Goliath Cranes:
The UK’s Premier Heavy Lifting Solutions Partner
Welcome to Goliath Cranes, the United Kingdom’s leading manufacturer, supplier, and service provider for heavy-duty gantry and portal lifting systems
Whether you are managing a busy rail freight terminal in the Midlands, constructing offshore wind turbines in the North Sea, or overseeing a precast concrete yard in Scotland, moving massive loads safely and efficiently is the lifeblood of your operation. That is where we come in. At Goliath Cranes, we do not just build lifting equipment; we engineer bespoke solutions that drive British industry forward.
Our robust, weather-resistant goliath cranes are designed to operate in the harshest outdoor environments and the most demanding indoor facilities. From initial consultation and bespoke structural engineering to full installation, LOLER certification, and lifelong maintenance, we are your end-to-end partner for heavy lifting in the UK.
Our Unrivalled Lifting Capabilities
At Goliath Cranes, we understand that no two lifts are identical. Our engineering team designs systems tailored to your exact Safe Working Load (SWL), span, and height requirements. We offer a diverse range of configurations to suit every operational scale.
Single Girder Goliath Cranes
Designed for lighter to medium-duty applications, our single girder models are cost-effective, efficient, and take up minimal space.
- Lifting Capacity: Up to 20 tonnes.
- Span: Up to 30 metres.
- Best For: Steel stockyards, stone masons, timber yards, and localised manufacturing zones.
Double Girder Goliath Cranes
When you are moving extreme weights, the double girder design provides maximum stability, higher hook heights, and the ability to fit custom walkways.
- Lifting Capacity: From 20 tonnes up to 500+ tonnes.
- Span: Up to 50+ metres
- Best For: Shipyards, heavy infrastructure projects, rail freight handling, and heavy steel fabrication.
Semi-Goliath Cranes
A semi-goliath crane has one leg running on a floor-level rail, and the other side runs on an elevated runway attached to walls or columns.
- Lifting Capacity: Up to 50 tonnes.
- Span: Custom-designed to fit alongside existing overhead cranes.
- Best For: Maximising floor space inside factories, acting as a workstation crane beneath a larger overhead travelling crane.
Sectors We Serve Across the UK & Worldwide
Goliath Cranes operates nationwide, supplying specialised lifting tech to the most critical sectors of the UK economy. We engineer our cranes to meet the strict industry-specific standards required by your field.
Rail and Freight Terminals
The UK's logistics network relies on the rapid, safe transfer of shipping containers. Our wide-span double girder goliath cranes are engineered for high-duty cycles, allowing operators to span multiple rail tracks and lorry loading lanes simultaneously. We equip these cranes with anti-sway technology and specialised container spreaders to ensure rapid turnaround times at major freight hubs.
Maritime, Ports, and Shipbuilding
From the naval yards of Scotland to the busy commercial ports of the South Coast, marine environments demand extreme durability. Our shipbuilding goliath cranes can lift entire hull sections weighing hundreds of tonnes. They are treated with advanced marine-grade epoxies, heavy-duty storm anchors, and enclosed hoist mechanisms to withstand saltwater corrosion and gale-force coastal winds.
Renewable Energy and Offshore Wind
The UK is a global leader in offshore wind energy. Manufacturing and assembling the massive turbine blades, monopiles, and nacelles requires unparalleled lifting precision. Goliath Cranes designs high-clearance, heavy-capacity systems that allow manufacturers to lift, rotate, and load these colossal components safely onto specialised transport vehicles.
Precast Concrete and Construction
Precast concrete beams used in bridges, tunnels, and housing are incredibly heavy and awkwardly shaped. Our outdoor gantry systems are a staple in precast yards, offering smooth, variable-speed frequency inverters. This ensures that operators can gently lift and place delicate concrete casts without sudden jerks that could crack the product.
Heavy Steelworks and Manufacturing
Moving raw steel plate, heavy coils, or massive structural beams requires brute strength. We supply heavy-duty goliath cranes fitted with custom below-the-hook attachments, such as heavy lifting magnets or specialised coil lifters, streamlining the workflow in steel service centres across the country.
If you have any questions on our products or services please email our team today using our website enquiry form.
What Are Goliath Cranes?
Often referred to as portal cranes or gantry cranes, goliath gantry cranes are freestanding lifting systems that operate on floor-mounted rails rather than being supported by a building's superstructure. They consist of a horizontal bridge (the girder) supported by two or more rigid legs that travel along a ground-level track.
This freestanding design makes them the ultimate solution for outdoor yards, docks, and facilities where building an overhead runway structure is either impractical or too expensive. Because they carry their own weight and the weight of the load directly to the ground, goliath cranes can be engineered to lift astronomical capacities—far exceeding standard factory overhead cranes.
Do you offer bespoke crane manufacturing in the UK?
Yes. Unlike suppliers who import off-the-shelf lifting equipment, every goliath, portal, and semi-goliath crane we provide is custom-engineered and manufactured right here in the UK. This allows us to design systems tailored precisely to your site layout, Safe Working Load (SWL), and specific environmental challenges, while significantly reducing lead times.
Do you provide UK-wide installation and LOLER testing?
We certainly do. Goliath Cranes is an end-to-end heavy lifting partner. Our fully accredited, directly employed engineers handle the entire installation and commissioning process anywhere in the UK. Furthermore, we provide statutory, independent LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations) inspections and certification to ensure your equipment remains safe and legally compliant.
What is the maximum span a double girder goliath crane can cover?
Because our double girder goliath systems are bespoke and self-supporting, they can be engineered to cover colossal distances. We routinely design and manufacture gantry systems with spans exceeding 50 metres, making them the ultimate solution for wide-scale outdoor operations such as rail freight terminals, massive steel stockyards, and commercial shipyards.
Do you offer emergency breakdown support for heavy-duty cranes?
Yes. We understand that crane downtime costs your business money. We offer comprehensive, tailored preventative maintenance contracts, alongside a nationwide network of rapid-response engineers available 24/7, 365 days a year to diagnose and repair faults quickly, carrying a vast stock of essential spare parts.
What Are The Advantages of Choosing a Goliath System
No Building Stress: They eliminate the need for costly reinforced building columns or roof structures.
Outdoor Dominance: Engineered with specialised weatherproofing, storm brakes, and anti-corrosion treatments perfect for the unpredictable British weather.
Maximum Space Utilisation: They offer massive span capabilities, allowing you to cover vast stockyards or multi-lane rail tracks seamlessly.
Flexibility: They can be easily dismantled and relocated if your site layout changes or if you move to a new facility.
Why Choose Goliath Cranes?
Choosing a heavy lifting partner is a major investment. Here is why the most demanding industries in the UK trust Goliath Cranes:
- Uncompromising Safety: Safety is embedded into our DNA. Every crane we manufacture comes with overload protection, emergency stop systems, limit switches, and optional zone-restriction software to protect your workforce.
- Turnkey Solutions: You deal with one contractor. From the first CAD drawing to the final safety certificate, we handle it all.
- Built for the UK: We understand the exact wind, weather, and regulatory conditions of the United Kingdom, ensuring your crane is compliant and durable.
- Operator Comfort and Control: We offer everything from ergonomic pendant controls to high-visibility, climate-controlled operator cabins equipped with joystick controls and CCTV for blind-spot monitoring.