Instructions for use of Lifting Lugs

These instructions deal specifically with container lifting lugs known as the 'Preston Shoe' and covers it's handing, slinging and use for normal lifting.
Care must be exercised when attaching any type of lifting lug to the top lifting device, be it a hook on a crane or strops suspended from a conventional top lifting frame when handling Out Of Gage (OOG) units or flats. The general rule is that all items in any sling assembly must be rated at the same WLL. At the chain-send, the appropriately handed lug must be attached to the slings for coupling with the right or left hand corner fitting apertures. The handing features of the Preston Shoe are shown below. The lug, in turn, is usually attached by chain connectors or shackles to the slings. The slings in turn may be chain, cable or webbing, the latter being used for empty or lightly loaded containers only.

For enquiries sales and repeat orders
Sole Distributers

Solid Swivel

UK 01384 636421 Intl. 441384 636421

Handing Lifting Lugs

Handing is indicated by a protrusion or "EAR" on periphery that coincides with thumb on corresponding hand. Unless supplied via a third party they are colour coded after PORT (Left) and STARBOARD (Right) colour convention.

Corner Fittings Handing for Normal Lifting.

Left Hand apertures

Right Hand apertures

For the purpose of explanation only, the corner box aperture faces are shown colour coded, therefore, lugs should normally be used in the appropriate left hand or right hand aperture depicted here.
Under certain circumstances where access to the normal aperture used for lifting is obstructed, it may be necessary to use the adjacent aperture to move the container to a more favourable position before lifting in the appropriate manner. In this scenario an adjacent aperture is of the opposite hand to that of the lug as shown in handing diagram and is referred to as Reverse Hand Lifting,

Irrespective of which aperture is used the 'EAR' must ALWAYS be uppermost when lug is coupled with corner fitting aperture.

Slinging Lifting Lugs

These lugs can be used with either cables or chains having the same Working Load Limits either 8.5ton for 16mm chain or 12ton for 20mm chain.
When choosing slings for lifting fully laden freight units the sling forces must be within the WLL range of lifting lugs. When lifting slings are angled their forces increase and when at 30° are double those when slings are vertical.
Any suitable connector can be used but for most applications chain connectors and Screw Pin "Bow" or "Dee" shackles are generally used. Whatever

connector

is used, the lug face must be parallel to corner fitting face being coupled with. If at right angles after assembly, it may be necessary to remove one link to remedy this. When screw pin shackles are used, shown here, the screw-pin head must be on the same side as the 'EAR' on lug side so that the assembly can be laid horizontally when in the insert position.