Wire-rope winches for lifting people

Winches

Cable winches: temporary and permanent lifting of people in complete safety

In many sectors such as construction, industry, energy, and overhead maintenance, lifting people is a critical operation governed by strict safety standards. Choosing the right winch is therefore crucial. Among the various technologies available, cable winches, whether electric, manual, or pneumatic, offer a high-performance solution suitable for both temporary and permanent applications.

What is a cable winch?

Unlike conventional drum winches, the cable-through winch does not store the cable, which enters and exits the winch. This system allows for working with significant, even unlimited, lifting heights without the need for a large drum.

This simple, yet ingenious, mechanical principle is at the heart of many vertical lifting devices for people, in various configurations.

Applications: temporary or permanent

Cable winches are used in two main types of applications:

1. Temporary lifting

Suspended platforms for facade work

Work saddles for inspection or maintenance

Vertical access to construction sites, pylons, silos or temporary structures

Emergency evacuations in confined environments

2. Permanent lifting

Vertical access in industry (chimneys, tanks, wind turbines)

Maintenance on technical installations (hydroelectric power plants, dams)

Permanent access systems on architectural or technical structures

In both cases, the requirement is the same: to secure the vertical movement of a human operator, while respecting regulations and guaranteeing the reliability of the device.

Three cable winch technologies

🟦 Electric winch

Power supply: 220V single-phase or 400V three-phase

Advantages: ease of use, rapid lifting, integration of safety devices (electromagnetic brake, limit switch, overload control)

Typical use: construction sites, permanent access, suspended platforms.

See the Fixator electric winches for lifting people (LIFTHO, e.lift).

🟩 Manual winch

Operation: crank or handle without power source

Advantages: lightness, mobility, mechanical simplicity, operation without power supply

Typical use: one-off interventions, emergency services, ATEX or non-electric environments

See Fixator manual winches for lifting people (m.lift).

🟥 Pneumatic winch

Power supply: compressed air (generally 6 bars)

Advantages: safety in explosion hazard zones (ATEX), intensive use, operation even in dusty or humid environments

Typical use: heavy industry, petrochemicals, offshore platforms.

See the Fixator p.lift pneumatic winch.