A man using an aerial lift.
Hoists are machines designed to lift heavy objects in a row. They typically do this by using a stationary motor to wind a thread attached to an object. Industrial hoists are divided into three categories: electric, pneumatic and hydraulic; They can also be characterized by the type of thread they use, such as chain or rope. Industrial hoists operate in a wide range of applications and sizes. This can be anything from lifting small pavers to heavy shipping containers.
Gantry cranes have industrial winches to load heavy containers.
Originally, hoists were hand or steam powered and used locking systems and equipment. Contemporary industrial hoists often employ electrical cables, wire ropes, or electrical currents. Relying on motors for rotational force, hoists overcome weight, or linear gravitational force, to pick up objects. The pulling motion pulls the object up and down as the thread wraps around a rotating cylinder. This movement is assisted by small or large cranes to transport the object to another location, or by units mounted on crossbeams and allowing them to move laterally.
Harbor cranes use industrial winches.
Industrial hoists are used in many different contexts. Electric types are the most popular, while air and hydraulic hoists are often designed to meet more specific applications. Loads with capacities of tens to thousands of pounds or kilograms can be moved with electric chain hoists, which typically have variable operating speeds. Usually operated by a remote switch, some are designed for quiet operation. This can help in scenarios like theaters to bring preset games up and down.
Industrial winches are usually contrasted with winches, which can be vehicle-mounted equipment that performs a similar function. Industrial hoists can be mounted on anything from lifting car engine mounts, or even the cars themselves, to small excavators used in landscaping, booms, cranes, and roof lifts. They can be used in manufacturing and industry, as well as in emergency operations. Some can be mounted on swingarms, while others hang from colossal winches that mount beams. Other industrial winches are attached to Goliath cranes, harbor or gantry cranes, to help lift large-scale loads.
Numerous industrial hoist technologies aid in material handling for jobs ranging from manual labor to personal or industrial transportation and large-scale construction projects. Despite modern advances, some continue to rely on simply turning a wheel by hand to provide lift, as with drywall ceiling hoists. Additional varieties employ lifting slings, which are reinforced straps that help lift objects without damaging them, such as small planes, boats, and people in rescue operations.