Wire rope manufacturer Teufelberger warns that standard steel ropes are not suitable to withstand the forces induced by today’s cranes with their higher rope speeds and faster acceleration to reduce cycle times.

Because of this, it has produced a new steel wire rope designed to cope with sudden shock loads and shock unloading. Such loads cause popped cores and bird cages on traditional ropes, even on relatively new ones, which means replacement is necessary.

Teufelberger has replaced the centre strand, previously the shortest section of the rope, with a shock resistant core on its new Perfekt Q810V rope. Elongation within the elastic range of the material is no longer a problem, the company says. In addition the lubricated inner rope is sheathed in a polymer material to reduce wear. Some lubricant can also penetrate the coating to lubricate outer strands from within to increase rope life and fatigue resistance.

Teufelberger says its new rope is particularly suitable for overhead travelling and bridge cranes, container handling and harbour mobile cranes.