Snatch Blocks
Toco Lifting (Pty) Ltd, a South African lifting, lashing and rigging equipment supplier, stocks single-sheave snatch blocks for steel wire rope from 0.5 ton to 40 ton. Snatch blocks have one sheave and are used to redirect a winch line or wire rope under load. Multi-sheave equivalents are sheave blocks or rope blocks. LME 008 registered, Conformance Inspection Certificate with every unit.
Description
Snatch Blocks, Quick Facts
| Product | Single sheave snatch block for steel wire rope |
|---|---|
| Function | Redirects a winch line or wire rope under load |
| Capacity | 0.5 ton to 5 ton stocked, 10 ton to 40 ton on special order |
| Wire rope size | Matched to capacity, approximately 5 mm to 38 mm |
| Standard end fitting | Drop forged steel hook with safety latch, swivel shackle on request |
| Certificate | Conformance Inspection Certificate |
| Re-inspection | At least every 3 months per DMR 18(10)(e) |
| Lead time | Stocked sizes dispatch quickly, special order 4 to 5 weeks |
| Supplied from | Toco Lifting, Germiston and Cape Town |
Toco Lifting is approved by the Department of Labour as a Lifting Machinery Entity (LME No. 008) and supplies snatch blocks with a Conformance Inspection Certificate across South Africa and SADC since 2002.
Toco Lifting (Pty) Ltd, a South African lifting, lashing and rigging equipment supplier, stocks single-sheave snatch blocks for steel wire rope from 0.5 ton to 40 ton. Snatch blocks have one sheave and are used to redirect a winch line or wire rope under load. Multi-sheave equivalents are sheave blocks or rope blocks. Forged steel hooks and swivel shackles are standard. LME 008 registered, Conformance Inspection Certificate issued with every unit.
Toco Lifting (Pty) Ltd has supplied snatch blocks to mining, marine, construction, vehicle recovery and rigging operations across South Africa since 2002. Each block ships with a Conformance Inspection Certificate produced on Toco’s SANAS-calibrated load cell. Need help sizing a snatch block to your wire rope and load? Call 011 345 8800 or email sales@toco.co.za.
Specifications, capacity vs sheave diameter vs wire rope (Starcraft)
Snatch block specifications vary by OEM (Starcraft, Wilco and others each have different body shapes and sheave geometries). The table below uses Starcraft as a worked example. Confirm exact specifications at quoting against the OEM your application requires.
| Capacity (tonnes) | Typical sheave diameter | Typical wire rope size | Stock status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 75 mm to 100 mm | 5 mm to 8 mm | Stocked |
| 1.0 | approx 125 mm | 10 mm | Stocked |
| 2.0 | approx 150 mm | 11 mm | Stocked |
| 3.0 | approx 200 mm | 13 mm | Stocked |
| 5.0 | approx 200 mm and up | 16 mm | Stocked |
| 10 | 200 mm to 250 mm | 18 mm | Special order, 4 to 5 weeks |
| 20 | 250 mm to 300 mm | 24 mm | Special order, 4 to 5 weeks |
| 40 | 300 mm to 450 mm | 32 mm to 38 mm | Special order, 4 to 5 weeks |
Wire rope size range across the snatch block range is approximately 8 mm to 450 mm and up depending on OEM and sector (mining, construction, fishery and others). Synthetic ropes can also be used in some configurations. Specifications confirmed against the OEM datasheet at quote.
Snatch block vs sheave block, what’s the difference?
The terms are often used interchangeably in the field, but in OEM and technical specification they refer to different products:
| Block type | Sheave count | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Snatch block | Single sheave | Direction change for a winch line or wire rope. The standard configuration on this page. |
| Sheave block (rope block) | Double, triple, or rarely quad sheave | Block-and-tackle reeving for mechanical advantage, common on heavier crane and winch reeving. See SWR Reeving Blocks. |
| Manilla rope block | Single, double or triple sheave | Fibre rope only, the sheave groove is profiled for soft rope, not wire. |
Construction and end-fitting options
| End fitting | Where it’s used |
|---|---|
| Forged steel hook (standard) | Drop-forged steel hook with safety latch. Standard fitting on most stocked snatch blocks. |
| Swivel shackle | Bow shackle with swivel pin for rotating loads. Reduces wire rope twist on long lifts. |
| Plain link | Plain link instead of hook, for permanent rigging or where a shackle is preferred. Buy-out from supply partner OEMs. |
Approved uses
Snatch blocks are designed for steel wire rope. The sheave groove and bearing geometry are matched to wire rope, not soft fibre. Use them for the applications below.
| Application | Approved? |
|---|---|
| Direction change for a winch line on cranes, derricks or tow rigs | YES |
| Engineering, moving heavy machinery on plant and project sites | YES |
| Construction, moving pumps and equipment through narrow passages | YES |
| Mining, redirecting winch lines on draglines and shaft hoisting | YES |
| Vehicle and plant recovery winching | YES |
| Marine deck rigging and anchor handling | YES |
| Use with soft fibre rope (manila, polyester, polypropylene), use a manilla rope block | NO |
| Use with chain, use a chain block instead | NO |
| Use beyond rated WLL, never overload | NO |
Where snatch blocks are used
- Mining, winch line redirection on cranes, draglines, drill rigs and shaft hoisting
- Construction, derrick rigging, pile-driver winching, pump and equipment moves through narrow passages
- Engineering and plant maintenance, line redirection for plant machinery and structural lifts
- Marine, deck rigging, anchor handling, mooring line redirection
- Vehicle and plant recovery, recovery winching for off-road, agricultural and forestry equipment
- Rigging contractors, general rigging across multiple industries
Why Toco for snatch blocks
- LME No. 008, Department of Labour DMR 18(5) of the OHS Act, 1993, for examination and performance testing of lifting tackles
- ECSA-registered LMI, Anton van Staden, Reg. #201112078
- LEEASA-SUB-00102, COET #8000134
- Conformance Inspection Certificate with every unit, produced on Toco’s SANAS-calibrated load cell
- Operating since 2002, Germiston HQ, Cape Town branch, ships SADC-wide
- Multiple OEM partners (Starcraft, Wilco and others), each matched to industry and application
Frequently asked questions
What is a snatch block?
A snatch block is a single-sheave pulley block designed for steel wire rope. The sheave is the grooved wheel inside the block, sized and shaped for wire rope. Snatch blocks are used to change the direction of a wire-rope line, redirect a winch line, or in simple two-fall reeving where mechanical advantage is needed.
What’s the difference between a snatch block and a sheave block?
A snatch block has one sheave. A sheave block (also called a rope block) has two, three, or rarely four sheaves, used in block-and-tackle reeving for mechanical advantage. Both run on steel wire rope. For multi-sheave equipment, see Toco’s SWR Reeving Blocks. For fibre rope, see Manilla Rope Blocks.
What’s the difference between a snatch block and a manilla rope block?
The sheave geometry. Snatch blocks have a sheave groove and bearing matched to steel wire rope. Manilla rope blocks have a wider, softer-profile sheave for fibre rope (manila, polyester, polypropylene). Using the wrong block reduces the safe working load and accelerates wear on both rope and sheave.
What capacity range does Toco stock?
Snatch blocks are stocked from 0.5 tonne to 5 tonne WLL. Capacities from 10 tonne to 40 tonne are special order with a typical 4 to 5 week lead time. See the specifications table above for sheave diameters and matching wire rope sizes per capacity.
What size wire rope does a snatch block accept?
Wire rope diameter is matched to the sheave size, with a specified rope size range for each capacity. See the specifications table above. Across the range Toco supplies, snatch blocks take wire rope from approximately 5 mm to 38 mm. Synthetic ropes can also be used in some configurations.
What hook type comes on Toco’s snatch blocks?
The standard end fitting is a drop-forged steel hook with a safety latch. Swivel shackle and plain link variants are available on request from Toco’s supply partners for specific rigging arrangements.
Can a snatch block be used to lift overhead?
Yes, snatch blocks are rated for lifting and load handling within their WLL, including overhead lifting where the rigging plan accounts for the block, the wire rope and the end fittings as a system. The whole rigging system must be inspected and rated by a competent person before each lift.
Do Toco’s snatch blocks come with a Conformance Inspection Certificate?
Yes. Each unit ships with a Conformance Inspection Certificate. Toco issues Conformance Inspection Certificates against OEM standards and SANS standards, using a SANAS-calibrated load cell. Lifting tackle must be re-inspected at least every 3 months in line with DMR 18; Load Test (Performance) Certificates are valid for 12 months. Note: Load Test Certificates (the longer-form performance certificate) are issued specifically for chain blocks, see Vital® Chain Blocks.
Are these snatch blocks LME 008 tested?
Toco Lifting holds LME registration #008 from the Department of Labour, granting authority to conduct conformance inspections against OEM and SANS Standards, and performance testing under DMR 18 and the Mine Health and Safety Act. The LME 008 testing scope covers equipment categories including chain blocks, steel wire ropes, chain slings, steel wire slings (including cable laid grommets), and flat webbings; for equipment outside these categories, contact Toco to be advised. Snatch blocks sit outside this testing scope; each snatch block supplied by Toco ships with a Conformance Inspection Certificate produced on Toco’s SANAS-calibrated load cell.
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Request a Quote, Snatch Blocks
From Toco Lifting, a South African lifting, lashing and rigging equipment supplier. Tell us your wire rope size, required WLL, OEM preference (Starcraft, Wilco or other) and end-fitting type for a same-day quote.
Phone: 011 345 8800
·
Email: sales@toco.co.za
Germiston (HQ), Cape Town
