FEATURE | LOAD SECURITY
was the Ultralift sling. Made from Dyneema, the round slings proved an excellent alternative to steel wire, chain, or polyester: they are just as strong as traditional solutions while weighing significantly less. In fact, the Ultralift slings weigh only 13kg compared to the approximate 100kg weight of a standard steel wire sling. Each wire sling had often taken two
workers to manoeuvre it, and even then, the process regularly caused back problems for the operators. The new slings were long-lasting as well, each one being able to handle more than a thousand rolls of wire; the steel slings had handled around 300 to 350 rolls before needing to be replaced. There was much less damage to loads, significantly reducing waste. The design of the sling also unlocked
further cost efficiencies. The Ultralift consists of two parts: a round sling with a light-duty sleeve, and a heavy-duty sleeve over both legs. This unique structure allows the user easily to replace just part of the round sling instead of the entire product. Overall, the savings on health and safety,
increased loading speed, productivity, and material costs, made it significantly cheaper per lift to use the Ultralift round slings made with Dyneema than the wire rope slings that they have replaced. But wire rope and Dyneema are by no means the only options. Slings come in many guises and made from many materials; and it is essential to know which of them you are using and whether it is suited for the task. Synthetic materials can include nylon
and polyester as well as Dyneema and others. US Cargo Control, based in Urbana, Iowa, make and supply many different types and give a useful summary of their different characteristics. Thus nylon slings have more stretch to them (around 7-10% at WLL) than an equivalent-strength polyester one, which stretches just 2 to 3%; and stretch can be an advantage or a disadvantage. If you are lifting in a space with restricted overhead height, the stretch is a disadvantage: it squanders some of your limited headroom. You might therefore choose polyester. But in other situations, the extra stretch of nylon would help reduce shock loads and their potential for damage to your machinery. For delicate loads, polyester is more
flexible, meaning that it will wrap more closely around the load and so give better grip; nylon webbing has a chemical coating that gives a rougher, slightly more abrasive, surface. As for HMPE, ropes made from it
30 | February 2025 |
www.hoistmagazine.com
stretch very little – around 3-4% at break. It is not affected by oil or water and are just as strong whether used in dry, wet, cold or humid conditions. And, as a bonus for maritime uses, it floats in water. The shape of the sling is also relevant
here: slings come with round cross- sections, like rope, or flat cross-sections,
like webbing; flat will give more contact with the load and so, once again, greater grip and less liability to slip. Environment and the nature of the
load are also factors to consider. Nylon is degraded by acids and bleaches but is unaffected by alkalis; polyester is degraded by alkalis and ethers but is unaffected
MODULIFT SPREADER BEAMS LIFT “BULLET TRAIN” IN TAIWAN
Japan-based lifting gear supplier Nakamura Industry Co. and their customer have successfully lifted an Intercity ‘Bullet Train’ using Modulift spreader beams at Hualien Port in Taiwan. Nakamura’s customer employed two MOD 34 spreader beams from UK company Modulift below the hook at a span of 3.5m, providing four lifting points underneath the train to evenly distribute the weight. The two spreader beams were attached to
drop links and shackles at the end of each beam, with synthetic round slings below the beams, and wire rope slings above. This allowed the train to be safely lifted
onto the vessel ready for transportation from Japan. The spreader beams were used to unload the train at its destination in Taiwan, where it will serve the East Coast line. Altogether 50 12-car trains (total 600 cars)
have been built and transported for Taiwan Railways Administration, replacing 30-year- old eight-car trains. The whole project will
Modulift spreader beams securely lift Taiwan’s bullet train
increase passenger capacity and enable passengers to travel around the island of Taiwan in 6 hours. Sales, at Nakamura Industry Co. commented “The Modulift spreader beams’ adaptable design allowed our customer to safely beams were transported with the train, facilitating easy disassembly, shipping, and Modulift is based in Dorset in the UK.
Its spreader beams are interchangeable enabling them to be reused over many lifts. They are lightweight and modular in design. All spreader beams in the standard range from 6t to 2000t come with DNV Type Approval. Sarah Spivey, managing director of
Modulift said: “Modulift spreader beams are portable, lightweight, and easy to transport and store. They proved to be the ideal lifting solution for safely transporting the train from Japan to Taiwan. We are pleased to be
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