The Quiet Workhorse: Why Stainless Steel Wire Rope Keeps the World Moving
The humble stainless steel wire rope is never the hero of the story, but it’s always there, keeping the show on the road when the stakes are too high to fail.
So, what makes it so special?
Well, the answer’s really quite obvious. The ‘stainless’ bit of the name isn’t just a marketing ploy. It really does stand up to the worst that the British climate can throw at it. Stick it in the sea, drape it across a chemist’s shop, or simply leave it outside during the winter months. It will still be working away when the rest of the lot has been replaced several times over due to rust.
Just what the doctor ordered
You see, the chromium content of the steel creates a coating that stays with it forever. It’s not exactly rocket science, but it’s good science nonetheless. The result of all this is that you don’t have to worry about replacing your cables regularly, nor do you have to worry about them simply giving up the ghost because of rust.
The Real-World Applications
The shipping industry and offshore industry are big users of stainless wire rope. When you are dealing with the North Sea or tropical climates, steel wire rope just isn’t an option. Rigging ropes, mooring ropes, lifting ropes—these are all exposed to constant moisture and need to be able to withstand it.
Architectural wire rope usage has exploded over the last couple of decades. That stylish wire rope railing on a high-rise office building? That’s stainless wire rope. That suspension system holding up the glass canopy on the roof of a shopping mall? That’s stainless wire rope as well.
Even in the food processing industry, stainless wire rope has its applications. This wire rope won’t contaminate food products, can withstand regular washing with harsh chemicals, and won’t support bacterial growth the way some other materials do. This wire rope meets standards for use in a situation where hygiene is paramount.
What to Actually Look For
The breaking load of a wire rope is an obvious concern for most people. This determines what the maximum load will be before the wire rope fails. However, the working load limit is more important in practice—this determines what load can be safely applied to the wire rope with a built-in safety factor.
Wire rope is also subject to a loss of strength as it deteriorates. This includes broken wires, kinks, corroded areas, and overall wear and tear. Inspecting wire rope is not optional when you’re using it for something that’s mission-critical. The retirement rules are in place for a reason, and failure to follow those rules is how you get into trouble.
Common Mistakes People Make
People make a number of mistakes when buying wire rope, but one of the biggest mistakes people make is that they only look at the diameter of the wire rope. A 5mm rope from one manufacturer may not be the same as a 5mm rope from another manufacturer. It’s not just a question of thickness; you should check the specifications.
Another mistake people make is that they do not use the wire rope properly. Termination is a major cause of wire rope failure, yet many people do not realize that a rope, no matter how good, can only ever be as good as its termination. Termination that is not up to scratch can cause a wire rope to fail, no matter how good the quality of the rope itself.
And probably the biggest mistake people make with wire rope is that they think that stainless steel wire rope is indestructible. It’s not. Stainless steel wire rope is incredibly hardy, but that does not mean that it can’t be damaged. It can be damaged if you overload it, if you run it over a sharp edge, or if you neglect to maintain it properly.