead Crane Price: What Really Affects the Cost?
Many buyers search for “5 ton overhead crane price” or “5 ton EOT crane price”, hoping to see a fixed number. In practice, price varies widely due to the following key factors:
Crane type and configuration
Standard single girder vs European single girder vs double girder
Top-running vs underslung vs low-headroom designs
Span and lifting height
Longer spans and higher lifts need more steel, stronger hoist and larger motors.
Duty class and working environment
Heavy-duty and harsh environments require upgraded motors, gearboxes, cables and protection.
Control mode and automation level
Simple pendant control is more economical; remote control, VFD and semi-automation add value but also cost.
Additional safety & special features
Overload limiter, anti-sway control, condition monitoring, special hooks or beams, etc.
Steel price, shipping route and destination
International freight, port charges and local taxes will affect total landed cost.
Because steel and freight rates fluctuate, we do not show a permanent price list on the website. Instead, we provide quick, tailored quotations based on your actual parameters, ensuring you pay only for what you really need.
6. Typical Applications of 5 Ton Overhead Cranes
A 5 ton bridge crane is extremely versatile and commonly used in:
Machinery and equipment manufacturing
Lifting gearboxes, motors, machine tools, pumps and assemblies.Steel structure and fabrication shops
Handling H-beams, plates, sections and welding fixtures.Maintenance workshops and service centers
Removing and installing heavy components during overhaul.Warehousing and logistics
Pallets, containers, bundles and crates in inbound/outbound operations.Small foundries and metalworking plants
Pouring small ladles, moving molds and handling finished castings (within suitable duty class).
For customers in Middle East, Africa and Southeast Asia, a 5 ton overhead crane is often the first step to:
Upgrade from manual lifting and small chain blocks
Improve safety and reduce labor intensity
Increase handling efficiency without huge civil construction changes
If your work occasionally exceeds 5 tons or requires outdoor yard handling, we can also offer matching gantry crane solutions and future capacity upgrades.
7. Installation, Commissioning & Maintenance Tips
To ensure long-term safe operation, proper installation and regular maintenance are essential.
7.1 Installation & Commissioning
Runway alignment
Check straightness, level and span accuracy of runways.
Misalignment causes wheel wear, track damage and abnormal noise.
Anchor bolts and supports
Confirm all bolts are tightened to specified torque.
Inspect connections between runway beams and building steel.
Electrical connection
Verify power supply voltage, phase sequence and grounding.
Ensure festoon cables or conductor bar are installed with correct tension and clearance.
No-load and load test
Perform no-load running test in all directions.
Carry out static and dynamic load tests according to standards before handover.
7.2 Routine Maintenance
Daily / pre-shift checks
Visual check of hooks, wire ropes, limit switches and safety latches.
Listen for abnormal sounds in motors and gearboxes.
Regular lubrication
Grease bearings, open gears and wheels following the lubrication schedule.
Wire rope and hook inspection
Check for broken wires, deformation, wear and twist.
Replace components before they reach discard criteria.
Brake and limit switch function
Test lifting and traveling brakes regularly.
Verify upper and lower limit switches and emergency stops.
A well-maintained 5 ton overhead crane not only reduces downtime, but also significantly extends the service life of your investment.
8. Why Choose SLKJCrane for Your 5 Ton Overhead Crane?
As a professional manufacturer and exporter of overhead cranes and hoists, SLKJCrane offers:
Customized design based on your workshop drawing, working duty and budget
Rich engineering experience in steel fabrication plants, machinery workshops, warehouses and infrastructure projects
Optimized low-headroom and European-style solutions to maximize hook height and reduce building costs
Reliable electric hoists and components, selected from proven suppliers
Full project support including design, production, quality inspection, installation guidance, commissioning and after-sales service
Our goal is not only to sell a 5 ton crane, but to provide a complete lifting solution that improves your safety and productivity.
If you are planning a new project or retrofit and need a 5 ton overhead crane that truly fits your workshop and budget, send us your basic data (capacity, span, lifting height, power supply, drawings if available).
Our SLKJCrane engineering team will prepare a complete proposal with layout, technical specification and price for your evaluation.
Expert in Overhead Crane/Gantry Crane/Jib Crane/Crane Parts Solutions
Eileen
With 20+ years of experience in the Crane Overseas Export Industry, helped 10,000+ customers with their pre-sales questions and concerns, if you have any related needs, please feel free to contact me!
FAQ: 5 Ton Overhead Crane
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