How to Purchase a Custom Below-the-Hook Lifting Device

Estimated reading time: 10 minutes

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Purchasing a below-the-hook lifting device isn’t a simple catalog order.

A custom lifting device must match your load, crane, process, and environment. If any of those details are missed early, the result can be redesigns, approval delays, longer lead times, or a device that doesn’t perform the way your operators need it to.

That is why the most successful projects start with a thorough discovery process, followed by close collaboration between the customer and the engineering team.

In this article, we will walk through the typical lifting device design and purchase process, explain the standards that shape the design, and highlight the most common mistakes that can slow an order down.

What Information Is Needed to Start the Below-the-Hook Design Process?

The first step in purchasing a bth lifting device is defining the application as clearly as possible.

From an engineering standpoint, the lifting device is only as good as the information used to design it. An engineer needs to understand how the load is picked, how it is moved, what could interfere with the lift, environmental concerns, and what success looks like in your process.

Be prepared to provide:

Load weight

Load size and geometry

Pick points or engagement points

Material type of the load
Surface condition of the load

Any non-marring requirements

How the load is currently handled

Any obstructions that may interfere with the pick

Whether the load is simply lifted and placed, or also rotated, flipped, or manipulated

Available crane capacity

Any rigging or hook limitations
Crane hook size

Environmental conditions

Photos, sketches, drawings, or even a rough concept

One of the biggest considerations is the relationship between the load’s weight and the crane’s capacity. For example, if a customer has a five-ton crane and needs to lift a five-ton part, there is no remaining capacity for the lifting device itself. That has to be accounted for before a concept can move forward.

Which Standards Govern Below-the-Hook Lifting Devices?

Two of the most common standards influencing lifting device design are:

ASME B30.20

ASME BTH-1

These standards help define how a below-the-hook lifting device should be designed, manufactured, and evaluated for safe use.

One of the biggest design drivers is how the device is classified based on:

Design category

Service class

These classifications influence the required design factor and help determine how robust the lifter needs to be for the intended application. This also determines the service life of the device.

A device used occasionally in a predictable application may fall into a different classification than a lifter used repeatedly in a demanding production environment. The more frequent and demanding the use, the more stringent the design requirements typically become.

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How Do Environmental Conditions Affect Below-the-Hook Device Design?

Environmental conditions can significantly change how a below-the-hook lifting device is engineered.

If the lifter operates in extreme heat, wet conditions, corrosive environments, or around chemicals, the design team may need to consider specialty materials.

Examples include:

High-temperature applications, which may require exotic alloys such as Inconel

Moisture or chemical exposure, which may push the design toward stainless steel or other corrosion-resistant materials

This matters because specialty materials usually cost more and extend the fabrication process.

What Does the Collaboration Process Look Like Between the You and the Engineer?

The best BTH projects are collaborative.

You know your application. Engineers know lifting device design. The final solution works best when those two areas of expertise come together early and stay aligned throughout the project.

The process usually looks something like this:

1. Initial discovery

You share application details, constraints, load test requirements, goals, and any existing problems with the current process.

Even a simple sketch on paper can help speed up this process. If you already have a rough idea of what should work, share it. Engineers can refine the concept, but that initial insight can help them understand the application faster.

2. Solution discussion

The engineering team reviews the application and begins shaping a concept around how the device will engage, lift, and move the load.

3. User feedback

The team will present the solution and add more context, often including shop floor input from operators and supervisors.

4. Preliminary proposal

The lifting device manufacturer supplies a proposal based on the agreed-upon solution for the customer to review and issue a purchase order for.

5. Approval drawing review

You review the drawing to check capacities, fit, and functional details before fabrication begins.

Why Do Design Factor and Service Class Matter?

If you are buying a customized lifting device, design factor and service class are two terms you should understand.

Design category

The design factor refers to the margin built into the lifter’s design relative to the applied load. It is one of the core safety considerations in below-the-hook device engineering.

Service class

Service class relates to how frequently the device will be used over its life. In general, the higher the service class, the greater the expected usage and life cycle demand on the device.

What Happens During the Approval Drawing Phase?

The approval drawing phase is one of the most important parts of the entire process.

Once the supplier has developed the design, they will typically issue approval drawings showing the proposed device, dimensions, load capacity, engagement features, and other critical details. This is the customer’s opportunity to confirm that the device matches the real-world application before fabrication starts.

A thorough review should include:

Confirming critical dimensions

Verifying load size and geometry

Checking hook-up and engagement points

Making sure clearances are correct

Reviewing how the device will interact with the load

Ensuring the operator team has reviewed the concept

Confirming the device will work in the intended operating area

How Do Powered or Specialized Components Affect Lead Time?

A basic mechanical lifting device usually moves through design and fabrication faster than a device with powered or specialized features.

For example, a motorized lifter may require electrical power from the crane. If the crane does not already have the necessary cable reel or drop, that work may need to be quoted and completed before the lifter can be used. Similarly, controls may need to be integrated with the customer’s crane remote or control panel.

In many cases, a standard mechanical lifter might fall into a shorter lead time window, while a powered or motorized lifter can add several weeks depending on scope and component availability.

The earlier those requirements are identified, the easier it is to plan accurately.

What Inspection and Testing Happens Before Shipment?

Before a below-the-hook lifting device is shipped, it should go through a quality and conformance review.

A typical process may include:

Weld inspection, often by a Certified Welding Inspector

Quality control inspection

Dimensional verification against the approved drawings

Functional testing of moving or powered features

Documentation review

Load testing depends on the device and the manufacturer’s process. In some cases, if the device can be accommodated in the supplier’s test setup, it may be load tested. In other cases, the manufacturer may provide a certificate of conformance and documentation showing that the device was designed to meet the applicable standards.

Load testing is recommended but not required. So not all devices will be load tested, and not all companies will perform load tests. If your device requires a load test, this should be brought up during the discovery phase of the project.

Ask what testing is included, what documentation will ship with the device, and whether any field verification or commissioning is recommended after delivery.

What Mistakes Cause the Biggest Ordering Delays?

Most delays in the BTH purchasing process are not caused by fabrication alone. They often begin much earlier.

The most common issues include:

1. Incomplete review of approval drawings

Signing off too quickly is one of the biggest causes of avoidable delays. The supplier may be the lifting expert, but your team knows the application. If the drawing is not carefully reviewed, problems may only show up after fabrication begins or after delivery.

2. Scope changes after the project is underway

If the original request changes significantly, such as expanding the device to handle more sizes, more weights, or additional functions, engineering may need to revisit the concept. That can affect lead time, price, and manufacturability.

3. Delaying approval signoff

One of the major mistakes people make is waiting too long to sign off on the approval drawings. Most lifting device manufacturers have incredibly long backlogs. The longer you wait to sign off on the approval drawings, you run the risk of slipping down the priority list.

Devices are not placed into production until an approval drawings is signed off on. Quoted lead times start on the day the approval drawing is signed and returned to the manufacturer.

If you have a tight deadline, make it a priority to review and approve those drawings.

4. Waiting too long to act on the quote

Material markets can be volatile. If a quote expires before an order is placed, pricing may need to be updated based on current steel or component costs. That does not just affect budget. It can also affect timeline and purchasing approvals.

What Documentation Should Come With New Lifters?

When the device is delivered, the manufacturer should provide a documentation package that supports safe use, recordkeeping, and internal review.

This often includes:

User manual

Approved drawing

Sales order confirmation

Any applicable test certifications

Certificate of conformance, when applicable
Inspection and PM guidance

If the device includes powered features or special controls, ask whether startup guidance, operator instructions, or maintenance information is also included.

You should also ask what training resources are available for operators and maintenance personnel, especially if the device introduces a new lifting method or includes powered movement.

Final Thoughts on Purchasing a Custom Lifting Device

To some buyers, the process of purchasing a custom below-the-hook lifting device can feel longer and more detailed than expected.

That is because a properly engineered lifter is not a commodity. It is a purpose-built piece of equipment that has to perform safely and consistently in your exact application.

A detailed process helps answer critical questions before fabrication starts:

Will the device fit the load?

Will it work with the crane?

Will it hold up in the environment?

Will operators be able to use it safely?

Will it meet the expected duty cycle over time?

If the supplier is asking a lot of questions, that is usually a sign that they are trying to engineer the device correctly the first time.

If you are planning to purchase a below-the-hook lifting device, the best thing you can do is start with complete application information and involve the right people early. Contact a Mazzella representative if you need help choosing a lifting device.