A chain hoist lifts the load with a chain, while a wire rope hoist lifts it with a steel wire rope wound onto a drum. In short: for light and medium loads, limited lifting heights and intermittent use, a chain hoist is usually enough and costs less. As the load gets heavier, the lifting height goes up or the hoist has to work all day, a wire rope hoist becomes the better choice.
This is the first question you will face when choosing a monorail hoist. Below we compare the two types point by point.
In an electric chain hoist, the motor turns a chain sprocket through a gearbox. The sprocket pulls a specially calibrated load chain. The slack chain collects in the chain bag under the body. The hook is at the end of the chain and rises straight up as the load lifts.
The body is compact and light. Apart from the chain bag, there is nothing that takes up extra space. That is why it works well in workshops with low ceilings and in tight spaces. An example model: Monorail Electric Chain Hoist 500 kg.
In a wire rope hoist, the motor turns a drum through a gearbox. The steel wire rope winds neatly onto this drum. The rope can run over the sheave in the hook block and be anchored back to the body. This is called the reeving (2/1, 4/1 and so on). The higher the reeving, the heavier the load the same motor can lift, but the speed drops.
Very long lifting heights can be reached by using a longer drum. Wire rope hoists stand up better to high speeds and long hours of work. An example model: Monorail Wire Rope Hoist 1 t 8 m.
| Feature | Chain hoist | Wire rope hoist |
|---|---|---|
| Suitable load range | Light and medium loads | Medium and heavy loads |
| Lifting height | Short and medium heights, the chain bag gets bigger as the height increases | Long heights, can be increased with a longer drum |
| Lifting speed | Usually medium speeds | Suits higher speeds |
| Body size | Compact, light | Larger, heavier |
| Hook movement | True vertical lift, the load does not drift sideways | With single-fall reeving, the hook can shift slightly along the drum |
| Intensive use | Intermittent and moderate use | Shift work, all-day operation |
| Maintenance | Simple, chain and brake checks | Regular checks of the rope, drum and sheaves |
| Price | Usually lower at the same capacity | Usually higher |
For monorail lines, see our monorail chain hoists page. If the hoist will hang from a fixed point without a beam, see our fixed chain hoists page. We cover chain hoists in more detail in our article on the electric chain hoist.
For this kind of work, take a look at our monorail wire rope hoists and fixed wire rope hoists pages.
We explain how duty class and capacity are worked out, with tables, in our article how to choose hoist capacity. If you want to know where the price difference comes from, see our article on monorail hoist prices.
Both are wear parts. They must be checked at set intervals and replaced when needed. On a chain, look for stretch, wear, crushing and cracks. On a wire rope, look for broken wires, crushing, the opening up of the strands known as birdcaging, and rust. The discard limits are set by the manufacturer's values. Spare hoist chains and wire ropes are kept in stock. You will find the inspection intervals in our article on hoist inspection and maintenance.
Neither is better in general. You choose by the job. For light and medium loads, short lifting heights and intermittent use, a chain hoist is enough and economical. For heavy loads, long lifting heights and all-day use, a wire rope hoist is the better choice.
Its body is smaller and simpler, and it has no drum or sheave system. At the same capacity it uses less material and a simpler mechanism, so it usually costs less.
The slack chain collects in the chain bag under the body. As the lifting height goes up, the chain gets longer and the bag gets bigger and heavier. Beyond a certain height, a wire rope hoist becomes more practical.
When the number of broken wires, crushing, opening up of the strands, rust or loss of diameter goes beyond the limits set by the manufacturer and the standard. That is why the rope should be checked visually every day and in detail at the periodic inspection.
In most cases yes, but a wire rope hoist is heavier and larger, so the beam section, the hangers and the trolley fit must be checked again. Before the change, it must be calculated whether the beam can carry the weight of the new hoist.
We explain what a monorail hoist is, how it works, its parts and types, and how to choose the right model, all in one place.
Read more: What Is a Monorail Hoist? Types, Parts and How to Choose One →Why can two monorail hoists with the same capacity have very different prices? We explain the eight factors that set the price and how to get the right quote.
Read more: Monorail Hoist Prices: 8 Factors That Determine the Price →Worked examples and an FEM table to help you choose the right hoist capacity, lifting height, lifting speed and duty class.
Read more: How to Choose Hoist Capacity and Lifting Height →The load, the lifting height and the beam length. Send them on WhatsApp or give us a call and we'll come back with a model and a price.
