Vital · VITAL® Chain Blocks
Toco Lifting (Pty) Ltd is South Africa’s sole authorised distributor of Vital® chain blocks, heavy-duty Japanese-manufactured manual chain hoists with capacities from 0.5 ton to 20 ton. Vital® blocks are SANS 1594 compliant and fitted with SANS 1592 load chain. An optional overload protection device is available. Each unit ships with a Load Test Certificate produced on Toco’s SANAS-calibrated load cell. Toco Lifting is a registered Lifting Machinery Entity (LME No. 008) with an ECSA-registered Lifting Machinery Inspector on staff, so the same company that supplies your Vital® chain block also performance tests and certifies it, and re-certifies it for the life of the equipment.
Toco Lifting (Pty) Ltd is South Africa’s sole authorised distributor of Vital® chain blocks — heavy-duty Japanese-manufactured manual chain hoists with capacities from 0.5 ton to 20 ton. Vital® blocks are SANS 1594 compliant, fitted with SANS 1592 load chain, and supplied with overload protection devices. Each unit ships with a Load Test Certificate produced on Toco’s SANAS-calibrated load cell.
Delivery and lead time: [DELIVERY & LEAD TIME: CONFIRM WITH TOCO]
Toco Lifting (Pty) Ltd has been the sole authorised Southern African distributor of Vital® chain blocks since 20 July 2018, appointed by Vital Chain Block Mfg. Co., Ltd. of Osaka, Japan (view distributorship certificate (PDF)). Vital began manufacturing chain blocks on 8 March 1933 and was formally incorporated as Vital Chain Block Mfg. Co., Ltd. on 8 December 1972, recognised globally for high-quality lifting equipment conforming to International (ISO) and Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS). Toco supplies Vital® into mining, refineries, construction, marine, manufacturing, agriculture, food and beverage, automotive, and Eskom-grade utility applications across South Africa and SADC.
Need a quote, headroom dimensions, or technical advice on which model fits your application? Call 011 345 8800 or email sales@toco.co.za.
| Capacity (tonnes) | Model designation | Fall configuration | Standard hand chain / lift |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | VP5-05 | Single fall | 3 m / 3 m |
| 1.0 | VP5-10 | Single fall | 3 m / 3 m |
| 1.5 | VP5-15 | Single fall | 3 m / 3 m |
| 2.0 | VP5-20 | Single fall | 3 m / 3 m |
| 3.0 | VP5-30 | Double fall | 3 m / 3 m |
| 5.0 | VP5-50 | Double fall | 3 m / 3 m |
| 10 | VL5-90 | Multi-fall | 3 m / 3 m |
| 15 | VP5 series | Multi-fall | 3 m / 3 m |
| 20 | VP5 series | Multi-fall | 3 m / 3 m |
All capacities supplied as standard with a 3 m hand chain and 3 m lift chain. Longer hand chain or lift heights (6 m, 9 m, 12 m or custom) supplied on request. Fall configurations: single fall up to 2 t · double fall on 3 t and 5 t · multi-fall on 10 t and above.
| Standard / certification | What it covers |
|---|---|
| SANS 1594 | South African National Standard for hand-chain blocks. Vital® blocks are inspected and tested against SANS 1594. |
| SANS 1592 | South African National Standard for the short-link alloy steel load chain used in the chain block. |
| JIS & ISO standards | Vital® factory in Osaka, Japan manufactures to Japanese Industrial Standards (JIS) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) specifications. |
| LME 008 (Toco) | Toco Lifting holds Lifting Machinery Entity registration #008, issued by the Department of Labour under DMR 18(5) of the OHS Act, 1993, for examination and performance testing of lifting tackles. Chain blocks fall within Toco’s LME 008 testing scope. |
| Load Test Certificate | Each unit ships with a Load Test Certificate produced on Toco’s SANAS-calibrated load cell, giving every block documented testing traceability. |
| Overload protection | An optional overload protection device is available for Vital® chain blocks, a factory-preset friction-clutch arrangement that slips before the block is overloaded and is not field-adjustable. |
Toco Lifting is a registered Lifting Machinery Entity (LME No. 008) under DMR 18(5) of the OHS Act, 1993. That means Toco is one of the entities legally permitted to performance test and certify chain blocks in South Africa, with a dedicated Lifting Machinery Inspector and Team providing technical oversight. Buyers do not have to source the block from one supplier and its testing from another.
| Service | What Toco provides |
|---|---|
| Performance testing on supply | Every Vital® chain block supplied by Toco is performance tested and issued with a Load Test Certificate before dispatch, produced on a SANAS-calibrated load cell. |
| Statutory re-testing | DMR 18 requires a performance test of a hand-powered lifting device at intervals not exceeding 12 months. Toco tests and re-certifies chain blocks already in service, regardless of brand. |
| Inspection and repair | Toco inspects, services and repairs chain blocks, then re-tests and re-certifies the repaired unit so it returns to service with current documentation. |
Full detail on Toco’s testing scope, certificate types and statutory intervals is on the Lifting Equipment Testing & Certification page.
Vital® chain blocks are heavy-duty manual hoists rated for industrial lifting. Use them for the applications below.
| Application | Approved? |
|---|---|
| Plant maintenance, lifting electric motors, gearboxes, pumps, valves | ✓ YES |
| Plant shutdowns and outages, mechanical lifting in mining, refineries and process plants | ✓ YES |
| Construction site lifting, steelwork, formwork, plant placement | ✓ YES |
| Marine deck lifting and engine room maintenance | ✓ YES |
| Workshop and assembly bay lifting | ✓ YES |
| Use beyond rated capacity, never overload (overload protection will engage) | ✗ NO |
| Use as a tie-down or load-restraint device in transport, chain blocks are lifting equipment only | ✗ NO |
Vital® Lever Hoists Sister product, lever-arm hoists for tensioning, horizontal pulling and confined-space rigging. Taurus Chain Blocks Cost-conscious alternative chain block range, also stocked and certified by Toco. Grade 80 Chain Slings Common companion purchase, alloy chain slings for rigging the load to the block. About Toco Lifting Operating since 2002 · LME 008 · ECSA-registered LMI · authority and credentials. Certifications & Compliance LME 008, LEEASA, COET, ECSA, Vital® distributorship, full compliance documentation. Contact a Specialist Germiston HQ · Cape Town · same-day quotes · technical sizing advice.
From Toco Lifting, South Africa’s premier lifting, lashing and rigging equipment supplier and sole authorised Vital® distributor. Tell us your capacity, lift height and quantity for a same-day quote.
Phone: 011 345 8800 · Email: sales@toco.co.za
Germiston (HQ) · Cape Town
A Vital® chain block is a manual chain hoist manufactured by Vital Chain Block Mfg. Co., Ltd. of Osaka, Japan. The operator pulls a hand chain to lift a load via a geared mechanism and an alloy-steel load chain. Vital began manufacturing chain blocks on 8 March 1933, was formally incorporated in 1972, and is one of the most-specified Japanese hand-hoist brands globally.
Yes. Toco Lifting (Pty) Ltd is the sole authorised Southern African distributor of Vital® chain blocks, appointed by the manufacturer on 20 July 2018. The original distributorship certificate, signed by Vital President Eisuke Nishimura, is held at Toco’s Germiston head office.
0.5 ton to 20 ton, see the specifications table above for the full range. All standard capacities are stocked at the Germiston head office for same-day or next-day dispatch in Gauteng. Capacities above 20 t are available to special order.
Vital® chain blocks are manufactured in Japan to JIS and ISO specifications, are SANS 1594 compliant (the South African standard for hand-chain blocks), and use SANS 1592 alloy-steel load chain. Each unit ships with a Load Test Certificate produced on Toco’s SANAS-calibrated load cell.
A chain block (hand-chain hoist) is operated by pulling an endless hand chain, used for vertical lifting, typically anchored overhead. A lever hoist (pull-lift) is operated by ratcheting a side lever, designed for horizontal pulling, tensioning, and lifts in tight spaces where a hand chain is impractical. Toco supplies both as Vital® and Taurus product lines.
Yes. Toco Lifting holds LME registration #008 under DMR 18(5) of the OHS Act, 1993. Chain blocks are within the LME 008 testing scope (along with steel wire ropes, chain slings, steel wire slings, and flat webbings). Each Vital® unit supplied by Toco is proof-tested and supplied with a Load Test Certificate.
Chain blocks must be performance tested and certified by a registered Lifting Machinery Entity (LME), using a Lifting Machinery Inspector (LMI) registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). Toco Lifting is a registered LME, No. 008, under DMR 18(5) of the OHS Act, with a dedicated Lifting Machinery Inspector and Team. Toco tests and certifies chain blocks it supplies and chain blocks already in service, of any brand.
Under DMR 18, a hand-powered lifting device such as a chain block requires a visual examination at intervals not exceeding six months and a performance test at intervals not exceeding 12 months, with results kept in the lifting equipment register. As an LME, Toco performs both the examination and the performance test and issues the certificate. See the testing and certification page for the full schedule.
An optional overload protection device is available for Vital® chain blocks. It is a factory-preset friction-clutch arrangement that slips when the load exceeds the block’s rated capacity, helping to prevent accidental overload. The device is set at the factory and should not be adjusted in the field.
Specify the capacity (tonnes), the lift height required (3 m standard, 6 / 9 / 12 m to order), and any special configuration. Email sales@toco.co.za or call 011 345 8800 . Standard capacities ship same- or next-day from Germiston; longer lifts and special configurations are quoted with a lead time on confirmation.
Toco provides outstanding initial and after-sales service that will keep your block in great condition throughout its lifespan. We have spares readily available, allowing our experienced staff to provide quick efficient repairs, testing and recertification.
Send the load, the lift and the duty cycle. The right unit comes back priced.
