The crucial issues of lifting accessories and future solutions with Kevin Laramée

In the field of industry and production, essential elements are often overlooked despite their crucial role in daily operations. Among them, we find lifting accessories, often discreet but essential equipment, which facilitate the movement and handling of heavy loads. To better understand their importance and the challenges that professionals in the sector face, we met Kevin Laramée, President and Commercial Director of Cap Levage, and President of the “Lifting Accessories” group within the Evolis* union. During this interview, Kevin Laramée enlightens us on the importance of lifting accessories in the industry, safety standards and efforts to improve training and regulation of this sector. With why not the ambition to create a tool for users using AI.

Can you briefly describe your core business to us?

Cap Levage https://www.caplevage.com/ is, as its name suggests, a company specializing for more than 20 years in the sale and manufacture of lifting and lashing accessories: chain slings, slings -cables, textile slings, etc. Slings, key elements of lifting accessories, are omnipresent in sectors as varied as construction, entertainment, forestry work, transport, but also in industry. These crucial tools are located between the machine and the load to be lifted, hence their importance and the risks associated with their use. All our assemblies are made in our Poitevin workshops with traced and certified French and European components. Standard or custom, we manufacture and certify all our slings on demand.

What is the essential role of lifting accessories in the industry and how does it contribute to the production chain?

According to the INRS definition: Lifting accessories allow the gripping and handling of loads; these are pieces of equipment not linked to the machine and placed between the machine and the load to be lifted. We find them in many industrial production lines; they allow metal parts to be moved and handled in the factory; they are often placed between the hook of the hoist and the parts to be lifted. Composed mainly of slings, shackles, grippers, magnets and also tailor-made gripping systems such as spreaders, they allow lifting operations to be carried out in complete safety.

What are the main regulatory constraints that lifting companies like yours face, particularly in terms of safety?

We must comply with strict standards related to lifting accessories due to the risks associated with their use. And in this context, the Evolis group collaborated with INRS to develop the “Slinger’s Memo” https://www.inrs.fr/media.html?refINRS=ED%206178, a reference in terms of prevention professional risks. In order to ensure the safety of companies and operators, it is preferable to favor French or European lifting tools which are traceable, guaranteed and of superior quality... unlike certain imported products. Each lifting accessory has identification and traceability elements which commit the manufacturer to the marketing of its machine. A lifting accessory must be equipped with a unique identification plate or label to enable its traceability, a bit like a car registration document. On it are noted: the name of the manufacturer, the date of manufacture, a unique identification number, the lifting capacity and other information inherent to the equipment. This makes it possible to link the equipment to its CE certificate and to the various VGP reports carried out throughout the lifespan of the accessory. Unfortunately, we see that sometimes periodic checks are not always carried out in companies. Underestimating this step, which is nevertheless regulatory (decree of March 1, 2004), can be very dangerous. Indeed, these accessories are subject to load variations and can thus deform, their use thus becoming potentially risky.

How can we move the lines?

As recently elected president of the “lifting accessories” commission within Evolis*, I hope that the group will take on new challenges to allow us to get closer to users, here are some projects currently being considered: Collaborating with training centers to develop training programs for sling manufacturers and users. It would allow companies to increase their safety commitment and limit the risks of accidents linked to the use of lifting accessories. Promote the establishment of standards and defend France at the European level. Establish an exchange platform between users and manufacturers on technical standards, rules of use and safety reminders; Consideration is being given to the implementation of an AI used as a tool for answering questions asked by users. And finally, communicate with users about our safety and environmental commitments made by the sector. I would like Evolis to become the benchmark for lifting accessories.

*Evolis https://www.evolis.org/fr/equipements/accessories-de-levage: professional union which brings together manufacturers of machines and equipment which actively contribute to the competitiveness and efficiency of the French industry through the modernization, digitalization and decarbonization of production in the main industrial sectors. Members of the “Lifting” group defend the quality of the products placed on the market because they ensure safe movement and lifting for personnel and loads.