A wire rope hoist is a powered hoist that uses wire rope wound on a drum to raise or lower a load. In a typical overhead crane system, the trolley carries the drum, gearbox and motor along a beam while the hook (or hook block) connects to the equipment you’re moving.

An electric wire rope hoist offers smooth control and higher capacity than most small hoists thanks to the drum-and-rope design.

U.S. note: In the U.S., wire rope hoists are covered by ASME B30.16 (safety/inspection/operation) and performance is defined in ASME HST-4 (electric models). Overhead cranes that carry these hoists must also meet OSHA 29 CFR 1910.179.

Choose based on capacity, duty cycle, speed, and environment. A chain hoist (including electric chain hoist, manual chain hoist, or air hoist) is great for lighter loads and portable use—often with a chain and chain container package.

A wire hoist (an electric hoist that uses wire rope) is preferred for heavier, frequent lifting and applications where smooth control or durability matters. For applications that require true vertical lift, review the hoist’s reeving and spec sheet.

Modern wire rope hoists cover a wide capacity range, from small tonnages up to very large load classes for heavy duty applications (e.g., a steel mill bay).

Lift speed options vary by motor, gearing, and VFD settings, letting you balance precision versus throughput in your material handling workflows.

It’s common to see standard rope hoists rated well beyond 20–50 tons; leading product lines list models up to ~80–100 tons (application-dependent).

Match the wire rope hoist type to your material handling equipment, duty class, environment, required speed, and reeving (for headroom and line pull).

Decide whether you need single- or double-reeved electric wire rope hoists (a subset of rope hoists), confirm the beam size and trolley style, and specify the hook block or below-the-hook device.

Many projects bundle drives, controls and end trucks as a crane kit. If you see “electric wire rope” in specs, that simply denotes the powered drum-and-rope configuration.

For U.S. designs, evaluate per ASME B30.16/HST-4 duty and inspection requirements alongside the crane’s OSHA 1910.179 obligations. Headroom can differ between single- and double-reeved arrangements—check the model datasheet.

Look for overload protection, upper/lower limit switches, emergency stop, thermal protection, and clearly marked capacity and hook safety latches.

Use the right lifting equipment (slings, lifting clamps, shackles) and consider premium wire rope for harsh environments to maximize durability. If you need additional information, request the hoist’s compliance to applicable standards and its inspection checklist.

They’re common on bridge cranes in fabrication shops, foundries, and steel service centers, as well as maintenance bays and assembly lines.

You’ll also see them under a jib crane or integrated into overhead crane and “street crane” style installations in Europe. These settings benefit from high capacity, consistent speed control, and rugged rope/drum construction.

Follow a schedule of frequent visual checks and periodic detailed inspections for the wire rope, drum, sheaves, brakes and controls. Keep wire and rope properly lubricated and retire damaged lines promptly. Keep good records as they can help extend life and support s safe and reliable operation.
 

ASME B30.16 calls for frequent and periodic inspections (scope/frequency based on service), while the crane system itself has OSHA 1910.179 inspection requirements; keep written records.

Yes—options include VFDs for hoisting/travel speed, radio controls, specialized trolley drives, hook block choices, encoders, and condition monitoring. Many electric wire rope hoist packages can be tailored within a crane kit to match clearance, load handling, and control preferences.

For additional customization options please speak with a crane specialists to learn what all of your options are.

Customization must still preserve compliance with ASME B30.16/HST-4 and the crane’s OSHA 1910.179 obligations.

Most systems are designed to integrate with widely used brands in the market, including harrington hoist, coffing hoist, R&M hoists, chester hoist, and yale hoists—as long as specs align. If you need additional information, provide the model number and duty class so we can confirm compatibility with your existing equipment.