Winona, Minnesota-based OZ Lifting Products LLC has launched the Aluma-Lite series of ultra-portable davit cranes, available in 500 lbs. and 1,000 lbs. capacities.

The new aluminum series is targeted at applications where portability is beneficial, including those in wastewater and water; boats; utility terrain vehicles (UTVs), and other trucks, etc, where anti-corrosion materials are also desirable. Each model is available with three bases: pedestal, socket (flush-mount), or wall-mount. 

The Aluma-Lite 500 weighs in at 24 lbs. It offers capacity of 275 lbs. at horizontal; 330 lbs. at 22.5 degrees; and its full capacity at 45 degrees. Aluma-Lite 1,000, meanwhile, weighs in at 47 lbs. It offers capacity of 550 lbs. at horizontal; 650 lbs. at 22.5 degrees; and its full capacity at 45 degrees. The units’ light weight means that they will commonly be moved from one base to another.

Both fold flat for easy storage or transportation; are made of aerospace / military grade aluminum; and are available with manual winch (including drill drive adapter), AC or DC electric winches. Further, they have a durable, powder coated finish; no tools are needed for assembly / disassembly; and they are made in the USA.

Steve Napieralski, president at OZ Lifting, said: “The Aluma-Lite can be used any place where carrying the crane could be an issue and the properties of aluminum happen to suit the product to many applications where it might be moved around, perhaps most notably in the water sectors. Our 500-lbs. capacity steel davit weighs 50 lbs., so the aluminum version is basically half the weight.”

The Aluma-Lite is an ultra-portable, aluminum davit crane.

As Napieralski mentioned, the Aluma-Lite expands OZ Lifting’s davit crane family, which includes the Tele-Pro, that allows users to leverage the benefits of other lifting technologies in its range, while telescoping the boom in and out under load; various composite models, made from carbon fiber and pultruded fiberglass; and steel davits.

The Aluma-Lite capacity range may be widened in time but there are no immediate plans to do so. However, Napieralski admitted that it will continue to add to the davit crane family more broadly. “We have another [crane] on the horizon that will add some additional features not found in our current range,” he said.

He also reiterated that, regardless of type of crane or application, without a base, a davit crane is not usable. The pedestal base is bolted to the floor where users need to make a lift and move the crane from base to base. Socket bases are used mainly in the back of trucks or in an area where the installer will pour cement around the base to keep the surface area flat and offer high mounting strength. The wall-mount base allows a davit crane to be attached to the wall of a facility to save floorspace. In all cases, it is important to check the capacity of the mount and its compatibility with the crane/s selected.

Aluma-Lite will make its trade show debut at AHR Expo (Booth B128), which attracts heating, ventilation, air-conditioning, and refrigeration (HVACR) professionals to the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, February 6-8, 2023. A month or so later (March 20-23), ProMat (Booth S122) engages all segments of the material handling, logistics and transportation industry, from traditional, manual equipment to computerized, automated systems and smart, connected supply chain technologies. 

Napieralski added: “Business continues to be strong; we are optimistic for 2023.”