An incredibly wide range of businesses require the ability to lift and move heavy loads. This applies to everything from manufacturing plants to HVAC installers, and everything in between. Anytime there is a need to lift and move a very heavy load, manual chain hoists can come into play. Choosing the right hoist is important, though, to ensure safety, durability and longevity. How do you choose the right hoist for your needs?
Weight Matters
The first thing you’ll need to consider is the weight of your regular loads. You will need to choose from manual chain hoists with at least that weight limit, but remember that you actually need to round up. For example, if you regularly lift loads that weight 1.5 tons, you’ll need a 2-ton hoist. If you usually lift loads that weigh 2.25 tons, you’ll need a 3-ton hoist. Using a lift with even a little less lifting capacity than your average load weight is a bad idea that could result in premature hoist failure, or even injury to workers.
Lift Distance/Chain Length
You will need to determine the lift distance for manual chain hoists. Really, this is nothing more than the distance from where the chain hoist is mounted to the location where your load rests. For instance, in a factory setting, it might be the distance from the steel WF-beam in the ceiling to the floor directly below. This distance will determine the length of chain your need for your hoist. So, if it was 25 feet from the WF-beam to the floor, you’d want at least 25 feet of chain. Ideally, you’ll opt for chain that is at least a couple of feet longer than this minimum distance.
Mounting Type
Manual chain hoists can have lug mounting systems or hook mounting systems that attach them to the mounting location. Hook-style systems require more headroom, while lug-style systems require less space. Both will use a different type of trolley, though, which is the wheeled piece of equipment that attaches manual chain hoists to the WF-beam or I-beam above. Note that both plain and geared trolleys are available for manual hoists, but a geared trolley may be the better option or improved usability.
Choosing between the available manual chain hoists can be confusing. It’s highly recommended that you work with an experienced partner that can make informed recommendations based on your company’s specific use needs and industry.
