Why crane duty is special
A crane motor faces frequent starting and stopping, reversing, and load shock. So a crane drive motor must deliver high starting torque and survive a severe duty cycle — it is not the same as a continuous-duty fan motor.
Motor types used on cranes
| Type | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Wound-rotor (slip-ring) motor | Hoist and travel drives needing controlled acceleration. |
| High-torque DC motor | Crane auxiliary, trolley and positioning drives with speed control. |
| Heavy-duty squirrel-cage motor | Simpler drives with a VFD for speed control. |
How to select a crane motor
- Duty class — match the motor's thermal rating to the crane duty (light, medium, heavy).
- Starting torque — allow for hoisting the rated load plus acceleration.
- Power (kW) — from load and hoist speed, with margin for shock.
- Speed control — wound-rotor or VFD/DC drive for smooth lift/lower.
Wangpai crane motor ranges
| Series | Application |
|---|---|
| Z series | Heavy-duty DC motor for crane drives. |
| ZZJ series | Rolling-mill auxiliary and crane motor built for shock loads. |
| YR series | Wound-rotor high-voltage motor for hoist drives. |
Crane motor FAQ
What power crane motor do I need?
Based on the hoist load (t), hoist speed and duty, we size the motor and confirm the duty class. Common ratings run from a few kW to hundreds of kW for large gantry cranes.
Should the crane motor be DC or AC?
Both work. DC gives smooth low-speed control for positioning; AC wound-rotor or VFD drives are common for main hoists.