A weldable lifting point built for permanent, multi-directional lifting on flat and curved steel surfaces.
Category : Lifting Products
Sub Category : Lifting Points
The VLBS suspension ring pivots a full 180°, so a rigger can align the sling angle to the lift rather than forcing the load into a fixed direction. On the VLBS-U variant, the suspension ring and the weld-on block are undetachable, held together by an internal retaining spring, so the ring cannot be lost, swapped for a mismatched part, or dropped during handling on site. The same spring holds the ring in whatever position it is set, which cuts down the rattling noise that loose lifting points make during transport. Patented support noses sit inside the octagon-shaped forged ring, which is what allows full WLL loading not just straight up, but also at 90° to the side, a load direction many bolt-on points cannot handle safely. The ring itself is forged from high-tensile alloy steel, and every finished ring is tested by electromagnetic crack detection before it leaves the factory.
The choice between VLBS-U and VLBS-P comes down to the shape of the surface you are welding onto.
VLBS-U is the standard weld-on lifting eye, built for flat plate, structural steel sections and most fabricated surfaces. It covers a WLL range from 1.5 to 16 tonnes and is the right default for general fabrication work.
VLBS-P is made specifically for curved surfaces such as pipes, tanks and cylindrical vessels. Its weld-on block has a concave underside shaped to sit against round stock, rated for outside diameters from Ø82mm to Ø220mm, or an outside radius from R41 to R110. Welding a flat-block VLBS-U onto a curved pipe leaves gaps in the weld root that a straight fillet weld cannot fill properly, which is exactly what the VLBS-P's shaped block is designed to avoid.
Weld-on lifting points earn their place wherever a bolted lifting eye cannot be fitted, or where a permanent point is worth the extra weld time. Steel fabrication shops use them on beams, brackets and heavy plate assemblies that leave the shop floor as one lift. Pipe and pressure-vessel manufacturers rely on VLBS-P for handling sections and finished vessels during fabrication and installation, where the surface is round rather than flat. Structural steel erectors use them on columns and trusses that need a fixed, repeatable lifting point through multiple hoists. Machine builders and plant engineering firms weld them onto equipment skids and enclosures lifted more than once over the equipment's working life, saving re-rigging each time.
A VLBS load ring is only as strong as the weld holding it, so the welding seam size RUD specifies for each model (shown in the table above) is not optional. Using a smaller seam, a lower weld class, or an unsuitable base material reduces the rated WLL even though the ring itself is unchanged. Weld only onto material with adequate thickness and weldability for the specified seam size, and match the welding procedure to both the ring's weld-on block material and the parent material, since mismatched filler metal or preheat can produce a weak or brittle joint. Before first use, and before every subsequent lift, visually inspect the weld seam for cracks, undercut or porosity, check that the suspension ring still pivots freely through its full 180°, and confirm the WLL marking is legible. A ring with a damaged spring, a cracked weld or a WLL tag that cannot be read should be taken out of service rather than used and checked later.
The VLBS-U range covers six standard capacities from 1.5 to 16 tonnes, and VLBS-P is published in a single 4 tonne size, rated for pipe diameters from Ø82mm to Ø220mm (radius R41 to R110). RUD also offers VLBS-U-LT, a low-temperature version rated down to -45°C for cold-storage and winter outdoor applications. Requirements outside the published diameter or capacity range, such as a curvature tighter than R41 or a capacity between standard sizes, need engineering review rather than a stock selection, since the weld-on block's curvature is matched to the pipe diameter it is rated for.
RUD India manufactures and supplies the VLBS range to the same design, testing and material standards used across RUD Group's global operations, headquartered in Aalen, Germany, where the VLBS load ring was engineered. Every ring is forged from high-tensile alloy steel and tested by electromagnetic crack detection before dispatch, with the WLL clearly stamped on the ring rather than left to a separate paper certificate that can go missing on site. RUD India's engineering team reviews welding procedure and base material questions directly with fabricators, rather than leaving weld class selection to guesswork. A local sales and service network means replacement rings, technical queries and welding procedure support are available without routing every question through an overseas office.
All dimensions in mm.
Material: Suspension ring forged from high-tensile alloy steel, 100% electromagnetic crack-detection tested. Weld-on block in easily weldable low-alloy steel.
Finish: Bare, ready-to-weld finish. WLL and batch marking stamped directly onto the ring.
Standard compliance: DIN EN 1677-1, DGUV Rule 109-017. Design factor 4:1.
Temperature range: -40°C to +200°C without load reduction on standard VLBS-U; VLBS-U-LT variant available down to -45°C.
111/112, 1st Floor, Orion Business Park, Next to Cine Wonder Mall, Ghodbunder Road, Thane (West), Thane - 400607, MH, India
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