/wrn_aug2011

August 2011

www.wireropenews.com

Pioneering fabrics for automobiles to space stations story on page 10

Soaring high above the earth on zip lines story on page 20

Advertisers Index Page 75

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Vol. 32, No. 6 August 23, 2011 Publisher & Editorial Director Edward J. Bluvias

Contributing Editor Barbara McGrath Spencer

Circulation Director Patricia Bluvias

Graphics & Layout Don Tywoniw - 2D Graphics Website: www.wireropenews.com

Contents Features Pioneering woven fabrics for the first automobiles to inflatable space stations ............ 10 At 85-plus years old, the Southern Weaving Company has moved to experimenting with new fabrics intended for inflatable space stations.

Zipping along - on Wire Ropes ............................. 20

Headquartered in Utah, a small company strives to give it’s customers the feeling of gliding on air high above mountains in locations all over the globe.

SMART PHONES - Pros and Cons ........................... 28

Offered here are varied insights from different segments of the wire rope industry on whether the newest breed of phones are really as “smart” as they claim to be.

Nicholson Construction’s geotechnical work at the World Trade Center construction site ........... 34

ISSN 0740-1809

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology is published by-monthly by Wire Rope News, LLC, 511 Colonia Blvd., Colonia, New Jersey 07067-2819. (908) 486-3221. Fax No. (732) 396-4215. Address all correspondence concerning advertising, production, editorial, and circulation to Wire Rope News, LLC, P.O. Box 871, Clark, New Jersey 070660871. Subscription rates: $20 per year, domestic: $30 per year foreign: $25 per year, Canadian. Quantity discounts of three or more subscriptions available at $15 each per year, domestic: $25 each per year, foreign: $18 each per year, Canadian. Single copies $4 per issue, domestic: $6 per issue, foreign; $5 per issue, Canadian. Copyright © 2011 by Wire Rope News, LLC, 511 Colonia Blvd., Colonia, New Jersey 07067.

All rights reserved. Publisher reserves the right to reject any material for any reason deemed necessary.

Printed in Canada Published bi-monthly; Oct., Dec., Feb., April, June, Aug. Issued 3rd week of month published. Insertion orders, classified, and editorial copy must be received before the 20th of month preceding date of publication (e.g. May 20th for June issue).

Email: info@wireropenews.com

This Pennsylvania company has been involved in the progress of one of the most anticipated construction sites in history – the World Trade Center.

Taking the lead - how to deliver bad news to good employees . ................ 42

Experts give their advice on the difficult task of announcing staff layoffs or cuts in benefits.

Cover photo:

Everett Henry handles a weaving loom beam in the Southern Weaving plant.

Departments Advertiser’s Index........................................................75 Steel Industry News....................................................46 The Inventor’s Corner..................................................58 People in the News ....................................................74 New Products..............................................................72 Classified.....................................................................76 Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

7

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Pioneering woven fabrics for the first automobiles to inflatable space stations: Southern Weaving Company

By Thomas G. Dolan

This 85-plus year old company has moved from offering tradition‑bound fibers and constructions to experimenting with new fabrics intended for inflatable space stations – all within the past few years.

“W

e’ve continually had to reinvent ourselves,” says Richard Guarnaccia, Vvice Ppresident, Ssales/ Mmarketing, of the Greenville, SCbased Southern Weaving Company.

This would appear to be a given since this producer of industrial woven fabrics was founded in 1924 by Jack Burnett and F.L. Murdock to utilize natural fibers such as cotton to provide pads for the braking systems and hood lacing for Model T Fords.

In the 1930s the company started making the transition from natural to synthetic fibers, such as nylon and rayon. During the 1940s, as a result of the military requirements of World War II, the company started making the webbing for parachutes. In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Southern Weaving was one of the first manufacturers to develop a two ply weave of nylon and rayon for the new automotive seatbelt technology. The company then began utilizing polyester.

“Since polyester has less elongation than other yarns, it limited occupant pelvic excursion,” Guarnaccia says, adding that polyester also provided extended ultraviolet (UV) protection.

As seatbelts became more competitive and less profitable, the company phased out of this market, and in the 1980s moved into polyester and nylon sling webs for lifting and tie downs/ load binders and cargo control webbing for trucks, aircraft, rail and continued on page 12

Southern Weaving’s sales team: (from left to right): Jack Miller – Technical Sales Manager, Scott Keeler – Director of Sales, Rick Guarnaccia – VP of Sales & Marketing, Ron Mohling – CEO, Sandy Saye – Market and Sales Director.

10

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

continued from page 10 cars. Then, in the 1990s, the company moved into manufacturing the protective sleeves that fit over hydraulic hoses to protect against the elements and abrasion. The company also expanded into fall pro­tection harnesses for the construction, manufacturing and marine industries and transfer belts for the laundry, baking, and battery production industries.

Although nylon and polyester are still the company’s mainstays in terms of lifting slings and other products, Southern Weaving has also adapted other well known advanced fibers, such as Kevlar, Vectran, and Nomex. But the company has not been content to stop here.

“We’re one of only a few companies using Dyneema, a strong synthetic high-tech yarn used for rigging,” Guarnaccia says. “It’s ten times stronger than steel and has incredible chemical resistance.”

Southern Weaving is not only utilizing the most up-to-date technologies, but is also, through its research and develop­ment activities, moving to some creations of its own. “We’re

Lean manufacturing principles keep the Southern Weaving plant running efficiently

looking at ways to identify UV degradation,” Guarnaccia says. “This is extremely important. A lot of slings are left in the open, exposed to the sun’s UV rays. A lot of people would love to have a way to take these slings out of service scientifically.”

On the near horizon, Guarnaccia continues, “is a new woven technology, yet to be disclosed, which we believe will be a pioneer in the industrial woven industry.”

He adds that the company’s first product utilizing this new technology will be announced sometime this year.

S o u t h e r n Weaving is working with NASA and another company to move into an entirely new realm. “Basically, we’re looking at a fabric that will replace metal, which will be much lighter.

It will be used for housing, in inflatable living Constant attention to quality has made Southern Weaving a reliable quarters, des­ webbing supplier for decades.

12

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

tined for a space station eventually,” Guarnaccia explains. “Our grandkids may very well be staying in a hotel built and inflated with woven fabrics from Southern Weaving.”

Unlike many businesses which have survived over the years, Southern Weaving did not continue as a family business. Rather, it has gone through a series of different ownerships. Although with many inevitable ups and downs, the basic process has been the same. A new market is found, capitalized on, then, when, due to competition or other factors, the viability of this market begins to fade, a new one is found and developed.

This has been accomplished within the same narrow focus of industrial woven fabrics, starting with natural yarns, and evolving toward ever improving synthetics.

Over the past 85-plus years, this evolution has been gradual. But with the new ownership, put in place last September, and under the new CEO Ron Mohling, the momentum forward has accelerated at a terrific pace. A key reason, explains Director of Sales, Scott Keeler, is that the previous ownership, was, not surprisingly, tra­ dition bound. It stayed with markets which were profitable, saw little need to develop new products or change marketing efforts which had worked well enough for many years. The company had an established reputation for many years, and word of mouth was enough to keep it profitable.

And it’s not that the tried and true method had failed. For, as Keeler continued on page 14

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continued from page 12 reports, sales were up 15 percent through the recession. Keeler is quick to add, however, that this year sales are up 25 percent.

A key reason, Keeler explains is that the company, instead of shying away from new investments, has already put over $1.5 million this year into capital improvements, including wide looms, new warping and twisting equipment, enhancements to dye ranges, as well as new laboratory and testing equipment.

“The new management team felt that, by investing in the company, we could add value and bring it to the next level. Our philosophy is that the wise utilization of capital will result in growth and profitability,” Keeler says.

“Our focus going forward is on quality and new products, new products, and new products,” says Guarnaccia.

We’re using a dual approach to this.”

The first, Guarnaccia explains, has to do with serving existing customers. This ranges from providing them with new value added products, to enhancements on existing ones, allowing them to differentiate themselves from domestic and foreign competition. Moreover, we now have an ongoing dialog with customers as to how certain prob­lems can be solved or what little additions would make the product even more valuable. Resources have been put in place to respond to these customer requests.

The second prong Guarnaccia continues, is developing products in entirely new markets, such as the aerospace inflatable modules, to de-

Southern Weaving has been a leader in the narrow webbing industry since 1924.

veloping whole new sets of customers.

To move forward in these new directions, the company is, of course, relying not only on products, but also its personnel.

For instance, the technical Sales Manager, Jack Miller, who is heading up the first prong of adding more value to existing products for our customers, has been with the company for 52 years and continues to be one of our most knowledgeable experts.

But new managers have been or are in the process of being hired to bring fresh energies to various reorganized depart­ments. These include a Manager of New Product Development for the second prong of reaching new markets, a New Marketing Director, and, a young MBA to join the marketing department as a Product Manag-

A warping creel in Southern Weaving’s Greenville, SC manufacturing facility.

14

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

er. The intent to increase profession­ alism while expanding market range is expanding to other fronts as well. A new advertising agency has been retained. Also the sales reach has been extended through hiring two rep companies, WestRep on the west coast, and A. H. Batchelder & Son, Inc. in the mid-west.

Keeler has been with Southern Weaving for 3 years and Guarnaccia 6, and both bring their special talents and experience to bear. Keeler, with a degree in Marketing and 15 years in both woven and nonwoven products, joined Southern Weaving. Guarnaccia worked in a number of different industries, having earned a Masters in Business Management, before working in an industrial coated fabrics business for 12 years that also wove automotive airbag fabrics, then joining Southern Weaving.

Since the new management is so intent on going off in new, even futuristic directions, why has it retained the name of Southern Weaving which connotes the image of old-fashioned weaving of cotton and other natural fibers?

“We’ve had long debates on whether or not to change the name,” Guarnaccia responds. “The reason we haven’t changed is that the name still has value. It’s got brand recognition. So we decided, let’s change our image and looks, let’s change every­thing about us except the name.”

This change of image incorporates everything from a new logo to stationery to ads. “Previously, the same quarter page ad ran for over 20 years,” continued on page 16

continued from page 14 Guarnaccia says. “We were very limited as a marketing and sales company.

Basically, the company built relationships and stayed with those. Everybody knew us so we relied on that.”

The standard quarter page ad has been replaced by four different full page ads which will run in every issue of three different magazines.

The previous ad was two color and mostly words.

The new format is four color. Each one is dominated by a photo which tells a simple story, such as a thread going through a loom, with a brief caption such as “Proof. It’s in the details.” The lower fourth, on a calming background of blue, has a clear concise message, concluding “We have you covered” – which conveys the fact that Southern Weaving meets your the central point of these fabrics is, essentially, safety.

But the safety of the employees is also part of the renewed focus of the company. The company inaugurated regular safety meetings, and won a AWRF safety award for achieving a 95% reduction of accidents over a year period. The company has also entered

Yarn feeding through an eye board at Southern Weaving’s Greenville, SC plant

the process to become ISO certified, and has hired two certified people to implement lean manufacturing. “Another major emphasis is quality and delivery,” Guarnaccia adds.

The company had already been upto-date computerized in terms of every function from ordering to receiving to process to delivery to invoicing.

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Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

What the new management has done, however, says Guarnaccia, “is completely updated and modernized our web-site. We did two things. First we gave it a look to reflect our new image. And, second, we’ve made it easier to navigate, making it more informative. For instance, we now include continued on page 18

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continued from page 16 new announcements and news articles, as well as profiles of our senior management so people can see who’s running the company.”

Guarnaccia says the company is not yet concentrated on really using the Internet as a marketing tool but we are rapidly moving in that direction.

Also, he adds, “By virtue of our website we’ve picked up some new distributors in Europe and South America.

Southern Weaving has three fa-

cilities, the corporate office in Greenville, a branch in Anderson, SC, and one in Collingwood, Ontario, Canada.

All three comprise about 200,000 sq. ft. There are roughly 200 employees.

Still another innovation of the new management is including all of the employees in strategic planning. “Now we’ll have some 30 to 40 people in the room, including associates from the factory floor,” Guarnaccia says. “They now have more input than they ever had before. We’re doing it for two rea-

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The Southern Weaving facility in Greenville, SC houses several loom types supplying a wide variety of markets.

sons. The first is that it’s a recognition that they have something to offer, so it builds morale. But it also turns out we’re getting more productivity.”

As a key illustration, Guarnaccia points to the fact that workers often were in a struggle to get difficult jobs done working with older equipment. “Workers never before had a voice in their work processes,” Guarnaccia says.

He adds that the managers have been both surprised and gratified by the extent and value of the workers’ input.

For instance, in replacing older equipment with newer, more efficient, and safer models, not only has productivity and morale improved, but safety has as well, which probably came from the workers taking charge of their jobs and the regularly scheduled safety meetings.

“The ideas we get are very good,” Guarnaccia says. “We can’t implement them all at once, but the best ideas are soon put into practice. We run a contest once a quarter. The winner gets a paid vacation day. There’s a reward system for good ideas.”

And good ideas abound at Southern Weaving these days, as the company continues to build on its 85 plus year history and moves forward into exciting new markets with advanced materials to better serve its customers every day. With the company’s goal of ongoing innovation, Southern Weaving is a company to watch. WRN

Zipping along - on Wire Ropes

By Peter Hildebrandt

Imagine the feeling of soaring in an open glider. Now take that same sensation but without the glider or anything around you while at the same time plunging toward the bottom of a mountain or cliff, nothing above you but a relatively thin wire rope and slings holding you in place.

One small company headquartered in Utah is now hard at work spreading that sensation to the far reaches of the globe, from locations as diverse as New England, the Mountain West, Switzerland and coastal Alaska to South Korea and Siberia.

Z

ipRider®, a product of Terra-Nova, LLC of Utah, headquartered in Park City, Utah, is the brainchild of Eric Cylvick, company founder and inventor.

Originally from Long Island, New York, Eric had an adventurous childhood and youth, with boating at a young age, and a lot of skiing over the years.

He graduated in the late 1980s from Clarkson University, in Potsdam, New York, where he received his degree in electrical From left to right: Storme Mathisen, Levi Painter, Brian Brechand computer engi- wald, Sarah Cylvick, Eric Cylvick, Frank Borrelli and Jim Russell. neering, despite the fact that he was more mechanically- Sarah. “I heard about a company called inclined. After college, Eric was a river ‘Sky Trek’ which had 14 different caguide on the Middle Fork of the Salmon bles strung up between trees in the River during the summers and worked cloud forest, with the longest one 1,400 for the Park City Mountain Resort on feet in length. At the time this one was the ski patrol for a total of 14 years. He the longest in the world.” worked his way up through the ranks “But it was super primitive and there until he reached the position of Snow were no safety redundancies in place.

Safety Director.

They just used a little pulley and you His wife, Sarah Cylvick, vice presi- were suited up in a basic rock-climbing dent, has been an adventurous soul as harness. They had no backups and no well. In fact, it was at her urging that reliable kind of stopping mechanism at the two went on the trip that would the end; they basically had a Costa Richange their lives and lead to the can with a rope tied around the cable founding of their company. that would stop you when you came While Sarah and Eric were dating, in. However, what we noticed was that she talked him into going to Costa Rica there were teenagers all the way up to with her on a surfing trip. She had grandparents on this tour and everyone heard about a zip line tour at that time was having a great time. Eric worked in Costa Rica. “That’s really where the at Park City Mountain Resort at the whole zip line craze started,” explains continued on page 22 20

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

Riders on the ZipRider at Wildcat Mountain, New Hampshire.

Courtesy of Dodge Brooks

continued from page 20 time and his thought was, ‘I would love to bring this experience to Park City Mountain Resort.’”

Eric reasoned that he would have to basically create a trolley that would be braking the whole way down. The thing with canopy tours in the rain forest is that you’re not necessarily dropping any gradient. You’ll go from one side of a gulley to the other, but maybe you’re only dropping 50 - 150 feet or so.

Therefore, with the traditional canopy tour-style zip lines installed at a ski resort, it would take hundreds of cable to basically work your way down from the top. Eric’s concept was to create a selfbraking trolley that would enable them to put one cable from the top to the bottom, fully tensioned with no belly so riders could just go straight down the mountain.

Enter ZipRider Eric and Sarah installed their first ZipRider at the Park City Mountain Resort in 2002. Unlike the zip lines down in Costa Rica, riders of the ZipRider are able to take the existing chairlifts at the ski resort to get up the mountain. Since the chair lifts are already in place, ready to go, this is why the firm has concentrated on establishing their

Riders on the First Flieger ZipRider at Grindelwald, Switzerland.

systems at ski areas and resorts. The clients ascend the mountain and then walk a very short distance to where the zip line is before riding back down, in fast motion.

The ZipRider uses an automated system that’s adjustable so that depending upon what particular grade a ride is, adjustments can be made to the trol-

ley to adapt to that percent grade. The systems have multiple safety features.

The trolley is self-braking the entire time. In any event of a trolley failing they have multiple redundancies on the trolley itself as well as the harness so it can never ever detach from the cable. There are also individual safety continued on page 24

Reliable Connections ESCO rigging products for wire rope application: • Swagers

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Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

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continued from page 22 er in Salt Lake City, Utah. Atlas supbackups on each person’s harness. plies all their rigging equipment and Riders come into the final bottom cable. They’ve had a great relationship stretch of their rides at anywhere from with them, according to Sarah. These 10-20 miles per hour, depending on items are put together into a truck load the ride. The springs at the bottom are which is then shipped to the location graduated to accommodate for light where the ZipRider system is being riders and heavy riders. installed. This distributor has Chinese Eric created the braking technology, and Korean rope and other wire rope as well as the three different trolleys that he uses. “Looking at the price and he’s invented, which have a number of originally not knowing how long these patents on them, including some Eu- wire ropes were going to last, he decidropean patents too. “Riders ride down ed to go for a more cost effective – but the entire wire rope and the wire rope still good quality – product.” is actually part of our braking system,” “If you look at some of the original zip explains Eric. “Our brake rubs against lines that were going up, they were just the wire rope and the trolley system grabbing any type of cable and throwing itself that you’re actually hooked to has a braking system. There is a constant brake going down the cable, with the cable enacting 50% of our braking.

“Two mechanisms slow the rider down. One is the trolley itself with its passive braking system and the springs at the end. We essentially have a trolley that’s basically a governor that slows the rider down as they descend. Then we have, of course, a terminal brake at Riders on the ZipRider at Park City Mountain Resort.

Courtesy of Park City Mountain Resort the bottom acting to decelerate from the speed they’re it up in the air. We wanted cable that coming into the terminal brake at, to had certifications and that came from a zero mph.” decent wire rope manufacturer; it just The first wire rope they used was a turned out to be a Korean rope.”

5/8” diameter wire rope. But as they ZipRider uses ¾ inch wire rope cable started looking at the terrain and dif- for both the ZipRider and the ZipTour, ferent rides that they were asked to one of the other two trolleys. On their build, the ¾” wire rope seemed to be third trolley, the ZipRescue, the specithe most cost effective way to go for the fications make it adaptable to 1.2 to 1.6 appropriate strength for the distances inch cable and a larger cable, up to 2.1 they wanted to go. With the topog- inch. They have two different brake asraphy they were in for the two, three semblies which can be purchased deor four thousand-foot long rides, they pending upon whether the line will be needed a certain breaking strength. “It used for a tram or a regular chairlift. seemed like with anything bigger than Some ski lift cables have a rubber-type ¾” inch wire rope, we defeated our pur- material in the grooves. They do not use pose,” says Eric. “For the amount of that type of cable on their systems, just weight we were adding to the wire rope the straight 6 by 19 cable lines. we were getting an increased breaking Now Eric and Sarah and the five strength; it didn’t pay to go to a one- other guys who make up their team inch diameter wire rope.” have completed 14 installations. Two ZipRider buys their wire rope ZipRiders are opening to the public through Atlas Sales, a wire rope retail- right now in South Korea. For that 24

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

installation they purchased the cable in Korea. The cable they normally get from Atlas Sales is also from Korea. When they did an installation in Switzerland, they ended up purchasing Swiss-made cable. They are flexible when they do an installation, especially overseas. If a customer would rather buy the cables themselves or build the towers themselves, ZipRider will work with them.

Giving Ski Resorts a Summer Life “The ZipRider is an especially good fit for old ski resorts and any ski areas looking to increase their revenue streams,” says Sarah. “For instance, at Wildcat Mountain Ski Area in New Hampshire, we installed the first two cable ZipRider in 2007 and it was sold out every day from day one.

The next year we expanded the ride to a four cable ride and it continues to sell out every day.

The ZipRider took their number of summer visitors from 7,600 people per summer to 58,000. The infrastructure is already there; all you have to do is have something to do in the summer.

The ZipRider is one summer time addition for areas that enable them to expand from having five months of income to having 12 months of income.”

The option to go year round differs from location to location. Their Park City Mountain Resort location, for instance, is a good fit for summer but in the winter that particular location closes down for the ZipRider. The Utah Olympic Park, Wildcat Mountain and their location in Switzerland do operate in the winter.

ZipRider sells their systems to the customer. The ski/resort area in turn uses existing employees to run it. They sign a service contract and agree to visit the installation once each year and inspect the ride. All the parts of their rides are custom-made, so custom spare parts are sent to each location.

Their biggest ride is at a cruise line port of call in Alaska. It has six cables side by side with each cable over a mile continued on page 26

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continued from page 24 in length at an astounding 5,400 feet.

This is on a little island fifty miles west of Juneau, Alaska.

“We definitely push the envelope,” admits Sarah. “When we built the big ride in Alaska, it became the biggest zipline in the world, and still is. It launches off a cliff. It’s insane. It then drops 1300 feet in vertical elevation over one mile in distance. That location is now sold out every day. It goes for $120 dollars per ride and is a phenomenal ride,” says Sarah.

“It was probably our scariest installation too, as we were faced with new challenges. But Icy Strait Point works so well because you are literally dropping off a cliff. There are no mountains or hills at all to get in the way of the cable sag. The length of the wire rope cable to be used really depends on the individual location’s terrain. The terrain is the most limiting factor.”

Taking a Tour on the Zip Their new product is the ZipTour, a trolley that Eric invented and designed.

They can make it adapt to any kind of ride that they can build. Riders can be going along at 50 miles per hour down the cable and they are able to come to a stop, even on a 35% grade, whenever they want. The adjustable braking trolley is operated by the customer. “It’s really cool,” says Sarah.

The ZipTour is a combination of the technologies used for the ZipRider and the ZipRescue trolleys. For the first time, the riders can control their own speed, and even stop and enjoy some time suspended over a river or other

26

area of interest.

There is a ZipTour video on their web site (www.ziptourcanopy.com) which they’ve recently completed. Their ZipRider website (www.ziprider.com) is a fun way to spend a few minutes.

It has a wide variety of in-the-moment videos of all their sites. (www.ziprescue.net) has a video of the ZipRescue ski lift rescue trolley in action. This is a trolley used to ride chairlift cables for lift evacuation.

The Cylvicks realized that there weren’t any recognized national standards, set protocols, or procedures for lift evacuation, and each individual resort was having to develop their own methods for lift evacuation. The ZipRescue trolley was created to give patrollers a light weight, safe and versatile method of cable transport in the event they needed to get into a chair or gondola cabin for evacuation. ZipRescue is an authorized Petzl dealer and now works with resorts to build custom evac gear packs consisting of the ZipRescue trolley and Petzl equipment.

Because it is so light weight, it only requires one trained rescuer to operate it. The automatic braking system gives the rescuer speed control, and because of its efficiency, the rescuers can use their energy better, which means they’ll have more energy to make better decisions.

From Installation to Ride It usually takes about a month to get a new system installed, and from the time they sign a contract to the time that the ride is opened is typically about five months. “Once onsite they

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

supervise the installation. By the time we get onsite, the foundations are in the ground already. We’ve designed the foundations and given that to the customer; the customer hires a contractor to install the foundations and erect the ride. We show up onsite and – depending on the individual ride – it’s probably four to five weeks before the ride is opened up to the public.”

Among the biggest challenges with installation is the fact that the work is being done in a mountain environment and there are all kinds of issues with the weather, the terrain and getting the equipment to the top of the mountain. “Working at 9,000 feet elevation in the Rocky Mountains in May is different than working in New Jersey in May. In the Rockies you can get five feet of snow in May at a ski resort,” says Eric.

“There are issues with the erection of the towers and the stringing of the wire rope is always a challenge because typically we are trying to keep as many trees in the alignment as possible. Very often we’re not cutting trees down and are trying to string wire rope through trees, getting tension above the trees and that’s always a big challenge.

“We do take some trees down, but not like what happens with the installation of a chairlift, where a wide swath is removed. We take trees down that are close to the cables that are potentially a hazard for the riders to hit, but unlike a chairlift we don’t take out all the trees underneath.”

“We have a ride installed in Siberia, so temperature is not really an issue or limiting factor particularly. When we came up with the idea for these systems it was in the tropics, far from snow and the mountains. But here we are, and it’s been an amazing ride. The phrase we’ve come up with to describe the experience our clients have is ‘No sweat adrenaline’ because everyone enjoys the rush but not everyone is willing to work for it,” says Sarah. “With the ZipRider you just sit back in our custom harness and enjoy the thrill.”

That adrenaline can still be felt even when you’re a seasoned pro. When Eric rode down their ZipRider in Alaska the first time he witnessed a pair of Bald Eagles soaring just below him. “It’s an incredible feeling hanging on a little single cable when you’re 500 feet off the ground, with birds of prey flying beneath you. Every ride is unique; similar technology is used but nothing is ever the same with the location, whether it’s Korea, Switzerland or Branson, Missouri. Each is a different ride.” WRN

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SMART PHONES Pros and Cons

By Thomas G. Dolan

How “smart” are smart phones, really? Do they help, get in the way, or maybe a bit of both. Here are the varied opinions from different segments of the wire rope industry.

T

here’s no denying that smart phones are becoming increasingly popular with people, in both their business and personal lives. Many find smart phones indispensable. Others find them annoying. And a large number find them both. Here is the feedback on this ubiquitous technology from leaders who play different roles in the wire rope industry.

“The three staples everybody takes with them when they leave their home in the morning are their wallet, keys, and cell or smart phones,” says Drew Merschat, a sales rep for Carpenter Rigging and founder of a smart phone technology for rigging, Riglt LLC, both based in San Francisco, CA. Merschat’s statement that everybody leaves home in the morning only first checking for keys, wallet, and mobile phone, might seem like an exaggeration. But not that much. For he points out that there are 10 million users of iPhone in the U.S. alone, not to mention Apple’s other smart phones such as iPad and IPod, along with, of course all the Blackberries, Androids, and the rest.

“I like to think of myself as an entrepreneur,” says Merschat. And, in fact, his work as a salesman for Carpenter and his new high-tech company are intimately related. “As an outside sales person in rigging for the past ten years, my job has been to go to job sites to give customers information on new products and load capacities for the equipment they are using,” Merschat relates.

Typically, this information, especially in terms of load capacities, has been printed out in a variety of different formats, including posters, lists, and charts. For job site personnel there are stickers for hard hats and cards for the back pocket. “I’ve had customers repeatedly ask for the same cards,” says Merschat. “I wondered if there might be better way than cards, which tend to get lost, or stickers which require the person to take off his hard hat to figure out a load.”

So, about six months ago, Merschat,

28

who is not a technician himself, began working with his brother, Chad Merschat, to develop this application, “I didn’t want to just enter a bunch of confusing data, but just the good usable basics,” he explains. “If you’re lifting 20,000 pounds, you turn on your smart phone, select the type of sling, whether wire rope, chain, nylon, or polyester; then the hitch either vertical choke or basket; and capacity - and that will tell you what size sling to use.”

In addition to providing valuable information for his customers, Merschat adds, “I thought this might be a good way to increase sales for my company.

It would be a good contact for a much wider range of customers than the Bay area. It can be global, and translate into millions of smart phones all over the world.” Merschat adds that he plans to gradually add new applications. His

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

website is www.rigitapp.com.

Jeff Susman, president, Slingmax Rigging Solutions, Aston, PA, is in the experimental stages of an entirely different smart phone application. He explains that currently, when he gets a query from a potential buyer, he has no way of knowing whether or not it was in response to an ad, or, if so, which ad, in which media. Even an ad which directs a reader to his website doesn’t tell Susman what exact ad it was.

More and more smart phones have scanner programs, Susman continues, which means that a reader having one can touch it to the ad and be instantly connected to the website. “He’ll be less likely to put the magazine down and be distracted by something else,” says Susman. “It’s instant gratification.” As well as instant information for Susman continued on page 30

continued from page 28 as to which of his ads are working and which not.

Mike Parnell, president, Industrial Training International, Woodland, WA, says the main benefit of a smart phone “is having immediate access to information in the field. We’re able to see drawings and procedural documents for cranes and rigging. These can come from our own corporate inventory or from a client. Also OSHA regulations and rigging audits can be accessed. And eventually we’ll

have some of our private documents in house, resource tables and formulas that we’ll be able to put into an electronic format. There are super volumes of information that can be brought to the field through a smart phone. That’s it’s biggest plus.”

In terms of downsides, Parnell says, “In some cases and on some days you can be overloaded with information and contacts. You can be in meetings or in other conversations and having all these messages pop up. You feel you have to respond. But at times it feels

almost impolite. You can become distracted, and that’s unprofessional. A smart phone is all right if you use it for a good purpose, but you have to have discipline to use it right.”

Linda Summars, whose First Sling Technology, LLC, is in Mustang, OK, says about her smart phone, “I couldn’t do business without it. The email and texting, with the complete addresses, are available while I am traveling.

Though Skype I can talk to Japan without long distance charges. I did hear that Microsoft purchased Skype for $9 billion, so I’m not sure how much longer that free benefit will last.”

Summars acknowledges that “it gets personally annoying when I am connected all day long. Sometimes I have to turn it off to take a day off.” Nevertheless, she maintains that smart phones will become increasingly necessary, “For the younger generation is embracing it. The age group that is now starting to enter into management are successors to owners – this is the way they communicate. A friend who works for me is 28 and is very helpful in guiding me to what’s going on in social networks like Twitter and Facebook. People get messages even if they are not at their desk. There are association contacts. It’s amazing what smart phones can do. I don’t think they’re going to go away.”

As a consultant for the rigging industry, Steven B. Guydos, whose SG Consulting is based in Brookhaven, PA, says, “The majority of my clients are on the West Coast, so I spend a lot of time traveling, but my Blackberry allows me to not lose any time working on my business.”

Guydos says he has three different email accounts, one for himself, and two for his two employees, so they can be informed on everything that is going on. He also communicates with the managers he consults with, receiving their documents he can look at on his phone. He’s also an auditor for two different registrars. “I work 12-14 hours a day, six days a week, and spend a lot of time sitting in airports,” Guydos says.

“But my smart phone gives me something to do, and allows me to take care of business.”

Guydos adds that “smart phones are definitely abused. I can’t see why a 14-year old kid needs a smart phone, and it irks me to see someone driving use one. I hate to have my phone ringing during a meeting because I forgot to turn it off, and I get a lot of advertising calls. But the positives far outcontinued on page 32

30

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

continued from page 30 weigh the negatives. You just need to be smart about it, and know when to turn it off.”

“Smart phones are wonderful for they have all this information so readily available,” says Kathryn Thomas, a principal at the Mount Laurel, NJbased Distributor Computer Systems.

“They allow you to respond quickly to situations, and help put out fires, and that’s all to the good.”

On the other hand, Thomas says, “It aggravates me that now we seem to need to have everything instantaneously, instant and constant feedback. And Kindle Books – everybody I know that reads books that way loves it. But I refuse. Now people just click on their phone number. I’ve heard people ask others what their own phone number was. They don’t even know. It’s unbelievable.

The creation of motorcycles, cars, and trucks, means we don’t have to walk much any more. I wonder if with all the convenience smart phones give us, we might be becoming spoiled, and giving up something we shouldn’t.”

“I see two main drawbacks to cell phones, which is why I don’t use them,” says Dale H. Curtis, president/princi-

pal engineer, Curtis Engineering Corporation, San Diego, CA. The first drawback, Curtis says, “if you’re up 240 feet inspecting a tower crane, you’ve already got your hands full climbing around. Even if you have the $1,500 phone in your pocket and it falls out and hits the floor, it disintegrates.” Add to that, Curtis continues, he’s already carrying a cell phone, a walkie-talkie, and an instrument measuring wind speed. As well as the hazards of working ice, snow, or rain, often needing to wear gloves.

The second drawback, Curtis says, “is they cost about $1,500 each, so if you have ten inspectors working for you that’s $15,000, a big expense.”

On the other hand, Curtis says, “There are times I wish I had more than a cell phone. The one I have is capable of taking pictures, but some of the smart phones take much better pictures, and are able to label it and automatically put it into the file you are working on. And some smaller inspection companies, one to three man operations, use smart phones to their advantage. They do a very good job of documenting inspections for their reports. Probably more and more people, when they upgrade their cell phones,

will move into smart phones.” Curtis adds, though, that he won’t be one of them.

Skip Perry, president, Grays Harbor Equipment Company, Aberdeen, WA, also has no use for smart phones. “It might be different if I was a stockbroker or traveling salesman,” Perry says.

“But my business is local. I don’t want a smart phone to get to the Internet.

The screen is too small on the phone.

Also, once you buy a smart phone, you have to pay $60 to $100 a month to maintain it. Again, my local service works fine for me. And I rarely get advertising on my land phone. I think smart phone users will be inundated with advertising, for the vendors are counting on consumers being gullible enough to buy into all that. And the more complicated any technology gets, the more complicated it becomes, the more things can go wrong, and the more it costs to repair and maintain it. I have a phone I want to use as a phone, that’s it.”

So, in sum, a smart phone can be a useful tool. But that’s all it is. It’s not “smart.” It’s just a machine.

You have to be smart enough to use it for your own purposes, and not someone else’s. WRN

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Nicholson Construction’s geotechnical work at the World Trade Center construction site

By Peter Hildebrandt

Being able to work on one of the most anticipated building sites in the U.S. has been an interesting venture for Nicholson Construction, Cuddy, Pennsylvania.

Nicholson has been involved in much of the work at the World Trade Center site as it has progressed, especially in the earlier phases.

N

icholson Construction has been involved extensively in the World Trade Center Transportation Hub and the construction on the foundation for the Memorial site, which is the centerpiece of all the construction being done. The Memorial site is scheduled to open in time for the 10th anniversary of 9/11. It includes two memorial pools that stand on the exact spots where the North and South Towers once stood. The pools will have parapets with the names of all the people who were lost on 9/11. They will be the largest manmade fountains in the U.S. and will sit within an eight acre memorial park that will be filled with 400 trees, the first of which were planted in late August.

One World Trade Center, the largest building on the site, is rising each day and when finished, will ascend to (including the antenna) 1,776 feet representing the year the Declaration of Independence was signed. The National September 11 Museum and the World Trade Center Transportation Hub are in various stages of construction as well. Plans for Towers 2, 3 and 4 and a performing arts center are also in the works.

Nicholson is getting ready to wrap up the work on the support excavation for the Memorial, in addition to a number of other projects they’ve been involved with on the site. Most recently they’ve been working with joint venture partner E.E. Cruz, constructing the Vehicle Security Center’s perimeter foundation walls.

The contract also includes the excavation of 160,000 cubic yards of rock, soil, and miscellaneous materials, some of which was fill put down many years ago to be part of the landfill that extended the downtown shoreline. One of the interesting parts of the job is, you never know what you might find when you’re excavating.

34

For example, on July 13, 2010 the hull of a centuries-old ship was discovered at the excavation site. About 60 feet long, the ship is likely a common schooner or dual-masted brigantine from the late 1700’s. It’s believed the vessel was retired and submerged in order to become fill material for an area that, at the time was probably a relatively marshy spot. The vessel was evidently undisturbed for more than 200 years, as the area had not been dug out for the original trade center.

Work was halted when the discovery was made. The centuries-old ship’s hull was removed from the site quickly by archeologists and workers and sent to a laboratory in Maryland for further examination.

Because of the discovery, the wall and anchors that Nicholson constructed can be seen above the hull in the resulting pictures and videos of the discovered ship.

The swivel is a physically small item on the foundation drill rig and it connects the drill string to the end of the wire rope. The swivel supports the load of the drill string and protects the wire rope from being twisted as the drill turns.

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

Drilling equipment on a construction site- a typical application using Miller wire rope swivels.

Sometimes small things can make a big difference Amid cranes and grading and excavation equipment, a relatively small piece of equipment has helped Nicholson Construction’s work in chiseling out each of the rock sockets in preparation for the construction of the diaphragm wall or slurry wall.

They used HH-111 swivels by Miller Lifting Products with a chisel to gouge out the rock sockets at the bottom of the excavation. “The swivels were used to make our connections so we don’t get any twisting on our wire ropes and connections up above,” explains Ryan Streets, project manager for Nicholson on the World Trade Center construction site. “The rope gets transferred all the way back to the drum. To mitigate any twisting, the idea is to put the swivel in between and keep an eye on that.”

“It is a very durable piece of equipment, containing zinc alloy; but we put it in the slurry and we abuse it. It’s one thing dealing with a static load. But in this case it is taking a lot of dynamic continued on page 36

its over 1,000 tons. In addition to their continued from page 34 load with several forces involved. If reliability, long service life and extena guy drops the chisel down, hits the sion in the life of the wire rope, they rock and stops the drum, he doesn’t see also feature the lowest starting torque much of a load at all. But if he catches for better responsiveness and higher short you actually see a dynamic load rotational speeds. Structural compoand the chisel itself is still accelerat- nents are machined from forged alloy ing, but the swivel is stopped and it steel, not cast. Also, zinc plating inside and out increases the protection from takes some of the force.”

The wall of the Vehicle Security Cen- corrosion on this swivel.”

Miller purchases the forged bar stock ter was formed using intonate compacted right, regular lay, lengths. They had and other raw materials and then mathirty panels to do in their work and chines the product at their Massachuthe chisel was used for 1,600 square setts plant before sending them out for feet of rock. Nicholson Construction zinc plating at another location.

Miller has been in business since was at this site at least six months and in the course of that time went through 1935. The direction they’ve taken has been a bit unconventional in that they about twenty of the Miller swivels.

The HH-111 is a 35 ton capacity started in the west and moved east inswivel that handles ropes 1 ½ inches stead of the other way around. In the in size. It is about 20 inches in length, early days the company was called five inches in diameter and weighs 78 Miller Swivel, eventually becoming pounds. “Miller Lifting Products was part of SSP Construction Equipment, the first company to develop an an- Inc. sometime after World War II, acgular contact bearing design with our cording to Paul Jankovic, Miller Lifting Y-link swivel,” explains Holly Jee, cus- Products president. Over a period of tomer service and production planning time thereafter the company was sold to two or three different industrial conmanager for Miller Lifting Products.

“Others in these standard Y-Link glomerates.

Transtechnology Corporation in turn models have Working Load Limits of 0.45 to 300 tons and special versions purchased the company and moved the Ad092506_7116x458:3.375 9/26/07 12:59 PM Page 1 are available with Working Load Lim- business to Doylestown, Pennsylvania

36

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

in1990 and around 1991 they moved it once again, to Worcester, Massachusetts. In 1992 current owner GHM Industries, Inc. purchased three different businesses including Miller from Transtechnology and ever since then Miller has operated in the central Massachusetts area and finally in 2002 moved to its current modern facility in Charlton, Massachusetts.

Making use of ‘cottage industries’ in place for generations The economic downturn has not really affected Miller too much, though business did slow down for them a bit in 2009, according to Jee. “Perhaps because we get orders from all around the world we have not been hit too badly.”

“We also benefit quite a bit from our manufacturing location in Massachusetts,” explains Jankovic. “The Bay State and the surrounding areas in New England have traditionally had a lot of industry including many machine shops. There aren’t as many anymore, but what there is forms a ‘cottage industry’ of small, diversified specialists. There are a number of smaller, highly-skilled machine shops in this area which are a great advantage for us. The fact that we have all these continued on page 38

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continued from page 36 specialty shops means we can get just about anything we need locally, involving various processes and technologies, and in a short time frame.”

“When we need to source metalworking orders, for example, it definitely helps the local economy here in Massachusetts. Offshore industry projects to be used in the Gulf of Mexico often require special coating requirements for corrosion protection. The complete range of processes we need, including heavy machining, welding, non-destructive testing, materials analysis, and special coating process are all here.

A significant portion of Miller’s shipments go to the Gulf Coast area with Louisiana and Texas leading the way.

“During the Offshore Technology Conference expo in Houston last May, one of our good customers called us for support from a vessel he was on in the Gulf while supporting the ongoing spill response operations. We are aware of a few of our products having been used in those response operations,” says Jankovic.

Miller sells through an industrial distribution network nationwide. (One of their distributors, Amick Associates, also headquartered in western Pennsylvania, furnishes straps and hoisting supplies and they provided the swivels to Nicholson.) Though Miller sells worldwide, their distributor network is based predominantly in the U.S. They also sell directly to original equipment manufacturers for such products as hooks used by crane manufacturers.

Protecting the huge wire rope investment with a modest swivel “The durability of our swivels in the foundation drilling industry and at the World Trade Center site and others is the most important advantage of our product,” says Jankovic. “We also design and manufacture hook blocks for mobile, industrial and shipboard cranes. This also includes hook blocks for heavy industries such a primary metals and mining.”

Miller’s ISO/Link-AC insulating link is a unique product used to insulate the load on a crane from the rest of the crane structure for operations conducted in the vicinity of overhead power lines. Workers handling the loads are protected from dangerous electrical currents in case of accidental crane contact with overhead power lines.

Their swivel helps to avoid undesirable rope twist and resulting damage to certain kinds of wire ropes, especially in foundation drilling. “You can’t have the drilling process hampered by 38

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

rope twist.”

“The value of the wire rope on a crane or rig can be quite significant and having to change out damaged wire rope means project delay. The swivels are a small investment in comparison to what may have to be expended by not having them. The cost of the swivel depends on the working load involved.

Typically our swivels used for foundation drilling are in the 5 to 45-ton range.”

“Nicholson had some support issues at the World Trade Center; we jumped on them as fast as we could,” says Jankovic. “Miller is a relatively small company and so we are able to react quickly. If someone needs something modified slightly to fit their rig, we are quick to get to it. We have the largest inventory and the largest variety of swivels for immediate shipment in North America. Ninety percent of our swivels are shipped out the same day as ordered, which no one else can do.”

Below the ground floor The World Trade Center site is undoubtedly the most complex public works project being built anywhere in the United States right now. Just getting cranes and other equipment into the city and where it needs to go is a feat. With a 100,000 square foot museum located under the immense granite clad pools, the construction of what will become the tallest building in New York, and the World Trade Center Transportation Hub, the third-largest transportation center in New York, construction is anything but simple.

Nicholson seems to welcome a challenge. Geotechnical construction work is their specialty. As a geotechnical contractor they do both design and build, according to Brian O’Gara, head of communications with Nicholson Construction. They specialize in deep foundations, earth retention, ground treatment, and ground improvement.

They work on power plants, dams, bridges and skyscrapers. Being in the heart of coal country, they have also done projects for coal companies. Their latest was an earth-retention application, holding back a wall at a coal mine for a new conveyor being built. “We work in every industry, as long as there is underground construction involved,” says O’Gara. “We are very specialized but it could be in any situation, anywhere. The World Trade Center site was a unique and historic opportunity.”

To learn more about the World Trade Center site, visit: www.panynj.gov/ wtcprogress/ and www.lowermanhattan.info/. WRN

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When it matters.

Taking the lead

complete the job. After the generator Europe, and the Asia/Pacific region all Train The Trainer safety training was suspended from the gantry with a posted strong readings in the low 60s, classes coming up soon!

Mobile Crane Operator: spreader bar arrangement using wire while future conditions measures for Long Beach Oct. 9 – 13 rope slings, it was rotated 90 degrees, each of these regions reached or Las Vegas Nov. 7 - 10 set on an hydraulic slide rail system, exceeded 50.

Mobile Crane Inspector Training: For a complete summary of the June, and slid into the building. Once it Orlando Oct. 2 – 6 cleared the building, the generator was 2006 index, including charts and a list Long Beach Oct. 16 – 20 jacked up to remove the slide rail of participating companies, visit Chicago Nov. 28 – Dec. 1 By Phillip M. Perry system and to install vibration mounts. www.nema.org/econ/ebci/upload/06_20 For more info please contact Jason The rigging equipment selection 06_EBCI.pdf.

NACB at 1-800-654-5640, or email No business leader likes delivering bad news. In difficultwith economic times, though, T h e E l e c t r o i n d u s t r y B u s i n e s s jrcrispell@cranesafe.com. simplified the rigging tasks and it can the beimpact especially hard announce or cuts in benefits. Here, exIndexstaff gauges layoffs the business lessened of the snowy andtoConfidence of the electroindustry in icy conditions prevalent during the confidence perts tell how to announce bad news without affecting morale.

NEMA offers Water project. The project required 578 man Asia, Europe, North America, and Damaged Electrical hours, including approximately 80 Latin America, and are based on the Control the bad news ad news. Leaders hate deliver- your authority with your employees. hours of project management and 20 results of a monthly survey of senior Equipment Brochure to “Leaders in tough times often don’t “If you create a disconnect between ing it – and no wonder. It makes hours of engineer designed lift and managers at NEMA member compa- flood damaged areas people feel terrible. And it’s too those who send the message and the control the flow of information,” says rigging planning. nies. Those companies represent more In response to electrical hazards easy to make a mistake in tone that person who delivers it, the front line Anderson. “When there is bad news than 80 percent of the electroindustry. posed in the aftermath of flash flooding can infect the entire workplace with a people can turn against the long range you want to be the first one your emNEMA is the trade association of in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast North American Business strategy,” says Anderson. They will ployees hear it from, putting your percase of low morale. choice for the electrical manufacturing states, the National Electrical Manuconditions dip slightly in Leaders face a special challenge start saying, “The boss doesn’t even spective on things.” i n d u s t r y . F o u n d e d i n 1 9 2 6 a n d facturers Association (NEMA) as a June butareremain When you deliver the news you can when times tough. How do you an- believe in this strategy, so why should headquartered near Washington, D.C., public service offers complimentary nounce budget cuts, layoffs, salary de- we?” They lose faith in the leaders of do so in a way that explains the short indicative of growth its 430 member companies manufac- copies of its brochure, Guidelines for creases or benefit reductions Business and still the organization, lock arms and stop term pain in terms of long term gain.

NEMA’s Electroindustry ture products used in the generation, Handling Water Damaged Electrical Use words such as, “We don’t expect keep your employees motivated?

Confidence Index (EBCI) for current cooperating with the management. transmission and distribution, control, Equipment, to electrical distributors, Instead of the negative approach, use this condition to last forever. But durThe answer is toconditions deliver bad news in North American measured and use of electricity. These products contractors, and inspectors in the flood good ways.

Hereits are39th some consecutive tips on doing words such as these: “I have decided ing the coming three months we have 53.6 in June, are used in utility, medical, industrial, damaged regions. just that. month above the 50-point threshold we need…” or “It has become clear to to make the following changes. We are commercial, institutional, and residenGuidelines for Handling Water Don’t undercut your authority indicating conditions favorable to me…” This helps build you as a con- all going to take a small knock now to tial applications. Domestic production Damaged Electrical Equipment is Don’t undermine your own authority growth.

Although the index declined on nected leader and that builds credibil- avoid a big knock a year from now.” of electrical products sold worldwide designed for use by suppliers, installYou can also control the impact of bad when you deliver badwas news.

“It’s importhe month, the drop a modest one ity with your employees. exceeds $120 billion. In addition to its ers, inspectors, and users of electrical Empathize with your employees, adds news by engaging with those employees tant not topoints pass the buck,” says of Randy of only 2.2 from a reading 55.8 headquarters in Rosslyn, Virginia, products. The document provides Anderson, president of E3 in May. Meanwhile, theProfessional index for Anderson, but don’t commiserate. In who are “thought leaders,” or people NEMA also has offices in Beijing, Sao advice on the safe handling of electrical Trainers future North(www.e3professionaltrainAmerican conditions rose other words, it’s fine to use words such who influence others in the workforce.

Paulo, and Mexico City. equipment that has been exposed to ers.com).from “Avoid like as “I can understand how you would feel You want to avoid letting your thought slightly last saying month’sthings low water water. It outlines which items will “accounting is 0.9 making take these discouraged by this news.” But avoid leaders interpret everything on the negmark, climbing pointsus to 27.8. require complete replacement or can be Crane saying “I feel the sameOperator way.” Once again, ative side, says Anderson. “People will steps.”

Or “Yeah,environments you are right,inI can’t The business each Mobile reconditioned by a trained profesbecoming the “naysayer in chief” sepa- start to look for the next person to be believe the ‘powers that be’included are doing of the other world regions in and Inspector Classes sional. Equipment covered includes youAmerican from the top decision makers this.”survey Such were wordssomewhat communicate that rates North Crane Bureau has fired or next customer to depart.” the stronger. electrical distribution equipment, Include your thought leaders in your and that undercuts your authority. you are not in charge. undermines Mobile Crane Inspector and Current conditions inThis Latin America, multiple motor circuits, power equipment, strategy, suggests Anderson. Ask questransformers, wire, cable and flexible tions such as, “We are looking for a way to cords, wiring devices, GFCIs and surge save $50,000. What are your ideas?” This protectors, lighting fixtures and approach has two benefits: “The naysayballasts, motors, electronic products er has skin in the game and will be less including signaling, protection, likely to bad mouth. And also you can test communication systems, and industhe waters to see if that person can be a trial controls, and cable trays. leader in a new position at some point.”

The entire brochure has been Once you have engaged your thought incorporated into the Federal Emerleaders, get input from everyone. “It’s gency Management Agency’s manual, amazing the brainpower you have unPrinciples and Practices for the Design der your management that’s easy to and Construction of Flood Resistant overlook,” says Billy Arcement, a manBuilding Utility Systems, which is agement consultant in Prairieville, intended for developers, architects, Louisiana (www.searchingforsuccess. engineers, builders, code officials, and com). “You build an ownership in the homeowners. organization when you let employees The NEMA brochure may be give birth to ideas. So give people a downloaded free of charge at chance to contribute.” ‘www.nema.org/prod/be/enclosures/upl It’s important to involve everyone in oad/guidelines_handling_water_dama the process of seeking solutions. Put a ged_elect_equip.pdf. Bulk copies can be problem on the table and ask “what do ordered by contacting IHS/Global at you guys think?” Maybe you won’t use (800) 854-7179 (within the U.S.), (303) any of their solutions, but keep asking 397-7956 (international), or (303) 397anyhow. “You have to challenge your 2740 (fax).

how to deliver bad news to good employees

B

42 58

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology

August 2006

employees to contribute rather than just come to work and collect their paychecks,” says Anderson. “Let them become part of the solution.”

Stay positive Take positive, effective actions, always seeing the glass as half full. “As a leader you need to set the example for everyone,” says Diane Amundson, a management consultant based in Winona, MN (www.dianeamundson.com).

“You need to find a balance between buying into the ‘doom and gloom’ of the economy and being in denial, pretending that there is nothing wrong.”

One approach is to say something like this: “We refuse to participate in this recession. However, some of our customers and suppliers are participating so we will have a few bumps. If everyone does their job exceptionally well we will not only survive but thrive.”

“Continue to notice what people do right and acknowledge that immediately,” says Amundsen. “Employee surveys consistently show that people want to ‘do work that is meaningful’ and ‘feel appreciated.’ Focus on what is doing well. This helps with burnout as people are being asked to do more.”

Share your progress Share the steps you are taking to re-

solve the problems and move the company back to a state of full health. To a large extent that will mean uncovering the numbers.

“Share your financial information in the form of your business income statement on a quarterly basis,” says Amundsen. “Report your revenues and your bottom line and educate people on what those things mean. And share with them what you are doing to turn around the numbers.”

Sharing financials will help bring about two good conditions: Your employees will understand why you need to make the painful changes you are making, and they will see how the changes are making a positive effect on the business as the months go by. The process builds trust in both your plan and your organization’s future.

When it comes to maintaining a vigorous and productive workforce, communication is king. “Companies that do employee satisfaction surveys invariably hear ‘Communication needs to be improved,’” says Amundsen. “I have never met a company that ‘over communicates.’ Especially in a slower economy people want to hear both good and bad news. So be honest in terms of company and employee performance.”

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COMPLIANCE

Creative leadership is vital to success in any economic climate. When times are tough, though, a firm hand on the wheel is more important than ever.

Keeping the ship of business afloat in rough waters very often means mastering the skill of delivering bad news in good ways.

Tackling tough situations How can you deliver bad news and keep your employees motivated? Here are some suggestions for handling three common workplace situations.

Situation 1: You need to cut work hours across the board.

“You can handle this problem in one of two ways,” says Randy Anderson, president of E3 Professional Trainers (www.e3professionaltrainers.com).

“The first is to go to your thought leaders—those employees who tend to influence the thinking of the group—and tell them first. This has the advantage of investing them in your strategy and obtaining their input.” You can say something like, “I have something to tell the employees and I want you to know it first.”

The second approach is to bring all of the employees into one room and have a single announcement. This reduces continued on next page

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43

continued from previous page the risk of having information leak out ahead of time. You can say something like this: “I have something to share and this will be frustrating to hear but this is the real world we are in. I can understand that this will cause uneasiness and frustrations and this will mean we will have to go about things differently.”

Then explain the problem that your business faces, and the new cuts that have to be made. But don’t stop there: Ask for feedback. Say something like “I

want to work with you in any way I can to get a workable structure so we are all more productive and we get back to where we want to be so we are in not in this position forever.”

Finding productive ways to work within your new parameters is critical, says Anderson. “The worst thing you can do is end up not getting all of the work done that the company has to do.

Then you have to start cutting people or product lines or commissions or start losing customers. So ask for assistance from your employees in the form of new

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Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

ways to get work done in fewer hours.”

Situation 2: You need to reduce health insurance benefits for everyone.

“This is a good example of how sharing financial information can help resolve a problem,” says Diane Amundson, a management consultant based in Winona, MN (www.dianeamundson. com). “In your quarterly financial presentations you have been sharing how health care costs are going up. So when it comes time to have a tough talk it is not a surprise.”

You can say something like this: “As all of you are aware, health care costs have been skyrocketing. We need to get costs under control so we can keep our jobs here. So here are our options: We can increase deductibles or we can decrease benefits. But we cannot stay on our present path.”

And what if you have not been having those critical quarterly talks? “Now is the perfect time to start sharing finances if you have not already,” says Amundsen.

Situation 3: You need to lay off employees.

“If you are going to do layoffs you have to keep it on a personal level,” says Billy Arcement, a management consultant in Prairieville, Louisiana (www.searchingforsuccess.com). “One company was considering emailing employee about layoffs. I love email but that is impersonal and stupid. If you are going to be leader you have to look at people face to face, give them the truth and tell them why.”

Give the terminated individuals reasons why their jobs are no longer needed. Communicate that the cut is being done for reasons other than fattening the bottom line. Instead, explain why it was necessary that THEIR positions be cut in the grand scheme of things.

“Take an honest approach and even those laid off can understand the rationale,” says Arcement. “You can also help people make their transitions by warning them to be prepared in the event that layoffs become official down the road.” And you can help them find new positions by providing referrals and references.

Doing this the right away is vital.

“If you handle layoffs badly there is a big impact on the employees who remain,” says Arcement. “People become disheartened and have a bad taste in their mouths about the company. Morale and productivity go down. They start to think ‘where should I go, why should I stay?’ They start to ask ‘who’s next?’ Ultimately this can lead to your business demise.” WRN

Preliminary Steel Imports Increase 6% in May Import Market Share at 21%

Based on preliminary Census Bureau data, the American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that the U.S. imported a total of 2,692,000 net tons (NT) of steel in May, including 1,838,000 NT of finished steel (up 6% and down 5%, respectively, from April final data). Annualized total and finished steel imports in 2011 would be 28.0 and 21.1 million NT, respectively, up 17% and 12% vs.

2010. Finished steel import market share in May was an estimated 21% and is also 21% year-to date.

Key finished steel products with significant import increases in May 2011 compared to April include wire rod (up 35%), plates in coils (up 23%), oil country goods (up 15%) and heavy structural shapes (up 14%). Major products with significant year-to-date import increases vs. the same period last year include reinforcing bar (up 55%), oil country goods (up 41%) and hot rolled bars (up 25%).

In May, the largest volumes of finished steel imports from offshore were from South Korea (213,000 NT, down 31%), Japan (131,000 NT, up 16%), China (119,000 NT, up 23%), Germany (78,000 NT up 8%), and Turkey (69,000 NT, down 42%). For the first 5 months of 2011, the largest offshore suppliers were South Korea (1,164,000 NT, up 58%), Japan (615,000 NT, up 12%) and Germany (415,000 NT, up 6%). Below are charts on estimated steel import market share in recent months and on finished steel imports from offshore by country.

AISI supports corporate tax reform that will promote growth and investment for manufacturing sector

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) sent a letter to House Ways & Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp and Ranking Member Sander Levin in response to proposals to eliminate all or most tax credits and deductions for manufacturers to offset the cost of lowering the statutory corporate tax rate. While AISI supports corporate tax reform, the Institute is concerned that proposals focused simply on lowering statutory tax rates at the expense 46

of legitimate credits and deductions could actually result in a net increase in taxes to manufacturers, increasing the vulnerability of the manufacturing sector, which is still in the midst of a fragile recovery.

In the letter, AISI President and CEO Thomas J. Gibson writes, “Corporate tax reform, if properly constructed, can provide the environment that American companies need to expand and increase production and exports, create jobs, and aid in our economic recovery, which is an essential component to addressing the current fiscal crisis facing the United States.” However, Gibson warns that the Congress must be vigilant in ensuring that any new tax policies would not put our manufacturing sector at a competitive disadvantage.

AISI serves as the voice of the North American steel industry in the public policy arena and advances the case for steel in the marketplace as the preferred material of choice. AISI

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

also plays a lead role in the development and application of new steels and steelmaking technology. AISI is comprised of 25 member companies, including integrated and electric furnace steelmakers, and 118 associate and affiliate members who are suppliers to or customers of the steel industry. AISI’s member companies represent approximately 80 percent of both U.S. and North American steel capacity. For more news about steel and its applications, view AISI’s Web site at www.steel.org.

AISI supports legislation strengthening OSHA’s Voluntary Protection Program (VPP)

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) today released letters endorsing the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Act, recently introduced by Sens. Michael Enzi (RWyo.) and Mary Landrieu (D-La.) in the Senate (S. 807) and by Reps. Tom Petri (R-Wis.) and Gene Green (D-

Texas) in the House (H.R 1511).

The legislation will codify and strengthen the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) Voluntary Protection Program, a cooperative government-industry effort to improve worker heath and safety.

Several AISI member companies are participants in the VPP and the industry recognizes the importance of cooperation between all stakeholders to meeting the shared national goal of workplace safety and health.

“The steel industry places the highest priority on occupational health and safety (OHS) matters because it is imperative that our valuable workers remain safe and healthy at their workplaces,” the letters state. “Our experience has demonstrated that cooperative efforts among company management, employees, and government can help maximize safety and health. Your legislation to codify and strengthen the Voluntary Protection Program at OSHA is a welcome step towards recognizing the importance of cooperation between all stakeholders to maximize safety and health.”

AISI commends WTO panel for finding that China’s Raw Materials export restrictions violate its WTO obligations

The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) commended a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute resolution panel that publicly released its report in the China – Raw Materials case, finding that China’s restrictions on the exports of nine raw materials violate its international obligations. AISI welcomed the WTO panel’s decision and commended the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for its strong advocacy over several years of involvement in the dispute resolution proceeding.

In response to challenges by the United States, the European Union, and Mexico, the WTO panel examined China’s use of export quotas, export taxes, and other measures to limit exports of coke, bauxite, fluorspar, zinc, silicon carbide, and other materials. The panel’s favorable ruling found that China’s imposition of these measures violated WTO rules, including various provisions of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and specific commitments China undertook when it joined the WTO. “This is a strong and decisive ruling by the WTO, confirming that China cannot impose export quotas, ex-

port taxes, and other restrictions on these raw materials,” said Thomas J. Gibson, president and chief executive officer of AISI. “We call on China to immediately remove these export restrictions.” In the event that China decides to appeal the panel’s decision to the WTO Appellate Body, AISI also urged the Appellate Body to affirm the panel’s ruling and reasoning.

Removal of these export barriers by China should result in improved availability and lower prices for the affected raw materials in global markets. AISI will closely monitor the situation in hopes that China will implement the WTO’s ruling as quickly as possible, by eliminating its restrictions on raw materials exports and other trade

restrictive practices.

In addition to the raw materials restrictions found to be WTO-illegal, China maintains various other comparable export taxes, quotas and restrictions, including those on rare earth elements and other raw materials. AISI called on China to terminate all such export restrictions.

May steel shipments up 1.7 percent from April

Up 6.3 percent Year to Date The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) reported that for the month of May 2011, U.S. steel mills shipped 7,380,064 net tons, a 1.7 percent increase from the 7,258,534 net tons shipped in the previous month, continued on next page

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president and CEO, stated that, “Finished steel imports were at their highest level in 2011, as China increased its market presence and became the second largest offshore supplier behind Korea. There were sharp increases in virtually every major category – led by a 100,000 ton month-over-month increase in tubular products, and increases of approximately 50,000 tons each in plate, bar and sheet products. Taking plate as an example, June import tonnage was the highest since September 2008, due in part to significantly higher tonnages from offshore suppliers Russia and Korea. Domestic steelmakers remain concerned that significant volumes of dumped and subsidized imports could threaten the ongoing U.S. steel market recovery.”

June was 2,109,000 NT, up 15% from the preliminary imports total of 1,838,000 NT in May. Year-to date (YTD) 2011 total and finished steel import permit tons would annualize at 28,803,000 NT and 21,767,000 NT, up 20% and 15%, respectively, vs. the 23,929,000 NT and 18,857,000 NT imported in 2010. The estimated finished steel import market share in June was 23%, and the year-to-date share increased to 22%.

In June, the largest finished steel import permit applications for offshore countries were for Korea (318,000 NT, up 49% from May), Finished steel import permits China (154,000 NT, up 29%), Japan up 15% in June (141,000 NT, up 8%), Russia (100,000 Import market share at 23% NT, up 102%) and Turkey (94,000 Based on the Commerce Depart- NT, up 36%). ment’s most recent Steel Import Finished steel import permits for Monitoring and Analysis (SIMA) major products that registered indata, the American Iron and Steel creases in June vs. the May prelimiInstitute (AISI) reported that steel nary include sheet and strip – all import permit applications for the other metallic coated (up 90%), remonth of June totaled 2,734,000 net inforcing bar (up 64%), cut length http://designm.ag/resources/adobe-illustrator-brushes/ tons (NT). This was a 3% decrease plates (up 40%), line pipe (up 24%), from the 2,807,000 permit tons re- cold rolled sheets (up 22%), oil councorded in May and a 2% increase try goods (up 17%) and plates in coils from the May preliminary imports (up 17%). total of 2,692,000 NT. Import perIn commenting on the June 2011 mit tonnage for finished steel in SIMA data, Thomas J. Gibson, AISI continued from previous page April 2011, and a 0.5 percent increase from the 7,345,455 net tons shipped in May 2010. Shipments year-to-date in 2011 are 37,140,749 a 6.3 percent increase vs. 2010 shipments of 34,940,934 for five months.

2011 shipments through May would annualize at 89 million tons.

A month-to-month comparison of shipments shows the following changes: cold rolled sheet, up 4 percent, hot dipped galvanized sheet and strip, up 4 percent and hot rolled sheet, down 0.1 percent.

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Next staging of wire and Tube in 2012

In less than one year, the two global No. 1 trade fairs wire and Tube will be held concurrently for the 13th time in Düsseldorf, Germany. From

March 26 - 30, 2012, wire – International Wire and Cable Trade Fair and Tube - International Tube and Pipe Trade Fair, will present the latest innovations from the wire, cable and tube processing industries.

At wire 2012, exhibitors from the wire, cable and fiberglass machinery as well as the wire and cable production sector and wire manufacturers and suppliers will present their products in Halls 9 - 12 and 16 and 17.

In addition, particular focus will be on two other segments: fastener technology in Hall 15 and spring making continued on next page

RIGGING SOLUTIONS OVER 135 YEARS STRONG Columbus McKinnon has a rich tradition of providing quality rigging products and services used by professional riggers, maintenance workers, plant engineers and safety specialists to lift, pull, and secure loads worldwide.

From super strong shackles, Herc-Alloy chain, and a wide range of lever tools to specialty engineered attachments, the CM brand means unsurpassed reliability and durability.

Call (800) 888.0985 or (716) 689.5400 • www.cmworks.com Wire Rope News-Print Ad-Aug2011-Rigging&History.indd 1

7/5/11 Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

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1:04 PM

continued from previous page in Hall 16. Machinery and equipment for spring and fastener manufacturing will be displayed on about 118,000 square feet of exhibit space.

From machinery in operation to finished products - Halls 15 and 16 will feature tomorrow’s technologies.

The companies participating in Tube 2012 will exhibit in Halls 1 - 7 and in Hall 7a. Tube accessories will be located in Halls 1 and 2 while tube manufacturers and suppliers will be featured in parts of Halls 2, 3 and 4

as well as in Hall 7. Hall 5 will be reserved for tube forming technology while tube processing machinery will be on exhibit in Halls 6 and 7a. Additionally, Hall 7a will also house the latest machinery and equipment.

Tube 2012 will concentrate on its core segments tube manufacturing and tube processing machinery, fasteners and section technology even more than in 2010. At the 2010 staging, about 10% of the visitors were interested in machinery for processing sections, making it a successful

debut for this new exhibit segment.

In 2010, a total of 2,391 companies (1,217 at wire and 1,174 at Tube) showcased the latest technologies and applications on over 1 million square feet of exhibit space at wire and Tube. About 69,000 trade visitors (some 37,000 at wire and 32,000 at Tube) from 100 countries travelled to Düsseldorf to gather information, get new business contacts and place orders.

For further information on visiting or exhibiting at wire or Tube 2012, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America, 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2920, Chicago, IL 60601.

Telephone: (312) 781-5180; Fax: (312) 781-5188; E-mail: info@mdna.com; Visit our web site http://www.mdna. com; Subscribe to our blog at http:// blog.mdna.com; Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/mdnachicago.

For hotel and travel information, contact TTI Travel, Inc. at (866) 6743476; Fax: (212) 674-3477; E-mail: travltrade@aol.com; www.traveltradeint.com.

20 students earn manufacturing scholarships from Fabricators & Manufacturers Association

Twenty students seeking careers in manufacturing each earned $1,500 toward their college or trade school education from the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl.

(FMA).

This year FMA awarded manufacturing scholarships totaling $30,000.

The 2011 winners are: • Nicholas Cullum, Perrysburg, OH • Nick Dahlinger, Eden, WI. • Charles “Chip” Horn, Kouts, IN. • Andrew Klos, Jr., Allenton, MI. • Ethan Lee, Sturgeon, MO. • Austin McCain, Lexington, AL. • Russell Shaner, New Castle, PA. • Corey Trudel, Manchester, NH. • Sara Van Roestel, Kirkland Lake, Ontario, Canada • Kevin Yell, Hesperia, MI. • Michael Adams, North Canton, OH • Darren Chen, Cerritos, CA. • Jacob Egorov, Fresno, CA. • Jacob Ellenberger, Rockford, IL. • Sarah Lawrence, Canton, GA. • Benjamin Menich, Mount Prospect, IL. • Joseph Rogers, Parkesburg, PA. • Daniel Ronnevik, Fergus Falls, MN. • Cole Shumaker, Oxford, MI. • Andrew Williams, Carriere, MS. 50

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

“We congratulate the students selected as 2011 scholarship award winners, and are pleased to assist them in fulfilling their academic goals,” said Gerald Shankel, president and CEO of the FMA. “These students recognize that working a skilled manufacturing job can be rewarding financially and fulfilling personally, and will help them be more competitive in the 21st century manufacturing job market.

“A 2010 Manpower Talent Shortage Survey report revealed that among the most difficult U.S. jobs to fill today are those in the skilled trades and engineering,” added Shankel.

“With majors in machine tool technology, advanced manufacturing, welding, computer engineering technology, manufacturing engineering, and industrial technology, these students will be prepared for the skilled labor openings that American manufacturers must fill.”

To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants were required to be fulltime students meeting a specified minimum GPA, and enrolled in an engineering or manufacturing-related course of study, or a trade or technical program leading to a career

in manufacturing. Students were responsible for submitting academic records and an engineering or manufacturing-related program description with each application.

In addition to the monetary grant, each scholarship winner also received from NBT’s industry partner SolidWorks Corporation a copy of its Student Design Kit CAD software package. The Student Design Kit is an easy-to-learn, Windows-based 3D CAD application that gives students the ability to create “real-life” 3D designs they can easily manipulate.

Since 1990, FMA’s Foundation has awarded scholarships annually to students in courses of study that will lead to careers in manufacturing. For more information visit www.nutsandboltsfoundation.org/Scholarships.

About SolidWorks Corporation SolidWorks Corporation, a Dassault Systèmes S.A. (Nasdaq: DASTY, Euronext Paris: #13065, DSY. PA) company, develops and markets software for design, analysis, and product data management. It is the leading supplier of 3D CAD technology, giving teams intuitive, highperforming software that helps them design better products. For the latest

news, information, or a live online demonstration, visit the company’s Web site (www.solidworks.com) or call 1-800-693-9000.

About FMA Based in Rockford, IL, the Fabricators & Manufacturers Association, Intl. (FMA), is a professional organization with more than 2,100 members working together to improve the metal forming and fabricating industry. Founded in 1970, FMA brings metal fabricators and fabricating equipment manufacturers together through technology councils, educational programs, networking events, and the FABTECH® exposition.

FMA also has a technology affiliate, the Tube & Pipe Association, International (TPA), which focuses on the unique needs of companies engaged in tube and pipe producing and fabricating.

Spider spirals around Panama’s Revolution Tower

Spider, a division of SafeWorks, LLC, recently supplied an expertly rigged powered accontinued on next page

It’s More Than Just Looks The StarPoint® offers the highest level of safety available with it’s multiple lifting points and swivel capability that adjusts to the load direction to ensure Working Load Limit (WLL) is never diminished.

• Available in sizes 1/4” to 2” and metric sizes of M8 through M48.

• Marked working load limits (WLL) are rated at 90° from thread.

• Capacities from .4 to 12 metric tons at 90° and 1 to 32 metric tons at 0°.

• Clear indication of working load limit in metric tons and lbs. for side loading applications.

• Forged material (1.6541) alloy quenched and tempered.

• Body and bolt, 100% electromagnetic alloy crack tested in accordance with specification EN 1677.

• Distinct Florescent pink powder-coating changes its color indicating that it has been over-heated, invaluable in heat-related industries.

Patented StarPoint® only available from RUD. Your safety depends on it.

Call now for your lifting and lashing solutions from RUD. 800-553-7993 sales@rudchain.com www.rudchain.com

5859 RUD STARPOINT AD - 7 x 4.875.indd 1

11/1/10 4:07:35 PM

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

51

continued from previous page cess solution to enable glass installation on the 48 projecting levels of Panama City’s spiraling Revolution Tower.

Designed by architect Pinzón Lozano & Asociados Arquitectos and owned by F & F Properties, this unique 243 m (797 ft) office building presented several suspended access challenges. Contractor Estructuras

Y Remodelaciones selected Spider’s experienced engineering team to develop the solution.

A 40 ft platform powered by two SC1000 electric traction hoists and equipped with two outrigger beams positioned two floors above the working floor level enabled the glass installers to safely access protruding levels. A transfer wire rope was connected to a third outrigger beam to

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facilitate moving from the underside area of the floor to the vertical face.

Three additional outrigger beams were used to allow mid-air transfer of suspension points when moving to the next working position.

Additionally, a Spider stage equipped with two ST-180 work baskets from the contractor’s own fleet was used to complete the work in the property owner’s tight four-month project timeline.

“Spider has established a strong presence in Panama with expertly engineered solutions and reliable equipment,” said John Daugherty, sales representative Spider de Panama. “With the Revolution Tower project, our local team has demonstrated our ability to plan and execute complex projects, safely and on time. Making the equipment move around this twisting structure without any production time lost is an example of the tough jobs Spider is known for.”

About Spider: Founded in 1947, Spider, a division of SafeWorks, created the powered suspended access business by introducing the well-known Spider basket. Since then, our product and

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service offering has expanded greatly to serve the needs of an ever-growing marketplace. Spider is the largest manufacturer and distributor of access and safety solutions in North America, serving more customers from more locations with a wider variety of products and services than any other company. From baskets, traction hoist and platform rental, to safety and training, to specialtyengineered products - Spider has a strong team of professionals, along with a national network of sales, service and support capabilities to provide you with the most reliable access solutions available.

wire and Tube China return in 2012

wire China 2012, the 5th All China - International Wire and Cable Industry Trade Fair, and Tube China 2012, the 4th All China - International Tube and Pipe Trade Fair, will be held concurrently at the Shanghai New International Expo Center from September 25 - 28, 2012. Both events will be organized by Messe Düsseldorf China Ltd., the subsidiary of Messe Düsseldorf in Germany – renowned as the organizers of the No. 1 inter-

national trade fairs for the industry, wire and Tube Düsseldorf. Exhibitor applications for both events are now available from the U.S. subsidiary Messe Düsseldorf North America. wire and Tube China have become Asia’s largest and the world’s second largest trade fairs for their industries and are considered leading platforms for entering the Chinese market. They will present a comprehensive overview of the latest developments and highlights from the wire and tube manufacturing sector. Exhibit categories at wire China 2012 will include wire, fastener and spring manufacturing and finishing machinery, process technology tools and auxiliary process technology equipment as well as special wires and cables, measuring and control technology and test engineering. Special highlights will include the Chemical Materials Zone, the Wire Zone as well as the Wire Products and Spring Fasteners Zone. Tube China 2012 will feature tube manufacturing machinery, raw materials, tubes and accessories, used machinery, process technology tools and auxiliaries as well as test engineering and

measuring and control technology.

The Chinese wire and cable market is booming and China has become the No. 1 wire and cable producing country worldwide with great further development potential. The communication, automotive, electric power, nuclear construction, offshore oil exploration and rail transit sectors have experienced rapid progress, boosting the need for new wire and cable technology. In addition, the urban and rural modernization projects as part of the 12th Five Year Plan will increase the requirements for wire and cable products.

With an annual growth rate of 15%, China is also one of the world’s leading steel tube producing countries, ranking among the top three markets. As the Chinese government expedites housing and city construction and concentrates on water treatment, the market for water supply draining systems, construction heating systems as well as water, gas and heating supply will experience considerable growth.

Concurrently held events will include the China International Tube continued on next page

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

53

continued from previous page & Pipe Conference, the China Wire & Cable Industry Conference, the Wire & Cable Raw & Auxiliary Materials Technical Exchange Conference and the Wire & Cable Equipment Technology Seminar.

At the shows’ last staging in 2010, the more than 1,300 exhibitors reported remarkable success despite still experiencing the influence of the post-economic crisis. The fourday exhibition attracted 26,035 trade visitors, including 3,473 visitors from abroad. With 801,911 square feet of exhibit space (430,550 square feet at wire China 2010 and 371,350 square feet at Tube China 2010), the 2010 event reached a record high - an increase of 30% compared to the 2008 staging.

For further information on visiting or exhibiting at wire China or Tube China 2012, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America, 150 North Michigan Avenue, Suite 2920, Chicago, IL 60601. Telephone: (312) 781-5180; Fax: (312) 7815188; E-mail: info@mdna.com; Visit our web site www.mdna.com; Subscribe to our blog at http://blog.mdna.com; Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/ mdnachicago.

Bishop Lifting Products completes acquisition of West Florida Wire Rope

Bishop Lifting Products, Inc. (BLP) finalized the acquisition of West Florida Wire Rope, a wire rope and rigging shop in Panama City, Florida on June 30, 2011.

West Florida Wire Rope (WFWR) has been serving marine and onshore customers along the Gulf Coast of Florida since 1993, but was founded over 30 years ago as Carolina Chain & Cordage by Bill and Babbs Rochester (Rochester Wire Rope family).

Ralph Bowdish purchased the company in 1993 and it became WFWR. Specializing in wire rope, cordage, marine rigging hardware, and slings, WFWR will now be able to provide their customers Bishop Lifting Products’ extensive line of products, services and solutions.

This marks BLP’s first expansion into Florida and the eastern end of the Gulf of Mexico. This becomes BLP’s seventh national location.

About Bishop Lifting Products, Inc. Founded in 1984, Bishop Lifting Products, Inc. (BLP) is a leading fabricator and distributor of products,

services, and lifting solutions for crane, rigging, marine, and oilfield applications. Our 180+ dedicated employees throughout Texas, Louisiana, Wyoming and Oklahoma supply wire rope, slings, rigging hardware, lifting devices, hoists and winches to customers with lifting, oilfield, towing, and hauling applications.

Mazzella Holding Company acquires The Indusco Group

The company’s portfolio now includes Mazzella Lifting Technologies, Sheffield Metals and The Indusco Group.

Mazzella Holding Company is pleased to announce the acquisition of The Indusco Group. As a result of this acquisition, Mazzella Holding Company nearly doubles in size and employs over 300 individuals. Indusco and Mazzella Lifting Technologies now form one of the largest independently-owned companies in the overhead lifting and rigging industries and will provide “one-stop shopping” for customers.

The newly acquired Indusco is a 103-year-old company based in Balti-

The Pinnacle of Quality Wire rope you can trust.

54

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

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The One Press® Swaging System does a better job in significantly less time, the first time, every time!

Call 800.334.1987 for a free demonstration CD.

MIS by Accu-Tech Windows® based inventory, purchasing, sales, certification, and financial management solutions for the Rigging Industry since 1979

accutech-mis.com more, MD and was previously owned

by Howard Schloss. It also consists of a network of rigging shops located along the East Coast and in the South that support a diverse customer base. This network includes Indusco companies, J. Henry Holland Corp., Alabama Sling Center and Tennessee Sling Center. Indusco has built its 100-plus year reputation on quality products and dependable customer service.

In addition to its headquarters in Baltimore, MD, Indusco has additional locations in Capitol Heights, MD, Chicago, IL, Virginia Beach, VA, Hampton, VA, Birmingham, AL, Chattanooga, TN and Memphis, TN. “Our employees are excited to combine forces with another experienced, family-owned industry leader,” said Craig Hayward, president of Indusco.

“Personally, I am thrilled for the opportunity to work with Tony Mazzella and his management team, many of whom I have known for the past ten years. Tony and I share a common vision with respect to building organizational strength through the implementation of best practices and continuing our growth through the acquisition of

One Press® Dies and Sleeves are available in a full range of sizes from 1/4” up to and including 1-1/2”.

For a Free DVD or demo, contact Tim O’Rourke. tim@strider-resource.com (905) 859-3901

STRIDER~RESOURCE Lifting & Rigging Products for the 21st CenturyTM

www.strider-resource.com other family-owned and operated businesses within our industry.“ Mazzella Lifting Technologies is a 57-year-old family-owned company based in Cleveland, OH. In addition to its status as a major Midwest provider of wire rope and rigging hardware, Mazzella Lifting Technologies also engineers and manufacturers below-the-hook lifting devices, manufacturers overhead cranes and services overhead cranes.

In addition to its headquarters in Cleveland, OH, Mazzella Lifting Technologies has additional locations in Canton. OH, Cincinnati, OH, Detroit, MI, Pittsburgh, PA and Charlotte, NC. “The organization resulting from this acquisition offers far more than an expanded geographic footprint,” said Tony Mazzella, president and CEO of Mazzella Lifting Technologies. “The enhanced product offering and value-added services will enable our team of experienced personnel an increased opportunity to grow market share and expand our relationships with our customers.”

Tony Mazzella and Craig Hayward will be responsible for running Maz-

zella Holding Companies. To learn more about Mazzella Holding Company, visit these web sites: • Mazzella Lifting Technologies • The Indusco Group • J. Henry Holland Corp.

• Alabama Sling Center • Tennessee Sling Center • Sheffield Metals About Mazzella Lifting Technologies Founded in 1954, Mazzella Lifting Technologies offers all styles of slings, cranes, hoists, engineered lifting devices along with the training and in-field inspection and repair services that support the products.

Mazzella serves many market segments, including: steel, construction, energy, vehicle and durable goods.

The prestigious Weatherhead School of Business at Case Western Reserve University named Mazzella to its list of the top 100 fastest growing Northeastern Ohio companies in 2001, 2002 and again in 2007. For more information, visit www.mazzellalifting.com.

About The Indusco Group Founded in 1908, Indusco brings an unmatched level of commitment of dependability and service to cuscontinued on next page

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

55

around the globe. The acquisition of Drumet will give WireCo access to new markets in Europe and provide increased wire capacity to support its manufacturing operations.

Drumet has significant capacity to produce both steel wire and steel wire rope. These enhanced capabilities in Europe will enable WireCo to enhance and expand the scope of its operation in the entire European theatre. WireCo will now have unWireCo WorldGroup matched wire and rope production Completes Drumet capabilities in North America, Asia Acquisition and Europe.

WireCo WorldGroup Inc. (WireCo), WireCo CEO Ira Glazer commentthe world’s leading producer and ed, “We invested in this acquisition marketer of wire rope, electrome- for two reasons: it enhances our globchanical cable and a major produc- al reach and it creates excellent syner of wire products announced that ergies among our operations. Drumet it has completed the acquisition of provides us access into new markets Wooden bridge River Camp St. Joe in Panama City, Florida using stainless steel cable.

Drumet Liny at i Druty Sp.zbyo.o.

(Druand is a source of high quality, low met), based in Wloclawek, Poland. cost wire production to support our driven markets, such as automotive, Bridges of Tallahassee, Florida are the No terms were disclosed. energy, electronics and industrial operations.” recipients of the Ultra-tec ® Cable The acquisition of Drumet, a leadOther Design recent Award, WireCo according acquisitions filtration. The company operates in Railing to ing of wire rope, steel Oliveira in 2010, Phillystran moremanufacturer than 45 facilities worldwide with include Raymond Kechely, vice president of wire, and steelinwire band in Eastern in CASAR in 2007 and Aceros headquarters Newark, Delaware, The2009, Cable Connection the manufac® Europe, is part WireCo’s ongoing USA. For moreofinformation, visit Camesa t ure r o finU2005. l t r a -tIn e caddition, ca b l e rWireCo a i l i ng global strategy to manufacture and www.gore.com/omnibend. products. into a joint venture with entered distribute to customers The award design Dyneema®products is a registered trademark Wuhan Iron was and given Steel for to the build the and fabrication of a wooden bridge at of Royal DSM N.V. A l l o t h e r t r a d e m a r k s a r e t h e River Camp by St. Joe in Panama City, Florida. The bridge was built in 2005 property of their respective owners. using stainless Manufacturer and supplier of Grade 8, Gradesteel 10 andcable as the Cable Railing Design railing in-fill.

Stainless Steel lifting accessories like: Award announced According to Kechely, the award is Goddard Specialty Construction of given for the design of the railing in • Hooksand Nature relation to its setting and for the Peachtree City, Florida • Master links appearance and quality of fabrication of the railing. The Cable Connection • Connecting links supplied the tensioners and mounting • Eye bolts and nuts devices for the cable. Nature Bridges • Hoist rings built the bridge. Goddard Specialty • And other chain accessoriesConstruction installed the cables.

“Thin, yet strong stainless steel cable was the perfect choice for this project,” explained Brian Fischer of Goddard Specialty Construction. “You hardly see the cable, so the view is unimpaired.” Brian's partner, Don Goddard, added, “The Cable Connection had all the right stainless steel tensioners and fittings that enabled us to install the cable quickly and at a very reasonable cost. We are proud of this project and thrilled to receive the design award.

architecturally designed metal panel industry. More than 25 colors are continuously stocked in both Galvalume® and galvanized steel, complimented with several popular colors in aluminum coil. In 2009, Sheffield Metals received a Weatherhead 100 award as one of the top 100 fastest growing companies in Northeast Ohio. For more information, visit www.coolrmetal.com/.

(E&E). DSM’s strategy, named Vision continued from previous page focuses 2010 - Building on Strengths, on accelerating profitable and innovatomers over 100 years later. In additive growth of thecontractors company’s specialties tion to serving and steel portfolio.their Market-driven growth, erectors, diverse customer base innovation and increased presence in also encompasses the shipbuilding, emergingmilitary economies aretransportation key drivers of mining, and this strategy.

The group has United annual industries throughout the sales of over EUR 8 billion and employs States. For more information, visit some 22,000 people worldwide. DSM www.induscowire.com/. ranks among the global leaders in About Sheffield Metals many of its fields. The company is Sheffield Metals International is headquartered in the Netherlands, awith leader in the and locations in manufacturing Europe, Asia, Africa distribution of coated and bare metal and the Americas. products. company specializes About W.L.The Gore & Associates, Inc. in W. providing pre-painted galvanized, L. Gore & Associates, Inc., a Galvalume® and aluminum forwith the technology solutions provider nearly $2 billion in sales and more than 7,000 associates, specializes in fluoropolymer innovations that improve the quality of life. Over its 47year history, Gore has applied its world-renowned expertise with membranes, fibers and laminates to thousands of products in performance-

The worldwide alternative for lifting accessories

NEMA Van Beest USA, L.L.C. Member of Van Beest International Tel: E-mail:

calls for Vietnam admission into the WTO (800) 489-7508 as soon as possible sales@vanbeestus.com

NEMA, the National Electrical

Other sales offices in The Netherlands, Manufacturers Association, hasproduct! hailed A genuine made in France Germany and France

the recent conclusion of negotiations

56 54

BEES_11107_ADV_aanpassen_DEF.indd Wire Rope News & Sling1

Technology August 2011

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology

07-07-11 August16:52 2006

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continued on page 16

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One Stop Shopping Clamps are now a part of the most complete product line available in the industry.

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Industry Leading Training IP’s Quality training materials have been upgraded to Crosby’s standards, the industry standard.

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world’s most modern wire rope man12 ufacturing facility in China, which started production in 2009.

Glazer believes all WireCo employees will benefit from the acquisition, adding “We have a track record of investing in what we buy. We will incorporate Drumet into our global operations, which will create opportunities for all our employees to grow, including our newest employees in Poland.”

WireCo is owned by investment funds managed by Paine and Partners, LLC, a private equity firm with offices in New York, Chicago and San Francisco.

About WireCo WorldGroup WireCo® WorldGroup’s products are recognized throughout the world and used in a wide range of market applications including oil and gas exploration, surface and underground mining, construction, and specialty lifting and suspension applications.

WireCo® WorldGroup employs approximately 3,300 people and is headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, with manufacturing plants, distribution facilities and research

and development centers in the U.S., Wire Rope News & Sling Technology Mexico, Germany, Portugal, Poland and China. WireCo® WorldGroup markets the brands of Union®, MacWhyte®, Casar®, Camesa®, Oliveira®, Wireline Works, Phillystran®, Drumet® and US ReelTM and is the only major wire rope manufacturer in the world to be API certified, Lloyd’s Registered, QPL Qualified, AS9100 certified and ISO-9001 registered.

For more information, visit www. wirecoworldgroup.com.

August 2006

Correction

In our last issue (June) we reported that I&I Sling Inc’s New England plant had moved to a larger building at 1400 Providence Highway in Norwood, MA. However, in the headline of the announcement, an error was made indicating that Norwood was located being in Maine.

We apologize to our readers and to I&I Sling Inc. for this error and reiterate, I&I Sling has moved their New England plant to Norwood, Massachusetts, not Maine.

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

57

Inventor’s Corner

By William Fischer

Barrier system Pat. 7,942,602 U.S. class 404/6 Int. class E01F 13/00 Inventor: Kenneth J. Bunk, Millersville, MD., Wendell B. Leimbach, Baltimore, MD., Michael Lester O’Banion, Westminster, MD., Daniel Stafford O’Bannion, Westminster, MD., William Alan George, Parkton, MD., Robert Somers, Reisterstown, MD., James W. Marshall, Shrewsbury, PA. Assignee: Protectus, LLC. A barrier system and method for providing a barrier system are disclosed. The barrier system and method relate to a vehicle and pedestrian barrier system which can be positioned in vehicle and pedestrian passageways adjacent a protected structure or area to preclude the vehicle or the pedestrian from reaching and engaging the protected structure or area.

Referring now to figure 1, a barrier system 100 includes a pair of spaced foundations 102 and 104, which are located, at least partially, within ground soil 106. An upper surface 108 of each of the foundations 102 and 104 is selectively located at, above, or below ground level 110 of the soil 106.

The spaced foundations 102 and 104 may be formed integrally with a pair of respective end posts 112 and 114, or, if formed separately, bottom surfaces of the pair of end posts may be situated on the upper surfaces 108 of the pair of respective foundations 102 and 104.

The end post 112 is formed with a pair of spaced chambers 116 and 118, which are formed with respective open ends 120 and 122 and respective closed ends 124 and 126.

In similar fashion, the end post 114 is formed with a pair of spaced chambers 128 and 130, which are formed with respective open ends 132 and 134 and respective closed ends 136 and 138.

A plurality of spaced intermediate posts 140 are each formed with an upstanding beam 142, and a foundation, pedestal, or foot 144 which is resting on the soil 106 at ground level 110. The plurality of posts 140 are spaced from, and are located between, the pair of end posts 112 and 114.

Each beam 142 of the posts 140 is formed with a first or upper through opening 146, and a second or lower through

Figure 1: Front view showing a barrier system.

58

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

Figure 2: Side view showing an end, or terminal, post and foundation structure.

opening 148 spaced below the first opening.

Opposite ends of a first high-strength wire rope or tension cable 150 are located within respective ones of the chambers 116 and 128 formed in the respective end posts 112 and 114.

The tension cable 150 is threaded through aligned openings of a first plurality of energy absorbers, load absorbers, or shock absorbers 152 within the chamber 116, an opening 154 formed through the end post 112 between the closed end 124 and the adjacent side of the end post, the first openings 146 of the intermediate posts 140, an opening 156 formed through the end post 112 between the closed end 136 and the adjacent side of the end post, and through aligned openings of a second plurality of energy absorbers, load absorbers, or shock absorbers 158 within the chamber 128. In at least one embodiment, energy absorbers 152 and 158 are stacked, crushable cups.

In similar fashion, a second tension cable 160 is strung between the end posts 112 and 114, with the ends of the cable being located in the respective chambers 128 and 130.

The tension cable 160 is threaded through aligned openings of a plurality of energy absorbers, load absorbers, or shock absorbers 162 located in the chamber 128, a through hole 164 formed in the end post 112, the second openings 148 of the intermediate posts 140, a through hole 166 formed in the end post 114, and aligned holes of a plurality of energy absorbers, load absorbers, or shock absorbers 168 located in the chamber 130. Each of the opposite ends of the first and second tension cables 150 and 160 are secured with a large fastener (not shown) to facilitate the retention of the cables in the assembled arrangement of the barrier system 100. In at least one embodiment, energy absorbers 162 and 168 are stacked, crushable cups.

One or more decorative panels 170 can be placed between the end posts 112 and 114 and the respective adjacent intermediate posts 140, and between any of the remaining pairs of adjacent intermediate posts. The ends of the panels 170 can be formed to mount into accommodating grooves (not shown)

Figure 3: Front view showing alternate embodiments of securing tension cables directly to a foundation and alternately to an end post integral with the foundation, or to an intermediate post.

formed in the end posts 112 and 114, and the intermediate posts 140. Each of the panels 170 can be formed with concealed passageways 172, which extend from one end to the opposite end thereof, to facilitate threading of the tension cables 150 and 160 at the time of threading of the cables.

The foundations 102 and 104 with the respective end posts 112 and 114, the intermediate posts 140, and the tension cables 150 and 160, when assembled as the barrier system 100, form a barrier fence 173, with the inclusion of the panels 170 providing enhanced opposition to unauthorized vehicle and pedestrian traffic, and pleasing decorativeness.

The tension cables 150 and 160 are stretched to place the cables under tension to meet the requirements and standards noted above, and the ends of the cables are attached to the fasteners to retain the cables in the tensioned state. If a vehicle impacts the barrier system 100, the opposite ends of the tension cables 150 and 160 are drawn inward by the impacting force, whereby the energy absorbers 152, 158, 162 and 168 are crushed to allow a minimal level of slack to develop in the cables. The crushed energy absorbers 152, 158, 162 and 168, any damaged posts 112, 114 and 140, any damaged panels 170, and any damaged tension cables 150 and 160 can be readily replaced.

The energy absorbers 152, 158, 162 and 168 are preferably made of a ductile material. Carbon steel and stainless steel are such materials. Such a material can absorb large amounts of energy as it is stretching between yield and ultimate strength. Upon the impact of a vehicle striking a portion of the fence, the tension cables 150 and 160 will transfer the tension to end posts 112 and 114. In certain circumstances, the forces may become greater than the strength of the tension cable due to rapid vehicle deceleration. By providing an energy absorbing means, the vehicle will stop in a longer

Figure 4: Front view showing an end post integrally formed with a foundation with tension cables mounted on the foundation and extending through the end post.

period of time, thus resulting in a lower force on the tension cables and a substantial portion of the kinetic energy from the vehicle will be absorbed by the energy absorbing means.

As shown in figure 2, the foundation 102 is formed integrally with the end post 112, with a tension rod 172 embedded in the cured material of the foundation and rod. This arrangement enhances the strength of the integral structure of the foundation 102 and the end post 112 to provide relatively greater opposition to any destructive reaction encountered by the foundation and the end post. A portion of foundation 102 is subterranean, being adjacent soil 106 and below ground level 110.

In the illustration of figure 3, in a first embodiment, the end post 112 is supported on the foundation 102, with tension cables 150 and 160 extending through the intermediate posts 140. The ends of the cables 150 and 160 extend from the end post 112 and are anchored to the foundation 102 to provide tensioning of the cables. In an alternate or second embodiment, an intermediate post 140a functions as an end post, and the ends of the cables 150 and 160 extend from the post 140a and are anchored to the foundation.

As shown in figure 4, the post 112 extends upward from the foundation 102, with a gusset 175 being located in engagement with a vertical side of the post and an adjacent portion of the top of the foundation. The post 112 and the gusset 175 are each formed with communicating through holes for receipt of the tension cables 150 and 160. The ends of the cables 150 and 160 are anchored to the foundation 102.

Lifting sling with excessive elongation warning indicator Pat. 7,938,468 U.S. class 294/74 Int. class B66C 1/12 Inventor: DeWayne Mueller, Jacksonville, FL. Assignee: DeWayne Mueller, Jacksonville, FL. This patent presents a lifting sling having warning markings that indicate if the maximum safe load for the sling has continued on next page

Figure 5: Exposed partial view of a round lifting sling in a non-load condition, such that the dynamic warning markings are concealed by the static nonelongating body of the excessive elongation warning indicator means, the non-elongating body comprising an extended portion of the sling cover.

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

59

continued from previous page been exceeded, whereby a visible indicator is provided to the operator at the time of overload. In an embodiment, a frangible indicator member connected to the cover of the lifting sling provide a permanent indication of sling overload.

As shown in figure 5, a representative lifting sling 10 comprises a load bearing core 11 formed of one or more extended fiber bundles 12 that are enclosed within an extended cover, jacket, skein, sleeve or the like 14. The fiber bundles 12 comprise fibers, threads, yarn or the like 13 most preferably composed of synthetic material such as polyester, Kevlar, Aramid or the like. The fibers 13 may be multi-filament or monofilament, and may be twisted, braided, interwoven or the like. While a sling 10 having a single core 11 is depicted in the drawings, it is to be understood that the sling of the invention may also comprise multiple cores 11. The round sling 10 depicted in figure 5 has a first end 31 disposed within a second end 32 in known manner and the cover 12 of the second end 32 is extended to receive the first end 31. The fiber bundle 12 is secured to the cover 14 both the first end 31 and the second end 32 by suitable bundle joining means 15, such as stitching, mechanical fasteners or the like. The load bearing core 11 and cover 14 are dynamic components of the sling 10, in that they will elongate to some degree when under heavy load.

In this embodiment as depicted in figures 5 and 6, the excessive elongation warning indicator means 20 comprises a static non-elongating body 21 that is composed of the extended sleeve portion of cover 14 on the second end 32, and one or more dynamic warning markings, indicia or similar

Figure 6: External partial view of the lifting sling of figure 5 under a load condition that does not exceed the maximum safe load weight for the sling, showing exposure of the dynamic warning markings as the load-bearing components of the sling elongate under load.

Figure 7: Partial view of a lifting sling of any type in a non-load condition showing the static non-elongating body as being an added member affixed to the sling cover.

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Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

visible members 22 disposed on, imprinted upon, attached to or joined in suitable manner to the cover 14 adjacent the first end 31. The dynamic warning markings 22 may be of any shape or configuration, preferably being non-uniform for easier visual recognition, and may for example comprise similar shapes of changing dimensions, shapes of differing configurations, changes in color, wording such as “safe”, “caution” and “overload”, weight percents such as “20%”, “40%”, “60%”, “80%” and “100%”, etc., as long as the markings 22 provide suitable visible indication as to the extent of elongation of the sling 10 relative to its maximum safe load weight.

The indicator means 20 further comprises static demarcation means 23 to reference a particular warning marking 22, with the demarcation means 23 comprising an edge, end, line, pointer or similar means to designate the marking 22 corresponding to the extent of elongation of the sling 10. In figures 5 and 6, the demarcation means 23 is simply the end of the static non-elongating body 21. The warning markings 22 are dynamic in the sense that they move relative to the static demarcation means 23. The separation distance

between the individual warning markings 22 may remain the same, such as when a non-elongating material is affixed to the cover 14, or may increase due to elongation under load, such as when the warning markings 22 are imprinted directly on the cover 14. Some, all or none of the warning markings 22 may be covered by the non-elongating body 21 and/or exposed by the demarcation means 23. Preferably, the warning marking 22 indicating that the load rating has been exceeded remains covered by the non-elongating body 21 until that condition is reached.

As shown in figure 6, which depicts a typical load condition wherein the sling 10 is elongated under the weight of the object being lifted, the static non-elongating body 21 remains of unchanged dimension even with the sling loaded, since the indicator means body 21 and the demarcation means 23, here the free end of the non-elongating body 21, are only fixed to the sling 10 by fastener means 24 at one location and are not load bearing components. In other words, relative motion occurs between the dynamic components, cover 14 containing the markings 22, and the static components, non-elongating body 21 and demarcation means 23. As the sling 10 elongates under load, the cover 14 elongates such that some or all of the warning markings 22 are moved into an exposed position beyond the demarcation means 23. As depicted in figure 6, the sling 10 has elongated under load such that the maximum safe load weight is being approached but not exceeded, since the maximum load warning marking 22, shown as the longest

Figure 10: Partial cross-sectional view of the embodiment shown in figure 9.

Figure 8: Partial view of the lifting sling of figure 7 under a load condition that exceeds the maximum load weight for the sling.

of the bars, is not exposed.

An alternative embodiment for the invention is shown in figures 7 and 8, which may comprise a round, flat web or eye-on-eye sling 10. In this embodiment, the excessive-elongation warning indicator means 20 comprises a static non-elongating body 21, such as a tubular member, that is affixed by fastener means 24 to the dynamic cover 14 of the sling 10. Such excessive elongation warning indicator means 20 could also be a post-manufacture addition to slings already in use. In this embodiment, the demarcation means 23 comprises a slot or window, such that the warning markings 22 are visible. When the sling 10 is under load, as shown in figure 8, the cover 14 elongates and the position of the warning markings 22 relative to the demarcation means 23 changes. In this depiction, 100% of the maximum safe load weight has been reached and is indicated by visible exposure of the “100� warning marking 22, and the operator should either lighten the load or switch to a higher rated sling.

The separation distances of the warning markings 22 on the dynamic load bearing components of the lifting sling 10 will vary depending on the material components of the sling 10, primarily that of the load bearing core 11, since different materials will have different elongation amounts under the same load. More than one excessive elongation warning indicator means 20 may be provided continued on next page Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

61

continued from previous page on a single sling 10.

In an alternative embodiment illustrated in figures 9 through 11 and showing an alternative elongation warning indicator means 20, a visible warning marker 46 is disposed on the lifting sling cover 14, such as by attachment through stitching, bonding or the like, direct imprinting, etc. A frangible excessive load indicator member 43, such as a cable or wire, having a known and relatively low tensile breaking strength, is extended in slack manner across the surface of the warning marker 46, the frangible indicator member 43 being connected to a first web member 41 and a second web member 42, such as for example straps, affixed to the lifting sling cover 14 and load bearing core 11 by suitable fastener means 24, such as by stitching. Preferably, the second web member 42 is longer than the first web member 41, and the end of the second web member 42 not directly connected to the frangible indicator member 43, i.e., its distal end, is affixed to the lifting sling cover 14 and load bearing core 11.

The length of the frangible indicator member 43 is chosen such that upon the lifting sling 10 being exposed to a load in excess of its maximum safe load weight, the slack in the frangible indicator member 43 will be taken up and the frangible indicator member 43 will break. This is determined by subjecting the lifting sling 14 to a load at or near its maximum safe load and measuring the amount of elongation inherent in the sling 14. For example, if upon testing an elongation of six inches is found to be acceptable, then the length of the frangible indicator member 43 will be approximately six inches, such that any elongation of the sling 14 beyond six inches results in permanent breakage of the frangible indicator member 43.

Figure 11: Partial view of the embodiment shown in figure 9, showing the lifting sling in an excessive load state.

Cable drive assembly Pat. 7,946,559 U.S. class 254/378 Int. class B66D 5/08 Inventor: Henry Vandelinde, Queensville, CA. Assignee: Henry Vandelinde, Queensville, CA. This patent presents a dismantable hoist for storing and transporting wire rope and for lowering and raising the wire rope from a building roof site including a lightweight frame having a base, lightweight reel, for storing the wire rope, having a central drum and a pair of spaced-apart peripheral rings attached to the drum forming opposed side flanges rotatably mounted in the frame, drive means removably attached to the drum for rotating the drum for lowering and raising the wire rope, and brake means op-

Figure 9: Exposed partial view of an alternative embodiment of the invention showing the lifting sling in the passive or acceptable load state.

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Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

Figure 12: Perspective view cable drive hoist assembly of the invention typified in a roof site installation.

Figure 13: Perspective view of the hoist assembly mounted on an outrigger beam with the drive motor axially separated from the hoist drive shaft.

eratively connected to the spaced-apart peripheral rings and normally biased into braking engagement with the peripheral rings to stop lowering of the wire rope upon release of the brake means. The brake means include a pair of opposed brake shoes pivotably mounted in the frame to engage each of the peripheral rings, biasing means for normally urging each pair of opposed brake shoes towards each other for engaging and braking the peripheral ring therebetween, and a lever pivotably mounted in the frame to operatively engage the brake shoes for disengaging the brake shoes from the peripheral rings upon manually actuating the lever, whereby the drum is released for lowering or raising the wire rope.

With reference to figures 12 and 13, the hoist 10 of the invention consists of a base 11 slidably mounted on a outrigger beam 12 normally formed from an aluminum extrusion and locked thereon by pin or bolt 14. The proximal end 15 of rail 12 is held down by weights 16 and the distal end 17 which overhangs the building roof supports sheave 18 rotatably mounted to support and guide wire cable 20.

Base 11 supports a frame 22 having spaced-apart upright side members 24 each rigidly supported by diagonal members 26 welded or bolted to base 11 and to upright members 24. Reel 28 consisting of drum 30 with central shaft 31 having spaced-apart peripheral rings 32, 33 connected thereto by radial spokes 34 journaled for rotation at each side in upright members 24 by bearing blocks 36, shown in figures continued on next page

Figure 14: Perspective view of the opposite side of the hoist drum shown in figure 13 with the wire rope connected to the hoist drum.

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continued from previous page

Crane hook block Pat. 7,946,560 U.S. class 254/393 Int. class B66D 3/08 Inventor: Lambert Drent, Nieuw Buinen, NL., Dirk Albert Stamhuis, Stadskanaal, NL., William J. O’Neil, Green Bay, WI., Alan E. Pleuss, Manitowoc, WI. Assignee: Manitowoc Crane Companies, LLC., Manitowoc, WI. A hook block for a crane includes a sheave housing containing sheaves, extended portions with a hole through each, and a housing frame with a locking surface; a cross beam has multiple brackets each with a hole; a bracket has a plurality of surfaces corresponding to a plurality of angles of relative position between the sheave housing and the first cross beam, wherein the plurality of surfaces correspond to the locking surface and form a gap therebetween at each of the plurality of angles; a shaft rotatably captured within the holes of the extended portions of the housing and of the multiple brackets; and a locking bar sized to be placed in the gap between the locking surface and any of the plurality of surfaces to immobilize movement of the sheave housing relative

Figure 15: Enlarged exploded perspective view of the bearing block connection of the drum shaft to the frame.

14 and 15, supporting shaft 31. Each of bearing blocks 36 has a clevis pin 38 for release of reel 28 with shaft 31, as shown in figure 15. Drum 30 has an opening 40 for attachment of wire hook 42 to pin 44 which is in radial alignment with shaft 45, as depicted in figure 14, when the wire rope 20 is fully extended.

With reference to figure 13, electric motor and gear box unit 80 is removably mounted on bracket 82 for engagement with shaft 45 of drum 30 for selectively unwinding wire rope 20 from or onto drum 30. The present invention provides a number of important advantages. The hoist dismantled components are transported individually to a roof site and assembled with the distal end 17 of outrigger beam having sheave 18 overhanging the side of a building. Weights 16 are mounted on the proximal end 15 of rail 12. Hoist base 11 slidably mounted on rail 12 is locked in position by wing screw or bolt 14. Reel 28 having wire cable 20 is mounted in frame 22 by engagement of clevis pins 38 with bearing blocks 36. Wire cable 20 is fed over the side of the building by sheave 18 and lowered by release of deadman brake 50 with or without the aid of electric motor 80.

The portable electric drive motor and gearbox unit 80 can be used to lower and raise wire cable 20. When the cable drive motor is engaged, it provides the driving force to raise or lower the wire ropes. The manually operated brake system 50 that is designed to grip the tubular rings 32, 33 must be held in the downward released position while the motor is operating. This brake system is spring applied so that in the event of a drive system malfunction the user only needs to release the brake lever to allow the brakes to engage and stop the descent of the wire rope. The brake system can also be used to lower the wire rope without the use of the drive motor. In this instance the operator uses the brake lever to control the descent speed.

Once the wire rope is fully extended, typically up to 700 feet in length, the connection to the drum comes into radial alignment with the drum shaft 45 so that there is no longer any torque delivered to the drive or the brake system. The wire rope once it has been fully led out over sheave 18 to the desired suspension location outboard of the building can be left untended in this position and there is no need for the worker to handle or monitor the wire rope at the roof edge.

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Figure 16: Side elevational view of a mobile lift crane with counterweights.

to the cross beam.

While the embodiments of the hook block and associated assemblies will have applicability to hook blocks used on other cranes or machinery, it will be described in connection with a mobile lift crane 10, shown in figure 16. The mobile lift crane 10 includes lower works, also referred to as a carbody 12, and moveable ground engaging members in the form of crawlers 14 and 16. There are two front crawlers 14 and two rear crawlers 16, only one each of which can be seen from the side view of figure 16. In the crane 10, the ground engaging members could be just one set of crawlers, one crawler on each side.

A rotating bed 20 is rotatably connected to the carbody 12 such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the ground engaging members. The rotating bed is mounted to the carbody 12 with a slewing ring, such that the rotating bed 20 can swing about an axis with respect to the ground engaging members 14, 16. The rotating bed supports a boom 22 pivotally mounted on a front portion of the rotating bed; a sheave block 23 at the boom top including sheaves; a mast 28 mounted at its first end on the rotating bed 20; a backhitch 30 connected between the mast and a rear portion of the rotating bed; and a moveable counterweight unit 34 hav-

hitch 30 may comprise a lattice member designed to carry both compression and tension loads as shown in figure 16.

In the crane 10, the mast 28 is held at a fixed angle with respect to the rotating bed during crane operations, such as a pick, move and set operation.

The counterweight unit 34 is moveable with respect to the rest of the rotating bed 20. A tension member 32 connected adjacent the top of the mast supports the counterweight unit in a suspended mode. A counterweight movement structure is connected between the rotating bed 20 and the counterweight unit 34 such that the counterweight unit 34 may be moved to and held at a first position in front of the top of the mast, and moved to and held at a second position rearward of the top of the mast.

At least one linear actuation device, in this embodiment a rack and pinion assembly 36, and at least one arm pivotally connected at a first end to the rotating bed and at a second end to the a rack and pinion assembly 36, are used in the counterweight movement structure of crane 10 to change the position of the counterweight unit 34. The arm and a rack and pinion assembly 36 are connected between the rotating bed and the counterweight unit 34 such that extension and retraction of the rack and pinion assembly 36 changes the position of the counterweight unit 34 compared to the rotating bed 20. Figure 16 shows the counterweight unit 34 in its most forward position in solid lines and at its farthest back position in dotted lines. The rack and pinion assembly 36 moves the counterweight unit 34 to a mid position, such as when a load is suspended from the hook 26. continued on next page

Figure 17: Perspective view of a hook block.

ing counterweights on a support member.

Boom hoist rigging 25 between the top of mast 28 and boom 22 is used to control the boom angle and transfers load so that the counterweight can be used to balance a load lifted by the crane 10. A load hoist line 24, also referred to herein as wire rope 24, extends from the boom 22, supporting a hook block 100 designed for lifting heavy loads.

The load hoist line 24 passes through the sheave block 23 at the top of the boom 22, and then through the hook block 26. As the hoist line 24 is eventually connected to the rotating bed 20, when the boom 22 booms down (or is lowered), the hook block 100 will be pulled towards the boom end as the hoist line 24 effectively shortens. A “two-block condition� may occur if the hook block runs into the sheave block 23, snapping the hoist line 24, and causing the load to drop. This can be prevented by spooling out wire rope (or cable) fast enough to match the extending boom 22. The crane 10 may include mechanical sensors that alert the operator if the two-block condition is imminent, referred to as anti-two-block.

The rotating bed 20 may also include other elements commonly found on a mobile lift crane, such as an operator’s cab and hoist drums for the rigging 25 and hoist line 24.

If desired, the boom 22 may include a luffing jib pivotally mounted to the top of the main boom, or other boom configurations. The backhitch 30 is connected adjacent the top of the mast 28, but down the mast far enough that it does not interfere with other items connected to the mast. The backWire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

65

continued from previous page The pivot frame 40, a solid welded plate structure, is connected between the rotating bed 20 and the second end of the rack and pinion assembly 36. The rear arm 38 is connected between the pivot frame 40 and the counterweight unit 34. A set of pins 37 are used to connect the rear arm 38 and the pivot frame 40. The rear arm 38 is also a welded plate structure with an angled portion 39 at the end that connects to the pivot frame 40. This allows the arm 38 to connect directly in line with the pivot frame 40.

The crane 10 is equipped with a counterweight support system 80, which may be required to comply with crane regulations in some countries. Because the counterweight unit 34 can move far forward with respect to the front of the rotating bed, the counterweight supports on the support system 80 may interfere with swing operations unless they are sufficiently spaced apart. This, however, makes the support structure itself very wide. The crane 10 thus uses a counterweight support structure attached to the counterweight unit 34 that includes a telescoping counterweight support system 80. The counterweight unit 34 is constructed so that the counterweight support system 80 can be removed and the crane can function both with and without it.

One of the benefits of the present embodiments is that several different hook blocks can all be made out of the same set of hook block components. When a crane is sold it includes all

Figure 19: Side view of the hook block of figure 17.

of the components needed to make a hook block used to lift the maximum rated load capacity of the crane. Realizing, however, that the crane will not always be used to lift such large loads, it is beneficial that the hook block components can be assembled to make hook blocks for lifting smaller loads.

In the present embodiments, one set of components can be used to make six different hook block configurations. All of those components are used in the hook block 100 shown in figures 16-19. Those components include: four three-sheave housings and two five-sheave housings 102; two connection beams 112; a main connection beam 113; one each of right and left cross beams 118; two shafts 121; an equalizer beam 140; two hook suspension sideplates 150; a hook suspension 152 without locking, and a hook suspension 154 with locking.

Figure 18: Front elevation view of the hook block of figure 17.

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Foliage lifter Pat. 7,937,888 U.S. class 47/46 Int. class A01G 17/04 Inventor: Hendra Arief, Surabaya, ID., Jason Wan Leong Lee, Enfield, AU., Andreas Prawiro, North Adelaide, AU., Antoni Blazewicz, Adelaide, AU. Assignee: Adelaide Research and Innovation Pty Ltd., AU., Cyril Henschke Pty Ltd., AU This patent presents a vineyard trellis system that includes a ground anchored upright post, at least one foliage wire passing by the post and having a supporting interengagement with the post, and lifting means arranged to effect

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in a hole securing cement or similar. adetermine lifting or how lowering of the wire intorelation to the post Feedwater where placing to with spread the load.

Movement Heaters inandsystem to spread the load the Replaces The post 20 is “C�-shaped (shown in figure in outline), said lifting means include a support member slidably engaginside the building was21facilitated Coal-fired Power Plant launch pad foundation.

However, 40 traversing from theand upper ing with theuncertain post andabout engaging with the foliage wire, was and called a having through longitudinally the use of air-casters a Barnhart upon a to slot extract NASA was the amount portion 25replace the lowerlight-slide portion 30, punctuated

by President the bridgwinch adapted to assist in a two lifting lowering heaters system.

Barnhart oldorfeedwater and of loadarrangement the foundation could withstand. section 50,inadded to Barnhart increasedcharacterized stability andthe internal of the to effect a change inthem height foli- ing Alan plan atofathe coal-fired power plant Stillsupport anothermember challenge was deciding strength approxiof the post 20.

Theexpensive bridging section 50tedious is positioned age with respect to the post. as less but more than howwire to erect the lifting structure Sioux City, Iowa. Weighing Sinmeans glesisstructure, •a first Dowire Do ubwhich lrope es attached •mately Triplto eastons • each, Regthe ulnew ar the anlower an d He Hportion eaalternative vy30Wo Wofothe oplans. dpost. enThrough Blo Bl ckits20 s innovawithin The post is made The lifting winch, 80 feedwater beneath the launch fromand a suitable material Barnhart such as galvanized and second rope,the thelaunch secondpad. wire rope having first tive strategy, completed steel the heaters werea 40 feet long 6 feet inresilient also acan rotatewire around s c op erepeated o f it s exposure w or k i n tot hthe diameter. old heaters that itneeded to enable to withstand Thissecond would mean that thethe lifting r e eelements day s, and end, wherein firsttowers end is attached to The the first from the were reducing would require twosecond elevations, at to the originally planned plant andbuilding general agricultural impacts.

Other materials may well wire rope and the end isone attached tobe theextracted supporting slightly heavier shorter. The 124 feet and atby 103 feet – atension 21 foot to the evacuation timeplastics by 75 percent. be employed such as high impact or similar with member, suchone that applying first wire rope, and placed in the difference between jacking $150,000: PSC Crane rigid. and minor changes in shapeUnder to ensure that post 20 remains tension is applied to the second points. wire rope.heaters were originally during its construction, when Barnhart Towers Rigging’s Move Installation of The post 20 has flanges 32 and 34and at either side of the Referringused now Modular to figuresLift 20-22, there isbuilding a vineyard trellis the roof several and hydraulic jacks to lift aand secure a Diesel Package slot 40.for The flanges 32 and 34Generator assist in holding the slider 60 system 10, which includes ground anchored postwas 20. off; Thehowever, reasons, the couldwithin not be the opened up of Last the structure innovatively taking winter, PSC Crane a&protective Rigging confines the post 20. If required post 20 has anwhile upper portion 25 and a lower portion 30roof suitfor the replacement. advantage of the into launch pad’s rotasuccessfully completed to the post 60 so as a tovery covercomplex the slot able for anchoring the ground.

The lower portion 30 may cover may be attached T h eanchored c u s t o mby e r ’ s 40 o rto i g provide i n a l p lbetter tional ability for positioning purposes. job that began with a n rigging protection to the inside of off-loading the post 20 be forcibly driven into the ground or otherwise Already concerned about the maze of required a high-capacity andsuch transferring an 8 megawatt crane that from weather elements as rain and dirt. duct work, piping and steel, Barnhart would have driven up The Wartsila from a railunrestrictcar onto the slider cost of60the is shaped so asgenerator to allow relatively crews also had to worry about high job. Barnhart proposed a nine-line Goldhofer trailer.

PSC then less expensive edavertical movement 231 within the interior of the post 20. winds and lightning prevalent in the alternative that used hauled 332,000 70 pound generator – its 800 The slider 60 ton has an upperthe projection positioned on an spring. On several occasions, the job capacity Demag TC 3000 which measured 44 feet80 long, 10 feet 10 boom upperlattice surface 75, and a lower projection positioned on was shut down at the first sight of truck crane. Both thethe inches and 14 feet 2 70 inches – extraction of the 85. lower surface The wide upper projection has high an apAllheaters Material Factory Certified milereceiving to the Indian Power near and the installation of the ita for lightning because nobody involved old erture 90 through a shaft 95 inPlant a rotating Wooden Shell Blocks 3� along to shaft 16�

Rensselaer, ones required movement a 95 wanted to take chances with such an new manner. The shaped to Ohio. accommodate pulley wheels opening in the 70. buildthe building to expensive, highly technical apparatus. circuitous path through 100 and 105 on eitherThe sideexisting of the upper projection The For more Associated Rope Inc. Waterman Supply Co., Inc. ing’sanbrick façade, which measured a from&a Rigging, hole in lower an exterior wall80 has After successfully completing Wire the and projection aperture 86 for receiving an end information, 8125 Saran Drive, Playa Del Rey, CA 90293 910 Mahar Ave., Wilmington, CA 90748 little as more than 10 feet110 wide, had to 120 be above grade. project, Barnhart and NASA concluded more than 100 feet of a biasing means, such the hook end of spring contact: enlarged the generator could Clearances were as tight 2 inches. the launch structure weighed about 5 Fax: Ph: 1-800-901-1135 310-448-5446 Ph: 1-800-322-3131 Fax: 310-522-1043 in aassecure manner.

Hook endbefore 125 of spring 120 is inserted pass through.

PSC used a 500 ton To adjust to inconsistencies in million pounds, Email: of which Barnhart awrrinc@earthlink.net Email: waterman@bigplanet.com in aperture 130 located on the lower portion 30 of postJ&R 20. gantry system equipped flooring throughout As theshown building, lifted about 2.5 million pounds. in figureLift-NLock 22, the slider 60 has recesses 140 and Figure 20: Pictorial representation of a grapevine, with the trellis $150,000-$750,000: Barnhart Ba rn h ar t e n gi n e e r s de v e l o pe d a with a 400 ton J&R Power Rotator to system in a raised position. continued on next page WireRope RopeNews News&&Sling SlingTechnology Technology August August2006 2006 Wire

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

37 57 67

continued from previous page

Figure 22: Perspective view of the slider section that fits within the trellis system.

Figure 21: Pictorial representation of an embodiment of the invention showing a cut away view of the post.

145 on sides 150 and 155 respectively. The recesses 140 and 145 allow for the passage or movement of pulley wires 180.

The front surface 190 of the slider 60 has a foliage wire holding portion 200 in an inverted “U”-shape. Located at each remote end 210 and 215 are apertures 220 and 225 for receiving foliage wire 230 there through. It would be well appreciated that the shape of the apertures 220 and 225 can vary to other shapes such as slots or recesses that allow for the secure attachment of foliage wire to the ends 210 and 215. In some instances, a slot may be preferable in that it allows for the easy removal of the foliage wire 230 from 200.

It is to be understood that the foliage wires 230 run the entire length of the row and the number of posts 20 required in each row is dependant on the size of each row. The foliage wire holding portion 200 may be a separate member that is welded to the slider 60 or it may be of integral construction such as from a mounding.

The post 20 has apertures 240 and 245 positioned on sides 250 and 260 on the upper portion 25. The apertures 240 and 245 are shaped to receive a shaft 250 that accommodate pulley wheels 260 and 265 within the post 20. Additionally, there are apertures 270 and 275 positioned on sides 250 and 260 located on the lower portion 30. A shaft 280 is received within the apertures 270 and 175 and a pulley wheel 285 is rotatably connected thereto. Note that each pulley wheel has a groove around its circumference shaped to assist in keeping the pulley wire 180 in position.

Pulley wire 180 is attached to a winch 185 and passes around pulley wheel 285 through the inside of the post 20, and through the recess 140 to pass to the side of pulley wheel 68

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

105. The wire 180 then travels up to pulley wheel 260, down to pass around pulley wheel 105, back up to pulley wheel 265, then back down to pulley wheel 100. Finally, the wire 180 travels to a fixed point 266 located on the upper portion 25 of the post 20. This then describes a pulley system that is commonly referred to as a “block and tackle”, of which the mechanical advantages are well known. Other types of pulley systems could also be employed with departing from the scope of the invention, such as systems of six pulley wheels.

In use, the post 20 is securely mounted in the earth, either by forcing the post 20 directly into the earth or by excavating the soil and cementing the post 20 therein. In either case the post 20 must be mounted such that it will be able to withstand the usual forces encountered in an agricultural environment such as bearing the weight of the fully laden vine plant as well as being struck by machinery and so on.

The growing vine plant 300 attaches to the foliage wire 230. As the vine plant 300 grows over time the foliage wire holding portion 200 can be raised so as to open up the vine plant and provide increased exposure of the fruit 310 to the sun. As the vine plant 300 continues to grow, so the foliage wire holding portions 200 can be raised until such a time that harvesting of the fruit occurs and the vines are pruned then the foliage wire holding portions 200 can then be lowered. The resultant exposure of the fruit 310 further facilitates the process of mechanical harvesting.

The spring 120 attached to the lower portion 30 of the post 20 and the slider 60 provides a biasing means that assists in the return of the slider 60 to its position when the tension in the wire 180 is released. The vine trellis system 10 can be utilized so that each of the post in a row is capable of lifting a vine plant positioned between each post. That is each post is equipped with a pulley set (or lifting mechanism) and is connected to the winch that is set up at the end of each vine row. The technique employed then would be that each pulley wire 180 is connected to a synchronisation wire 300 by way of a swage connection 310.

The synchronisation wire 300 then passes through the conduit 320 positioned on the post 20 and on to the next post having a pulley mechanism contained therein as described above. In this way as the synchronisation wire 300 is taken up by the winch 185, each of the pulley wires 180 are also pulled thus lifting each of the foliage wire holding portions

200 in unison. Although the wires 300 and 180 are joined together by a swage 310, it is understood that other mechanisms of joining the wires can be applied without departing from the scope of the invention.

Figure 23: Section through a roof covering with a photovoltaic module and a fixing device with rope.

MADE IN U.S.A. Manufactured from HIGH GRADE CARBON STEEL, carefully HARDENED and TEMPERED for strength and durability. HAND POLISHED to last for years. PROPER FLATTENED POINTS for easy insertion.

Osborne No. 276 Available sizes (inches) Proper Flattened points

Fixing device for voltaic modules on sloping roofs Pat. 7,963,074 U.S. class 52/173.3 Int. class F24J 2/52 Inventor: Sascha Oliver Schwarze, Berlin, DE., Maik Schaefer, Berlin, DE. Assignee: Solon SE., Berlin, DE. A fixing device for fixing a photovoltaic module on a sloping roof having a roof structure and a roof covering with individual roof covering elements includes a roof-side connecting piece disposable beneath the roof covering and a module-side connecting piece disposable on an edge of the photovoltaic module. A flexible retaining element interconnects the roof-side connecting piece and the module-side connecting piece. The flexible retaining element is loadable by pulling and adapted to be guided through the roof covering without altering a position or shape of the individual roof covering elements.

Figure 23 shows a fixing device 1 for photovoltaic modules 2 in a section through a roof structure 31. In the exemplary embodiment shown, it consists of a roof rafter 4, roof laths 5 and a roof covering 3 made from a sarking membrane 32 and individual elements 30, roofing tiles 6 here. The photovoltaic module 2 frame 7 rests on the roofing tiles 6. Ring eyelets 9 are attached to the upper edge 8 of the frame 7 of the photovoltaic module 2. The fixing device 1 comprises a retaining element 24 which is a flexible component which can be loaded by pulling exclusively and which can be guided through the roof covering 3 without changing the position or shape of the individual elements 30, roofing tiles 6 here, of the latter.

In the exemplary embodiment shown, the fixing device 1 includes a wire rope 10 which is guided around cable-eye stiffeners 11 and is secured in this exemplary embodiment with ferrules 12. The rope 10 equipped in this manner is fixed to the roof rafter 4 with its roof-side connecting piece 13 with a screw 14 with a large washer 15 guided through the cableeye stiffener 11. The rope 10 is then guided through in an approximately straight line between the adjacent roofing tiles 6 and connected to the ring eyelet 9 with its module-

MARLIN SPIKES

4” 14”

6” 16”

8” 18”

10” 20”

12” 24”

Also available in 30”, 36”, 42” & 48” long.

Special custom sizes upon request.

For more information please contact:

C.S. OSBORNE & CO.

129 Jersey Street. Harrison, NJ 07029 U.S.A. Phone 973-483-3232 Fax 973-484-3621 Email: cso@csosborne.com Web: www.csosborne.com

side connecting piece 16 by means of a shackle 17.

Figure 24 shows a fixing device 1, wherein the rope 10 is interrupted by an apparatus for length adjustment 18 in the region of the upper end 13. At the roof-side and module-side connecting pieces 13, 16, the rope 10 is guided around the cable-eye stiffeners 11, which are shown at the upper end 13 in the plan view and at the lower end 16 in the side view, and secured with ferrules 12. The apparatus for length adcontinued on next page

Figure 24: Fixing device with rope and an apparatus for length adjustment.

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

69

continued from previous page

Figure 28: Diagram of the apparatus housing.

Figure 25: Module arrangement utilizing fixing devices with steel strips.

justment 18 has a housing 19 and a ring bolt 20 with righthanded thread and a ring bolt 21 with left-handed thread.

The fixing of the rope 10 to the ring bolts 20 is not detailed any further here. In the case of a rotation of the housing 19 in the clockwise direction as seen from the upper end 13, the fixing device 1 is shortened, and in the case of a rotation in the counter-clockwise direction, the fixing device 1 is lengthened.

Figure 25 shows a module arrangement with retaining elements 24 including steel strips 22 on supporting rails 23.

The supporting rails 23 rest on the roof covering 3 and are fixed to steel strips 22 which penetrate upwards under the next laid individual element 30, roofing tile 6 here, through the roof covering 3 and are fixed to the next roof lath 5 of the roof structure 31. Roof laths 5 and the parts of the steel strips 22 which extend underneath the roof covering 3 are indicated with dashed lines. Likewise illustrated with dashed lines are the PV modules 2 which are retained in the supporting rails 23. Further elements for connecting the PV modules 2 to one another are not illustrated.

Figure 26 shows a flat stop plate 26, which can be connected to a roof rafter 4, e.g. by means of nails or screws via elongated holes. It has an accommodating element 27 which is a cuboid component which is securely connected to the stop plate 26 in the exemplary embodiment. The accommodating element 27 includes a continuous longitudinal slot 28 for inserting the retaining element 24. A non-continuous enlarged opening 29 accommodates the thickening 25 of the retaining element 24. In the figure, a round rope is indicated by way of example as retaining element 24 with a ferrule 12 as thickening 25.

Figure 27: General assembly drawing of the anticollision apparatus.

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Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

Automobile anticollision decelerating and emergency brake apparatus Pat. 7,955,218 U.S. class 477/193 Int. class B60W 10/04 Inventor: Dahuai Wang, Hunan, CN., Yue Zhao, Hunan, CN. Assignee: Dahuai Wang, Hunan, CN., Yue Zhao, Hunan, CN. An anticollision decelerating and emergency brake apparatus of automobile is disclosed. The objects of the invention is realized by the following: an anticollision decelerating and an emergency brake apparatus of automobile constituted by clutch, an energystorage assembly, a brake force transmission assembly, a combined solenoid valve assembly, a housing, a variable diameter assembly, a reset mechanism, and so on. The apparatus of the invention will auto brake to effectively prevent and avoid traffic accidents, and the damage degree can be minimized.

Figure 27 shows the basic structure of the anticollision apparatus of the present invention. The apparatus includes: a combined clutch 1, an energy-storage assembly 2, a brake force transmission assembly 3, a combined solenoid valve assembly 4, a housing 5, a variable diameter wheel 6, and a reset structure 7. In accordance with the present invention, when the collision sensor determines the possible occurrence of an imminent collision, the anticollision system activates an existing emergency brake, which applies a braking force to wire rope 58 of solenoid valve assembly 4. A variable wheel assembly 6 magnifies the applied emergency brake force to assure that the anticollision apparatus is capable of decelerating or stopping the vehicle. Solenoid valve assembly 4 then releases and transfers the magnified brake force of wire rope 58 to at least one ratchet wheel 160, 64 of the brake force transmission assembly 3. The braking force is subsequently transferred from ratchet wheel 160, 64 to at least one spring 52, 45 of energy energy-storage assembly 2, which enables a vehicle to immediately brake. After the threat of impact has passed, reset mechanism 7 subsequently resets the component of energy-storage assembly 2 by rotating clutch 1.

Housing 5 of the present invention houses and protects the parts, components and assemblies of the anticollision apparatus from water, foreign matter, such as dust, and

Figure 26: Shows a flat stop plate with an accommodating element.

STRONGER THAN STEEL

STS-12

Figure 29: cross section of figure 28

other forms of contamination. Preferably housing 5 is an airtight and water-tight container. As shown in figures 28-30, housing 5 may include: at least one micro-switch 126, 138, 142, at least one end cap 127, 135, at least one air proof seal 128, 134, at least one suitable fastener, such as a bolt 129, 136, 137, 139, 141, 143, at least one bearing cap 130, 132, a frame 131, and an air proof casing 140.

As shown in figure 28, frame 131 of housing 5 may be divided into three cavities: cavity I 165, cavity II 166, and cavity III 167. Cavity I 165 may contain a combined clutch 11.

Cavity II 166 may be used to house an energy-storage assembly 2. A Brake force transmission assembly 3 and a combined solenoid valve assembly 4 may be placed within cavity III 168. The location of the combined clutch 1, combined solenoid valve assembly 4 and brake force transmission assembly 3 may be interchanged upon suitable modification of housing 5. Semicircle-shaped holes serving as bearing plates may be formed between cavity I 166 and II and between cavity II 167 and III 168, as shown in figures 29 and 30. At least one bearing cap 132, 130 may be installed using any suitable fastener, including a bolt 136, 143. Housing 5 may further comprise two end caps 127, 135, one installed at each end of frame 131 using any suitable fastener, including a bolt 129, 133. At least one air proof I seal 128, 134 may be placed tightly adjacent to the end caps 1 127, 127, 135. At least one micro-switch 138, 138, 142 may be installed on a bearing cap 132, 130 using any suitable fastener, such as a bolt 139, 141. Additionally an air proof seal 140 may be installed on frame 131 using any suitable fastener, such as a bolt 137. WRN

GIVE YOUR BUSINESS A LIFT WITH SYNTHETICS!

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NEW ENGLAND ROPES 848 AIRPORT ROAD • FALL RIVER, MA 02720 508-730-4524 • BSHAKESPEARE@NEROPES.COM WWW.NEROPES.COM Figure 30: Another cross section of the apparatus.

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

71

Loos & Company announces the LoosCo Stretch Calculator iPhone/iPad app

The LoosCo Stretch Calculator is the first release in the Loos Mechanicals line of mobile applications designed to assist the wire rope and aircraft cable professional in the field. The Stretch Calculator application provides real time wire rope and aircraft cable elastic stretch estimates based on construction, diameter, length and load inputs provided by the user. According to the company release, the application allows you to calculate the estimated stretch of your assembly or sling right in the palm of your hand.

The LoosCo Stretch Calculator application is based on the popular download available on www.loosco.com, and is available for both the iPhone and iPad. The calculator provides the following features: • Elastic Stretch estimates for 1x7, 1x19, 7x7, 7x19, 6x19, 6x37 Constructions Elastic Stretch estimates for Stainless and Galvanized Steel • Elastic Stretch estimates for Cable Diameters 1/64” to 1-1/4” You can download your free installment of the LoosCo Stretch Calculator on our website, www.loosco.com, by clicking on the “Downloads” link. Select “Mobile Phone Applications” and you will be taken to the official LoosCo Stretch Calculator iTunes page.

For questions concerning the download and use of the new LoosCo Stretch

72

Calculator, contact Robert Davis by calling 860-6304248.

Loos & Co., Inc. is the world’s leading manufacturer of Military Specification Aircraft Cable and Aircraft Cable assemblies.

Loos has over 50 years of experience in the cable industry and supplies flight control assemblies to all major aircraft manufacturers. Refer to our website (www. loosco.com) for a complete listing of capabilities, including: Stainless Steel and Specialty Alloy Wire and Wire Products, Aircraft Cable, Wire Rope, and Military and Commercial Cable Assemblies.

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America Inc. (MCFA) introduces new Jungheinrich® Walkie Stacker for North America

Mitsubishi Caterpillar Forklift America, Inc. (MCFA) (www.mcfa.com), a leading provider of forklift trucks in the United States, Mexico, Canada and Latin America, announced the addition of a new Jungheinrich® EJC B14/ EJC B16 Heavy-Duty Electric Walkie Straddle Stacker to its North American

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

product line. The new Walkie Stacker implements a highly efficient 3-phase AC technology drive system, proportional lift and lower control, optional electric power steering and a multifunction control tiller head, according to a company release.

Jungheinrich engineers focused on increasing energy efficiency and reducing life cycle costs with the new EJC series 3-phase AC technology drive system. Enhancements to the advanced drive system, including features such as proprietary software, enhanced electrical components and optimized cable routing, result in longer battery life and more run time. Further advantages include the elimination of wear items such as motor brushes and springs, which can lead to lower life cycle costs, and advanced regenerative braking, which allows energy to be fed back into the battery for longer run times and enhanced productivity.

The new EJC series also integrates quiet performance and premier handling, as precise speed and torque control allows for easy maneuvering even in confined warehouse applications.

Extremely beneficial for a stacker, the series features variable lift/lower speed control which lowers pull-down and put-away costs while reducing the likelihood of lift truck, rack or product damage.

All forklift truck movement functions are accomplished via the tiller head as it allows for increased operational efficiencies and decreased operator fatigue. The tiller head is mounted low and toward the side of the truck. This maximizes the space between the operator and the chassis for increased comfort and visibility. The controls may be activated with either hand to further increase operational efficiency of the forklift.

sign, engineering, manufacture and application of new and existing products in the United Kingdom.

J.C. Renfroe & Sons, Inc., headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, is a leading international manufacturer and marketer of industrial lifting clamps and lifting equipment products.

J.C. Renfroe’s David Matthews guest speaker on product training at Signal Mutual Indemnity Association’s Safety Committee

As an engineer advocating comprehensive safety procedures for the use of industrial lifting clamps, David Matthews, Director of Engineering, Research and Development for J.C. Renfroe & Sons, Inc. will be a guest speaker at the Safety Committee conducted by the Signal Mutual Indemnity Association in Woodlands, Texas.

Matthews,who has been a mechanical engineer for over 35 years, will outline the detailed safety training program J.C. Renfroe offers to its customers.

Renfroe is an international manufacturer of industrial lifting products.

“We cannot emphasize safety enough for our customers,” said Anne Renfroe, President of J.C. Renfroe. “We have developed an extensive program of safety measures for our clients which includes tools such as illustrated instructural manuals, plant safety posters, and our two-day free safety training sessions led

by David.”

“David Matthews has an entertaining and effective way of conveying the use of

Harrington Hoists, Inc. Announces new board members

David Matthews

safety measures involved with our product line. He is a great representative for safety in our industry,” she added. Matthews is responsible for all aspects of research and development for J.C. Renfroe, including the development of new products for both the Renfroe clamp line and ancillary lifting products.

He was educated as a mechanical engineer in Wales and held a number of managerial positions directing the de-

Harrington Hoists, Inc. has announced the appointment of two new members to their Board of Directors. Carlo A. Lonardi, VP Sales and Marketing and Scott D. Miller, VP of Operations will now serve as directors on the Board and will provide the solid leadership needed for the continued expansion and long-term success of the company. Other members of the Board include Harrington’s Edward W. Hunter, president & CEO; Yoshio Morita, vice president Administration and Toru Suzuki, Deputy general manager Business Division America of Kito Corporation.

Harrington Hoists, Inc. is a Kito Group Company located in Manheim, PA and Corona, CA and is a leading manufacturer and supplier of electric and air powered chain hoists, electric wire rope hoists, lever hoists, manual hand chain hoists, push and geared trolleys, overhead cranes, crane accessories and a full line of replacement parts.

New Talent in Samson’s Midwest Territory

Samson, a worldwide leader in performance cordage, is pleased to introduce Donna Poll as its Industrial regional sales manager for the midwest territory.

Donna comes to us with extensive experience in sales and distributor development. For over eighteen years Donna worked as a technical sales manager in the electronics industry; working directly with manufacturers, OEMs and distributors of cable and wire printed circuit boards .

“We are very excited to have Donna on board to service our midwest customers. They will benefit from the success model Donna has developed to cultivate solid relationships throughout the sales channel. The result is delivering high quality Samson products, engineered specifically for their needs, with worldclass customer service” Michael Quinn, sales director – Industrial Division.

Donna has a Bachelor’s Degree in Speech Communications from the University of Missouri and will operate from her office in the greater Chicago area.

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Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

Advertisers Index Please turn to the pages indicated below for a detailed view of advertisers’ products or services.

Accutech ........................................................55

Loos & Co. .....................................................39

All Material Handling .......................................50

Morse-Starrett Products Co. . ..........................74

Alps Wire Rope ...............................................54

New England Rope . ........................................71

Associated Wire Rope & Rigging, Inc.........26, 48

C.S. Osborne & Co. . .......................................69

Buffalo Lifting and Testing ...............................65

Premier Wire Rope ............................................3

C. Sherman Johnson Co., Inc. . .......................18

Quality Marine Hardware .................................19

Cableway Technical Services ..........................77

Rope Block/Sea Link..........................................6

Caldwell Company, Inc. .............................36, 80

Rud Chain, Inc. ...............................................51

Chant Engineering Co., Inc. .............................17

Sea Catch .......................................................56

Chicago Hardware ..........................................16

Sea-Fit, Inc. .................................................. 8-9

Columbus McKinnon . .....................................49

Sea-land Distributors . .................. 27, 31, 35, 37

The Crosby Group . .........................2, 44, 45, 47

Slingmax Rigging Products ...............................5

Distributor Computer Systems . .......................67

Slinguard Protectors . ......................................42

Downs Crane & Hoist Co., Inc. ........................67

Southern Weaving Company ...........................23

Elite Sales .......................................................25

Strider~Resource . .........................................55

Esco Corporation ............................................22

Suncor Stainless, Inc. ............................... 40-41

Filtec ..............................................................52

Taylor Chain Company ....................................72

Gaylin International Co. Pte. Ltd. . ....................79

Thern . ............................................................33

GBG Industries . ..............................................30

Van Beest BV ..................................................56

Holland 1916 ..................................................43

Vanguard ........................................................15

Huskie Tools ...................................................53

Wichard, Inc. ..................................................63

Ken Forging, Inc. .............................................32

Windy Ridge Corporation ................................57

KWS, Inc. .......................................................57

Wirop Industrial Co., Ltd. . ...............................29

Landmann Wire Rope Products .........................4

Yale Cordage . .................................................38

Letellier M.H.E. ...............................................73

Yoke Industrial Corp. .......................................11

Lincoln Hoist . .................................................13

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

75

HELP WANTED Looking for an outside sales person for wire rope shop and fall protection company. Email resume to azwire@aol.com or email marty@ultrasafeusa.com.

Established rigging shops across the U.S. looking for experienced wire rope splicer.

Must be able to manufacture flemish eye slings along with hand splicing, both 4 tuck and hidden tuck. Competitive wages, and benefits including 401, health, and paid vacation. Reply to: Box 10-02, Wire Rope News & Sling Technology, 511 Colonia Blvd., Colonia, NJ 07067 Seeking to fill and inside customer service/sales position with at least 3 years in wire rope and rigging hardware sales experience, aggressive and good communication skill, hard working with integrity. Our company is located in Southern California and has been in business for 15 years. We offer a competitive salary plus commission.

Please fax resume to (909) 548-2884.

Established wire rope distributor in the Mid-Atlantic area is looking for an exp. outside sales representative to cover the Gulf Coast area. Strong background in cranes and wire ropes preferred. Ideal candidate has the ability to establish accounts and build strong business relationships.

Excellent base and commission, comp. vehicle and benefits. Submit qualifications to: hoistemployment@gmail.com.

Assistant foreman for East Coast’s largest importer & sling shop. We stock wire rope, hardware and mfg web slings. Must be “hands-on” and capable of directing shop personnel. Long term position with all benefits company paid, including profit sharing. The Bilco Group, Bilco-Doran-Shaw, Barry I. Lemberg C.E.O, Phone:(908) 3517800 Fax: (908) 355-5544, E-mail: blemberg@bilcogroup.com.

We are looking for Sales Rep and Area Sales Manager for US market. YOKE USA, a highly respected brand in Grade 80 chain accessories, aggressively expanding its distribution and requires sales personnel. Experience in chain and wire rope sling industries is an asset. Send resume to Steven Hong, President of YOKE GROUP, 12850 Florence Ave., Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670. Fax 562-903-1468 eMail: adrianaa@ yoke-usa.com.

POSITION AVAILABLE Experienced Regional Sales Manager wanted for KWS Inc., member of the THIELE GmbH & Co. KG.-group.

KWS Inc. is expanding in the USA and Canada markets. Candidate must have a strong understanding of overhead lifting equipment, chains, slings, hooks and accessories. A strong sales experience is a must.

Candidate must also have basic computer skills that include Microsoft word, excel and PowerPoint.

KWS Inc. offers a competitive salary, profit sharing and many other benefits.

Please email resume to THIELE Ger-

76

many, Mr. Enrique Bermejo, Sales Director Lifting Department, Germany; Email: e.bermejo@thiele.de.

Leading manufacturer of below the hook lifting devices seeks a mechanical engineer who has experience with designing below the hook lifters. Experience with motorized control systems is a plus. Excellent working environment, compensation and schedule all in a fantastic, southern coastal area!

Please send resume to Tandemloc, 824 Highway 101, Havelock, NC 28532, sandy@tandemloc.com or call 252-463-8113.

Sales manager needed for Chicago market. Must have strong understanding of wire rope, chain, hardware. Must be able to establish goals and achieve desired results. Computer literate, minimal travel.

Salesforce knowledge a plus. Competitive salary and benefits. Reply to box 11-4, care of Wire Rope News, 511 Colonia Blvd., Colonia, NJ 07067.

58 year old, well respected rigging company in Southern California, seeking very experienced lead rigger, full time. Must have extensive splicing experience, and management skills. Great pay, excellent benefits and bonuses to the right person.

Contact Esaul Mota at 310-834-8535.

Experienced Wire Rope Splicer/Fabricator needed. QC21 Lifting Products is seeking quality craftsmanship and shop leadership for our recently relocated wire rope and synthetic operations in Harrison, OH. Knowledge of and hands-on ability to fabricate wire rope and chain assemblies, along with ability to direct workflow is required. Only self-starters with a strong work ethic need apply. We offer a smoke/ drug-free, results-oriented work environment with excellent wages and benefits.

QC21 Lifting Products is an F&M Mafco, Inc owned company and a leader in the specialty rigging and nylon sling industry.

If you are interested in joining our team, credentials can be faxed to (513) 202-8820 or e-mail hremployment@fmmafco.com or apply online at www.fmmafco.com (under employment tab). EOE/M/F/V/D Fabrication manager/customer service.

Work in a family oriented business with an opportunity to earn part ownership. Need someone 35-55+ years old who started at the bottom and looking to finish at the top.

Need hands on splicing experience, lifting rigging experience, test bed knowledge, able to direct small growing crew. Basic computer knowledge. Willing to train and mentor young employees. Top wages and benefits for the right individual. Problem solver that our customers can depend on.

Honesty and integrity a must. Call Chuck Farmer, President, Rouster Wire Rope and Rigging, Inc., 304-228-3722, in confidence.

Outside Sales Representative needed for well established family owned business in Nashville, TN. Contractors & Industrial Supply Co., Inc. founded in 1970 is a distributor of wire rope, rigging hardware,

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

chain and related industry products is expanding our sales team. The qualified individual will possess industry knowledge and the ability to develop new accounts and maintain existing. We offer a competitive base salary plus commission and an outstanding benefits package. If qualified, please email your resume with salary history to kreff@cisrigging.com.

Outside sales rep. CCISCO of Summerville, SC is looking for experienced sales reps for the Carolina & Georgia markets.

Computer skills including Microsoft Office and ERP distribution software required.

Knowledge of wire rope, rigging, construction and industrial supplies preferred.

Traveling required. Company vehicle and expenses along with competitive base salary and commissions. Reply to careers@ hanessupply.com.

Established wire rope distributor in North America is expanding into crane/ container rope and fabrication. We are looking for an experienced individual that can assist in formulating a marketing and business plan. This position will eventually evolve to a sales manager or general manager. Fax your resume in strict confidence to 330-452-2331 attention Kris Lee or email to klee@afdindustries.com.

Texas Wire Rope Company expanding inside sales department. Individuals must have a strong technical, mechanical and basic mathematical aptitude, including basic computer knowledge. Selected candidates must be quality conscious and able to handle multiple tasks. Previous experience in the industrial supply market is necessary. We offer a drug-free, results-oriented work environment with excellent wages and advancement opportunities. Resumes received confidentially at wremployment@gmail.com.

Outside sales representatives needed Southwest WireRope, the heavy-lift division of Teleflex, Inc, is a well-established distributor / fabricator of wire rope & related products. We are expanding our sales force and looking for experienced Outside Sales Professionals. Our ideal candidate has the ability to establish accounts and build strong business relationships.

Knowledge of DCS based computer system, a plus.

We offer a competitive base salary and commission program and vehicle allowance. Our excellent benefit package includes medical, dental, life, disability, paid vacation and an excellent 401(k) Plan. Relocation packages are available for candidates meeting our eligibility requirements.

Visit our website at www.swwrinc.com.

If qualified, please fax your resume with salary history to: (713) 453-1677 or e-mail to mherz@swwrinc.com.

POSITION WANTED Former Division-Product Manager, Regional Outside Sales Manager desires southeast territory to manage and solicit accounts in the wire rope, chain, fittings, continued

and related industries. Over 25 years experience including District Manager, Bethlehem Wire Rope, Regional Manager, Wire Rope Ind Product Manager, Rud Chain, Inc. Interested parties reply to M.E. (Mike) Givens mike90309@aol.com, ph 256-4767700.

REPS WANTED Kennedy Wire Rope and Sling Company is seeking a qualified inside sales representative for their South Texas rigging shop located in Corpus Christi, Texas. We service various markets locally and globally.

Solid sales skills working closely and interacting with customers directly, on the phone and in e-commerce is paramount.

The candidate must have two years experience in sales and marketing of lifting products. Current knowledge of sling manufacturing and field use of rigging is very helpful. Basic computer skills are a must.

Kennedy Wire Rope and Sling utilizes DCS software. We offer competitive salary and insurance benefits.

If you are interested in a challenging and rewarding career opportunity on the Texas Riviera please send a resume to Box 10-01, c/o Wire Rope News & Sling Technology, 511 Colonia Blvd., Colonia NJ 07067.

Sales rep wanted for an established manufacturer of labels and sling tags. We are looking for a sales rep that currently calls on sling makers and rigging companies and is familiar with the business. Etiflex is a registered trademark and manufactures custom sling tags for synthetic and wire

rope slings and has an excellent reputation in the field. We advertise in trade journals and exhibit at industry shows to generate brand awareness. Please contact us at info@etiflex.com or call 866-ETIFLEX for information.

Manufacturer Represtentatives for Lifting Equipment & Accessories wanted by ALL MATERIAL HANDLING, Inc. Territories are now available and supported by our 4 USA Warehouses where our highly competitive and top quality products are stocked to the roof. Partner with us as we continue to grow market share. Check us out at www.allmaterialhandling.com and reach us at 877 543-8264, or e-mail peter@ allmaterialhandling.com.

Well established manufacturer of wire rope assemblies seeks manufacturer representatives for most major U.S. and Canadian markets. Visit our web site at www. thecableconnection.com. Please contact ray@thecableconnection.com or call Ray at (800) 851-2961 PROFESSIONAL SERVICES Dragline range & depth extended using gravity return. Contact Nielsen by fax for details (fax) 904-342-0547 INVESTMENT OPORTUNITIES Opportunity for investment by a big wire ropes industry, at the center of Europe, partner for installing wires drawing project, is sought. Reply by email to box 11-2 at: info@wireropenews.com.

CABLEWAY TECHNICAL SERVICES GRAVITY RETURN Call Nielsen

Ocala, FL 24 Hour Fax (904) 342-0547 ACQUISITIONS SOUGHT Estd. Int’l firm seeks to acquire small to med-sized rigging company on the Atlantic seaboard/Gulf Coast. Flexible. Will consider partial buyout, retaining current management. Also open to explore mergers, joint ventures or strategic alliances in lieu of acquisition. Pelase reply to buyUSrigging@gmail.com. Strict confidentiality will be exercised.

Company seeks acquisitions – Well established thirty year old manufacturer of mechanical cable assemblies, controls and related products seeks to acquire small to mid-sized mechanical cable assembly manufacturers and specialty producers of miniature and small diameter strand and cable. The company has the financial ability to structure a transaction that is responsive to the owner’s needs. Be assured that we will exercise the appropriate confidentiality. Interested parties may reply in complete confidence to: P.O. Box 168, Oak Ridge, NJ 07438-0168. In lieu of an acquisition, other potential business opportunities to explore include mergers, joint ventures or strategic alliances with our company. continued

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Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

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EQUIPMENT WANTED Wanted: refurbished/used Esco 500 ton press in good working order. Please contact Wayne.Lyons@ftfarfan.com or telephone 868-674-7896/71.

Wanted 600t wire rope swaging press complete with dies in good order, please contact Tony@cman.co.nz, or Tele 0064 3 366 1528.

Wanted: used wire rope cable, sizes 1-1/8”, 1”, and 7/8”. Please call for pricing.

(740) 452-5770.

FOR SALE 3/16" Campbell Chain L3x51 LinksZinc; 3200 pieces 48" with 5/16" S Hook; 1100 pieces 15" with 5/16"x2.5" O ring; In NC. Best Offer abarker@rmcord.com, 800342-9130 x 124, Andy.

New wire rope with galvanized finish, 8 x19, Seale, fiber core, traction grade (1180/1770 N/mm²), right regular lay: 1/2” diameter, 14,900 lbs breaking load, .36 lbs/foot net weight, 25,000 feet; 5/8” diameter, 23,700 lbs breaking load, .58 lbs/foot, 16,489 feet. Contact Draka Elevator Products at 1-877-372-5237 for pricing.

Excess 3/16” 7x19 GAC non-preformed specs available 150 5000 ft. reels wrapped 12 per pallet FOB IN $250.00 per reel. Also 1/8” stainless 7x7 at 15 cents per foot FOB IL. Also plastic covered GAC. Joe 800-473-0984.

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New wire rope 1-1/8” drill line 5000 ft. 6x195 BR RR IFWV $30,000 Aud & freight. Reply to Brayd Gross, Alpha Rigging SErvice, 11-13 Gerberte Court, Wurruk, Victoria, Australia, 3850. Phone 0011+61351461088. Email: bgalpha@bigpond.net.au.

Sleeve hammer used for moving sleeves on cable. Different sizes for different size sleeves. All hand made in use now for use safety purposes for employees. Saves on time. Our product does work guaranteed.

Please call us today for use in oilfield. 901357-4940.

Crosby 7/8” G213 LPA shackles. NEW! 205 pieces available. Contact Gary Lee @ 1-800-844-3517. Fax 251-456-8860.

Impacto Cable cutters and parts available from Windy Ridge Corp. Tamworth, NH, USA. 800-639-2021. Fax 603-323-2322.

WIRE ROPE FOR SALE Used steel cable for sale. 1-1/8” x 475’, 7/8” x 875’, 5/16” x 320’. Coiled on reels. Ongoing supply. Call: 561-840-2910. F.O.B. Rivera Beach, FL. HARDWARE FOR SALE 1200 RA2482-4 MFG/ACCO $1.45; 600 RA2482-5 MFG/ACCO $2.99 each; 16500 RA2500-3 MFG/ACCO $.70 each; 200 MS21260-56RH $3.25 each. Call James Currie or Greg Bailey (562) 942-8076.

500 pcs 1-3/4” screw pin anchor shackle –

Wire Rope News & Sling Technology August 2011

overstock inventory sale – made in China. $28.00 each SWL 25T FOB Avenel, NJ. Call Art Jeronimo, Steelstran Industries 732-574-0700.

Overstocked inventory for sale, 1-3/8” Shackle, WLL 13½ ton, galvanized, round pin, import. Super savings. Sold in minimum lots of 50 at $9 each. Eric Parkerson, Certified Slings, 407-331-6677.

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE National swage 1000 ton press. Excellent condition, including most dies up to two inch, $110,000. Barry, Bilco Wire Rope & Supply Corp., 908-351-7800 or blemberg@ bilcogroup.com.

1-800 ton Esco, 1-500 ton National, 1-500 ton Esco, 1-350 Esco. 713-641-1552.

150 ton, Wirop C-type hydraulic swaging machine for sale. Brand new, with 4 sets of dies. $19,500 or B/O. Call Oscar at 909548-2884.

Wire Rope Grips for proof test machines.

Sizes: 1-1/2”, 2”, 2-1/2”. Load cells & digital read-outs also available. Call Joe Roberts (912) 964-9465.

Prooftesters for sale. Capacities from 20,000 lbs. to 3,000,000 lbs. Call Joe Roberts (912) 964-9465.

500 ton National Press, with dies. 15,000 lb. Bessemer coiling machine. Call 800448-7380, Bill Lindsey.

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