Lifting eye bolts, eye nuts, and hoist rings are very simple, ergonomic lifting devices that assist riggers in performing a variety of overhead lifts. Both eye bolts and hoist rings are designed to be removable and are the perfect product for adding lifting points to your load. Eye bolts have been in use for as long as material handling has been an industry, while heavy duty hoist rings are a relatively newer innovation.

The eye bolts and hoist rings discussed below are simply an overview of what we offer here at Tri-State Rigging Equipment. We can provide you with any heavy-duty lifting eye bolt, eye nut, or hoist ring on the market. If you are unable to find what you are looking for, or if you don’t know exactly what you need, call or email our sales team to speak with a rigging product specialist.

Lifting Eye Bolts and Lifting Eye Nuts

Lifting eye bolts are extremely simple and easy to use. Eye bolts are used to add lifting points to a load by tapping a threaded hole into the load and screwing the threaded eye bolt into the hole. Lifting eye bolts are designed to lift vertical inline loads only. At angles of 10°-45° a reduction of the load rating is required. Load angles greater than 45° should never be used. At these greater angles, the lifting eye bolts will become bent and/or damaged, making the lift extremely dangerous. This means that lifting eye bolts are well suited for lifting loads at a single lift point. For loads with multiple lifting points, heavy duty eye bolts can be used in conjunction with a lifting beam, spreader bar, or other below the hook lifting devices that use multiple vertical lifting points.

Use lifting eye nuts to create your own eye bolts by attaching the lifting eye nut to a stud or bolt. Their capacity ratings only apply to the eye nut itself, so it is important to make sure whatever stud or bolt you attach it to has a similar or greater working load limit. If the rated capacities are not the same, the capacity should be rated at the weakest component.

Lifting eyes and eye nuts are to be inspected prior to each use for visible evidence of damage and defects. In addition, lifting eye bolts and eye nuts should be installed by a person trained in the installation of lifting devices. The tapped receiving hole should be countersunk, free of any debris, and deep enough to ensure proper shoulder seating. Firm hand tightening is recommended for installation; do not use wrenches or bars.

Pivoting, Side Pull, and Swivel Hoist Rings

Swivel hoist rings are simply a more advanced version of an eye bolt. Heavy-duty hoist rings come in a variety of designs and allow riggers to add lifting points to loads that can be loaded at virtually any angle. They are often more expensive than eye bolts but are almost always more practical and versatile in their use. Hoist rings offer greater safety than eye bolts and eye nuts due to their ability to rotate to the direction of force with no reduction in rated capacity.

Swivel hoist rings can rotate 360° and pivot 180° to accommodate lifting in any direction. They are far and away the most versatile hoist rings on the market and can handle loads from 800 lbs. to 250,000 lbs.

Pivoting hoist rings can pivot 180° but cannot rotate. These heavy-duty hoist rings are not as versatile as swivel hoist rings. They are, however, the perfect solution for lifts that don’t require the hoist ring to rotate but still require the hoist ring to pivot.

Side-pull hoist rings are designed to be side mounted onto a load. They can rotate 360° as well as pivot 180°, to allow lifting at any angle. Using side-pull hoist rings in conjunction with a spreader bar allows you to turn and flip loads without having to unhook.

All heavy-duty lifting hoist rings should be installed using the torque specified in the manufacturer’s dimension table. Properly installed swivel and side-pull hoist rings can swivel and pivot freely, and properly installed pivoting hoist rings can pivot freely.

Tri-State Rigging Equipment is a service provider and distributor for all heavy duty eye bolts, eye nuts, and hoist rings for rigging and lifting; serving clients from coast to coast, Canada, Mexico and especially focused in the states of Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, Arkansas, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, South Carolina, Florida, and Oklahoma.