Electric Hoist Guide: Types, Capacities & How to Choose the Right One

What is an electric hoist?

An electric hoist is a powered lifting device that raises and lowers loads using an electric motor driving either a chain or a wire rope through a gearbox. Where a manual chain block requires the operator to pull a hand chain — one link at a time — an electric hoist does the work at the press of a button. This makes it the right choice whenever lifts are frequent, loads are heavy, precision placement matters, or sustained manual effort is not practical.

Electric hoists are used across manufacturing, fabrication, warehouses, maintenance workshops, mining support facilities, and construction sites. Common applications include engine pulling and installation, die handling on press lines, loading and unloading from delivery vehicles, positioning heavy machine components during alignment, and overhead crane duty on monorail or gantry beam systems.

The core components of every electric hoist are:

• Electric motor: The power source — single-phase 240V for smaller workshop hoists, three-phase 415V for industrial and higher-capacity models.
• Gearbox: Reduces motor speed to a practical lifting speed — typically 2–8 m/min for chain hoists, with dual-speed models offering a slower creep speed for precision placement.
• Brake: An electro-mechanical brake that holds the load whenever the motor is not running. This is a critical safety component — if the brake fails, the load will descend uncontrolled. The brake is spring-applied (fails safe) and electrically released when the motor energises.
• Chain pocket wheel or wire rope drum: The mechanism that engages and drives the lifting medium. A chain hoist uses a pocket wheel that grips each link; a wire rope hoist winds the rope onto a flanged drum.
• Limit switches: Upper and lower electrical cut-outs that stop the motor when the hook reaches its maximum raised or lowered position. Standard on all industrial electric hoists.
• Hook or lifting attachment: The interface between the hoist and the load. Safety hooks with spring-loaded latches are standard. Shank hooks for fixed rigs and rotary hooks for swivel applications are available options.
• Control system: Push-button pendant or wireless remote. Controls UP, DOWN, STOP and, where applicable, trolley travel LEFT and RIGHT.

Electric hoists are not the same as electric winches. A winch is designed to pull loads horizontally along the ground and typically uses a rope drum without a load-holding brake of the same class. Hoists are engineered specifically for vertical lifting and are built with rated braking systems, load-tested hooks, and safety limit switches to handle suspended loads safely.

Electric chain hoist vs electric wire rope hoist

The first and most important decision when selecting an electric hoist is the lifting medium: chain or wire rope. Both types are powered by electric motors and share the same basic control and braking principles. What differs is how they store and drive the lifting medium, and the applications each type handles best.

Electric chain hoist

An electric chain hoist lifts using a high-tensile alloy steel chain — typically Grade 80 (T8) or Grade 100 (T10) — that passes through the hoist body and collects in a chain bag or chain bucket beneath the unit. The motor drives a pocket wheel (also called a star wheel or load sprocket) that positively engages each chain link, converting rotary motion into linear chain travel.

Chain hoists are the standard choice for light-to-medium industrial lifting. They are compact and lightweight relative to their rated capacity, which makes them well suited to jib cranes, portable gantries, fixed overhead points, and installations where headroom below the suspension point is limited. You get more lift per millimetre of headroom with a chain hoist than with a wire rope unit of the same capacity.

The practical capacity range for electric chain hoists is 125 kg to 5 tonne, with 250 kg, 500 kg, 1 tonne, and 2 tonne being the most common sizes stocked in Australia. Single-phase 240V models are widely available at 250 kg and 500 kg, and some manufacturers offer 1-tonne single-phase models, though most 1-tonne and above units are three-phase.

The main limitation of chain hoists is chain length. As the chain descends, it collects in the chain bag below the hoist body. A standard chain drop of 3–6 metres is comfortable. Beyond 9–10 metres, the accumulated chain weight in the bag becomes significant — it can affect lifting speed under load, and on smaller hoists it may begin to approach a meaningful proportion of the rated capacity. For long-lift applications, wire rope is the better choice.

Chain hoist advantage summary: Compact, cost-effective, suited to workshop and maintenance use, available in single-phase, excellent for lift heights up to 6–9 m, easy to install on fixed hooks or push trolleys.

Electric wire rope hoist

An electric wire rope hoist lifts using a steel wire rope constructed from multiple wire strands laid around a core — similar to the wire rope used in rigging slings, but specifically rated and tested for the hoist's lifting duty. The rope winds onto a flanged, grooved drum inside the hoist body as the load is raised, and pays off the drum as the load descends.

Because the rope coils neatly on the drum rather than accumulating in a bag, wire rope hoists can handle much longer lift heights — 12 m, 18 m, and 30+ m are standard options. The drum simply needs to be sized to accommodate the required rope length. This makes wire rope hoists the standard choice for industrial overhead cranes, high-bay warehouses, and any application where the load needs to travel significant vertical distances.

Wire rope hoists are physically larger and heavier than chain equivalents of the same capacity, and they are generally more expensive. However, they offer smoother operation (the rope wraps on the drum without the link-to-link engagement noise of a chain), better suitability for high duty cycles, and the capacity headroom to handle heavy plant above 3 tonne where chain hoists are less practical.

Wire rope condition must be inspected regularly. Unlike chain, where individual worn or deformed links can be individually assessed, wire rope deterioration — particularly internal wire breaks — can be harder to detect. A rope with significant internal wire breaks may appear intact externally while its actual load capacity is seriously compromised.

Wire rope hoist advantage summary: Long lift heights, high duty cycle, large capacities, smooth operation, standard for overhead bridge crane applications.

Side-by-side comparison

For the majority of AIMS customers — maintenance fitters, fabrication workshops, and tradespeople — the electric chain hoist is the right answer. Wire rope units are specified when lift height, duty cycle, or capacity pushes beyond what a chain hoist comfortably handles, or when the installation is a dedicated overhead crane system.

Rated capacity and duty cycle: sizing your hoist correctly

Rated Capacity — the correct Australian term

In Australia, the term Safe Working Load (SWL) was removed from the hoist and crane standard when AS 1418.1 was revised. The correct term for the maximum load a hoist may lift is Rated Capacity. This is the maximum gross load that may be applied to the hoist in its working configuration — including any attachments, spreader beams, or lifting gear hanging below the hook.

Working Load Limit (WLL) is a related but separate term that applies to below-hook components: slings, shackles, hooks, and chain. Every component in the lifting assembly below the hoist hook must have a WLL equal to or exceeding the weight of the load being lifted. See the Wire Rope, Slings & Rigging Guide for the full rundown on below-hook rigging, sling angles, and shackle selection.

For Grade 80 and Grade 100 chain sling selection, WLL tables, and sling angle de-rating, see the Chain Sling Guide.

The practical point: the capacity marked on the hoist nameplate is its Rated Capacity — the maximum the entire hoist system is designed to lift. This includes the hook block and any chain below the hoist body. On standard electric chain hoists with short chain drops, the chain and hook block weight is a small fraction of rated capacity and is already accounted for in the manufacturer's rating. On long-drop installations, confirm with the supplier that the chain weight at the required drop does not materially affect the usable rated capacity.

Sizing rule: always leave headroom

When selecting hoist capacity, size up — never to the limit. A 1-tonne hoist lifting an 800 kg load is working at 80% of rated capacity, which is acceptable for light duty use. A 1-tonne hoist regularly lifting 950 kg loads is operating at 95% of capacity, which accelerates wear on the brake, gearbox, and chain significantly and reduces service life. As a practical rule, select a hoist rated at a minimum of 125–150% of your heaviest expected load.

If your heaviest lift is 750 kg, specify a 1-tonne hoist — not a 750 kg unit. If your heaviest lift is 1.2 tonnes, specify a 2-tonne hoist, not a 1.5-tonne model if a 2-tonne is the next standard size up.

Standard capacity options and typical applications

Duty cycle: light, moderate, or continuous?

Duty cycle describes how hard the hoist is designed to work — specifically how often and how long the motor runs under load during a working day. This is not about maximum capacity; it is about thermal capacity and mechanical fatigue resistance of the motor, gearbox, and brake.

The classification system used under AS 1418.1 and FEM 1.001 rates hoists from M1 (lightest, most intermittent) through to M8 (heaviest, continuous). In practical terms:

• Light duty (M1–M2): Occasional lifts — a few lifts per hour at most, with long rest periods between. Typical for maintenance bays, engine shops, and small fabrication shops where the hoist is used as-needed. Most 240V single-phase workshop hoists are rated to this duty class. If your application is genuinely infrequent, a light-duty hoist is appropriate and cost-effective.
• Moderate duty (M3–M4): Regular lifting through the working day — a production support role, packing lines, or workshops where the hoist is in regular use but not running continuously. Most quality industrial three-phase chain hoists fall into this bracket.
• Heavy/continuous duty (M5–M8): High-cycle crane applications — production line cranes, casting and pouring bays, steel service centres, or any application where the hoist runs multiple lifts per hour across a full shift or multiple shifts. This bracket requires purpose-built industrial hoists with heavy-duty motors, appropriately rated brakes, and in many cases active cooling.

Critical point: Using a light-duty hoist in a moderate or heavy duty application will overheat the motor winding and wear the brake prematurely — often well before the end of the expected service life. Duty cycle is not a specification to round down on. If you are unsure which duty class your application falls into, describe the application to the AIMS team before ordering.

Single-phase vs three-phase power

The electrical supply available at the installation point is one of the most practical constraints in hoist selection, and one that is often overlooked until the hoist arrives and nobody can plug it in.

Single-phase 240V electric hoists

Single-phase electric chain hoists are available from 125 kg up to around 1 tonne, and some manufacturers offer single-phase models at 2 tonne capacity. They connect to a standard 240V Australian outlet — typically a 15A or 20A round-pin industrial socket, or hardwired where the installation is permanent. No special three-phase switchboard is required.

The practical constraint with single-phase hoists is the motor start-up (in-rush) current. Electric motor starting current is typically 5–7× the running current. A 1-tonne single-phase hoist with a 6 A running current may draw 30–40 A on start-up for a fraction of a second. The circuit breaker protecting the circuit must be rated and selected to allow this in-rush without nuisance tripping, while still providing overload protection. Have an electrician confirm the circuit is adequate before installation. Using an extension lead with a single-phase hoist is not recommended — extension lead resistance causes voltage drop that increases motor current and reduces starting torque.

Single-phase is the right choice when:

• The site has only 240V supply — small workshops, garages, rural locations
• The required capacity is 1 tonne or less
• The duty is light to moderate (occasional to regular lifts)
• The installation is portable or temporary — hook suspension over a portable gantry

Three-phase 415V electric hoists

Three-phase motors are inherently more efficient, run cooler, start smoother, and are better suited to sustained duty than single-phase motors of the same power output. For any hoist above 1–2 tonne, and for any hoist intended for regular industrial duty, three-phase is the standard.

Three-phase connections must be made by a licensed electrician. Correct phase rotation matters — if the three conductors are connected in the wrong sequence, the motor will run in reverse and the control pendant will be inverted (UP lowers the load, DOWN raises it). This is corrected by swapping any two of the three phase conductors at the terminal block. Phase rotation checking is standard practice during hoist commissioning.

Three-phase is the right choice when:

• The site has 415V three-phase supply
• Capacity required is 2 tonnes or above
• Duty cycle is moderate to heavy
• The hoist will be permanently mounted on a crane beam or monorail
• A dual-speed hoist is required (creep speed for precision placement)

Dual-speed hoists

Dual-speed electric hoists offer two lift rates — a fast speed for unloaded travel and positioning, and a slow creep speed (typically one-sixth to one-tenth of the fast speed) for precision placement of the load. Dual-speed operation is achieved either by switching between two motor winding configurations or by using a variable frequency drive (VFD). In either case, dual-speed models almost always require three-phase power. If precision positioning under load is important to your application — die setting, assembly work, or positioning near machinery — a dual-speed hoist is worth specifying.

Suspension and travel options

How the hoist is mounted — and whether it can travel along a beam — is as important as its capacity and power supply. Selecting the wrong suspension type means the hoist either cannot reach the load or cannot be repositioned to suit the work. There are four main configurations.

Hook suspension (fixed point)

The simplest configuration: the hoist is hung by its integral top hook from a fixed structural point — a beam, an eye bolt, a shackle on a gantry leg, or an overhead crane hook. The hoist does not move laterally. Loads can only be raised and lowered directly below the suspension point.

Hook suspension suits applications where every lift happens in the same spot — a fixed engine bay, a loading dock where the truck always parks in the same position, or a production station where components always arrive at the same location. It is the most common configuration for portable and semi-permanent installations.

Push (plain) trolley

A push trolley mounts the hoist onto a structural beam flange using rollers or flanged wheels, allowing the hoist to be pushed manually along the beam. The operator moves the hoist to position it above the load before lifting. This is a cost-effective way to introduce lateral reach to a gantry or jib crane without adding a motorised travel drive.

Push trolleys must be specified to match the flange width of the beam. Most trolleys are adjustable across a range — for example, 50–100 mm flange width — but confirm the adjustment range covers your beam before ordering. The beam flange must also be rated to carry the combined weight of the hoist, trolley, and maximum load.

Motorised (electric) trolley

An electric trolley drives the hoist along the beam using a separate travel motor and drive wheels. The operator controls both hoist lifting and trolley travel from the same pendant or wireless remote — UP/DOWN for the hoist, LEFT/RIGHT for the trolley. This is standard for overhead bridge cranes and high-productivity gantry installations where the operator needs to move the load two-dimensionally (along the bridge beam) without leaving the pendant or manually pushing the unit.

Motorised trolleys are specified as part of a complete crane system rather than as a stand-alone add-on to a workshop hoist. If you are setting up a new overhead crane system, discuss travel drive requirements with the supplier at the time of ordering — the hoist and trolley need to be matched and typically commissioned together.

Lug or beam-mounted (fixed)

Some hoists are lug-mounted — bolted directly to a fixed structure such as a crane bridge or purpose-built hoist platform via a mounting lug rather than a hook or trolley. This provides a rigid, permanent connection and is used in dedicated crane structures where the hoist is never removed. Lug-mounted hoists do not have a hook on top of the body and cannot be repositioned without unbolting the installation.

When ordering an electric hoist, always specify the suspension type. Standard catalogue models are typically supplied with hook suspension. Trolley kits — plain or motorised — are ordered separately and must be matched to the beam profile and flange width on your structure.

Chain length and lift height

Standard chain drop on most workshop electric chain hoists is 3 metres. This suits installations where the hook needs to travel from floor level to an overhead working height in a standard workshop with 4–6 m ceiling height. Standard lift heights of 3 m, 6 m, and 9 m are stocked or available to order. Non-standard drops can be supplied but may require a longer lead time and additional cost.

Calculating the lift height you need

To calculate the required chain drop or rope length, work through the following:

1. Height of lowest hook position: How close to the floor does the hook need to descend? For ground-level lifts, the hook needs to reach within a few hundred millimetres of the floor.
2. Height of highest hook position: Where does the load need to be at maximum height? This might be the height of a truck tray, a machinery platform, or a pallet rack.
3. Headroom consumed by the hoist body: The hoist body itself takes up height below the suspension beam. A compact 500 kg chain hoist might consume 250–350 mm of headroom; a 2-tonne unit may consume 500–700 mm. Check the manufacturer's dimension drawing.
4. Headroom consumed by trolley and beam: Add the depth of the beam and any trolley hardware between the beam and the top of the hoist body.

Required chain drop = (Beam underside height) − (Headroom used by hoist, trolley & beam) − (Maximum height the load hook needs to reach)

Add 10–15% margin. Round up to the nearest standard chain drop length available from the manufacturer. It is better to have more chain in the bag than to find the hook cannot descend far enough to reach the load.

Upper and lower limit switches

All industrial electric hoists are fitted with upper and lower limit switches — electrical cut-outs that stop the motor when the hook reaches its maximum raised or lowered position. The upper limit switch is the most safety-critical: if the hook is raised past its maximum position (called two-blocking), the chain or rope will snap or the hoist body will be damaged. The upper limit switch prevents this.

The lower limit switch stops the drive when the hook reaches its lowest set point, preventing all chain from being paid out of the body — a condition that can cause the chain to jump the pocket wheel when the hoist is next raised.

Before every use, confirm both limit switches are functioning with a no-load test. Test the upper limit by slowly raising the hook until the motor stops — this should happen before the hook block contacts the hoist body. Never bypass or disable a limit switch. If a limit switch fails or trips prematurely, have it adjusted or replaced by a competent person before returning the hoist to service.

Controls: pendant and wireless remote

Push-button pendant (standard)

The standard control for an electric hoist is a hard-wired push-button pendant — a hand-held controller connected to the hoist by a strain-relieved control cable. Pendant length is typically equal to the chain drop plus 1–2 metres so the operator can control the hoist from floor level without having to stretch upward. Most pendants feature UP, DOWN, STOP, and for trolley-equipped hoists, TRAVEL LEFT and TRAVEL RIGHT. Emergency stop buttons are standard on industrial models.

Pendant controls are reliable, require no batteries or wireless pairing, and are unaffected by radio interference. They are the standard choice for the vast majority of industrial hoist applications and are significantly simpler to service if a fault develops. The pendant cable is a wear item — inspect the entry point at the strain relief and the push-button contact areas during regular inspections.

Wireless remote control

Wireless remote controls are available on many electric hoist models, either as standard or as an optional extra. The operator carries a compact radio transmitter; a receiver module mounted on the hoist interprets the commands and activates the control circuit. Wireless remotes are useful when:

• The operator needs to move around the load freely without being tethered to the hoist by a pendant cable
• The pendant cable presents a trip hazard or snagging risk in the work area
• The hoist is installed at significant height and a full-length pendant cable would be cumbersome
• The operator needs to move away from the lift zone to observe the load positioning from another angle

Wireless remotes require batteries and periodic function checks to confirm the radio link is reliable. In environments with significant radio frequency interference — near induction heaters, welding equipment, or high-frequency machinery — confirm the remote's operating frequency, range, and interference rejection specification with the supplier before specifying. A wireless remote failure while a load is suspended is a serious safety incident; most wireless systems include a fail-safe that maintains the brake in the closed (holding) position if the signal is lost.

Variable frequency drive (VFD) speed control

High-end electric hoists — particularly wire rope models and purpose-built crane hoists — may incorporate a variable frequency drive for smooth, stepless speed control. A VFD ramps the motor speed up and down smoothly on start and stop, eliminating the mechanical jerk that occurs when a contactor-controlled hoist is switched on under load. Benefits include reduced load swing, less mechanical shock on the structure and lifting gear, quieter operation, and greater precision in load placement.

VFD-controlled hoists are significantly more expensive than contactor-controlled equivalents and are specified at the engineering phase of a crane project — not purchased off the shelf for a workshop upgrade. If precise, shock-free lifting is a requirement — handling fragile assemblies, positioning precision tooling, or automated production cranes — VFD control should be on the specification list.

Hoist maintenance: chain, rope and brake

An electric hoist that is properly maintained will give many years of service. The three main maintenance focus areas are the lifting medium, the brake, and the control system.

Chain maintenance

Electric hoist chain requires regular lubrication and periodic inspection for wear and deformation. The chain runs under significant load and through the pocket wheel under every lift — friction and fatigue are the primary failure modes.

• Lubrication: Apply chain lubricant — a light penetrating oil or dedicated chain lubricant — to the entire chain length at the manufacturer's recommended interval. In high-use or outdoor environments, lubricate more frequently. A dry chain wears faster and is more susceptible to corrosion and link-link fretting.
• Wear inspection: Check chain elongation with a calibrated chain gauge (pitch gauge). Most hoist chains must be replaced when elongation exceeds 2% of the nominal pitch length. Visual inspection alone is not sufficient — a chain can be at or beyond its discard limit without appearing visibly stretched.
• Deformation: Check individual links for twisting, bending, cracks, or corrosion pitting. Any deformed or cracked link is grounds for full chain replacement — do not use a chain with a suspect link. Hoist chain is not repaired; it is replaced as a complete set.
• Chain bag: Keep the chain bag free of debris and oil contamination. A damaged chain bag that allows chain to fall out of sequence creates a serious jam risk in the pocket wheel.

Wire rope maintenance

Wire rope condition must be assessed by counting broken wires per reference length and checking for deformation, corrosion, and wear at the drum grooves and sheaves. AS 3569 and the hoist manufacturer's documentation will specify the discard criteria for the rope fitted to your hoist. As a general indicator, rope discard is required when:

• Wire breaks exceed the manufacturer's specified count per reference length (typically 6 wire breaks in one rope lay length, or 3 breaks in one strand)
• The rope shows visible kinks, birdcaging, core protrusion, or corrosion that cannot be cleaned
• Diameter reduction exceeds the manufacturer's specified limit (typically 6–8% of nominal diameter)

Brake maintenance

The hoist brake is the most safety-critical component in the system. Most electric hoists use an electro-mechanical disc or conical brake that is spring-applied (fail-safe closed) and electrically released. The brake pads or friction surfaces wear with each lift cycle and must be inspected and adjusted — or replaced — according to the manufacturer's schedule.

Signs of brake wear or failure include: the load drifting or descending when the motor is stopped, a burning smell during operation, brake adjustment beyond the manufacturer's maximum, or visible wear scoring on the brake disc. Any of these signs requires immediate investigation and rectification before the hoist is returned to use.

Brake adjustment is typically performed by the hoist manufacturer's service agent or a competent person trained on the specific hoist model. Do not attempt brake adjustment without the correct tools and documentation — an incorrectly adjusted brake creates a dropped-load risk.

Australian standards and compliance requirements

AS 1418.1 — Rules for the Design of Cranes, Hoists and Winches

Electric hoists used in Australian workplaces must meet the requirements of AS 1418.1, which sets out design requirements for cranes, hoists, and winches. The standard covers rated capacity marking, safety factors for structural components, braking system performance, limit switch requirements, and classification of duty. When purchasing an electric hoist for industrial use, ask the supplier to confirm compliance with AS 1418.1 or an equivalent recognised standard (FEM 1.001 or EN 14492-2 are widely accepted equivalents).

Plant registration — state and territory requirements

Under the model Work Health and Safety Regulations (adopted in most Australian states and territories), electric hoists above a specified capacity are classified as registrable plant. Registration thresholds and requirements vary by jurisdiction. As a general guide, hoists with a Rated Capacity above 10 kN (approximately 1 tonne) are commonly subject to plant design registration, and the installed plant (the specific hoist at a specific location) may also require registration with the relevant WHS regulator before first use.

Check with your state or territory WHS regulator — Safe Work NSW, WorkSafe Victoria, Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, SafeWork SA, WorkSafe WA, NT WorkSafe, WorkSafe Tasmania, or Comcare (Commonwealth) — for the specific requirements that apply to your installation. Do not assume a hoist is exempt from registration without confirming this with the regulator.

Inspection requirements under WHS law

As plant, electric hoists in Australian workplaces must be inspected at regular intervals by a competent person. The WHS Regulations require the PCBU (the business) to maintain plant inspection records and to ensure plant is not used when it has a defect that could put people at risk. State regulators may specify inspection intervals for registered plant; for unregistered plant, the manufacturer's inspection schedule and the risk assessment for the specific installation determine the interval.

Typical inspection schedule for a workshop electric chain hoist:

• Before every use: Operator pre-use check — hook latch, chain condition, controls, limit switch function (see checklist below).
• Every 3 months: Thorough inspection by a competent person — chain wear measurement, brake function, electrical controls, limit switches, hook deformation check, structural inspection of hoist body and suspension hardware.
• Annually: Full inspection including load test if required by the applicable standard or WHS regulation. Records must be kept.

For heavy-duty or continuous-duty applications, inspection intervals should be reduced accordingly. A hoist running three shifts a day should be inspected monthly, not quarterly.

Operator pre-use checklist

Before every lift, the operator should confirm:

• Hook latch closes fully and springs back without sticking
• Chain shows no kinks, corrosion, deformation, or elongation visible to the naked eye
• Wire rope (if applicable) shows no kinking, birdcaging, or broken wire clusters
• Upper limit switch functions — raise the hook slowly (no load) until the motor cuts out, confirming it stops before the hook block contacts the hoist body
• Lower limit switch functions — lower the hook to its full extent and confirm the motor stops
• Pendant UP and DOWN buttons produce the correct direction of travel (critical after any electrical work or hoist reconnection)
• Hoist body, trolley, and suspension hardware show no visible cracking or deformation
• Load to be lifted is within the Rated Capacity (including all rigging below the hook)
• Load is correctly rigged and balanced — an unbalanced load will swing or tip when lifted

Do not use a hoist with any defect identified in this checklist. Tag the hoist out of service and arrange inspection before it is used again.

Common mistakes when using electric hoists

Electric hoist brands at AIMS: Toho, Hitachi and Pacific Hoists

AIMS Industrial stocks electric hoists from three trusted brands. Each has a different strength profile — selecting the right brand for your application and duty level is as important as selecting the right capacity.

Toho

Toho electric chain hoists are Japanese-engineered to FEM and AS 1418.1 standards, covering 250 kg through to 5 tonne. The Toho range includes single-phase 240V models at 250 kg and 500 kg capacity for workshops without three-phase supply, and three-phase 415V models across the full capacity range for industrial installations. Toho hoists are a well-proven, cost-effective choice for Australian maintenance, fabrication, and workshop environments where reliability and parts availability are priorities without the premium pricing of the top-tier brands. Toho is suitable for light to moderate duty applications.

Hitachi

Hitachi electric chain hoists are the premium end of the AIMS range — backed by Hitachi's deep engineering heritage in industrial motors, drives, and mechanical systems. Hitachi hoists carry a proven track record in demanding environments including heavy manufacturing, mining support, automotive production, and infrastructure maintenance. The motor and braking systems are engineered for sustained duty, and the construction tolerances reflect a higher-specification build standard. Hitachi is the specification of choice when uptime is critical, duty cycles are demanding, and the cost of a hoist failure is high. Available in capacities from 250 kg to 5 tonne and above, primarily in three-phase configurations.

Pacific Hoists

Pacific Hoists is an Australian-owned brand with a strong presence in the local market and a well-established after-sales and service network. Pacific Hoists electric chain hoists are designed with the Australian workshop environment in mind — the single-phase 240V range covers workshop and light industrial needs, while the three-phase range handles heavier industrial applications. Pacific Hoists are popular with Australian businesses that want local parts availability, domestic after-sales support, and the confidence that the equipment has been tested and specified for the Australian market. For workshop operators, maintenance contractors, and businesses where local service back-up is a key purchasing criterion, Pacific Hoists is a strong option.

Browse the full range of electric hoists — Toho, Hitachi, and Pacific Hoists — at aimsindustrial.com.au/collections/hoists. AIMS stocks hoists in Sydney with national shipping available. Contact the team for assistance matching a hoist to your specific application and site conditions.

How to choose the right electric hoist: decision checklist

Work through the following checklist before purchasing. An incorrectly specified hoist — particularly one that is undersized for duty or incompatible with the site power supply — may not be returnable once installed.

1. Maximum load: What is the heaviest single lift you will make, including all rigging below the hook (slings, shackles, spreader bar)? Select a hoist rated at minimum 125% of this figure.
2. Lifting medium: Chain (compact, cost-effective, up to ~5 tonne and 9 m lift heights) or wire rope (longer lift heights, heavier loads, higher duty)?
3. Lift height: Measure from the lowest hook position needed to the highest. Match to standard chain drop / rope lengths. Add 10–15% margin and round up.
4. Power supply: Is 240V single-phase or 415V three-phase available at the hoist location? Confirm the circuit capacity with an electrician before installation.
5. Duty cycle: How many lifts per hour, and for how many hours per day? Light/occasional, moderate/regular, or heavy/continuous? Do not underspecify the duty class.
6. Suspension type: Fixed hook, push trolley, or motorised trolley? If trolley — what is the beam flange width and profile (I-beam, H-beam, box section)?
7. Control preference: Hard-wired pendant (standard, reliable) or wireless remote (optional, operational flexibility)? Is dual speed required?
8. Environment: Standard indoor, outdoor, chemical/corrosive, or explosive atmosphere? Standard hoists are not rated for explosive atmospheres — Ex-rated equipment must be specified separately.
9. Compliance: Does the installation require plant registration with the state WHS regulator? Who will carry out the commissioning inspection and periodic inspections? Are records being maintained?
10. Brand: Toho (cost-effective, light to moderate duty), Hitachi (premium, demanding duty), or Pacific Hoists (Australian brand, local service support)?

If any of these points is unclear, contact the AIMS Industrial team before ordering. Alternatively, browse the full electric hoist range — with full specifications including capacity, power supply, chain drop, and suspension options — at aimsindustrial.com.au/collections/hoists.

For manual chain block selection and safe use, see the Chain Block Guide. For below-hook rigging — slings, shackles, and working load limits — see the Wire Rope, Slings & Rigging Guide.

For fixed workshop vehicle lifting — two-post, four-post and scissor lifts — a vehicle hoist is the appropriate equipment rather than a chain or electric hoist. See the AIMS Vehicle Hoist Guide for capacity, post configurations and workshop compliance.