Industries

The Brăila Bridge in Romania is the third-longest suspension bridge in Europe, spanning a total length of 2 km (1.24 miles), and is the largest bridge over the Danube River. A suspension bridge is designed to support the bridge deck from above using cables, with the main cables extending over 2 km in length and weighing up to 3,500 metric tons. As a result, cable installation is a complex and challenging process.

ER2 and CB chain hoists played a crucial role in the cable installation by assisting in the alignment of cables and the positioning of installation equipment when bundling multiple smaller cables into a single, thick main cable between the bridge’s main towers. 

Products Used:

Kito/Harrington ER2 Electric Chain Hoist

Kito/Harrington CB Manual Chain Hoist

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The Yavuz Sultan Selim Bridge in Turkey spans the Bosphorus Strait and has the fifth-tallest main towers in the world. Crosby Wide Body Shackles, capable of withstanding loads of up to 300 metric tons, were used to secure the bridge girders, which weigh several hundred tons. They were employed to lift the girders with a crane via cables and move them into their designated positions.

Products Used:

Crosby G-2160E Alloy Bolt Type "Wide Body" Shackle

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Courtesy of the Gordie Howe International Bridge project

The Gordie Howe International Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge connecting Detroit in the United States and Windsor in Ontario, Canada. It spans approximately 2.5 km (1.5 miles), with tower heights reaching 220 meters (722 feet). The A-shaped bridge towers are located on the banks of the Detroit River and are exposed to the region’s strong winds, requiring careful construction. LB above was used to pull the steel components extending from the bridge towers and to secure the tower crane, contributing to efficient construction.

Products Used:

Kito/Harrington LB Lever Hoist

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Kito Crosby products are used not only in bridge construction but also in repair work. In Belgium, on a bascule bridge (a type of movable bridge), the bridge was struck while opening to allow ships to pass, causing the roadway to shift. This required urgent repairs.  
Compression load cells, capable of measuring up to 1,000 metric tons, were used to measure the weight and center of gravity of the bridge girder, which weighed over 160 metric tons, providing instant feedback to the workers on-site and contributing to a safe and efficient recovery operation. 

Products Used:

Crosby Straightpoint® Compression Load Cells

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At construction sites in the United States, Kito Crosby products are used to correct ceiling distortions in buildings. 

Prestressed concrete (PC) strands in the ceiling are tensioned downward using wire ropes, with the ends of the ropes secured by Crosby Wire Rope Thimbles. Wireless Loadshackles are suspended beneath the ropes. 

Additionally, Crosby McKissick Snatch Blocks are attached to the shackle sections, through which a second set of wire ropes is routed. 

On the left side of the image, concrete blocks are connected to the wire ropes using Crosby Shackles, while Harrington CF chain hoists link these ropes to additional concrete blocks on the right. 

By operating the CF hoists to raise or lower the blocks, tension in each wire rope can be finely adjusted based on the relative weight of the two concrete blocks. Each Loadshackle transmits real-time load data to on-site engineers. 

This system allows for optimal tension adjustments of the PC strands, efficiently supporting the construction process and ensuring structural accuracy. 

Products Used:

Crosby Straightpoint® Wireless Loadshackle

Kito/Harrington CB Manual Chain Hoist(*)

*Harrington CF Manual Chain Hoist only in the U.S.

Crosby McKissick® 419 Snatch Block

Crosby G-411 Standard Wire Rope Thimble

Crosby 2130 Bolt Type Shackle

In building construction, rectangular steel tubes are widely used as columns and beams for high-rise buildings, office buildings, and commercial facilities due to their high strength, seismic resistance, and ease of installation. However, these steel tubes are heavy, with a 600 mm (approximately 23.6 inches) square tube weighing over 700 kg per meter (approximately 470 lbs/ft), making on-site installation a challenging task.

By using multiple CB chain hoists in coordination, long rectangular steel tubes can be installed while maintaining a perfectly horizontal position without tilting. Additionally, in high-rise construction, it is necessary to adjust the inclination and distortion of steel structures with millimeter-level precision (within fractions of an inch), which is difficult to achieve with cranes alone. Utilizing CB hoists enables fine adjustments, contributing to reduced construction time and improved work efficiency. 

Products Used:

Kito/Harrington CB Manual Chain Hoist

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Steel plates are not only used as structural components in high-rise buildings and commercial facilities but are also widely utilized for floors, walls, seismic reinforcements, roofs, and various other applications. However, despite being thin and flat with no protrusions, steel plates are heavy, making transportation and installation challenging.

A Crosby IP Lifting Clamp securely holds thin steel plates and supports loads of up to 30 metric tons, with a maximum plate thickness of 15.5 cm (approximately 6.1 inches). Additionally, it can be easily removed by simply turning the latch. Furthermore, when used in combination with the Gunnebo Industries GrabiQ Chain Sling, the chain length can be easily adjusted, enabling safe and efficient steel plate transportation and installation. 

Products Used:

Crosby IPU10 Vertical Lifting Clamp

Gunnebo Industries GrabiQ Adjustable 1-Leg Grade 100 Chain Sling

In building construction, copper pipes are commonly used for heating and cooling systems due to their high corrosion resistance and excellent thermal conductivity. However, compared to steel or plastic pipes, they are heavier and more challenging to handle.

CB chain hoists securely lift heavy copper pipes, facilitating their connection and temporary fixation within the building.

Products Used:

Kito/Harrington CB Manual Chain Hoist

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Crosby IPTKA Beam Clamp is ideal for transporting steel beams at construction sites. It securely holds loads of up to 15 metric tons at angles of up to 90 degrees, and its hinged body allows for easy opening and closing, contributing to increased efficiency and safety in building construction.

Products Used:

Crosby IPTKA Beam Clamp

In building construction, if columns and steel beams are not positioned correctly according to the design, the entire structure of the building becomes unstable, and the load is not evenly distributed. As a result, there is a risk of deformation, damage, or, in the worst case, collapse of the building.

LB lever hoists have a long track record in adjusting the position of columns and steel beams (alignment) in building construction. On construction sites, steel beams and columns are first temporarily placed in position, and then LBs are used to pull them diagonally or horizontally while making fine adjustments to eliminate distortion.

Products Used:

Kito/Harrington LB Lever Hoist

Courtesy of Edward Rivera

In building construction, LB lever hoists and Crosby Shackles are used for the installation and replacement of elevator motors. Elevator motors used in high-rise buildings are very expensive, and any accidental damage during installation or replacement can result in significant costs. Therefore, even on sites where the reliability of hoists and shackles is crucial, products from Kito Crosby, with their long track record, are chosen.

Products Used:

Kito/Harrington LB Lever Hoist

Crosby 2130 Bolt Type Shackle

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In elevator installation and maintenance, checking the load balance of the elevator and the tension of the suspension cables is extremely important. If these are not properly adjusted, it can lead to issues such as door malfunctions due to tilting, increased risk of passenger falls, cable damage from overloading, and, in the worst case, the risk of the elevator falling.

Crosby Straightpoint COLT is a wireless online tension meter. It can measure the tension of up to 10 wire ropes with a maximum diameter of 25 mm (approximately 1 inch) and a maximum load of 5,000 kg (approximately 11,000 lbs). The load data can be instantly retrieved on a smartphone app via Bluetooth, making it an efficient tool for supporting elevator installation and maintenance work.

Products Used:

Crosby Straightpoint® Clamp On Line Tensionmeter (COLT)

Excavators are used on many construction sites, not only for digging work but also for material transport and lifting tasks. However, it is common to attach lifting equipment directly to the bucket teeth or the excavator’s arm, which is a dangerous practice and can lead to serious accidents.
Gunnebo Industries developed the UKN hook in 1975, allowing excavators to be used like cranes. Since then, it has become the standard hook chosen by major excavator manufacturers worldwide.

Products Used:

Gunnebo Industries Universal Weld-On Hook UKN

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In construction sites, securing construction materials, equipment, and heavy machinery safely is essential, and load securing on truck beds plays a crucial role in this. Gunnebo Industries Chain Tensioner GT is made from lightweight materials, allowing for comfortable load securing with the use of a ratchet handle. Compatible with the GrabiQ series, it can be quickly and securely adjusted in length when combined with Midgrab Chain Shortener MIG, ensuring safe load securing with less strain on the operator.

Products Used:

Gunnebo Industries Chain Tensioner GT

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Crosby Torque Drive Binder allows loads to be quickly secured using an electric drill. Compared to a typical quick binder, it reduces the load on the operator during tightening and significantly shortens the work time. In the event that an electric drill is not available during unloading operations, or if the battery of the electric drill runs out, the load can be easily loosened using a socket wrench, spanner, or pliers.

Products Used:

Speedbinders

In urban expressway construction, work is often carried out at night to avoid traffic congestion and ensure sufficient workspace. Due to the limited time available, the work must be carried out quickly.

LB lever hoists were used in the construction of the Tokyo Gaikan Expressway, which connects areas within a 15 km (approximately 9.3 miles) radius of downtown Tokyo. A super-large bridge girder, 75 meters long (approximately 246 feet) and weighing 700 metric tons, was transported by two trucks. Each truck was equipped with LB hoists with a capacity of 3.2 metric tons to secure the girder at eight points per truck, for a total of 16 securing points, supporting the entire process from transportation to installation safely and efficiently. 

Products Used:

Kito/Harrington LB Lever Hoist

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In sections of expressway construction where access is relatively easy, mobile cranes are used to install bridge girders. CB chain hoists were used in the construction of the Fujiyoshida Smart Interchange, located near Mount Fuji in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.

Four CB 10-ton capacity hoists lifted a 25-ton bridge girder, and four CB 20-ton capacity hoists lifted a 60-ton bridge girder, helping to align the girder precisely and safely, something that would be difficult with cranes, ensuring a quick and efficient process.

Products Used:

Kito/Harrington CB Manual Chain Hoist

In mountainous areas, constructing expressways presents a challenge in terms of installing support structures (temporary structures to prevent the collapse of bridge girders under construction). The solution to this is to first assemble the bridge piers, then install a construction machine called a “Wagen” on top of the piers. Concrete is poured within the Wagen to partially install the bridge girder, and the girder is gradually extended from the pier while maintaining balance. This “Wagen method” is widely used in Japan.

ER2 electric chain hoists were used within the Wagen to move and position prestressed concrete (PC) slabs and other heavy objects to their designated locations when constructing the bridge girder. With the original nickel-plated chains that are resistant to rust and wear, and superior braking performance, ER2 can be safely used in harsh outdoor work environments.

Products Used:

Kito/Harrington ER2 Electric Chain Hoist

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If the shape of the object being lifted at a construction site is uneven, the load’s center of gravity will be off-center, increasing the risk of instability and potential dropping during the lift. Additionally, the imbalance in the load can cause the crane’s overall balance to be disrupted, which, in the worst-case scenario, could lead to tipping.

Gunnebo Industries GrabiQ can quickly adjust the length of the Chain Sling to match the shape of the load, allowing for flexible handling of unevenly distributed loads. Compared to traditional Chain Slings, it has significantly fewer components, is lightweight, and offers greatly improved operability, contributing to increased work efficiency.

Products Used:

Gunnebo Industries GrabiQ Adjustable 2-Leg Grade 100 Chain Sling

The advantage of using a hook block at the end of a crane on construction sites is that it reduces the friction of the wire rope by utilizing the hook block’s sheaves. This enables smooth load movement while maintaining balance when lifting heavy objects, thereby improving stability.

Crosby McKissick Scrap Handling Block comes in a product range from 15t to 40t and is made from forged alloy steel that has been heat treated for durability, allowing for long periods of continuous use. The hook section features swing and swivel mechanisms to prevent load twisting, enhancing stability. It can also be used in conjunction with magnets or drop balls.

Products Used:

Crosby McKissick 381-SY Scrap Handling Blocks

Wireless load cell Radiolink plus is used for mobile crane inspections in combination with Crosby standard shackles. Australian inspection contractors appreciate its lightweight design, high precision, calibration capability, and suitability for air transport. Additionally, the ability to maintain IP67 environmental protection even with the battery cover removed makes it ideal for inspections in harsh environments.

In the UK, crane inspectors use Bluetooth-enabled Radiolink plus for mobile crane inspections. It allows wireless communication with up to eight devices through a dedicated app and can transmit data up to 100 meters (approximately 328 feet). Inspection results are immediately recorded, edited into Excel spreadsheets or PDF reports, and sent to customers with GPS location data, which is highly valued. 

Products Used:

Crosby Straightpoint® Radiolink Plus Wireless Load Cell

Crosby 2130 Bolt Type Shackle

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BlokCam and BlokAlert also offer models specifically designed for mobile cranes. With their video and audio systems, they help prevent accidents during crane operations. The magnetic design allows easy attachment to hook blocks or buckets. The monitor displays the load and surrounding conditions, and in dangerous situations, the audio alarm draws the attention of nearby workers. With a battery life of up to 12 hours and IP67 ruggedness, they can be safely used in harsh environments.

Products Used:

Crosby BlokCam

Crosby BlokAlert

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LB Lever Hoist is used for alignment when welding and joining transmission tower components and for temporary fixing when setting up support wires for towers, preventing tower collapse.

It also plays a role during overhead line construction and when installing or replacing insulators to prevent high-voltage current from flowing into the tower or ground.

The high-strength, corrosion-resistant, and abrasion-resistant nickel-plated chain is ideal for harsh outdoor environments. Additionally, its unique freewheeling mechanism allows for quick and safe chain length adjustment, ensuring both efficiency and safety in on-site work.

Products Used:

Kito/Harrington LB Lever Hoist

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One of the key features of the LB Lever Hoist is its lock mechanism, which prevents load drops when rapid load is applied, even in freewheeling mode where the chain length is quickly adjustable. Furthermore, the optional Safety Locking Module provides a double safety mechanism, ensuring that if the hoist’s main brake fails, the Safety-Lock mechanism will still function to prevent load drops.

Products Used:

Kito LB-SL Lever Hoist

The structural wire ropes supporting towers are constantly exposed to harsh climatic conditions throughout their service life. These wires move continuously due to the effects of wind and rain, while also bearing constant load. To ensure safety and prolong their lifespan, regular tension inspections and adjustments are essential for guy wire maintenance on cell towers, power lines, flare stacks, antennas, and masts.  

Crosby Straightpoint COLT is a wireless online tension meter that features an extensive wire rope database and enables fast, accurate measurement of tensions up to 5,000 kg (approximately 11,000 lb) and for wire ropes up to 25 mm (approximately 1 inch) in diameter. Using Bluetooth, it allows for real-time tension measurement and recording via a dedicated smartphone app. Additionally, it automatically captures local weather conditions (temperature, wind speed, wind direction), and—when combined with GPS coordinate acquisition—enables logging of these reports directly on a smartphone. 

Traditionally, monitoring wire rope tension in remote or hard-to-reach locations has been a challenging task. However, this issue is effectively addressed with the combination of the high-precision Crosby Straightpoint BOLT tension meter and the LoadConnect base station. BOLT can be permanently installed on wire ropes or cables, enabling real-time tension tracking. It is capable of measuring tension in up to 16 wire ropes, supporting loads of up to 10,000 kgf (approximately 20,000 lbf), and accommodating wire ropes up to 32 mm (approximately 1.25 inches) in diameter. 

When integrated with LoadConnect, users can connect up to 16 BOLT devices, allowing for seamless remote monitoring from anywhere in the world via 3G/4G data transmission. 

This enables autonomous wire rope tension monitoring, leading to improved efficiency and cost savings. Additionally, continuous monitoring enhances safety and supports preventive maintenance through trend and pattern analysis.
 

By integrating this technology into construction workflows, teams can enhance safety, improve efficiency, and ensure compliance with industry standards.

Products Used:

Crosby Straightpoint Clamp On Line Tensionmeter (COLT)

Crosby Straightpoint Bolt On Line Tensionmeter (BOLT)

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Ensure safety, efficiency, and compliance with Crosby Straightpoint’s cutting-edge load monitoring technology—engineered for overhead power line and cell tower projects.

Seamlessly integrating into your construction workflows, our solutions empower teams to work smarter, safer, and faster, all while meeting the highest industry standards.

Products Used:

Crosby Straightpoint LoadConnect (LCBS-N)

Crosby Straightpoint LoadConnect Base Station

Crosby Straightpoint Insight Software

Crosby Straightpoint Handheld (SW-HHP)

Ensuring proper load monitoring during the construction of overhead powerlines is crucial for the safe and accurate installation of structural and electrical components.

The Crosby Straightpoint Radiolink Plus, when paired with the included Handheld Plus hand controller, can monitor up to four load cells, simultaneously, ideal for complex lifting operations with multiple lifting points. For expanded functionality, it can also integrate with Insight software, enabling real-time monitoring of up to 126 Crosby Straightpoint wireless load cells on any Windows tablet or laptop.

By integrating this technology into construction workflows, teams can enhance safety, improve efficiency, and ensure compliance with industry standards.

Products Used:

Crosby Straightpoint Wireless Load Cell (RLP)

Crosby 2130 Bolt Type Shackle

Crosby G-411 Standard Wire Rope Thimble

Kito/Harrington LB Lever Hoist

During the construction of overhead powerlines, precise load monitoring plays a crucial role in ensuring the accurate and secure installation of both structural and electrical components.

To further improve load monitoring, incorporating the Crosby Straightpoint wireless Bluetooth load cell, Bluelink, provides an effective solution with a LB lever hoist for wire rope tensioning enhances safety and reliability throughout this process.

By doing so, it helps prevent tower collapse and ensures the stability of the structure.

Products Used:

Crosby Straightpoint Bluetooth Load Cell (Bluelink)

Crosby Straightpoint Bluetooth App (HHP App)

Crosby 2130 Bolt Type Shackle

Kito/Harrington LB Lever Hoist

Kito Crosby has launched advanced load monitoring systems specifically designed for overhead powerline construction. These innovations prioritize enhanced safety, precision, and efficiency in the installation, maintenance, and repair of high-voltage transmission and distribution lines.

Among the standout products is the Crosby Straightpoint SID (Self-Indicating Dynamometer), with its large LCD display this allows hands-free load monitoring at close proximity but from a safe distance. When paired with a LB lever hoist, it ensures safer alignment during welding and assembly of transmission tower components. Additionally, it supports temporary fixing of support wires during tower setup, reducing the risk of structural collapse.

Products Used:

Crosby Straightpoint® Self Indicating Dynamometer (SID)

Crosby Shackles

Kito/Harrington LB Lever Hoist

Courtesy of the official Zahner website

SoFi Stadium is a sports and entertainment facility located in California, USA. It will host the opening and closing ceremonies of the 2028 Summer Olympics and is the home stadium for the Los Angeles Chargers and Los Angeles Rams of the NFL.
The stadium is covered by a canopy that not only ensures airflow but also diffuses natural light gently while protecting spectators from the weather.

ER2 electric chain hoists were used for the installation of panels that make up the canopy. Huge, heavy panels integrated with steel frames were safely lifted with four high-capacity ER2 units, and these panels were gradually tilted from horizontal to vertical to be installed as wall sections covering the stadium.
Panels installed horizontally were lifted with a combination of multiple LB lever hoist 9-ton units and Crosby shackles, contributing to precise positioning that would have been difficult with mobile cranes alone.

Products Used:

Kito/Harrington ER2 Electric Chain Hoist

Kito/Harrington LB Lever Hoist

Crosby 2130 Bolt Type Shackle

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When adjusting chain sling length to match the size of the load, Gunnebo Industries GrabiQ’s Chain Sling allows for easy and precise modifications. Compared to conventional chain slings, it has fewer components and is lighter, making on-site inspections easier and helping to save time and costs. Additionally, the hook section can be customized with various types, from standard hook latch types to latch lock types, allowing for the optimal configuration based on the intended use.

Products Used:

Gunnebo Industries GrabiQ Adjustable 2-Leg Grade 100 Chain Sling

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Many past crane accidents occurred due to an inability to accurately measure the weight of the load, causing imbalances that led to load drops, damage, and, in some cases, worker injuries or fatalities. The wireless load cell Radiolink plus, when combined with Crosby standard shackles, enables remote real-time measurement of loads up to 500 metric tons. Using dedicated software, up to 126 load cells can be monitored simultaneously from a distance of 1,000 meters (approximately 3,280 feet), supporting safer and more efficient crane operations. 

Products Used:

Crosby Straightpoint® Radiolink Plus Wireless Load Cell

Crosby 2130 Bolt Type Shackle

Courtesy of the official site of MR. CRANE

During the expansion project of the Westfield Century City shopping mall in Los Angeles, USA, the load on the temporary support columns for two tower cranes was monitored using 40 wireless compression load cells (10t each). These load cells measured the total weight of the cranes, their center of gravity, and the weight of the lifted loads. The data was transmitted in real time via software, allowing engineers and project managers to monitor it on their smartphones.

Additionally, the alert function automatically sent notifications if excessive loads exceeding the allowable limits were applied to any of the support columns during crane rotation or movement, contributing to a safer construction site.

Products Used:

Crosby Straightpoint® Compression Load Cell

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Due to its massive size, a crane creates blind spots when the operator lifts, lowers, or moves loads, as well as during crane rotation, posing a risk of serious accidents. In fact, the most common fatal crane-related accidents are caused by objects falling from the crane and striking workers or pedestrians.

BlokCam and BlokAlert help prevent many potential accidents associated with crane operations through their video and audio systems. Since they are magnetically mounted, they can be easily attached to hook blocks, buckets beneath hooks, and other locations. Operators can monitor loads and the surrounding environment in real time via a display, and if a hazardous situation arises, the audio alarm system immediately alerts nearby workers, helping to prevent accidents.

Products Used:

Crosby BlokCam

Crosby BlokAlert

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In tunnel construction, a widely adopted method involves using a cylindrical excavation machine called a shield machine, which simultaneously excavates hard bedrock while constructing the tunnel walls. ER2 electric chain hoist is instrumental in handling and installing tunnel segments—concrete blocks weighing from several to tens of tons—that form the tunnel walls. Additionally, ER2 can be customized according to tunnel size, shield machine design, and the size of the segments being lifted.

Products Used:

Kito/Harrington ER2 Electric Chain Hoist

In Sweden, Gunnebo Industries GrabiQ Chain Sling was used in the installation of a culvert (underground drainage channel) to divert river water underground. The culvert was a massive structure measuring 22 meters in length (approximately 72 feet), 4 meters in width (approximately 13 feet), and 3 meters in height (approximately 10 feet), with a weight reaching 10 metric tons. 

 The installation involved lifting the culvert from a trailer using a mobile crane, rotating it above ground, lowering it 10 meters underground (approximately 33 feet), and connecting it to the existing culvert. The GrabiQ Chain Sling facilitated safe and efficient construction by allowing easy length adjustments and simple connections. Its secure latch lock hooks firmly held the fiber slings used to lift the culvert, ensuring stability and safety during the operation. 

Products Used:

Gunnebo Industries GrabiQ Adjustable Chain Sling 4-Leg TG4-GBK

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