Gantry robots, by design, tend to be large systems, capable of moving hundreds or thousands of pounds over long distances. Characterized by having two base axes for extremely high load capacity and rigidity, the most common drive mechanisms for gantry systems are belts, rack and pinion systems, and chains, with linear motors being used in special cases where extremely high speeds and forces are needed.

The most prevalent installations of gantry robots are in the automotive and packaging industries, but these giants of material handling and transport have uses in all types of applications, as demonstrated by the five largest gantry robots in the world…