Crawls, Beam Clamps & Manipulators
Toco Lifting (Pty) Ltd supplies beam manipulators across South Africa and SADC. A beam manipulator, also known as a side-loadable beam clamp, is a fixed lifting attachment that clamps onto a steel beam to give an overhead lifting point. Unlike a standard beam clamp, a beam manipulator is designed to handle lifts at an angle — up to 45 degrees off the vertical. Toco stocks beam manipulators with a capacity range from 2 ton to 20 ton.
Beam manipulators stocked by Toco Lifting in a 2 to 20 ton capacity range. Also called side-loadable beam clamps, they clamp onto a steel beam to give an overhead lifting point and are designed to handle lifts at an angle up to 45 degrees off the vertical. Conformance Inspection Certificate supplied on enquiry.
Delivery and lead time: [DELIVERY & LEAD TIME: CONFIRM WITH TOCO]
Need a beam manipulator for a specific capacity or beam profile? Call 011 345 8800 or email sales@toco.co.za.
Toco Lifting is approved by the Department of Labour to undertake Conformance Inspections and Performance Testing (Load Testing) per approved SABS, SANS, or relevant OEM Standard. Toco has supplied lifting, lashing and rigging equipment since 2002, operating from a Germiston head office and a Cape Town branch. A beam manipulator is lifting tackle; it is supplied as conforming product and certified on enquiry.
A beam manipulator is a side-loadable beam clamp. It clamps onto a steel beam in the same way as a standard beam clamp, but it is engineered to take loads that pull at an angle rather than straight down. This makes it the right attachment when a load needs to be moved sideways, swung clear of an obstruction, pulled into position, or lifted where the line of pull is not directly below the beam.
A beam manipulator is designed to handle lifts of up to 45 degrees off the vertical. For straight, vertical lifts, a standard beam clamp is the correct attachment. For lifts that need to angle beyond 45 degrees, a beam manipulator on its own is not the right answer — speak to Toco about the lift.
The choice is set by the line of pull. If the chain block, lever hoist or wire rope will hang straight down from the beam, a standard beam clamp is fine. If the load needs to pull at an angle off the vertical — for example to drag a piece of equipment into position, to lift a load that is offset from the beam, or to handle a load that will swing during the lift — a beam manipulator is the correct attachment.
Using a standard beam clamp for an angled lift can cause the clamp to twist or slip on the beam, because a standard clamp is not engineered for that loading. A beam manipulator is built for it.
Toco stocks beam manipulators with a capacity range from 2 ton to 20 ton. The rated capacity is the maximum load the manipulator may lift; the load, including any sling and lifting accessories, must stay within that limit.
The 45-degree rating is the maximum lift angle the manipulator is designed for. Lifts at greater angles, or in unusual orientations, need to be discussed with Toco so the right attachment is specified for the duty.
A beam manipulator clamps onto the top flange of a steel beam in the same way as a standard beam clamp: adjust the clamp to the flange width, tighten it so the jaws grip the underside of the flange, and check it is square and fully seated before taking the load. Where the manipulator differs is in its body and load-bearing components, which are engineered to resist twisting and side-loading as the lift pulls off the vertical.
The beam itself must be checked before lifting: it must be capable of carrying the load through the clamp position, including any side-loading that the angled lift will impose on the beam. If you are unsure about the beam, get a structural engineer to confirm it before lifting.
A beam manipulator is lifting tackle rather than a lifting machine, so it cannot suspend or halt motion automatically once input energy stops. Where a certificate is required, a beam manipulator is supplied with a Conformance Inspection Certificate, and an OEM Certificate can be provided on request for imported stock where a manufacturing trace is needed.
Beam manipulators are not within the five equipment categories of Toco’s LME 008 testing scope; LME 008 applies to Toco at the corporate-registration level. Like all lifting tackle, a beam manipulator in service should be inspected at regular intervals and kept in good condition. Toco supplies the correct certification with the product on enquiry.
Use a beam manipulator only within its rated capacity and within the 45-degree lift-angle limit it is designed for. Check the manipulator before each use for damage, wear or distortion and take a damaged unit out of service. Make sure the clamp is square and fully seated on the beam flange before taking the load, and that the beam can carry the load through the clamp position including any side-loading. Lift smoothly without snatching, keep people clear of the load while it is suspended, and set the load down on a stable surface before releasing the clamp.
Beam manipulators are used wherever a load needs to be lifted, moved or positioned off the vertical from an overhead steel beam. Typical settings include heavy engineering, construction and daily preventative maintenance, among many other heavy industrial applications. Toco does not limit who it supplies; if your lift needs to pull at an angle off a beam, Toco can supply the manipulator to suit.
Speak to Toco Lifting about beam manipulators and angled-lift solutions. Call 011 345 8800, email sales@toco.co.za, or request a quote online.
Toco stocks beam manipulators with a capacity range from 2 ton to 20 ton. The rated capacity is the maximum load the manipulator may lift; the load must stay within that limit.
Toco’s beam manipulators are designed to handle lifts at angles up to 45 degrees off the vertical. Lifts at greater angles, or in unusual orientations, need to be discussed with Toco so the right attachment is specified for the duty.
A standard beam clamp is designed for vertical (straight) lifts only. A beam manipulator, also called a side-loadable beam clamp, is engineered to handle lifts that pull at an angle off the vertical — up to 45 degrees. If the line of pull is straight down, a beam clamp is fine; if it needs to pull at an angle, use a beam manipulator.
A beam manipulator is supplied with a Conformance Inspection Certificate where a certificate is required, with an OEM Certificate available on request for imported stock that needs a manufacturing trace. Beam manipulators are lifting tackle and are not within Toco’s LME 008 testing categories.
An angled lift puts a side-load on the beam as well as a vertical load. Both the beam clamp and the beam itself need to be capable of carrying the combined loading at the clamp position. If you are unsure, get a structural engineer to confirm the beam is suitable before lifting.
Beam clamps stocked by Toco Lifting in eye-type and pin-type configurations, capacity range 1 to 10 ton, with 20 ton capacity available on request. Designed for vertical (straight) lifts only. Clamps onto a steel beam to give a quick-fit overhead lifting point for a chain block or lever hoist. Conformance Inspection Certificate supplied on enquiry.
Geared crawls are hand-chain driven beam trolleys supplied by Toco Lifting in a 0.5 to 20 ton capacity range, adjustable to fit I-beam flange widths from 50 mm to 220 mm. Supplied by an LME 008 entity across South Africa and SADC.
Plain crawls are hand-pushed beam trolleys supplied by Toco Lifting in a 0.5 to 20 ton capacity range, adjustable to fit I-beam flange widths from 50 mm to 220 mm. Supplied by an LME 008 entity across South Africa and SADC.
Send the load, the lift and the duty cycle. The right unit comes back priced.
