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Machines & equipment
Material Handling & Site Equipment
Moving and lifting material without damage or injury.
Overview
What this covers
Load
Working load limit is stated, not estimated.
Surface
Smooth floor or rough site.
Height
Lifting as well as moving.
Equipment
Machines in this group
Marked by how we normally hold them. Availability is confirmed at quotation.
Pallet handling
Moving palletised material.
Trolleys
General movement of goods.
Drum handling
Moving drums safely.
Manual lifting
Lifting without power.
Powered lifting
Repeated lifting.
Slings & fittings
Attaching the load.
Site movement
Rough ground.
Applications
Typical work
- Moving palletised material in a store or warehouse
- Moving material across a site
- Lifting equipment and material to height
- Handling drums and cylinders
- Loading and unloading vehicles
- Positioning heavy items during installation
Who buys these
Trades and teams
Power
Power and drive options
Most handling equipment is manual, which suits sites with no supply. Electric hoists need a supply at the lifting point and a structure rated to carry the load and the hoist together.
The structure matters as much as the hoist. What a beam or anchor can carry is a structural question for whoever is responsible for the building, not a product specification.
Comparison
How the options compare
| Chain pulley block | Lever hoist | Electric hoist | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operation | Hand chain | Hand lever | Powered |
| Best for | Vertical lifting | Pulling and positioning | Repeated lifting |
| Power needed | None | None | Yes, at the point |
| Speed | Slow | Slow | Faster |
| Typical use | Workshop and site lifts | Tensioning and short pulls | Production and repeat work |
| Availability | Supplier-confirmed availability | Supplier-confirmed availability | Source on order |
Choosing
How to choose
- Establish the heaviest load. Then select above it. Working load limits are absolute, not targets.
- Consider the surface. Smooth-floor wheels seize on rough site ground. Pneumatic wheels handle it.
- Check the lift height and headroom. Chain blocks need headroom above the load for the mechanism.
- Confirm what the lift attaches to. The anchor or beam must be rated for the load. That is a structural question.
- Inspect slings before every use. Damaged slings fail suddenly. This is a routine, not an occasional check.
Accessories
What goes with it
Accessories
Consumables and wear parts
Safety equipment
Ownership
Maintenance, spares and service
Slings, chains and hooks are inspected before use and withdrawn when damaged. Wear on a lifting accessory is not something to run on.
Pallet truck hydraulics need oil level checks and seal replacement. Wheels wear and are replaceable — worn wheels make a truck far harder to steer than it should be.
Price
What affects the price
- Load capacity
- Lift height
- Manual or powered
- Fork or platform size
- Wheel type
- Brand
- Warranty terms
- Quantity
Availability
What affects availability and lead time
- Trolleys, sack trucks and wheelbarrows move fastest
- Pallet trucks, chain blocks and slings available through the supplier network in limited quantity
- Electric hoists and higher-capacity equipment sourced on order
- Specific capacities and lift heights need supplier confirmation
Quotation
What to send with an enquiry
- Heaviest load to be handled
- Lift height required, if lifting
- Surface the equipment runs on
- Fork or platform size needed
- Whether the lifting point is already rated
- Quantity and preferred brand
Avoid
Common mistakes
- Selecting capacity at the load rather than above it
- Using smooth-floor wheels on rough ground
- Attaching a hoist to an unrated structure
- Running on damaged slings
Questions
Frequently asked
What capacity pallet truck do I need?
Select above your heaviest load, not at it. Also check fork length and width against the pallets you actually handle — a truck that cannot enter your pallets is no use whatever its rating.
Can I hang a chain block from any beam?
No. The structure must be rated for the load plus the equipment. What a beam or anchor can carry is a structural question for whoever is responsible for the building.