Masonry Magazine August 1997 Page. 31
Selecting the Correct Hoist
By Tami Hamilton
Vice President, Beta Max Inc.
Scorpio Plus Hoist on Mac-Trac lifting a brick basket
Some points to consider when trying to select a hoist that will best suit your project: A hoist will become an invaluable asset when:
✔ A forklift or crane is unavailable or too expensive for the project
✔ The project is higher than the forklift will lift (typically 35-10 ft. is max lift)
✔ Scheduling crane time on a busy project becomes very inconvenient
Site location makes it impossible to use a crane or forklift due to tight spaces between buildings or traffic in busy metropolitan areas
✔ Adequate manpower is not available
In most cases a portable hoist will pay for itself with the savings experienced on the first job. Decreasing labor hours saves on both payroll and insurance costs, eliminating expensive equipment rentals and increasing employee productivity all add up to increased profits. Even the contractor using the old "rope and-pulley" method can find a hoist that will fit into his operation and he can experience the savings mentioned above. Choosing a portable hoist that will best suit a contractors line of work is very important. Taking into consideration maximum lift heights and weight capacities required as well as mounting options will help to select a unit that will work on project after project. Some general questions to ask that will help the consumer make the best choice are:
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MASONRY-JULY/AUGUST, 1997 31