Two Spans. Two Overhead Cranes. A Steel Portal Frame.

For an industrial building with two working bays and an overhead crane in each, a steel portal frame is usually my first choice.

The columns and rafters form rigid frames across the building, creating open space for production and material handling. Purlins and wall girts support the roof and wall cladding, while bracing stabilises the structure along its length.

The cranes add another layer of engineering. Their moving loads pass through the runway beams and column corbels into the columns and foundations. Strength, stiffness and connection detailing all matter.

This video presents a recent project completed by our engineering team in Melbourne’s western suburbs: a 36 × 60 m industrial building with two 18 m spans and two overhead bridge cranes.

We take you around the exterior, through both working bays, and into six key structural connections, showing how the building, steelwork and foundations fit together.