Plate Clamps, Tilting Clamps and Beam Clamps

Two Types of Plate Clamps for Vertical Lifting

There are two basic types of vertical plate clamps: one with a fixed lifting eye and one with a universal lifting eye.

Fixed Lifting Eye or Universal Lifting Eye?

The disadvantage of a plate clamp with a fixed lifting eye is that it offers very limited lifting flexibility. It allows a lifting angle of up to 45° in the longitudinal direction, but only 15° in the transverse direction.

A universal lifting eye offers much greater flexibility. It allows lifting angles of up to 45° in both the longitudinal and transverse directions. In addition, when loaded perpendicular to the clamp, it can still be used up to 50% of its Working Load Limit (WLL).

This makes the universal lifting eye suitable for a much wider range of lifting configurations. This is particularly important because plate clamps are typically used together with slings that operate at an angle.

Two Types of Plate Clamps for Horizontal Lifting

Horizontal plate clamps are also available in two versions:

• For flexible (bending) plates

• For rigid (non-bending) plates

For flexible plates, the gripping teeth are designed to tighten as the plate begins to bend during lifting.

For rigid plates, the tooth segment is oriented differently so that it securely grips the plate while it remains flat during lifting.

Important: Never Mix Them Up

This is the most important safety consideration when using horizontal plate clamps.

The two types are not interchangeable. Using a clamp designed for rigid plates on a flexible plate can cause the tooth segment to lose its grip, allowing the clamp to work itself loose from the load.

Plate Clamps and Workplace Accidents

Falling loads are one of the leading causes of lifting-related workplace accidents. In 2020 and 2021, 65% of reported accidents involved a load becoming detached.

Choosing the correct type of horizontal plate clamp is therefore essential for safe lifting.

General Safety Guidelines for Plate Clamps

The following safety rules apply to both vertical and horizontal plate clamps:

• Minimum load requirement: The load must weigh at least 10% of the clamp's Working Load Limit (WLL). This ensures sufficient gripping force from the clamping mechanism.

• Maximum jaw opening: Do not fully open the clamp. To maintain optimum gripping force, the jaw opening should generally not exceed 70–80% of its maximum capacity.

• PU-coated plate clamps: Standard tooth segments can leave marks on steel or plastic surfaces. Where surface damage is unacceptable—for example on stainless steel—PU-coated plate clamps should be used. These rely on friction rather than teeth to grip the load.

• Pre-use inspection: Before every lift, check that the tooth segment is sharp and that the pre-tensioning mechanism operates correctly.

• Do not use plate clamps for turning loads: Plate clamps are designed for lifting only. If a load needs to be rotated or turned, use a tilting clamp specifically designed for that purpose.

Tilting Clamps

Tilting clamps have many of the same characteristics as plate clamps but include an additional mechanism that allows the lifting point to be repositioned. This shifts the lifting force within the clamp, enabling the load to be safely rotated during lifting.

Beam Clamps

Unlike most lifting clamps, which are designed for lifting plates, beam clamps are intended for structural beams.

They are available in two versions:

• Beam clamps for lifting or turning beams

• Beam clamps for creating a temporary lifting point

The second type is designed to be attached to a structural beam so that a temporary hoist can be suspended from it.

Important: Do Not Use a Temporary Lifting Point Clamp for Lifting Beams

A beam clamp designed to create a temporary lifting point is not intended for lifting the beam itself.

Unlike lifting beam clamps, it does not incorporate a toothed gripping mechanism. Instead, it is secured to the structural beam using a threaded spindle, preventing the clamp from slipping off while supporting suspended lifting equipment.

General Safety Guidelines for Lifting Clamps

Although plate clamps, tilting clamps, and beam clamps each have their own applications, two important safety rules apply to all of them:

• Lift only one plate or beam at a time. Attempting to lift multiple plates or beams simultaneously reduces the clamp's grip and increases the risk of part of the load slipping free.

• Reduce the load when lifting at large sling angles. When a plate clamp is used at an angle greater than 45° in one direction, its lifting capacity is reduced to 50% of the Working Load Limit (WLL). The same principle applies to tilting clamps and beam clamps. For beam clamps, excessive sling angles can often be avoided by positioning the clamps closer together.