The Tirfor is a portable, powerful, and diverse jobsite tool. For this reason, it’s one of our most popular pieces of equipment at LGH. But how much do you know about this unique piece of equipment? In this blog, we’re covering the basics of the Tractel Group’s Tirfor winch.
The Tractel Tirfor from LGH.
A Tirfor, also commonly referred to as a Griphoist, is a pulling and lifting device that operates in conjunction with specialized wire rope.
The device is controlled by two pairs of jaws that operate alternatively to drive levers, which allow the movement of wire rope or cable throughout the hoist’s body. The setup allows almost unlimited pulling length or lifting height with pinpoint accuracy in positioning loads.
Read also: Tools You May Not Know We Rent: Griphoist
French inventor Mr. Simon Faure originally conceived the design and filed a patent for what eventually would become the Tirfor in 1929. This design laid the groundwork for The Tractel Group, who would eventually acquire a trademark license for the grip hoist. After extensive testing, the hoist was officially made public during the early 1940s. Since then, the Tirfor hand winch has revolutionized the industry for its easy-to-use functionality in maneuvering various loads.
Over the years, Tractel has continuously improved the original hoist and filed numerous patents to protect its perfected design. Improvements have included making the hoists fully portable and offering new features such as easier manageability, a lighter-weight design, quick installation, and more precise load placement.
Tirfor/Griphoist operation is straightforward (you can check out our Tirfor YouTube tutorial here), and mainly involves a ‘hand-over-hand’ action. While one hand pulls, the other changes position to pull. The wire rope used with the Griphoist is specially designed with a fiber core to resist damage during operation. Positioning the lever for forward motion, the jaws take turns biting into and pulling the wire rope back through the hoist. In reverse, the jaws act more as clamps while still alternating, preventing the rope from freewheeling forward.
Workers using a Tirfor, aka Griphoist, from LGH.
The Tirfor/Griphoist can serve many applications, including heavy machinery, bridge and roadwork, rope/cable tensioning, load shifting, and more. The possibilities are near endless for this diverse piece of equipment. For more on Tirfor/Griphoist applications, check out our blog post here: Traditional Applications for the Griphoist.
LGH offers a range of Tractel Tirfor winches for rent in a variety of capacities. You can find specifications and model information on our product page here. For more information, please contact a lifting expert at LGH today at 800.878.7305 or visit RentLGH.com/contact.
https://www.specialisedforce.com.au, Specialised Force Pty Ltd, 2017,
LGH is North America’s largest single organization devoted exclusively to the provision of lifting and moving equipment for rent. LGH holds the most comprehensive inventory for hoisting, rigging, jacking, pulling, material handling, and safety equipment. With over 90,000 pieces, discover your next project solution at RentLGH.com.
