When you place a hoist and a winch side by side, you’ll notice more similarities than you will differences. Both are heavy duty pieces of equipment featuring spooling wire ropes or chains that are designed to move large items and loads.
But look a little closer, and the hoist and winch differences begin to show. Ultimately these pieces of equipment are designed for very different purposes, so it’s critical that you make the correct choice for your application.
At Stratalign we bring decades of experience in material handling, so in this guide we’ll walk you through all the key differences between a winch and a hoist, and which you should choose in your situation.
Winch vs hoist: the differences
Application
The main difference between a winch and a hoist is how they are used. Hoists are designed to lift heavy loads vertically, and are installed in fixed positions, such as hanging from a crane or an overhead beam. Hoists are common sights in construction, manufacturing, warehousing and material handling.
Winches, meanwhile, are designed to pull loads horizontally or at an angle, and offer a little more flexibility in terms of installation – think the winches that you see on the front of heavy duty 4WDs that are used to pull the vehicle out if it becomes bogged. Winches are also used in towing applications, to pull boats onto trailers, and in industrial settings where pulling force is required.
Design
The difference in how hoists and winches are used results in some key design differences.
The difference in design of a hoist and a winch is that a hoist can be wire rope or chain and is always lifting from above, whereas a winch is always wire rope feeding horizontally on to a drum. However, with the use of sheaves, the wire rope can approach the drum from a wide range of angles, including vertical/lifting. Both hoists and winches can be portable or fixed.
Control
The level of control can also differ between hoist vs winch. Tasked with lifting and placing loads on the ground, a hoist can benefit from more precise controls, such as dual and variable speed operation. Winches tend to feature raw hauling power, with single speed control mechanisms, as there’s just no need for hoist-level precision.
Now that you have an idea of hoist and winch differences, you’ll need to choose the right style for your application.
Types of hoist
If you need a hoist, there are a number of different options. Hoists can vary in terms of how they are powered, such as electric hoists, air hoists or manual hoists, or by their tether, such as chain hoists or wire rope hoists. Hoists can also differ in terms of load capacities, power input, speed controls and also need to choose if the hoist has a top hook or is direct fixed to a trolley which can be manual push or electric.
Types of winches
If you need a winch, these pieces of equipment also come in electric or manual versions. They can feature either wire ropes/cables or synthetic ropes, and they can vary in terms of load capacity, mounting configuration, pulling speed, rope length and power options (electric/pneumatic/hydraulic/manual).
Helping New Zealand manufacturers safely solve their lifting challenges with the best local and global solutions
Still not sure whether a hoist or a winch is right for you? That’s where we come in.
At Stratalign we’ve spent years helping Kiwi businesses identify and secure the manual handling equipment they need. Our team has the knowledge and expertise to help you identify the ideal hoist or winch for your situation – the type that can make your business safer, more efficient and more productive.
We offer a complete range of winches and hoists, including air, manual and electric hoists that are certified to AS 1418.1.
