The Gold Strand is synonymous with Southwest Wire Rope. For over 50 years we have been the mark of quality in rigging components. Our Gold Strand can be found on docks and job sites all over the world. Our wire rope is trusted in rigs every single day. In a word, the gold strand means everything to us.
The gold strand means trust, quality and innovation. Here we will explore what each of those means to us and why they are so important.
Trust
When you see the Gold Strand on your job site, you are immediately put at ease. You know that the best possible wire rope is on hand. You know that you are working with specialists who are committed to doing the best job possible. The Gold Strand is a commitment to safety as it becomes clear that you are working with professionals who know what it takes to have a safe, productive day on-site. The Gold Strand is a way to signal to others on site that you can be trusted. The importance of trust can’t be overstated and the Gold Strand is a way to build it on your site without saying a word.
Quality
The Gold Strand wire rope is the definitive symbol of quality. For over 50 years, our wire rope has been used in rigging on construction sites, docks and film sets. In all of those years we have exceeded expectations. There is a reason why these professionals come back to our wire rope time and time again. That reason being that we take care in the manufacture of our wire rope so that it is consistently the strongest and most durable available on the market.
Our wire rope wouldn’t have the trust of such varied industries if it were not for the attention to detail put into the sourcing of materials and the construction of each strand. By consistently offering high quality wire rope, we give these industries little reason to look elsewhere for rigging solutions.
Innovation
In both our products and services, we have remained innovative. Offering much more than our signature Gold Strand wire rope, we offer solutions for all types of rigging needs. We offer on-site spooling, field inspection, testing and rentals all in an effort to make the absolute best available to you on your job site. Every industry we work with is a demanding, time constrained endeavor so we take it upon ourselves to ensure that we can meet the needs of those who rely on our products on a daily basis.
Decades as the Trusted Source of Wire Rope
Southern Wire Rope has been providing wire rope and rigging solutions for nearly 60 years. With that experience we have earned the trust and confidence of rigging professionals around the world. We offer a variety of services that provide the solutions needed to keep your job site productive and safe. If you have questions about how we can help your operation, reach out so that we can partner with you in finding a solution.
In rigging, we all know that the setup is only as strong as its weakest link. Any failure is a potentially dangerous situation that puts your entire operation in jeopardy. Every component must be relentlessly reliable. Synthetic rope is one such tool that bears heavy responsibility. While incredibly strong and durable, it often immediately supports a load; if it were to fail, the results would be catastrophic.
You will likely never see natural rope used in a rig as they are weaker and less durable than their synthetic counterparts. With this in mind, let’s discuss the advantages of synthetic rope.
Synthetic Rope – What Is It?
Synthetic rope is made from nylon, polyester, or polypropylene fibers. These ropes can be made using one or a combination of these synthetic fibers. Much like a natural rope, these fibers are drawn out into strands and then woven together. The end result is a durable, strong rope that can bear markedly more weight and tension than its natural counterpart.
Uses and Applications
Because of the materials used, synthetic rope is better able to withstand friction, making it more durable. It should be noted that how much you use the rope and its length of service will directly affect how long it lasts. Sporadic use could see it surviving for up to 10 years, whereas heavy use will require replacement every year or two. Synthetic rope is great for outdoor uses, as it is resistant to rot and mildew that can arise from exposure to moisture.
Synthetic rope is useful for a host of additional purposes. Its resistance to moisture makes it ideal for use in marine applications, but it has various advantages outside of the rigging sphere. It serves as an excellent climbing rope due to its abrasion resistance – it can handle rough edges of the terrain without fail. This is also what makes it perfect for rigging in film and theater. Where creative problems often require creative solutions, crews know they can rely on these ropes to hold the scene together. Synthetic rope can also be used effectively in towing and hauling applications.
Find Top-Tier Synthetic Rope
Southwest Wire Rope has been a leader in wire rope and rigging supplies in the Gulf Coast region since 1966. We provide quality supplies and reliable service to each one of our clients so they can meet the tough demands of the industry with confidence and excellence. We are happy to share our decades of experience to help you find the best solution for whatever undertaking you have in front of you. From synthetic rope and slings to wire rope and chains, we have a comprehensive product offering to completely outfit your rig. Get in touch with our team today to level up your operation.
Wire rope is arguably the most important asset that a rigging equipment provider can supply. It forms the backbone of every operation, helping to execute every lift and move heavy loads with precision and security. Without wire rope, the rigging, overhead lifting and securement industries couldn’t meet demands.
For these reasons, it is absolutely crucial to make sure wire rope is properly maintained. Storing wire rope safely and intentionally will help lengthen its working life and improve the safety of your daily operations. Keep reading to discover the key considerations and tips for storing wire rope.
Wire Rope Spooling
The best method of storing wire rope is on a reel. This helps to maintain the shape and function of the rope over time by avoiding kinks and tangles, which can damage the integrity of the rope and reduce its safety and usefulness. Reels also help centralize wire rope into space-efficient units that can be transported and even stacked.
Once spooled onto a reel, it will be simple and easy to remove the desired length of wire rope when needed. Whether you are working with drilling rigs, cranes or winches, we recommend that you have your wire rope installed and removed by an experienced professional.
Conditions and Safety
Wire rope is a vital piece of equipment, and it should be stored as such. Water, salt, dust, steam, temperature extremes and chemical fumes can wreak havoc on the structure and strength of wire rope. Therefore, store your wire rope supply in a cool, dry, covered, and well-ventilated place. An indoor location is best, but if you must store wire rope outdoors, make sure it is covered with waterproof material.
Additionally, make sure no part of the rope is touching the ground, and that the base of the wire rope reel is elevated at least a few inches in case of flooding. Water immersion can cause the wire rope to corrode and its lubricant to wear off. . When in doubt, check with your rigging equipment provider about wire rope spooling to ensure it is done right.
Rigging Inspections
Inspections of various pieces of rigging equipment are required by law on a regular basis – and wire rope is no exception. Work with your rigging equipment provider to have your wire rope inspected if it has been stored for an extended period of time. A full-scale rigging inspection can also help you determine where and how to store your wire rope on the front-end of a project. A qualified rigging equipment inspector will be able to address the quality and condition of all your rigging and lifting gear, furnishing detailed reports on their findings.
Work With Wire Rope Experts
At Southwest Wire Rope, our team has been serving the needs of the rigging, overhead lifting and securement industries with unwavering excellence for 56 years. If you’re searching for a rigging equipment provider, wire rope spooling and storage help or a certified inspector, turn to the professionals at Southwest Wire Rope. Our experienced team can provide insights and recommendations for the type of wire rope, end fittings, hardware, and operational procedures that best suit your facilities and equipment. We look forward to answering your questions and forming a lasting partnership. For more information, browse our service offering.
Over the past 56 years, the rigging, overhead lifting and securement industries have changed dramatically. With the advancement of technology and digitization of data, alongside more capacity and power in today’s machines, the industry has reached a new level. Increased demand and economic pressures are pushing today’s rigging operations harder than ever before, and around-the-clock productivity has become the norm.
While the past six decades have ushered in sweeping changes, some things have remained the same. For that entire time, Southwest Wire Rope has remained a stalwart rigging equipment provider with a reputation for quality and service. We’ve been providing rigging inspections, testing, and the strongest wire rope on the market for years – and we have no intention of slowing down. Here’s how we continue to uphold and define industry standards.
Uncompromising Service and Testing
To ensure that each facility and piece of operating equipment is up to code, rigging inspections are required by regulators. At Southwest Wire Rope, we employ a team of certified inspectors that can investigate every aspect of a rig, from the heavy machinery down to the shackles. With attention to detail cultivated by hundreds of years of combined rigging experience, our inspection team offers industry-leading guidance and professional recommendations. Reporting from TESSALink asset management software adds to our comprehensive service offering.
In addition to routine inspections, the Southwest Wire Rope team also performed destructive (break) testing of up to 1.7 million pounds from two separate locations. Need field spooling? We provide on-site installation and removal of wire and synthetic ropes on drilling rigs, cranes and winches. Through our steadfast commitment to raising the bar, we make sure our clients are meeting and exceeding all industry requirements.
Strong and Reliable Equipment
At our core, we are rigging equipment providers, and we strive to strengthen our offerings and expertise on a daily basis. In 1983, we introduced our trademark proprietary brand of wire rope to the market, characterized by an iconic gold strand. Nearly 40 years later, “Gold Strand” wire rope is still recognized as the strongest and most reliable wire rope on the market.
Additionally, we have a complete offering of wire rope fittings, synthetic and round slings, chains, and other rigging hardware. We pride ourselves on being experts in the rigging equipment space, providing not only the tools to get the job done, but also the guidance to do it right.
But we don’t stop there. If one of our clients needs a skip pan, spreader bar, or other custom lifting device, we maintain a large inventory of heavy equipment for rent. We continue to reinforce excellence in all we do through the provision and outfitting of cutting-edge equipment solutions.
A Reputation for Excellence
Finally, we continue to sharpen our skills and cement our place in the rigging industry by defending our reputation as the top rigging equipment servicer and provider in the industry. With every rigging inspection we complete and every client request we field, we seize the opportunity to build upon decades of excellence and provide exceptional products and services. Our team never shrinks back from the challenge. On the contrary, we relish the ability to enter new projects with the weight of a 56-year reputation on our shoulders. The responsibility to uphold and further this legacy informs everything we do – from the largest repairs, to the smallest reports.
Tap into the Legacy with Southwest Wire Rope
Our team has been serving the needs of the rigging, overhead lifting, and securement industries with an unwavering dedication to quality and excellence for over half a century. If you’re searching for a rigging equipment supplier, or need your system inspected by a certified inspector, turn to the professionals at Southwest Wire Rope. Our experienced team can provide insights and recommendations for the type of wire rope, end fittings, hardware, and operational procedures that best suit your facilities and equipment. We look forward to answering your questions and forming a lasting partnership. For more information, browse our service offering.
The commodity that “holds up” the rigging, lifting, and overhead securement industries is indisputably wire rope. Combining strength with flexibility, wire rope helps operations of all sizes move heavy loads where they need to go with safety and ease. Without enough properly tested and verified wire rope on hand, the output and productivity of the entire plant can grind to a standstill.
Because every project has different requirements, various types of wire rope are designed and fabricated to serve different purposes. With a variety of orientations, strengths, and load capacities, it’s important to know exactly which variety works best for your job. Here’s a breakdown of the major categories.
General Purpose Wire Rope
The “class” of wire rope refers to the number of wires that compose a strand, as well as how many strands surround the core. For example, 6×31 FC wire rope consists of 6 strands containing 31 wires each, which are wrapped around a fiber core.
General purpose wire rope – the variety most commonly used for daily rigging operations such as lifting, overhead securement, pulling, and establishing tension – most often contains six strands and an Independent Wire Rope Core (IWRC). Each of these strands can contain anywhere from 16 to 49 wires, with more wires increasing the flexibility of the rope.
General purpose wire rope can range in diameter from ¼ inch to 6 inches, with larger diameter ropes having breaking strengths of hundreds or even thousands of tons. For a detailed wire rope strength chart, consult our catalog here.
Crane Wire Rope
Most cranes and some overhead lifting and securement devices require specialized wire rope that prevents the load from rotating. This is often achieved by having layers of compacted strands, oriented in a tightly-knit pattern around a core and layed in alternating directions. For example, the Oliveira NR Maxipact PPI contains 18 outer strands, forming wire rope that can be effectively implemented in a non-rotating environment at temperatures from -50°C to +80°C.
Compacted varieties of crane wire rope provide increased fatigue resistance, strength, stability, and abrasion resistance. Often considered the strongest wire rope on the market, these types of wire rope are perfect for mining, industrial, construction, logging, and oilfield applications.
Other rotation resistant varieties come in 19×7 and 8×19 classes with an IWRC; for more detailed information, view the wire rope strength chart and select Wire Rope > Crane.
Wire Rope Slings
Finally, in addition to customized lengths and types of wire rope, a qualified rigging equipment provider can also supply pre-fabricated wire rope slings. These slings are outfitted with eyes or sockets that affix the load to a lifting device. Wire rope slings come in dozens of orientations, sizes, and diameters, allowing for ultimate customization when outfitting your rigging operation. Check out the catalog or connect with a rigging equipment professional for guidance and to place your custom order
Discover the Strongest Wire Rope with Southwest Wire Rope
The professionals at Southwest Wire Rope have been serving the needs of the rigging, overhead lifting, and securement industries with an unwavering dedication to quality and excellence since 1966. If you are in the market for industry-leading lifting gear, or need your system inspected by a certified inspector, turn to the pros at Southwest Wire Rope. Our experienced team can provide insights and recommendations for the type of wire rope, end fittings, hardware, and operational procedures that best suit your facilities and equipment. We look forward to answering your questions and forming a lasting partnership. For more information, browse our service offering and get in touch.
The lifting industry is not just about machine strength. Success in this business also requires precision, planning, endurance, poise, and training. In a highly competitive market that faces increasing pressures on a monthly basis, only the fittest lifting operations will continue to thrive in changing economic headwinds.
In addition to the competence and experience of your crew, your equipment is the largest differentiator between your lifting operation and the competition. Investing in material that is built to stand the test of time by a leading supplier with an illustrious reputation will help ensure your machinery runs smoothly. In short, you need the best and strongest assets in order to thrive in the lifting business. Here are some of the most important components that will help you achieve that goal.
Wire Rope
Cut to precision lengths in dozens of diameters, customized wire rope can help bring your operation to the next level. For more than 50 years, the team at Southwest has been helping the industry’s biggest players outfit their facilities with the best wire rope in the business. Our technicians can work alongside you to help determine the optimal thickness and orientation for your operation.
Chains
Not all chains are created equal. Every chain is tested to ensure it lives up to the Southwest legacy. Our team is familiar with every major type of chain configuration and linkage, so we can help you secure heavy loads and maximize your lifting potential while keeping your crew safe.
Slings
Synthetic round and synthetic web slings are the crucial components that keep your operation tightly bonded while remaining fluid and flexible. With various colors, lengths, and strengths available, the possibilities are quite literally endless.
Custom Hardware
Tie everything together with components that are perfectly suited for the unique lifting demands of your team. We can custom fabricate:
- SPA Shackles
- Alloy BTA Shackles
- Sling Shackles
- Drop Forge Malleable Clips
- Double Saddle Clips
- Thimbles
- Turnbuckles
These essential integrations of your below-the-hook device can be made in a variety of finishes with galvanized carbon or alloy steel.
Stand Out with Custom Lifting Gear
When it comes to lifting gear, every sling, strap, link, wire rope strand, and piece of hardware is vital to the overall success of the operation. Investing in customized below-the-hook products that are expertly fitted to your unique needs and capacity will help make your facility safer and your equipment more effective.
Southwest Wire Rope: Your Lifting Industry Partner
The professionals at Southwest have been serving the needs of the rigging and lifting industries with an unwavering dedication to quality and excellence for years. If you are in the market for industry-leading lifting gear, or need your system inspected by a certified inspector, turn to the pros at Southwest Wire Rope. We look forward to answering your questions and forming a lasting partnership. For more information, browse our service offering and get in touch.
In the rigging and lifting industries, proof tests are regularly performed to ensure that the equipment to be used can withstand the load it was manufactured to handle. These tests are performed for several reasons – specification requirement, manufacturer’s recommendation, and customer request are the most common.
Why Proof Test?
As mentioned, we perform proof tests for a variety of reasons. One such test commonly performed in the business is a proof load test. A heavy-duty undertaking, a proof load test unveils the true strength of a piece of rigging or lifting gear. Here’s everything you need to know about this specific type of test, as well as how to keep your crew safe during one.
What Is a Proof Load Test?
A proof load test is just what it sounds like: it proves whether a piece of rigging equipment can bear the load it is designed to. The test is administered in a controlled, measured fashion with a particular multiple of the maximum designed load (generally 1.1 to 1.5 times) and a specified length of time. After the test is completed, the operator will issue a certification confirming the workable load of the wire rope or other rigging component in question.
Why Proof Load Testing Is Critical
Whether the rig is overdue for a full inspection, the newly minted wire rope is being put to the test, or older equipment is being evaluated to determine if it is still fit for use, a proof load test is an immensely valuable tool. Every rigging component in the operation should be tested regularly, and a proof load test is one of the most complete and strenuous methods for doing so. Testing also helps keep the rigging equipment and the business as a whole within the boundaries of the OSHA, Department of Labor, and manufacturers’ codes that govern the industry.
Entrust the Proof Load Test to Professionals
The best way to keep your employees safe during a proof load test is to entrust the entire ordeal to trained professionals. Proof load tests are incredibly dangerous if not done with the proper equipment and control measures, as breakage can occur.
At Southwest Wire Rope, we provide proof load testing and destructive (break) testing of various lifting devices up to 1.7 million lbs. Proof load testing can be performed using specialized rigging and custom built test jigs that replicate the ultimate field installation of complex and highly engineered products. As you can imagine, this specially designed equipment is operated by industry veterans. By outsourcing the tests to an industry partner like Southwest, you can keep your crew out of harm’s way.
In reality, the advent of performing the test and verifying the strength of the equipment is also keeping your crew safe. Using wire rope or lifting gear until failure is a dangerous proposition and never recommended. Instead, get your equipment certified with a proof load test and gain the peace of mind your professionals deserve.
Southwest Wire Rope: Your Rigging and Lifting Industry Partner
Don’t leave the safety of your equipment to chance. Partnering with a full-service provider who can offer in-depth product knowledge and inspection services will save you hours of confusion and stress when it comes to meeting code – all while maintaining the safety of your crew.
The professionals at Southwest have been serving the needs of the rigging and lifting industries with an unwavering dedication to quality and excellence for years. If you are in the market for leading rigging and lifting gear, need your system tested, or are simply looking for an expert opinion, turn to the pros at Southwest Wire Rope. We look forward to answering your questions and forming a lasting partnership. For more information, browse our service offering and get in touch.