When buying any type of lifting or handling equipment, it’s important to spend time making sure you are selecting the right solution for your specific application. Here are some of the main things to consider when choosing a hoist.

Capacity Required

One of the first factors is the required capacity. You should make sure that the equipment you are researching has enough capacity to lift the heaviest load you are likely to handle and has been engineered for the Mean Effective Load (MEL) you require. Be sure to also think about the future and whether your requirements are likely to change over time.

Duty Cycle

A key consideration is the duty cycle of the hoist. It is imperative to ensure that the hoist you purchase has been designed to perform the required number of lifts per hour and can handle the weight and type of load required for the application. You will also need to consider the average height/distance that the load will be lifted, how long each lift will take, and the number of times the hoist will be required to start up and stop each hour. Buying a hoist with a suitable duty cycle rating will help ensure reliability and safety over the long term.

Power Type

Hoists may be manually operated or powered by electricity, air or hydraulics. The power type you choose will depend on many different things, including the required lifting capacity, usage type and operating environment.

Electric hoists offer fast lifting speeds and the ability to handle heavier loads and volumes than manual hoists, combined with a relatively low purchase price. This makes them a popular choice in environments where there is access to an electricity supply.

Air hoists are especially popular in hazardous environments where there may be a risk of an explosion, for example where flammable gasses are present. They can handle very heavy duty cycles and demanding lifts, offering almost a 100% duty cycle.

Suspension Type

Hoists may be mounted on a trolley or suspended from an overhead structure. Hook mounted hoists include manual, electric and air chain hoists. These usually have a hook on the frame of the hoist that can be used to suspend the hoist from a trolley’s suspension pin. Trolley mounted hoists may be mounted with a hook, clevis or lug.

Hazardous Environments

As we touched upon before, special consideration needs to be made if the hoist is going to be used in a challenging or hazardous environment. This might include places where flammable gasses are present, marine environments, sites with extreme temperatures, and many more. Careful consideration should be given and a suitable option selected accordingly.

Choosing the Right Hoist

The most suitable product will depend on a multitude of different factors. With so many products on the market, this can make it difficult to find and choose the right hoist for the application.

A specialist hoisting equipment provider will be able to assess your requirements and recommend the most appropriate solution for your needs. This way, you will ensure you select a hoist that meets your needs from day one and provides the long-term reliability, durability and safety you demand.