OD (outside-diameter) coil tongs
Jaw-action tongs that grip a coil on its outer diameter. Used where the coil eye isn't accessible.
UK manufactured
Coil and sheet steel handling equipment.
Coil tongs, sheet grabs, bespoke coil lifters and C-hooks, designed for primary steel, aluminium rolling and service-centre slit-line environments.
Coil and sheet steel handling is a specialism of its own. Loads are heavy; surface finish matters; and cycle counts on a busy slit line or coil yard are extremely high. Somers Handling designs and manufactures coil tongs, sheet grabs, bespoke coil lifters and C-hooks for UK steel mills, aluminium rolling operations, service-centres and automotive-supply coil stores.
Sheet pack lifters
Somers sheet pack lifters provide a safe alternative to manual plate hooks or clamps. They are available in manual or motorised configurations, parallelogram or telescopic in design, and extended manually or powered to accommodate a wide range of sheet pack widths, depths and lengths. The powered versions are particularly suited to lorry loading — the need to access the vehicle bed is removed, allowing the crane driver and other personnel to operate the equipment from a safe distance.
Types and configurations
Coil and sheet steel handling are supplied in the following common configurations. Bespoke variants are engineered to order.
ID (inside-diameter) coil tongs
Expanding-jaw tongs that engage inside the coil eye, faster cycle time and suitable for tightly-stacked coil yards.
Sheet grabs and plate clamps
Vertical and horizontal plate clamps, sheet grabs and vacuum-head lifters for flat-stock handling.
Bespoke coil lifters
Purpose-designed lifters for non-standard coils, wide band, narrow band, multi-coil, or integrated into an overhead-crane control loop.
C-hooks
Heavy-section C-shaped lifters for OD coil handling. Low-profile variants for tight-headroom bays; balanced variants for offset centres of gravity.
Technical capabilities
Standard capabilities below — higher capacities, longer spans and non-standard finishes available on request.
Standards
- BS EN 13155
- LOLER 1998
- CE / UKCA
| Safe working load (SWL) | 1 t – 35 t |
|---|---|
| Coil OD range | 400 mm – 2,200 mm |
| Coil eye ID (where applicable) | 508 mm – 760 mm typical Other eye diameters on request. |
| Standards | BS EN 13155, LOLER CE / UKCA marked. |
Industries
Where coil and sheet steel handling are specified.
- SectorSteel
- SectorAluminium
- SectorService centres
- SectorAutomotive supply
Coil and sheet steel handling — frequently asked questions
What's the difference between OD and ID coil tongs?
OD tongs grip the coil on its outer diameter — simpler mechanism but a bigger footprint, and the coil must have clearance around it. ID tongs expand inside the coil eye, so they cycle faster and work well in densely-stacked coil yards. Most sites run a mix of both.
Can a C-hook be used for soft-surface coils?
Yes, with care. We line the inside of C-hooks with wood, hardboard or elastomer pads where surface marking matters — particularly for aluminium and coated-steel coils. Specify the surface sensitivity at enquiry.
How do you test coil tongs and C-hooks?
Every unit is proof-load tested at 125% of SWL before dispatch and supplied with a declaration of conformity and a test certificate. Ongoing LOLER thorough examinations are recommended on a 6-month interval for accessory-rated use.
Do you supply handling equipment for narrow-width or multi-coil loads?
Yes — these usually become bespoke lifters with tailored jaw geometry, adjustable centres, and sometimes integrated load cells. Share a coil drawing or a short description of the stock profile and we'll scope a solution.
Need coil and sheet steel handling engineered to your application?
Send a short description of your load, environment and duty — a Somers engineer will respond within one working day.