Container crane spreaders · safe working load at the twistlocks, eccentric loading, tare weight, telescopic range and timing, single, twin and tandem lift, twistlock release safety and design criteria
A container spreader is the frame hung from a crane's headblock that locks onto an ISO container's four top corner fittings with rotating twistlocks, so the crane can lift it; telescopic spreaders change length between 20, 40 and 45 ft boxes, and twin or tandem types lift two or more containers at once. Ask three things first: what load it is rated for at the twistlocks and with what eccentricity, what it weighs and how fast it telescopes, and how its twistlocks are prevented from releasing a suspended load.
Container spreaders for ship-to-shore, yard (RTG/RMG), mobile harbour cranes and mobile container handlers: fixed and telescopic, single-, twin- and tandem-lift, hydraulic or all-electric. General-purpose lifting beams and spreader bars, overheight frames, headblocks and twistlocks sold alone are outside this page except where compared.
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01
Bromma's SSX40/SSX45 single-lift telescopic spreaders for ship-to-shore cranes handle 20, 40 and (SSX45) 45 ft containers with ISO floating twistlocks. Their safe working load is 41 t at the twistlocks evenly loaded and 41 t with ±10% eccentric loading, with four 10 t lifting lugs; tare weight is 8.7 t (SSX40) and 9.6 t (SSX45) without extra equipment; telescoping from 20 to 40 ft takes about 28 s and from 20 to 45 ft about 30 s; and design criteria are EN 13001, DIN 15018 H2B4, FEM 1.001 and BS 2573. A retract to the 19'6" position frees the spreader if it jams in a ship's 20 ft cell. [2]
Its YSX40/YSX45 hydraulic yard crane spreaders carry the same 41 t rating, weigh about 7.6 t and 9.4 t, telescope from 20 to 40 ft in about 25 s and to 45 ft in about 30 s, and have a mechanical structure calculated for 2 million cycles to EN 13001. [3] Bromma's STS range runs from single-lift to twin and tandem models, and it offers a twin-twenty detection system that detects misaligned 20 ft containers in twin-lift operation and all-electric spreaders it says cut energy use by up to 90% and eliminate oil leaks. [4]
Editorial calculation: a 41 t rated load on an SSX45 spreader of 9.6 t tare puts about 41 + 9.6 = 50.6 t on the headblock, before headblock weight and dynamic effects. The crane's rated load under the spreader or headblock must cover this. The figures are one maker's example; use the spreader and crane data for your order.
Give the supplier the crane type and its rated load under spreader or headblock, the headblock interface and power supply, container types and lengths (20, 30, 40, 45 ft; high cube; reefer), single, twin or tandem lifting, cycle count and duty, hydraulic or electric drive, options (side shift, flippers, height indication, twin-twenty detection, cameras), climate and the design code required.
02
The US marine terminal rule 29 CFR 1917.71 requires loaded containers of 20 ft or more lifted by their top fittings to be hoisted vertically from at least four fittings, with less than vertical lifts allowed only under listed conditions such as a lift angle of 80–90°, and requires spreader twistlock systems to be designed and used so that a suspended load cannot accidentally be released. It also requires containers to be marked with empty weight, maximum cargo weight and gross weight, and forbids hoisting a container whose actual gross weight exceeds its marked maximum or the capacity of the crane. [1]
The same rule requires employees to stay clear of the area beneath a suspended container, and where spreaders use lanyards to release the load, all possible precautions against accidental release. [1]
Editorial note: ask the supplier how twistlock locked and unlocked positions and landed (seated) status are sensed and interlocked with the crane hoist, and what indication the driver receives.
03
Suppliers linked to this page list container spreaders; each card links to the page reviewed.
Listings include hydraulic and fully electric container spreaders, fixed and telescopic electric spreaders, rotary and slewing spreaders for gantry cranes, spreaders for empty container handlers, and spreader spare parts such as twistlocks and headblocks. Ask each for SWL and eccentricity, tare weight, telescopic time, design code and twistlock safety.
04
This is a functional reference built from the sources cited; it is not one maker's specification.
| Part | Role | Fix in the order |
|---|---|---|
| Main frame and telescopic beams | Carry load; set container length. [2] | Lengths and telescopic time. |
| Twistlocks | Lock into corner fittings. [2] [1] | Type and locking safety. |
| End beams | Carry twistlocks; recessed for lashing frames. [3] | Design. |
| Lifting lugs | Auxiliary lifting points. [2] | Rating. |
| Drive system | Hydraulic or all-electric. [3] [4] | Drive and power. |
| Control and sensors | Control unit, twin-twenty detection. [4] | Sensors and interface. |
| Flippers and guides | Guide onto the container. | Type. |
05
A spreader quotation needs values for your crane and containers. The table explains each field, gives published values where a reviewed source states them, and says what to obtain from the supplier.
| Field | What it means and published values | Ask the supplier for |
|---|---|---|
| Rated Lifting Capacity (t) | Example: 41 t at twistlocks, ±10% eccentric. [2] | SWL and eccentricity. |
| Twistlock Engagement Accuracy (mm) | Landing tolerance. | Guide and sensor design. |
| Power Supply Voltage (V DC) | Control supply from the crane. | Supply and interface. |
| Operating Temperature Range (°C) | Climate. | Range. |
| Ingress Protection Rating | Electrics. | Rating. |
| Main Beam Material | High-strength steel. [4] [3] | Steel grade. |
| Spreader Weight (t) | Examples: 7.6–9.6 t tare. [2] [3] | Tare with options. |
| Max Container Length (mm) | 40 or 45 ft. [2] | Lengths handled. |
| Twistlock Rotation Time (s) | Lock and unlock time. | Time. |
| Telescopic time (s) | Examples: 25–30 s, 20–40/45 ft. [2] [3] | Time. |
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Paste it into your enquiry below or into an email to a maker, then replace every bracket.
Crane: [type; rated load under spreader; headblock] Containers: [lengths; heights; twin or tandem] Duty: [moves per year; cycles] Drive: [hydraulic or electric; supply] Options: [flippers; side shift; detection systems] Design: [code; climate; IP]
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Bromma rates its SSX and YSX telescopic spreaders at 41 t at the twistlocks, evenly loaded or with ±10% eccentricity. [2] [3]
Bromma gives tare weights of about 7.6 to 9.6 t for its single-lift telescopic models. [2] [3]
29 CFR 1917.71 requires spreader twistlock systems that cannot accidentally release a suspended load. [1]
Sources checked 2026-10-11. 29 CFR 1917.71 is a US marine terminal safety rule; Bromma is a spreader maker publishing data for its own models, which are examples rather than limits for other makes.
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