Anatomy of a counterbalance lifting beam

Architects are continuously pushing back the boundaries of what is possible in building design.

And construction contractors are always looking for ways to build that are safer, more productive and more sustainable.

Counterbalance lifting beams were invented, and are being developed at pace, to accommodate these two driving forces.

It is why we continue to develop our range of the devices, which allow materials or equipment to be lifted in or out under overhangs and protrusions or close to obstacles on structures.

Innovative lifting beam design

Our Anatomy of a Counterbalance Lifting Beam guide gives you a tour around these highly useful items of equipment – explaining why they are designed then way they are and how they work.

Hird’s hire fleet has counterbalance lifting beams, or counterweight lifting beams, as they are also known as, manufactured by Kappel and Wirth.

For example, our Kappel lifting beams have an innovative design that allows loads to be managed in particularly constrained spaces.

Mini cranes and vacuum lifters

The Wirth Oktopus range are designed for lifting loads from 900kg up to 8,000kg under overhangs ranging from 1m to 3m in depth.

Explore our Anatomy of a Counterbalance Lifting Beam guide by clicking on the buttons at key points around the Wirth Oktopus CBL6300 lifting beam illustrated.

The lifting beams can be paired with Maeda spider cranes, Valla pick and carry cranes or mobile cranes, all available for hire from Hird.

maeda-mc305-all-electric-spider-crane — **Maeda Spider Cranes**

Valla-V80R-pick-and-carry-crane — **Valla Pick and Carry Cranes**

They can also be combined with a range of other lifting accessories, including glass vacuum lifters and cladding vacuum lifters, also available in our hire fleet.