Delta Plate Lifting Clamp Features and Benefits

The key feature of these plate clamps is the pivoting anchor eye. It enables steel sheets to be easily handled during lifting and can be used to change the orientation. Lifting a sheet from horizontal into a vertical position and visa versa is no problem for the Delta universal clamp, thanks to the 180 degree pivoting eye.

A word of note, however, is when loads are lifted at angles there will often need to be a reduction in the stated working load limit, this is because the forces applied to the clamp change with the orientation.

For typical lifting tasks where angles are up to 22 degrees from the vertical plain the full stated capacity can be reached safely. When the angle increases to between 22 and 45 degrees there will need to be a 25% reduction so you will obtain 75% of the full WLL. If the angles of lift are between 45 and 90 degrees the WLL needs to be halved (50%).

Never use the clamp for lifting outside these angle ranges. Also note that there is a minimum loading capacity required in order for the clamp to secure the load correctly and safely. This is normal for this type of equipment, For these Delta models the minimum is 10% of the WLL, one of the lowest on the market.

Delta Universal Plate Clamp Jaws

The jaws are probably the most important part on a plate lifting clamp as this is what clamps and holds the load. The jaws are made from hardened steel with a slightly serrated edge for better grip on the steel sheets. The hardness of the sheet material also impacts how the jaws clamp the sheets; Up to a hardness of HRC 37 the minimum load is the 10% of the WLL but if the hardness is HRC 27 or less the minimum load can be reduced to just 5%. (HRC is a measurement on the Hardness Rockwell C scale).

The jaws can be locked open for loading in the sheets and locked closed when loading is complete with the locking lever. This quality clamp adheres to the machinery directive 2006/42/EC.

Other Plate Clamps

We have a number of plate clamps available at Rope services Direct including  a Viper horizontal clamp and three models from the Camlok range which are one of the better known brands but more costly than the Delta option.