What Makes the 350PJ Different?
Most jib cranes are built to stay in one place. The HSI Model 350PJ was engineered to move.
The 350PJ is a portable forkpocket jib crane with a weighted base that includes integrated fork pockets — allowing a standard forklift to pick it up and relocate it anywhere in your facility. No concrete foundation. No floor anchors. No epoxy. The crane sets up wherever you need it, levels itself with adjustable legs, and delivers full 360-degree rotation and up to 1/2-ton capacity at spans up to 16 feet.
This is the right crane for two specific scenarios:
- You have multiple workstations that each need periodic lifting — rather than buying three or four fixed cranes, one 350PJ can serve your entire shop floor as operators move it where the next lift is needed.
- You cannot anchor anything to the floor — whether due to a lease, a historic building, an unsuitable slab, or a layout that changes frequently, the 350PJ needs no permanent attachment to the floor.
Features and Benefits
The 350PJ is built on the same reliable platform as the rest of HSI's pillar-base crane series, with added engineering for portability and safe transport.
- Fork pockets in the base — Standard forklift tines slide in, the crane lifts, and relocates in minutes to any position on your floor
- Boom lock parking device — Secures the boom during movement to prevent it from swinging during forklift transport — a critical safety feature unique to portable crane designs
- Leveling legs — Adjustable legs compensate for uneven floors and ensure the crane stands stable and plumb at any location in the facility
- Base ordered hollow or prefilled with concrete — Hollow reduces shipping weight; prefilled maximizes stability in service. Discuss your application with Barron Equipment to choose the right configuration
- Economical pipe-over-pipe design — Keeps the unit affordable for facilities that need portable lifting without a major capital investment
- Full plate-style gussets — Evenly distributes load forces at the base for structural integrity
- Maintenance-free bottom thrust roller — Two self-aligning, heavy-duty sealed cam follower bearings require no servicing and are easy to replace when needed
- Teflon-coated top pin rotation — Upper garlock sleeve and garlock washer provide smooth, low-friction 360-degree boom rotation throughout the service life of the crane
- 360-degree rotation standard — Full swing arc at every location you deploy the crane
When Does One Portable Crane Beat Three Fixed Ones?
The math is straightforward: if each of your workstations needs lifting capability for only part of each shift, a single portable jib crane can serve all of them at a fraction of the cost of multiple installed units.
Consider a shop with five welding bays. Each bay needs crane access for approximately 90 minutes per day. Rather than installing five fixed cranes — each with its own foundation, anchor system, and price tag — one 350PJ can rotate between bays throughout the shift, covering every station's lifting needs within the same workday.
The 350PJ earns its keep in:
Contract Manufacturing and Job Shops Facilities with changing work layouts or production schedules can redeploy the crane wherever the current job demands it, without any commitment to a fixed position.
Leased or Temporary Facilities If you can't make permanent modifications to the floor — whether due to a lease agreement, a facility you're evaluating, or a short-term production run — the 350PJ installs without leaving a trace.
New Facility Setup and Layout Trials Before committing to permanent fixed crane installations, some facilities use the 350PJ to test crane placements and determine the best positions before making permanent decisions.
Seasonal or Project-Based Operations Facilities with high variability in production volume or station usage get more utilization from one mobile unit than from multiple fixed cranes that stand idle most of the time.
Options and Accessories
The 350PJ supports the following options and accessories: Tight Wire Kit (Festooning/"Tagline"), C Track Flat Cable Festooning, Rotation Stops, Outdoor Application package, and Hoist & Trolley Packages.
| Option | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Tight Wire Kit / Festooning | Manages and routes the power cord along the boom to prevent tangles during rotation |
| C Track Flat Cable Festooning | Flat cable management system for the boom — an alternative to standard festooning for cleaner cable routing |
| Rotation Stops | Limits the boom swing arc to protect equipment, personnel, or structural elements within the sweep zone |
| Outdoor Application Package | Prepares the crane for exterior or harsh-environment use |
| Hoist & Trolley Packages | Complete ready-to-lift system — crane, hoist, trolley, and accessories configured together |
What You'll Need to Spec the 350PJ
Barron Equipment will configure your 350PJ to match your application. Key inputs include:
- Required capacity — The 350PJ supports up to 1/2 ton (1,000 lbs). If your application requires more, see the HSI Model 350 or 351 for higher-capacity fixed options
- Span — Horizontal reach required from the pillar center to the hook (standard up to 16 feet)
- Height under boom (HUB) — How high the hook needs to travel
- Base fill preference — Hollow (lighter for transport) or prefilled with concrete (maximum stability in service)
- Number of workstations — If you're planning to serve multiple stations with one crane, knowing the layout will help determine whether the 350PJ's mobility window fits your operation
Selection Assistance
Not sure if the 350PJ is the right fit for your application? Here are the key factors to consider:
The 350PJ is likely the right choice if:
- You need lifting capability at more than one workstation and want to share one crane across them
- Your facility lease or floor conditions prevent any permanent floor attachment
- You need crane capability quickly, without waiting on concrete work
- Your layout changes frequently and crane flexibility is more valuable than crane permanence
- Your capacity requirement is 1,000 lbs or less
The 350PJ may not be the right choice if:
- Your required lifting capacity exceeds 1/2 ton — contact Barron Equipment to discuss higher-capacity alternatives in the HSI lineup
- Your application requires a crane that stays at one station full-time — a fixed installation may be more cost-effective
- Your existing floor cannot support the weight of a concrete-filled portable base
Contact Barron Equipment with your capacity, span, and height under boom (HUB) requirements, along with any details about your floor or facility layout. Our team will confirm whether the 350PJ fits your application and provide a complete system quote — crane, hoist, trolley, and accessories ready to ship.