ski lift wire rope brands

ISO 9001 & AS 9120 certified 8(m)WOSB certified manufacturer of floatable polypropylene ropes for barrier, crowd control, ski tow and slope, and electrical applications. Available in 3-strand twisted and 8-strand plaited construction with 3/16 to 4 1/2 in. diameter sizes and 1,300 to 115,000 lbs. average tensile strength. Features chemical resistance. Also offers custom ropes. Meets military specifications.

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.

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.

The 6x19 Classification of wire rope is the most widely used. With its good combination of flexibility and wear resistance, rope in this class can be suited to the specific needs of diverse kinds of machinery and equipment. The 6x19 Seale construction, with its large outer wires, provides great ruggedness and resistance to abrasion and crushing. However, its resistance to fatigue is somewhat less than that offered by a 6x25 construction. The 6x25 possesses the best combination of flexibility and wear resistance in the 6x19 Class due to the filler wires providing support and imparting stability to the strand. The 6x26 Warrington Seale construction has a high resistance to crushing. This construction is a good choice where the end user needs the wear resistance of a 6x19 Class Rope and the flexibility midway between a 6x19 Class and 6x37 Class rope.

The 6x36 Class of wire rope is characterized by the relatively large number of wires used in each strand. Ropes of this class are among the most flexible available due to the greater number of wires per strand, however their resistance to abrasion is less than ropes in the 6x19 Class. The designation 6x36 is only nominal, as in the case with the 6x19 Class. Improvements in wire rope design, as well as changing machine designs, have resulted in the use of strands with widely varying numbers of wires and a smaller number of available constructions. Typical 6x37 Class constructions include 6x33 for diameters under 1/2", 6x36 Warrington Seale (the most common 6x37 Class construction) offered in diameters 1/2" through 1-5/8", and 6x49 Filler Wire Seale over 1-3/4" diameter.

Bekaert offers a wide range of coated round and Z-shaped steel wires for the production of hauling and carrier ropes. The wires that make up the rope core are of consistent quality. They feature high tensile strength and excellent ductility, leading to optimal fatigue resistance and a high breaking load. Moreover the round and Z-shaped wires can be coated with advanced coatings ( Bezinal®, Bezinal®3000 ). The combination of these features provides the right requirements for any traction or track rope: safety, stability, sustainability and less maintenance.

Because cable way projects mean a significant investment, we help you manage costs with economical and streamlined production. Bekaert offers Just-In-Time delivery that keeps up with the planning of your projects. Our cable way rope wire is produced according to EN-10264-2 or EN-10264-3 specifications. You can also set specific mechanical requirements to customize your rope.

With nearly 4,000 employees worldwide, WireCo WorldGroup is a great place for you to build a rewarding career. Our professionals enjoy the opportunities of a global manufacturing and distribution leader as well as a culture of open communication, professional growth, and friendly camaraderie that fosters innovation and problem solving.

With the advent of high rise elevators and increased car speeds, elevator designers and manufacturers frequently select a higher strength hoist rope. The grade of steel (traction, extra high strength traction) is dependent upon many factors, the most critical being load requirement and car speed. It is not always advantageous to use an EHS traction rope where traction will suffice. The low carbon wire used on traction grade wire ropes may provide better fatigue life than a higher carbon EHS wire.

Use 8x19 Seale traction steel ropes for most drum and counterweight ropes. If the drum and sheave material of the existing elevator is softer than that required for traction steel, the use of iron ropes may be considered.

8x25 Filler Wire traction steel ropes provide longer and more economical service. For existing installations that require iron, WW suggests 8x25 Filler Wire.

Use an 8-strand traction steel governor rope for longer service life, unless iron is specified. Make sure replacement governor ropes are in accordance with the elevator manufacturer"s specifications.

Steel Core elevator hoist ropes are used where additional strength is required without increasing the diameter of the wire rope. An additional benefit of the steel core is that these ropes will exhibit somewhat reduced stretch when compared with that of fiber core ropes. Equipment utilizing Steel Core hoist ropes are specifically designed with steel core ropes in mind and are not to have fiber core ropes substituted.

Lift-Pac is designed for use wherever elevator hoist ropes exhibit short service life due to adverse operating conditions. Primary applications include:

Lift-Pac is not recommended for high rise/high speed applications. Also, Lift-Pac should not be used as a remedy for poor rope performance due to worn sheaves and/or differential groove depths.

Design, ride comfort and environmental sustainability play an important role in today‘s requirements for ropeways. From the continuous ongoing developments and an innovative spirit, products from Leitner-Poma of America have been setting new standards for many years.

In late April 2022, the Lodgepole Chairlift haul rope (aka the wire cable that the chairlifts are attached to) was replaced with a brand-new haul rope supplied by Fatzer, LTD - a specialty steel wire rope manufacturer based in Switzerland. The process of replacing the haul rope is a complicated one, requiring an all-hands-on-deck approach from the resort’s summer maintenance staff, as well as expert outside consultants.

First the chairlift carriers - what skiers/riders sit on - must be removed. Then the old rope is detensioned and taken off a number of lift towers so it can be accessed. The new rope is then temporarily spliced into the old, and a special system is rigged on the ground to pull the new rope around all of the lift towers, using the old rope as a guide. Finally, the temporary splice is undone, and the new rope is permanently spliced together, rehung on the lift towers, and retensioned to its operating tension.

Extensive testing is conducted throughout the process and after to ensure the new rope is functioning properly before the chairlift carriers are reattached and the chairlift is fully load tested and certified as ready for passengers for next winter season.

YuanBo Engineering Co., Ltd., Dunamis Wire Ropes Mfg. LLP, Tokyo Rope Mfg. Co., Ltd., and Guizhou Wire Rope Incorporated Company, among others, are the top players in the bright steel wire rope market.

The global bright steel wire rope market is supported largely by the steel wire rope industry, which attained a CAGR of 3.4% in the forecast period from 2022 to 2027.

Bright steel wire ropes are general wire ropes without any coating, and free from zinc, copper, and other metallic coatings. Grease is generally used to lubricate these wires, hence preventing their deterioration. The major users of bright steel wire ropes are the oil and gas industry, shipping industry, and mining industry. Ever since the crude oil crisis, bright steel wire rope producers have seen a surge in revenue generation, especially with newer ventures for oil extraction, coal mining, and other mineral and industrial drilling.

Bright steel wire rope consumption and sales have been high in the Asia Pacific region in recent years, particularly in China, Indonesia, and India. North America and Europe are the primary areas for the global market for bright steel wire rope since they are major end-users in the oil and gas industry. During the forecasted period, the Asia Pacific countries of China, India, Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia are predicted to have considerable growth in the bright steel wire rope sector. Over the recent decade, China"s demand for bright steel wire rope has increased significantly, possibly because of increased steel output and infrastructure investment in lift and motion applications.

YuanBo Engineering Co., Ltd. Is the biggest bright steel wire rope manufacturer in the world. The company provides technology, solutions, and service support to meet the specific needs of customers in the pharmaceutical, chemical, fire, industrial, and other industries. As the company is located close to the northern Chinese, Tianjin port, it enjoys convenience of transport, and as a result, exports are large. It covers an area of 18000 square meters and employs more than 200 people to manufacture its goods. YuanBo exports to Europe, America, Japan, the Middle East, Africa, South Korea, and Australia.

Dunamis Wire Ropes Mfg. LLP is the largest wire rope producer in India. The various ports of Mumbai offer easy transport to other countries, hence increasing their revenue. The company provides wire ropes for a wide variety of applications such as industrial and construction work, mining, oil and gas, bridges, ski lifts, and fishing and marine.

One of the biggest wire rope manufacturers in Asia, Tokyo Rope Mfg. Co., Ltd. have built a reputation for providing the best quality in their products. The seaside ports and the immense connectivity from Japan allow for exceptional transport facilities. It is engaged in the production and sale of steel cables, steel cords, developed products, and others, the real estate leasing business, as well as logistics related business and other services.

Guizhou Wire Rope Incorporated Company is one of the largest companies specialising in steel wire rope products. The enterprise has more than 5000 employees, as they strive to achieve perfect quality control. The capacity of the company is a massive 4,00,000 metric tons a year, which they export to the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Denmark, Netherlands, Singapore, and the Middle East.

Usha Martin is present in elevator rope business for more than 50 years and is a company of choice for OEM’s who require reliable performance of wire rope combined with high order ofread more... Brochure

Elevator ropes demand close dimensional tolerance and stringent material quality level to meet the tough safety requirement. Usha Martin is present in elevator rope business for more than 50 years and is a company of choice for OEM’s who require reliable performance of wire rope combined with high order of safety. Designedread more... Brochure

i understand the factors at hand. just a little background info though.. the "cables" used for ski lifts start as wires that are twisted together to form a strand. then this strand, along with a number of other strands, is wound around a smaller wire rope (the core) to form the finished wire rope.

wire rope - cross section is made up of many of the honeycomb-looking strand cross sections and one core that is made up of many honeycomb cross sections

how exactly does varying all of those change the mechanical properties in a wire rope... i would think its a little more complicating that just the outer diameter of the finished product. especially since all of the sources ive looked at have said something about a range of wire numbers being used different types of strands, meaning there has to be some way of telling how many wires/strands you need at a certain thickness to provide the requested tensile properties

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.

Knight Equipment Company, Inc. was founded in 1945 by Aubrey Knight, after working for Broderick & Bascom Rope Company since 1927. His son, R.J. Knight, worked along side his father until, in December 1975, he purchased and incorporated the business from his father. Knight Equipment Company, Inc. continues under that leadership today.

Knight Equipment Company has had a continued growth, not only in the wire rope field, but in the ski industry as well. RJ, along with his sons, Justin and Jason, does splicing, inspections, and electromagnetic inspections at the ski areas, nationwide, as well as worldwide.

Some of the products carried by Knight Equipment Company, Inc. are wire rope, wire rope fittings, M.S. Slings and H.T. Slings, chain slings, chain fittings, and nylon slings. We also make wire rope and chain assemblies for construction.

We do custom wire rope splicing, such as the endless drive cables used by the Amusement Industry for their rides and endless cables used by the Ski Industry.

Rope Services Direct can cater for all your rope wires and webbing needs. We specialize in galvanized steel and stainless steel wire rope and can custom make any assembly to your requirements, so whether you need some fine wire cables for your garden or a robust crane rope, Rope Services Direct can sort you out in no time thanks to our own workshop and industrial pressing facilities.

Wire Rope can be seen all around us, even if we may not always register it! It is most commonly used to lift or support objects but can sometimes just be used for aesthetic purposes and it can have many advantages.

Probably one of the most common industries to utilise it is the lifting equipment industry where it’s frequently used to lift heavy loads and can be seen on a variety of equipment including cranes, winches, hoists and lifting slings.

Another common area they are used is in lifts to raise and lower the lift compartment. This can be in office buildings as well as cable cars, ski lifts, railways and other types of aerial lift.

Steel cable is also often used for architectural purposes as it is known for its strength, versatility and aesthetic properties. A common example is suspension bridges.

One of the reasons for the wide range of uses is the different end fittings that can be attached to the rope to enable them to fit to any anchor point and also to adjust to the required tension.

In our workshop we produce many different types of rope assemblies on a daily basis, some of the most common types we produce are trailer ropes, rigging rope, lifting slings, zip wires and many custom assemblies. We often supply many multiples of these to our regular customers; however we are happy to make individual ropes for special tasks.

Rope wire comes in many different constructions, for example, right or left hand lay; wire or fibre core, and the amount or fibres and wires included in the completed rope. It can easily become confusing especially if you add in the non-rotating rope option. Talk to the specialists about your needs to ensure you get the right one for your intended purpose. Using the wrong rope can be disastrous.

Stainless steel wire rope is used in different tasks and areas togalvanized rope, this is because of its differing properties. Due to the fact that stainless steel is aesthetically pleasing to the eye it is popular for home interior projects likebalustrade on stairs, hanging shelves or other decorative features. As stainless is very corrosion resistant its outdoor use is endless, perfect for highlighting garden areas or as decking balustrades.

One of the main advantages is its corrosion resistance which increases as the chromium content is raised, or Molybdenum is added. This means it will not succumb to uniform corrosion and rust so can be used for applications where the rope may get wet, such as in marine environments. Indeed, our ropes are graded AISI 316 so they can be used in marine environments. They also comply with EN12385 and EN10264.

It also resists staining so the aesthetics of the wire rope will not change, making it an attractive choice for many interior design projects for things such as barriers and balustrades in public areas such as shopping malls and public attractions.

At Rope Services Direct, our range is second to none and we can supply you with stainless steel wire rope. If you would like to find out more, please don’t hesitate to contact us on 01384 78004.

We also supply to the water treatment industries where it is constantly utilised in wet conditions. The marine and aviation sectors also these ropes for many tasks. More commercially these ropes are used in architecture and as safety barriers in public areas.

There are many different diameters available. They are commonly found in diameters ranging from 3mm to 76mm. It’s important to choose the right diameter as a 50mm rope would be no use round a pulley with a groove of 10mm.

One of the most important considerations is how you will use it. This is especially true if it is being used in the lifting industry, where if the rope fails then serious injuries can occur. It is of the upmost important that you examine the rope for signs of wear and if in any doubt, do not use. It is also a good idea to have a regular inspection and testing schedule, carried out by a suitably qualified person so that you know the rope is fit for purpose and safe.

Whatever type of rope wire you choose, it is important to be aware of the properties and construction of it so that you are using the correct rope and also enhances your safety knowledge.

In manufacturing it, hundreds of tiny metal filaments are wrapped, twisted and braided together to make the inner wires. These will then turn into strands by twisting together the smaller inner wires / filaments. Twisting strands in various ways around a central core is what makes the wire rope. It is how they are twisted which gives them their differing properties e.g. non-rotating, low stretch, higher breaking strength. There are also different constructions depending on left and right hand lay.

Note: The numbers used when describing a rope denote the number of wires and strands within it. For example, a 6 x 36 wire rope has 6 strands made of 36 wires. Likewise, a 7 x 19 has 7 strands with 19 wires. Strength and/or flexibility is provided when the strands are twisted around an inner core which can be steel wire or fibre core.

Due to their construction, it’s important to identify any broken wires or strands which could have severe consequences if used without inspection and testing. However, if a few strands break during a specific lift, it is more likely the intact wires and strands will hold the load whilst it is safely lowered – then the rope can be destroyed. It is this property which makes them safer than chains because if a chain link breaks then the load will likely fall.

There are many factors which can affect them, including bad coiling using pulleys and sheaves etc., grooves that are too big or too small, excessive pulling angles or twisting the rope in the opposite way to its ‘lay construction’, dirt ingress and poor lubrication to name but a few.

Handling it can impart numerous hazards. From metal splinters when cutting the rope to acute bruising if the rope abruptly recoils so vital safety strategies must be adapted when handling the product.

The best option is to raise the reel off the floor so it turns without restraint. Some possible ways to do this is to utilize a soft sling through the centre of the reel which can be let down by means of an electric hoist or passing a bar through and resting it over the forks of a forklift truck or jacks could be a possibility, or using a reel turntable. However, if you are using a forklift truck do not place the forks directly onto the reel as misguided forks could damage it.

Before unreeling – make sure the floor space is clear so that the rope can be pulled off the reel in a straight line safely. The rope must always be pulled from the top, not the bottom of the reel and it should be pulled in a straight line which should minimise the danger of bending or kinking the wires, which will permanently damage it and make it unusable.

If it"s in a coil rather than a reel, then the only safe way to remove the rope is to carefully roll the coil in a similar way to pushing a child’s loop, again ensuring the surrounding area is clear of debris.

Equally, it can be damaged when it is being reeled back up again after use. You need to keep it wound tightly and wind it the same way the wire has been wound out which will avoid reverse bending of the rope. You should also ensure the wire is wound over the top of the reel to ensure it’s even and to avoid the bottom layers crushing.

Storage should be ideally on a rack, stand or pallet and not on the ground. It is also important to store the rope in a clean, cool and dry environment as moisture or condensation can develop amid the wires and begin the decay process rendering the rope unusable – waterproof containers and breathable tarpaulin like bags should ideally be used if the rope is stored outside.

Wire ropes are lubricated during manufacture but further lubrication at frequent intervals should be done, especially if it’s being stored for long periods of time. This will help to shield it from moisture ingress.

You should try to keep the rope elevated, off the floor to allow good air circulation. Reduce the risk of the rope becoming contaminated with dirt, dust and other particles that may affect it.

Storing rope should be done in such a way that it will not be at risk from any accidental damage. Either whilst in storage or whilst removing the rope from the storage area.

Overall, always remember manufacturers guidelines and instructions should be followed at all times to keep safe and prolong the life of the rope. If you are unsure if a rope is fit for purpose, always get it inspected and load tested which ought to be done regularly anyway.