There are many types of lifting clamps in CT that are available. A plate clamp is usually used for lifting sheets of heavy material, such as steel. These clamps are commonly used in the construction industry. Some come with adjustable jaws, while others come with high grip properties and added safety features to make the clamps suitable for use in all types of applications.
Vertical Clamps
Vertical plate clamps are used to move sheets of materials upright into a vertical position. Some clamps even allow you to turn the material 180 degrees. This is very beneficial when placing your sheets into storage or moving them from one location to the next. Clamps can be combined, meaning that you have a horizontal beam with two vertical clamps attached. This provides additional support, and it is a great way to put less strain on your wire. Plate clamps have spring loaded action, so you will be able to adjust the clamp strength. A good rule of thumb is to ensure that your clamp is set to double the strength of your material.
Horizontal Plate Clamps
Horizontal clamps are usually used in sets of two. This is because the sheet is lifted horizontally, so extra support is needed to lift it. Chain slings are often used to support the clamps, before they are attached to the beam. Wire is often used for support as well. When choosing your clamps, you need to make sure that they are the right type of clamps for your intended usage. If you work in a scrap metal yard then it doesn’t really matter whether your sheets buckle when lifted or not. In this instance, you could use clamps with metal teeth. The teeth dig into the metal, ensuring safety when lifting the sheet. If you need your metal to be fully intact, then you may want to consider clamps with a rubber lining. The rubber lining will grip the metal, and the high strength of the clamps will ensure that the heavy metal will not buckle when it is lifted. You should make sure that you check your lifting clamps regularly, to ensure that there are no signs of damage or wear.
