22.1 FOREWORD

Plate clamps are widely used, particularly in the steel fabrication industry, for handling a variety of work including individual pieces of plate, fabricated assemblies and bundles of plates. The term covers several designs which fall into two basic types:

Type (1) – Clamps which grip the edge of the plate by friction. These are subdivided into those used to lift the plate in the vertical position only and those which lift from the horizontal to the vertical or viceversa.

Type (2) – Clamps designed to lift the plate in a horizontal position only, when used in conjunction with a two leg sling or reeved onto an endless loop, according to design.