While a hoist isn’t going to be the most costly piece of equipment on the job, not having the right hoist is going to end up costing you time and money. Trying to lift loads with an undersized hoist increases the risk of a dropped load due to failure. Having to change out hoists or split loads to lift is going to end up costing you time on the job, both options ultimately reducing productivity.
Making a Choice
For most applications, the wire rope hoist will be used to lift fairly standard types of loads. This is true for a hoist system for indoor use in transportation hubs or manufacturing and industrial uses as well as for hoists mounted on cranes used for construction.
To ensure you have the right wire rope hoist for your needs, start by evaluating your requirements as they are now as well as what you anticipate in the future.
* Current and future lift requirements – consider the types of loads you lift on a regular basis. It will be important also to consider the odd heavier load as this, rather than the average weight, should be the minimum weight rating for the hoist.
* Types of materials – there are many different options for a wire rope hoist from those used to lift construction materials to those needed for very precise placement or components and parts in fabrication and assembly types of operations. The more precise the placement of the load required the more important it is to choose an advanced control system with the hoist.
Technology also provides options for a hoist to prevent shock if a load lift is too quickly, which will help to prevent damage to the hoist. There are also systems that adjust or correct for sway, which can be a problem when the load is moved as well as lifted and then stopped. These additional features are well worth considering to extend the life of the hoist and to increase the safety of use.
