Important considerations to make when choosing a rope hoist

Justyn Penfold, Industrial Crane Sales

Rope hoists cover the bulk of industrial lifting needs with capacities from 1 ton up to 80 tons—and beyond. These hoists are highly durable and can withstand demanding environments with frequent, heavy usage. Rope hoists are also ideal for applications that require efficiency and precision.

Choosing the right rope hoist for your application requires a few important considerations:

• Frequency of lifts you expect from the hoist.
• The weight the hoist will routinely handle. Also factor in the occasional lifts made at your facility that exceed your standard day-to-day workload. To prevent overloads and equipment failure, buy a crane and rope hoist that is rated a bit higher than the heaviest loads that you expect.
• Your future needs. A 5-ton hoist may be enough now. But do you foresee changes in your product line or processes that will require greater capacity in the next few years? Thinking ahead will save you the added expense of replacing a hoist.
• The types of material and products that the hoist will lift. A basic rope hoist may be all you need for tough, solid loads like rugged steel pipes. But if your hoist will be lifting and lowering more sensitive items, you may need a hoist equipped with load or area control features such as our Smart Features.

 

Intelligent lifting with Smart Features

Rope hoist motors controlled by variable frequency drives (VFD) facilitate precise, controlled movements that are required for handling more delicate items. And VFDs for bridge and trolley motions reduce load sway by gradually accelerating and decelerating traveling speed. Smart Features like Microspeed or Inching can also assist with precision lifts and sets of delicate loads.

Sway Control anticipates and corrects for the inertia that a load will experience when you let off the travel buttons, based on the weight of the load, how low it hangs from the hoist and the speed of trolley and bridge travel.

Another important feature to look for in rope hoists is Shock Load Prevention. This feature automatically slows the hoist if the load is picked up too fast and prevents shocks to the load and crane, which can damage ropes and the crane structure. 

For cranes with more than one rope hoist, Hoist Synchronization is a valuable feature that enables hoists to safely lift a large or long object in tandem.

The most sophisticated rope hoists are part of a closed-loop system in which the VFDs communicate directly with the hoist motor. In these systems the hoist can correct for issues involving the load, preventing a safety hazard or crane damage.

 

When are chain hoists the preferred option?

Rope hoists are a great solution for many applications. However, chain hoists are an economical alternative for lower capacity applications in workstations and shops, as well as in rough and tumble environments. Their compact design makes them well-suited for tight or confined spaces and they require less frequent maintenance compared to rope hoists. The more enclosed bodies of chain hoists also better protect against caustic chemicals as well as the elements in outdoor applications.

 

Learn more about our rope hoists