Manual chain hoists are commonly known as chain blocks and are designed for heavy duty lifting and materials handling. There are several factors to consider when choosing a chain hoist: type of hoist (lever or hand chain), capacity in tons, suspension, hand chain length, lifting material (cable or chain) and beam size. Once these are determined, you can see which manufacturers meet you requirements. A hand chain hoist is used for vertical lifting and a lever hoist is used for horizontal pulling or vertical lifting. You may want to choose an electric hoist, crane hoist or other type of lifting device if a manual chain hoist doesn't fit your needs.