[WRE UPDATE | ADVISOR] According to Knut Buschmann, president of Unirope,
in Ontario, Canada, the off shore marine industry is moving away from steel wire rope, in favor of synthetics. “While fi ber ropes are virtually weightless in water, steel rope in water becomes more of a burden as it gets longer,” he says. But there are two other practical advantages as well: “Because of fi ber rope’s weightlessness, it’s also much easier to maneuver underwater. And fi ber ropes also do not corrode.” Buschmann also points out that, despite the changes
in the off shore environment, steel wire rope is still critical in off shore crane operations. Synthetic rope can encounter problems and abrasion when it’s wound up on spools, whereas steel wire rope is more durable and doesn’t experience the same degradation. Synthetic rope is also easier to manage during lifting, Carlson adds. Samson’s rope is often used by helicopters to lift and rig utility lines because “it is lighter and easier to handle as it’s laid along the pattern of the utility line.” T is points to the fact that, in general, synthetics are much gentler on the handler than steel wire, which can damage or dirty hands with cut strands and possibly rusty sections. In addition, says Carlson, “synthetics have a more predictable break pattern,” which increases their safety. In the mining industry, for example, an emphasis on safety
has brought synthetic rope to the forefront. “In the mines, the whole Appalachian Basin from New York to Alabama, synthetics are taking over because they break much more safely without the chance of hitting the operator in such a confi ned space,” notes Chuck Farmer, owner of Rouster Wire Rope and Rigging, Inc., where sales of synthetics account for a near 50/50 split with steel wire rope products today.
WORKING IN TANDEM “T ere are certain applications where we are starting to see combinations of synthetic rope and steel wire rope,” explains Jeff Marterella, National Sales Manager and Director of Crane Ropes at Alps Wire Rope in St. Charles, Illinois. “T ere’s no question that there are companies working toward the goal of developing synergy between the two types of rope products.” Marterella has been in the lifting and rigging industry since 1985 and he understands why customers would go in the direction of synthetics for various reasons and for diff erent applications. “T ey are lightweight. In terms of crane applications, with non-rotating ropes it’s been a gradual change to the 35 x 7 type products. T is has been a result of the mobile cranes lifting heights changing so that the old standard-type lifting products weren’t doing the job in terms of block spinning and twisting. T ey really had to step up to the bar and put better rotational-resistant products on the cranes – and they certainly have done that.” “T at transition has been an ongoing one and is certainly
here to stay. T e driving force behind the conversion from steel wire rope to synthetic has been the crane manufacturers; they recognize they’ve got to put diff erent ropes on those cranes if they’re going to sell the cranes for the lifting heights they’re designing them around.”
Derrick cranes, according to Parnell. “T ere have been huge strides in overall rope strength due to the introduction of High Modulus Polyethylene (HMPE) fi bers and similar materials,” he explains. “T e resistance to ultraviolet ray degradation continues to improve in all high-strength synthetic ropes since the synthetic rope engineering community, the Cordage Institute and its members, are aggressively running fatigue tests, and strength and abrasion tests to help prove out the materials’ ability to provide service life.” “An extreme example would be hoist and drag ropes used for a drag-line machine,” he explains. “Hoist ropes still make some inadvertent contact with hatches coming on ships, and on construction sites during steel erection. So, by virtue of the material, wire rope will have its place when a rough and tumble application exists.” Parnell sees synthetic ropes beginning to make their mark in the heavy lift sling industry. “What started as a niche for large braided wire rope slings 2”-14” fi nished diameter—and strongly challenged by high-performance synthetic round slings—has given some small ground to high-performance synthetic rope slings.” Large braided synthetic rope slings are easier to store and do not dog-leg as a result of load contact, according to Parnell. T ey’re also generally resistant to corrosion and many chemicals. Load edges that are not protected can cause
WIRE ROPE EXCHANGE NOVEMBER-DECEMBER 2013 75
STILL GOING STRONG “Wire ropes certainly have a proven track record and will likely continue to be the better choice when abrasion and scrubbing are an issue,” assures Mike Parnell, President and CEO of Industrial Training International, and who chairs or sits on multiple technical committees advising the lifting industry today. For more than three decades, electric utility linemen have been employing synthetic rope as hoist rope on Digger
Photo courtesy of Cargotec
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