Automatic hook manufacturer Elebia has launched the C5 automatic lifting clamp. When working in pairs, the clamp is ideal for lifting steel plates and other loads.
The C5 boasts a 11,023-pound capacity and a safety factor of 4:1. Weighing 41.8 pounds, the clamp measures 13.58 inches by 12.2 inches by 5.23 inches. Although it is similar in size to manual products on the market, the C5 has a number of safety and productivity advantages. A primary advantage of the clamp is removing the requirement for personnel to gain access to rig loads manually. The C5 adheres to the company’s fail-safe principle, making it virtually impossible to drop a suspended load.
Esteve Fornells, marketing manager at Elebia, said the company has received regular requests for products that fit specific lifting and maneuvering requirements since the first 5-tonne capacity e5 hook was introduced eight years ago.
“One such inquiry centered on a solution for lifting steel plates, specifically at ports,” he said. “From designing a much larger automatic hook, to modifying and/or changing the tip of our hooks, we looked at a number of options. It was clear to us that there was market demand for a state-of-the-art automatic solution.”
The C5 was more recently conceptualized based on conversations with a customer in Singapore who was looking for a solution to lift and maneuver steel plates and tubes. Instead of modifying the tip of the 5,511-pound-capacity evo2 automatic hook, engineers eventually arrived at the C5.
Fornells explained that the clamps are designed to be used with a linear beam and chains, while a tagline can drag them to a desired point. “We’ve reduced the need to pick and carry the clamps, making operation safer, faster, and easier,” he said. “Once the clamps are fixed to the load, automation takes over. The C5 combines the safety and security of a clamp with the ease of use and productivity of a claw.”
The crane operator uses Elebia’s eMAX remote control to ensure the lifting clamps are all in the same position before every lift. The information is relayed in real time, and the control will inform the operator immediately of any discrepancies. ahen handling pipes, the lifting clamp can be chained to the spreader with the hand grip acting as a second lifting point.
The C5 is currently available in one size and capacity, but it can be custom scaled to higher capacities to a short lead-time.
