Intelligent Warehouse Overhead Crane for Heavy-Duty AS/RS | SLKJCrane
In heavy-duty warehouses such as steel coil storage, mold warehouses and machinery spare parts depots, traditional forklifts are reaching their limits in safety, stacking height and labor cost.
The SLKJCrane intelligent warehouse overhead crane (bridge-type stacker crane for AS/RS) combines an overhead crane, high-bay racking and WMS/WCS software. Compared with forklifts it is safer, and compared with four-way shuttle systems it offers a lower total cost of ownership (TCO) in heavy-duty applications. It is an ideal solution for stereoscopic automated warehouses handling 1–20 ton loads.
1. Product Positioning and Key Specifications
The intelligent warehouse overhead crane is installed above the racking aisles of a 3D stereoscopic warehouse. A trolley with a lifting fork automatically stores and retrieves pallets or dedicated load carriers across multiple levels, enabling 24/7 unmanned inbound and outbound operations.
Typical technical range (customizable):
Rated capacity: 1–20 t (heavy-duty warehouse crane, customized for your load)
Handled materials: steel coils, dies and molds, large machined parts, heavy components
Crane travelling speed: 20–40 m/min (VFD-controlled, adjustable)
Hoisting speed: 8–15 m/min (VFD-controlled, adjustable)
Operating modes: manual / remote / semi-automatic / fully automatic
System integration: connects to WMS/WCS and can be integrated with ERP/MES
Duty profile: 24-hour continuous operation for medium-to-high throughput warehouses
Key long-tail search terms naturally covered here include “intelligent warehouse overhead crane 1–20 ton”, “heavy-duty AS/RS overhead crane system” and “automated warehouse crane solution for steel coils and molds”.
2. Intelligent Inbound Process (Simplified)
The inbound workflow keeps forklifts outside the high-bay area and lets the intelligent warehouse crane system handle all storage tasks:
1.Forklift to inbound station
The forklift only works in the ground-level safe zone, placing pallets or steel racks at a fixed inbound station. It does not enter the racking aisles.
2.System issues inbound order
The WMS/WCS generates an inbound task. The intelligent warehouse overhead crane automatically travels to the inbound point.
3.Precise fork pick-up and orientation
The trolley stops above the pallet, the lifting fork picks up the load, and the slewing mechanism adjusts fork and load orientation to match the aisle and rack direction.
4.Smart slotting and storage
Based on material type, weight and turnover frequency, the system selects the best available location. The crane moves to the target row and level, smoothly places the load into the rack and records the location ID and material code for accurate inventory tracking.
3. Intelligent Outbound Process (Simplified)
Outbound tasks follow the reverse path and remain fully automated:
Task generation by code
According to production or shipping plans and the outbound material code, the system creates an outbound order.Crane moves to the target storage position
The warehouse overhead crane runs to the correct aisle and rack position. The lifting fork extends, picks up the pallet or rack and retracts.Safe orientation via rotation
The trolley rotates via its slewing ring to align the load with the outbound channel and safe travel path.Transfer via safe route to outbound station
The crane moves along a predefined safe path, places the load at a fixed outbound station, and then a forklift or AGV completes the transfer to the production line or loading area.
This inbound/outbound design supports keywords like “automatic inbound and outbound overhead crane system” and “AS/RS crane for intelligent warehouse logistics”.
4. 10 Key Selling Points of SLKJCrane Intelligent Warehouse Crane
Heavy-duty intelligent warehouse overhead crane designed specifically for 1–20 t loads
Crane travelling 20–40 m/min + hoisting 8–15 m/min, with VFD speed control for flexible, smooth motion
Millimeter-level positioning with multi-layer safety protection significantly reducing heavy-duty warehouse accident rates
One crane can cover multiple aisles, delivering better TCO than four-way shuttle systems in heavy-duty applications
Warehouse storage capacity can increase by around 50–80%, ideal for land-constrained factories and brownfield projects
Fully automatic inbound and outbound operation enables unmanned warehouse processes and substantial labor cost savings
Integration with ERP/MES/WMS keeps inventory data real-time, traceable and aligned with production planning
Existing warehouses can be upgraded: step-by-step modernization from manual + forklift to semi-automatic and then fully automatic AS/RS
Compatible with steel coils, molds, heavy parts and special load carriers, offering a universal heavy-duty storage solution across industries
Designed for 24/7 continuous, stable operation in medium-to-high throughput environments
5. Comparison with Forklifts and Four Way Shuttle Systems
Versus forklifts
All lifting operations are completed in the air, with strict separation between people and machines.
The system reduces the risk of collisions and tip-overs in narrow aisles and high stacking.
Especially in heavy-duty stereoscopic warehouses, the intelligent overhead crane offers much higher safety and stability than forklifts.
Versus four-way shuttle systems
For 1–20 ton heavy-duty loads, a shuttle-based AS/RS requires many shuttles, lifts and moving parts.
The bridge-type stacker crane has a simpler structure, fewer units and lower maintenance points.
In long-life, heavy-duty projects with medium-to-high throughput, the heavy-duty AS/RS overhead crane solution usually delivers more predictable life-cycle cost than a complex shuttle system.
These sections target long tails such as “warehouse overhead crane vs four-way shuttle” and “heavy-duty automated warehouse solution instead of forklift”.
6. Typical Application Industries
SLKJCrane’s intelligent warehouse overhead crane system is suitable for:
Heavy machinery and construction equipment parts warehouses
Steel coil warehouses, plate and profile finished goods warehouses
Mold warehouses, die and tool storage, roll warehouses
Rail transit, automotive and shipbuilding parts storage
Power equipment and new energy component warehouses
Large cold storage and palletized agricultural product warehouses
For each project, SLKJCrane customizes the crane structure, racking system, control layout and software integration according to your materials, building, throughput and budget.
7. Work with SLKJCrane on Your Next Heavy-Duty Smart Warehouse
As a professional manufacturer of overhead cranes, gantry cranes and intelligent warehouse crane systems, SLKJCrane helps you upgrade from a traditional heavy-duty warehouse to a safer, more efficient and cost-optimized intelligent 3D warehouse.
If you are planning a heavy-duty AS/RS project for steel coils, molds or heavy components, contact SLKJCrane to get a customized intelligent warehouse overhead crane solution tailored to your site and budget.
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 – Intelligent Warehouse Overhead Crane (Short)
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