Why Wire Rope Hoists are an Ideal Choice for Material Handling

What is a Wire Rope Hoist, and How Does it Work?

Using tools ranging from computer tracking systems and fleets of vehicles to personal lifting belts and industrial hoists, material handling experts understand the importance of choosing the right equipment for each task. Lifting, lowering, positioning, and pulling heavy equipment, inventory, construction materials, or other big items is a frequent part of the job. While there is no single piece of technology that’s right for every application, wire rope hoists have many capabilities and features that make them an ideal choice for many material handling uses. This article will review the basic defining wire rope hoist features, as well as the many benefits using these versatile, reliable, powerful tools and the advantages they have over other material hoist options.

Pass-through wire rope hoists are typified by the Griphoist® / Tirfor® design. The basic mechanism consists of a pair of jaws that alternately grip and pull a wire rope through the steel housing of the hoist. Two jaws alternately pull the wire rope and the load in the required direction, like pulling a rope with both hands. A length of specially engineered wire rope is fed through the mechanism, to be firmly gripped for operation when the clutch is engaged. One end of the hoist firmly anchors via a swivel hook, sling, or other strong fastening mechanism to an anchor, and a pair of levers allow operation of the hoist to apply pull to the rope in alternating directions. A telescoping handle can be easily switched from one lever to the other for easy reversal of direction. While simple, this design is the basis of the many advantageous features that make for an ideal material hoist.

Versatility and Ease of Use

A wire rope hoist is lightweight and portable, making it easy for even a single material handling worker to carry, install, and operate one in almost any work environment. This operation is usually performed manually, which means there’s no need for a power cord, fuel, or outside power source. And unlike most other manual industrial hoists, they work in any position to apply their pull horizontally, vertically, or at any angle in between. This makes them useful for any material hoist application: lifting, pulling, or lowering loads wherever needed.  

The key to the versatility of the wire rope hoist is the fact that nearly any length of rope can be easily fed into the hoist. This sets it apart from drum hoists, which have a maximum effective wire rope length, and from chain hoists, which have relatively awkward and time-consuming procedures for swapping out chains (which are also limited in their effective length).  

Accordingly, the hoist can be used to lift or pull over virtually any height or distance, making the wire rope hoist useful for a much wider range of applications than other hand hoisting and lifting equipment. In cases where direct linear pulling or lifting is not possible, a longer rope and a simple diversification pulley can be used as a rope lifting system to allow use of the hoist around corners or other barriers. 

Wire rope industrial hoists can also be augmented with pneumatic or hydraulic power, and arranged in batteries of multiple units, increasing the range of possible applications with this increased strength and control while still requiring only a single operator. 

Safety and Reliability

Minimizing risk of injury and other dangerous or costly accidents is always a high priority in material handling. No surprise that the integral safety features of the Griphoist design and the certified reliability of these hoists are well appreciated in the field. 

While the hoist is in operation, one set of jaws is always firmly gripping the rope. When motion ceases, both jaws automatically share the load, increasing stability and safety even further. Overload shear pins within the mechanism of the hoist prevent mechanical damage and failure in cases of weight overload. The ability to use longer rope also allows an operator to easily maintain safe distance from hazardous materials or other dangerous conditions.

Premium wire rope hoist models are rated for man riding, which means they can reliably support people as part of the listed weight capacity. This certification allows them to be safely used as components of any rope lifting system that supports, raises, and lowers safety baskets, cradles, construction man baskets, or even entire material storage and work platforms.

Precision and Power

Although compact and simple, the power and precision of wire rope hoists makes them the tools of choice for some of the largest material handling applications. An individual hoist typically has a Default Nominal Capacity between 2,000 and 8,000 pounds for purely material handling purposes, or three quarters as much for applications involving man riding. 

But these numbers only describe individual hoists, operated manually and without any additional equipment. The unlimited rope length allows the use of one or more sheave blocks to increase the effective force of the hoist. The hoist’s WLL (Working Load Limit) can be increased by a factor of 2, 3, 4 or more using this method, allowing it to potentially lift, lower, or pull over 30,000 pounds.   

The addition of a power source increases both the power, movement rate, and precision of a wire rope material hoist. Combined batteries of powered hoists can be used to raise, lower, and support platforms of all sizes, including the load of workers, heavy equipment, and materials, placing their load within millimeters of any needed position. 

An Ideal Choice, a Proven Partner

From personal, portable lifting assistance to sophisticated rope lifting systems and industrial platform support, wire rope hoists are clearly an indispensable tool for material handling applications. But not all wire rope hoists are the same. There are different models that vary by nominal capacity, anchoring options, and certifications for particular uses, notably man riding. While the Griphoist / Tirfor line of hoists is synonymous with the manually operated pass-through wire rope hoist category, other manufacturers make and sell hoists based on this design, many even using the term “grip hoist.’ When selecting the right hoists and other equipment for use in material handling and putting them properly to use, it’s best to partner with an industry leader. Tractel® has been serving the material handling sector for decades, with industrial hoists, tools, and protective equipment, as well as comprehensive expertise and customer support.

To learn more about how Tractel products and services can enhance the effectiveness and safety of your material handling workers and facilities, contact us today.