DIFFERENT TYPES OF LIFTING GEAR

Posted : Thursday 18th August 2011

This post examines the different types of lifting equipment, where it is often utilised and how. 

Lifting gear or lifting equipment is the general term used for all products utilised throughout the lifting industry, however you may additionally  hear the expressions; material handling, manual handling as well as lifting tackle, these all refer to the same thing. 

Lifting equipment is used instead of man-power to lift loads that will be too heavy for a person to lift safely without the danger of personal injuries. It should be noted that it is highly recommended and in several cases a necessary requirement to have all lifting gear tested and inspected for faults on a regular basis, test certification should always be issued and kept. 

Now we are going to look closer at the commonest lifting gear apparatus from little to large. 

Shackles are manufactured from strong steel and take the form of a U shape; used as a kind of connecting device between 2 items, a shackle will possess a bolt or pin to supply its locking device and therefore ensuring a secure hold. 

Eyebolts are essentially a screw with an eye or ring at its head, screwed to some solid surface they supply a strong fixing point for other equipment to fix too. 

A ratchet lashing is a long webbing strap with a specific fixing mechanism, commonly a cam buckle, so that loads may be secured tightly to a surface, they are regularly used on trucks for securing their loads. 

There are many types of lifting slings offered, from web slings, chain slings and even wire rope slings, all used for various purposes, the softer webbing slings tend to be utilised for lifting more delicate or easily marked objects and chain slings for a tougher and more adaptable approach since they can be utilized in several combinations for different load types. 

A pallet truck facilitates easy movement of bulky objects, regularly used in warehouses and factories. They vary in size but will all have wheels on the flat base and a long handle at one end for steering, pallets and boxes are most commonly transported this way. 

Sheet materials such as steel sheeting are lifted by the use of either a plate clamp, used in two's (often more) and clamp the edge of the plate in its jaws, these may mark the steel, this is where lifting magnets come in, these usually do not scratch the steel plate as they use a magnetic force to lift, however they will only work with ferro-magnetic materials, and precise lifting conditions will apply for a secure lift. 

Beam clamps and trolleys are tools that  attach onto the projection of a beam on a mobile or jib crane for example. A beam clamp stays in a fixed position where as a trolley can be manually moved along the beam, or by the use of of a remote control if it is a powered trolley. These devices offer a safe fixing point enabling further products to be fitted for lifting, for example a hoist.

Now we move on to bigger types of lifting gear. 

A ratchet lever hoist lifts loads by means of a ratchet mechanism, powered manually by manoeuvring the lever back and forth, they can be used for tensioning in various directions. A manual chain hoist/chain block are among the most frequently used pieces of manual lifting gear, lifting and lowering loads by the use of pulling on a chain. 

There are different types of driven lifting devices, all are fitted to a structure/beam/crane of some kind, the mostly utilised is the electric hoist, similar to the chain block but electrically powered and therefore able to lift heavier loads. Electric wire rope hoists are also available as are air hoists working on a pneumatic air supply. 

A mobile lifting gantry, is a non permanent type of crane which can be repositioned without difficulty on its castors, many types of lifting devices may be fitted to its cross beam, i.e. a beam clamp and electric hoist. Typically made to fit your own needs regarding size and safe working loads. Used across many industries from small car garages to huge factories. 

A jib crane is a device which is generally floor or wall mounted and incorporates a jib arm or boom which can be turned all the way through anything up to 360 degrees, providing a popular approach to lifting and moving loads from one place to another within a specific work area. Regularly utilised in a huge array of industries, large and small, and are usually manufactured to suit your requirements. 

An overhead crane is a much bigger piece of lifting gear, commonly utilised in huge manufacturing factories, high up in the ceiling space. They lift and move loads over a track by means of remote control and hoists. These are a permanent device so almost certainly not so adaptable as the mobile gantry. 

Finally we are able to conclude that there are many varieties of lifting gear products, all of which assist in the lifting, lowering and moving heavy, large or awkward loads. They all help in providing extra safety to the workforce and if serviced on a regular basis as required will work hard, last long and be a great investment.

 

 

 

Tagged as: jib crane, lifting gear, mobile gantry, electric hoist, lever hoist, ratchet lashing, eyebolt, shackle, chain sling, web sling, lifting magnet

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