WH SCOTT
Hoist General Overhaul Services
When a hoist’s Safe Working Period runs out, it must be taken out of service — or overhauled. Our engineers strip, rebuild, test and recertify hoist units on site across the UK and Ireland, for a fraction of the cost of a new hoist.
When Does a Hoist Need a General Overhaul?
Every power-driven hoist is built to a theoretical service life — a set number of full-load working hours fixed by its classification group under BS EN 14492-2 and ISO 4301-1. As the hoist works, it uses that life up. What is left is its Safe Working Period (SWP).
Once the SWP is exhausted, the hoist cannot legally remain in service unless the components in the load path are given a general overhaul. An overhaul renews those components, resets the SWP and returns the unit to a known, certified condition — typically at a fraction of the cost of a new hoist and without the disruption of a full crane replacement.
Most industrial hoists reach this point between 10 and 15 years, depending on duty. Units with condition monitoring report remaining SWP directly; where there is none, actual use is reconstructed from load, lift height, cycles and running hours using the FEM 9.755 method. Plan the overhaul at around 10% SWP remaining and you schedule the downtime instead of reacting to it.
What a WH Scott General Overhaul Covers
We overhaul wire rope hoists, crab units and electrically powered hoists on overhead travelling, gantry and jib cranes, including high-duty applications in waste and energy recovery, ports, steel and manufacturing.
Each overhaul includes:
- Strip-down and inspection of the gearbox, brake, rope drum, sheaves, hook block and drive components
- Replacement of load-path components using manufacturer-approved or genuine parts
- Renewal or reset of rope, limit switches, overload protection and safety devices as required
- Rebuild, alignment and recommissioning, including SWP reset on units with condition monitoring
- Functional and load testing to confirm safe operation before handback
- Overhaul documentation, plus a written report on condition, remaining life and any further repairs identified
Work can be carried out on site or in our workshop, depending on the condition of the equipment and the scope of the overhaul. On-site work is scheduled around shutdowns and production windows, while workshop overhauls are suited to units requiring a more extensive rebuild or repainting. WH Scott are certified to complete overhauls of SWF Krantechnik cranes and hoists.
How We Plan and Deliver the Overhaul
1. Assessment — we review the hoist data plate, classification group, usage data and SWP status, either on site or from your records.
2. Scope and quotation — a fixed scope covering parts, labour, access and testing, with an honest view on whether an overhaul or crane refurbishment and modernisation is the better investment for the age and duty of your crane.
3. Overhaul — strip-down, component replacement and rebuild by our own engineers, using approved or genuine parts.
4. Test and certification — functional and load testing, SWP reset, and documentation issued for your equipment records.
5. Ongoing maintenance — a preventative maintenance interval set to the hoist’s actual duty, so the reset service life is protected.
Standards, Classification and Compliance
Hoist classification and theoretical service life are governed by BS EN 14492-2 and ISO 4301-1, with actual use assessed using the FEM 9.755 method and, where condition monitoring is fitted, ISO 12482. A general overhaul is a manufacturer and design-life requirement — it sits alongside your statutory examination obligations rather than replacing them.
In Great Britain and Northern Ireland, lifting equipment must be thoroughly examined under LOLER 1998 — at least every 12 months for lifting equipment, and every 6 months for accessories and equipment used to lift people — and maintained under PUWER 1998. Ireland’s equivalent duties sit in the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007 (S.I. No. 299 of 2007), where Regulation 52 and Schedule 1 require examination by a competent person: 12 months for cranes, 6 months for lifting accessories.
We work to both regimes from depots across Ireland, Northern Ireland and mainland UK, and can combine an overhaul with your next thorough examination and certification to keep equipment records in one place.
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Preventative Crane Maintenance
Preventative crane maintenance services ensure the safe, compliant, and efficient operation of overhead cranes, gantry cranes, and hoisting systems. Planned servicing, inspections, and diagnostics reduce downtime, extend equipment lifespan, and support compliance with LOLER and PUWER regulations.
Lifting Equipment Servicing, Maintenance & Breakdown Support
Lifting equipment servicing, maintenance and breakdown support ensures the safe, compliant, and efficient operation of cranes, hoists, and associated lifting systems.
Crane Refurbishment & Modernisation
Crane refurbishment and modernisation services extend the operational life, safety, and performance of existing lifting equipment. By upgrading mechanical and control systems, businesses can meet current regulations, improve efficiency, and avoid full crane replacement costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know how much Safe Working Period is left?
Hoists with condition monitoring display remaining SWP directly. Where none is fitted, we calculate actual use from load, number of lifts, lift height, running hours and speed, and compare it against the theoretical service life for the hoist’s classification group.
Can a general overhaul be carried out on site?
Yes. Most overhauls are completed on site and scheduled around planned shutdowns or production windows. Units requiring heavier rebuild or repainting are brought into our workshop.
Is an overhaul cheaper than replacing the hoist?
In most cases, significantly. An overhaul renews the load-path components and resets the service life without the cost of a new hoist, installation and associated structural and electrical work. Where the control system is obsolete, we will say if modernisation or replacement is the better investment.
Does a general overhaul satisfy LOLER?
No — they are separate requirements. A general overhaul addresses the hoist’s design service life; LOLER (and, in Ireland, S.I. No. 299 of 2007) requires periodic thorough examination by a competent person regardless of overhaul status. We can carry out both together.
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Tell Us About Your Project
Whether you need a single piece of equipment or a fully engineered lifting system, our specialists can help. Tell us your load, environment and compliance requirements — we’ll do the rest.