Product of the Month – Oktopus Counterbalance Lifting Beams
Lifting technology has to develop hand in hand with the imagination of architects and the ingenuity of building design engineers.
It is why our extensive range of counterbalance lifting beams, and in particular Oktopus lifting beams, is the Hird Product of the Month for November.
Architects are under pressure to maximise total floor space on what, in many cases, are smaller footprints in congested city centre sites.
A desire, or planning requirement, to maximise ground level pedestrian space and build around in situ utilities are also playing a part in the increasing presence of overhangs on new buildings.
This, combined with the amount of glass being used in modern designs, all of which needs to be lifted in to place, means Hird’s fleet of Oktopus counterbalance lifting beams are increasingly in demand.
What is a counterbalance lifting beam?
Oktopus counterbalance lifting beams are used to lift loads under building overhangs or other obstructions.
They have steel arms with weights that can be moved along the arm to counterbalance a load on a beam’s hook.
The beams can be lifted with a mobile crane, tower crane, or a large spider crane, allowing a load to be positioned precisely under an overhang, or for loads to be lifted out from beneath one.
What are the advantages of using Oktopus counterbalance lifting beams?
- Simplicity – Using lifting beams is the simplest way to lift loads, including steel sections, glazed panels, concrete beams, and curtain walling units, under building overhangs or other overhead obstacles.
It is, in most cases, a single step process. Other lifting methodologies would need multiple items of equipment and lifting processes. This lengthens the planning process, adding cost. - Safety – Being simpler is a key component of Oktopus counterbalance lifting beams being the safest way to lift loads under overhangs. Less complexity means there is less to go wrong.
- Productivity – Using a counterbalance lifting beam is very likely to be the fastest solution, making it more productive and less disruptive. Lifts can also be completed with smaller teams, another cost advantage.
On modern construction sites, now more than ever, time is money. The faster every task can be completed the better. - Flexibility – Using the Oktopus counterbalance lifting beam allows lifting tasks to be planned in flexibly and for different tasks to be completed at multiple locations on one site visit, if necessary.
Our Oktopus counterbalance lifting beam range
Hird’s Oktopus counterbalance lifting beam hire range has equipment with lifting capacities ranging from 900kg right up to a whopping 8000kg, with the capabilities to lift under different sized overhangs.
Wirth Oktopus CBL900
A counterbalance lifting beam with a capacity of 900kg, the Oktopus CBL900 can be adjusted to work under overhangs ranging in depth from 1000mm to 2000mm, in 250mm increments.
The lifting beam’s counterweights are adjusted with a battery-powered electric motor via a cabled remote control unit, or an optional wireless remote control.
Wirth Oktopus CBVL1000
A counterbalance lifting beam with a maximum capacity of 1000kg that can be fitted with a hook or with an Oktopus glass manipulator.
The lifting beam can operate under overhangs ranging in depth from 225mm to 1255mm, and is operated using a cabled remote control unit, or an optional wireless remote control.
Wirth Oktopus CBL2500
A counterbalance lifting beam that can be adjusted to work under overhangs ranging in depth in from 1500mm to 3000mm.
The Oktopus CBK2500 has a maximum capacity of 2500kg (with overhangs of 1500mm) or 2000kg (overhang of 1750mm), 1500kg (2000mm), 1000kg (2500mm), and 700kg (3000mm).
Wirth Oktopus CBL5000
A battery-electric powered counterbalance lifting beam that can work under overhangs ranging in depth from 1500mm to 3000mm in six increments – delivering maximum capacities, also in six increments, from 5000kg to 1550kg.
Wirth Oktopus CBL6300
A battery-electric counterbalance lifting beam that can work under overhangs ranging in depth from 1500mm to 3000mm in seven increments – delivering maximum capacities from 6300kg (overhang of 1500mm) to 1950kg (overhang of 3000mm).
Wirth Oktopus CBL8000
A battery-electric counterbalance lifting beam that can work under overhangs ranging in depth from 1500mm to 3000mm in seven increments – delivering maximum capacities from 8000kg (overhang of 1500mm) to 2500kg (overhang of 3000mm).
Total lifting support
Hird can provide end-to-end support for lifting tasks needing the hire of an Oktopus counterbalance lifting beam, including carrying out a control lift, fully planned and managed by Hird experts.
Hird can provide mini cranes, like the Maeda MC815 spider crane, with a maximum safe working load of 8000kg, or a mobile crane, such as the Liebherr LTM1060 3.1 (SWL 60t) of the Grove GMK4100L (SWL 100t).
Hird’s training teams at each of our three operational hubs across the UK, can also deliver the one-day LEEA-accredited counterbalance lifting beam courses, for hook attachment, or vacuum attachment.
Find out more
Talk to Hird about Oktopus counterbalance lifting beam hire. Equipment is available across the UK, via our operational hubs.
Email: [email protected]