Arrow Construction Companies has added a Dura-Mod 24 modular spreader beam from The Caldwell Group to its rigging inventory, giving the contractor one system it can reconfigure for a range of below-the-hook lifts instead of relying on multiple fixed or adjustable beams. Caldwell distributor Superior Lifting Specialists supplied the beam along with its supporting rigging components.

The Dura-Mod system is built from interchangeable parts: a pair of end fittings and drop links, upper and lower shackles, and intermediate spreader sections that set the beam's overall length. Top sling assemblies, such as synthetic roundslings, complete the lifting arrangement.

The DM24 can be configured for spans from 3 to 24 ft (0.9 to 7.3 m) and has a capacity of up to 26.5 tons (24 t), which varies with sling angle and spread. Arrow's kit includes two 1.5-ft (0.46 m) end fittings, two 6-ft (1.8 m) spreader sections that together provide 12 ft (3.7 m) of spread, and two additional 1-ft (0.3 m) sections.

Lift requirements rarely stay the same from one job to the next, and buying a dedicated beam for each one ties up capital, storage space, and time spent waiting on lead times. "Today's lift may call for a 6-foot spread, while tomorrow's requires 20 feet at a different capacity," said Ryan Moen, regional sales manager at Caldwell. With a modular system, users add or swap components to match the next lift rather than ordering a new beam. In Arrow's case, Superior Lifting built the configuration from stocked components so the contractor didn't have to wait for a complete beam to be made, and Caldwell says it has expanded its component inventory to support short-turnaround orders.

The system's size also makes it easier to move between jobs. "I like the ease of transport. The DM24 is really nice to put together with just one guy last minute. No special forklift handling or extra guys needed to put it together. It's small and fits in the back of a 6-foot truck. They're interchangeable, and I like the versatility for picks."