Winches and winch equipment are used across a wide variety of industries. A winch is surprisingly versatile and can be used to help out in a number of different situations. If you’ve always wondered which industries are more likely to use winch hire, look no further.
Which Industries Use Winch Equipment?
When most people think of winches, they think of hauling vehicles up a hill or out of a culvert. There are certainly plenty of people who use winches for this purpose, but there are other ways to use them, as well.
Vehicle Recovery
If you need to pick up a vehicle or get a car out of a tough spot, then winches are certainly helpful. Most tow trucks have some winches and use hydraulic winches to ensure they can pull vehicles out of ditches and other difficult spots.
Off-roading
If you own a 4×4 vehicle, you know that off-roading can be rather fun. It involves driving off the main roads and into the forest or fields to experience some interesting driving. However, driving off-road can also mean you sometimes get stuck in mud, snow, water, or other substances. If you find your vehicle stuck somewhere, it is very helpful to have a winch attached to it so you can pull the vehicle out.
Essentially, the winch is attached to something solid, such as a tree or boulder and the winch is then used to leverage the vehicle out of the awkward spot. This allows you to pull the car out of the water or wherever it became stuck, without needing outside help.
Sports
In certain sports, there are winches involved. It’s actually quite important to use them in order to ensure people are as safe as possible.
Waterskiing requires a winch to help propel the person on to the water. They are then pulled along with rope, which can be let out and pulled in, depending on the situation, using the winch. The winch ensures people are safely pulled through the water at the necessary distance.
Sometimes, snowboarding also uses a winch to pull people along on their boards. However, this is fairly rare.
Construction
The construction industry frequently uses winches and cranes to manage products. You’ll find that it is much simpler to pull items into place when you have the right equipment. Winches tend to be used to pull products along the ground, rather than lift them. Cranes are more likely to be used to lift the products.
With a winch on site, the construction site immediately becomes more efficient. The workflow can improve and everything will run smoother when you have the additional help of a winch.
Fishing
The fishing industry frequently uses winches to pull in and let out fishing nets. If these are pulled behind the boat, you will need a way to reel everything in. The winch is the best choice for a fishing boat that will need to pull in heavy nets full of fish, crabs, lobsters, or other sea creatures. In this industry, there can be some serious loads, so both the cable and the winch will need to be set up to handle the heavy loads of fish.
Aviation
It may surprise you to know that the aviation industry frequently uses winches. They are used in a myriad of ways, depending on what needs to be done. For example, gliders use winches for launch and are dependent on them to create a good launch.
Helicopters that are out on rescue missions can lower and raise rescue baskets with winches. This makes it possible to lift injured people out of mountain gullies and dangerous areas where the helicopter cannot actually land. Instead, the winch is used to lift people up to the helicopter.
Theatre
Did you know that winches are frequently used for backstage purposes? There are many large set pieces that must be moved into position. These can be moved manually if you have enough people, but there are definitely some advantages to setting up a winch or two for moving the heaviest pieces around. This way, you can get smooth, rapid movement so people can focus on the actual set and actors.
Drilling
With drilling rigs, there are usually winches set up to ensure the drill or auger can be pulled out of the hole being dug. However, it can also let the drill go deeper as needed, allowing the cable to unspool as needed for deeper drilling.
Alternatives to the Standard Winch
While the base winch has a cable that wraps around a drum, along with a hook to hook onto anything you wish to pull along, you can find other options. For example, there are lifting slings, which allow you to wrap up a box or crate and then use the winch to pull it.
In most cases, the lifting slings are made of cables, webbing, or chains that are strong enough to handle some pretty heavy-duty loads. However, if you plan to lift things, you’ll need a hoist, not a winch.
Winch Hire vs. Buy
Not every company needs a winch of their own. If you find that you only rarely use the winch, you may want to look into winch hire. This and lifting equipment hire can be a good way to save money.
When you own equipment, you’re responsible for maintaining it and putting it to good use. However, this can be pricy and maintenance takes away time and money from other projects. If you only use the winch occasionally, you may not want to spend all that time and money on it. Instead, it may be simpler to just hire the equipment you need, when you need it.
Winch hire means the company is responsible for maintaining everything and you just need to make a point of keeping the equipment in good condition while you use it. Once your project is done, the winch returns to the company and then you can forget about it until the next time you need it.
How to Choose a Winch Hire Company
Most winch hire companies offer a range of equipment options. Ideally, you want them to have what you need and then a few other options. It’s also helpful if the company has more than one of the usual options, so you can be sure there will be a winch of the size and type that you need when you need it. If too few winches exist and the company is popular, there could be a wait list for your hire.
There are several other considerations when selecting a company to use.
Budget: How much can you expect to spend for your winch hire? Are there discounts for week or month? You can get a quote from several different companies now and make your decision later.
Variety: Are there multiple choices for winches? You may need different sizes or types of winch and the company should offer a few options. This will help you if the scope of your job changes or if you simply want to try something different.
Customer service: How helpful is the company when you reach out to them? Do they give you the information you need or is it difficult to get answers? Again, you may need to talk to a few places before you get the treatment you want.
Local: It can be difficult to get information from someone who is long distance and you could end up paying more, as well, to have the piece brought to you. Even if you pick it up, that is wear and tear on cars and you’ll find it much simpler to choose a company that is local.
Delivery: You can certainly pick up the winch and equipment if you want it, but for many job sites, it’s easiest to have the winch delivered. This may not be a dealbreaker, but you should ask if it’s a possibility to have the equipment brought to the job site.
Reputation: Check with the reviews people have left a company before you hire them. This can be helpful in avoiding companies with poor reputations. However, if they have great reviews or they are given a good write up, this can indicate that you want to work with them.
Are you interested in purchasing a winch or just want to hire one for a few days? Either way, Atlas Winch Hire can help you. We offer a range of winch services so you can choose what you need, when you need it. Use the winch for the time you need it and then let us handle the rest. From lifting equipment hire and load monitoring to lifting slings and winch equipment, we have everything you need for your jobs. Contact us now to learn more.
