A brief overview of the variance between Japanese standard steel wire ropes and European after sales market solutions. This variance can have implications toward 'genuine parts' classification.

1. Steel Wire Ropes For: Rough Terrain Cranes, Mobile Cranes, Truck Cranes and Spider Cranes
Japanese crane manufactures such as KATO, TADANO, FURUKAWA, MAEDA etc. are actively exporting their product
ranges across Europe, however, genuine part JIS accredited wire rope replacements are often not part of the after
market service. It seems that multi-layered strand wire ropes, known as Nuflex and Hercules, are the default wire ropes
in new products in the overseas market, but then no route of supply thereafter to meet the ‘genuine parts’ criteria.
Reasons why special pitch multi-layer strand wire ropes are not used in crane after sales services overseas:
1. There is little awareness, outside of Japan, of the special pitch wire ropes. As European markets are familiar with
configurations for general use applications, it is routinely considered inappropriate for crane usage. The perception
is that general use wire rope will become entangled if applied to cranes.
2. Japanese wire rope manufacturers do not currently export these special pitch wire ropes, hence local
unavailability.
3. Current European after sales market suppliers witness issues with entanglement, fraying and breakage when
trying to replicate the special pitch via manufacturing sources in South Korea, China, etc., but initial cost (not
lifetime), combined with the above mentioned factors, contribute to these lower standards.
Reasonable Cost Special Pitch Wire Rope > Multi-Layered Strand Wire Rope
Flexibility (User-friendly) Special Pitch Wire Rope > Multi-Layered Strand Wire Rope
Crushing Resistance Special Pitch Wire Rope > Multi-Layered Strand Wire Rope
Long Service Life Special Pitch Wire Rope = Multi-Layered Strand Wire Rope
Rope Twist Pitch

2. Alloy Plated Wire Rope
The four types of ‘coated’ wire rope (i.e. less ‘Bright Wire’) available across Europe, which can be listed in order of most
rust resistant, but there is a fifth, which is unique to Japan (in addition to the special pitch across all configurations):
Stainless Steel Wire: Stainless steel is entirely different to carbon steel. It is primarily an alloy of steel containing at least
11% (generally up to 18%) of chromium, and often includes up to 8% nickel. It is naturally corrosion resistant and
generally left uncoated as a finished product.
Galvanized-to-Finish Wire: Galvanization is a process of steel post-treatment in which carbon steel is coated in a layer
of zinc. The common forms of galvanization is hot dip, in which a piece of steel is dipped or run through a bath of molten
zinc, and electro-galvanizing, in which a piece of steel is coated in zinc by use of an electric current passing from a zinc
anode to the steel cathode. The wire is manufactured to a specific diameter smaller than its final diameter and then
coated in a thick layer of zinc that brings the wire to its final size.
Drawn Galvanized Wire: As opposed to wire that is galvanized up to its finished diameter, drawn galvanized wire is
coated in a layer of zinc that brings its diameter above the final intended diameter of the wire. The wire is then pulled, or
drawn, to reduce its diameter to the product's intended final diameter.
Zinc-Aluminium Wire: While not technically considered galvanization, zinc-aluminium plated wire is coated in an alloy of
zinc and aluminium with different performance characteristics than simple galvanized wire. Sometimes referred to as
“mischmetal,” it can be plated-to-finish or drawn down to final size exactly as regular galvanized wire.
Japanese Zinc-Aluminium Wire: Here we see the key variation between European and Japanese coating methods, as
our galvanization process is based on a gas wiping system and a special cooling device, enabling an unprecedented
thickness of plating, and resulting in up to 3x corrosion resistance.
Prominent Korean and Chinese manufacturers supplying Europe cannot achieve as much adhesion as these unique
Japanese products and hence cannot compete with our quality of alloy plating (it could also be argued our quality of
steel).

3. Steel Wire Rope For: Elevators
The more an elevator is used, the longer the pitch of the wire rope becomes. Japanese wire rope configuration wire
ropes have little pitch elongation, and hence have a longer lifespan, requiring less time between performing
maintenance. Whilst this results in a reduction of maintenance costs to the end customers, it does present a
disadvantage to maintenance companies in terms of replacement cycles. This may be offset through lifetime scorecard
calculations, and reflection in maintenance pricing, whereby the advantage to the end user can still be preserved
through reduced inconvenience.
Soft Wire Ropes For: Rigging
The larger the diameter of the wire rope, the harder and less flexible it becomes, making it difficult for workers to
handle. Through thinning each wire the wire rope becomes much softer and therefore easier to handle, whilst
maintaining integrity.
REPRESENTATION FOR C. F. WIREROPE LTD. IN EUROPE
PAUL BUCKINGHAM
074-3476-4584
director@icpr1200.com
http://www.icpr1200.com/Wire_Rope.html