Steel Wire Rope Slings
Steel Wire Rope Sling Components: Ferrules; Thimbles & Spelter Sockets
- Ferrules
Ferrules secure the loop to form the eye of a steel wire rope sling. - Thimbles
Thimbles are used in wire rope assemblies to form an eye of the loop, and offer added protection from wear and tear of direct contact and deformation of the eye, extending the service life of the Wire Rope or Wire Rope Sling. - Spelter Sockets
Used as sling terminations, especially on permanent fixtures such as power line towers, cell phone towers and in the mining industry.
- Ferrules
Description
Quick facts: steel wire rope slings
| Product | Steel wire rope slings, assembled in house |
|---|---|
| Design factor | 6:1 (minimum breaking load = 6 × WLL), statutory under DMR 18 |
| Rope diameter | 6 mm to 56 mm, slings made to order |
| Common constructions | 6 x 36 and 6 x 19 fibre core, galvanised or ungalvanised |
| Configurations | Single, double, triple and quadruple leg, and eye and eye |
| Terminations | Swaged ferrule, hand spliced eye, or spelter socket |
| Certificate | Tested and certified within Toco’s LME 008 scope, to be advised on enquiry |
| WLL | Per certificate, confirmed on enquiry |
| Supplied by | Toco Lifting, South Africa and SADC, since 2002 |
Toco Lifting is approved by the Department of Labour as a Lifting Machinery Entity (LME No. 008), supplying certified steel wire rope slings across South Africa and all SADC markets since 2002.
Toco Lifting (Pty) Ltd assembles steel wire rope slings in house across South Africa and SADC, made to order from 6 mm to 56 mm rope to a specified length and rated working load limit at a 6:1 design factor under DMR 18. Single, double, triple and quadruple leg and eye and eye slings are tested, certified and recertified within Toco’s LME 008 scope, with full traceability on every assembly.
Speak to the Toco team on 011 345 8800 or request a quote for a wire rope sling made to your length and rated load.
What Toco supplies in steel wire rope slings
Toco assembles steel wire rope slings in house and made to order, with quick turnaround and full traceability on every sling. Each sling is built to a specified length and rated working load limit with the construction and end fittings the lift requires, from a simple eye formation through to heavy duty hooks.
| Configuration | Typical use |
|---|---|
| Single leg | Straight, choked or basket lifts on one attachment point |
| Double leg | Balanced lifting of a single load on two points |
| Triple and quadruple leg | Load shared across three or four pick up points |
| Eye and eye | A single length with a formed eye at each end for choke or basket use |
Length, configuration and end fittings are built to order. Rated working load limit is confirmed per certificate on enquiry.
What makes up a steel wire rope sling
A wire rope sling is the rope plus the fittings that form and protect its eyes and terminations. Toco selects and fits each component to the rope and the application.
| Component | Role |
|---|---|
| Ferrule | Swaged sleeve that secures the rope to form the eye of the sling. |
| Thimble | Fitted into the eye to hold its shape and protect the rope from wear, extending service life. |
| Spelter socket | A poured termination for permanent end fixings, for example power line towers and mining headgear. |
| End fittings | Eye formations through to heavy duty hooks, fitted to suit the load and attachment point. |
Constructions and terminations Toco supplies
Toco assembles slings from the rope construction best suited to the lift. The most common for slings are 6 x 36 fibre core, galvanised or ungalvanised, and 6 x 19 fibre core, galvanised, chosen for the balance of strength, flexibility and fatigue and abrasion resistance the job needs. Eyes are formed by a swaged ferrule or by a hand spliced eye, the Liverpool splice being the usual method where a permanent eye is required, and heavy terminations are finished with a poured spelter socket. The rope is supplied to SANS 4309, and slings are built to order across the 6 mm to 56 mm range.
Factor of safety and certification
Steel wire rope slings carry a 6:1 design factor, meaning the minimum breaking load is six times the working load limit. This is the statutory factor for steel wire rope slings under Driven Machinery Regulation 18. Cable laid grommet slings are a separate product and carry an 8:1 factor. Slings fall within Toco’s registered LME 008 testing scope and are supplied tested and certified with full traceability, with the scope of testing and certification to be advised on enquiry. Under DMR 18, lifting tackle in use must be thoroughly examined at intervals not exceeding three months by a competent person. A wire rope sling is not repairable, but undamaged hardware can be reused and Toco recertifies slings that remain serviceable.
Where steel wire rope slings are used
Toco supplies wire rope slings across sectors, including the applications below.
| Industry | Application |
|---|---|
| Mining | Headgear and shaft rigging, plant lifts, and tower terminations |
| Construction | Lifting structural steel and plant, and tensioning work |
| Marine and offshore | Mooring, towing and rigging in corrosive conditions |
| Power and telecoms | Spelter socket terminations on power line and communication towers |
Toco serves these and other sectors. Tell the team the load, length and end fittings and they will specify a suitable sling.
Frequently asked questions
What sizes and configurations of steel wire rope sling can Toco supply?
Slings are made to order from 6 mm to 56 mm rope in single, double, triple and quadruple leg and eye and eye, with end fittings from eye formations to heavy duty hooks.
What is the factor of safety of a steel wire rope sling?
A 6:1 design factor, meaning the minimum breaking load is six times the working load limit. This is the statutory factor for steel wire rope slings under Driven Machinery Regulation 18.
Are steel wire rope slings tested and certified?
Yes. Slings are assembled in house, tested and certified within Toco’s LME 008 scope with full traceability, and the scope of testing and certification is advised on enquiry.
Can steel wire rope slings be repaired or recertified?
The rope itself is not repairable, but undamaged hardware can be reused, and Toco inspects, tests and recertifies slings that remain serviceable.
How often must steel wire rope slings be examined?
Under DMR 18, lifting tackle in use must be thoroughly examined at intervals not exceeding three months by a competent person.
How do wire rope slings compare with chain slings?
Wire rope slings are lighter, lower in cost and suit long lengths, while chain slings are more durable, repairable and tolerant of extreme temperatures.
Toco supplies and certifies steel wire rope slings across South Africa and into SADC, including Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia, Eswatini and Lesotho.
Steel wire rope slings are lifting tackle examined under South Africa’s Driven Machinery Regulation 18. See Toco’s DMR 18 compliance guide for the examination requirements.
