Hoist Systems
At ITE, we specialise in designing, supplying and installing high-quality hoist systems for performing arts venues, sports facilities, and multi-purpose spaces across Australia. Our hoists are engineered for safety, reliability, and precise movement, allowing stage crews and facility operators to fly lighting bars, scenery, curtains, screens, basketball rings, multi-purpose nets, battens, and other suspended elements with confidence.
From small community theatres to large performing arts centres and sports arenas, ITE delivers systems that are custom-designed to meet your space, load, and operational requirements, whether for everyday use or professional-level productions.
Hoist Types
ITE provides a full range of hoist solutions for different applications:
ITE Pile Wind Hoists – high-capacity, versatile hoists for lifting heavy scenery, battens, and stage platforms. Ideal for theatre applications where reliability under frequent use is critical.
ITE Zero Fleet Angle Hoists– designed to operate with minimal rope wear and optimal alignment, these hoists are ideal for high load, fast-speed flying of lighting bars, curtains, or delicate scenery elements.
ITE Drum Hoists – compact and reliable, suitable for moderate loads and applications requiring precise positioning over short or medium travel.
Chain Hoists – robust motorised chain hoists for lifting lighting bars & trusses, nets, or scenery battens
Other Hoist Options – ITE can also supply motorised wire rope hoists, winches, and bespoke lifting solutions for specialised applications, including sports arenas, multi-purpose stages, or suspended audiovisual elements.
Applications
ITE hoists are used for a wide variety of functions, including:
Flying lighting bars and rigging trusses
Raising and lowering scenery and stage elements
Operating curtain and screen systems
Adjusting basketball rings, multi-purpose nets, or gym equipment
Positioning battens or stage rigging components for rehearsal or performance
Why Choose ITE Hoists?
ITE’s hoist and control systems are:
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🛡️
Engineered for Safety – designed and certified to meet Australian Standards with redundant safety and control systems
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⚙️
Built for Performance – smooth, quiet, and precise operation for rehearsal and performance use
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🔄
Adaptable – easily reconfigured between orchestra pit, extended stage, or seating platform modes
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🧰
Low Maintenance – clean, oil-free rigid chain technology with minimal servicing needs
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⏱️
Fully Integrated – can be connected to stage automation, lighting, or AV systems for coordinated operation
Why Choose ITE Hoists?
ITE’s hoist and control systems are:
-
🛡️
Engineered for Safety – designed and certified to meet Australian Standards with redundant safety and control systems
-
⚙️
Built for Performance – smooth, quiet, and precise operation for rehearsal and performance use
-
🔄
Adaptable – easily reconfigured between orchestra pit, extended stage, or seating platform modes
-
🧰
Low Maintenance – clean, oil-free rigid chain technology with minimal servicing needs
-
⏱️
Fully Integrated – can be connected to stage automation, lighting, or AV systems for coordinated operation
ITE Pile Wind Hoists (Elevate-2)
The ITE Pile Wind Hoist is a high-capacity, versatile hoist designed for lifting heavy scenery, stage platforms, lighting trusses, battens, and other theatre or performance elements. These hoists are engineered for frequent use, smooth operation, and long-term reliability, making them ideal for professional performing arts venues. The Pile Wind Hoist is the most common found hoist in theatre environments and have been the industry staple for 30+ years.
Features:
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🛡️
High Load & Speed Capacity – capable of lifting heavy loads at reasonable speeds, ensuring safely and consistently.
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⚙️
Versatile Operation – suitable for lifting battens, scenery, curtains, and other stage elements.
-
🔄
Smooth Motion Control – precise vertical movement for quiet, controlled operation
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🧰
Durable Construction – built for repeated use with high-quality materials and long service life
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⚙️
Redundant Safety Systems – emergency stop, limit switches, and mechanical safeguards integrated for operator safety.
Applications:
-
🛡️
Flying large lighting bars or trusses
-
⚙️
Raising and lowering heavy scenery elements or stage platforms
-
🔄
Moving curtain systems or screens on and off stage
-
🧰
Multi-purpose lifting in rehearsal or performance environments
ITE Pile Wind Hoists (Elevate-2)
The ITE Pile Wind Hoist is a high-capacity, versatile hoist designed for lifting heavy scenery, stage platforms, lighting trusses, battens, and other theatre or performance elements. These hoists are engineered for frequent use, smooth operation, and long-term reliability, making them ideal for professional performing arts venues. The Pile Wind Hoist is the most common found hoist in theatre environments and have been the industry staple for 30+ years.
Features:
-
🛡️
High Load & Speed Capacity – capable of lifting heavy loads at reasonable speeds, ensuring safely and consistently.
-
⚙️
Versatile Operation – suitable for lifting battens, scenery, curtains, and other stage elements.
-
🔄
Smooth Motion Control – precise vertical movement for quiet, controlled operation
-
🧰
Durable Construction – built for repeated use with high-quality materials and long service life
-
⚙️
Redundant Safety Systems – emergency stop, limit switches, and mechanical safeguards integrated for operator safety.
Applications:
-
🛡️
Flying large lighting bars or trusses
-
⚙️
Raising and lowering heavy scenery elements or stage platforms
-
🔄
Moving curtain systems or screens on and off stage
-
🧰
Multi-purpose lifting in rehearsal or performance environments
ITE Zero Fleet Angle Hoists (Infinity)
The ITE Zero Fleet Angle Hoist is a precision hoist engineered to minimise rope wear and maximise alignment efficiency. It is ideal for lifting very heavy and delicate scenery, lighting bars, or curtain systems safely, smoothly, and repeatedly. These hoists are designed for frequent use and precise operation, making them perfect for professional theatres and performance venues. Zero Fleet Hoists operate similarly to a pile wind hoist, however they are generally more suitable in very high load (up to 1.5T) and fast-speed (up to 1m/sec) applications where a Pile Wind Hoist cannot meet the performance requirements.
Applications:
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🛡️
Flying lighting bars or adjustable lighting trusses at high speed
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⚙️
Flying a house curtain in and out at fast speed
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🔄
multi-purpose stage operations where precision and alignment are critical
Features:
-
🛡️
Zero Fleet Angle Design – eliminates lateral rope stress, reducing wear and increasing ability to operate at high speed.
-
⚙️
High Load & Speed Capacity – lifts heavy loads safely and efficiently with precise control.
-
🔄
Smooth Motion Control – quiet, controlled vertical movement ideal for performance settings.
-
🧰
Durable Construction – high-quality components built for repeated use over long service life.
-
⚙️
Redundant Safety Systems – emergency stop, limit switches, and mechanical safeguards integrated for operator safety.
ITE Zero Fleet Angle Hoists (Infinity)
The ITE Zero Fleet Angle Hoist is a precision hoist engineered to minimise rope wear and maximise alignment efficiency. It is ideal for lifting very heavy and delicate scenery, lighting bars, or curtain systems safely, smoothly, and repeatedly. These hoists are designed for frequent use and precise operation, making them perfect for professional theatres and performance venues. Zero Fleet Hoists operate similarly to a pile wind hoist, however they are generally more suitable in very high load (up to 1.5T) and fast-speed (up to 1m/sec) applications where a Pile Wind Hoist cannot meet the performance requirements.
Features:
-
🛡️
Zero Fleet Angle Design – eliminates lateral rope stress, reducing wear and increasing ability to operate at high speed.
-
⚙️
High Load & Speed Capacity – lifts heavy loads safely and efficiently with precise control.
-
🔄
Smooth Motion Control – quiet, controlled vertical movement ideal for performance settings.
-
🧰
Durable Construction – high-quality components built for repeated use over long service life.
-
⚙️
Redundant Safety Systems – emergency stop, limit switches, and mechanical safeguards integrated for operator safety.
Applications:
-
🛡️
Flying lighting bars or adjustable lighting trusses at high speed
-
⚙️
Flying a house curtain in and out at fast speed
-
🔄
multi-purpose stage operations where precision and alignment are critical
Entertainment Chain Hoists
Chain Hoists are a versatile lifting solution for applications requiring simple, robust operation. Available from a range of manufacturers such as MODE and GIS, entertainment chain hoists are the workhorse of theatre environments due to their flexibility and high loading capabilities ranging from 250kg to 5T. Standard chain hoists can also be upgraded to include positioning, slow start and stop, load monitoring and other integrations. Note that it is critical to understand the different types and features of chain hoists to ensure the appropriate type is used for a specific application.
Applications:
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🛡️
Raising and lowering lighting bars, scenery bars, trusses and truss grids
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⚙️
Raising and lowering chandeliers or other elements
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🔄
Materials handling
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🧰
Maintenance and stage setup applications
Features:
-
🛡️
Compact & Robust –
suitable for tight installation spaces.. -
⚙️
Cost effectiveness –
chain hoists are the most cost effective form of motorising elements such as lighting bars. -
🔄
Precise Positioning –
easy control to lift and lower loads such as trusses. -
🧰
Durable Construction –
designed for frequent use with long service life. -
⚙️
Safety Integration –
includes limit stops and emergency stop options.
Entertainment Chain Hoists
Chain Hoists are a versatile lifting solution for applications requiring simple, robust operation. Available from a range of manufacturers such as MODE and GIS, entertainment chain hoists are the workhorse of theatre environments due to their flexibility and high loading capabilities ranging from 250kg to 5T. Standard chain hoists can also be upgraded to include positioning, slow start and stop, load monitoring and other integrations. Note that it is critical to understand the different types and features of chain hoists to ensure the appropriate type is used for a specific application.
Features:
-
🛡️
Compact & Robust –
suitable for tight installation spaces.. -
⚙️
Cost effectiveness –
chain hoists are the most cost effective form of motorising elements such as lighting bars. -
🔄
Precise Positioning –
easy control to lift and lower loads such as trusses. -
🧰
Durable Construction –
designed for frequent use with long service life. -
⚙️
Safety Integration –
includes limit stops and emergency stop options.
Applications:
-
🛡️
Raising and lowering lighting bars, scenery bars, trusses and truss grids
-
⚙️
Raising and lowering chandeliers or other elements
-
🔄
Materials handling
-
🧰
Maintenance and stage setup applications
ITE Drum Hoist
The ITE Drum Hoist is a compact, reliable hoist designed for lifting moderate loads with precise control. Its durable drum mechanism allows for smooth operation and accurate positioning of stage elements, making it ideal for theatres, schools, and multi-purpose venues. Although historically common place in theatres, drum hoists have mostly been replaced by either Pile Wind hoists or Zero Fleet Angle Hoists and are rarely found in new constructions.
Features:
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🛡️
High Precision Operation – drum mechanism ensures accurate and repeatable vertical movement.
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⚙️
Moderate Load Capacity – suitable for lifting medium-weight scenery, lighting bars, and equipment.
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🔄
Smooth Motion Control – quiet operation ideal for live performances and rehearsals.
-
🧰
Durable Construction – built with long-lasting materials for frequent use.
-
⚙️
Integrated Safety Systems – includes emergency stop, limit switches, and mechanical safeguards.
Applications:
-
🛡️
Flying medium-
weight lighting bars or trusses -
⚙️
Raising and lowering scenery or stage platforms
-
🔄
Moving curtains, screens, or projection equipment
-
🧰
Multi-purpose lifting in rehearsal or performance settings
Other Hoist Options
ITE can design and manufacture any type of hoist to meet specific project requirements. Whether it’s a bespoke motorised wire rope hoist, winch, or specialised lifting solution, we tailor the system to your venue’s load, travel, and operational needs while ensuring reliability, precision, and safety.
Frequently Asked Questions
