Lifting equipment is a broad term, encompassing many of the tools and gear used to perform lifts. This can be in a variety of settings, from construction sites, to factories and production lines, to industrial settings. The lifting equipment industry is huge and encapsulates a massive range of tools used to carry out lifts and make this process easier, safer and more efficient. It’s important that the right lifting equipment is used for the correct processes – when it is, this can greatly improve safety and drastically enhance efficiency.
Lifting equipment can range from items such as the slings used with gantry cranes and goliath cranes, right down to trolleys and dolleys that can improve manual lifts and make it easier to transport items like drums, pallets and stock in a warehouse. Organisations that carry out certain types of lifts on a regular basis can gain great benefits from lifting equipment and can begin increasing productivity with something as small as a toe jack.
Type of lifting equipment – what’s available on the lifting equipment market and what are the various uses?
Lifting equipment can have a capacity up to 600 tonnes. This is some of the most commonly bought and used lifting equipment:
- Lifting slings. They can be used to lift loads along with other lifting equipment and they’re hugely versatile, available in different capacities, lengths and materials.
- Ratchet lever hoists. These are hand operated chain hosts, with a lower capacity than electric hoists and suitable for use where electricity might not be available. They might also be known as a ratchet puller or chain pulling device. They’re similar to hand chain hoists.
- Beam trolleys. Used for horizontal travel along a beam, trolleys are usually connected up to a chain hoist to complete a lift. There are many different capacities available.
- Lifting shackles. This includes bow shackles, dee shackles, safety bolt bow shackles, and many more. They are utilised along with hoists.
- Lifting clamps. There are clamps available for various applications, including bespoke solutions if required. A lifting equipment supplier will be able to explain the options and find solutions.
- Lifting jacks. Bottle jacks, trolley jacks, aluminium jacks, toe jacks… the list goes on. There are many types of jacks that are used for lifting loads. Make sure they come with a certificate of conformity, which will verify the product.
- Beam clamps. If you need something outside of the ordinary, different beam clamps can be purchased – they might be reinforced, or they might have had a particular finish applied, making them suitable for use in specific environments.
This is mainly complementary lifting equipment, designed for use with another system. There are also pieces of lifting equipment that will complete lifts on their own, such as drum handling equipment and trolleys. They can be used to transport equipment short distances, such as drums, pallets and other large, heavy objects. They could be standalone trolleys or they might come in the form of an attachment for a forklift. They’re often used in warehouses and storage facilities.