Heavy-duty process hoists for steelworks, foundries, paper mills and power generation. Open-frame modular construction, FEM M5 to M7 duty class, capacities from 3 tonnes to 100 tonnes and beyond — supplied, installed and serviced by Granada Cranes.
Why Specifiers Choose Open Barrel Hoists
Open barrel (or “open winch”) hoists differ fundamentally from standard monobloc wire rope hoists. Instead of an enclosed gearbox housing, every component — motor, brake, gearbox, drum — is mounted separately on a steel base frame. That open-frame construction is what makes them the standard choice anywhere lifting is heavy, continuous, or operating in harsh environments.
Higher Duty Classification
FEM M5 to M7+ for the most demanding process applications — well above what monobloc wire rope hoists are rated for.
Modular Serviceability
Drum, gearbox, motor and brake mounted as separate components — everything is accessible for inspection and replacement without dismantling the unit.
Custom Built To Order
Hook paths to 30m+, special voltages, ATEX zones, stainless components, twin-hoist setups — engineered for your application.
Long Service Life
Larger drum diameters, deep grooved drums and lower D/d ratios mean wire rope life is measured in years, not months — even on 24/7 process duty.
Manufacturers & Capabilities
Granada partners principally with Omis of Italy — one of Europe’s longest-established open barrel hoist manufacturers — and provides full service, spares and modernisation support across all major makes of process hoist.
Omis Open Barrel Hoists
Italian-engineered with over 40 years’ manufacturing pedigree. Omis open barrel hoists are designed and built in-house, with mechanical components inspected at every stage of production and assembly.
- Capacity 3t to 100t+, single and double-reeved
- Hook paths from 10m to 30m+ on request
- Inverter or two-speed pole-changing motors
- Strain-gauge load limit device standard
- Adaptable for magnets, C-hooks, lifting beams
Service & Spares — All Makes
Already running an open winch from another manufacturer? We service, repair and supply spares for the major brands found in UK heavy industry — including hoists we didn’t supply.
- Demag DR / DH / DMR open winches
- Stahl SH series & AS series
- Verlinde Eurobloc VT open barrel
- Street Crane VX open winch
- Konecranes, Donati, Liftket & legacy makes
Need to retrofit an open barrel hoist to an existing crane? See our crane modernisation service.
Reeving & Configuration Options
How the wire rope runs from drum to hook fundamentally changes the hoist’s capacity, lift height and behaviour. We’ll specify the right configuration based on your duty cycle, load, and crane structure.
Single-Reeved
One end of the rope anchored, the other wraps onto the drum. Lighter capacity, simpler construction, but the hook drifts laterally during lift. Suitable for general process duty up to ~30 tonnes.
Double-Reeved (True Vertical Lift)
Rope anchored at both ends of the drum, winding inward. Hook stays on the drum centreline — zero lateral drift. The standard choice for precision positioning and heavier capacities up to 100t+.
Twin Hoist (Tandem)
Two parallel hoists on a single trolley, synchronised for very long or bulky loads. Common on paper mill reel handling and heavy fabrication where two pick-up points are needed.
Why Reeving Matters For Your Crane
Single-reeved hoists are cheaper but introduce hook drift — the load shifts horizontally as it’s lifted, which can be a problem in tight bays or when stacking. Double-reeved hoists eliminate this entirely, which is why they’re the default for most modern process cranes. We’ll advise based on your operation.
Where Open Barrel Hoists Are Used
Open barrel hoists are the standard choice for the heaviest and most demanding lifting in UK industry — the applications where standard wire rope hoists simply can’t deliver the duty cycle, capacity or precision required.
Steel Mills & Foundries
Ladle cranes, scrap charging, slab handling, casting bay cranes. FEM M7+ duty with redundant brake systems for hot metal lifting.
Heavy Fabrication & Forging
Workpiece manipulation, forge press feeding, post-machining handling. Capacities typically 20–50t with inverter control for precision.
Power Generation
Turbine assembly and overhaul, generator stator lifts, transformer handling. Often double-girder process cranes with 50–100t open barrel hoists.
Hydropower & Dams
Turbine and gate handling. Long lift heights (often 30m+), corrosion-resistant builds, and ATEX where required for sub-station integration.
Paper, Print & Packaging
Reel handling on continuous paper machines — double-reeved hoists with swivel grippers, designed for 24/7 operation in humid conditions.
Waste & Recycling
Refuse-derived fuel handling, EfW grab cranes, scrap yard magnets. High-cycle duty in abrasive, dusty environments.
Other applications include shipbuilding & offshore module handling, aerospace component assembly, mining and mineral processing, and large-scale civil construction.
Specifying an Open Barrel Hoist
Open barrel hoists are almost always engineered to the application rather than picked from a catalogue. Getting the specification right means matching capacity, FEM duty class, lift height, environment and crane structure into a single coherent design.
Suitable For All Heavy-Duty Crane Types
Open barrel hoists fit a wide range of heavy-duty crane configurations:
Double-Girder Overhead
Top-Running Process Cranes
Goliath & Semi-Goliath
Portal Cranes
Ladle Cranes
Scrap Charging Cranes
Casting Cranes
Forge Cranes
EOT Cranes
Crab Hoists
+ Bespoke Configurations
Our Specification Process
Discovery Call
We’ll talk through the application — load type, duty cycle, environment, lift height, existing crane (if any).
Engineering Spec
Our engineers size the hoist, drum, motor and brakes against FEM duty class. Full quotation with technical datasheet.
Build & Install
Manufacture, factory test, delivery, on-site installation and integration with existing or new crane structure.
Commission & Certify
Functional and load test, LOLER thorough examination, full documentation pack, operator handover and training.
Replacing an Existing Hoist?
A failed open barrel hoist on a critical process crane can stop a whole production line. Granada handles emergency hoist replacement on existing crane structures — including hoists from manufacturers we don’t normally supply. Crane modernisation is often the most cost-effective route — the structure typically has decades of life left even when the hoist doesn’t.
Open Barrel vs Standard Wire Rope Hoist
Open Barrel (Open Winch)
Modular open-frame construction with components on a base plate.
- Capacity: 3t to 250t+
- FEM duty class: M5 to M8 (heavy/severe duty)
- Lift height: Up to 30m+ standard, 100m+ on request
- Service access: All components individually accessible
- Custom build: Standard — voltages, accessories, hook paths
- Brake redundancy: Drum brake + secondary disc brake available
- Best for: Process cranes, steelworks, paper mills, power gen
Standard (Monobloc) Wire Rope Hoist
Compact enclosed-housing hoist with components in a single casing.
- Capacity: 1t to 50t (typical)
- FEM duty class: M3 to M5 (light to medium)
- Lift height: Up to 12m typical, 18m on request
- Service access: Requires partial dismantling
- Custom build: Limited — mostly catalogue options
- Brake: Single brake standard
- Best for: General industrial, fabrication, workshops
Need a standard wire rope hoist instead? See our wire rope hoist range. For light-duty applications under 5 tonnes, an electric chain hoist is usually a better fit.
LOLER, Repair & 24/7 Support
Process hoists run hard, often round the clock. Even premium open barrel hoists need scheduled inspection, maintenance and end-of-life refurbishment. Granada employs in-house competent persons and process-crane engineers across the UK — on hoists we’ve supplied and on hoists we haven’t.
LOLER, Servicing & Refurbishment
- 6 or 12-monthly LOLER thorough examination
- Wire rope inspection, replacement & certification
- Brake adjustment & brake disc replacement
- Gearbox overhaul & bearing replacement
- Full process-hoist refurbishment & remaining-life assessment
- VFD upgrade and inverter retrofits
24/7 Process-Critical Support
A failed open barrel hoist on a steelworks ladle crane or a paper machine reel handler is a production-stopping event. Our breakdown team is on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year — with engineers experienced on every major open barrel hoist make.
Emergency line: 0800 376 27 27
Standards, Duty Classes & Compliance
Every open barrel hoist we supply or service is engineered and documented to recognised European and international standards:
- EN 14492-2 — Cranes: power-driven hoists
- FEM 9.511 — Mechanism duty groups (M3 through M8)
- FEM 9.661 — Drum, hook and rope sheave dimensions
- FEM 9.755 — Safe Working Period (SWP) calculation
- ISO 4301-1 — Crane and hoist classification
- LOLER 1998 — UK lifting operations & equipment regulations
- ATEX 2014/34/EU — for explosion-protected hoists in zoned areas
- Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC — CE marking, declaration of conformity
Built-In Safety Features
Strain-gauge load limit device — electronic overload protection meeting EN specs
Drum brake + secondary disc brake — redundant braking for hot metal & ladle handling
Upper & lower limit switches — geared rotary or chain-actuated, prevent over-travel
Slack rope detection — stops the drum if the rope tension is lost
Maintenance platform — safe access for inspection of drum, sheaves and brake
Anti-collision — available where two hoists or cranes operate on shared rails
Safe Working Period counter — tracks remaining design life electronically
What We Provide
Specification & Engineering
FEM duty calculation, motor sizing, drum and reeving design, load test certification — all engineered to your application.
New Open Barrel Hoists
Omis open barrel hoists supplied, installed and commissioned — from 3-tonne workshop hoists to 100t+ ladle units.
Hoist Replacement & Modernisation
Like-for-like replacement, hoist upgrades, VFD retrofits and full crane modernisation packages on existing structures.
Repair & Refurbishment
Full strip-down, gearbox overhaul, motor rewinding, brake disc replacement, wire rope renewal — on or off site.
Spare Parts
Brakes, contactors, motors, drums, wire rope, limit switches, control gear — UK stock and access to manufacturer spares.
24/7 Process-Critical Support
Round-the-clock breakdown response for ladle cranes, paper mills, power generation and other production-critical applications.
Need an Open Barrel Hoist Specified or Replaced?
Whether you’re specifying a new process crane, replacing a tired hoist on an existing structure, or need 24/7 support for a production-critical lift — we can help. Send us the basics and we’ll come back with a properly engineered specification.
Or call us: 0800 376 27 27
