Wire Rope and Lifting Gear: Unraveling the Terminology.


Navigate the intricate world of wire rope and lifting gear with our list of wire rope and lifting terms. Our glossary demystifies the essential terms and acronyms used in this industry. Whether you are a seasoned professional or just starting to explore the field, this resource is your key to understanding the language of safe and effective lifting operations

  • ABF (Actual Breaking Force): The force measured in a controlled test that causes a wire rope to break, providing a real-world indicator of its ultimate strength.
  • ABL (Actual Breaking Load): The weight or load measured in a controlled test that causes a wire rope to break, giving a practical understanding of its maximum capacity.
  • Abrasion: The gradual wearing away of a material’s surface due to friction or rubbing against another surface.
  • Agg BF (Aggregate Breaking Force): The total breaking force of all the individual wires within a wire rope, representing its combined strength.
  • Agg BL (Aggregate Breaking Load): The total breaking load of all the individual wires within a wire rope, representing its combined capacity.
  • ALHL (Alternate Left Hand Lay): A wire rope construction where strands are laid in alternating directions, increasing flexibility and minimising rotation.
  • ARHL (Alternate Right Hand Lay): Similar to ALHL, but with strands laid in the opposite alternating direction.
  • ASL (Alternate Left Hand Lay): Another term for ALHL.
  • AZL (Alternate Right Hand Lay): Another term for ARHL.
  • Basket Hitch: A sling configuration where the sling is passed under the load and both ends are connected to the lifting point, forming a secure cradle.
  • Birdcaging: A serious wire rope defect where internal wires separate and stick out, resembling a birdcage, indicating potential failure.
  • Bridle Sling: A sling with two or more legs attached to a single lifting point, distributing the load for improved stability.
  • BS (British Standard): A standard published by the British Standards Institution (BSI) to ensure quality and safety, including for lifting equipment.
  • C (Core): The central component of a wire rope, providing support and shape. It can be fibre, wire strand, or an independent wire rope core (IWRC).
  • Calculated Minimum Breaking Force (CMBF): The calculated minimum force needed to break a wire rope, based on its design and materials.
  • Calculated Minimum Breaking Load (CMBL): The calculated minimum weight or load that would break a wire rope, based on its design and materials.
  • Centre of Gravity: The point where an object’s weight is considered to be concentrated, essential for balance during lifting.
  • Choke Hitch: A sling configuration where the sling is wrapped around the load and the working end is passed through the eye or hook, creating a tight grip.
  • Clevis Hook: A hook with a U-shaped opening at the top, designed to connect securely to lifting gear using a clevis pin.
  • Come-Along: A portable, hand-operated winch used for pulling or tensioning, commonly used in rigging and construction.
  • COSHH (Control of Substances Hazardous to Health): UK regulations for the safe handling and storage of hazardous substances in the workplace.
  • Corrosion: The gradual deterioration of a material, typically metal, due to chemical reactions with its environment, weakening its structure.
  • Crane: A machine with a hoist, wire ropes or chains, and sheaves, used to lift, lower, and move heavy loads horizontally.
  • Crowd Rope: A wire rope used to push the bucket of a power shovel into the material being excavated
  • Crown Wires: The outer wires of a wire rope that come into contact with sheaves and drums, subject to greater wear and tear
  • D/d Ratio: The ratio of the diameter of a sheave or drum to the diameter of the wire rope it carries, critical for rope longevity.
  • Dead Load: The total weight of all stationary components in a lifting system, excluding any dynamic forces from movement.
  • Deflection: The amount of sag or bend in a horizontally suspended wire rope.
  • Derrick: A large lifting structure with a vertical mast or tower and a boom, often used in construction and heavy industry
  • Diameter (rope): The measurement across the widest part of a wire rope.
  • Dog Leg: A permanent kink or bend in a wire rope caused by improper handling or use.
  • Drag Line: The wire rope used to pull the bucket on a dragline excavator
  • Drilling Line: In rotary drilling, the wire rope used to raise and lower the travelling block
  • Drum: The cylindrical part of a hoist or winch on which the wire rope is wound.
  • Dynamic Loading: Forces on lifting equipment caused by movement or acceleration of the load, which can be significantly higher than the static load.
  • EEIPS (Extra Extra Improved Plow Steel): The highest strength grade of steel used in wire rope manufacturing, suitable for demanding applications.
  • Elastic Limit: The maximum stress a wire rope can withstand before it becomes permanently deformed.
  • Elasticity: The ability of a wire rope to return to its original shape after being stretched or bent within its elastic limit
  • Endless Wire Rope: A wire rope with both ends spliced together to form a continuous loop
  • EN (European Norm): A standard published by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), promoting harmonization and safety across European industries
  • EPIWRC (Independent Wire Rope Core Covered with a Polymer): A type of wire rope core where an independent wire rope is further encased in a polymer coating for enhanced durability and corrosion resistance
  • EIPS (Extra Improved Plow Steel): A high-strength grade of steel commonly used in wire rope manufacturing
  • Eye: A loop formed at the end of a wire rope, typically by splicing
  • Eye Hook: A hook with a closed loop or eye at its top, allowing for secure attachment to lifting gear using a shackle or other connector
  • F (Filler): Small wires added to a wire rope strand to improve its shape and stability
  • Factor of Safety: The ratio between the minimum breaking load (MBL) of a lifting component and its safe working load (SWL), indicating the built-in safety margin
  • Falls: The sections of rope between the blocks in a tackle system
  • Fatigue: The weakening of a material due to repeated cycles of stress, which can lead to failure even if the stress is below the material’s yield strength
  • FC (Fibre Core): A wire rope core made of natural or synthetic fibres, providing flexibility and corrosion resistance
  • FFC (Fibre Film Core): A wire rope core made of a thin film of synthetic fibres, offering improved fatigue resistance and flexibility
  • Filler Wires: Small ancillary wires in a strand to position and support the other wires
  • Fill Factor: The ratio between the sum of the nominal cross-sectional areas of all the load-bearing wires in the rope and the circumscribed area of the rope based on its nominal diameter. It indicates how densely packed the wires are within the rope
     
  • Fleet: The movement of a rope sideways across a drum face or sheave flange
  • Fleet Angle: The angle created at the point of intersection of a line drawn from the inside edge of the drum flange or sheave axis and a line drawn along the axis of the rope. It affects the rope’s wear and lifespan.
     
  • Fusing and Tapering: Reducing the diameter of the end of a wire rope by hot twisting, to facilitate reeving (threading the rope through blocks or sheaves)

  • Galv (Galvanised): A rope finish where the steel wires are coated with zinc to provide corrosion resistance

  • Galvanising: The process of applying a protective zinc coating to steel to prevent corrosion

  • Gantry Crane: A crane with a bridge supported by legs that travel on rails or wheels, offering mobility and versatility in various industrial settings

  • Gin Pole: A sturdy vertical pole used as a support for lifting or rigging operations, often employed in construction and maritime applications

  • Grab Hook: A hook with a narrow throat and a safety latch, designed to quickly and securely grab onto objects like chains or lifting eyes

  • Grooves: Depressions on the periphery of a sheave or drum positioning and supporting a wire rope

  • Guy Line: A wire rope or strand used to hold an upright structure in position, providing stability and support

  • Haulage Rope: A wire rope used to pull cars or skips on a track, typically in mining or industrial settings

  • Hawser: A rope used in marine applications for towing or mooring vessels, typically made of strong, durable materials

  • HSE (Health and Safety Executive): The UK government agency responsible for overseeing and enforcing workplace health and safety regulations

  • Hook: A curved or angled device with a latch, designed to securely attach a load to a lifting system

  • Hoist: A mechanical device used to lift or lower loads using a wire rope or chain, often integrated into cranes or other lifting systems

  • Incline Rope: Ropes used to operate cars or skips on an incline, such as in mining or material handling applications

  • Independent Wire Rope Core (IWRC): A premium wire rope core type consisting of an independent wire rope, delivering exceptional strength, durability, and resistance to crushing

  • Initial Stretch: The permanent stretch that takes place during the very early part of the working life of a wire rope during the running in period.  

  • Inspection: A thorough and systematic examination of lifting equipment to identify any defects, wear, or damage that could compromise safety.

  • IPS (Improved Plow Steel): A grade of steel commonly used in wire rope manufacturing, offering good strength and durability for general lifting applications.

  • ISO (International Organization for Standardisation): A globally recognised standard-setting body, promoting consistency and quality across industries, including lifting equipment.

  • IWRC (Independent Wire Rope Core): A premium wire rope core type consisting of an independent wire rope, delivering exceptional strength, durability, and resistance to crushing.

  • Jib Crane: A crane with a horizontal jib or boom that pivots, enabling efficient lifting and movement of materials within a defined radius

  • K (Compacted Strand, Core or Rope): A designation indicating that the strand, core, or entire rope has been compacted to increase its density and strength

  • King Wire: The centre wire in a strand around which the other strand wires are laid

  • Kink: A sharp bend or twist in a wire rope that can severely weaken its structural integrity and lead to premature failure.

  • Kip: A unit of force equivalent to 1000 lbs (pounds-force), commonly used in engineering and construction in some regions

  • Lang’s Lay or Albert Lay: A wire rope construction where the wires in the strands and the strands in the rope are laid in the same direction, offering good abrasion resistance but prone to kinking.

  • Lay: The specific direction in which the wires or strands are twisted within a wire rope, influencing its flexibility, strength, and resistance to rotation.

  • Lay Length: The distance along the rope over which one strand makes a complete revolution around the core.

  • Lay Type and Direction

    • LHLL (Left Hand Lang’s Lay): Strands and wires laid in the same direction, left-handed.

    • LHOL (Left Hand Ordinary Lay): Strands and wires laid in opposite directions, left-handed.

    • RHLL (Right Hand Lang’s Lay): Strands and wires laid in the same direction, right-handed.

    • RHRL (Right Hand Regular Lay): Strands and wires laid in opposite directions, right-handed.

    • S (Left lay (Spiral Rope))

    • sS (Left hand Lang’s lay)

    • sZ (Right hand ordinary lay)

    • Z (Right lay (Spiral Rope))

    • zS (Left hand ordinary lay)

    • zZ (Right hand Lang’s lay)

  • Left Hand Lay: The manner of laying the strands of a wire rope so that they run from right to left across the top of the rope, as in a left-hand threaded screw

  • Lifting Gear: An all-encompassing term for equipment used to lift, move, or position heavy loads, encompassing a wide range of tools and machinery.

  • Load Cell: A sophisticated transducer that converts force or load into an electrical signal, allowing for precise measurement and monitoring of lifting operations.

  • Load Radius: The horizontal distance from the centre of rotation of a crane to the centre of gravity of the load, a critical factor in determining crane stability and capacity.

  • Locked Coil: A strand of smooth cylindrical surface composed of interlocking shaped wires laid in concentric layers around a centre of round wires

  • LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations): UK regulations governing the safe use of lifting equipment, ensuring compliance and minimising risks.

  • Long Lay: See Lang’s Lay

  • Low Rotation rope (LR): A multi-strand rope designed to resist spinning or kinking under load, improving stability and control

  • M (Cross Lay): A wire rope construction where the wires in the outer strands are laid in the opposite direction to the wires in the inner strands.

  • Marline: Organic rope fibre used for serving the section of hand spliced wire rope where the strands are tucked

  • Marlin Spike: A tool employed for splicing or otherwise working on a wire rope. Usually in the form of a tapered steel pin

  • Marry: To butt two ends of a rope for long splicing

  • MBL (Minimum Breaking Load): The minimum load required to break a piece of lifting equipment under controlled conditions, typically several times higher than the SWL.

  • Maintenance: The essential practice of regular upkeep, repair, and replacement of lifting equipment components to ensure its continued safe and efficient operation.

  • Mechanical Advantage: The ratio of the output force to the input force in a mechanical system, quantifying the amplification of force achieved through leverage or other mechanisms.

  • Minimum Breaking Force (MBF): Specified value, in kN (or other unit depending upon the specific region), below which the measured breaking force is not allowed to fall. 

  • Minimum Breaking Load (MBL): Specified value, in tonnes, tons (or other unit depending upon the specific region), below which the measured breaking force is not allowed to fall  

     

  • Miscellaneous:

    • LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations): UK regulations governing the safe use of lifting equipment.
    • LR (Low Rotation): A type of wire rope designed to resist twisting or spinning under load.
    • NDE (Non-destructive examination): Inspection techniques that do not damage the component being inspected
    • NDT (Non-destructive testing): Another term for non-destructive examination
    • RCN (Rope Category Number): A classification system for wire ropes based on their strength and construction
    • SWL (Safe Working Load): The maximum load that a piece of lifting equipment can safely handle under normal operating conditions
    • WLL (Working Load Limit): Similar to SWL, but may be specific to certain industries or applications

  • Modulus of Elasticity: In the case of wire, the ratio between rope loading (or rope tension) and elongation, within the elastic limit

  • MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet): A crucial document providing detailed information on the potential hazards and safe handling procedures for a chemical substance.

  • Natural Fibre Core (NFC): A wire rope core made from natural fibres like sisal or manila, offering good flexibility and shock absorption but lower strength compared to steel cores

  • NDE (Non-Destructive Examination): Inspection techniques used to assess the condition of a material or component without causing damage, such as visual inspection, magnetic particle testing, or ultrasonic testing

  • NDT (Non-Destructive Testing): Another term for Non-Destructive Examination

  • NFC (Natural Fibre Core): A type of wire rope core made of natural fibres like sisal or manila, providing good flexibility and shock absorption but lower strength compared to steel cores

  • Non-Rotating: A term sometimes used for low-rotation ropes, although all stranded ropes will rotate to some degree when loaded

  • Open Socket: A wire rope fitting consisting of a basket and two pierced lugs with a pin, used to create a secure termination for a wire rope

  • Ordinary Lay: Wire rope in which the wires of the strand and the strands in the rope are laid in opposite directions. Also known as Regular Lay  

  • Overhead Crane: A common type of crane with a hoist trolley that travels along a bridge beam, providing efficient lifting and movement of materials across a large area.

  • Overwind: A situation where a rope leads off the top side of a drum, which can cause damage to the rope and create a safety hazard

  • Parallel Wire Rope Centre (PWRC): A wire rope core consisting of several smaller wire ropes laid parallel to each other, offering high strength and stability

  • Parts of Line (Falls): The number of times a wire rope is passed through the blocks of a tackle. More parts of line increase the mechanical advantage but also increase friction and reduce efficiency

  • Plastic Deformation: Permanent deformation of steel wires due to heavy side (or axial) pressure to the rope, indicating that the rope has been overloaded and may be unsafe to use

  • Plow Steel (PS): A grade of steel used in wire rope manufacturing, offering good strength and durability for general lifting applications

  • PPE (Personal Protective Equipment): Essential gear worn by workers to minimize exposure to hazards during lifting operations, including helmets, gloves, safety glasses, and harnesses.

  • Preformed Wire Rope: Wire rope in which the strands are permanently shaped, before closing into the rope, to the helical form they assume in the finished rope. This reduces internal stresses and makes the rope easier to handle and splice

  • Prestressing: Applying predetermined tensions to ropes before installation in order that initial stretch may be largely removed

  • Proof Loading: Tensioning a rope with fittings to a predetermined percentage of its ultimate breaking strength, typically done as part of the manufacturing process to ensure quality and safety

  • Proof Load: A controlled load applied to new lifting equipment to test its strength and verify its compliance with safety standards before being put into service.

  • PS (Plow Steel): A grade of steel used in wire rope manufacturing, offering good strength and durability for general lifting applications

  • PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations): UK regulations ensuring that work equipment is suitable, safe, and properly maintained for its intended use.

  • Pulley: A simple machine consisting of a wheel with a groove in which a rope can run to change the direction or point of application of a force applied to the rope 

     

  • PWRC (Parallel Wire Rope Centre): A wire rope core consisting of several smaller wire ropes laid parallel

  • REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals): An EU regulation addressing the production and use of chemicals, aiming to protect human health and the environment.

  • Reel: A cylindrical drum on which lengths of wire rope are supplied or stored.

  • Reeve: To install or thread a wire rope through blocks, sheaves, or other components of a lifting system.

  • Regular Lay: See Ordinary Lay.

  • Reverse Bend: Reeving of a wire rope over sheaves or drums so that it bends in opposite directions, which can increase wear and fatigue.

  • RHLL (Right Hand Lang’s Lay): Strands and wires laid in the same direction, right-handed

  • RHOL (Right Hand Ordinary Lay): Strands and wires laid in opposite directions, right-handed

  • Rigging: The complex system of ropes, chains, slings, and other equipment used to support, control, and secure loads during lifting operations.

  • Rigging Screw: A threaded fitting used to adjust tension or level a wire rope.

  • Right Hand Lay: The manner of laying strands of a rope so that they run from left to right across the top of the rope, as in a right-hand threaded screw  

     

  • Rope Category Number (RCN): A classification system for wire ropes based on their strength and construction.

  • Rope Constructions:

    • F (Filler): Small wires added to a wire rope strand to improve its shape and stability
    • K (Compacted strand, core or rope): A designation indicating that the strand, core, or entire rope has been compacted to increase its density and strength
    • M (Cross Lay): A wire rope construction where the wires in the outer strands are laid in the opposite direction to the wires in the inner strands
    • S (Seale): A strand construction having two layers of equal numbers of wires with the same direction of lay, the outer cover having larger wires than the inner 
       
    • V (Triangular): A strand construction with a triangular cross-section, offering good abrasion resistance but less flexibility
    • W (Warrington): A strand construction in which one layer of wires is composed of alternating large and small wires.
    • WS (Warrington Seale): A combination of Warrington and Seale constructions, providing a balance of strength, flexibility, and abrasion resistance
    • C (Core): The central element of a wire rope
    • EPIWRC (Independent Wire Rope Core Covered with a Polymer): A type of wire rope core where an independent wire rope is further protected by a polymer coating for enhanced durability and corrosion resistance
    • FC (Fibre Core): A wire rope core made of natural or synthetic fibres
    • FFC (Fibre Film Core): A wire rope core made of a thin film of synthetic fibres
    • IWRC (Independent Wire Rope Core): A wire rope core made of another, smaller wire rope
    • NFC (Natural Fibre Core): A wire rope core made from natural fibres like sisal or manila
    • PWRC (Parallel Wire Rope Centre): A wire rope core consisting of several smaller wire ropes laid parallel to each other
    • SFC (Synthetic Fibre Core): A wire rope core made from synthetic fibres like polypropylene or polyester
    • SPC (Solid Polymer Core): A wire rope core made of a solid polymer material
    • WC (Steel Core): A wire rope core made of a single steel strand
    • WSC (Wire Strand Core): A wire rope core made of multiple steel strands

  • Rope Finish:

    • A (Zinc coated Class A (Heavy galvanised)): A heavy galvanised coating providing excellent corrosion protection
    • B (Zinc coated Class B (Drawn galvanized)): A lighter galvanised coating suitable for less corrosive environments
    • U (Uncoated (or bright)): No coating, suitable for indoor or non-corrosive environments
    • Ung (Ungalvanised): No coating, suitable for indoor or non-corrosive environments
    • Gal (Galvanised): A general term for a zinc coating applied to steel for corrosion protection

  • Rope Grade (North America):

    • EEIPS (XXIPS) (Extra Extra Improved Plow Steel): The highest strength grade of steel used in wire rope manufacturing
    • EIPS (XIPS) (Extra Improved Plow Steel): A high-strength grade of steel commonly used in wire rope manufacturing
    • IPS (Improved Plow Steel): A grade of steel used in wire rope manufacturing, offering good strength and durability
    • PS (Plow Steel): A basic grade of steel used in wire rope manufacturing

  • Rope Grade (Tensile Strength Grade, MPA):

    • 1770: A common tensile strength grade for wire rope
    • 1960: A higher tensile strength grade for wire rope used in more demanding applications
    • 2160: The highest tensile strength grade for wire rope, used in very demanding applications

  • Rope Strength Forces:

    • ABF (Actual Breaking Force): The measured force required to break a wire rope in a controlled test
    • Agg BF (Aggregate Breaking Force): The combined breaking force of all the individual wires within a wire rope
    • CMBF (Calculated Minimum Breaking Force): The calculated minimum force required to break a wire rope, based on its construction and materials
    • MBF (Minimum Breaking Force): The minimum force that a wire rope is guaranteed to withstand before breaking

  • Rope Torque: The twisting force generated in a wire rope when it is under tension, which can affect its handling and stability

  • Rope Turn: The amount of rotation a wire rope experiences when one end is free to rotate and the rope is under tension

  • Rotation Resistant: A specific type of wire rope designed to minimize twisting or spinning under load, enhancing stability and control during lifting.

  • Safe Working Load (SWL): The maximum load that a piece of lifting equipment can safely handle under normal operating conditions, a critical parameter for safe lifting practices.

  • Seale: A strand construction having two layers of equal numbers of wires with the same direction of lay, the outer cover having larger wires than the inner

  • Seizing: A wrapping or serving of wire or strand around a wire rope, particularly at its ends, to prevent fraying or unraveling 

     

  • Seizing Strand: A small strand usually of 7 wires made of soft annealed wire, used for seizing

  • Serve: To wrap a rope with wire, wire strand or fibre, typically for protection or to improve grip

  • Shackle: A U-shaped connector with a pin or bolt, used to securely join lifting components such as slings, chains, and hooks.

  • Sheave: A grooved wheel over which a wire rope runs, facilitating changes in direction and smooth transmission of power.

  • Sheave Block: An assembly of one or more sheaves mounted in a frame, often used to increase mechanical advantage or change the direction of pull in lifting systems.

  • Shock Loading: A sudden and severe impact on lifting equipment, potentially causing damage or failure, underscoring the importance of careful load handling.

  • Single Line Pull: A pull where a single rope is used, as opposed to a multiple-part tackle system

  • Skip: A bucket or container of open-end construction conveying or raising material

  • Sling: A flexible loop or strap used to cradle or attach a load to lifting equipment, available in various configurations and materials to suit different lifting needs.

  • Snatch Block: A specialized block with a hinged side that allows a rope to be inserted or removed without threading it through, facilitating rigging adjustments.

  • Socket: See Open Socket or Closed Socket – fittings used to permanently attach a wire rope to another component

  • Solid Polymer Core (SPC): A wire rope core made of a solid polymer material, offering good flexibility, corrosion resistance, and electrical insulation

  • Splice: A wire rope joint in which two ropes are joined into one with maintenance or rope diameter and strength. Also descriptive of the making of a rope eye or loop at the ends of a rope 

     

  • Spreader Beam: A lifting beam designed to distribute the weight of a load across multiple lifting points, reducing stress on individual components and improving stability.

  • Steel Core (WC): A wire rope core made of a single steel strand, providing high strength and durability

  • Steel Wire Rope: The fundamental lifting component, consisting of multiple steel wires twisted or braided together to form a strong, flexible rope.

  • Strand: A group of wires twisted together to form a component of a wire rope, contributing to its overall strength and flexibility.

  • Swivel: A rotating connector that allows a wire rope to twist without kinking, preventing damage and ensuring smooth operation.

  • Synthetic Fibre Core (SFC): A wire rope core made from synthetic fibres like polypropylene or polyester, offering good flexibility, corrosion resistance, and strength

  • Tackle: A system of ropes and blocks used to increase lifting power or change the direction of pull, often employed in complex rigging setups.

  • Tagline: A rope used to control the swing or rotation of a suspended load, enhancing safety and precision during lifting operations.

  • Thimble: A grooved metal fitting inserted into the eye of a wire rope to protect it from abrasion and maintain its shape, ensuring longevity and safe operation.
  • Torsion: The twisting or rotational force applied to a wire rope, which can affect its performance and lifespan.
  • Triangular Strand (V): A type of wire rope strand with a triangular cross-section, offering good abrasion resistance but reduced flexibility compared to other constructions.
  • Turnbuckle: A device with a threaded body and two end fittings, used to adjust the tension or length of a wire rope or cable, enabling precise control and stability.
  • U (Uncoated or bright): A wire rope finish with no protective coating, suitable for indoor or non-corrosive environments where appearance is important
  • Underwind: A situation where a rope leads from the bottom side of a drum, which can cause uneven winding and potential damage to the rope.
  • Ungalvanised (Ung.): A wire rope without a galvanised coating, typically used in indoor or non-corrosive environments where corrosion resistance is not a primary concern.
  • Valley Wire Break: A wire break that occurs at the point where two strands touch each other within a wire rope, often caused by fatigue or excessive bending.
  • Warrington: A strand construction in which one layer of wires is composed of alternating large and small wires, offering a balance of strength and flexibility.
  • Warrington Seale (WS): A combination of Warrington and Seale constructions, providing a balance of strength, flexibility, and abrasion resistance in a wire rope.
  • WC (Wire Core): A wire rope core made of a single steel strand, offering high strength and durability but less flexibility compared to fibre cores.
  • Wedge Socket: A wire rope fitting in which one end of the rope is secured by a wedge, creating a permanent termination.
  • Wire Rope Clip: A U-shaped clamp used to secure the end of a wire rope by creating a loop, often used for temporary or adjustable connections.
  • Wire Strand Core (WSC): A wire rope core made of multiple steel strands, providing good strength and stability with some flexibility.
  • WLL (Working Load Limit): The maximum working load that a piece of lifting equipment is designed to handle safely under specific conditions, often used interchangeably with SWL.
  • Work Hardening: The increase in hardness and strength of a metal due to plastic deformation, often occurring during the manufacturing or use of wire rope.
  • Working Load Limit (WLL): The maximum static load that a wire rope is designed to lift, lower or suspend.
  • Zinc coated Class A (Heavy galvanised): A thick zinc coating providing superior corrosion protection for wire ropes used in harsh environments
  • Zinc coated Class B (Drawn galvanized): A thinner zinc coating providing moderate corrosion protection for wire ropes used in less demanding environments