Those familiar with the world of heavy goods lifting and handling will understand the importance of high-quality equipment. It goes without saying that poor kit can lead to serious safety issues, so it’s worth investing in reliability. Shackles are among the many pieces of equipment that are vital to safe, efficient lifts.
That said, the importance of lifting shackles is often underestimated. These hard-wearing pieces of kit are a necessity in the rigging and load-handling industry.
Here at Lifting & Safety Gear Ltd, we’ve put together a quick guide to the main types of shackle and their uses.
What Do Shackles Do?
There are two main types of lifting shackles: bow shackles and Dee shackles. Both types are designed to provide a secure connection between the load and the rigging hardware, but they have some key differences that make them suitable for different applications.
Bow Shackles
Bow shackles, also known as anchor shackles, are a popular choice for lifting applications due to their versatility. They have a bow-shaped body with a pin or bolt that passes through the ends of the bow, securing it in place. The pin or bolt can be removed to attach or detach the shackle from the load or rigging hardware.
Bow shackles are suitable for use with slings, chains, and other types of rigging hardware. What’s more, bow shackles are able to facilitate a wider strap than Dee shackles, and owing to the nature of their design, can withstand force from multiple directions.
Dee Shackles
Dee shackles, on the other hand, have a D-shaped body with a pin or bolt that passes through the ends of the D. Like bow shackles, the pin or bolt can be removed to attach or detach the shackle from the load or rigging hardware. Dee shackles are typically used in applications where the load is being lifted vertically, as the D-shape provides a more secure connection than a bow shackle.
Lifting & Safety Gear Ltd
Both bow and Dee shackles are available in a range of sizes to suit different load capacities. It is important to select the right size shackle for the job to ensure that it is capable of safely handling the load being lifted. Overloading a shackle can result in failure, which can be dangerous and potentially catastrophic.
Here at Lifting and Safety Gear, we’re pleased to supply a wide range of customers with premium heavy lifting equipment, safety gear and lifting apparatus
Don’t hesitate to contact us today and discuss your needs. We’re always happy to help.