- Wire Rope Products
Wire Rope Products
- Lifting Slings
Lifting Slings
- Cargo & Ratchet straps
Cargo & Ratchet straps
- Fittings
Fittings
- Fibre Rope
- Lifting Gear
- Height Safety
Height Safety
- Tools
- Assemblies
- Balustrade Wire
Rope Services Direct can cater for all your rope wires and webbing needs. We specialize in galvanized steel and stainless steel rope and can custom make any assembly to your requirements, so whether you need some fine wire cables for your garden or a robust crane rope, Rope Services Direct can sort you out in no time thanks to our own workshop and industrial pressing facilities.
Another of our specialities is webbing products, such as web slings, cargo restraints and ratchet lashings. All made to order in our own clean factory by our experienced team and range of
industrial sewing machines. Fibre ropes are also hand spliced in this department, as well as our Balustrade Wire.
Wire Rope can be seen all around us, even if we may not always register it! It is most commonly used to lift or support objects but can sometimes just be used for aesthetic purposes and it can have many advantages.
Probably one of the most common industries to utilise it is the lifting equipment industry where it’s frequently used to lift heavy loads and can be seen on a variety of equipment including cranes, winches, hoists and lifting slings.
Another common area they are used is in lifts to raise and lower the lift compartment. This can be in office buildings as well as cable cars, ski lifts, railways and other types of aerial lift.
Even aviation and marine industries along with water and sewage treatment facilities use it -though often the stainless-steel variety due to its high corrosion resistance.
Steel cable is also often used for architectural purposes as it is known for its strength, versatility and aesthetic properties. A common example is suspension bridges.
Other examples include guard rails, security cables and home maintenance, including washing lines and lock systems. However, these are often plastic coated for extra handling protection and flexibility. It’s also used in the home for suspended staircases and bookshelves to create a modern feel as well as in certain types of fencing, decking and barriers for protective purposes.
One of the reasons for the wide range of uses is the different end fittings that can be attached to the rope to enable them to fit to any anchor point and also to adjust to the required tension.
Wire rope is used in a multitude of industries, constructed of metal strands that are twisted in a spiral. With outstanding strength and flexibility, wire rope is ideal for lifting, hauling, anchoring and towing. That said, choosing the right type of wire for the task at hand does require some careful consideration. The most crucial factor is the type of load and the application, as this will dictate the best material for the job. Other considerations include resistance to corrosion, durability and cost. You may also have specific safety needs, such as static elongation or the dynamic coefficient of friction. Still, by considering all these factors when selecting your rope, you can ensure that you get the best material for your needs.
Galvanised wire rope offer plenty of benefits, especially for industrial applications. With strength, flexibility and resistance to corrosion, these wires withstand harsh weather conditions and constant use. Another big win is that they provide excellent value for money, yet they can be used with pulleys and winches, elevating safety and performance. Stainless steel wire rope can be more expensive than galvanised but provides superior corrosion resistance. It's used extensively in marine, offshore engineering and chemical processing, where regular exposure to salt water and other corrosive elements is a big concern. Stainless steel wire rope is also more aesthetically pleasing than galvanised, making it the preferred choice for architectural purposes. Non-rotating wire is another popular rope explicitly designed for applications where the cable must be taut without any twist or kinks. This type of wire is most commonly used in lifting and construction operations, as it's engineered to provide the highest levels of stability and strength, even under heavy loads.
Plastic-coated rope may be relatively new, but it has become increasingly popular. With a strong core, galvanised or stainless steel strands feature a special protective outer layer, delivering a long lifespan while providing additional protection from environmental elements such as UV rays and saltwater. The extra layer of protection makes it an excellent choice for applications in which the cable is exposed to potential wear and tear. Need a rope wires for your project? Rope services direct has you covered - with an extensive range of sizes and materials. Want to make sure you get the right one? Gives us a call on 01384 78004.
In our workshop we produce many different types of rope assemblies on a daily basis, some of the most common types we produce are trailer ropes, rigging rope, lifting slings, zip wires and many custom assemblies. We often supply many multiples of these to our regular customers; however we are happy to make individual ropes for special tasks.
Rope wire comes in many different constructions, for example, right or left hand lay; wire or fibre core, and the amount or fibres and wires included in the completed rope. It can easily become confusing especially if you add in the non-rotating rope option. Talk to the specialists about your needs to ensure you get the right one for your intended purpose. Using the wrong rope can be disastrous.
Stainless steel wire rope is used in different tasks and areas to galvanized rope, this is because of its differing properties. Due to the fact that stainless steel is aesthetically pleasing to the eye it is popular for home interior projects like balustrade on stairs, hanging shelves or other decorative features. As stainless is very corrosion resistant its outdoor use is endless, perfect for highlighting garden areas or as decking balustrades.
Stainless steel is a steel alloy made from many elements. It is different from standard steel because of the chemical compounds it contains, specifically Chromium and Carbon. The Chromium mass must be a minimum of 10.5% and carbon no more than 1.2% to be stainless steel.
One of the main advantages is its corrosion resistance which increases as the chromium content is raised, or Molybdenum is added. This means it will not succumb to uniform corrosion and rust so can be used for applications where the rope may get wet, such as in marine environments. Indeed, our ropes are graded AISI 316 so they can be used in marine environments. They also comply with EN12385 and EN10264.
It also resists staining so the aesthetics of the rope will not change, making it an attractive choice for many interior design projects for things such as barriers and balustrades in public areas such as shopping malls and public attractions.
Finally, it is easy to clean and sterilize which is why it is abundant in the food industry such as high-end kitchens, food production plants and cooking materials.
At Rope Services Direct, our range is second to none and we can supply you with stainless steel wire rope. If you would like to find out more, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01384 78004.
We also supply to the water treatment industries where it is constantly utilised in wet conditions. The marine and aviation sectors also these ropes for many tasks. More commercially these ropes are used in architecture and as safety barriers in public areas.
Also available within our rope range are:
· Winch
· Trailer rope for lorries and trucks
· Theatre cable for the entertainment industry
· Catenary cable to hold power cables out of the way
· Forestry ropes for the arborist
· Cable socks for guiding wires
· Gym rope
When choosing a rope, it is important to speak to a specialist to ensure you get the correct one for your purposes.
Things to consider include:
There are many different diameters available. They are commonly found in diameters ranging from 3mm to 76mm. It’s important to choose the right diameter as a 50mm rope would be no use round a pulley with a groove of 10mm.
One of the most important considerations is how you will use it. This is especially true if it is being used in the lifting industry, where if the rope fails then serious injuries can occur. It is of the upmost important that you examine the rope for signs of wear and if in any doubt, do not use. It is also a good idea to have a regular inspection and testing schedule, carried out by a suitably qualified person so that you know the rope is fit for purpose and safe.
Whatever type of rope wire you choose, it is important to be aware of the properties and construction of it so that you are using the correct rope and also enhances your safety knowledge.
In manufacturing it, hundreds of tiny metal filaments are wrapped, twisted and braided together to make the inner wires. These will then turn into strands by twisting together the smaller inner wires / filaments. Twisting strands in various ways around a central core is what makes the wire rope. It is how they are twisted which gives them their differing properties e.g. non-rotating, low stretch, higher breaking strength. There are also different constructions depending on left and right hand lay.
Note: The numbers used when describing a rope denote the number of wires and strands within it. For example, a 6 x 36 rope has 6 strands made of 36 wires. Likewise, a 7 x 19 has 7 strands with 19 wires. Strength and/or flexibility is provided when the strands are twisted around an inner core which can be steel wire or fibre core.
Due to their construction, it’s important to identify any broken wires or strands which could have severe consequences if used without inspection and testing. However, if a few strands break during a specific lift, it is more likely the intact wires and strands will hold the load whilst it is safely lowered – then the rope can be destroyed. It is this property which makes them safer than chains because if a chain link breaks then the load will likely fall.
There are many factors which can affect them, including bad coiling using pulleys and sheaves etc., grooves that are too big or too small, excessive pulling angles or twisting the rope in the opposite way to its ‘lay construction’, dirt ingress and poor lubrication to name but a few.
In this section we look at how to safely handle and store it as well as how to prolong the life of it.
Handling it can impart numerous hazards. From metal splinters when cutting the rope to acute bruising if the rope abruptly recoils so vital safety strategies must be adapted when handling the product.
Personal Protective Equipment suitable for the job must be worn including mandatory safety gloves, overalls and boots. Eye protectors may also be required when cutting.
Damage to the rope is easy to do, especially when unloading reels from a vehicle or unreeling. Throwing a rope from the reel is a big no-no.
The best option is to raise the reel off the floor so it turns without restraint. Some possible ways to do this is to utilize a soft sling through the centre of the reel which can be let down by means of an electric hoist or passing a bar through and resting it over the forks of a forklift truck or jacks could be a possibility, or using a reel turntable. However, if you are using a forklift truck do not place the forks directly onto the reel as misguided forks could damage it.
Before unreeling – make sure the floor space is clear so that the rope can be pulled off the reel in a straight line safely. The rope must always be pulled from the top, not the bottom of the reel and it should be pulled in a straight line which should minimise the danger of bending or kinking the wires, which will permanently damage it and make it unusable.
If it's in a coil rather than a reel, then the only safe way to remove the rope is to carefully roll the coil in a similar way to pushing a child’s loop, again ensuring the surrounding area is clear of debris.
Equally, it can be damaged when it is being reeled back up again after use. You need to keep it wound tightly and wind it the same way the wire has been wound out which will avoid reverse bending of the rope. You should also ensure the wire is wound over the top of the reel to ensure it’s even and to avoid the bottom layers crushing.
Storing it correctly is just as important as using it correctly as any damage, even tiny damage, can result in a significant impairment in performance.
Storage should be ideally on a rack, stand or pallet and not on the ground. It is also important to store the rope in a clean, cool and dry environment as moisture or condensation can develop amid the wires and begin the decay process rendering the rope unusable – waterproof containers and breathable tarpaulin like bags should ideally be used if the rope is stored outside.
Wire ropes are lubricated during manufacture but further lubrication at frequent intervals should be done, especially if it’s being stored for long periods of time. This will help to shield it from moisture ingress.
Storing rope should be done in such a way that it will not be at risk from any accidental damage. Either whilst in storage or whilst removing the rope from the storage area.
Overall, always remember manufacturers guidelines and instructions should be followed at all times to keep safe and prolong the life of the rope. If you are unsure if a rope is fit for purpose, always get it inspected and load tested which ought to be done regularly anyway.
