Grommet vs Eye-and-Eye, Quick Facts
| Comparison | Rope-laid endless grommet vs eye-and-eye wire rope sling |
|---|---|
| Grommet construction | One continuous 6×36 IWRC wire rope, Hawser splice, steel core |
| Key advantages | Higher working load, no sleeves to snag, rotatable wear points, greater flexibility |
| Safety factor | 8:1 for grommets, per DMR 18 of the OHS Act |
| Supplied from | Toco Lifting, Germiston and Cape Town |
| Reviewed by | Anton van Staden, ECSA-registered Lifting Machinery Inspector (Reg. 201112078) |
Toco Lifting is approved by the Department of Employment and Labour as a Lifting Machinery Entity (LME No. 008).
Reviewed by Anton van Staden, ECSA-registered Lifting Machinery Inspector (ECSA Reg. 201112078), Toco Lifting.
A rope-laid endless wire rope sling, or grommet, generally outperforms an eye-and-eye wire rope sling of the same diameter. Its continuous loop has no ferrules or splices to weaken it, so it carries a higher load, fits tighter spaces and lasts longer. Toco Lifting manufactures cable-laid grommets to an 8:1 factor of safety under DMR 18.
What is the difference between a grommet and an eye-and-eye sling?
A grommet is an endless loop made from one continuous length of wire rope with no end fittings, joined by a single full-circumference Hawser tuck. An eye-and-eye sling is a straight length of rope with a spliced or swaged eye at each end. The difference matters because the eyes and their sleeves are the weakest points of a conventional sling, and the grommet does away with them entirely, which is why it carries more load and lasts longer.
Why does a rope-laid grommet carry a higher load?
Because it has no swaged ferrules or mechanical splices to reduce rope efficiency. The grommet is a single continuous rope wrapped around itself in multiple layers, typically six or more, always with a steel core when complete. With nothing at the ends to limit it, the grommet reaches a higher strength-to-diameter ratio than an eye-and-eye sling of the same rope diameter.
Where does a grommet win over an eye-and-eye sling?
- No bulky sleeves. An eye-and-eye sling uses metal ferrules to lock its eyes. An endless grommet has no sleeves or protruding parts, so it will not snag or jam under a load during a choke hitch.
- Better in tight spaces. With no long rigid eyes at each end, a grommet can be made much shorter, ideal for low headroom and narrow clearances.
- Rotatable wear points. On an eye-and-eye sling the hook always sits in the same eye and wears it out. An endless loop can be rotated a full 360 degrees before each lift to spread hook and load wear evenly, greatly extending service life.
- Superior flexibility. The continuous strand-laid construction lets the loop conform smoothly to irregular or heavy loads without distorting.
| Feature | Strand-laid endless sling (grommet) | Eye-and-eye wire rope sling |
|---|---|---|
| Weak points | None, no end fittings | Sleeves and splices, reduced efficiency |
| Minimum length | Extremely short, ideal for tight headroom | Limited by the physical length of the eyes |
| Wear extension | Excellent, wear points can rotate 360 degrees | Poor, the hook always sits in the same eyes |
| Snag risk | None, a completely smooth body | High, sleeves can catch under loads |
Grommet construction and performance verified against Toco Lifting’s ECSA-registered Lifting Machinery Inspector (Reg. 201112078).
What safety factor applies to a wire rope grommet?
A factor of safety of 8:1, under Driven Machinery Regulation 18 of the Occupational Health and Safety Act. Some national and international standards quote 5:1 for wire rope, but South African statutory law overrides a national standard where they conflict, so DMR 18 governs and 8:1 applies to every grommet Toco manufactures and certifies.
When should you choose a grommet instead of an eye-and-eye sling?
Choose a rope-laid grommet for heavy lifts that need a high working load and flexibility, for bundled or awkward loads, for choker hitches on bare loads, and wherever low headroom or a long service life matters. Toco Lifting manufactures custom cable-laid grommets from 12.7 to 75.9 tonnes, with body diameters from 33 mm upward, made to the tonnage and length your lift requires. See real grommet slings on our projects page.
Toco Lifting grommets
Toco Lifting manufactures cable-laid steel wire rope grommet slings in house in 6×36 IWRC rope with a Hawser splice, each supplied with a Conformance Inspection Certificate. Toco is a registered Lifting Machinery Entity, LME No. 008, with examinations and performance tests carried out on its own premises by a Lifting Machinery Inspector registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA Reg. 201112078).
Frequently asked questions
Is a wire rope grommet stronger than an eye-and-eye sling?
For the same rope diameter a rope-laid endless grommet generally carries a higher working load than an eye-and-eye wire rope sling. It is one continuous rope with no swaged ferrules or mechanical splices to reduce efficiency, so it reaches a higher strength-to-diameter ratio. Toco grommets are rated to an 8:1 factor of safety under DMR 18.
What is a rope-laid grommet?
A rope-laid, or cable-laid, grommet is an endless wire rope sling: one complete length of wire rope formed into a continuous closed loop and joined by a Hawser splice, with the rope tucked through the centre of the coils to form the core. It has no end fittings and is used as a vertical, choker or basket hitch.
Can a grommet be made shorter than an eye-and-eye sling?
Yes. Because a grommet has no long rigid eyes at each end, it can be manufactured much shorter than an eye-and-eye sling. That makes it the better choice for lifts with low headroom or narrow clearances where a conventional sling will not fit.
Why do grommets last longer in service?
An endless grommet can be rotated a full 360 degrees before each lift, so the hook and load bearing points are shared around the whole loop rather than wearing one fixed spot. On an eye-and-eye sling the hook always sits in the same eye, which wears out faster. Spreading the wear greatly extends a grommet’s service life.
What safety factor does Toco use for grommets?
8:1, per DMR 18 of the OHS Act. Where a national or international standard quotes 5:1 for wire rope, the South African statutory figure governs, so Toco applies 8:1 to every cable-laid grommet it manufactures and certifies.
Does Toco Lifting make custom grommets?
Yes. Toco Lifting manufactures custom cable-laid steel wire rope grommet slings in house, recently from 12.7 to 75.9 tonnes, in 6×36 IWRC rope with a Hawser splice, each supplied with a Conformance Inspection Certificate. Toco is a registered Lifting Machinery Entity, LME No. 008.
A trusted lifting, lashing and rigging supplier to South Africa and the SADC region. Toco Lifting supplies and ships custom grommets and wire rope slings across Southern Africa, including Zambia, the DRC, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique and Zimbabwe.
