Resources
Technical resources, guides and standards explained.
Practical guides for specifying, maintaining and operating lifting and handling equipment — written for engineers, buyers and maintenance managers across UK industry.
CE and UKCA marking for lifting equipment
Since Brexit, UK manufacturers and buyers of lifting equipment navigate two conformity marks — CE for Great Britain (indefinitely recognised) and Northern Ireland, and UKCA for Great Britain. A practical summary of what applies where.
LEEA 059 — spreader beams and lifting frames code of practice
Industry guidance from the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association that sits alongside BS EN 13155 for spreader beams and lifting frames — what it covers, what it adds, and why it matters at procurement.
LOLER 1998 explained — what UK duty-holders need to know
The Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 set the UK statutory framework for keeping lifting equipment in safe condition. A plain-English summary of who it applies to, what it requires, and how it relates to PUWER and BS EN 13155.
PUWER 1998 explained — provision and use of work equipment
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 set the UK framework for making sure any work equipment — including lifting equipment — is safe to use, suitable for the job and maintained properly.
Retrofit vs replace — when to modernise an overhead crane
A practical decision guide for facilities managers and engineering teams weighing up the economics of refurbishing an older crane versus replacing it outright.
Designing lifting equipment for high-temperature environments
Hot-line slab handling, foundry work, and any application where continuous equipment contact with heat is a design constraint — what to specify and what to ask for.
BS EN 13155 for spreader beams — what you need to know
The harmonised UK/EU standard for non-fixed load lifting attachments — what it covers, what it doesn't, and how a good supplier's documentation pack should look.
Scissor tongs vs motorised grabs for slab handling
A practical decision guide — when a gravity-actuated scissor tong is the right choice, and when a motorised grab makes more sense.
LOLER inspection intervals explained
The UK statutory inspection cycle for lifting equipment — 6-monthly, 12-monthly, after modification — what actually applies to each class of equipment and why.
Technical question we should write about?
If there's a topic you'd like covered, let us know. Many of these articles started as customer questions.