ROPES Ӏ SECTOR REPORT
j involve prefabricated parts
weighing several tonnes that need to be moved and positioned with millimetre precision. The crane has smart assistance systems for handling such lifts. Again, the use of synthetic
rope has increased capacity: the Fibre model surpasses the already powerful 1000 EC-H steel rope crane by up to 2.1 tonnes in jib head load.
The maximum reach is long as
well, at 90 metres; freestanding hook heights of up to 81.3 metres can be achieved in a cost-effective way in combination with Liebherr’s 24 HC 1000 tower system. “The 1188 EC-H 40 is our
first high-top crane with fibre rope technology,” says Kinateder. “We’ve increased the performance capacity of our EC-H series even further with this crane and can now offer our customers even greater support for the implementation of large and custom projects.” Fellow tower crane maker
Wolffkran is not being left behind in the transition from steel. It also presented its latest offering at Bauma 2022. Its work has been with rope specialist Trowis, of Chemnitz, eastern Germany.
MODIFICATION-FREE As well as all the positives of synthetics already outlined its ChaRope fibre rope has another advantage that Wolffkran says will be decisive: it can be substituted for a steel rope 1:1 without any modification of the crane. The ‘cha’ stands for ‘change’. The reason for the 1:1 substitution is that the Trowis rope has a cover of a special composite design that gives it the same diameter as the steel rope that it replaces. “ChaRope is thus significantly thinner than comparable products from competitors,” says Thomas Heidrich, CTO and member
56 CRANES TODAY
Synthetic ropes unravel secrets of the universe
Neutrinos are the most elusive and pervasive of the known elementary particles. Originating from sources far distant in space such as supernovae or colliding stars they travel with high energy at or near the speed of light and, lacking electrical charge, they interact only weakly with other matter. The vast majority of neutrinos reaching Earth pass straight though it leaving no trace. Instruments to detect them are placed at the bottom of mines or deep underwater so that the neutrinos will encounter a lot of dense matter before reaching them, increasing the chances of a detectable collision which releases a faint fl ash of light. The KM3NeT or Cubic Kilometre Neutrino Telescope is situated at a depth of 3500m in the
Mediterranean Sea about 80 km from Sicily. It is an array of more than 200 detection units. Each one is 700m tall and must be moored in place accurately and without allowing movement. They are secured by synthetic ‘LankoScience’ ropes made by Lankhorst in Portugal. Fernando Eblagon, R&D manager, explains: “The combined requirements of deep sea mooring and the KM3NeT telescope meant that the rope needed to achieve the necessary minimum breaking load whilst meeting the diameter specifi ed to work with the clamping system. The mooring systems must also guarantee a very accurate positioning for each sensor; hence a high stiffness and minimum construction elongation was specifi ed. A robust HDPE braided core provides the right diameter for the clamping system while a Dyneema DM20 jacket bears the load and provides the stiffness needed for the precise positioning of the sensor array. To minimise deformation during installation and service, the rope was thermal stabilised under tension and a protective coating applied. As Lankhorst’s signature yellow could cause a refl ection affecting the sensors, the protective coating also contained a black pigment.” “Although particle physics isn’t an everyday application for Lankhorst, we welcome the
challenge. Hopefully our ropes can contribute in a small way to our understanding of astrophysical phenomena,” said Elles Munstra of Lankhorst Ropes.
of Group Management Board at Wolffkran. “The rope design is a multi-
layered, twisted core made of high-tensile high-tech fibres and an abrasion-resistant, thin-walled fibre composite cover,” says Dr. Thorsten Heinze, managing director of Trowis. “Thanks to this structure, we can offer 12 and 16mm diameter crane ropes at market entry.
“All Wolff cranes with 12 or 16mm steel wire rope can be equipped with the new ChaRope fibre rope,” adds Heidrich. “The ropes are fully compatible with the crane series, and no adjustments to the rope sheaves, hoisting gear, or load capacities have to be made. In our current portfolio this applies to all models in the Wolff Clear series, the new Wolff 21 FX cranes and the Wolff 8033.16 Cross.”
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