Van Beest Green Pin Shackles: The Complete Guide to Premium Lifting Hardware

When it comes to lifting and rigging, the shackle is often the most critical link in the chain — literally. Choosing the wrong shackle can mean catastrophic failure, injury, or worse. That's why industry professionals across Canada and around the world trust Van Beest Green Pin Shackles: the globally recognized standard for safe, certified, and reliable lifting hardware.

At Hercules Lifting, we supply the complete Van Beest Green Pin lineup to meet every lifting application — from general rigging to offshore heavy lift, construction, and industrial use. This guide covers everything you need to know: shackle types, Working Load Limits (WLL), certifications, and how to choose the right shackle for your lift.

What Are Van Beest Green Pin Shackles?

Van Beest is a Dutch manufacturer with over 75 years of engineering excellence. Their Green Pin brand has become synonymous with load-rated lifting hardware that meets the highest international safety standards. Every Green Pin shackle is individually proof-tested, and each comes with a Certificate of Conformance to standards including EN 13889, ASME B30.26, and DEF STAN 91-171.

Green Pin shackles are manufactured in carbon steel and stainless steel, available in a wide range of WLL ratings from 0.33 tonnes to 1,500 tonnes. Whether you're rigging a construction crane, securing offshore loads, or building a lifting assembly, there's a Green Pin shackle engineered for the job.

Green Pin Shackle Types: Full Product Overview

The Van Beest Green Pin lineup covers every rigging configuration. Below is a comprehensive overview of the key shackle types available through Hercules Lifting:

Note: WLL ratings and model availability are subject to stock. Contact Hercules Lifting for current availability and lead times on larger WLL ratings.

Screw Pin vs. Safety Bolt: Which Should You Use?

One of the most common questions we receive is whether to specify a screw pin or safety bolt (bolt type) shackle. Here's a quick breakdown:

• Screw Pin Shackles are ideal for temporary rigging configurations where the shackle is frequently removed, repositioned, or replaced. They're fast to install and widely used in general rigging, construction, and material handling. However, in applications with vibration or rotation, the pin can back out — always mouse the pin in these environments.
• Safety Bolt Shackles feature a bolt, nut, and cotter pin configuration that locks the shackle closed and prevents accidental opening. These are the correct choice for permanent or semi-permanent rigging, overhead lifts, and any application where vibration is present.

When in doubt, choose the safety bolt. It adds minimal installation time and significantly increases the security of your assembly.

Green Pin Certifications & Standards

Every Van Beest Green Pin shackle is manufactured and tested to meet the most demanding international standards:

• EN 13889 — European standard for forged steel shackles for general lifting purposes
• ASME B30.26 — American Society of Mechanical Engineers rigging hardware standard
• DEF STAN 91-171 — UK Ministry of Defence specification
• DNV / Bureau Veritas / Lloyd's Register — Available with third-party type approval for offshore and marine applications
• Individual Proof Testing — Every shackle is proof-loaded at 2× WLL and shipped with a Certificate of Conformance

In Canada, Green Pin shackles are widely accepted under CSA Z150 (Safety Code for Mobile Cranes) and provincial occupational health and safety regulations where equipment must be rated, marked, and certified.

How to Select the Right Green Pin Shackle

Selecting the correct shackle comes down to four key factors:

1. Working Load Limit (WLL): Never exceed the WLL stamped on the shackle. Apply the appropriate angle factor when used in multi-leg configurations.
2. Shackle Type: Use a bow shackle when connecting multiple sling legs or when the load may shift laterally. Use a dee shackle for in-line, single-direction loading only.
3. Pin Type: Choose screw pin for temporary use, safety bolt for permanent or vibration-exposed rigging.
4. Material: Carbon steel for standard industrial use; stainless steel (Grade 316) for marine, offshore, or corrosive environments; Polar grade for sub-zero applications.

If you're unsure about your application, our team at Hercules Lifting can help you select the right shackle and build a certified lifting assembly to meet your project specs.

Pairing Green Pin Shackles with the Right Rigging Hardware

Shackles rarely work in isolation. A properly engineered lifting assembly includes matched, rated components throughout — from the crane hook to the load. At Hercules Lifting, we supply the full range of rigging hardware to complement your Green Pin shackles, including:

• Wire rope slings and assemblies
• Chain slings and components
• Synthetic web and round slings
• Hooks, swivels, and eye bolts
• Spreader beams and lifting frames
• Turnbuckles and rigging screws

Every component we supply is load-rated, certified, and traceable. We can also provide custom sling assemblies built and proof-tested at our facilities, with full documentation packages for your compliance files.

Why Buy Green Pin Shackles from Hercules Lifting?

Hercules Lifting is a Canadian distributor with deep expertise in lifting and rigging equipment. When you source Green Pin shackles through us, you get:

• Genuine Van Beest product with full traceability and documentation
• Expert technical support to help you select the right shackle for your application
• Stock across multiple WLL ratings for fast turnaround on your projects
• Custom assembly services — we can incorporate Green Pin shackles into complete, certified sling assemblies
• Compliance documentation including Certificates of Conformance and proof test records

Whether you're outfitting a single job site or sourcing for a large infrastructure project, Hercules Lifting has the inventory, expertise, and service to support your program.