Equipment for explosive environments may be the attention-grabber, but the wider lesson is simple: the right product is determined by the application, not the industry stereotype, says Steve Napieralski, president at OZ Lifting.

October, 2026 | International Lift & Hoist | The Insider | By Steve Napieralski

In a special edition focused on hoists and other lifting equipment for use in explosive environments, it is tempting to focus on hazardous applications in oil and gas, chemical processing and agriculture. These are important markets, but they are only part of the picture. The wider consideration is the application itself, and the need to look beyond industry stereotypes when identifying the right equipment for the job.

That said, there is much we can learn from industries where explosion-proof products are a necessity rather than a nice-to-have. The demands placed on equipment can be extreme, and the consequences of getting the specification, installation, operation or maintenance wrong can be serious. That makes these sectors useful reference points when considering how equipment should be selected according to the application and the risks involved, rather than simply reaching for the product most commonly associated with a particular industry.

Even within hazardous applications, the detail matters. A requirement to operate in an explosive environment does not automatically mean the same thing in every case: flammable gases and vapours present different hazards from combustible dusts, for example, and the appropriate equipment and protection measures can therefore differ.

Gas and vapour hazards are typically classified separately from combustible-dust hazards, with equipment selected according to the specific atmosphere, zone and conditions of use. It is another useful reminder that selecting lifting equipment should start with understanding the application and its operating environment, rather than simply identifying the industry.

As a business, we’ve been meeting these criteria for many years, principally through our range of spark-resistant manual chain hoists and trolleys. These hoists are engineered to meet stringent safety requirements, including those associated with the EU’s ATEX framework and Machinery Directive, providing a suitable solution for hazardous environments. Certified to EX II2 GD c IIIC T135°C, these products are designed for use in Zones 1 and 2 (gas) and Zones 21 and 22 (dust), making them suitable for applications across military, aerospace, oil, gas, petrochemical and chemical industries, where stringent safety protocols are essential.

Inevitably, manufacturing products to meet these demands presents its own challenges, which is why it is important for a supplier to start with the application and the demands it places on the equipment. When we first began serving these industries, we responded to that demand by working closely with distributors and channel partners to understand exactly what was required from a lifting perspective, as well as the standards within which the equipment needed to operate. That process remains fundamental to our approach today: we establish the standard to which the equipment is manufactured and certified, while the end user must determine whether it is appropriate for their specific operating environment and application.

Application first

Given the diverse vertical markets we serve, we are always mindful that the right product is ultimately determined by the use case. An explosion-proof hoist, for example, is essential where the environment demands it, but of little practical value where it does not. That same principle applies across material handling: we are continually looking for products and solutions that address specific challenges in the field, whether that means resisting salt water and the corrosive conditions found in wastewater treatment, meeting the hygiene requirements of food and pharmaceutical production, or providing equipment suitable for cleanroom environments. Each application brings its own demands, and the material, construction and specification of the equipment need to reflect them.

It is the same mindset when looking at the possible challenges and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence (AI) and the upsurge in construction of data centres. At first glance, this might appear to be primarily a construction opportunity, but the reality is considerably broader. Data centres bring together construction, electrical and mechanical installation, power and cooling infrastructure, equipment positioning and ongoing facility management. Each brings its own material handling challenges.

The rapid development of AI is adding further momentum to this activity, but it also reinforces the need to look beyond the obvious: rather than asking which products traditionally belong to the data centre or construction sectors, the more useful question is what needs to be moved, lifted, positioned or accessed, and what is the best way of doing it.

The strongest opportunities in material handling and lifting may come from looking beyond the products and markets we already know. Industry labels can provide a useful starting point, but the application is what defines the challenge and often reveals a solution that might otherwise be overlooked. Whether the requirement is for an explosion-proof hoist, corrosion-resistant equipment, an ergonomic handling device or something entirely different, the question remains the same: what is the application, and what is the best product for the job?

Take a closer look

While certain markets undoubtedly present particular challenges — oil and gas, chemical processing and agriculture, for example, are more likely to involve operations in potentially explosive environments than construction or the wider built environment — it would be a mistake to assume that specialist equipment or handling requirements belong exclusively to the industries with which they are most commonly associated.

The same applies when considering the equipment used across different end-user sectors. It can be easy to reduce a market to the products most closely associated with it: construction means tower cranes; warehousing means forklifts and pallet trucks; manufacturing means overhead cranes and conveyors. But those familiar products only tell part of the story. Look more closely at what actually happens within these environments and a much broader range of handling challenges emerges.

Materials still need to be lifted, positioned, transported, stored and accessed, whether the load weighs a few pounds or several tons. The solutions can therefore range from specialist lifting equipment and rigging hardware to ergonomic handling aids, carts, manipulators and other application-specific products.

Building the workplace

Two upcoming trade show appearances will no doubt provide a timely reminder of just how much broader the material handling and lifting landscape can be.

We will exhibit at both Chicago Build, which takes place 28-29 October at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois; and International Facility Management Association (IFMA) World Workplace, which takes place 18-20 November at Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California. The first show will attract contractors, architects, realtors, civil engineers, developers, government, house builders and construction professionals; and the second aims to deliver an instructive experience to help facility management and related buildings professionals.

On the face of it, these are very different audiences, with very different priorities and operating environments. Yet both present a wide range of opportunities for material handling and lifting products beyond the equipment most readily associated with their respective sectors. From moving and positioning construction materials and components to handling tools, equipment, maintenance items and other loads within commercial and industrial buildings, the need for safe, efficient movement of materials does not disappear simply because the application falls outside a traditional lifting or material handling category.

The value of that perspective is likely to be on display at both Chicago Build and World Workplace; we look forward to discussing the possibilities with visitors at both shows.

Business holds strong

Business remains healthy as the final quarter of 2026 gathers pace, with companies across the North American material handling and lifting sector continuing to support customers in a broad range of industries. Explosive environments, construction, workplace management, wastewater and infrastructure are among the diverse markets generating demand, alongside numerous other applications where the safe and efficient movement of materials, equipment and components is essential.

Such diversity is a useful reminder that the opportunities available to manufacturers extend well beyond the traditional markets most readily associated with lifting and material handling, and there is little reason to expect that breadth to diminish as the year draws to a close.

Steve Napieralski has been in the lifting and rigging industry for 38 years — seven years working for a manufacturer of lifting equipment before setting up his own businesses. In 1995, he started as a manufacturer’s representative dedicated to the lifting and rigging industry, and in 2004 he founded OZ Lifting Products. He is a graduate of Winona State University and holds six patents. Napieralski has been affiliated with associations since 1992 through membership in Associated Wire Rope Fabricators (AWRF).