Lifting Beam

Spreader Beam & Lifting Spreader Beam — 100 kg to 180 Tonnes, Custom Spans to 25 m

A lifting beam hangs from the crane hook and spreads the slings apart, so the load is picked up at two, four or more points that are already in the correct position. Because the slings hang vertically, the load is never squeezed inward — a two-leg sling at a wide included angle does exactly that, and it also multiplies the tension in the sling legs. A lifting beam converts those forces into simple bending inside the beam. We manufacture fixed, adjustable and telescopic lifting beams and spreader beams from 100 kg to 180 tonnes, in spans up to 25 m, in box, H-section and truss construction, proof load tested before dispatch.

• Slings stay vertical — no inward squeeze on the load, no load damage
• Cuts sling tension — the beam absorbs the forces that a wide sling angle would multiply
• Low headroom option — spreads the pick points without eating lifting height
• Balanced, stable lifts — adjustable hook positions let you set the centre of gravity

Key Features of Our Lifting Beam

Types of Lifting Beam

Technical Specifications

Capacity and Span Range

A lifting beam cannot simply be scaled up: for the same capacity, doubling the span multiplies the bending moment in the beam, so the section and the dead weight both grow quickly. The table below shows the practical span range for each capacity band and the beam type normally used. Tell us the capacity, the span and the number of pick points and we will confirm the section and the beam’s own weight.

Why Use a Lifting Beam?

Without a beam, a two-leg sling has to reach a wide included angle to pick up a long load. That creates two problems at the same time. First, the sling legs are no longer vertical, so they pull inward and compress the load — which is how thin plates bow, coated sections get marked and precast panels crack. Second, the tension in each sling leg rises sharply as the angle opens.

A lifting beam breaks that trade-off. The slings stay vertical so the load is never squeezed, and the beam itself takes the horizontal reaction as bending. That is why a spreader beam lets you lift a long, thin or surface-finished load with light slings, at full sling capacity, without marking it.

Setting the pick points

Two pick points will not keep a load level if its centre of gravity is not exactly between them. If the load is heavier at one end, either move the hook positions along an adjustable beam until it hangs level, or use four points so the load is supported on both sides of its centre of gravity. Tell us the load’s centre of gravity — or send us a drawing — and we will position the lifting points on the beam accordingly.

Design, Testing and Documentation

• Designed against your load case — rated capacity, span, pick-point positions, number of legs and the headroom available are all inputs to the design, not afterthoughts.
• Full-penetration welding — the lug plates and gussets are welded by qualified welders, with weld inspection records available on request.
• Proof load tested — every beam is proof load tested to 125 % of its rated capacity before dispatch, and the test certificate is issued with the beam.
• Clearly marked — rated capacity, tare weight, serial number and year of manufacture are marked on the beam, so the operator always knows what it is rated for and how much of the crane’s capacity it consumes.

Applications

• Lifting steel plate, sheet and long sections level and free of surface marking
• Precast concrete wall panels, beams, stair flights and pile sections
• Pipes, tube bundles, bar bundles and timber packs
• Fabricated steelwork, trusses and welded assemblies
• Machined parts, moulds and dies where no inward pressure is allowed
• Wind turbine components, tower sections and nacelle parts
• Steel coil and billet handling with a purpose-built device
• Vehicle, container and equipment handling in ports and yards

Customisation and OEM Service

Lifting beams are almost always a custom item, and we build them that way. Send us the load, the span, the pick points, the crane hook and the headroom, and we will propose the section, the dead weight and the rigging. Common customisations include:

• Capacity and span — 100 kg to 180 t, spans to 25 m, or a one-off design outside that range
• Pick points — 2, 4, 6 or more; fixed, multi-position or sliding adjustable; swivel hooks or plain lug holes
• Adjustability — bolt-and-pin hook positions, sliding trolley, or a fully telescopic beam
• Complete rigging sets — beam supplied with matched chain, wire rope or webbing slings, shackles and hooks
• Marking and documentation — your own tag format, part numbers, drawings and certificates
• Finish — safety yellow, your own colour, or hot-dip galvanised for outdoor and marine use

Quality Control

Each beam is checked on dimensions, plate thickness, weld quality, lug and hole geometry and surface finish before testing, then proof load tested and re-inspected. We have manufactured lifting equipment for industrial, construction, port and public-safety customers for close to three decades — including 100-tonne class lifting belts and large-tonnage lifting devices — and we keep the process visible: on request we supply the material certificate, the weld record, the general arrangement drawing and the proof load test certificate for your beam.

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Products

• All Lifting Beam & Spreader Beam Products
• Lifting Hooks & Swivel Hooks
• Wire Rope Slings
• Lifting Chains & Chain Slings
• Lifting Slings & Lifting Belts
• Steel Coil Lifting Devices