Fig. Illustrates the component parts of wire ropes. In general, a wire rope consists of a number of wire strands formed helically about a central axis. The most popular ropes have six or eight strands supported by an axial member known as the core. There are other constructions but they are less common. Each strand is composed of a number of individual wires which have been formed helically about an axial member called the center. This center supporting member of the strand is generally once or more wires, however, it may be natural fibers (cotton, sisal, etc) or synthetic fibers (rayon, nylon, polypropylene).

Ungalvanized (Bright) steel wire
Bright steel wire is chiefly used for wire ropes of which the (rope) life is determined by wear and deterioration rather than by Comosion. When comparing the effects of wear and deterioration with that of corrosion one should bear in mind that even a bright wire rope can to some extent be protected from corrosion by adequate lubrication and maintenance with a suitable wire rope lubricant.

Drawn galvanized steel wire
The wire is drawn to a diameter larger than the required final diameter, then it is hot dip galvanized and afterwards drawn to the right size. During this last phase the wire is drawn cold and thereby the quality of the bright raw material which was partically lost by the galvanizing process is restored. Therefore the international Standards do not make a distinction between bright wire and drawn galvanized wire where resistance to bending and torsion is concerned. Moreover, the smoothness and density of the zine coating are improved by posidrawing so that it offers far better protection then a zinc coating of the same thickness applied by drawing after Galvanizing.

Stainless steel wire
Wire ropes made of stainless steel wire are extremely resistant to corrosion and moreover, to temperature, up to 1050 O Originally only the A.I.S. types 304 and 302 were used for rope making but today almost all our stainless steel wire ropes are made of steel according to A.I.S.I. type 316 which was better mechanical properties and a higher resistance to electrolytic corrosion, which increased resistance to a seawater.

Steel wire is a made in various tensile strengths to meet the different requirements of a particular job. For the production of our ropes we use wires in the following tensile strength ranges.

TENSILE GRADES
MANUFACTURING STRANDARDS