A Grove RT800E owned by Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC) has become the first crane in the Middle East to be fitted with a Samson K-100 hoist rope.
The stakeholders put the rope through vigorous tests earlier this year at a CCC project in Qatar. The three-day trial included machine testing and hands-on training for the installation, handling, and inspection of K-100.
The rope has been jointly developed by rope manufacturer, Samson, and Grove’s parent company, Manitowoc. The product is specifically designed for mobile cranes. It is 80% lighter than wire rope and boasts a torque-neutral design that eliminates load spin and cabling, according to its creators.
Commenting on the product, Yannick Richaud, director of Manitowoc Cranes’ UAE operations, said: “K-100 will generate plenty of interest in Qatar and the surrounding region. Crane enthusiasts in the Middle East will see the numerous benefits of this innovation.
“Additionally, customers – especially those in the oil and gas industries – will feel confident investing in a product that has been tested by a reputable and well-known company such as CCC,” he noted.
The material used to produce K-100 has been selected to offer easy handling, reeving, and installation. It reduces kinging, bird caging, and damage from other types of spooling issues, according to Samson and Manitowoc. Moreover, heavy grease is not required for lubing, adding to the product’s environmental credentials.
In addition to testing the longevity and viability of the synthetic hoist rope, Samson and Manitowoc worked with a polymer coating additives specialist to measure the effects of ultraviolet light (UV) on K-100 over a one-year period. The results showed that the rope maintained 90% of its new-rope strength following exposure in the sunlight.
Dennis Sherman, Samson’s technical sales director for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), commented: “Samson is very excited about the new opportunities that will be presented to us now that the K-100 is available throughout the Middle East.
“This synthetic rope will have a significant impact on the lifting industry in the region, and we feel it is a true game changer for crane customers,” he concluded.
