Rubber‑tyred Gantry Crane (RTG) is used for lifting and shifting of concrete box girders and arch precast beams in the precast girder yard.

In the production of precast concrete components, municipal engineering and road‑infrastructure projects, the lifting and transportation of concrete blocks is a high‑frequency core process. Restricted by tracks and poor site adaptability, traditional fixed lifting equipment has obvious drawbacks. By contrast, the rubber‑tyred gantry crane (RTG) specially designed for concrete blocks, with its core advantages of track‑free movement, flexible operation and strong adaptability, has become the main‑stay equipment for lifting, shifting, stacking and loading concrete blocks, precast units and concrete members in precast girder yards, component storage yards and construction sites. This article elaborates on its working principle, core advantages, application scenarios, equipment selection criteria and operation tips, helping engineering enterprises quickly select suitable lifting equipment.

Core Advantages of Rubber‑tyred Gantry Cranes for Precast Girders

1.Track‑free & Flexible Operation, Free from Site Restrictions

No embedded rails or dedicated foundation pouring are required. The crane can travel freely on hardened floors and flat factory areas, with functions of on‑site steering, transverse shifting and cross‑zone operation. When production zones and block stacking areas in the precast yard are adjusted irregularly, its working scope can be modified at any time. It completely overcomes the limitation of fixed‑range operation of rail‑type equipment and greatly improves site utilization efficiency.

2.Stable Heavy‑duty Operation to Protect Finished Girders

Equipped with variable‑frequency speed regulation and double‑hoist balancing control system, the equipment delivers smooth performance during lifting, travelling, start‑up and braking without shaking, sudden stop or tilting. For concrete box girders and arch‑shaped precast girders which are sensitive to rigidity, prone to deformation and edge damage, slow and precise positioning as well as stable girder landing can be realized, effectively reducing risks of girder cracking, collision and structural distortion so as to guarantee the construction quality of precast girders.

3.Lower Construction Cost with Outstanding Economy

High costs for rail materials, track laying and subsequent maintenance are saved. The crane can be put into service right after arrival on site, featuring convenient relocation, disassembly and assembly. A single unit covers the whole workflow of precast girders, including demoulding, in‑yard transportation, stacking and loading. Multi‑purpose use of one machine greatly cuts down equipment investment and operation‑maintenance costs of the girder yard.

4.Good Floor Protection with Low Site Loss

Heavy‑duty rubber tyres enable flexible ground contact and uniform force distribution with low ground pressure. Under heavy loads, the hardened ground, pedestal and storage area of the girder yard will not be crushed or cracked, which reduces ground repair frequency and suits long‑term, high‑frequency and heavy‑duty working conditions of girder yards.

5.Full‑process Compatibility for Higher Construction Efficiency

It is fully compatible with all procedures in precast girder yards: demoulding, in‑yard transfer, zoned stacking, finished‑product loading and cross‑station girder adjustment. Fast response and accurate positioning cut down repeated adjustment time, effectively improving the turnover efficiency of precast girders and ensuring the progress of precast production.