Omega links (named for their rounded, near-circular shape) and delta links (triangular) are one-piece forged connectors used to gather two, three or four sling or chain legs at a single point, typically for attachment to a crane hook or to a master link above them. They are common at the top end of multi-leg chain slings and wire rope slings used in general lifting and heavy transport work.
Unlike a shackle, an omega or delta link has no removable pin — the legs are captured through the closed body, usually via subsidiary links or master link assemblies, and the link itself does the job of both gathering the legs and taking the hook. This makes correct sizing and configuration important: a link rated for a given number of legs at a given angle is not automatically rated for more legs or a wider angle.
Identification: forged links carry the manufacturer’s mark, size, grade and working load limit for the specific configuration (number of legs, angle) they were tested for. This information is usually also carried on the sling’s identification tag as part of the whole assembly.
What makes one unsafe:
- Using the link with more legs, or at a wider angle, than the marked/rated configuration
- Cracks, deformation, wear at the bearing points where chain or sling legs contact the link, or corrosion
- Illegible or missing markings, so the rated configuration cannot be confirmed
- Mixing components from different manufacturers or different sling assemblies without a matching certified configuration
Before use: check the link’s marking against the actual number of legs and the angle being used, inspect bearing surfaces for wear or deformation, and confirm the link belongs to the sling assembly’s original certified configuration rather than an improvised substitution.
Standarder: EN 1677 (components for slings — safety; various parts cover different forged component types). Confirm the specific part applicable to the link before citing it on a product page — not all omega/delta link designs are covered by a single harmonised part.