Overview
The HSI Model 314 medium duty jib crane bridges the gap between light assembly lifting and full-scale industrial production. Rated at 3,000 to 4,000 lbs (1.5 to 2 tons), this mast-style rotating crane is purpose-built for shops, fabrication bays, and workstation cells where loads have outgrown a light duty system but don’t require the structural demands of a 3 to 5 ton setup.
Like every crane in the 314 Series, it mounts directly to your existing floor slab and ties into an overhead building truss or structural bracket at the top. That two-point connection eliminates the need for an engineered foundation pour and keeps installation costs well below what a fully freestanding crane requires. Standard 360-degree rotation covers the entire work area from a single anchor point, and spans range from 8 to 20 feet with mounting heights from 10 to 20 feet.
Barron Equipment is an authorized HSI Cranes distributor. We carry the complete 314 Series across all capacity tiers and can help you determine whether a medium duty configuration is the right match for your application — or whether you need to move up or down in the range.
Why Choose a Medium Duty Jib Crane
Choosing the right capacity tier matters. An undersized crane limits what you can safely lift. An oversized one costs more to purchase and may require heavier structural support from your building. The medium duty 314 Series sits in a capacity range that covers a wide swath of common shop and workstation lifting tasks — engine blocks, machine tooling, steel plate, weldments, dies, and sub-assemblies — without overbuilding for the application.
At 1.5 to 2 tons, this crane delivers enough lifting power for most fabrication and maintenance environments while using lighter beam sections than the 3 to 5 ton models. That translates to lower thrust and pull forces on your building structure, lower shipping weight, and a more straightforward installation. For shops that have been manually handling loads in this weight range, adding a medium duty rotating jib crane can dramatically reduce injury risk and improve cycle times.
Features and Benefits
The 314 Series medium duty jib crane shares the same proven engineering platform as the rest of the HSI line, scaled appropriately for 3,000 to 4,000 lb loads.
No Foundation Required — The mast bolts to your existing concrete slab and ties into overhead structure at the top. No foundation pour means less downtime and lower installation costs.
360° Rotation as Standard — Full-circle coverage lets operators position loads anywhere in the work cell without repositioning the crane. This is especially valuable in shop environments where a single crane serves multiple workstations or machine tools.
Smooth Rotation Under Load — Heavy duty cast iron fittings with roller bearings and zerk fittings deliver easy rotation even at full capacity. Field lubrication is fast and simple, keeping maintenance time to a minimum.
Minimal Structural Impact — The mast-and-tie-in design distributes forces efficiently, placing less demand on your building’s supporting structure compared to fully freestanding alternatives at equivalent capacities.
Full Trolley Travel — The cantilever boom profile allows the hoist trolley to traverse the full usable length of the beam, maximizing your working coverage across the reach of the crane.
Full and Drop Cantilever Configurations — Standard full-cantilever booms provide maximum reach. Drop boom configurations are available for low-headroom environments where overhead clearance is limited.
Motorized or Manual Rotation — Manual push/pull rotation is standard. For higher-cycle applications, powered rotation can be added to reduce operator fatigue and speed up material flow.
Compliant by Design — All HSI cranes are designed per the AISC Steel Construction Manual and built to OSHA 1910.179, ANSI B30.11, and CMAA Specification No. 74. Welding meets AWS D1.1 standards, and all steel meets or exceeds ASTM A-36 designation.
Capacities and Specifications
The medium duty 314 Series is available in two capacity tiers with a wide range of span and mounting height combinations. Contact Barron Equipment for exact beam sizes, approximate weights, and thrust/pull data for your specific configuration.
| Specification | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity Range | 3,000 lbs (1.5 ton), 4,000 lbs (2 ton) |
| Standard Spans | 8 ft to 20 ft |
| Standard Mounting Heights | 10 ft to 20 ft |
| Rotation | 360° (standard) |
| Boom Styles | Full cantilever and drop cantilever |
| Mounting | Floor-mounted mast with upper building truss or bracket tie-in |
| Custom Configurations | Available upon request |
Beam sizes scale with span and capacity. For example, a 2 ton crane at an 8 ft span typically uses a W10x26 beam, while the same capacity at a 20 ft span steps up to a W21x62. Approximate unit weights range from around 730 lbs for shorter-span models up to roughly 2,900 lbs for the longest span and tallest configurations. Barron Equipment can provide the full specification sheet for any configuration you are considering.
Options and Accessories
Tailor the 314 Series to your specific shop environment with these factory-supported options:
- Tight Wire Kit (Festooning/Tagline) — Keeps hoist power and control cables organized and tangle-free during boom rotation
- Rotation Stops — Limits the crane’s swing arc to protect adjacent equipment, walls, or work areas
- Outdoor Application Package — Weather-resistant coating and hardware for exterior or covered outdoor use
- Motorized Rotation — Electrically powered boom swing for operations with high lift frequency
- Hand Geared Rotation — Mechanical gear assist for controlled, precise boom positioning
- Hoist and Trolley Packages — Matched hoist and trolley combinations sized for your specific capacity and span
Not sure which add-ons make sense? Barron Equipment can help you match options to your application, duty cycle, and budget.
Applications
The 3,000 to 4,000 lb capacity range covers a broad set of everyday lifting tasks in shop and production environments. The 314 Series medium duty jib crane is a practical, cost-effective solution wherever loads have exceeded what operators can safely handle manually but don’t warrant a full overhead crane system.
Machine Shops and Tool Rooms — Load and unload machine tools, position fixtures, and move tooling and dies that are too heavy for manual handling. A rotating jib crane gives operators independent lifting capability without waiting for a shared overhead crane.
Fabrication and Welding Cells — Position weldments, steel plate, and sub-assemblies with precision. The 360-degree rotation serves the entire workstation from a single point, improving throughput in cells where parts need to move between a cutting table, fixture, and staging area.
General Manufacturing and Assembly — Move motors, housings, frames, and assembled components between workstations. A dedicated workstation jib crane keeps production flowing without bottlenecking on shared material handling equipment.
Maintenance and Repair Operations — Lift heavy components during scheduled maintenance, equipment changeovers, and emergency repairs. Having a dedicated crane at the maintenance bay means faster turnaround and less reliance on mobile lifting equipment.
Warehousing and Shipping — Handle medium-weight loads at packing, crating, or dock staging areas where fixed-point lifting is needed regularly.
The medium duty 314 is also an effective supplement to an existing overhead bridge crane system. Dedicating a shop jib crane to a specific work cell frees up the bridge crane for larger material moves, improving overall facility throughput.
Warranty and Standards
HSI backs every manual rotation jib crane with an industry-leading 11-year warranty covering defects in material and workmanship. All 314 Series cranes are structurally designed to AISC standards, built per OSHA 1910.179 and ANSI B30.11, and manufactured to CMAA Specification No. 74. All steel is minimum ASTM A-36, all pipe is ASTM A-53 Grade B, and all welding adheres to AWS D1.1.
Selection Assistance
Before requesting a quote, it helps to have these details ready so Barron Equipment can configure the right crane for your facility:
Required lift capacity — 1.5 ton (3,000 lbs) or 2 ton (4,000 lbs)
Desired boom span — horizontal reach from the mast centerline
Mounting height — floor-to-boom distance, which determines your height under boom (HUB)
Available overhead clearance — determines whether a full cantilever or drop boom is needed
Rotation requirements — full 360° or a limited arc using rotation stops
Duty cycle — lift frequency and typical percentage of rated capacity per lift
Power availability — for motorized rotation or electric hoist packages
Structural tie-in point — location and type of existing overhead truss or bracket
Not sure where to start? Contact Barron Equipment and one of our crane specialists will walk you through each factor. Need a different capacity? See our Light Duty 314 Series (up to 2,000 lbs) or our Heavy Duty 314 Series (6,000 to 10,000 lbs).