Clamps

Clamps for Event and Stage Technology at LTT – Your Specialist

Clamps are the load-bearing link between your truss and everything you hang from it – lighting fixtures, moving heads, speakers and rigging accessories. At LTT you find professional half-couplers, hook clamps and swivel couplers built for the demands of touring, theatre and installation.

Every clamp in this range carries a defined Working Load Limit and is engineered to match standard truss tube diameters. That means safe suspension, repeatable results and full compliance with the norms professionals rely on.

Whether you build a compact club stage or a large festival rig, the right clamp lets you set your production in scene safely and achieve impressive results overhead.

What Is a Clamp? Fundamentals and Function

A clamp in event technology is a mechanical fixing device that grips a round truss tube or scaffold pipe and provides a rated connection point for a load. Unlike the woodworking clamps found in DIY stores – G-clamps, F-clamps or spring clamps used to press two workpieces together while glue sets – a rigging clamp is designed to suspend a load overhead with a certified safety factor.

The core principle is the same across all types: a movable jaw or half-shell closes around the tube and is tightened with a bolt, wing nut or spanner. Where a workshop clamp aims to hold a workpiece temporarily, a rigging clamp forms a permanent, load-rated attachment that stays in place for the duration of a show.

How a rigging clamp differs from a workshop clamp

• Load direction: Workshop clamps press horizontally; rigging clamps carry vertical suspended loads.
• Certification: Rigging clamps carry a stated Working Load Limit (WLL) and are typically TÜV SÜD tested.
• Fit: Rigging clamps are dimensioned for specific tube diameters such as 48–51 mm or 32–52 mm.
• Material: Rigging clamps use load-rated cast aluminium or steel, often powder-coated black to stay invisible on stage.

Understanding this distinction is essential: a clamp built for holding timber must never be used to fly a lighting fixture, and vice versa.

Types of Clamps and Couplers for Rigging

The clamp range for stage and event use covers several distinct types, each engineered for a specific rigging task. Choosing the correct type is the first step towards a safe, tidy rig.

Half-coupler

The half-coupler is the workhorse of stage rigging. It grips a single tube with a hinged shell and offers an M10 or M12 fixing eye for shackles, spanset slings or fixture yokes. Half-couplers are the standard way to mount moving heads, LED pars and small speakers onto truss.

Hook clamp

A hook clamp (also called a G-hook or trigger clamp) hooks over a tube and closes with a wing nut or quick-release lever. It is the fastest option for hanging conventional lighting fixtures and is often supplied pre-fitted to fixture brackets.

Swivel coupler

A swivel coupler joins two tubes at any angle, making it ideal for building custom frames, adding bracing or connecting truss to scaffold structures. It rotates freely before being locked at the required orientation.

Fixed (90°) coupler

A fixed coupler – also known as a right-angle or double coupler – joins two tubes at a rigid 90-degree angle for square, load-bearing connections.

Pipe clamp and load-rated cheeseborough

Pipe clamps and cheeseboroughs connect tube to tube in scaffold-style structures and are common in installation and set-building work.

For mounting complete fixtures you may also want to browse matching truss systems and rigging hardware to complete the assembly.

Working Load Limit, Safety and Relevant Norms

Every clamp used to suspend a load overhead is a safety-critical component. That is why LTT states a clear Working Load Limit (WLL) for its rigging clamps – the maximum load a clamp may safely carry in normal use, already including the required safety factor.

Why WLL matters

The WLL is not the breaking point of a clamp; it is the working figure you must never exceed. A typical half-coupler might be rated for a WLL in the range of 100–500 kg depending on model and tube diameter. Always add the weight of the fixture, cabling and any accessories before selecting a clamp, and keep a comfortable margin below the stated WLL.

Relevant regulations

In professional event rigging in Germany and across Europe, several norms and regulations govern overhead loads:

• DGUV Vorschrift 17 (formerly BGV C1) – the German accident-prevention rule for stages and production venues.
• EN 1090 – the standard for the execution of steel and aluminium load-bearing structures.
• TÜV SÜD testing – independent verification that a component meets its stated load rating.

Unlike DIY-focused suppliers, LTT documents these figures so you can plan a compliant rig. As a professional you remain responsible for a correct static calculation, a competent person for rigging and regular inspection of every clamp before use. A cracked shell, a stripped thread or a bent bolt means the clamp must be taken out of service immediately.

Tube Diameter Compatibility with Truss Systems

A clamp only performs safely when it matches the tube it grips. Getting the diameter right is one of the most common oversights when buying clamps for the first time.

Standard diameters in event technology

Most stage clamps are built for one of two tube ranges:

• 48–51 mm – the classic size covering 50 mm truss tube and 48.3 mm scaffold pipe.
• 32–52 mm – a wider grip range for mixed structures.

Matching LTT Naxpro-Truss systems

Naxpro-Truss main tubes are dimensioned as follows, which tells you exactly which clamp range you need:

• FD21 / FD24 – 35 mm main tube, 2 mm wall thickness.
• FD31 / FD34 – 50 mm main tube, 2 mm wall thickness.
• HD31 / HD44 – 50 mm main tube, 3 mm wall thickness.
• GS94 – 60 mm main tube, 5 mm wall thickness, 40 x 3 mm diagonals.

For a 50 mm system such as FD31, FD34 or HD31 you choose a 48–51 mm clamp. Smaller FD21/FD24 truss with a 35 mm tube needs a clamp sized for that diameter, while heavy GS94 with a 60 mm tube requires a coupler rated for larger pipe. Never force a clamp onto an undersized or oversized tube – the grip and therefore the WLL are only valid within the specified range.

Comparison: Clamp Types at a Glance

The comparison below shows the key differences between the three most common rigging clamps so you can pick the right one for your application at a glance.

As a rule of thumb: use a hook clamp when speed matters and the fixture is light, a half-coupler when you need a certified suspension point, and a swivel coupler when you build structures rather than simply hang from them.

Technical Buying Criteria and Material

When you compare clamps, focus on the hard technical figures rather than the price alone. The following criteria decide whether a clamp is right for your rig.

Load rating (WLL)

The stated Working Load Limit in kilograms is the single most important figure. Match it to the combined weight of fixture, clamp and accessories, with margin to spare.

Tube diameter fit

Check the grip range in millimetres – typically 48–51 mm or 32–52 mm – against your truss or scaffold tube.

Material and finish

• Aluminium – light, corrosion-resistant, ideal for touring where weight counts.
• Steel – higher load capacity, robust for installation and heavy rigging.
• Load-rated cast couplers – forged or cast to a certified load figure.
• Black powder-coated finish – keeps clamps visually discreet on stage.

Fixing thread and hardware

Check the fixing eye size (commonly M10 or M12) so it matches your shackles, slings or fixture bolts.

Certification

Look for a documented WLL and TÜV SÜD testing – these confirm the clamp is fit for professional overhead use rather than DIY holding tasks.

Applications: Lighting, Truss, Stage and Touring

Rigging clamps are used wherever equipment needs to be suspended safely and repeatably above an audience or performance area. Their applications span the full breadth of the event industry.

• Lighting rigs: Hook clamps and half-couplers attach moving heads, LED pars, spots and washes to overhead truss.
• Line-array and speaker suspension: Load-rated half-couplers provide certified points for flying PA elements.
• Truss assembly: Swivel and fixed couplers build custom frames, ground supports and bracing.
• Stage sets and scenery: Pipe clamps hold backdrops, banners and scenic elements in place.
• Touring and dry hire: Powder-coated aluminium clamps travel light and stay invisible under stage lighting.
• Installation: Fixed installs in clubs, theatres and houses of worship rely on steel couplers for permanent structures.

To complete a working rig you will typically combine clamps with truss systems and suspension hardware such as shackles and slings. Choosing clamps that share the same tube diameter across your whole inventory keeps setups fast and interchangeable on site.

Top Brands and Manufacturers: Riggatec, Global Truss and More

The clamp range at LTT brings together trusted manufacturers whose hardware is proven under real touring and installation conditions. When it comes to load-rated clamps, the brand behind the part is part of the safety story.

• Riggatec – LTT's own accessory brand for rigging and event technology, offering half-couplers and hook clamps with clearly documented WLL figures.
• Global Truss – widely used couplers and clamps compatible with standard 50 mm truss.
• Manfrotto – renowned for precision clamps and grip hardware used in lighting and camera support.
• Doughty – a long-established name for professional stage and studio rigging clamps.
• Showtec and Alutruss – dependable clamps and couplers for lighting and truss mounting.

Alongside these you will also find hardware from Naxpro-Truss, Global Truss and other established names in the range. Choosing high-quality branded clamps means you can rely on consistent load ratings, matching tube diameters and long service life – the foundation of any safe rig.

Buying Guide: How to Choose the Right Clamp

This buying guide walks you through selecting the correct clamp for lighting, truss and stage applications so you order right the first time.

Step 1 – Define the load

Add up the weight of the fixture plus cabling and accessories. Choose a clamp whose WLL comfortably exceeds that figure with a safety margin.

Step 2 – Measure the tube

Confirm the diameter of your truss or scaffold tube – 35 mm, 50 mm or 60 mm on Naxpro-Truss systems – and pick a clamp with the matching grip range.

Step 3 – Match the type to the task

• Fast hanging of light fixtures? Choose a hook clamp with quick-release.
• Certified suspension point for heavier gear? Choose a half-coupler with a load-rated eye.
• Building or bracing structures? Choose a swivel or fixed coupler.

Step 4 – Check the fixing hardware

Make sure the fixing eye (M10 or M12) matches your shackles, slings and fixture bolts.

Step 5 – Verify certification and finish

Confirm a documented WLL, TÜV SÜD testing and – for touring – a discreet black powder-coated finish. Following these five steps gives you the optimal solution for a safe, professional rig every time.

Care, Maintenance and Safety of Clamps

Rigging clamps are safety components, so regular care and inspection are non-negotiable. A clamp that has failed maintenance must never carry a suspended load.

Maintenance and cleaning

• Wipe clamps clean after every event to remove dust, haze residue and moisture.
• Keep threads and bolts lightly lubricated so they tighten smoothly.
• Store clamps dry to prevent corrosion, particularly on steel parts.

Safety inspection before use

• Check for cracks, deformation or a bent frame – reject any damaged clamp.
• Ensure the bolt and thread are intact and tighten to full engagement.
• Confirm the tube diameter is within the clamp's rated grip range.
• Never exceed the stated Working Load Limit and always use a secondary safety (safety bond or steel) on flown fixtures.

Common problems and solutions

• Clamp slips on the tube: the diameter is out of range – switch to the correct clamp size.
• Bolt will not tighten fully: the thread is worn – retire the clamp.
• Corrosion on steel couplers: clean, dry and store correctly, or replace if pitting is deep.

When in doubt, take the clamp out of service. A single compromised clamp can put an entire rig and audience at risk.

LTT – Your Specialist for Event Technology

As a manufacturer with our own production in Germany and 25 years of experience in event technology, LTT is more than a retailer – we are your reliable partner for safe, professional rigging. Our clamps and couplers ship from Bocholt in Germany with a 3-year LTT warranty and free shipping from €69, and express delivery is available when the show cannot wait.

With worldwide dispatch and dedicated wholesale conditions for resellers, we supply everyone from single-venue clubs to large touring productions. Combine your clamps with matching truss systems and rigging hardware to build a complete, load-rated setup.

Trust hardware with documented Working Load Limits and TÜV SÜD testing to set your production in scene safely – and rely on LTT for the innovative solutions professionals depend on.

FAQ – Questions & Answers