Choosing Between a 1, 2 and 5 Tonne Winch
The right winch depends on the heaviest load it will lift, how deep the shaft is and whether it serves a temporary job or permanent production hoisting. Rated line pull is quoted on the first rope layer. As rope builds up on the drum, the available pull falls, so a winch working near its rating on a deep shaft can struggle when the drum is nearly full. The table compares the three sizes we describe, using the figures on each product page.
| 1 tonne | 2 tonne | 5 tonne | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rated line pull (first layer) | 1,000 kg | 2,000 kg | 5,000 kg |
| Typical shaft depth | Up to about 60 m | About 60–120 m | About 120–300 m |
| Wire rope diameter | 8–11 mm | 11–14 mm | 16–20 mm |
| Drum rope capacity | 30–120 m | 60–200 m | 150–400 m |
| Line speed | 8–15 m/min | 7–12 m/min | 15–45 m/min |
| Motor | 1.5–3.0 kW | 3.0–5.5 kW | 7.5–15 kW |
| Machine mass | 60–130 kg | 180–350 kg | 900–2,500 kg |
| Typical role | Ore buckets on shallow shafts, hauling and positioning | Deeper shafts, larger buckets, skips on inclines | Permanent production hoisting with skips or kibbles |
To choose, add up everything hanging on the rope at its heaviest moment: the bucket or kibble, the ore inside it and the rope itself between the drum and the bottom of the shaft. The rope supplier gives its mass per metre, and on a deep shaft that weight is significant. Then allow a margin so the winch is not working at its limit on every lift.
As a worked assumption, suppose a kibble weighs 250 kg empty and carries 600 kg of ore. That is 850 kg before the rope is counted. A 1 tonne winch would leave very little margin once the rope is added, especially with the drum nearly full, so a 2 tonne winch is the safer choice for that duty. Replace these figures with your actual bucket weight, fill and shaft depth.
Depth also matters beyond load. A deeper shaft needs more rope on the drum, and a production shaft that hoists all day needs the line speed, braking and inspection regime of a permanent installation rather than a portable winch. Any winch that carries people must be designed, certified and inspected for that purpose, with a much higher rope safety factor than goods hoisting. Confirm the current requirements for your licence with the Mining Commission and OSHA Tanzania before commissioning. For a quotation, send us the shaft depth, the heaviest load including the bucket, how many hours a day it will run and your power supply.
2 Tonne Electric Winch Specifications
The figures below describe typical industry specifications for this class of equipment rather than a single fixed model. Use them to scope a requirement, then confirm exact figures against the supplied unit before purchase.
| Specification | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Rated line pull (first layer) | 2,000 kg (2 tonnes) |
| Wire rope diameter | 11–14 mm, 6×19 or 6×37 IWRC |
| Drum rope capacity | 60–200 m depending on drum width |
| Line speed (first layer) | 7–12 m/min |
| Motor rating | 3.0–5.5 kW |
| Power supply | 400 V 3-phase 50 Hz |
| Duty cycle | S3, 25–40% ED |
| Brake | Fail-safe electromagnetic disc, ≥125% rated load |
| Gearbox | Helical or worm reduction, oil bath |
| Ingress protection | IP54–IP55 |
| Machine mass | 180–350 kg |
| Foundation | Bolted to reinforced concrete plinth |
2 Tonne Electric Winch: Uses and Applications
- Ore hoisting from shafts 60–120 m
- Skip and cage haulage on inclines
- Heavy equipment installation underground
- Pump station and ventilation fan positioning
- Bulk sample recovery during exploration
Maintenance Schedule
Most premature failures in this equipment class trace back to a missed routine check rather than a design fault. The intervals below are a practical starting schedule; adjust them to your duty cycle and the manufacturer manual.
| Interval | Task |
|---|---|
| Every shift | Rope inspection over the full working length; verify brake holds and drum flanges are undamaged. |
| Weekly | Lubricate rope and sheaves; check fleet angle at the drum stays within 1.5° to prevent rope pile-up. |
| Monthly | Gearbox oil level and condition; inspect drum shaft bearings for play and temperature rise. |
| Quarterly | Brake lining measurement and air-gap reset; overload and emergency stop function test. |
| Annually | Certified 125% load test; non-destructive testing of drum shaft and structural welds. |
Frequently Asked Questions
When should I move from a 1 tonne to a 2 tonne winch?
When the loaded bucket or skip plus rope weight regularly exceeds about 700 kg, or when shaft depth passes 60 m. Rope self-weight becomes significant with depth. A 100 m length of 12 mm rope alone weighs around 50 kg, and that eats into available payload on a smaller machine.
What foundation does a 2 ton winch need?
A reinforced concrete plinth sized so the mass is at least three times the rated line pull, with cast-in anchor bolts. Bolting a 2 tonne winch to timber sleepers or unreinforced slab is a frequent failure mode: the machine walks under cyclic load and the rope fleet angle goes out of tolerance.
What is fleet angle and why does it matter?
Fleet angle is the angle between the rope leaving the drum and a line perpendicular to the drum axis. Beyond about 1.5° the rope piles unevenly, crushes lower layers and wears fast. It is set by the distance from drum to the first sheave, which is why sheave position is a design decision, not a site convenience.
Can a 2 tonne winch run on a generator?
Yes, but size the generator for starting current, not running current. A 5.5 kW direct-on-line motor draws six to seven times full-load current at start, so a 20–30 kVA set is a realistic minimum. A soft starter or variable-frequency drive reduces that substantially and is worth the cost where generator capacity is tight.
How deep can a 2 ton winch hoist?
Drum capacity typically allows 60–200 m of rope. The practical limit is set by payload after deducting rope self-weight and by whether the drum can spool that length without exceeding three or four layers, since each layer reduces available pull.
Supply and Delivery Across Tanzania
Bart Mining supplies 2 tonne electric winch and related equipment to mining operations throughout Tanzania, with primary coverage of the Lake Victoria Goldfields (Mwanza, Kahama, Geita, Shinyanga and Bukombe), alongside the Lupa Goldfields around Chunya and Mbeya, and delivery nationwide from Dar es Salaam.
Commonly supplied to: Musoma and Butiama.
Manufacturer or supplier of this equipment? Bart Mining sells machinery like the 2 tonne electric winch to buyers across Tanzania through its local market partnership.