Material Handling

Material Handling and Below-the-Hook Lifting Equipment

Below-the-hook lifting devices connect a crane, hoist, or forklift to the load. The right one holds the load securely, keeps it balanced, and fits the way you actually lift: plate, pipe, drums, gas cylinders, barriers, pallets, or a basket of material. This collection brings those devices together from M&W, Crosby, Terrier, and Caldwell Dura-Lite, so you can start with the job and narrow down to the equipment.

Shop by What You Are Lifting

Plate and structural steel

• Plate lifting hooks for steel plate and heavy material
• Plate clamps in vertical and horizontal styles
• Beam lifting clamps for structural members
• Plate lifting beams for spreading the lift across a long plate

Pipe, drums, reels, and bars

• Pipe lifting clamps
• Drum lifting clamps
• Reel lifters
• Bar tong lifters, with a 4" opening and 1,000 lb. working load limit on the listed model

Cylinders, barriers, containers, and pallets

• Bottle lifters for gas cylinders, in 2-tank (750 lb.) and 4-tank (1,500 lb.) working load limits
• Concrete barrier grabs with a 6" to 12" adjustment range and a 9,000 lb. working load limit
• Container lifting lugs and container lifting beams
• Pallet lifters

Baskets for material and people

• Material baskets with a 2,500 lb. working load limit, in drop side and fixed side designs. These are not intended for lifting people.
• Personnel baskets with working load limits from 500 lbs. to 2,000 lbs., for lifting people only where the rules allow. See the note below.

Forklift lifting attachments

• Forklift lifting beams, single hook, 5,000 lbs. to 10,000 lbs.
• Forklift pocket lifters, with working load limits from 3,000 lbs. to 5,000 lbs. and several width options

Lifting beams and spreader bars

For long, awkward, or delicate loads, a beam keeps the sling angles under control. Browse lifting beams and spreader bars, including lifting beams, spreader beams, and basket lifting beams.

Lifting Clamps by Brand

If you already know the manufacturer you want, shop Crosby, Terrier, or M&W lifting clamps directly, or see the full lifting clamps category.

How to Pick the Right Device

• Know the load. Weight, shape, material, and center of gravity decide what will grip it and how it will hang.
• Match the working load limit. Choose a rating that covers the full load, and never exceed the working load limit marked on the device.
• Check the geometry. Jaw opening, plate thickness, pocket width, and headroom all have to fit the lift.
• Read the manufacturer's documentation. Each device has its own instructions, limits, and inspection requirements.
• Confirm the requirements for your site. Lifting work falls under OSHA rules and recognized standards such as the ASME B30 series, and your site may add its own. A qualified person should plan critical or unusual lifts.

A note on personnel baskets

Lifting people with a crane is tightly regulated. Use a personnel basket only as the manufacturer intends, with a qualified team, any required trial lifts and inspections, and any approvals your site or local rules call for. Material baskets are never a substitute.

Documentation

Some listings, including the forklift lifting beams, bottle lifters, and plate lifting hooks, state that units are individually proof loaded per OSHA requirements and ship with certification paperwork. Check each listing for the details that apply to the model you choose, and keep that paperwork with the equipment.

Complete the Lift

A lifting device is one link in the rigging chain. Pair it with the right nylon slings, polyester round slings, or wire rope slings, along with shackles, rigging hooks, and other rigging hardware. Use sling protection where a sling meets an edge. The rigging supplies and hardware category lists the whole range. To track the load itself, see Straightpoint load monitoring loadcells.

Inspection and Care

• Inspect every device before use, and follow the manufacturer's inspection schedule.
• Look for cracks, bends, wear, missing hardware, and unreadable capacity markings.
• Remove damaged equipment from service.
• Store lifting devices clean and dry, and keep any certification paperwork on file.

Material Handling FAQs

What is a below-the-hook lifting device?

It is any attachment that hangs from a crane or hoist hook, or mounts on a forklift, to hold a load. Examples include clamps, lifting beams, baskets, tong lifters, and cylinder lifters.

What is the difference between a lifting beam and a spreader bar?

Both help control sling angles and lift long loads. A lifting beam works in bending and hangs from a single point, while a spreader bar works in compression. Check the product listing for how each model is rated and rigged.

Can I lift people in a material basket?

No. Material baskets are not intended for lifting people. Personnel lifts require equipment made for that purpose and strict procedures.

Which brands are in this collection?

M&W makes most of the devices listed here, including the baskets, forklift attachments, and tong, bottle, and plate lifters. Crosby and Terrier appear in lifting clamps, and Caldwell Dura-Lite appears in lifting beams.

Where can I find certification information?

Look at the individual product listing. Where a model comes with proof load and certification paperwork, the listing says so.

Need Help Choosing?

Not sure which device suits your load? Our Product Experts can help you narrow it down.