When crawler cranes are used on high-lift job sites they generate unique operating conditions that result in unique wire rope deterioration. This session features four leading industry experts who will share their insights on the behavior of wire rope in such circumstances and provide you with guidelines for inspection, repair, or replacement. Moderator: Tony Fastuca, Vice President, ASC/Python America Panelists: Justin Brown, Product Manager, Unirope Limited Mario Hartl, Teufelberger Wire Rope Dave Sleightholm, Manager, Customer Technical Support, Bridon Bekaert

2. WIRE ROPE CHALLENGES FOR CRAWLER CRANES
BOOM HOIST ROPES ON LATTICE BOOM CRANES
ISSUES
CONCERNS
Speaker: Dave Sleightholm

3. CORRECT DIAMETER:
MUST BE DESIGNED TO PROPERLY FIT THE GROOVES ON DRUM
OR FIT FIRST LAYER ON SMOOTH DRUM WITHOUT GAPS TO
CAUSE POOR SPOOLING
CORRECT BREAKING LOAD:
MUST MEET OEM REQUIRED MINIMUM BREAKING LOAD
CORRECT CONSTRUCTION:
IN MOST CASES ROPE MUST HAVE GOOD RESISTANCE TO
CRUSHING BUT MUST ALSO HAVE REASONABLE BENDING
FATIGUE LIFE

4. MOST PROBLEMS WITH BOOM HOIST
ROPES ARE RELATED TO ITEMS ON
PREVIOUS SLIDE.
HOWEVER, OVER THE YEARS WE HAVE SEEN
THAT OPERATING CONDITIONS HAVE THE
MOST SIGNIFICANT AFFECT OF SERVICE LIFE.

5. CONDITIONS AFFECTING SERVICE LIFE
DUTY CYCLE WORK
LOW BOOM ANGLE
NYLON SHEAVES
IMPROPER OR INSUFFICIENT INSPECTION
FAILURE MODE AND LOCATION DEPENDENT ON
OPERATING CONDITIONS
RECORDS OF SERVICE LIFE

6. DAILY INSPECTIONS ARE CRITICAL
• DONT JUST LOOK AT ROPE ON DRUM
• ROPE IN REEVING MUST BE INSPECTED
• UP CLOSE AND IN GOOD LIGHT
• KEEP GOOD RECORDS
• KNOW WHERE AND WHY ROPES DETERIORATE TO
MAKE INSPECTIONS MORE MEANINGFUL