INTERNATIONAL ANDSPECIALIZED TRANSPORT
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MARCH 2015
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Wyoming, Texas andSouthAfrica. The
results showed that PowerMaxPlus lasted
more than twice as longas theirprevious
drag ropes, increasing the timebetween
rope replacements, themanufacturer
says. PowerMaxPlus ispart ofUnion’s
PowerMaxPlus familyof products fordrag
ropeswhichalso includesPowerMaxPFV
Plus, andPowerMaxMDPlus.
Industry standards
Despite the risingpopularityof synthetic
materials, there are few standards for
syntheticproducts, especiallywhen
compared to steel ropes andassociated
accessories. Forwire ropes,manufacturers
have tomeet the
EN12999
standard for
cranes. Inaddition, cranemanufacturers
include information regarding safety checks
anddiscard criteriaonwire ropes and
winches.CranemanufacturerHiab, for
example, has included information in the
instructionmanual regardingdaily checks.
“If awire isdamaged then thedriver should
contact anauthorised service centre,”
LottaClausen,Hiabvicepresident of
communications, adds. “Inaddition, if any
of thewinchesdonotworkproperly the
driver gets an errormessagevia theSpace
security system.”
CranemanufacturerTadanoalso
includes informationondiscard criteria
inoperationmanuals. “We clarify the
criteriaofwire rope replacement at daily
andmonthly inspectionsofwire ropes
forbreaking,wear and corrosion, details
ofwhich canbe found in theoperation
manual,” a spokesperson fromTadano says.
“Wedon’t adopt syntheticwire ropeyet;
however,we are researchingand reviewing
syntheticwire rope to
innovate it in
the future.”
Manufacturer
FibreMaxhas its
owndiscard criteria
inplace, asWilcovan
Zonneveld explains, “We
have inspectionanddiscard
criteriaonhand forour
pendantsduring installationor
before transport and storage.Our
syntheticpendants areprotected
fromdamage and chafebymultiple
layersof polyesterwebbingmaterial.
Theouter layer is supplied inblackas a
standard colourbut canbe supplied in the
colourof the crane aswell, dependingon
customer specifications. The inner cover
has a contrasting colour (generally red)
which indicates that thependant needs
tobe inspectedor repairedwhenever this
colour is visible.”
For synthetic ropes,manufacturers are
looking todevelop criteria similar to the
steel ropediscard
ISO4309:2010Cranes,
wire ropes, careandmaintenance, inspection
anddiscard
.Manufacturerof steelwire
and synthetic ropes, Bridon, for example,
is involvedwithanumberof projectswith
theobjectiveof developingperformance
related criteria for synthetics. Tohelp
increase industryknowledge, the company
uses theBridonTechnologyCentre (BTC)
for testingboth synthetic and steel ropes
indevelopment.
JohnChurchfield, technologydirector
forBridon, says, “Advances arebeingmade
in syntheticmaterial performance, but
it remainsquite sensitive tomechanical
damage. Sharing learning from field trials
ofmultilayer spooled, fully synthetic
deep-sea trawlwarps canactively inform
development of synthetic crane rope.
Inaddition, demands and extensive
experienceof the challengesof specialist
high capacity cranes can identify the
performance requirements and limitations
of such ropes.”
Winch requirements
Performance requirements and the effects
of spoolingare also influencing thedesign
and functionofwinches. Tomeet the latest
buildingdesigns that fall into the ‘supertall’
categoryof skyscrapers (buildings above
380m),winchesprimarilyneed tooffer
high line speeds andhave the ability to
spool hundredsofmetresof ropeontoa
drum.One example tomeet thesedemands
is the215LBR120winch fromManitowoc.
ROPES&WINCHES
introductionof theManitowocKZTM100
synthetic rope,whichhas sincebeen
introducedonallGrove rough terrainand
truckmounted cranes (excluding the
RT9150andTMS9000).The synthetic
fibre is suppliedbyDSMDyneema.
“TheKZTM100Synthetic rope
is 80% lighter thanwire rope and
boasts torqueneutral construction
that eliminates load spinand cabling,” a
spokesperson fromManitowoc says. “The
newhoistmaterial alsomakes for easy
handling, reevingand installationas it
reduces kinking, bird caginganddamage
fromother typesof cable-spooling issues.
TheKZTM100 is corrosion resistant,
requiresno lubrication, isdurable and easy
toworkwith.”
Syntheticmaterialshave alsobeenused
in thenewUnionPowerMaxPlus steel
drag rope from ropemanufacturerWireCo.
“Thewire ropehasplastic enhancement
that protects the rope core frommaterial
intrusionand fatigue,” aWireCo
spokesperson says. “It alsohas improved
abrasion resistance andan increased
service life.”
TheUnionPowerMaxPlus ropehas
undergone field trials at coalmines in
FibreMax cranependants are custommadeand
areavailable ina rangeof breaking strengths
and lengthsup 150metres
TheLiebherrRL-K7500has apatentedhorizontal winch shifting system toguarantee the ideal fleet
angleof the rope. A vertical winch frame lifting system is alsoon themodel
ThePalfinger rope
tension control
(RTC) system
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