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  • Wire Rope Slings VS Synthetic Slings: Choosing the Right Tool for Lifting
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Wire Rope Slings VS Synthetic Slings: Choosing the Right Tool for Lifting

Wire Rope Slings VS Synthetic Slings: Choosing the Right Tool for Lifting

When it comes to lifting operations, choosing the right type of sling is important for both safety and efficiency. While hooks are an essential component in a lifting system and used to connect slings to cranes or other lifting equipment, they are not the primary load bearers. Instead, it’s the lifting slings themselves that bear the weight. Among the most commonly used are wire rope slings and synthetic slings, each offering distinct advantages depending on the task at hand.

Wire Rope Slings

Wire rope slings are made from strands of steel wire twisted into a robust and flexible rope. These lifting slings are known for their strength, durability, as well as their resistance to heat, abrasion, and cutting. This makes them ideal for demanding industrial applications like construction, mining, and heavy manufacturing.

Advantages of Wire Rope Slings:

  • High Load Capacity: Wire rope slings can handle substantial weights, especially in multi-leg configurations, making them ideal for lifting heavy equipment or machinery.
  • Abrasion and Heat Resistance: Their metallic composition offers superior resistance to harsh environments.
  • Long Service Life: When properly maintained, wire rope slings are extremely durable and cost-effective over time.

Considerations:

  • Rigidity: Wire rope slings are less flexible than their synthetic counterparts, which may make them more difficult to use with irregularly shaped or delicate loads.
  • Surface Protection: Without padding or protection, wire rope can cause damage to finished or fragile surfaces.

Synthetic Slings

Synthetic slings (typically made from polyester or nylon) are appreciated for their flexibility, lightweight nature, and load-friendly handling. They are often used in applications where surface protection is a priority like in the transportation of delicate or irregularly shaped items.

Advantages of Synthetic Slings:

  • Versatility: Available in a variety of styles (flat webbing, round, endless loop), synthetic slings conform easily to awkward or uneven load shapes.
  • Surface Protection: The soft material minimises the risk of scratching or damaging the load's surface.
  • Ease of Handling: Synthetic slings are lightweight and easier to manoeuvre especially in tight spaces or for repetitive lifts.

Considerations:

  • Load Limitations: While strong, synthetic slings generally can’t handle as much weight as wire rope slings with their lower load capacity. Unless you choose slings such as Twin Path Slings.
  • Vulnerability to Damage: They are susceptible to cuts, UV exposure, abrasions, and chemical damage and require regular inspections as well as the use of protective sleeves.

For those considering lifting straps, Bunzl Safety and Lifting offers a variety of synthetic lifting slings designed to cater to different load requirements. Their products are manufactured to meet Australian standards, ensuring reliability and safety.

Which Sling Should You Choose?

When making the right choice between a wire rope sling and a synthetic sling, several key factors should be considered:

  • Load Characteristics: Heavy, abrasive, or high-temperature loads are better suited to wire rope slings. Delicate or irregularly shaped loads benefit from synthetic slings.
  • Working Environment: Exposure to chemicals, sharp edges, or heat may degrade synthetic slings faster, making wire rope slings the safer option.
  • Handling and Storage: Synthetic slings are lighter and easier to store, making them a practical choice for frequent use and transport.

Ultimately, many operations use both types of lifting slings depending on the lift requirements.

Note: Always ensure that any lifting equipment used complies with relevant Australian Standards and is regularly inspected for signs of wear or damage.

Need Quality Lifting Equipment?

Bunzl Safety and Lifting provides a comprehensive range of lifting chain, slings, and components, including both synthetic and wire rope slings to suit a wide variety of industrial lifting applications. For detailed specifications and options, visit their Lifting Chain & Components page.

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About Bunzl Safety and Lifting

Bunzl Safety and Lifting offers an integrated approach to the selection, supply, service, and replacement of safety products, resulting in our ability to manage the complete life cycle of your personal and workplace safety requirements. Bunzl Safety and Lifting is a leading manufacturer of safety products, we provide the very best in workwear, corporate wear, PPE, footwear, materials handling, load restraint, and recovery,height safety, and site safety. We are also a leading supplier of some of the best industrial safety brands on the market, including Mack, Ninja, Contego, Boomerang, Beaver, B-Safe, WS Workwear, Frontier, Black Rat, Robertsons, 3M, Honeywell, Ansell, Bolle Safety, DuPont, Donaghys, MSA, Moldex, Steel Blue, Oliver, uvex, Sqwincher, MaxiFlex, DNC Workwear, Mayo Hardware, Gunnebo Industries, Skylotech and Blundstone. We also offer a range of services including product specialisation and consolidation, custom embroidery and branding, lifting equipment and inspections, NATA Accredited testing and services, height safety installed systems and training, managed inventory, eCommerce and digital solutions, clothing fitouts and yearly uniform issues, ethical sourcing, Indigenous Engagement, and environmental responsibility. We have an Australia-wide network of branches that ensures fast shipping across the country.

Bunzl Brands & Operations Pty Ltd (BBO) located at 55 Sarah Andrews Close Erskine Park NSW 2579 quality scope covers: manufacturing, importing, wholesaling, repairing and testing of lifting, rigging equipment, winches, hoists and materials handling products. The manufacture of synthetic slings and webbing products including load restraint and height safety equipment. Manufacture, import, wholesale and distribution of PPE products, workwear and hand tools. Design and development of products and services and the provision of mechanical testing services.