ATEX and explosion-proof cranes and hoists
Certified lifting equipment for Zones 1, 2, 21 and 22. Explosion-proof chain hoists to 5 tonnes, wire rope hoists to 80 tonnes and complete crane kits, specified to your hazardous area drawing, installed by our own engineers and LOLER inspected for life.
Which zone is your area, and what that means for the crane
Under DSEAR, areas where an explosive atmosphere can occur are classified into zones. The zone decides the equipment category, and the equipment category decides what we can fit. Send us your hazardous area classification drawing and we specify to it.
| Zone | Atmosphere | How often it is present | Equipment category | We supply |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | Gas, vapour or mist | Likely in normal operation | Category 2G | Yes |
| Zone 2 | Gas, vapour or mist | Not likely; short-lived if it occurs | Category 3G | Yes |
| Zone 21 | Combustible dust | Likely in normal operation | Category 2D | Yes |
| Zone 22 | Combustible dust | Not likely; short-lived if it occurs | Category 3D | Yes |
| Zones 0 and 20 | Gas or dust | Present continuously or for long periods | Category 1 | By assessment only |
Not sure of your zone? Area classification is the site operator's responsibility under DSEAR. We can point you to a competent assessor and will not specify EX equipment without a zone to specify it to.
Explosion-proof hoists and crane kits we supply
Every item below carries ATEX and IECEx certification for the zones shown. Chain hoists are usually available from UK stock within 24 hours.
| Product | Type | Zones | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| SWF NOVAex | Electric wire rope hoist | 1, 2, 21, 22 | Up to 80 tonnes |
| SWF SKex | Electric chain hoist | 1, 2 | Up to 5 tonnes |
| SWF ATHLO Chain EX | Electric chain hoist | 2 (gas) | Up to 2.5 tonnes |
| SWF ATHLO Chain EX Zone 22 | Electric chain hoist | 22 (dust) | Up to 1 tonne |
| Stahl ST EX | Electric chain hoist | 1, 2, 21, 22 | Up to 6.3 tonnes |
| SWF CRAFTsterEX | Manual hand chain block | 1, 2, 21, 22 | Up to 20 tonnes |
| SWF CraneKitEX | Complete crane components: end carriages, drives, controls, festoon | All EX zones | To suit the hoist |
| Omis EX builds | Bespoke wire rope and open barrel hoists | By specification | Up to 250 tonnes |
Standard lifting gear for hazardous areas, including spark-resistant shackles, hooks and slings, is available through our lifting gear range.
What makes a crane explosion-proof
An EX crane is a standard crane with every possible ignition source designed out. These are the parts that differ.
Hoist and travel motors
Flameproof (Ex d) or increased-safety (Ex e) enclosures, with thermal protection to keep surface temperatures below the gas or dust ignition temperature.
Brakes
Enclosed, certified brakes that cannot shed hot particles or spark under load.
Controls and electrics
EX pendants, radio remotes, contactors, limit switches and festoon or conductor systems certified for the zone.
Wheels and buffers
Bronze or coated wheels and non-sparking buffers so travel movement cannot strike a spark on the rail.
Hooks and chains
Bronze-coated or stainless hooks, and chains treated to prevent friction sparking against the load.
Earthing and bonding
Continuous earth path across hoist, trolley, bridge and runway to prevent static build-up and discharge.
Load and speed limits
Overload protection and, where specified, reduced speeds and duty ratings to keep temperatures down.
Documentation
EU or UK declaration of conformity, certificates for every certified component, and marking on the equipment to the zone and category.
Industries that need explosion-proof lifting
Oil and gas
Refineries, terminals, onshore process plant and offshore platforms.
Chemicals
Mixing, reaction and storage areas handling solvents and flammable liquids.
Pharmaceuticals
Powder handling, blending rooms and solvent-based processes.
Food and drink
Flour, sugar, grain and starch handling where combustible dust is present.
Paint and coatings
Spray booths, mixing rooms and solvent stores.
Waste and biogas
Anaerobic digestion, biogas plants and recycling facilities.
Power and biomass
Wood pellet, biomass and coal handling.
Mining and explosives
Ore processing and explosives storage and handling.
From zone drawing to certified crane
Send us the zone
Your hazardous area classification drawing, the load, lift height and span, and whether it is a new crane or an upgrade to an existing one.
We specify to it
Hoist, crane kit, controls and power supply matched to the zone and category, with certificates listed in the quotation. Lead times: EX chain hoists often 24 hours; EX wire rope hoists 6 to 8 weeks; full systems around 12 weeks.
We build and install
Manufacture, factory test, delivery and installation by our own engineers, with earthing and bonding checked across the whole system.
We test and certify
Load test, LOLER thorough examination, declaration of conformity and the full certificate pack for your DSEAR records.
Already running EX cranes? We service and inspect them, all makes.
Explosion-proof cranes need the same 12-monthly LOLER examination as any other, plus repairs that use certified replacement parts so the crane stays compliant. Our engineers service ATEX equipment from every major make, whether or not Granada supplied it.
Cranes and hoists that can be built to EX specification
Crane Hoists
Chain, wire rope and open barrel hoists from 125kg to 250 tonnes, EX versions across all three.
View rangeOverhead Gantry Cranes
Single and double girder cranes from 1 to 60 tonnes, built with EX crane kits for hazardous areas.
View rangeSwing Jib Cranes
Pillar and wall-mounted jibs with EX chain hoists for workstations in hazardous areas.
View rangeSWF EX Range
Full technical detail on the SWF explosion-proof hoists and crane kits.
View rangeOffshore Davit Cranes
Davit cranes for offshore platforms and substations, including hazardous-area builds.
View rangeCrane Modernisation
Upgrading an existing crane with EX hoists, controls and electrics where the zone allows.
View serviceWe've got answers
An ATEX crane or hoist is built and certified so it cannot become a source of ignition in an area where flammable gas, vapour, mist or combustible dust may be present. Motors, brakes, controls, wheels and even the hook are designed or treated to prevent sparks, hot surfaces and static discharge. ATEX is the EU directive; IECEx is the equivalent international scheme. Both are accepted in the UK.
Zones 1 and 2 for gas and vapour, and Zones 21 and 22 for dust. Zone 0 and Zone 20, where an explosive atmosphere is present continuously, are rarely served by lifting equipment and need a specific engineering assessment. Talk to us if that is your situation.
Explosion-proof electric chain hoists up to 5 tonnes (SWF SKex, Zones 1 and 2) and up to 6.3 tonnes from Stahl. Explosion-proof wire rope hoists up to 80 tonnes (SWF NOVAex, all four zones). Manual hand chain blocks up to 20 tonnes. Complete crane kits for any of these hoists.
Under DSEAR, the employer must classify hazardous areas into zones and record it in a hazardous area classification drawing. If you have one, send it with your enquiry and we will specify equipment to match. If you do not, we can point you to a competent assessor; we do not classify areas ourselves.
Sometimes. The hoist, controls and electrics can often be replaced with certified EX equivalents, and the crane fitted with anti-spark wheels and earthing. Whether the structure and the rest of the crane can be brought into compliance depends on the zone and the crane, so we assess each case.
Standard SWF EX chain hoists are often available within 24 hours from UK stock. EX wire rope hoists are typically 6 to 8 weeks. A complete EX crane system is around 12 weeks from order to installation.
Yes, the same as any other lifting equipment: a thorough examination by a competent person at least every 12 months. Our engineers carry out LOLER examinations on EX equipment and can service and repair it using certified replacement parts.
Yes. As an independent company we service, repair and LOLER inspect ATEX cranes and hoists from all major makes, including Demag, Stahl and Konecranes, whether or not we supplied them.
Send us your zone drawing and the load
We will come back with certified equipment matched to the zone, the certificates listed, and a price, from a single EX chain hoist to a complete explosion-proof crane system.
