隨(sui)著科學技術(shu)和(he)生產(chan)的發展，起(qi)重設備(bei)(bei)在(zai)不(bu)斷地完善(shan)和(he)發展之(zhi)中，甘(gan)南(nan)起(qi)重設備(bei)(bei)，的電氣、光(guang)學、計算機技術(shu)在(zai)起(qi)重設備(bei)(bei)上(shang)得到(dao)應(ying)用。起(qi)重設備(bei)(bei)趨向是增進自動(dong)化程(cheng)度，提(ti)高工(gong)作(zuo)(zuo)效率和(he)使用性能，使操(cao)作(zuo)(zuo)更(geng)簡化、省力(li)和(he)更(geng)。起(qi)重設備(bei)(bei)是在(zai)取料(liao)之(zhi)后(hou)即開始垂直或(huo)垂直兼有水平的工(gong)作(zuo)(zuo)行程(cheng)，到(dao)達目的地后(hou)卸載(zai)，起(qi)重設備(bei)(bei)維修(xiu)資質，再(zai)空行程(cheng)到(dao)取料(liao)地點(dian)，完成一個工(gong)作(zuo)(zuo)循環，然(ran)后(hou)再(zai)進行第二次吊運或(huo)搬運。

大(da)(da)多體積小、重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)量輕、使(shi)用(yong)方便。除電動葫(hu)蘆和絞(jiao)車外，絕(jue)大(da)(da)多數(shu)用(yong)人(ren)力驅動，適用(yong)于工作(zuo)不繁(fan)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)的(de)場合。它們可(ke)以單(dan)獨(du)使(shi)用(yong)，有的(de)也(ye)可(ke)作(zuo)為(wei)起(qi)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)機的(de)起(qi)升機構。起(qi)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)設(she)備按(an)結構不同可(ke)分為(wei)輕小型起(qi)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)設(she)備、升降(jiang)機、起(qi)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)機和架空(kong)單(dan)軌系統等(deng)幾類。輕小型起(qi)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)設(she)備主要(yao)包括起(qi)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)滑(hua)車、吊具、千斤頂、手動葫(hu)蘆、電動葫(hu)蘆和普通絞(jiao)車。在高校(xiao)實驗室(shi)使(shi)用(yong)起(qi)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)設(she)備雖數(shu)量不多、起(qi)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)噸位(wei)不大(da)(da)，但由于起(qi)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)設(she)備使(shi)用(yong)頻率不高，對(dui)其維護(hu)保養及安全運行顯得更(geng)為(wei)重(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)(zhong)要(yao)。

起(qi)重(zhong)設(she)(she)(she)備(bei)所吊(diao)(diao)運(yun)的(de)(de)重(zhong)物(wu)多(duo)(duo)種多(duo)(duo)樣，載(zai)荷是變化的(de)(de)。有(you)(you)的(de)(de)重(zhong)物(wu)重(zhong)達(da)幾(ji)百噸乃至上(shang)千噸，起(qi)重(zhong)設(she)(she)(she)備(bei)租賃資質，有(you)(you)的(de)(de)物(wu)體長達(da)幾(ji)十米，形(xing)狀也很不(bu)規則，有(you)(you)散粒、熱融狀態、危險物(wu)品等，起(qi)重(zhong)設(she)(she)(she)備(bei)制造資質，吊(diao)(diao)運(yun)過程復雜(za)而危險。門座起(qi)重(zhong)機能(neng)完成起(qi)升(sheng)、變幅、回轉和大(da)(da)車運(yun)行4個運(yun)動。在作(zuo)業過程中，常常是幾(ji)個不(bu)同方向的(de)(de)運(yun)動同時操作(zuo)，技術難度較(jiao)大(da)(da)。大(da)(da)多(duo)(duo)數起(qi)重(zhong)設(she)(she)(she)備(bei)，需(xu)要(yao)(yao)在較(jiao)大(da)(da)的(de)(de)空間范圍(wei)內(nei)運(yun)行，有(you)(you)的(de)(de)要(yao)(yao)裝(zhuang)設(she)(she)(she)軌道(dao)和車輪(lun)（如塔吊(diao)(diao)、橋吊(diao)(diao)等）；有(you)(you)的(de)(de)要(yao)(yao)裝(zhuang)上(shang)輪(lun)胎或(huo)履(lv)帶(dai)在地面上(shang)行走（如汽車吊(diao)(diao)、履(lv)帶(dai)吊(diao)(diao)等）。