Heavy equipment in industries such as construction, manufacturing, and distribution needs to be moved and managed quickly and safely. An electric chain hoist is critical in today’s automated operating systems, yet many business owners do not understand how to specify one for their business.
Electric chain hoists are powered hoists that pick and lower loads via electric motor chain systems. If you are lifting an object that weighs over 250 kilograms, it would be inefficient and unsafe for an operator to perform the lifting instead of the hoist. When the motor is activated, the load is elevated by the chain winding onto the drum.
Electric chain hoists are the most effective tool to use for lifting tasks in a workplace. Manual hoists create a risk of operator fatigue, accidents, and slow systems operations. Electric chain hoists remove the human and fatigue risk and increase systems cycle time.
Capacity and Duty Cycle Considerations
One common mistake companies make is choosing a hoist based only on maximum load weight. A hoist with a capacity of 500kg would seem perfect for lifting loads of 400kg on a regular basis. This is not the case. An equally important factor is something known as the duty cycle, which is essentially how much work the hoist does over a period of time.
Hoists in the industry have standards for rating cycle duty as light, medium, or heavy. A light duty model may be rated for operational use, perhaps lifting a few loads a few times per hour. Heavy duty is for continual use in demanding industrial environments. If light duty hoists are used for heavy duty applications, premature failure is a likely outcome and can cause safety issues.
Electric chain hoists require maintenance to function properly and in a predictable and safe manner. Hoists require periodic chain inspections to check for excessive wear, stretched links, and damages as well as for periodic lubrication. In due time, motor brushes become worn and brake systems must be checked to ensure they will safely and effectively in catch a load if a sudden power failure were to occur.
The Legal Stuff…
Some of the ongoing maintenance is a legal requirement, some of the remaining ongoing maintenance will be required to carry out maintenance of the hoists in a safe manner. LOLER 98 is a legal framework within which these inspections must be performed and legally required ongoing maintenance commitments must be undertaken by your business.
Getting the most out of your business also means making the right selection of an hoist. Buying the cheapest hoist available is not the answer required. Make sure to look at the bigger picture instead of just the hoist and make sure to think of out your ongoing maintenance, your budget, and your duty.
If you carry out these requirements properly it ought to be easy to outdo the competitors in your field. Getting assistance from an expert who is already familiar with both the tools and your industry could prevent you from getting stressed about the information and deals you could save out on in the future. The appropriate hoist, correctly determined and maintained, should provide reliable service for many years.