Choice of lifting equipment

Checklist
• Make a good estimate of the lifting and transportation requirements.
• Find out the weight of the load.
• Choose appropriate lifting equipment.
• Decide the best way to attach the lifting equipment to the load,
   considering its centre of gravity and configuration.
• Choose appropriate lifting equipment with sufficient capacity. Note that the
   sling leg loadings rise as the angle between the sling legs increases. 

Lifting equipment differences
The fields of application for the three main types of lifting equipment (chain, steel wire rope and soft lifting equipment) overlap. For this reason, you may often choose the type you are most familiar with, but there are differences in properties you should be aware of:               

Chain                                                                        
- Wear resistant, best durability                                             
- Flexible, shortening possibility
- A wide range of components to choose from          
- Heat resistant
- Easy to store
- 100% recyclable

Soft lifting equipment                          
- Simple and inexpensive                                               
- Suitable for fragile goods
- Flexible, suitable for choke-hitching load
- Easy identification of max. load by colour
- Easy to store
- 100% recyclable

Steel wire rope
- Lighter and often less expensive than chain                           
- Usually hot-dip galvanised for best rust protection
- Suitable for extremely heavy loads
- 100% recyclable