Lifting and handling different sorts of materials or machinery requires the use of lifting and handling equipment. In any factory or plant, this equipment is considered as an asset. These equipments are used to lift heavy weights or machines to make the work easier. It saves time and proves to be productive for the workplace. Lifting and handling such heavy things cannot be done by the workforce or employees present in the factory. Read more about the difference between Chain and Wire Rope Hoists.

For such purposes, this equipment is required, which makes the work easier and provides overhead crane safety, and employees feel more secure. Injuries to the employees will lower the efficiency of the work and ruin the working environment.

The factories must abide by the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1988 (LOLER) to ensure the proper handling and security of the equipment and the employees at the workplace. There are many kinds of lifting equipment or gear available in the market. They can be chosen according to the needs and nature of the work required at the workplace.

It will also depend on the load that has to be lifted. Lifting and handling of equipment require proper training for the employees. All the different types of equipment have their own set of advantages and disadvantages. It depends completely on the organization to choose the one that is most suited to it.

Chain and Wire Rope hoists

Here we will be discussing the two types of lifting gears, namely Chain and Wire Rope hoists. Both the Chain and Wire Rope hoists are similar in functions. But they are used for carrying different materials and loads. So, before opting for any of these, it is important to know the requirements of the workplace. It is also important that the right kind of lifting gear is used for that particular purpose so that the firm doesn't incur extra costs.

Also Read:

1. A Comprehensive Guide To Below-the-hook Lifting Devices
2. A Few Real-life Use Cases Of Condition Monitoring
3. Electric Overhead Travelling Cranes-Applications and Types

Difference between Chain and Wire Rope hoists

Let's find out what chain and wire rope hoists are and what the difference is between the two.

Wire Rope hoists

These ropes are made from stainless steel and are made by twisting many metal wires together to form thick strands. These strands are then wrapped around a core made from fiber. The result is a sturdy and reliable product.

Chain hoist

Chain hoists are made from chains using steel and zinc metal. They are similar to rope, but unlike wire rope, they are not wrapped around the core together, but the chain hoist uses single chains linked together and is fed with hooks.

Advantages of wire rope hoists

These are generally used to lift heavy loads and are best when working for long hours. They perform well in extreme weather conditions like scorching heat and harsh conditions. One of the biggest benefits of wire rope is that it can handle the pressure of heavy loads and it is constructed using multiple strands. They are generally used in stationary equipment. but they require a large area to be operated and have complex procedures.

Advantages of chain hoists

These are used for lifting lightweight loads. They are quite flexible as they can be shifted to different places while depositing loads. They are used in workstations, small factories, and maintenance of work. They are also used for application in gantry cranes and hand push.

What is the difference between Chain and Wire Rope hoists?

A chain hoist should be avoided in the steel industry because it requires working for long hours. Chain hoist should not be used where excessive dirt and dust are present. On the contrary, wire ropes should not be used for equipment's like hand push, or gantry cranes. Their installation should be avoided in clean rooms, food processing units, high-tech manufacturing as the dust from the equipment's will fall on the final product and destroy it. The wire rope hoist is more popular as it can lift heavy loads and operate for several hours in extreme working environments. Although they are costly to install in comparison to the chain hoist.

On the other hand, a chain hoist is cost-effective and can be it can be shifted from one place to another as per the requirement. Another point of difference between the two is due to the design of the lifting mechanism. The chain hoist has a vertical lift while lifting whereas the wire rope moves the load very slightly laterally.

Another point of difference is in the operation of the two hoists. The wire rope hoist is operated using electricity while the chain hoist is operated manually by the workers. This requires the plant manager to see which of the two would be better for their work so that unnecessary costs can be saved.

Factors to be considered while choosing between Chain and Wire Rope hoists

Certain factors have to be kept in mind by the plant managers to decide which of the two will be best suited to them.

• Load of the hoist- Choosing between the two will require seeing what is the capacity of the material and then can be decided whether to go for a chain hoist or rope hoist.
• Training- It is also important to see the cost that will be incurred in training the employees to use the lifting equipment and also the standard hand signals for operating them. If the firm is planning to choose or switch from one to another, then incurring the training cost can be an additional expenditure. This factor will also determine whether to shift or upgrade the equipment or not.
• Apart from this, another factor that plant managers take into consideration is the preference for a hoist brand. The firm may have loyalty towards a particular brand and would want to opt for that option.

Conclusion

Lifting equipment is an important investment for a plant. So, while choosing among the types of equipment, it is important to understand and analyze the pros and cons of the equipment's and then make the decision. Installing a hoist requires a large amount.

So, it is important to provide all the important information like capacity, environment, application, etc. to the hoist supplier so that a rational decision can be made from the plant's point of view.