EXPERT COLUMN | THE CALDWELL GROUP Finding the right lifting point
It is possible to select the right lifting point in just a few simple steps, but you’ve got to know where to start. Today, the process can be simplified using digital configurators. Sarah Stitt, product manager of the RUD range at The Caldwell Group, explains.
useful the tool is to people that are unfamiliar with lifting points or just aren’t sure where to begin the selection process. End users, engineers, product designers and other channel partners use the configurator, which features animations and 3D visualisation, to quickly and easily find the right lifting points for customers’ rigging projects. So let’s understand the logic behind the tool and see how it works.
H Start with the basics
What is a lifting point? A lifting point is the connection between the lifting means and the load. It connects the loaded goods with the lifting gear both during lifting and rotation as well as during turning and movement. Lifting points are commonly ringbolts or eyebolts that the sling is attached to using hooks, shackles or other connection elements. Step 1: Boltable or weldable? Check if there is a hole on the product to be lifted that can be used to bolt a lifting point in to make a lift. If it is a manufactured item, like a metal skid or farm equipment, it is important to check if the hole will be suitable for the life of the product. If the hole is not suitable, a weldable lifting point might still be the best option. When the object needs to have lifting points added, a weld-on option allows for great flexibility. With weld-on lifting points, the intended contact surface is likely to feature in the selection process. At the base of each lifting point there is a flat machined surface that needs to stay in contact with the product being lifted. Any separation between the surfaces can
aving recently introduced RUD’s new online lifting points configurator, it became apparent to us just how
put stress on the bolts. This surface allows for a proper weld to be created, which keeps the lifting point secure and safe to use.
Next, gather the information Once you know which type of lifting point you’ll need, you continue the selection process by answering four remaining questions. While RUD’s online configurator digitalises this process, the steps are the same if one is going through the process on the telephone or with pen and paper in hand. 1. If you’ve chosen boltable, what thread size do you need? A variety of thread types and sizes are necessary to meet the varied application requirements. While coarse thread is RUD’s standard offering, in both metric and UNC options, they also offer alternatives such as fine thread, pipe thread and BSW Whitworth inch thread (one of the earliest standardised thread forms used in engineering).
2. Do you have any environmental conditions to consider? Or what is the normal working temperature of your lifting environment? Temperature plays a crucial role in selecting lifting points – different lifting points can be used at different ranges of temperatures. In terms of material properties, for steel, RUD recommends thread engagement of 1.5 times the diameter of the bolt. For aluminium or brass, RUD requires more.
3. Is a certain eyelet diameter required to accommodate your rigging? You must understand the whole of the rigging system you intend to use to be sure to choose the right lifting point size.
4. How many lifting points does the lift need? A one-point lift, two-point lift and four-point
lift present different options. You must understand the required lifting angles and the functioning of the lifting point itself to determine the best fit for your lift. The advantage of using an online configurator like RUD’s is that the acceptable lifting angles are programmed into the tool, so you can’t make a wrong choice based on an incorrect calculation.
What about governing standards? The RUD configurator allows the user to sort all lifting points by specific classifications. This can help ensure that the lifting point chosen will meet the specifications of the application. There is currently one RUD product that was designed to meet ASME B30.26 BTH standards – the ACP Turnado – but the manufacturer does also offer products that meet the more internationally recognised DGUV and DNVGL standards.
What if more than one lifting point fits the bill? Manufacturers often have more than one solution to any given lifting situation. In fact, at the top end of the market, a manufacturer might produce more than 700 tested boltable and weldable lifting point variants in load ranges up to 250t, so sometimes a user might have a choice between two or more perfectly suitable options. If that’s the case, the user may choose the lifting point that best fits their budget. It’s also nice to have an option if a specific point in a specific size is temporarily out of stock. A reputable dealer will help guide you to the option that best serves all of your goals.
A lifting point is the connection between the lifting means and the load. 12 | December 2025 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
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