wire rope brand factory

Wire rope manufacturers produce their products in order to provide a high load capacity, versatile alternative to weaker ropes like manila rope or hemp rope. Wire rope products are used for a wide variety of motion transmission applications, among them: lifting, baling, tie down, hoisting, hauling, towing, mooring, anchoring, rigging, cargo control, guidance and counterbalance. They can also be used as railing, fencing and guardrailing.

Wire rope is a must-have for many heavy duty industrial applications. From mining to forestry to marine and beyond, there’s wire rope for almost every job. Some of the many industries in which wire rope is popular include: construction, agriculture, marine, industrial manufacturing, fitness, sports and recreation (plastic coated cables for outdoor playground equipment and sports equipment), electronics, theater (black powder coated cables for stage rigging), mining, gas and oil, transportation, security, healthcare and consumer goods.

Wire rope as we know it was invented just under 200 years ago, between 1831 and 1834. At that time, the goal was to create a rope strong enough to support work in the mines of the Harz Mountains. Invented by Wilhelm Albert, a German mining engineer, this wire rope consisted on four three-stranded wires. It was much stronger than older rope varieties, such as manila rope, hemp rope and metal chain rope.

While studying at Freiburg School of Mines, a man named L.D.B. Gordon visited the mines in the Harz Mountains, where he met Albert. After he left, Gordon wrote to his friend Robert Stirling Newall, urging him to create a machine for manufacturing wire ropes. Newall, of Dundee, Scotland, did just that, designing a wire rope machine that made wire ropes with four strands, consisting of four wires each. After Gordon returned to Dundee, he and Newall, along with Charles Liddell, formed R.S. Newall and Company. In 1840, Newall received a patent for “certain improvements in wire rope and the machinery for making such rope.”

In 1841, an American manufacturer named John A. Roebling began producing wire rope for suspension bridges. Soon after, another set of Americans, Josiah White and Erskine Hazard, started incorporating wire rope into coal mining and railroad projects, forming Lehigh Coal & Navigation Company (LC&N Co.). In 1848, wire rope from their wire rope factory in Mauch Chunk, Pennsylvania provided the lift cables needed to complete the Ashley Planes Project. This project sought to improve the performance and appearance of the freight railroad that ran through Ashley, Pennsylvania, by adding lift cables. This increased tourism and increased the railroad’s coal capacity. Before, cars took almost four hours to return; after, they took less than 20 minutes.

Wire rope likewise changed the landscape (again) in Germany, in 1874, when an engineering firm called Adolf Bleichert & Co. used wire rope to build Bi-cable aerial tramways. These allowed them to mine the Ruhr Valley. Several years later, they also used wire rope to build tramways for the German Imperial Army and the Wehrmacht. These tramways were wildly successful, opening up roads in Germany and all over Europe and the USA.

Since the 1800s, manufacturers and engineers have found ways to improve wire rope, through stronger materials and material treatments, such as galvanization, and different rope configurations. Today, wire rope makes possible many heavy industrial processes. It has become a necessity of the modern world.

Strands are made by tightly twisting or braiding individual wire together. One strand could have anywhere between two and several dozen wire filaments depending on the necessary strength, flexibility, and weight capacity.

One of the most dynamic elements of wire cables is the inner core. The strands are wrapped around the core, and it can be made of different metals, fibers, or even impregnated fiber materials. For heavy applications, cores are often made of a different strand of wire called an independent wire rope core (IWRC). An IWRC has a considerable amount of flexibility and it is still very strong. In fact, at least 7.5% of the strength increase in a wire rope can be attributed to an IWRC.

While they sometimes use other metals, like aluminum, nickel, copper, titanium, and even bronze for some applications, manufacturers primarily produce wire rope from steel. This is because steel is very strong and stretchable. Among the most common types they use are: galvanized wire, bright wire, stainless steel and cold drawn steel.

Of the wire rope steels, cold drawn carbon steel wire is most popular, although stainless steel wire rope is sometimes employed as well. Stainless steel rope is most popular for its anti-corrosive properties. Bright wire rope, a type of ungalvanized steel wire rope, is also popular. For added strength and durability, galvanized steel wire rope/galvanized steel cables are a very popular choice. Galvanized aircraft cable, for example, is always a must in aerospace.

When choosing or designing a custom wire rope for your application, suppliers consider factors such as: the environment in which the rope will function, required rust resistance, required flexibility, temperature resistance, required breaking strength and wire rope diameter. To accommodate your needs, manufacturers can do special things like: make your rope rotation resistant, color code your rope, or add a corrosion resistant coating. For instance, sometimes they specially treat and coat a cable with plastic or some other compound for added protection. This is particularly important to prevent fraying if the wire rope is often in motion on a pulley.

Manufacturers and distributors identify the differences in wire cable by listing the number of strands and the amount of wires per strand so that anyone that orders understand the strength of the cable. Sometimes they are also categorized by their length or pitch. Common examples of this include: 6 x 19, 6 x 25, 19 x 7, 7 x 19, 7 x 7, 6 x 26 and 6 x 36.

More complex wire rope identification codes connote information like core type, weight limit and more. Any additional hardware like connectors, fasteners, pulleys and fittings are usually listed in the same area to show varying strengths and degrees of fray prevention.

Cable wire rope is a heavy-duty wire rope. To give it its high strength, manufacturers construct it using several individual filaments that are twisted in strands and helically wrapped around the core. A very common example of cable wire rope is steel cable.

Spiral rope is made up an assemblage of wires with round or curved strands. The assemblage features at least one outer layer cord pointed in the opposite direction of the wire. The big advantage of spiral ropes is the fact that they block moisture, water and pollutants from entering the interior of the rope.

Similarly, stranded rope steel wire is made up of an assemblage of spirally wound strands. Unlike spiral rope, though, its wire patterns have crisscrossing layers. These layers create an exceptionally strong rope. Stranded rope may have one of three core material types: wire rope, wire strand or fiber.

Wire rope chain, like all chains, is made up of a series of links. Because it is not solid, wire rope chain is quite flexible. At the same time, it is prone to mechanical failure.

Wire rope slings are made from improved plow wire steel, a strong steel wire that offers superior return loop slings and better security. The plow wire steel also shields rope at its connection points, which extends its working life. Wire rope slings, in general, provide their applications with increased safety, capacity and performance. Wire rope sling is a rope category that encompasses a wide range of sub-products, such as permaloc rope sling, permaloc bridle slings and endless slings. These and other wire rope slings may be accompanied by a wide variety of sling terminations, such as thimbles, chokers and hooks.

Wire rope offers its user many advantages. First, design of even distribution of weight among strands makes it ideal for lifting extremely heavy loads. Second, wire rope is extremely durable and, when matched properly to the application, can withstand great stress and elements like corrosion and abrasion. In addition, it is very versatile. Its many iterations and the ways in which the rope can treated means that users can get rope custom fit for virtually any application.

Depending on the type of wire rope with which you are working and your application, you may want to invest in different accessories. Among these accessories are: wire rope clips, steel carabiners, fittings, fasteners and connections.

To ensure that your wire rope quality remains high, you must regularly inspect them for wear and degradation. The right wire rope should be selected for a particular use. Watch out for performance-impacting damage like: rust, fraying and kinks. To make sure that they stay in tip-top shape, you should also clean and lubricate them as needed. Check for this need as a part of your regular inspection.

Rope care is about more than inspection. It’s also about making an effort to use and store them properly every time you use them. For example, never exceed your rope’s rated load and breaking strength. Doing so will not only cause the weakening of your cable, but it may even cause immediate breakage. In addition, always store your wire rope cable in a dry and warm area, away from those elements that could cause premature rusting or other damage. Finally, always carefully wind your wire rope when you’re done with it, so as to avoid kinks. If you follow all these tips and treat your wire rope assemblies well, they will reward you with a long and productive service life.

Always make sure that you purchase wire rope that matches your industry and regional standards. Some of the most widely referenced standards organizations for wire rope include: ISO, ASTM International and OSHA. Talk over your specifications and application with your wire rope supplier to figure out what’s best for you.

If you’re in the market for a wire rope or a wire rope assembly, the best way to know you’re getting something that will both perform well and be safe if by working with a vetted professional. Find one among the list we’ve provided on this page. Check out their profiles to get an idea of the services and products they offer. Pick out three or four to whom you’d like to speak, and reach out. Talk to them about your specifications, standard requirements and budget. Ask about lead times and delivery options. Once you’ve spoken with all of them, compare and contrast their answers. You’ll know you’ve found the one when you talk to a wire rope company that is willing to go above and beyond for your satisfaction.

Wirerope Works, Inc. manufactures Bethlehem Wire Rope®, the trade name under which we produce, sell and service our wire rope and strand products. The name "Bethlehem Wire Rope" represents the most complete facility and experienced personnel in North America. Our 46-acre manufacturing complex in Williamsport, Pennsylvania, with over 620,000 square feet under roof, is the single largest wire rope manufacturing facility in North America. Wirerope Works, Inc. manufactures its own wire, wire rope, structural strand, and all fabricated products such as pendants and other assemblies on the same premises.

Bethlehem brand wire rope and strand products have long been recognized worldwide for superior quality. Used for both lifting and stabilizing, Bethlehem Wire Rope products are used in a wide variety of applications ranging from crane and elevator hoist ropes to bridge suspension and anchoring offshore platforms. Wirerope Works, Inc. serves many industries including construction, logging, marine, mining, oil and gas, and steel.

Wire rope is a complex mechanical device that has many moving parts all working in tandem to help support and move an object or load. Wire ropes are attached to a crane or hoist and are fitted with swivels, shackles or hooks. These are suitable for lifting or lowering elevators and are also used for supporting suspension bridges or towers.

In this article, we"ll cover details on the top U.S. providers of wire ropes, along with our featured list of top wire rope suppliers on Thomasnet.com.

Below is a list of featured suppliers of wire rope from our platform. Included with these companies is their location, year established and the number of employees.

Below we have assembled information on the top suppliers of wire rope in the U.S. based on currently available public sales data. The table also includes the company name, location and the number of employees.

With the help of the provided details on the wire rope suppliers in the United States in the above tables and descriptions, we hope you can use this data to further aid your sourcing decisions.

PersonalWe are on hand to personally guide you through the entire process, we translate the jargon, we recommend what’s best, and we are always here in person. No nonsense, just straight talking people who always exceed expectations through our extensive wire rope knowledge and superior service.

BC Wire Rope & Rigging is a full service provider of wire rope, slings, chain, hoists, and rigging equipment. BC Wire Rope has served the heavy lifting needs of customers throughout Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas, Tucson and the Western United States since 1974. Specializing in lifting products ranging from fall protection to synthetic slings, BC Wire Rope & Rigging carries products from the industry’s most reputable vendors including Crosby, Slingmax, Campbell, and Bridon American. With ample testing and manufacturing capabilities, BC Wire Rope is also the manufacturer of KWIK synthetic slings.

BC Wire Rope was onsite as the last steel beam was raised by Schuff Steel at the new, future home of the Los Angeles Rams and LA Chargers at SofFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. The raising of the last beam is marked by the raising of a ceremonial Christmas Tree, […]

Established nearly 40 years ago in Southern California, BC Wire Rope now manufacturers and distributes wire rope from 5 locations to strategically serve customers across the West Coast. Headquartered in a 35,000 square foot warehouse and manufacturing facility in Anaheim, BC Wire Rope is the premier provider of rigging throughout the greater Orange County and Los Angeles area and also has branches in Tucson, Las Vegas, San Diego, and Elko. These locations allows BC to stock a full inventory of specialty lifting products and enables BC to efficiently meet a wide range of manufacturing needs.

Full in-house testing and wire rope manufacturing capabilities help ensure that BC Wire Rope can meet or exceed its customers’ needs. BC Wire Rope can press wire rope slings and swaged boom pendants, splice slings and soft rope, and can fabricate special end fittings. BC also manufacturers its own line of synthetic slings through its KWIK Products division. KWIK Products include nylon eye & eye endless flat slings, high performance fiber slings, polyester round slings, and choker and basket hardware slings. BC Wire Rope also provides customers with proof testing through use of its 4 test beds that can test slings, blocks, and hardware with up to 1 million pounds of force.

BC Wire Rope & Rigging’s unrelenting focus on customer service and industry leading products is evidenced by its ‘Quality – No Compromise’ motto. BC Wire Rope has been a proud member of the wire rope industry’s trade association—Associated Wire Rope Fabricators (AWRF)—for over 35 years. The commitment to longstanding industry relationships is also demonstrated by the fact the more than half of BC Wire Rope’s employees have remained with the company for over 18 years.

With years of industry knowledge and a full product inventory, chances are that BC Wire can meet your lifting needs. Contact the specialists at BC Wire Rope today to find out more about what BC Wire Rope can do for you.

An association between Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd. (BHP) and rope manufacturers in Great Britain led to the establishment in 1923 of a wire rope manufacturing facility in Newcastle. A new company was formed under the name, Australian Wire Rope Works.

A site was selected in Newcastle, and a state of the art factory was built, with advanced manufacturing equipment, producing ropes compliant with British standards. Rope manufacturing began in 1925 and in 1933 the company became a fully owned subsidiary of BHP.

After 1945, Australia entered a boom period. The economy developed strongly and in the 1950s the Wire Rope Works was involved in major nation building projects such as the Snowy Mountains Scheme. In 1958, BHP consolidated and Australian Wire Rope Works became part of Australian Wire Industries (AWI). The 1970s and 1980s mining boom required new, advanced machines and additional capacity, with the capability to produce rope up to 150mm diameter, in 60 tonne parcels.

In 2000, the Long Products steel division separated from BHP and OneSteel was formed. Recognising the key role of the rope business, OneSteel began making strategic investments, such as the installation of one of the world’s largest electronically controlled rope closers in 2002, capable of producing 200mm diameter rope, and the installation of specialist plastic infusion equipment in 2009.

In July 2012, OneSteel, as a listed company, was renamed Arrium. Concurrently the rope business was rebranded as Moly-Cop Ropes, and we became part of the global mining consumables business of Moly-Cop. In March 2015 Arrium Limited sold its Wire Ropes business to Bekaert, a Belgium based company, specialising in wire products and coatings. MolyCop ropes was rebranded as WRI Australia, representing the brand used by the Bekaert Ropes Group businesses of Wire Rope Industries in North America, who themselves have over 125 years’ experience in wire ropes solutions for the mining and industrial sectors.

For customers who require peak rope performance levels in mission critical applications, Casar manufactures and supplies highly-engineered ropes that exceed industry standards while providing record-setting service life.

Our proprietary and innovative German-engineered rope designs deliver the highest levels of performance and safety, superior breaking strength values, the highest bending fatigue resistance, superior crushing resistance, and the best rotational resistance characteristics for high lifts.We have decades of global experience and on-site engineering support in the crane, OEM and underground mining sectors.

CASAR has an extensive range of products available and we can customize to your application.Our wire rope specialists will assist customers in design, selection, installation and operation to improve rope performance and maximize service life.

In Bad Wimsbach, Austria, Jakob Teufelberger, at the young age of 21, started to make hemp ropes for farmers, thereby laying the cornerstone for today"s enterprise. The next generations expanded their customer base to include raftsmen transporting salt on the Traun river, and began to industrialize the rope-making trade.

The new ropery was built on a 250 m long property at the outskirts of Wels. To this very day, it is home to the headquarters of the Teufelberger Group. The family also started to deal in household goods, a line of business it would pursue for yet a few decades.

Made on a 12-spool wire rope making machine, the first steel wire ropes had a diameter of up to 8 mm. Martin Teufelberger – the 4th generation of Teufelbergers to manage the family business – was aware of the importance of satisfied employees and provided housing for them.

From that time on, polyamide and polyester were used to make fiber ropes that should become benchmarks in and revolutionize mountaineering. Years later, Reinhold Messner used a TEUFELBERGER climbing rope to ascend his first "eight-thousander".

During the next decades, baler twines became an important source of revenue. In 2014, TEUFELBERGER sold its baler twine segment to the European market leader for agricultural crop packaging.

The first polypropylene (PP) strapping exited our production facility. TEWE® soon became an important brand, and still is to this very day. 1997 saw the launch of the production of PET strapping. Today, Wels is home to the world"s largest and most high-performing manufacturing facility for strapping.

TEUFELBERGER established a second production site in Wels, exclusively for the production of high performance steel wire ropes. New technologies were incorporated into the manufacturing process.

The acquisitions of German rope maker FSE and Denmark-based cordage manufacturer Roblon result in a new brand: FSE Robline. In 2011, Sweden-based Robship complements the existing product portfolio.

Back in 1991, a small sewing operation was set up in a rented building. In 1998, TEUFELBERGER built a factory. There, fiber ropes are made that are used as yachting ropes, for tree care, as safety ropes, etc.

By acquiring the steel wire rope plant of Voestalpine-Austria Draht in Sankt Aegyd, Austria, we were able to significantly strengthen our position in the ropeway ropes segment. In St. Aegyd, the first steel wire ropes were made way back in 1845.

By purchasing New England Ropes, a renowned manufacturer of fiber ropes in Fall River, Mass., TEUFELBERGER gained a foothold in the U.S. Back in 1967, Herb Repass and Dave Aigler founded their own fiber rope company and, with great commitment and persistence, developed it into a technology leader in the U.S. Following its acquisition, New England Ropes has continued to be a firmly established yachting rope brand. Meanwhile, TEUFELBERGER utilizes the broad technology basis also for the production of its fiber ropes for tree care, industrial applications, etc.

By taking over the manufacturing plants of Mammut, TEUFELBERGER has come full circle and returns to being an important European manufacturer of climbing ropes. Along with our US based Maxim climbing ropes, this further solidifies our position as a global leader in Life Safety Ropes.

By acquiring the Italian steel wire rope specialist Redaelli Tecna, one of the world market leaders in the design and production of steel wire rope, TEUFELBERGER takes the yet biggest step toward expansion in more than 225 years of company history.

For more than 15 decades, WDI has been synonymous for innovative wire rope that sets standards. Constant striving for perfection made us one of the global leading manufacturers of High Performance Wire Rope - growth and innovation ensure we stay ahead. We meet the industry’s ever increasing demands for high quality wire rope with cost- and lifetime-optimised constructions, while providing high breakloads.

WDI’s registered wire rope brand “PYTHON” was introduced in the market in the 1960’s and today has grown into a globally recognised brand for High Performance Wire Rope. Being one of the co-inventors of High Performance Wire Rope, over the past decades we have developed a broad product range and comprehensive knowledge of ropes and applications.

We understand that today’s cranes are becoming more and more specialised and require individual solutions instead of off-the-shelf products. With this approach, WDI has been awarded OEM by numerous crane and winch manufacturers. Hence PYTHON wire rope can be found in various common, as well as highly complex lifting applications.

Introducing our brand new Performance Wire Ropes Catalog. Included in this catalog is our crane usage table, our high performance compacted strand ropes, category 1 and 2 ropes, and end fittings and connections. Call 215-721-9333 to get a physical copy, or click below to download a PDF version.