6 Things You Must Consider When Renting Lifting and Rigging Equipment

Whether it’s a construction or mining project, you are going to need types of rigging equipment, ranging from cranes to slings and hoist hooks. While you can purchase heavy rigging equipment like cranes, it’s not always a financially viable option.

Buying such equipment often drives up the cost. Considering the operating and maintenance costs, it could be years before your investment starts offering any returns. It’s a given. That’s the reason why most companies prefer to rent them as and when required.

It’s a cost-effective and efficient way to manage your rigging and lifting equipment needs. The cranes rental market alone was worth $42.1 billion in 2019 and is likely to cross the $5o billion mark by 2024, at a CAGR of 4.7%. That gives you an idea of how big the industrial equipment rental market is.

The good news is you can rent virtually any rigging and lifting equipment, be it synthetic slings or heavy equipment like cranes. You just have to be very careful when doing so. Let’s discuss a few things you must consider when renting lifting and rigging equipment.

1. Always Rent Well-Maintained Equipment

This is one of the key factors you must consider when renting heavy rigging equipment. It directly concerns your work efficiency and safety. Whatever the equipment is, make sure it is in excellent working condition.

For example, if you are going to rent a crane, make sure it’s well painted, cleaned, serviced, and greased. Never take the equipment supplier’s word for it. You can always ask them to show their maintenance and servicing logs. It’ll give you an idea of when the equipment was last serviced.

This rule goes for even the smallest and simplest industrial lifting equipment. For example, when renting synthetic web slings, make sure they are free of damage such as discoloration, cuts, loose threading, and chemical burns. It may seem trivial at first but may result in dire consequences later.

2. Rent Only High-Quality Equipment

Another important factor you should consider is the equipment quality. Of course, you will come across rigging hardware from leading manufacturers and local competitors.

While local products may be available for a lot less, they will rarely offer the same level of efficiency and security as leading brands. For example, silverback slings, one of the most successful and popular offerings by Holloway Houston, offer much better strength and safety compared to their non-branded counterparts.

What happens if one of the synthetic slings snaps while lifting heavy loads simply because of poor quality? It’ll not only lead to expensive workplace injury lawsuits but also affect your project, not to mention your reputation.

Although you may have to shell out a few extra hundred dollars in rent, it can save you millions down the line. So, when renting rigging equipment, try to find the leading manufacturers or brands first. Ask your supplier if they can provide you with the equipment made by your choice of brands or manufacturers.

3. Try To Find a One-Stop-Shop

That’s right! It’s better to rent all your rigging hardware from the same supplier. You may think that sourcing it from different suppliers can help you save money. However, that’s not necessarily the case.

You may be able to save money on rent. But you’ll end up paying more for transportation and other expenses. Besides, when you have a supplier with a large inventory, you can request spares and additional equipment at the eleventh hour. A small supplier offering a limited range of equipment on rent, on the other hand, might not be able to fulfill your last-minute orders.

The bottom line is to find a supplier with a wide range of inventory. Also, make sure they have all the rigging hardware and spares needed for your project.

4. Rent Properly Inspected Fliting And Rigging Equipment

If you have been in the rigging industry long enough, you may already know the importance of frequent inspections. Whichever equipment you rent, make sure it’s properly inspected by competent personnel.

Some lifting and rigging equipment like cranes, chain slings, hoists, bolts, and hooks are required to pass strength and durability tests. They also require periodic visual and in-lab inspections to ensure safety. You can always ask the supplier when was the last inspection carried out.

It’s also a good idea to visually inspect all the lifting equipment before renting or using it. If you find faulty or damaged equipment, don’t hesitate to ask for a replacement.

5. 24/7 Customer services

Speaking of replacements, you must work with a supplier having 24/7 customer service. Despite renting the best and well-maintained lifting equipment, on-site equipment failure or damage can occur. When that happens, you want the supplier to send replacements right away.

And this is possible only if the supplier is available 24/7. Thankfully, most leading rigging hardware suppliers have 24/7 customer service, where you can reach them via phone, text, and email. While you are at it, ask about their customer service.

• Are their existing and ex-clients happy with it?
• Did they get replacements on time?
• Did they get a quick response from the supplier?

It never hurts to be extra careful.

6. Make Sure to Source from a Trusted Supplier

Lastly, make sure to source from a trusted supplier. Let’s say you wanted to rent lifting and rigging equipment made by Crosby, a leading heavy equipment manufacturer. Wouldn’t it be wise to buy or rent it from the world’s largest Crosby distributor? Or would you prefer a local supplier?

Going with a trusted, experienced, and skilled supplier comes with plenty of benefits. For starters, you can get the equipment at a relatively low cost and on time. Plus, you can get round-the-clock support should you need it. These factors will help you finish your project on time, cutting the costs of potential delays and equipment failure.

In Conclusion

Renting lifting and rigging equipment is a cost-effective and straightforward way to get the hardware you need. However, it also requires careful considerations, without which your project could end up in hot waters. Make sure to consider these six things when renting equipment for your next project.

If you want to rent or buy high-quality lifting and rigging equipment, look no further than HHI. Our experts can help you pick the right equipment, including an assortment of pre-rigged rentals tailored to your needs. Plus, we offer rigging equipment inspections and testing.

For more information, feel free to contact us today!