Hoists are lifting machines that use mechanical advantage to move items vertically and support hanging weights.
Hoist construction comprises mechanical or electro-mechanical. It utilizes pulleys or gears to convert small forces applied over long distances into larger forces applied over short distances.
Mechanical hoist equipment distributes weight to lift weighty objects easily. It is also known as man-lift, lift, or elevator. Its usage is in large construction projects like tall buildings, skyscrapers, or large hospitals.
Advantages
Construction Hoists offer an upgradable transport system for materials and personnel, with a spacious hoist cage that can easily lift heavy weights to a height of 200 meters with reliability, flexibility, safety, and low cost of ownership.
The biggest advantage of using a construction hoist is saving money, effort, and time spent lifting equipment and tools, as you won’t need to hire more construction workers, heavy trucks, cranes, or other sophisticated equipment to lift equipment.
Material protection
When workers carry equipment up and down the construction site, the probability of dropping them accidentally is higher. It means some products, equipment, tools, and other supplies are likely damaged.
Although with a construction hoist, your workers only need to place containers, pallets, and boxes inside a lift and press a button. So, this is how you can save your goods and products from getting damaged.
Workers who take the objects manually risk hurting themselves, which may affect their tendons, blood vessels, ligaments, muscles, and nerves. This is because their jobs entail lifting heavy construction materials daily.
Reduce workplace injuries
Most workplace injuries in the construction industry occur when workers are tied, not adequately trained, or distracted.
Therefore, there is a need to use solutions that make material handling safer, more productive, and more efficient than having workers carry items and supplies between floor levels.
Vertical access solutions can help prevent these disorders or other injuries while lowering the amount of worker compensation claims.
Customization
Construction hoists can be highly customizable. You can use them beside a balcony, through a flow, or near an existing or new pick module.
It is very beneficial because even if you have a very small or even a space that bends and turns the other way from the middle, you can easily customize the hoist in such a way that it completely fits into the space without having to make any further constructional changes for the hoist.
Types of Hoists
There are generally two different types of Hoists: Manual and power:
Manual Hoists
Manual hoists, sometimes called chain falls, are ratchet (lever-actuated) or hand chain-operated lifting devices. Often, a manual lifting hoist uses two different chains. These chains are the hand chain for controlling the lifting and lowering action and the load chain to support the load.
Characteristics:
- Initial costs are lower.
- Easier to transport, portable.
- Requires more work to lift heavier loads.
- Longer lifting time compared to powered varieties.
- Usually prone to more wear and tear over time than powered models.
Powered Hoists
Powered hoists are one of the different types of lifting gear you can find and come in 3 varieties, electric, air/pneumatic, and hydraulic.
Characteristics:
- Faster lifting speeds.
- A wider range of lifting capacity.
- Pendant or controller operated.
- Electric models are prone to overheating with frequent use.
- Air/Pneumatic models are applicable where sparking is a concern.
Considerations
- The person using the hoist should know its true limits and the caliber at which the person should be well within his control.
- The lifting capacity of the hoist should never cross the structure weight capacity that supports the hoist.
- A motorized trolley is advisable for most applications requiring regular lifting of 2 tons or more.
- How much the person uses it, for how long the machine is used, and how heavy the load is all factor into the life of the hoist. These factors, as well as travel distance and speed, will also affect the lifetime of the trolley.
Wrapping up
A construction Hoist is a very advanced machine, it saves a significant amount of hard work, time, and money, but if not operated professionally, it can be hazardous. Hoist construction is the biggest asset if appropriately used to accelerate the work rate at the construction site.