Crane & Lifting Sling (Round)

Lifting slings and crane slings for all-purpose lifting: endless polyester round slings (soft slings) meeting AS 4497, colour coded by working load limit from 1,000 to 10,000kg, in lengths from 1 to 10m.

About the Crane & Lifting Sling (Round)

Polyester round slings are the everyday soft sling on crane trucks, cranes and excavators, for lifting timber and LVL packs, steel, pipe and finished goods without marking them. They meet AS 4497, are colour coded by working load limit from 1,000 to 10,000kg, and come 1 to 10m long. Choose the rating and length above; the guide below covers the colour code, how the hitch changes what a sling can lift, and inspection.

Also called crane slings, soft slings, synthetic slings or lifting strops.

Features

Meets the performance requirements of AS 4497 (complies with EN 1492-2)
Colour coded by working load limit
Endless loop: straight, choke or basket hitch
Soft on timber packs, frames and finished loads
WLL tag on every sling

Applications

Crane truck and Hiab lifts
Lifting timber and LVL packs
Excavator and telehandler lifting

Choosing lifting slings and crane slings

A polyester round sling is an endless loop of load-bearing yarn inside a woven protective sleeve. It is soft, light and grips the load, so it lifts timber packs, steel, pipe and finished goods without marking them, which is why round slings are the everyday sling on crane trucks and Hiabs.

Pick the sling in three steps: the working load limit (WLL) for the heaviest straight lift, the hitch you will use (it changes what the sling can carry, see the chart below), and the length that gives you a safe sling angle with the hook height you have. Our round slings are made with a 7:1 safety factor, comply with EN 1492-2 and meet the performance requirements of AS 4497.

Lifting sling colour code

The sleeve colour tells you the working load limit at a glance, and the tag on every sling repeats it. Strap width grows with capacity, which is a quick second check on site.

Colour	Working load limit	Strap width	Lengths
Violet	1,000kg	51mm	1 to 6m
Green	2,000kg	60mm	1 to 6m
Yellow	3,000kg	70mm	1 to 8m
Grey	4,000kg	75mm	1 to 8m
Red	5,000kg	80mm	1 to 6m
Brown	6,000kg	85mm	1 to 6m
Blue	8,000kg	95mm	1 to 8m
Orange	10,000kg	100mm	1 to 10m

How the hitch and angle change the working load

The WLL on the tag is for a straight vertical lift. Choking the sling around the load cuts its capacity to 80%. A basket hitch doubles it while both legs hang vertical, but the wider the legs spread, the more of that gain you lose: at 60 degrees between the legs it carries 1.7 times the WLL, at 90 degrees 1.4 times, and at 120 degrees only the rated WLL.

Keep the angle between the legs under 90 degrees wherever you can, and use a longer sling rather than a wider spread.

Vertical

1 x WLL

Choke

0.8 x WLL

Basket, legs vertical

2 x WLL

Basket, 60°

1.7 x WLL

Basket, 90°

1.4 x WLL

Basket, 120°

1 x WLL

Maximum load in kg for each sling rating, by hitch. Angles are measured between the two sling legs.
Sling	Vertical	Choke	Basket, legs vertical	Basket, 60°	Basket, 90°	Basket, 120°
Violet 1,000kg	1,000kg	800kg	2,000kg	1,700kg	1,400kg	1,000kg
Green 2,000kg	2,000kg	1,600kg	4,000kg	3,400kg	2,800kg	2,000kg
Yellow 3,000kg	3,000kg	2,400kg	6,000kg	5,100kg	4,200kg	3,000kg
Grey 4,000kg	4,000kg	3,200kg	8,000kg	6,800kg	5,600kg	4,000kg
Red 5,000kg	5,000kg	4,000kg	10,000kg	8,500kg	7,000kg	5,000kg
Brown 6,000kg	6,000kg	4,800kg	12,000kg	10,200kg	8,400kg	6,000kg
Blue 8,000kg	8,000kg	6,400kg	16,000kg	13,600kg	11,200kg	8,000kg
Orange 10,000kg	10,000kg	8,000kg	20,000kg	17,000kg	14,000kg	10,000kg

Round sling, flat webbing sling or chain sling?

Round slings: the most versatile. The endless loop can be rotated so wear spreads around the sling, it chokes tightly, and it is the common choice for general crane truck work.
Flat webbing slings: a wide, flat bearing surface for long or crushable loads such as sheet and timber packs, especially in a basket hitch.
Chain slings: for hot, abrasive or sharp-edged loads that would cut a polyester sling, and for permanent lifting setups. Made up from Grade 80 chain, master links, hammerlocks and hooks.

10 tips for safe lifting with round slings

Never use a sling whose WLL tag is missing or unreadable.
Check the sling for damage before every lift.
Retire any sling with cut or snagged webbing, or signs of heat or chemical damage.
Never tie a knot in a sling to shorten it.
Use a protective sleeve or corner protector wherever the load has a sharp edge.
Keep slings away from temperatures above 90°C.
Keep grit and abrasives out of the fibres, and store slings clean and dry.
Check with us before a sling goes anywhere near chemicals.
Keep slings away from strong alkalis and phenolic compounds.
For any lifting arrangement not covered by the capacity chart, ask before you lift.

Inspection and retirement

Look over the full length of the sling before each use: the sleeve, the tag and anywhere it has been in contact with an edge. Follow your state work health and safety regulator's requirements for periodic inspection by a competent person.

Take a sling out of service if it has cut or snagged webbing, heat or chemical damage, or a missing WLL tag.

Lifting slings in Adelaide

Allmat supplies lifting slings, shackles, hooks and chain fittings to crane truck operators, builders and fabricators across Adelaide and South Australia. Add the slings you need to a quote with the shackles or hooks that go with them, and we will price the lot.

Lifting slings for your crane truck or site

Round slings, flat slings, shackles and hooks are available to order from Allmat for crane truck operators, builders and trade across Adelaide and South Australia. Order through Allmat, we pick and pack it, then click and collect from the Allmat yard or have it delivered to site.

Send your list for a quote Call 1300 03 03 63

Goes with

Questions

What do the colours on a lifting sling mean?

The colour shows the working load limit: violet 1,000kg, green 2,000kg, yellow 3,000kg, grey 4,000kg, red 5,000kg, brown 6,000kg, blue 8,000kg and orange 10,000kg. The tag on the sling states the same rating.

How much can a round sling lift in a choke hitch?

A choke hitch reduces the capacity to 80% of the WLL on the tag. A 3,000kg yellow sling choked around a load is good for 2,400kg.

Does a basket hitch really double the capacity?

Only while both legs hang straight down. As the legs spread the capacity drops: 1.7 times the WLL at 60 degrees between the legs, 1.4 times at 90 degrees, and back to 1 times at 120 degrees.

What length lifting sling do I need?

Long enough that the angle between the legs stays under 90 degrees for the load width and the hook height you have. A sling that is too short forces a wide angle and cuts the safe working load. Our round slings come from 1 to 10m.

Are crane slings, lifting slings and round slings the same thing?

Mostly, yes. Crane slings, lifting slings and soft slings are everyday names for polyester slings like these. A round sling is an endless loop; a flat webbing sling has an eye at each end. Both are rated by WLL and colour coded the same way.

Where can I buy lifting slings in Adelaide?

Order through Allmat. We supply round slings, flat webbing slings, shackles and hooks to crane truck operators, builders and trade across Adelaide. Order ahead by phone on 1300 03 03 63 or send your list for a quote, then click and collect from 25 Kapara Road, Gillman, or have them delivered to site.

Can I get crane slings delivered near me?

Yes. We deliver lifting slings and rigging across Adelaide and South Australia. Add the slings you need to a quote with any shackles or hooks and we will price and arrange delivery.

Do you supply slings for crane trucks and Hiabs?

Yes. Round slings from 1,000 to 10,000kg in lengths from 1 to 10m suit crane truck and Hiab work, and pair with our rated shackles and Grade 80 hooks for a complete lifting setup.

How often do slings need to be inspected?

Before every use, plus periodic inspection by a competent person as your state work health and safety regulator requires. Take any damaged sling, or one without its WLL tag, out of service.