Manual chain hoists and lever hoists can both provide dependable lifting without requiring an electrical power source, but they’re designed for somewhat different applications.

Manual Chain Hoists

A manual chain hoist uses a hand chain to raise and lower a load. These hoists are well suited for vertical lifting and can be a practical choice for shops, maintenance work, fabrication facilities, garages, and other applications where loads need to be lifted without powered equipment.

A manual chain hoist may be a good choice when:

• You primarily need to lift loads vertically
• Electricity isn’t readily available
• The hoist will be used periodically rather than continuously
• You want a straightforward manual lifting solution

OZ Lifting offers both Industrial and Premium chain hoists in multiple capacities and lift lengths, making it easier to match the hoist to the job.

Lever Hoists

Instead of pulling a hand chain, a lever hoist is operated using a ratcheting handle.

Their compact design can make lever hoists particularly useful when working in confined areas or when greater control over positioning is needed. Depending on the application and manufacturer’s instructions, lever hoists can be useful for lifting, pulling, and positioning loads.

OZ Lifting’s lever hoist lineup includes options ranging from compact light-capacity models to heavy-duty hoists designed for demanding applications.

If lifting is a regular part of the workday, manually operating a hoist may not always be the most efficient option.

An electric chain hoist uses powered operation to raise and lower loads, helping reduce the physical effort required from the operator. This can make electric models especially useful for production environments, workstations, fabrication shops, and applications involving repetitive lifting.

OZ Lifting electric chain hoists operate on standard 115V power and are available in capacities ranging from 500 to 4,000 pounds. Depending on the model, corded pendant and wireless remote options are also available.

An electric hoist may make sense when:

• Loads are lifted frequently
• Faster operation is important
• You want to reduce manual lifting effort
• The hoist will be part of a regular workstation or production process
• A suitable power source is available

Capacity isn’t the only number that matters.

You also need to know how far the load needs to travel. The required lift is the vertical distance the hook and load must move from the starting point to the desired height.

Consider the height of the mounting point, the lowest position of the load, the highest position it needs to reach, and the amount of available headroom.

OZ Lifting offers multiple lift-length options across its manual and electric hoist lines, with custom rigging available for certain applications.

Choosing the appropriate lift from the beginning can help ensure the hoist fits the actual workspace rather than simply meeting the required weight capacity.