Rubber-Tyred Cranes (RTG)
Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTGs)
Rubber-tired gantry cranes, or RTGs, are widely used in ports and container terminals to move and stack containers on a two cranes per stack basis. These cranes are highly mobile due to the slewing mechanism of the wheel bogies. This allows them to change the field of operations or even leave it, for example, for repairs and be replaced by other cranes in a short time. Let’s consider the main characteristics of RTG rubber-tired gantry cranes.
Main characteristics of RTG gantry cranes (RTG)
- Lifting capacity. Rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTG) in its bulk have a lifting capacity of 40 tonnes under the load-carrying device (spreader).
- Lifting height. The lifting height of rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTG) is usually indicated by the formula ‘5+1’, which means that one container can be carried over a stack of five containers.
- Crane span. Generally, the span of rubber-tired gantry cranes (RMG) is denoted by a formula such as ‘6+1’, which means that it is possible to handle one vehicle standing next to a stack of six containers wide.
- Number of wheels. Rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTGs) can be equipped with four (one for each wheel bogie) or eight (two for each wheel bogie). The number of wheels affects the load on the terminal surface.
- Crane powering. The most common power supply for rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTG) is from a diesel generator. However, due to their high modularity, they can also be powered by an external power supply, hydrogen, battery or hybrid drive.
Advantages of rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTG)
- Mobility. Rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTGs) are equipped with slewing wheel bogies, allowing the crane to move not only forwards backwards but also across.
- Efficiency. Due to the form of application of rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTG) two cranes per stack and highly standardised movements, RTG cranes have extremely high productivity.
- Cost. Rubber-tired gantry cranes (RTG) potentially cost less than rail-mounted gantry cranes (RMG). This is ensured by smaller size, simplified design and mass production.
Transporting a rubber-tired gantry crane (RTG)
The production as well as the application of containerised gantry cranes (RTG) are mainly located near water. This justifies the fact that RTG cranes are mainly transported by water transport on specialised vessels. However, multimodal transport with complete disassembly of the crane into large units and subsequent reassembly is also possible.
Cost of a gantry crane on wheels (RTG)
The price of a RTG varies greatly, primarily due to the number of wheels and dimensions, but also due to the drive used. Due to the substantial dimensions, an important cost factor is logistics, which can easily account for 20% or more of the RTG crane price.
Conclusion
The rubber-tired gantry crane (RTG) is an indispensable tool for efficient cargo flow management in ports and terminals. Its mobility, high lifting capacity and efficiency make it a favourable choice for modern logistics companies. With the growth of international trade and the need to speed up logistics processes, RTG cranes are becoming increasingly in demand. They optimise port and warehouse terminal operations, increase throughput and improve customer service.
Rubber Tyred Gantry Cranes (RTG) FAQ
A rubber-tired gantry crane (RTG) is a lifting equipment used in ports and container terminals to move and stack containers. They are mainly used according to the formula ‘two cranes per container stack’.
The crane consists of support legs, main beams, lower beams, lifting trolley, operator's cab, wheel bogies with slewing mechanism, load handling device (spreader), and control system.
The main features include lifting capacity up to 40 tonnes, lifting height, span width and working speeds. The crane can also be equipped with four or eight wheels and power can be supplied from a variety of sources.
RTG cranes have high mobility due to slewing wheel bogies, high productivity and relatively low cost. These advantages make them an efficient and cost-effective choice for port and terminal operations.
RTG cranes are usually transported by sea on specialised vessels, as their production and applications are often near the water. In some cases, multimodal transport with disassembly of the crane into large units is possible.
The cost varies depending on the number of wheels, dimensions and type of drive. Logistics also play a significant role in the total cost, often accounting for 20% or more of the crane price.
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