The Minifor hoist is a lightweight portable power hoist suitable for a number of lightweight operations. They typically come in two models: the TR30 and TR50. Both are useful for lifting light loads, which are usually less than approximately 1000 pounds, but by adding sheave blocks to your rigging plan can increase the Minifor carrying capacity exponentially.
The advantages of using the Minifor is its portability, fast installation, pendant control, and ease-of-use nature. What makes them efficient is that both models use 1/4th inch cable, run on just 110 volts, and you can use an unlimited amount of wire rope and you can change it out yourself whether it be for different height requirements or if/when the wire rope begins to deteriorate. However, with its lightweight and portable design comes a bevy of ways to mishandle or misuse it and we’ve got the top 5 ways below.
The Minifor™ is made to be used within a certain angle of pickup. Frequently, their guards become worn from loads being moved and pulled from outside the recommended angle dimensions, which causes a lot of wear and tear inside their internal mechanisms. Adding sheave blocks to your rigging scheme can not only add to your carrying capacity, but it can also eliminate any type damage to your guards and minimize those angular forces that seek to displace the Minifor or unbalance your load. With sheave blocks, you can use the equipment at any angle of orientation.
Many of its electrical components can short-circuit or burn out from overuse, as well. The Minifor has a 30-minute duty cycle, which means you can use them for up to 30 minutes continuously or a number of pendant clicks within a given period of time, or whichever comes first. If this is all or doesn’t fit your application preferences, you should consider using a piece of equipment that doesn’t have a duty cycle and perhaps, a pneumatic piece of equipment.
Another common practice with the Minifor™ is to overload them. Overloading this piece of equipment can cause a throng of problems including stretching the hook, premature wear and tear, and catastrophic internal damage. There may be an overload protection safeguard inside the unit itself, but even despite this, overloading the equipment can still break or damage the Minifor™ if the load greatly exceeds it’s capacity.
Less frequently, but just as damaging, users pull the pendants and/or it’s power wires out of the equipment’s protective housing due to pulling the pendant closer to the user to get a better reach and better control of the equipment. For future reference, don’t use the pendant with the intent to pull the attached trolley. In addition to that, make sure you properly connect the strain relief cord from the pendant to the hoist. The pendant and the equipment itself is greatly sensitive to even slight changes in position. Best practice is to use caution and dexterity when handling the pendant.
Most often, users simply aren’t handling the equipment properly. Due to their lightweight and portable design, users often overestimate the Minifor™ in terms of how much use and abuse it can endure before it fails. Much of the housing on the outside is made of polyurethane, which makes denting and cracking its protective housing and damaging its internal components easy if not handled with the upmost care. As with any type of equipment, handle with caution.
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