Management of lifting and hoisting equipment with Centix
In many industries, lifting and hoisting equipment is indispensable. Chains, lifting slings, round slings, hoists, and cranes are used daily to move loads safely and in a controlled manner. The reliability of these assets has a direct impact on safety, operational continuity, and liability. A damaged asset, an expired inspection or a missing certificate can lead to downtime, rejection or liability risks, both on the work floor and during audits or certification processes.
Periodic inspections and load tests are therefore essential. Equally important is the structured and verifiable recording of inspections, certificates and documentation. In practice, this is often where fragmentation occurs due to separate files, multiple systems or manual registration.
Centix supports organisations in professionally setting up, digitising and safeguarding the management of lifting and hoisting equipment within one central environment. This ensures that safety, compliance and oversight are structurally secured.
This page is intended for international employees working at Dutch lifting and hoisting companies.
Benefits of Centix
- Real-time insight: After an inspection or load test is completed, a certificate or inspection report is generated immediately, making the status of the asset instantly available. This prevents waiting times, manual post-processing and uncertainty for customers or auditors.
- Complete asset history: Always have insight into previously performed inspections, tests and related documentation. The full lifecycle of each asset is available immediately.
- Centralised documentation: Type approvals, EC declarations and certificates are clearly linked to the correct asset. When using the product module, these documents are configured once at product level and automatically made available to all underlying assets. No separate files or time-consuming searches afterwards.
- Automatic notifications: Timely alerts for upcoming inspections and tests ensure that no inspection is missed. This reduces the risk of expired certificates and inspection reports.
- Support for applicable standards and EKH guidelines: Configured in accordance with relevant NEN-EN standards and occupational health and safety regulations, including NEN-EN 818, NEN-EN 1677 and NEN-EN 13889, as well as EKH working guidelines.
- Quick to implement: A standardised setup that seamlessly aligns with the existing lifting and hoisting processes of inspection companies and end users, allowing you to get started immediately.
- (Customer) portal: Direct insight into equipment, inspection status and certificates for both customers and colleagues via a personal portal.
- Open API integrations: Integration with test benches and other technical systems within your organisation through an open API.
These companies already use Centix:
Control over lifting and hoisting equipment: above and below the hook
Within the lifting and hoisting industry, a distinction is made between equipment above the hook and below the hook. This distinction determines how inspections are organised, carried out and recorded. Organisations working in accordance with, among others, the EKH guidelines will immediately recognise this structure. Centix aligns seamlessly with this practical classification.
Below the hook
Equipment below the hook consists of loose lifting and hoisting tools that are directly attached to the lifting hook, such as lifting slings, round slings, chains and clamps. These assets are mobile and are often used intensively. Depending on the type of equipment and the applicable standard, visual inspections and load tests each have their own inspection interval. For example, a visual inspection usually takes place annually, while a load test may be carried out once every four years.
Within Centix, multiple inspection types can be recorded per asset, each with its own inspection interval. For every item, it is immediately clear when the last visual inspection was performed, when a load test took place and what the current inspection status is. Certificates and inspection documents are automatically generated based on this information.
Above the hook
Equipment above the hook generally consists of a lifting device with its associated components, such as an overhead crane with a hoist, trolley or travel drive. These components function together as one technical system and are assessed as such. In practice, the focus is therefore not on the individual component, but on the safe operation of the complete overhead crane.
Centix supports this with a flexible asset structure that can be configured based on the composition of the crane. The lifting device functions as the main asset, while components — such as multiple trolleys — can be linked hierarchically. This ensures that the structure fully reflects the actual configuration of the lifting equipment. During inspections, relevant components are automatically included, allowing the assessment to be recorded completely and consistently in one integrated inspection result.
Lifting and hoisting management in practice
In practice, managing lifting and hoisting equipment requires clear oversight, structure and traceability. Organisations are responsible for a wide variety of assets: from individual round slings, chains and shackles to complete lifting beams and lifting devices. Each asset has its own inspection requirements, frequencies and assessment criteria.
Many organisations in the Dutch lifting and hoisting industry work in accordance with the guidelines of EKH (Erkende Keurbedrijven Hijs- en Hefmiddelen, which translates to ‘Approved Inspection Companies for Lifting and Hoisting Equipment’). These guidelines define clear requirements for the inspection, registration and traceability of inspections for equipment both above the hook and below the hook.
For example, a chain in accordance with NEN-EN 818 requires different inspection points than a lifting beam according to NEN-EN 13155 or a lifting component covered by NEN-EN 1677. In addition, visual checks, periodic inspections and load tests may take place separately, depending on the type of equipment and the applicable standard. This requires a structured approach in which it is clearly defined per asset what must be inspected, how often it must be inspected and according to which criteria.
Centix supports this with standard inspection plans configured in line with the EKH guidelines for equipment above and below the hook. These provide a solid foundation for consistent execution. Inspection plans can also be adapted to internal working methods, extended with additional inspection points or created from scratch to meet specific requirements. This ensures that, for each type of lifting or hoisting equipment, it is clearly defined what needs to be inspected.
All inspection results, certificates and related documentation are centrally managed. This ensures a uniform way of working and makes information immediately available for internal checks, customer access and audits. As a result, organisations gain full control over the entire management process: from planning and standards to execution and traceability.
Digital inspection and documentation
Inspections of lifting and hoisting equipment often take place on location: in workshops, warehouses, ports or project sites. In these environments, an efficient and reliable way of recording inspection results is essential. A digital approach prevents scattered notes, duplicate administration and uncertainty afterwards.
Inspectors work with digital checklists in the Centix OnSite app. Based on the linked inspection plan, the correct inspection points are automatically displayed. During the inspection, findings are recorded directly, including notes and the addition of photos. Photos of wear, deformation or damage provide clear and visually supported documentation of the inspection.
The entire inspection is carried out and processed administratively within the app. After completion, a structured inspection report is automatically generated, including asset details, inspection results and any deviations. This report is immediately available within the central system.
This digital approach increases efficiency, reduces the risk of errors and ensures a consistent and traceable inspection process.
Direct insight via QR code
By equipping lifting and hoisting equipment with a unique identification, such as a QR code, asset information becomes instantly accessible on site. With a simple scan, the correct asset opens, including its current inspection status, certificates and related documentation.
Customers, clients and internal employees can use this code to view up-to-date asset information. Depending on the configuration, the information is either publicly accessible or available through a secure login within the customer portal.
This creates transparency for all involved parties. Current information is always directly available, without the need for separate documents or additional requests. This strengthens the reliability, traceability and verifiability of lifting and hoisting equipment management.
Zwarts Veiligheid & Techniek: “Centix makes a difference in our daily processes!”
Zwarts Veiligheid & Techniek is a specialist in lifting and hoisting equipment and provides services including sales, rental and inspections. The focus is primarily on inspections of equipment below the hook, such as chains and hoists.
With Centix, inspections are carried out using digital checklists, where each item is registered and provided with a QR code. Customers receive access to the Centix system to gain insight into their inspected equipment and the associated certificates. Johan explains: “The certificates are available online immediately. That process works really well, also for the customer. The moment a customer selects a piece of equipment, the certificate is instantly available.”
Discover what Centix can do for your organisation
Have you become interested and would like to learn more? I’d be happy to guide you through the possibilities in a personalised product demonstration. Depending on your requirements, I will brief you in half an hour to an hour and a half to give you a clear picture of our lifting and hoisting management solution!
