Gantry rental made simple for fast, safe, single-day work
Gantry rental for contractors handling one-day heavy lifts. Get certified equipment, fast delivery, and expert setup. Ensure safe, efficient lifts and reserve today with American Erecting & Ironworks in Racine, Wisconsin. If you have a tight schedule, limited access, or must protect sensitive floors, a properly sized gantry system can solve the problem without disrupting your site.
American Erecting & Ironworks is a second-generation, family-owned company with more than 30 years of service in Racine, Kenosha, and Milwaukee counties, plus parts of Lake County, Illinois. Our team supports contractors, builders, and manufacturers with practical solutions that keep projects moving. We offer crane services, machinery moving, steel sales, and equipment rental. When your job calls for a compact lifting plan that you can complete in a day, our gantry rental program gives you speed, control, and safety at a fair price.
What is a gantry system and why contractors choose it
A gantry is a freestanding structure that straddles a load so you can lift it straight up and travel it a short distance. It is a smart option when you need precise, vertical control and even load sharing across multiple points. Gantries can be aluminum or steel, fixed or adjustable in height, and used with manual or powered trolleys. They pair well with chain hoists or electric hoists for repeatable lifts that protect both your crew and the equipment you are moving.
For one-day projects, a gantry system is often faster to set up than a full crane pick, especially indoors or in tight mechanical rooms. There is no need to open roofs or rip out walls. You avoid street closures and reduce the time spent on rigging. American Erecting & Ironworks supplies certified gantry equipment and the rigging support to help you stage, lift, and place loads with confidence.
Core components of a typical gantry setup
- Two uprights with adjustable heights to clear the lift path
- A cross beam rated for the working load limit
- Trolleys sized for the beam that allow smooth horizontal travel
- Manual or electric chain hoists with adequate capacity and safety features
- Spreader bars and rigging gear like shackles, slings, and corner protectors
- Base pads or cribbing to distribute load to the floor
When a gantry beats a mobile crane
Both gantries and cranes have their place. The right choice depends on access, capacity, floor loading, and schedule. For many contractors, gantry rental is the perfect fit for one-day heavy lifts because it reduces setup time and site disruption.
Situations where gantry rental shines
- Moving machines in and out of tight rooms with low headroom
- Setting HVAC units inside a plant where a roof pick is not practical
- Shifting equipment onto or off skates with fine control
- Working in facilities where floor protection is critical
- Staging lifts in an active production area with limited downtime
- Completing precision placement without slewing a crane boom
If your project turns out to be better suited to a crane, American Erecting & Ironworks has you covered. We operate a fleet of late-model cranes and employ NCCCO-certified crane operators who meet strict safety standards. Our team can help you compare options and choose the safest plan based on the real-world constraints of your site.
Our gantry rental options and how we support your job
American Erecting & Ironworks maintains well-kept rental equipment and pairs it with hands-on expertise. Every gantry rental goes through a pre-use inspection and comes with the right accessories for the work at hand. We can deliver to your site, help assemble, and coach your crew through a safe, efficient lift. For complex jobs, we can provide a full rigging team to complete the lift for you.
Typical gantry rental packages include
- Adjustable gantry frames sized for your height and span requirements
- Rated cross beams with compatible trolleys
- Manual or electric chain hoists matched to your capacity
- Spreader bars and rigging hardware
- Floor protection, cribbing, and load distribution materials
- Delivery, setup, and post-lift breakdown
Not every lift is the same. That is why we tailor the package to your load, travel distance, floor condition, and clearance needs. We also offer complementary rentals such as forklifts with or without rigger booms, rough terrain telehandlers, and genie boom lifts, so you can handle staging, material handling, and elevated work without calling multiple vendors.
How a one-day gantry rental works from start to finish
Our process is designed for speed and safety. The aim is to show up with exactly what you need so you can lift once and put the job to bed the same day.
Step-by-step plan
- Scope the lift: Share load weight, dimensions, center of gravity if known, floor ratings, travel distance, and photos of the route. A quick site visit can be scheduled if needed.
- Select the gear: We size the gantry, beam, hoists, and rigging based on your information and confirm access and headroom.
- Schedule delivery: We coordinate delivery to match your start time and crew availability. Most one-day lifts can be scheduled within a few days.
- Setup and inspection: Our team assembles the gantry, checks level and plumb, inspects rigging, and verifies working load limits are not exceeded.
- Test lift: We perform a light test to confirm balance and function before the full lift.
- Execute the lift: We lift, travel, and set the load in place with clear communication and spotters. We protect floors and edges along the way.
- Breakdown and removal: We disassemble the gantry, load out, and leave the area clean so you can return to work fast.
Safety, certification, and compliance
Safety is central to how American Erecting & Ironworks operates. Our equipment is inspected and maintained on a set schedule. Rigging gear is rated and tracked. Our field leaders follow industry standards and proven procedures for heavy lifts. For crane work, our NCCCO-certified crane operators maintain current credentials. For gantry work, you get an experienced rigging team who plans the lift, checks the load path, and controls risk at each step.
On every gantry rental, we can help you complete a job hazard analysis, define exclusion zones, and set clear hand signals or radio calls. If your facility requires permits or lift plans, we can coordinate documentation in advance to prevent delays. If floor loading is a concern, we supply cribbing and matting to distribute pressure and protect finishes.
Planning tips for a smooth one-day heavy lift
Good prep makes a one-day lift truly take one day. Use this checklist to speed things up.
- Confirm load weight and dimensions and note any off-center weight
- Measure headroom, doorway sizes, and the narrowest path along the route
- Check floor ratings and identify areas needing protection or cribbing
- Clear obstacles along the travel path and mark any trip hazards
- Secure power, air, and utilities on or near the machine before moving
- Assign a point person who stays with the crew from start to finish
- Have final anchor bolts or pads ready at the set location
- Plan for weather if moving between buildings or across docks
Transparent pricing and flexible terms
American Erecting & Ironworks offers daily, weekly, monthly, and extended rental terms. For contractors handling a single-day lift, a day rate is often the most cost-effective choice. If your scope may extend, we can hold the gear for multiple days and apply a fair weekly or monthly rate. Our quotes are straightforward and cover delivery, setup, and pickup whenever you need those services. There are no hidden fees. You know exactly what you are getting and when.
Why contractors trust American Erecting & Ironworks
Since 1991, our family-owned team has helped local contractors do heavy work the right way. We combine modern equipment with old-school care, and we stand behind every lift. Here is why crews call us first for gantry rental and support.
- 30 plus years of experience in crane services and machinery moving
- Certified equipment inspected and ready for safe use
- Fast delivery timed to your schedule, including early morning starts
- Expert setup and on-site support for one-day lifts
- NCCCO-certified crane operators and an experienced rigging team
- Flexible rental terms and straightforward pricing
- Local knowledge of plants, roads, and access in Racine, Kenosha, Milwaukee, and nearby areas
- One call for cranes, forklifts, telehandlers, genie boom lifts, and steel sales
Beyond gantries: full project support under one roof
Some lifts start with a gantry and end with a crane, or vice versa. Some jobs need a forklift with a rigger boom to shuttle parts before the main move. American Erecting & Ironworks is built for that. Along with gantry rental, we offer crane services for HVAC changeouts and heavy picks, machinery moving for plant relocations and equipment swaps, and steel sales for beams and columns within Wisconsin. If your project needs a beam added to support a lift or a column replaced as part of a renovation, we can supply the steel and coordinate installation.
Service area and fast response
We serve Racine, Kenosha, and Milwaukee counties in Wisconsin and parts of Lake County in Illinois. Our yard in Racine puts us close to most job sites in the region. Because we run our own tractor-trailers, trucks, and late-model equipment, we can deliver quickly and keep your schedule intact. For urgent work, call us and we will do our best to get a crew and equipment to you fast.
Frequently asked questions about gantry rental
How do I know if a gantry can handle my load
Start with verified weight and size. Share headroom and travel distance. We will size the gantry, beam, trolleys, and hoists so the combined working load limits exceed your needs with a safety margin. If floor capacity is a concern, we provide cribbing and layout options to spread the load. If a gantry is not the best choice, we will recommend a crane or forklift plan instead.
Can you deliver and set up the gantry the same day
In many cases, yes. Availability depends on schedule and distance from Racine. Call early, and we will work to deliver, assemble, and complete your one-day lift on the date you need. We also offer weekend and holiday hours by request to help you minimize downtime.
What if I need help with rigging
We can provide an experienced rigging crew to lead the lift or support your team on site. We bring slings, shackles, spreaders, and hoists matched to the load. We verify the rigging plan and perform a test lift before the final move.
Do you rent other equipment for the same project
Yes. American Erecting & Ironworks rents forklifts with or without rigger booms, rough terrain telehandlers, and genie boom lifts. We also offer crane services with NCCCO-certified operators if the job changes and needs a different approach. One vendor means less coordination and a faster path to completion.
How far will you travel
Our core service area includes Racine, Kenosha, and Milwaukee counties, along with parts of Lake County, Illinois. If you are outside these areas, call us. We review each project and do our best to help or refer you to a trusted partner.
What should I prepare before you arrive
Clear the work path, confirm measurements, and make sure access is ready. Verify that power and utilities are disconnected where needed. Have your crew on site for a quick safety brief. If you need floor protection or special cribbing, let us know ahead of time so we can bring it.
About American Erecting & Ironworks
American Erecting & Ironworks was incorporated on April 15, 1991, and has served the region ever since with a focus on safety and customer satisfaction. We operate late-model cranes, tractor-trailers, forklifts, and a wide range of rigging gear to back up your schedule. Our office and yard are located at 2108 Clark St, Racine, WI 53403. We are open Monday through Friday from 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Call us at (262) 637-7177 or visit AEAIWI.COM to request a quote.
Ready to book your gantry rental
If you have a one-day heavy lift and want to keep it simple, contact American Erecting & Ironworks. We will review your scope, recommend the right gantry rental package, and schedule delivery. You get certified equipment, expert setup, and a crew that respects your site. Call (262) 637-7177, stop by 2108 Clark St in Racine, or visit AEAIWI.COM to reserve your date. From quick lifts to complete machinery moves, our team is ready to help you lift safely and finish on time.
