The Pfaff-Silberblau SW-KAL ("Seil-Winde Kompakt Aluminium" — compact aluminium rope winch) is the heavy-duty compact wire rope winch, offered as a 750 kg model with operator-engageable freewheel for fast rope deployment and a 1,120 kg model for higher-capacity compact lifting. Both share the same compact aluminium housing, making this the choice when a high-capacity manual winch must fit a small footprint where the larger SW-W Alpha, MWS or SW-K LB ranges will not. Each ships with pre-fitted galvanised wire rope at 10 m top-layer length — 6 mm on the 750 kg, 7 mm on the 1,120 kg.
Key Features
- Compact aluminium housing: The smallest high-capacity manual winch in the Pfaff range — fits installations where a full-size Alpha or MWS would not. The aluminium also provides corrosion resistance suited to damp environments.
- Operator-engageable freewheel (750 kg model): The freewheel lever disengages the gearbox to allow fast manual rope deployment by hand, then re-engages for lifting. Significantly faster setup than crank-only rope deployment over the full 10 m working length.
- Pre-fitted galvanised wire rope: 6 mm on the 750 kg, 7 mm on the 1,120 kg. Each winch ships ready to use with the correct rope diameter, length, and termination — no separate rope assembly required.
- 10 m working rope length: Top-layer length on both variants suits typical compact installation use cases (loading bays, equipment hoists, fixed-position lifting points).
- Lift speed scaled to capacity: 15 mm/rev on the 750 kg (faster lifting); 11 mm/rev on the 1,120 kg (high-force lifting at the higher capacity).
- Hand-cranked drum mechanism: Direct-acting manual lifting; no power supply, hydraulic feed, or compressed air required.
- Same housing footprint across both variants: Specify the higher capacity later without reworking the mounting interface.
Technical Specifications
| Model |
Article No. |
Capacity (kg) |
Rope Diameter (mm) |
Rope Length, Top Layer (m) |
Lift per Crank Rev. (mm) |
Freewheel |
| SW-KAL 750 (with freewheel) |
30207004 |
750 |
6 |
10 |
15 |
Yes |
| SW-KAL 1120 |
30208000 |
1,120 |
7 |
10 |
11 |
No |
The 1,120 kg model is rated to W.L.L. 1.12 t — useful capacity headroom for lifting applications nominally up to 1 tonne. Both variants share the same compact housing footprint, simplifying upgrade between the two capacities without modifying the mounting interface.
CE & UKCA Marked | ISO 9001 Manufactured | Made in Germany
Pfaff-Silberblau is a brand of Columbus McKinnon Industrial Products, the global leader in hoisting, lifting, and load-positioning equipment. This product is CE marked under the EU Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC and UKCA marked under the UK Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008, with each unit shipped with an EC Declaration of Conformity. Manufactured under EN ISO 9001 certified processes — the same quality management system applied across the wider Pfaff-silberblau, Yale, Stahl CraneSystems, and Tigrip product lines. Manual wire rope winches used for lifting loads in UK workplaces fall under LOLER 1998 and require Thorough Examination by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months. PUWER 1998 also applies as work equipment.
Suitable Applications
The Pfaff-Silberblau SW-KAL is specified for compact high-capacity lifting where a full-size wall-mounted winch will not fit. Typical applications include compact equipment hoists in confined plant rooms, vehicle workshop hoists for tight ramp installations, agricultural feed lifts in restricted-space buildings, marine and dockside installations where housing weight matters, and any general fixed-position 750 kg – 1,120 kg lifting where space is the constraint. The 750 kg model with freewheel is particularly useful where the rope is frequently deployed and retrieved over its full working length — the freewheel saves significant operator time over crank-only deployment. The 1,120 kg model provides the highest capacity in the Pfaff compact-winch lineup. For higher capacities up to 1,500 kg in a larger housing, see the Pfaff-Silberblau MWS 1500. For the 80 kg – 750 kg range with multiple rope diameter and length options, see the SW-W (SG) range.
How to Use the Pfaff-Silberblau SW-KAL
- Verify the mounting: Confirm the mounting bolts remain fully torqued and the substrate is undamaged. The mounting must support the rated capacity plus an appropriate safety factor.
- Inspect the rope: Visually check the full working length for kinks, broken strands, or surface damage. Remove from service if any defect is found.
- Deploy the rope (750 kg model): Engage the freewheel lever to disengage the gearbox, pull out the required length of rope by hand, then re-engage the gearbox before applying load.
- Deploy the rope (1,120 kg model): Crank the handle in the reverse direction to extend the rope to the required length.
- Attach the load: Connect the rope end to the load via a suitable rated hook, sling, or shackle. Ensure all connections are secure and safety latches engaged.
- Verify the freewheel is disengaged (750 kg model): Before lifting, confirm the freewheel lever is in the engaged (gearbox-locked) position. Lifting with the freewheel engaged is not possible and may damage the mechanism if attempted.
- Lift the load: Crank the handle smoothly in the lift direction. Lift speed is 15 mm/rev (750 kg) or 11 mm/rev (1,120 kg).
- Maintain a firm grip: Hand-cranked winches require the operator to maintain control of the crank handle throughout the lift cycle.
- Lower the load: Crank the handle in the reverse direction at a controlled rate.
Warning:
Wire rope winches are lifting devices and must not be used to lift, lower, or transport personnel. Never exceed the rated capacity stamped on the winch body. Never engage the freewheel while the load is suspended — the load will drop. Never use a winch with damaged rope or distorted housing.
Safety Information
- Verify the mounting before each use — bolts torqued, substrate undamaged.
- Inspect the wire rope for the full working length each shift; remove from service at first sign of broken strands, kinks, or surface damage.
- Never exceed the rated capacity stamped on the winch body.
- Never use the winch to lift, lower, or transport personnel.
- Never engage the freewheel while a load is suspended (750 kg model) — the load will fall free. The freewheel is for rope deployment only, not for lowering loads.
- Verify the freewheel is in the engaged (gearbox-locked) position before lifting.
- Maintain a firm grip on the crank handle throughout lifting and lowering.
- Keep at least three turns of rope on the drum at full extension — never run the rope off the drum.
- Workplace operators must establish a Thorough Examination regime under LOLER 1998 / PUWER 1998 at intervals not exceeding 12 months.
Not every winch is rated for lifting; a pulling winch used on a suspended load is outside its rating. See the full winch range, and pulley blocks for changing the direction of pull.
Inspection and Maintenance
The SW-KAL is built for steady industrial duty with low routine maintenance. The aluminium housing requires no specific corrosion protection. Before each use, inspect the wire rope, check the mounting, verify the crank handle is firmly fitted, and (on the 750 kg model) test the freewheel engagement and release with no load attached. The gear mechanism benefits from periodic light greasing per the OEM manual schedule. Replacement wire ropes are available from CMCO in matched diameters and lengths. The freewheel mechanism is a service item on the 750 kg model — engage and disengage should be smooth without sticking; any roughness indicates wear and requires service before returning to load duty. WOLFF Onsite provides LOLER-certified Thorough Examination, spare parts, replacement rope sets, and full overhaul for the Pfaff-Silberblau SW-KAL range.
Optional Accessories
- Replacement wire rope assemblies: Matched 6 mm or 7 mm diameter, pre-terminated for each capacity in the SW-KAL range.
- Wire rope pulley blocks (DSRB): Pfaff-Silberblau DSRB pulley blocks deflect the rope at 90° or 180° to reposition the working line or double the pulling capacity.
- Mounting brackets: Compact mounting plates for installations where the standard wall fixings need a reinforced or specialised interface.
- Wire rope grease and corrosion protection: Service consumables for routine maintenance of the rope.
Downloads
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What's the freewheel for?
The freewheel on the 750 kg model lets you pull rope out of the drum by hand instead of cranking it out. Engage the lever, pull the required length of rope by hand, then re-engage the lever before applying load. Much faster than crank-only deployment for the full 10 m of rope — typical time saving is 80% over winding out by crank.
Q: Can the freewheel be used to lower a load?
No — the freewheel disengages the gearbox entirely, meaning there is no brake. Engaging the freewheel under load causes the load to drop free, which is dangerous. The freewheel is for rope deployment only; lowering is done by cranking in the reverse direction through the engaged gearbox.
Q: Why does the 1,120 kg model not have a freewheel?
At higher capacities, the safety implications of accidental freewheel engagement under load become more serious — the higher the load, the more catastrophic an uncontrolled drop. The 1,120 kg model is deliberately designed without freewheel, requiring crank-only rope deployment for safety.
Q: What does W.L.L. 1.12 t actually mean?
W.L.L. = Working Load Limit. The 1,120 kg model is rated 1,120 kg as its safe working load. The slightly odd capacity (not a round 1,000 kg) reflects the actual rope and gearbox sizing — the unit can safely lift up to 1,120 kg, with appropriate safety factors built into the rope and mechanism. For a nominal 1,000 kg application, this gives a useful 12% headroom over rated load.
Q: Why is the rope only 10 m long?
The SW-KAL is a compact winch and the drum size is sized accordingly. For longer working ropes at similar capacity, the MWS 1000 (1,000 kg / 33 m) or SW-W 750 (750 kg / 10 m) are alternatives. The 10 m rope on the SW-KAL is enough for most compact loading bay and equipment-hoist applications.
Q: Does the SW-KAL need LOLER inspection?
Yes — manual wire rope winches used for lifting loads in UK workplaces fall under LOLER 1998 and require Thorough Examination by a competent person at intervals not exceeding 12 months. PUWER 1998 applies as work equipment. WOLFF Onsite provides full LOLER inspection across the Pfaff-Silberblau winch range.
