Utility Hoists:
Utility Hoists are construction hoists that are designed for material transport only. They efficiently and safely transport materials around the job site as an alternative to manpower transport or craning materials. While most utility hoists are small scale, there are larger construction hoist systems that are design for material transport only.
Skip Hoists:
Skip hoists are a smaller variant of hoists used in large mining operations and designed mainly for mix material lifting on the job site. They incorporate a cable system attached to a bucket that rolls along an inclined track. An operator controls the motor that engages the cable along the track typically by use of a simple up-down control located nearby. Once the bucket reaches the top of the track, it is guided to overturn and dump the contents. Once dumped, the operator lowers the bucket back down by reversing the direction of the motor and the bucket is loaded with more material if another lift is desired.
Typical uses of skip hoists are lifting dry mix material for mixing either concrete or masonry mixtures on site. The bucket allows for the dry mix material to be transported and dumped in the desired location—typically a mobile dry mixer.
Builder Hoists
Builder hoists are very similar to skip hoists in size and capacity. Builder hoists are used in more versatile methods, with more variety of possible construction material transport. Builder hoists are composed of a mast or tower—typically made out of structural steel—a bucket for material handling, and a winch/cable lifting system powered by either a diesel, gasoline, or electric engine.
Builder hoists have a larger height capacity than the typical skip hoist, ranging from a couple stories to as high as thirty stories. While skip hoists are typically used in mixing application, builder hoists can transport small pieces of iron/steel as well as various tools to multiple stories of a construction project.