Plate Clamps

Plate Clamps for Lifting

Plate clamps grip steel sheet and plate so it can be lifted by crane, hoist, or rigging — eliminating the need to drill lifting holes, fit slings around the plate, or improvise lifting arrangements. For fabrication shops, steel suppliers, and construction sites moving large steel plate, the right plate clamp is the difference between safe, predictable lifting and improvised arrangements that often go wrong. AIMS Industrial stocks plate clamps for vertical and horizontal lifting compliant with AS 4991.

The clamp types we stock

• Vertical plate clamps — for lifting plate on edge, the most common application; cam mechanism grips the plate as load is applied
• Horizontal plate clamps — for lifting plate flat, typically used in pairs for balanced lifting
• Screw clamps — manually-tightened clamps for situations where the cam-action vertical clamp isn't suitable
• Specialty clamps — for non-flat plate, angled material, and unusual lifting situations

How vertical plate clamps work

A vertical plate clamp has a cam-and-jaw mechanism: the plate fits between the jaws, and as the lifting load is applied, the cam rotates and squeezes the jaws onto the plate face. The harder the lift pulls, the tighter the grip. This passive locking is why vertical plate clamps are so popular — they don't need to be tightened or adjusted before lifting. They do need to be released by hand after the lift, with the load supported.

Working load limits and compliance

All plate clamps in our range are rated by working load limit (WLL), are supplied with test certificates, and comply with AS 4991 (the standard for lifting equipment). The WLL must match or exceed the weight of the plate being lifted, with appropriate safety factor for the lift. Don't overload — plate clamp failure under load drops the plate at the worst possible moment.

Plate thickness range

Each clamp is rated for a specific plate thickness range — both minimum and maximum. Lifting a plate thinner than the clamp's minimum range gives inadequate grip and the plate slips out; lifting thicker than maximum stresses the clamp beyond design. Match the clamp to the plate thickness, and check the rating before every lift.

Brands stocked at AIMS

Yoke and Beaver are our preferred brands for plate clamps — both supply rated, certified equipment widely used in Australian industry, with replacement parts available and support for periodic recertification. Both brands' plate clamps comply with AS 4991 and are supplied with test certificates.

Use, inspection, and service

Inspect the clamp before every use — check the jaws for excessive wear, the cam for free movement, the body for cracks. Periodic detailed inspection (typically annually) by a competent person is required under workplace safety legislation. Replacement teeth and refurbishment are available for some clamps — for badly worn clamps, replacement is often more economical than refurbishment.

Companion ranges

Plate clamps work alongside our broader lifting equipment range — chain blocks (Pacific Hoists, Re-Po), shackles and hooks (Yoke), slings (Austlift), and beam clamps (Beaver). For complete lifting kits, contact our team to discuss the specific lift and we'll match the equipment.