Wire rope is a relatively new invention. It has only been around in a similar form since the 19th century in the United States. Today, its usage is widespread. It is the major component of a variety of items and equipment including the wire rope hoist.
What Is Wire Rope?
Wire rope consists of several strands of industrial steel wire (rope) either laid or twisted together. They resemble a spiral or coil. The strands are also separate small pieces of wire combined in much the same way. This accounts for the strength of the “rope.”
Uses of Wire Rope
Around the globe, wire rope finds use in the rigging and lifting industries. The industrial steel rope is utilized to produce:
* Boom lines
* Crane ropes
* Drill lines
* Hoist ropes
* Moving lines
They find themselves acting as pulley lines and handling industrial equipment and products as well as being employed in general purpose lifting. They are seen in use in various industrial applications by mining concerns as well as the oil and gas industry, the military, shipping, and construction. Wire rope hoists are designed to handle a variety of weights. These can range from a singleton capacity to more than 80 tons.
What to Look for in a Wire Rope Hoist
When a company shops around for a hoist, consideration must be given to certain characteristics of your company and its workload. The list includes:
* Frequency: How often must the hoist lift
* Average Weight: How much weight will the hoist be expected to handle?
* Products/Materials: What materials and products are going to be lifted by your hoist? Some hoists are better suited than others to lifting pipes; others are better suited to handling more sensitive or awkward material
* Future Requirements: Unless you want to stay at one weight level, make sure your hoist is capable of moving with the demands of your company as it expands.
Also, you need to look at what the hoist brings to your company. It needs to be:
* Reliable: It must always be ready to function
* Durable: you need a hoist that operates for more than a brief span of time
* Weather Resistant: Able to work under extreme conditions – particularly if the environment is exterior and subjected to extreme weather conditions
* Safety: the hoist must be safe for any who work with it
Always keep both types of criteria in mind when shopping for a new hoist.
Buying a Wire Rope Hoist
With the continued demands by many companies, including those in the oil and gas business, for reliable and durable wire rope hoists, it is important manufacturers continue to produce a high-quality product. In the current market situation, while many things are flexible, with its tensile strength and versatility, there will continue to be a demand for a safe, high-quality wire rope hoist.
