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Know your Industrial Lifting Slings

Lifting is an everyday operation in pretty much any industry. Not only is it a vital and unavoidable task, but also prone to risk and accidents. It is very important that a user understands the different type of lifting slings that are available and the benefits and drawbacks of each. A good knowledge of the slings will ensure that the right product is chosen for a job.

Lifting slings are broadly classified into three categories.

1. Wire Rope Slings (https://www.liftek-intl.com/steel-wire-rope-slings) 2. Chain Slings (https://www.liftek-intl.com/chain-slings-grade-80-fittings) 3. Synthetic Slings (https://www.liftek-intl.com/polyester-flat-webbing-slings-endless-round-slings)

1. Wire Rope Slings

Wire rope slings are fabricated by terminating eyes on the ends of the steel wire ropes using steel or aluminum sleeves, also called as ferrules. These can be fabricated in single-leg and multi-leg systems or into an endless sling called cable laid grommet. They can be used in straight, basket or choker hitch configurations.

Benefits of Wire Rope Slings

• Ideal for heavy-duty and tough operations. • Excellent properties of strength, durability resistance to abrasion, and flexibility • Extensive range of capacities possible depending on the steel grade and wire rope diameter • Available in single-leg and multi-leg assemblies. • Can be used to lift loads in high temperature environments • Easy availability of wide range of standardized end fittings to suit different lifting scenarios.

Drawbacks of Wire Rope Slings

• Inferior strength-to-weight ratio compared to other types of slings, especially synthetic slings. This adds to transport costs, rigging up time, effort, and costs especially in heavy-lift operations. • Wire rope slings are difficult to inspect especially for internal defects/damages like corrosion and broken wires. • Very low possibility for repair in case of damage beyond the normal inspection acceptance criteria. Rejection and discarding the sling is the only option.

2. Chain Slings

Chain slings are one of the most common types of lifting slings used around the world. Chain slings are made up of lengths of high tensile alloy steel chain, with a variety of fittings attached. Alloy steel used for manufacturing lifting chain is of specific tensile grade and suitable chemical and physical properties. The chain is heat treated for tensile strength, resistance to wear and shock absorption. These can be fabricated in single-leg, multi-leg and endless configurations.

Benefits of Chain Slings

Ideal for heavy-duty, harsh and tough lifting operations.

Resistant to high and low temperatures, chemical exposure, and physical damage.

In case of damage, it’s easy to repair and replace specific lengths of chain and the associated fittings. Need to be re-certified by competent person after any such repair or change.

Comparatively easier to inspect.

Easy availability of wide range of standardized end fittings to suit different lifting scenarios.

Drawbacks of Chain Slings

Expensive sling when compared to other options in the market.

Bulkier and more difficult to handle than synthetic slings. Very sensitive to kinks and knots in the chain.

May damage load being lifted due to bulky nature of sling, especially sensitive and/or delicate loads.

3. Synthetic Slings

Synthetic slings are one of the most common pieces of lifting equipment. They come as Web bing slings which is a flat webbing sewn together in single or multiple plies or as Round Slings which is endless loop of yarns, covered by a woven tubular cover/jacket. The material is typically polyester or nylon. Synthetic slings are ubiquitous in lifting operations due their low cost, ease of availability and wide range of sizes. These can be used in straight, basket or choker hitch configurations.

High performance round slings made from HMPE(high modulus polyethylene) is an increasingly popular option for heavy lifting jobs and engineered lifts.

Benefits of Synthetic Slings

Economical, easily available, lightweight, and wide range of sizes.

The soft and flexible polyester/nylon material grips and conforms to the shape of the load.

Superior strength-to-weight ratio especially for HMPE slings. They are strong enough to lift heavy loads but soft enough to not damage sensitive and delicate loads from scratching and crushing.

Synthetic slings are non-sparking, non-conductive and can be used safely in hazardous environment having a risk of explosion.

Drawbacks of Synthetic Slings

In comparison to wire rope slings and chain slings, synthetic slings are more prone to damage due to cuts and abrasions.

Users must consider the adverse effects of acid and/or alkalis on synthetic slings in applications involving exposure of the slings to chemicals.

Medium- and long-term exposure of synthetic slings to UV rays will lead to strength reduction.

Synthetic slings are not to be used in applications involving elevated temperatures since it has low resistance to heat.

The drawbacks listed above are negated to a large extent in high performance HMPE slings. But such slings are much more expensive than conventional synthetic slings and wire rope and chain slings.

Very low possibility for repair in case of damage beyond the normal inspection acceptance criteria. Rejection and discarding the sling is the only option.

Conclusion

Before selecting a lifting sling, it is good to consider and answer the below questions to zero-in on the best option.

Does the load have sharp edges and corners that may adversely impact the sling?

Is the load valuable and/or fragile and susceptible to scratches and damage on contact with the sling?

Is the load regular shaped or irregular shaped with an off-center CoG?

What is the temperature and chemical environment in which the load is being lifted and will it impact the sling?

What are the sling angles, height of lift, end attachments, number of lift points and type of hitch needed for the lift?

We hope that the answers to the above questions and the pros and cons of various types of slings listed above, will provide the user with a good guidance of the correct sling for the job.

Liftek has a long standing reputation for providing high quality lifting and rigging equipment and technical support for jobs that range from routine and repetitive lifts to complex and engineered heavy-lift operations .

Feel free to contact us at sales@liftek-intl.com for your industrial lifting sling requirements and our team of specialists will be happy to assist you.

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Importance of Periodical In-Service Examination of Lifting Equipment

​According to the UK Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 Section 2, “it is the duty of every employer to provide the provision and maintenance of plant and systems of work that are, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe and without risks to health”.

Main Advantages of Periodical Inspection of Lifting Equipment

Ensure Safety: by early detection of dangerous conditions that may cause accidents

Reduction in Time & Cost of Downtime and Repair: by identifying & fixing defects prior to breakdown or failure  

Identify Underlying & Recurring Issues: by ensuring personnel conduct regular maintenance and inspections

There are various regulations, standards and legislations adopted around the world that mandates periodic examinations for lifting equipment on regular intervals.

Two such widely followed regulation/standard are:

1.  Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER)

​2. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 1919.15

The periodic examination typically covers the following stages;

Visual Examination

    2. Dimensional Examination

   3. Functional Examination and

    4. Load Test (where applicable).

By covering these 4 stages of examination on an equipment, the Inspection Engineer (competent person) can identify most of the defects and deformations (if any) that can adversely affect its safe use.

A periodic examination ensures that, there is no damages like bends, dents, cracks, and/or abnormal wear and tear, corrosion, oil leakage, misalignment, malfunction of the load monitoring devices, limit switches, deterioration, and permanent deformations etc.

An important aspect of proper maintenance of lifting equipment is the daily/ weekly checks. A good practice to follow is to provide a trained equipment user with a checklist for pre-use, daily and weekly inspections, and record it in a file.

For example, guidelines and a sample checklist for cranes and personnel carrier is given in BS 7121-1:2016: Code of practice for safe use of cranes – General.

During the periodic inspection, the competent person (third party inspector) will review the documents such as manufacturer’s operations manual, daily/weekly inspection records, maintenance record, previous inspection records, load charts etc.

These records assist competent person to understand the history of the equipment. The inspector can check the specific areas or components which were repaired or replaced after the previous examination.

​A well-maintained equipment prevents accidents, breakdowns and protects the people and property from them.

These are the reasons why it is important to conduct periodical in-service examination of lifting equipment.

Intervals of Periodic Inspections

According to LOLER Regulation 9: All lifting gears and lifting equipment which are using for lifting persons shall be examined at least every 6 months;

And all the other lifting equipment shall be examined at least every 12 months or in accordance with an examination scheme.

Why Liftek for your Inspection of Lifting Equipment?

a. Liftek is an Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC) and Emirates National Accreditation System (ENAS) approved Third Party Inspection Company.

b. Certified by DNV for ISO 9001 & 14001 and ISO 45001

c. Our experienced and qualified Inspectors carry out the following scope of work at both onshore and offshore sites;

#Inspection of all types of loose lifting gear and manual, hydraulic, pneumatic, and electric lifting equipment #Inspection of overhead crane systems, runways, gantry structures, mobile cranes, tower cranes, port cranes, pedestal deck cranes etc. #Proof load test of all types of lifting equipment and loose lifting gear #Proof load test using either dead-weights or water bags of all types of cranes, including overhead cranes, derrick structures, mobile and pedestal deck cranes EMAG/ MRT of steel wire ropes

1. MPI of lifting equipment

2. All inspections are paperless and conducted using tablets

3. Certificates are digital and QR enabled for easy authentication

4. Auto reminders for certificate expiry 

Liftek can ensure all your lifting equipment fully complies with the regional regulations and are safe to use. Contact us for your next inspection job.

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BENEFITS OF LOAD TEST WATERBAGS OVER DEAD-WEIGHTS

Load-test Waterbags are now an established and trusted for load testing lifting equipment and structures.

It is extensively used around the world in offshore oil and gas, wind, marine and heavy industrial sectors.

In terms of safety, ease-of-use and economy, waterbags surpass using dead-weights for   load testing.

Let’s look at theses 3 aspects.

1.SAFETY

1.1 Avoidance of Shock Load

Water is pumped in gradually into the waterbags. This avoids shock-loading the lifting equipment/crane or structure that is being tested. If a problem is observed, the water in the bags can quickly be discharged.

Liftek waterbags are equipped with a patent-pending OP/CP valve, which enables the quick release of water with a single-pull of the rope. Liftek’s OP/CP valve video can be viewed here. (https://youtu.be/EJHxoz3ICv4)

2 High Factor of Safety

The lifting-set used in all Liftek waterbags upto 55MT, have minimum FOS of 6:1. For our 110MT waterbag it is 5:1.

1.3 Superior Lifting Set Components

Lifting Set components of all Liftek Waterbags are proof- loaded to 2 x WLL.

The components used adhere to international standards.

Webbing Sling: EN1492-1,

Round Sling: EN1492-2,

Master Link/Master Link,

Assembly/Connectors: EN 1677-4

1.4 High Performance Fabric

Heavy-duty UV-stabilized, PVC-coated PE fabric is used to make load test waterbags. Liftek uses a fabric thickness of 1450 gsm which offers the ideal combination of strength for load-tests, flexibility for storage and handling & durability for long-life.

2. EASE-OF-USE

2.1 Quick Mob and De-mob

Waterbags can be quickly mobilized to site.

Waterbags are typically stored in wooden boxes and can be loaded onto a pick-up truck and send to site.

Same applies to de-mob operations.

2.2 No Hassle Rigging & Operation

Waterbags require only a small laydown area for rigging up. The masterlink/masterlink- assembly is quickly hooked

up on the crane hook and the inlet waterline is fixed using a gooseneck. The gooseneck is a simple yet effective

filing system to connect to the inlet water-line.

Liftek waterbags are equipped with a patent-pending OP/CP valve, which enables the quick release of water witha single-pull of the rope. Liftek’s OP/CP valve video can be viewed here. (https://youtu.be/EJHxoz3ICv4)

These tasks are easily trainable and to assist Liftek offers training videos.

2.3 Easy to Store

After appropriate cleaning and preventive maintenance is done, waterbags n be folded and stored in wooden boxes that can be handled by pallet trolleys or forklifts. For example, a complete Liftek 110MT waterbag with gooseneck and hoses will fit inside a wooden box of 3.75 cbm. That’s an incredibly efficient storage.

2.4 Easy to Repair

Waterbags are typically manufactured such that the components of it’s lifting set can be replaced easily in case of any damage.  Liftek has designed and tested it’s lifting set such that the client, wherever in the world they might be, can easily swap out and replace it with suitable certified components. Liftek provides guidance videos for assistance. This ensures that the waterbag can the service life can be extended for a longer duration.

Depending on the severity of the damage on the fabric, Liftek offers a Lite and a Pro repair kit. The former is for temporary repair on site for holes and punctures on the fabric. The latter is for a long-term fix for fabric tears.

3. ECONOMICAL

3.1 Low Cost of Mob/De-mob & Storage

A properly cleaned and folded waterbag fits comfortably inside a suitable compact wooden box.

In addition to lowering the cost of mob/de-mob, the environmental benefits of using less fuel to transport them in comparison to dead-weights, makes waterbags a green solution to your load test needs.

3.2 Versatile

Unlike a dead-weight, a load test waterbag can be used for any proof load between 0 to it’s SWL by using it in conjunction with a load-link. By controlling the water inflow, the user can achieve any load up to the SWL of the waterbag.

CONCLUSION

Liftek has developed it’s range of waterbags from more than 20+ years’ experience in conducting load tests. Our waterbags are truly engineered from experience.

In addition to sales and rental of our load test waterbags, we can provide a turnkey solution for your load test job.

This includes preparation of rigging plan, job safety anal ysis, providing all certified lifting and rigging hear, load test execution and expert supervision.

We have conducted several large capacity load tests around the world, including a 2320MT at Taiwan. The video of the load test can be viewed here. https://youtu.be/DxJKRgN7d20

A brief list of our load test projects is listed here. https://www.liftek-intl.com/projects

Contact us for your next load test project and our team of professionals will be happy to assist you.

[liftek]

BENEFITS OF LOAD TEST WATERBAGS OVER DEAD-WEIGHTS.

Load-test Waterbags are now an established and trusted for load testing lifting equipment and structures. 

It is extensively used around the world in offshore oil and gas, wind, marine and heavy industrial sectors. 

In terms of safety, ease-of-use and economy, waterbags surpass using dead-weights for  load testing.

Let’s look at theses 3 aspects.

 1.SAFETY

1.1 Avoidance of Shock Load

Water is pumped in gradually into the waterbags. This avoids shock-loading the lifting equipment/crane or structure that is being tested. If a problem is observed, the water in the bags can quickly be discharged. 

Liftek waterbags are equipped with a patent-pending OP/CP valve, which enables the quick release of water with a single-pull of the rope. Liftek’s OP/CP valve video can be viewed here. (https://youtu.be/EJHxoz3ICv4)

2 High Factor of Safety

The lifting-set used in all Liftek waterbags upto 55MT, have minimum FOS of 6:1. For our 110MT waterbag it is 5:1. 

 1.3 Superior Lifting Set Components

Lifting Set components of all Liftek Waterbags are proof- loaded to 2 x WLL. 

The components used adhere to international standards. 

Webbing Sling: EN1492-1, 

Round Sling: EN1492-2, 

Master Link/Master Link, 

Assembly/Connectors: EN 1677-4

 1.4 High Performance Fabric

Heavy-duty UV-stabilized, PVC-coated PE fabric is used to make load test waterbags. Liftek uses a fabric thickness of 1450 gsm which offers the ideal combination of strength for load-tests, flexibility for storage and handling & durability for long-life.

  2. EASE-OF-USE

 2.1 Quick Mob and De-mob

Waterbags can be quickly mobilized to site. 

Waterbags are typically stored in wooden boxes and can be loaded onto a pick-up truck and send to site. 

Same applies to de-mob operations.

 2.2 No Hassle Rigging & Operation

Waterbags require only a small laydown area for rigging up. The masterlink/masterlink- assembly is quickly hooked up on the crane hook and the inlet waterline is fixed using a gooseneck. The gooseneck is a simple yet effective filing system to connect to the inlet water-line. 

 Liftek waterbags are equipped with a patent-pending OP/CP valve, which enables the quick release of water with a single-pull of the rope. Liftek’s OP/CP valve video can be viewed here. (https://youtu.be/EJHxoz3ICv4)

 These tasks are easily trainable and to assist Liftek offers training videos. 

  2.3 Easy to Store

After appropriate cleaning and preventive maintenance is done, waterbags n be folded and stored in wooden boxes that can be handled by pallet trolleys or forklifts. For example, a complete Liftek 110MT waterbag with gooseneck and hoses will fit inside a wooden box of 3.75 cbm. That’s an incredibly efficient storage.

  2.4 Easy to Repair

Waterbags are typically manufactured such that the components of it’s lifting set can be replaced easily in case of any damage.  Liftek has designed and tested it’s lifting set such that the client, wherever in the world they might be, can easily swap out and replace it with suitable certified components. Liftek provides guidance videos for assistance. This ensures that the waterbag can the service life can be extended for a longer duration.

Depending on the severity of the damage on the fabric, Liftek offers a Lite and a Pro repair kit. The former is for temporary repair on site for holes and punctures on the fabric. The latter is for a long-term fix for fabric tears.

  3. ECONOMICAL 

 3.1 Low Cost of Mob/De-mob & Storage

A properly cleaned and folded waterbag fits comfortably inside a suitable compact wooden box.

In addition to lowering the cost of mob/de-mob, the environmental benefits of using less fuel to transport them in comparison to dead-weights, makes waterbags a green solution to your load test needs.

  3.2 Versatile

Unlike a dead-weight, a load test waterbag can be used for any proof load between 0 to it’s SWL by using it in conjunction with a load-link. 

 By controlling the water inflow, the user can achieve any load up to the SWL of the waterbag. 

  CONCLUSION

 Liftek has developed it’s range of waterbags from more than 20+ years’ experience in conducting load tests. Our waterbags are truly engineered from experience.

 In addition to sales and rental of our load test waterbags, we can provide a turnkey solution for your load test job. 

This includes preparation of rigging plan, job safety anal ysis, providing all certified lifting and rigging hear, load test execution and expert supervision.

We have conducted several large capacity load tests around the world, including a 2320MT at Taiwan. The video of the load test can be viewed here. https://youtu.be/DxJKRgN7d20

 A brief list of our load test projects is listed here. https://www.liftek-intl.com/projects

 Contact us for your next load test project and our team of professionals will be happy to assist you.

[liftek]

Liftek is the leading supplier of dyneema ropes, With highest tensile strength per weight, it is stronger than the steel wire rope of same diameter

[liftek]

Liftek is an authorized distributor for Green Pin Shackles, manufactured by Van Beest, Holland.

[liftek]

Liftek is the leading dyneema rope supplier in the middle east. With highest tensile strength per weight, it is stronger than the steel wire rope

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Fabrication of slings upto 4 inch (103mm) diameter with Steel (Flemish) and Aluminum sleeves

Slings manufactured to EN 13414-1

Fittings from Green Pin, Excel, Rope Block, Toyo Lift, Crosby, GN Rope Fittings, Talurit, Rocon, Wirop.

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Large inventory of PP ropes

All ropes with 3rd party certificate, e.g. Germanischer Llyod

Any length with spliced eyes

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Liftek Waterbags brings safe, economical and practical solutions for all kind of lifting equipment load tests.

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Higher breaking strength

Abrasion resistance

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Our Lubrication System penetrates and cleans under high pressure even the most compact types of wire rope, such as Non-rotating, Dyform, and Locked Coil with heavy grade lubricant from Nyrsoten, Germany.

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Individual calibrated test weights start at 20 kg up to 20 tonnes weights

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Inspection of Wire ropes ranging from 20mm to 104mm

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Weighing all kind of equipment, Symmetric or Non Symmetric.

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Calibration carried out on 200T and 800T test beds available at Liftek facility

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Liftek Water bags with capacities from 2 ton to 110 ton are available for rental