Lifting & Spreader Beams
When you’re handling long, awkward or heavy loads, lifting and spreader beams are the perfect tool to help you distribute weight evenly and reduce stress on lifting slings. They are below-the-hook devices designed to help improve stability and control during lifting operations. We supply a wide range of high-quality lifting beams from leading manufacturers trusted within the industry, with capacities ranging from 4 tonnes up to 70 tonnes. Browse our range below.
LIFTING BEAMS VS SPREADER BEAMS
While both lifting beams and spreader beams are designed to evenly distribute the weight of loads and improve the safety of lifting, they both work in slightly different ways.
Lifting Beams
A lifting beam is a rigid horizontal beam that connects directly to the crane hook and the loads are then attached to various lifting points along the beam. This helps to improve support and control of heavy or awkward items during lifting.
Spreader Beams
A spreader beam, on the other hand, uses slings or chains from a central lifting point to the beam ends to spread the load across a wider area. By keeping the lifting slings vertical, this reduces the risk of damage to the load or instability when lifting wide loads.
Both systems are designed differently but ultimately, both help improve load stability, safety, and control in heavy lifting operations.
FAQs
A lifting beam is used to support and lift heavy loads, allowing for proper balance and control throughout the lifting phase. It is a type of below-the-hook lifting device commonly used in material handling and construction applications when connected to a crane or other lifting device. The load is attached at various points across the beam.
A spreader beam is designed to provide stability and balance during lifting operations. It is attached to a crane or a hoist at a central point and the load is then distributed at attachment points on each end.
Spreader beams are great for evenly distributing heavy loads but they may not be ideal for confined spaces due to their width. We would recommend lifting beams for any tight or restricted areas, as they are more suitable for precise lifting in smaller, tighter environments where space is limited.
Spreader beams are great for lifting concrete panels as they are designed to help distribute the load evenly across the lifting points, reducing the risk of cracking or damaging the panels during the lift. This is critical when working with large, heavy or fragile materials like concrete.
Spreader beams are what we would recommend for lifting and transporting pipes as their ability to distribute the load across the entire length of the pipe prevents it from bending or breaking during the lift.
Spreader beams are the ideal choice for lifting steel beams or large structural components as they provide an even load distribution across multiple lifting points which ensures the stability and safety of heavy, long, or awkwardly shaped loads.