Wire Rope

A bird-caged wire rope creates a decision problem before it creates a replacement order. The rope has already changed shape, the outer strands have already moved away from the rope body, and the damaged section no longer deserves normal service assumptions. Customers who know wire rope often call this bird caging by name. Other customers know something looks wrong before they know the technical...

A wire rope can meet the stated load and still be the wrong choice for the job. That is where many selection problems begin. The issue is not always that the rope was undersized; it is that critical parts of the application were never weighed properly in the first place. Bending conditions, duty cycle, environment, and whether the rope is used for lifting or...

For any operation that uses synthetic ropes, adequate chafing protection is extremely important.  There are a large variety of synthetic fibers that serve as chafe gear and chafe protection. Chafe gear helps to prevent substantial wear and tear on synthetic rope, which increases the longevity of the strands. Without chafe gear, wire ropes would have a much shorter lifespan and would degrade much faster...

At Bilco Group, selecting between our steel wire rope and high-performance synthetic rope is no longer a matter of tradition. Our modern synthetic ropes made from ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers can match the tensile strength of steel rope while weighing only one-ninth as much. This dramatic weight savings changes how cranes, winches, and rigging crews operate: lighter lines reduce equipment wear, speed...

Fatigue life in large-diameter wire ropes is a key concern for professionals relying on heavy-duty lifting and surface mining. Despite advancements in wire rope manufacturing, one recurring issue is premature rope failure when operating under excessive loads. Research shows that catastrophic failures frequently occur when large-diameter wire ropes are subjected to loads above 45% of their ultimate tensile strength (UTS). This finding underscores the importance of...

Impact loads are critical in determining steel wire ropes' friction and wear characteristics, especially in ultra-deep mining applications such as deep shaft mining and subsea mining, which involve multi-layer winding hoists. Understanding these effects is vital for engineers to design more durable and efficient hoisting systems. This article shows how impact loads affect the friction and wear of steel wire ropes sliding against each...

If a wire rope is damaged, it is possible for the cable to malfunction and do harm to people and materials. As a means of staying safe, wire rope must be handled carefully and in specific ways. Below, we will discuss some of the biggest issues users face when receiving and using wire ropes. When receiving and moving cables that are on a coil...

Following guidelines or a checklist is one of the smartest things to do to remain safe on the job: this rule sticks regardless of the industry. For businesses that engage in more intense, dangerous work, the rule applies even more because lives are on the line. Those that use wire rope and rigging supplies know firsthand how small mistakes can cause serious consequences. It...

There is a lot of words and terms that are essential to know when working in the material handling business. Understanding the terminology being used will help you shop, operate, maintain, and repair systems. Below, we have compiled a small list of the critical terms that all material handlers should know. WLL (working load limit) – This limit refers to the maximum amount of...

Recognizing when wire rope has reached the end of its service life is a critical safety measure for lifting, rigging, or hoisting operations. No one wants to risk a sudden cable failure that could endanger personnel or damage valuable equipment. Understanding specific “discard” criteria ensures that worn or compromised rope is removed from service before an accident happens. Below are the most common signs...