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Are you preparing your next overhead lifting project, and are you unsure of the best lifting slings style to use? And, maybe you don’t get the service life you’d expect from the slings you’re using right now?
Chain slings, wire rope slings, webbing slings, round slings, synthetic rope and metal mesh slings all can be used to lift, move, and position a load safely and efficiently.
Wire Rope Slings
There are several reasons why wire rope is a favoured lifting system.
The distinctive construction is made of multiple steel wires, which form individual strands laid around a fibre or steel core in a helical pattern. This structure offers strength, flexibility and bending stress handling capability.
Wire rope slings are common in the building, automotive, oil and gas and general manufacturing industries where there is a range of heavy loads and harsh conditions. They are also very common in steel mills and forging installations where the rope’s durability is thoroughly checked.
Different material, wire and strand structure configurations can provide various benefits for the particular lifting application — including resistance to abrasion, strength, flexibility and fatigue resistance.
Wire rope slings, while being reasonably lightweight in construction, have a lower initial cost than alloy cord.
Alloy Chain Slings
When it comes to durability and reliability — alloy chain slings are the lifting slings of choice.
Chain slings may be used for routine or repeated lifting of weighty and bulky loads. Their lightweight nature provides strength and resilience to withstand impact, extreme temperatures and chemical and UV exposure. Chain slings are used for high-temperature applications and heavy-duty load lifting.
Their strength and reliability enable them to be used in foundries, steel mills, heavy machine shops, and any other area where a wire rope sling or synthetic nylon or polyester sling may be weakened or broken by frequent lifts or harsh environments. When any damage occurs on a chain sling, it can be fully repaired and re-certified after the repair and after being load checked.
Synthetic Slings
Nothing beats the versatility, strength and support which synthetic lifting slings can provide for highly finished parts or delicate equipment.
Synthetic slings can be made of materials made from nylon or polyester and are lightweight, easy to rig and highly flexible. Since they are relatively cheap, come in several standard sizes and can be quickly substituted, they are particularly common in construction and other general industries.
Since they are so flexible, they can conform to the form of delicate and irregularly shaped loads, or they can be used to firmly grip loads of round bar stock or tubes in a choker brace.
Synthetic Web Slings
Web slings are flat belt belts made of webbing material that most often have fittings on each end or flat or twisted heads.
The most flexible and commonly used multi-purpose sling is Web slings.
They’re good, easy to rig, and cheap. These are more flexible and lighter compared to the chain and can be used to reduce scratching and denting to loads. They can also be produced with up to 48 “long load-bearing surfaces to ensure sufficient surface contact for heavy and large loads.
Synthetic Rope Slings
Although synthetic rope slings have been in use for more than 60 years, the development of high-performance fibres has recently enhanced the understanding of using rope slings for overhead lifting.
The characteristic of these high-performance fibres is their lightweight, strength, flexibility and versatility. Not only are they becoming more commonly accepted, but they are favoured in the construction, shipyard, and offshore and deepwater industries in some lifting applications.
Metal Mesh Slings
Metal mesh slings are made of high-tensile iron, alloy, or stainless steel wire mesh. They are primarily used in metalworking and other industries where the loads can be substantial, abrasive or appear to be cut into softer synthetic slings. These are corrosion resistant and are built to last in difficult and challenging operating environments.
