Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Manual Hoists v Electric Hoists

Using hoists no matter what industry they are very useful to help lift numerous objects.
There are two different types of hoist and depending on the what you industry is using it for it come in Electric operated and Manual operated equipment.
manual hoistManual Hoists - a manual hoist uses more man power, requiring strength to control the device and can be operated both with a rope or a chain.
With more man power required, this enables the employee to have more control in the slow, fast and movement of the objects from one location to another.
Being manually operated it the hoist will only move as quick or as slow as the person operating it, therefore it may take a little bit longer to get the job done.
With the hoist being manual operated, in the case of the equipment breaking down may be as simple as replacing a part, that could be easily fixed by an employee.
Electric Hoists - an electric hoist is operated by electricity and will need to be placed near a power point source to be able to be used.
A hoist powered by electricity allows the operator to move the object with the simple press of a button. This will allow the operator to be freed up and be able to perform other tasks if the equipment is self powered.
Time is an extremely important factor in many industries and with the use of an electric hoist, it can perform jobs quite quickly and can be very reliable. On the occasion that the equipment may need to be replaced or upgraded it may improve productivity with a more modern device.
Depending on your industry, a manual and an electrical hoist can be used to perform many tasks, and both have many great benefits to suit.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Sheave blocks for your auto repair business

Using a sheave block would really be of great benefit an automotive repairs workshop. But do you really know what a sheave block is? And as to why your company needs to invest in one now or in the near future?

What is a Sheave Block?

A sheave block is a metal block with a hook that is attached to a crane to easily lift and hold a heavily weighted large object.

Why would your business benefit from the use of a sheave block?
In all workplaces, but especially in the manufacturing industry you need to meet safety standards and ensure you are using the correct items to prevent injuries or damage to your employees and the items being lifted.

An example of the importance of using the correct equipment

Scenario - Imagine you have asked your employee to secure a filled crate and move it from the truck to an area in your warehouse. The employee is unaware of what hook to use and secures the load to the crane with a standard hook. As certain hooks have a weight limit this particular hook was not suited to the weight limit. Once the chain was secured, upon lifting the crate this cause it to become dislodged from the hook causing buckling and damage to the load as it fell from the crane.

Lucky there was no other employee in the way but the damages could be quite costly. Had the employee used the correct hook suitable for the wait by taking the time to check could have prevented this incident.

A lesson for the employer and the employee is that even in the urgency to complete a task it is very important for the safety aspect to check the sheave block is suitable to hold the weight of the object.

Also those few minutes taken to check all the safety and details are correct could save you money and an injury from occurring.


Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Using a Snatch Strap to recover a broken down vehicle

It's not uncommon to break down in areas that tow trucks simply cannot get to, especially if you own a 4WD and like to take it off road. For this situation, it may need vehicle recovery to get it back to an area to allow it to be towed.

A snatch strap and a second vehicle would be required to recover the vehicle. The strap is usually made from nylon as the material as they can be stretched at high loads without breaking. Winches with nylon/wire rope or chains should be attempted first, as it can be quite dangerous to use a snatch strap without knowing what you are doing. The snatch strap is designed for the initial force that may be needed to get the vehicle moving again, kind of like an elastic band.

It is important to have a two skilled drivers involved in the recovery. Make sure the snatch straps are secured to a properly rated towing point of the vehicle. Simply throwing the eye of the snatch strap on to the tow ball is not enough as it could flick off hitting the other vehicle or hurting a person close-by.

Once the strap is secured, there should be a little bit of slack on the strap to allow it to "snatch" on take off. Both the tower and the towee should select low gears (first or second) for takeoff. The towed driver must be ready in the event that the vehicle moves on the first attempt to brake if needed.

If you can't get the vehicle out on the first attempt, try again with a little more slack. Or explore other options such as digging around the vehicle or placing branches for traction.

Saturday, November 1, 2014

Time for an electronic chain hoist?

electric chain hoist
If you are a budding car restoration expert or a hobby mechanic, you will no doubt be in possession of a chain hoist, also known as a block and tackle.
These devices are a "must have" for hoisting engines out of the engine bay to allow work to be performed. It uses pulleys to hoist the chain from a device fixed to the ceiling of the workspace. The chain is pulled in a downward motion to hoist the engine to the required height.
The major disadvantage of a manual chain hoist is that it usually requires two hands to be used effectively. It also can require a lot of physical effort to hoist the object.
But that is where an electric chain hoist can be beneficial. An electric hoist can be operated at the touch of a button so it eliminates the need for manual handling. By taking out the physical aspect it will also reduce the chance of injury from twisting your body while hoisting the heavy object.
You will also be able to use any attachments from your old block and tackle such as lifting slings or other rigging equipment.
Before purchasing you may want to do some research online to ensure the device is capable of hoisting the required weight - weight is usually rated in tonnes. Two other thing to be aware of is the lift height and speed to ensure you get value for money from your purchase.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

Reasons to entrust your Vehicle’s Restoration to a Professional Company

There are fewer circumstances more frustrating than being involved in a minor accident that scuffs the paint on your car or dents and chips a panel. Fortunately, you don’t have to look at that eyesore for long when you entrust your vehicle’s restoration to a professional company that uses a mobile spray painter.

This specific device has been created to optimize your time so you aren’t left without a car for weeks at a time. A professional company does everything they can to get you back into your vehicle in an efficient time period.

The major risk you run if you try and fix the chip or scratch yourself, is the possibility of using mismatching paint colors that will reduce the aesthetic quality of your vehicle. Professionals have all of the right tools to find an exact match so you won’t even be able to tell where the original damage was.

Depending on the kind of insurance coverage you have, you may find that most repairs are covered at least in part, by your insurance company. When you entrust the restoration of your car to a professional company, you will find competitive pricing and quotes that will be as close as possible to the amount your policy is able to cover.

With efficient services, effective color matching, and competitive prices, it is no wonder that so many people are relying on the mobile spray painter services offered by a professional vehicle restoration company.