37
are custommade andare available
ina rangeof breaking strengths and
lengthsup150metres. Longer lengths
are available for luffing jib tower cranes, the
manufacturer adds.
WilcovanZonneveld, FibreMax
businessdevelopmentmanager, says, “Our
syntheticpendantshaveup to90% less
weight compared to steel pendants, no
structural or construction stretch, high
fatigue anda service life that is five times
that of steel. The reduction inweight can
help increase lifting capacityandboom
length. Thependantshave lowassembly
weight andare easy to transport,
handle and install. Inaddition, theyare
corrosion free.
“The lightweight synthetic cables are
usedasboom suspension ropes (pendants)
to replaceheavy steel platependantsor
steelwire ropependants. They canbeused
onall sortsof cranes, including crawlers,
wheeledmobiles, luffing jib tower cranes
andoffshore cranes.”
Latest products
Productmanufacturers are also lookingat
synthetic fibreproducts as analternative to
steelwire. Bergen-basedmanufacturerof
link chainsLoadSolutions, for example, has
teamedupwithmanufacturerof synthetic
productsDSMDyneema, todesignand
developa synthetic link load chain. The
link chains, brandedasTycan,will bemade
fromDSM’sultrahighmolecularweight
polyethylene (UHMwPE) fibre,which is
brandedasDyneema.
DietrichWienke,DSMDyneemanew
businessdevelopmentmanager, says,
“DSMDyneemaandLoadSolutions came
togetherbecausewebothunderstood the
overwhelmingadvantagesof link chains
madewithDyneema.Our fibre is theonly
fibre in theworld capableof giving the
Tycan chainswhat theyneed: superior
strengthat lowestweight, unbeatable
bending fatigue andabrasion resistance,
plus excellent outdoorperformance
and endurance even inveryharsh
operating conditions.”
Advantagesof theTycan chain include
its ability to float onwater and its resistance
to chemicals and the effectsof seawater.
The chain canhold loadsup to600 tonnes
and canwithstand shock loads. Inaddition,
the chain canbewrappedover cargo edges
without sufferingor causingdamage.
KjellVeka, LoadSolutionsmanaging
director, explains, “Theheavy steel chains
that the cargo lashingmarket has relied
onuntil nowaredifficult andnoisy touse,
they can rust, and theyare toughon cargo,
equipment and lashing crews. Tycan chains
withDyneemaareup to eight times lighter
than regular steel link chainswith the
same strength.”
In the crane industry,manufacturer
Manitowoc joined forceswithmanufacturer
of synthetic ropeSamson, to create anew
alternative towire ropes. The resultwas the
B
oth steelwire ropes and synthetic
fibre typeshave advantages and
disadvantages, dependingon
equipment type, loads and frequencyof
use.Compared to steelwire ropes, for
example, syntheticproducts are lightweight,
easy tomaintainand corrosion free,while
wire ropes requiremaintenance andare
susceptible to corrosion. Both rope types
are, however, vulnerable to elemental
occurrences, includingwear andabrasion,
JunaidMakda,Nylacastmarketing
manager, pointsout.
“Fromwinch to the liftingattachment,
the ropeona crane comes in contact
withanumberof differentmaterials and
components,”Makda explains. “Abrasion,
for example, can typicallyoccurona rope
when it isbeingwoundonawinch.”
Toprevent thisproblem from
occurring,UKmanufacturerof polymer-
basedproducts,Nylacast, hasdesigned
a low friction spooling shellwhich
more effectivelyguides the rope tobe
wound. The companyhas alsodeveloped
custommade rollers, guides, sheaves
andpulleys, allmanufactured from low
frictionpolymer. The result is a synthetic
component that ismore accommodating
to the rope compared tometal, aswell as
being corrosion resistant.
ManufacturerFibreMax isofferinga
new seriesof syntheticproducts, including
a rangeof cranependants. Thependants
INTERNATIONAL ANDSPECIALIZED TRANSPORT
■
MARCH 2015
>
The industry is experiencing a rise in theuse of synthetic ropeproducts
and electricwinches. LAURAHATTON investigates
A lighter
alternative
TheTycan link chains fromLoadSolutions
andDSMDyneemawill bemade fromDSM’s
ultrahighmolecularweight polyethylene fibre
ROPES&WINCHES
BridonDyform
langs lay rope
