Holloway Houston Blog

A shackle is the connector that ties your sling, hook, or wire rope to the load and it's also one of the most commonly mis-specified pieces of rigging hardware on a job site.

Working Load Limit (WLL) is the maximum load a rigging component is rated to bear in normal service, as defined by the manufacturer per applicable ASME standards.

Rigging for offshore and subsea applications requires equipment specifically certified and designed for conditions that onshore industrial rigging does not encounter saltwater exposure.

Moving heavy loads with limited manpower is one of the oldest challenges in construction, marine operations, and industrial work.

A crane on an industrial site, a winch line on a barge, and a sling in a fabrication shop may all use wire rope, but rarely the same variety.

Clevis fasteners and shackles look remarkably similar at first glance. Both feature a U-shaped body closed by a removable pin, and both are designed to connect components in mechanical or rigging assemblies.

Every rigging system ultimately transfers load through a hook. Whether installed on an overhead crane hoist or integrated into a chain sling assembly, the hook is the component that directly supports the load.

When an overhead lift involves high heat, abrasive environments, or loads sporting sharp steel edges that would instantly sever synthetic webbing, lifting chains remain the default rigging gear. Alloy steel chain slings resist thermal degradation

In heavy lifting and rigging applications, the connection point between the load and the gear is often the most critical variable.

The eye bolt is a prime example. You can find them in every tool crib, on the back of every service truck, and in the "junk drawer" of almost every shop. Because they are so common, they are frequently treated as "commodity" hardware grab one that fits the hole, screw it in, and lift.