> GOING THE DISTANCE
HECO Slings Corporation, located in Norfolk, VA, was started in 1974 by Harvey Howlett Jr., and his late father Howlett, Sr. HECO, along with Virginia International Terminals (VIT), have donated over 175,000 feet to date of wire rope to Bridges to Prosperity (B2P). While HECO Slings and VIT have supplied 100% of Bridges to Prosperity’s supplies, their needs are growing. This coming year, B2P will need an additional 30,000 feet to continue their work and grow into other rural impoverished communities.
Volunteers come together with locals to build a cable suspended footbridge.
Why Footbridges Rural community members often live in a walking world. When the rivers swell, walks to school, work or visits to a doctor can become life threatening without a bridge to cross.
HECO Slings in action
at Norfolk International Terminal, Virginia
Those who survive on the least often do not have suffi cient infrastructure servicing their communities. Safe and maintained trails and footbridges are necessary to live healthy and productive lives.
What’s Involved • Soft currency (domestic): Cement, labor, wood for decking, alternative building materials
• Hard currency (imported by B2P): Type 6 x 36 IWRC, in diameters 7/8", 1", 1-1/8" and 1-1/4" wire rope, Crosby Red-U-Bolts
• The average bridge requires 1,500 feet of wire rope.
For the past three years, B2P has received over 160,000 feet of used Bridon wire rope, a special brand of rope that’s noted for its superior quality and reliable specifi cations. Pax Goodson, B2P Board Member and the person responsible for cable donations and logistics, has mastered the procedure involved in obtaining and shipping rope. “T e usual shipping method is by sea,” he begins. “And,
generally, seven spools of rope will get us to the maximum weight of roughly 38,000 pounds for a 20-foot container. So, it goes out by ship, gets cleared through customs, and is trucked to a storage yard in each country. From there, it is cut to length and taken to the bridge site.” HECO Slings has also donated other bridge cable installation equipment, such as the Crosby clamp. T e Crosby Group, Inc., a leader in the manufacture of accessories used in material-handling applications, has further off ered to provide additional wire clips at below market cost to support B2P’s mission. Bang points out the exceptional quality of the Crosby clamps in comparison to imported brands: “T e clamps are fi ne products—there is more torque, they’re durable with a smoother tread, and perfect for our use.”
• Between 1,000 and 2,600 feet of wire rope come on a single spool from a gantry crane. Second-hand cable like those that have been used on a gantry crane is ideal as the wire rope is pre-stretched and B2P can more accurately set the tension and elevation of the rope on a footbridge, which signifi cantly increases the life of the bridge.
• Wire rope and clips are the biggest needs for the organization. B2P is currently seeking donations for wire rope sizes 6x19 IWRC, in diameter ranges between 7/8" and 1 1/4". Please contact the organization if you are able to donate other sizes or materials.
How Bridges Change Lives: • 12% more children enroll in school
• 24% increase in healthcare treatment • 18% increase in women employed • 15% increase in local business
Contact Wire Rope Exchange, if you would like to help (
info@wireropeexchange.com) or visit Bridges to Prosperity’s website for more information,
www.bridgestoprosperity.org or call (757) 784-5071.
WIRE ROPE EXCHANGE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2012 21
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