Modern construction and industrial operations depend on precise material handling to meet tight deadlines and safety requirements. The right crane attachment can reduce lifting cycle time by up to 50% while dramatically improving workplace safety through specialized load handling capabilities.

Crane attachments represent the critical interface between your lifting equipment and the materials you need to move each day. These below-the-hook devices transform standard cranes into versatile material handling solutions capable of tackling everything from delicate steel coils to heavy debris removal.

Key Takeaways

Crane attachments are specialized devices that connect below the hook to expand lifting capabilities and improve material handling efficiency
Common types include Crane Materials Bins, Pallet Lifters, concrete buckets, clamps, and Trash Bins
All attachments must meet ASME BTH-1 and B30.20 safety standards with proper load testing and certification. The German Standard we start with exceeds ASME by 175% in the load test.
Attachments can be mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, or electronic depending on the application requirements
Proper selection based on load capacity, material type, and working environment is crucial for safe operations

What Are Crane Attachments

Crane attachments are below-the-hook lifting devices that attach loads to hoists using slings, hooks, and other connecting hardware. In order to meet the required ASME B30.20, they must be made of carbon steel and engineered. If it’s made of wood or plastic, it’s not likely it’s rated or even engineered. The right crane attachments are always engineered.

The primary function of these attachments is to enable safe and controlled movement of loads during lifting operations. Rather than relying solely on basic hook and sling configurations, operators can select purpose-built devices that handle particular materials more effectively and safely. When they are not purpose built, this is what they look like.

This is not what a crane attachment looks like.

The Eichinger variety of available attachments means customers can find solutions for virtually any lifting challenge, from routine construction work to specialized industrial applications that require custom-engineered solutions.

Material Handling Forks

Material handling forks transform cranes into versatile lifters for palletized goods. These fork attachments enable operators to handle standard pallets and bulk containers with the same precision as dedicated forklifts, but with greater reach and lifting capacity.

Look at that flexing wood. What’s it rated for?

Crane Pallet Forks are the minimum requirement to lift pallets. Lifting pallets on slings is factually illegal. Some will teach others that the way to do it is from the “strong direction”. Pallets fracture and you have no way to know the condition of the wood. That’s the benefit structural lifters. We know what steel is rated for in given configurations. This allows us to know that people around us and on a construction site are safe.

We go one step further than anyone else in North America. We offer a set of crane forks that can be set up with a net. If anything gets dislodged as you lift, it can be caught by the net. This prevents it from going to the ground and is an added safety feature that protects lives.

Bucket and Material Handling Attachments

Versatile Skip Pan Solutions

Skip Pan Crane Trash Bins provide versatile digging and waste removal applications essential for construction sites where excavation and waste transport occur simultaneously. These attachments operate with reliable latches that deliver consistent performance throughout the working day. The latches on our Automated Crane Trash Bin function by geometry alone. There is no spring or other item to fail. There is no reason for a human to need to touch anything. We’ve made it mechanically made it perfect. In terms of safety it keeps everyone away from the dangers of crane an trash operations.

Bulk material skips efficiently transport track ballast, rubble, and excavated earth from one location to another. Their robust construction handles abrasive materials while maintaining precise control over material placement. For tunneling or excavations best done by cranes, could it be any easier than using our 10.4 yard Automated Crane Skip?

10.4 yards and 33,000 lbs of capacity at the ready.

Load Containers

Load Containers is an all encompassing term that is going to change hoisting in the US, and in Canadian provinces that adopt the ASME B30.20. It was updated in 2025 and adopted the term as newly defined by the consensus standard. This will become a widely understood law as OSHA and local regulators adopt the standards or even just enforce it through the General Duty Clause.

We have a lot of load containers available at Crane Gear to solve just about any need. From $106 for a Four Post Pallet also known as a Stillage, or $3200 for a Double Crane Pallet Bin.

Double Crane Pallet Bin rated at 6600 lbs.

The term “Load Container” as used in ASME redefines load. Older thinking was that the containers were a part of the load. This leads to behaviors of not requiring the container to be rated. We just require the slings have a rating. But say the bottom of that wood box cracks like an egg? What good is that container and what happens when gravity takes over. I’ve personally seen this happen and it’s the sort of thing that shape your decision making. ASME is correct. Load Containers need a rating. Without one, they are just a weak link in the chain of custody that otherwise runs from the ground conditions under the crane to the final supporter of the load. Having an unrated bin defeats all of the other million dollars of safety involved in crane work. If you need an affordable option, a customized option, or just the right option, we have you covered at CraneGear.net

This example is a common practice. Using a plastic tote meant for forklifts as a crane box. I see it with billion dollar contractors all of the time. Terrible practice. The flex on this bin alone tells you that you are pushing the ratings. ASME B30.20 has a design document called BTH-1. It requires less deformation than this visible deformation.

Our alternative with the same shape in a steel container. Crane Bin

Crane Man Baskets

Crane Man Baskets, Personnel Platforms, Suspended Platforms… whatever you call them, these are useful Crane Attachments. They don’t fall under “Below the Hook” despite being in that location. They have their own standard under ASME B30.23. It’s critical that these are built to that standard. Ours are at CraneGear. Safety factors like 5:1 ratings are observed. You can get ours with a 125% test weight to match the US testing requirements. It might come as a surprise to many in the US that this is nearly a US Construction, and General Industry requirement only. In the Marine Industry, the test is not required and people are hoisted by cranes all of the time to get on and off of vessels. In Construction, they are used, but they are to be our last resort and the only practical way to reach a location.

We have them in 2, 4, and Rescue versions. Just this week I saw a Dedicated Evacuation Platform being used in Vancouver BC. You never know when someone needs to be evacuated. What’s your plan?

Standard Crane Man Baskets have few changes between brands even. We all build what we need as standard. You can get custom ones from some manufacturers if say you need to lift six people instead of four. But it becomes quite expensive to build one off creations. If you need to lift people, we provide ours at the best compromises. Great quality, reasonable prices. If we didn’t have shipping costs to consider, no one in North America would even come close.

Safety Standards and Certification

All overhead attachments must meet or exceed ASME BTH-1 and B30.20 safety standards, which establish comprehensive requirements for design, fabrication, testing, and operation. These standards ensure that attachments can safely handle their rated capacities under normal operating conditions.

Welders must be ANSI/AWS D14.1 certified to ensure proper fabrication quality meets the structural integrity requirements for lifting applications. This certification process verifies that welding personnel possess the skills necessary to create reliable, safe connections.

Products undergo strict quality control and load testing before deployment to verify that they meet all applicable safety standards. Manufacturers conduct rigorous testing that exceeds the actual working load limits to provide safety margins for real-world applications.

Regular inspection and recertification are required to maintain operational safety throughout the attachment’s service life. Documentation of all inspections, maintenance activities, and load tests must be maintained to demonstrate ongoing compliance with safety regulations.

Selection Criteria for Crane Attachments

Capacity and Load Considerations

Match attachment capacity to crane specifications and load requirements by evaluating both the crane’s rated capacity and the specific demands of your lifting application. The attachment’s working load limit must never exceed the crane’s capacity at the operating radius where lifts will occur.

Consider working environment conditions including temperature extremes, corrosion potential, and abrasion exposure when selecting attachment materials and protective coatings. Harsh environments may require specialized sealing, upgraded materials, or protective treatments to ensure reliable operation.

We offer galvanized items for harsh environments. Steel eliminates most concerns for materials going in the lifter and the conditions in which they work. It’s critical to remember that ASME requires steel. So if it’s plastic, wood, or even aluminum, it’s likely not ASME B30.20 rated. This might be OK in some OSHA states, but if your state cites ASME, it’s not a legal material unless it can be shown to be superior to steel.

Ongoing Maintenance and Inspection

Regular inspection schedules based on usage frequency and environmental conditions help identify potential issues before they compromise safety or performance. Heavy-use applications typically require more frequent inspections than occasional-use equipment. We have inspection checklists that can make this easy on your phone as well. We will keep populating this page until everyone has what they need available.

Preventive maintenance includes lubrication of moving parts, replacement of wear components like seals and hydraulic hoses, and calibration of control systems. Following manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedules extends attachment life and maintains safety compliance.

The New ASME B30.20 goes further in the documentation of all maintenance activities and load test certifications provides the record-keeping necessary for regulatory compliance and helps identify maintenance trends that could indicate potential problems. The Qualified Rigger or Lift Director is going to be required to inspect and sign off on all lifters with records maintained. If an incident happens, records are the first thing they ask for. If they aren’t provided, it’s a problem.

FAQ

What types of crane attachments are most commonly used in construction and industrial applications?

How often should crane attachments be inspected and recertified for safety compliance?

Inspection frequency depends on usage intensity and environmental conditions, but annual inspections are typically required as a minimum. Attachments used daily or in harsh conditions may require quarterly inspections, while occasional-use equipment might meet standards with annual certification.

What safety standards must crane attachments meet before they can be used in commercial operations?

All crane attachments must comply with ASME BTH-1 for design requirements and ASME B30.20 for operation and maintenance standards. These regulations cover everything from material specifications and safety factors to testing procedures and documentation requirements.

How do I determine the correct attachment capacity for my crane and lifting requirements?

Attachment capacity must be determined by evaluating the crane’s rated capacity at the working radius, the weight and characteristics of materials being lifted, and environmental factors that might affect operation. Always select attachments with capacity ratings that meet or exceed the most demanding requirements of your application, and consult with equipment specialists when working with complex or unusual loads.

Selecting the right crane attachments transforms standard lifting equipment into specialized material handling solutions that enhance both safety and productivity. Whether you need basic beam attachments for routine construction work or specialized grapples for demanding industrial applications, proper selection and maintenance ensure reliable performance that keeps operations running smoothly day after day.

Crane Attachments: Complete Guide to Below-the-Hook Lifting Solutions by CraneGear