Counterbalance beam or offset beam
This beam is central to a counterbalance lifting beam’s purpose, which is to position loads under overhangs and protrusions, or around obstacles. A set of counterweights can be positioned at any point along its length to balance out the weight of the load held on the other end of the beam.
If necessary, the beam can be inclined during a lift. The one shown can be included through plus or minus 14 degrees. This allows a load to be positioned with a high degree of fine adjustment during a lift, for example during load set down or pick-up, or when positioning a glass panel in an aperture.
Lifting beam counterweights
The counterweights are used to balance, or off-set, the weight of the load. On the counterbalance lifting beam shown here, there are 40 separate counterweights, each one weighing 50kg. The weights are moved along the beam by a battery-powered electric motor to the required position for the beam to be in balance.
Extendable lifting arm
The load is held below a hook at the end of the counterbalance lifting beam’s extendable arm. The arm is adjusted before the lift begins to the depth of overhang the device needs to overcome, within it’s performance range.
Lifting hook
A variety of loads can be attached to the counterbalance lifting beam’s hook. This can include: palletised materials or equipment; steel, concrete or wooden beams; or construction equipment that needs to be lifted to or from height.
Other accessories can also be combined with the lifting beam, notably glass vacuum lifters, also available from Hird, for lifting glazed panels to height during their installation.
Remote control
The counterbalance lifting beams Hird’s hire fleet are operated using a cabled remote control unit. This allows operatives to stand in a safe and advantageous position away from the load.
The device can also be hired with a wireless remote control unit which increases the range of locations the operative can be in during a lift. This optimises operational performance and safety in the most challenging spaces.
Offset lifting arm
The lifting arms on our counterbalance lifting beams are off-set to contribute to the devices’ ability to lift under overhangs and protrusions or around obstacles. The design contributes to their high level of performance.
Lifting eye
The counterbalance lifting beam has a lifting eye so it can be attached to a crane hook. The beams can be combined with a number of different cranes, including spider cranes, pick and carry cranes, and mobile cranes, all available for hire from Hird. They are also often combined with construction site tower cranes.
Counterbalance support bars
These act as the counterbalance lifting beam’s feet so it is in a stable and safe position when it is set down on the ground, on a vehicle, or in a depot while being stored ready to be used by the next customer.