The thought of wire rope being a thing that keeps our country running smoothly probably shouldn’t come to mind. This humble twisted quietly gets on with the job of keeping things together – literally. Wire rope is working its socks off from the Portsmouth dockyards to the North Sea oil rigs to keep Britain ticking.

More Than Meets the Eye

Like a metal version of a plait, wire rope is made as a metal version of a plait. Basically, it is a multiwire twisted ropes that were twisted together to make a strong and flexible rope. Imagine for a moment the Hulk cord, where it’s got muscles on its muscles.

Ox strong, Gymnast flexible

Wire rope combines strength and flexibility — two attributes that appeal to the beauty of wire rope. It’s tougher than my gran’s Sunday roast but can bend and flex without snapping. It’s perfect all sorts of jobs where you need something that’s both strong and flexible.

From Mines to Marinas: Wire Rope Gets About a Bit

If you’re not an engineer, you might not realise this, but wire rope is practically everywhere. It’s like the mate who knows everyone in the pub, it just… ends up everywhere.

Up in the Air

Go and look up at any construction site and you’ll see wire ropes doing their thing. Crane muscles are what they are — lifting, moving materials that would make your average bodybuilder wince.

Not All Ropes Are Equal

Now, you might be thinking, “A rope’s a rope, right?” But oh, how wrong you’d be! Wire rope is more varied than a packet of Liquorice Allsorts.

Size Matters

There are wire ropes of all sizes – little numbers no bigger than a guitar string right up to great big cables that could probably to tow the QE2.

Material World

Most wire ropes are made of steel, but don’t think that’s your only option. If you need something lighter, you have aluminium wire ropes, and for the fear of rust, stainless steel.

Horses for Courses

Ropes differ for different jobs. There are rotation-resistant ropes for when you don’t want your load spinning like a disco ball, and compacted ropes for when you need something extra strong but don’t have room for a chunky cable.

Looking After Your Wire Rope: It Is Not Just a Load of Old Cobblers

Light maintenance on wire rope is like anything worth doing, it takes a little TLC. If you neglect a fence, you’re going to be in more trouble than a burglar caught with his pants stuck on the fence.

Keep It Clean

Like most of us, our wire ropes like to stay clean. This will make them happy and stop grit and grime being an inconvenience.

Lubrication, Lubrication, Lubrication

A happy wire rope is a well lubricated wire rope. Well, it’s like giving your car a regular oil change, it keeps everything running smoothly and doesn’t cause wear and tear.

Know When to Let Go

The toughest wire rope has limits. When to replace a rope is a key thing. Or in closing time terms, it is like knowing when to leave the pub – if you push it to far it can get a bit messy.

The Future’s Bright, The Future’s… Wire Rope?

You might imagine that wire rope technology has already hit its zenith, but you’d be wrong. What if a wire rope could tell you whether it’s getting tired? That isn’t just science fiction. Built in sensors are coming to smart wire ropes and making safety cheques easier than ever. Because we are pushing the limits of the construct and the engineer, there is a greater call for stronger, thinner wire ropes.

And so there it is (wire rope) in all its glory. While it may not be the most glamorous material, certainly it’s one of the most hardworking. It’s in our mines from the bottom and as high to the top in our skyscrapers, keeping things together, quietly.

When you are out and about, next time, keep an eye on wire rope in action.