PRODUCT SPOTLIGHT
STAYING ATTACHED W
hen it comes to container handling, the big money is spent on a crane – one of the largest investments a
port will have to make. However, what happens below the hook can have a huge say in how quickly that crane delivers on ROI. “A crane is only as productive as the attachment suspended beneath it,” says Anthony Calomino, vice president of Greenfield Products. “Ports invest millions of dollars in cranes, but the attachment ultimately determines what cargo can be handled, how quickly it can be moved and how safely the operation can be executed.”
The business end “One consistent theme across recent projects has been helping operators maximise the value of existing crane assets through engineered lifting solutions rather than investing immediately in additional infrastructure,” he says. Well-designed lifting beams, container
spreaders, coil handlers and custom lifting devices enable a single crane to perform multiple tasks while maintaining productivity and safety. In many cases, upgrading an attachment can significantly improve asset utilisation without requiring the port to invest in additional cranes. “We often describe below-the-hook equipment as the business end of the crane,” adds Calomino. “It is where safety, productivity, and versatility intersect.” Lifting beam manufacturer Modulift concurs.
“The crane provides the lifting capacity, but it is the lifting arrangement beneath the hook that determines whether a particular item of cargo can be handled safely, efficiently and without damage,” says Andy Charlesworth, UK group sales director for pewag, which owns Modulift. He sees that spreader beams are especially important in port and breakbulk operations. Unlike a lifting beam, which is principally subjected to bending, a spreader beam works primarily in compression. By maintaining the required distance between the lower lifting
viii | October 2026 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
What happens below the hook can have a huge impact on productivity and safety. DLM discovers how innovative companies are helping port and terminal operators make gains in both areas.
Anti-skew systems are typically located at the boom tip. Anti-skew helps prevent the spreader from twisting.
points, it controls the sling angles and helps reduce the inward compressive forces that would otherwise be transferred into the load. This can be critical when handling high-value or sensitive cargo, such as machinery, fabricated structures, modules, vessels and other breakbulk
items that may not be designed to withstand excessive sideloading. “An appropriately configured spreader beam can, therefore, protect both the cargo and its designated lifting points, while also giving the lifting team greater control over load stability,” says Charlesworth.
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