[WRE UPDATE | ADVISOR] SYNTHETIC VS. STEEL A Question of Application, Not Strength BY PETER HILDEBRANDT
advantageous to specifi c lifting and rigging operations. Steel wire rope, undeniable in its strength and
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staying power, is critical in all sorts of applications today, and has set a standard often exhibited in iconic structures and heavy duty uses. But just as construction sites and lifting jobs become more advanced, more complicated, so do the expectations from the materials used. With the continued progression of synthetic materials thanks to technological advances in fi bers that enhance strength and versatility, new choices are available that didn’t exist just a short time ago. Ultimately, for most operators, it comes down to
strength and toughness. But this is not as simple as it sounds. When it comes to materials, there isn’t a single defi nition of strength, but rather ways to measure certain characteristics among a variety of environments. Each material can be strong in some ways and weak in others. For example, if you build a bridge out of glass, it may be able to hold a heavy load, but if a boat passing underneath were to strike it, it might shatter. Such is the case in the lifting and rigging industry, where the question as to which material to use is rarely a ‘one size fi ts all’ answer, but rather an ongoing education.
WEIGHING THE OPTIONS One of the most notable benefi ts of synthetic rope—in comparison to steel—is its light-weight properties, without sacrifi cing strength. Take for example Samson Rope’s fl agship product,
AmSteel-Blue, “which is about 85% lighter than steel wire rope,” explains Danielle Carlson, Marketing Coordinator for Samson, which has manufacturing facilities in Washington and Louisiana. “It’s much easier for people to handle, especially in environments where ropes need to be moved around, such as on ships.” Another of synthetics common applications is
HHIperlift High Performance synthetic round slings and Crosby Shackles lift the second set of sections of the massive new self- anchored suspension tower on the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Copywright (2010) California Department of Transportation, Photographer Bill Hall
74 NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2013 WIRE ROPE EXCHANGE
off shore lifting, where its neutral buoyancy facilitates the lowering and lifting of equipment to and from the sea fl oor—without adding weight load while in the water.
hen considering the use of synthetic or steel, it’s often not a question of superiority, but rather a matter of application. Each material off ers particular qualities that are
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