Lifting equipment
Lifting equipment comprises machinery and accessories that raise or lower loads or people, including cranes, hoists, lifts, and slings.
Pulley: A wheel with a grooved rim that guides a rope, cable, or belt to change force direction or mechanical advantage. Rope-and-pulley arrangements redirect force and can reduce the effort needed to lift a load.
Sling: A flexible or rigid lifting attachment that connects a load to a hook or other lifting device. Slings are common load attachments whose material and arrangement affect capacity.
Crane: A machine that raises and lowers loads and moves them horizontally using hoisting and structural mechanisms. Cranes combine vertical lifting with positioning across construction, industry, and ports.
Lifting plan: A documented method for carrying out a lifting operation, including equipment, load, route, and responsibilities. Planning matches equipment capacity and configuration to the specific lift.
Winch: A device that winds a rope or cable onto a drum to pull or position a load. Its drum provides the pulling action used in many lifting and positioning systems.
Shackle: A U-shaped metal connector secured by a pin or bolt, used to join lifting components. Shackles connect slings and other rigging hardware to hooks or loads.
Hoist: A device that raises or lowers a load using a chain, wire rope, or other lifting medium. Hoists provide the powered or manual lifting action in many installations.
Crane operator: A trained person who controls crane movements during lifting operations. Operator skill affects how safely and precisely crane loads are moved.
Hydraulic system: A system that transmits power through pressurized liquid to operate actuators and machinery. Hydraulic cylinders raise heavy loads in equipment such as mobile cranes and vehicle lifts.
Crane hook: A curved load-bearing attachment at the end of a crane’s hoist line. The hook is the crane’s direct connection point for lifting attachments.