Lifting Beams

Lifting Beams

In the world of Below-the-Hook lifting, headroom is often the limiting factor. When you need to lift a wide or unbalanced load but lack the vertical clearance for a traditional wire rope bridle or spreader bar, a Lifting Beam is the engineered solution. Unlike a spreader bar which relies on top rigging (compressive force), a Lifting Beam utilizes a solid steel I-beam or channel design to handle bending forces, allowing for a single, low-profile bail connection.

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Couldn't find the exact size or configuration?

Holloway Houston builds custom slings in-house to your exact specs — any length, WLL, and end fitting combination, with proof testing and cert documentation.

Lifting Beams

Holloway Houston stocks a premier inventory of structural Lifting Beams from Peerless. From compact Short Span units for handling machinery to 20-ton Standard Duty beams for general construction, our inventory is compliant with ASME B30.20 and ready for immediate deployment.

Lifting Beam vs. Spreader Bar: What’s the Difference?

  • Lifting Beams (This Category) : Designed to be picked up by a single top bail. They offer the lowest possible headroom requirement. However, because they must resist bending stress, they are heavier and more costly per ton of capacity than spreader bars.
  • Spreader Bars : Require top rigging (wire rope or chain) which adds significant height to the assembly. They are lighter but require more vertical clearance.

Product Spotlight: Peerless Industrial Group

Holloway Houston stocks the core Peerless lineup, engineered for durability and safety.

1. Short Span Lifting Beams (Model SSLB) Designed for "Plate" style lifting where the pick points are close together.

  • Design : Features a structural plate design rather than a channel or I-beam.
  • Application : Ideal for lifting small machinery, motors, or components where the spread is between 1 foot and 3 feet.
  • Capacity : We stock units from 1 Ton up to 20 Tons WLL.

2. Standard Duty Lifting Beams (Model SDLB) The workhorse of the fabrication shop. These beams typically feature a channel design with a fixed center bail.

  • Design : Structural channel construction with a flame-cut center bail for direct hook attachment.
  • Spread : Available in spans from 4 feet to 12 feet.
  • Stability : Provides two lower lift points to stabilize long loads like pipe bundles, rebar, or sheet metal.

3. Universal & Adjustable Beams (UNVB / ALB) For riggers who encounter different load sizes daily. These beams feature adjustable lower lift points (pad eyes) that can be moved along the beam to match the center of gravity of the load.

Technical Specifications & Compliance

Below-the-Hook lifters are strictly regulated. All Peerless beams sold by Holloway Houston meet the following criteria :

  • Standard : Engineered to ASME B30.20 (Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices) and ASME BTH-1 (Design of Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices).
  • Design Category : Design Category B.
  • Service Class : Service Class 0.
  • Proof Test : Individually proof tested to 125% of the Working Load Limit (WLL) with certification included.
  • Tagging : Durable metal nameplate permanently attached with WLL, Weight, Serial Number, and Manufacturer.

Holloway Houston Engineering & Testing

We don't just sell beams; we validate them.

  • Proof Testing : Need to re-certify an old beam? Holloway Houston operates test beds with capacities up to 3,000 tons. We can pull-test your lifting beam to ensure it is safe for continued use.
  • Custom Fabrication : If a standard stock beam doesn't fit your specific load, our engineering team can design a custom BTH lifter to your exact dimensions and capacity requirements.

Complete Your Rigging Assembly

A lifting beam is the bridge between the crane and the load. Ensure you have the right connection hardware.

Browse our inventory below to filter by Beam Type (SSLB/SDLB), Span Length, and Working Load Limit.

Guides & Resources All Articles

Spreader Bar vs Lifting Beam: When to Use Each One

Spreader bars and lifting beams are both classified as industrial lifting devices under ASME B30.20, but they work in fundamentally different ways.

Holloway Houston, Inc.: We’ll Do the Heavy Lifting for You

All these massive undertakings involved the mechanical lifting of heavy objects for the purpose of erecting monuments. And they all took place than...
Why Buy from Holloway Houston?

HHI builds custom slings in-house to your exact specs - any length, WLL, and end fitting combination.

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Frequently Asked Questions

If you couldn't find your answer, please write to us atwirerope@hollowayhouston.com

Lifting beams spread a pick across two or more attachment points, which reduces sling angle stress on the load and can lower the headroom needed compared to a basket or bridle sling arrangement.
A fixed beam has set pick points sized for a specific load, while an adjustable or telescoping beam lets the pick points be repositioned for loads of different lengths or center-of-gravity locations.
Capacity is stamped on the beam and is specific to the beam's design and pick-point configuration rather than one figure for the category. As a general awareness point, a beam's rated envelope is tied to both weight and center-of-gravity location, not weight alone.
Lifting beams typically receive a documented periodic inspection and, depending on classification, a proof load test at manufacturer- or engineer-defined intervals. Inspection programs generally check welds, pick points, and structural members for cracks or deformation before each use.
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