Below-the-hook devices (commonly referred to as BTH devices) are specialist lifting attachments designed to connect an overhead crane or hoist to the load being lifted.
Acting as the critical link between the lifting equipment and the load itself, below-the-hook devices work to secure, support and balance loads safely and precisely throughout the lifting operation, significantly reducing the reliance on manual handling in the process.
Although below-the-hook lifting devices are not a component of the crane or hoist itself, they are an essential category of lifting accessory that can make lifting tasks safer, faster and more efficient. This is especially the case where the size, weight, shape or surface characteristics of the load make conventional sling arrangements impractical or unsuitable.
In this guide, the team at Metreel explores everything you need to know about below-the-hook devices. This includes the different types available, the scenarios where specifying one makes sense, and the key compliance considerations for businesses operating lifting equipment in the UK.
What Are Below-The-Hook Devices?
Below-the-hook lifting devices are the attachments, such as spreaders, grabs, and lifting frames, that connect a load to an overhead crane, hoist or other lifting system at a point below the hook itself.
Rather than lifting a load directly via a sling or chain, below-the-hook devices are engineered to handle specific load types safely and efficiently. Examples of such loads include a coil of steel, a concrete panel, a drum of chemicals, a bundle of timber or a precision component in a manufacturing environment.
A broad range of industries utilise below-the-hook lifting devices, including construction, steel fabrication, logistics, offshore, automotive manufacturing, and food and beverage processing. They are particularly useful wherever the nature of the load demands a more controlled, repeatable or specialised lifting solution than a conventional sling arrangement can provide.
BTH devices come in many forms, including:
- C-hooks
- Grabs, tongs & clamps
- Lifting beams/spreader beams
- Magnetic lifters
- Pallet or drum lifters
- Vacuum lifters
The best option will depend on the specifics of the lifting operation and should be decided by a competent person.
When To Use Below-The-Hook Devices?
Below-the-hook lifting devices should be specified whenever the nature of the load, the working environment or the safety requirements of a lifting operation cannot be adequately addressed by a conventional sling, chain or rope arrangement alone.
In practical terms, this covers a wide range of common industrial scenarios.
Fragile Loads
Where a load is fragile, has a delicate surface finish or would be damaged by contact with slings, such as polished metalwork, glass panels, pre-cast concrete elements or coated steel sheet, a vacuum lifter or specialist grab will protect the load whilst maintaining a secure hold.
Long Or Complex Loads
Where a load is long, unwieldy or has an uneven centre of gravity, a spreader beam or lifting beam will distribute the forces correctly across multiple attachment points, preventing the kind of angular loading that can cause structural damage to the load or impose dangerous side forces on the crane hook.
Repetitive Lifting Tasks
Where lifts are repetitive, and speed of attachment is a productivity consideration, as is typically the case in steel processing, automotive manufacturing or busy logistics operations, a purpose-designed below-the-hook device will dramatically reduce cycle times compared with rigging individual slings for each lift.
Other Factors
Below-the-hook devices are also the correct solution where the load has no obvious or suitable attachment points for conventional rigging. Or, where the lift must be performed in restricted headroom, that rules out the use of long sling legs. Also, where the operational environment, such as an offshore platform, a cleanroom or a food production facility, imposes specific requirements around contamination, hygiene or corrosion resistance that standard rigging equipment cannot meet.
In all cases, the decision to use a below-the-hook device should be underpinned by a documented lift plan prepared by a competent person, ensuring that the device selected is correctly rated for the load, compatible with the lifting system in use, and operated by personnel who have received appropriate training.
Choosing The Right Below-The-Hook Lifting Device
Selecting the correct below-the-hook lifting device for a given application requires careful consideration of a number of factors:
- Weight, dimensions
- Centre of gravity
- Surface characteristics of the load
- The headroom available within the working environment
- The frequency and nature of the lifts to be performed
- Any specific requirements arising from the industry sector or operating environment.
In many cases, a standard catalogue product will meet the requirement, but where loads are unusual in shape, weight distribution or fragility, a custom-engineered solution designed and manufactured to the specific application will deliver significantly better results in terms of both safety and operational efficiency.
Businesses procuring below-the-hook lifting devices should always ensure that the device is supplied with full documentation including a Declaration of Conformity, test certificate, thorough examination report and operator instructions, and that the supplier can demonstrate compliance with the relevant British and European standards.
Working with an experienced lifting equipment specialist from the outset of a project will help ensure that the right device is specified, that it integrates correctly with the existing lifting system, and that all regulatory requirements are satisfied before the equipment enters service.
Discover Hoists, Balancers, Winches & More At Metreel
If you are here researching below-the-hook devices, then you may also be interested in our industrial lifting solutions here at Metreel. Alongside our material handling equipment, this includes key accessories such as hoists, balancers and winches.
Browse our website or download our brochure to explore our solutions.
For help or advice, please get in touch or give us a call on 0115 932 7010.