Steel Wire Rope
Description
Toco Lifting (Pty) Ltd supplies steel wire rope across South Africa and SADC, in diameters from 1 mm to 56 mm and a range of constructions, cores and finishes. The standard stocked construction is 6×36 F, ungalvanised, right-hand lay, in 1960 MPa grade. Steel wire rope is within Toco’s LME 008 testing scope, so each rope length is supplied with a certificate, and Toco also cuts, supplies and assembles rope into wire rope slings and grommets.
Need rope cut to length, a specific construction, or a certified sling assembly? Call 011 345 8800 or email sales@toco.co.za.
Toco Lifting is approved by the Department of Labour to undertake Conformance Inspections and Performance Testing (Load Testing) per approved SABS, SANS, or relevant OEM Standard. Toco has supplied and tested lifting, lashing and rigging equipment since 2002, operating from a Germiston head office and a Cape Town branch. Steel wire rope is one of the equipment categories within Toco’s Lifting Machinery Entity registration, LME No. 008.
What steel wire rope does Toco stock as standard?
Different rope sizes carry different constructions, and Toco stocks the constructions it also uses to manufacture slings and grommets. The default stocked specification is below. Toco can source rope to almost any construction or specification on enquiry.
| Specification | Toco standard stock |
|---|---|
| Construction | 6×36 F (fibre core) |
| Finish | Ungalvanised (self-colour) |
| Lay | Right-hand lay |
| Grade | 1960 MPa |
| Diameter stocked | 1 mm to 30 mm held in stock |
| Diameter range | 1 mm to 56 mm (32 mm and larger sourced on enquiry) |
Also available on request: 6×19 construction, independent wire rope core (IWRC / steel core), left-hand lay, ordinary or Lang’s lay, galvanised, stainless steel and PVC-coated rope. Speak to Toco to specify the right rope for your application.
6×19 or 6×36 construction, which should you choose?
The number of wires per strand changes how the rope behaves. A 6×19 rope has fewer, thicker outer wires, giving better abrasion resistance but less flexibility. A 6×36 rope has more, finer wires, giving greater flexibility and better fatigue resistance over sheaves and drums, which is why 6×36 F is Toco’s standard stocked construction for general lifting and sling manufacture. Both are stocked; the right choice depends on whether the application punishes the rope mainly through abrasion or through bending. Toco will advise on the construction best suited to your duty.
Fibre core or steel core (IWRC)?
The core supports the strands and holds the rope’s shape under load. A fibre core gives a more flexible, lighter rope and is the core in Toco’s standard 6×36 F stock. An independent wire rope core (IWRC) gives greater strength, better crush resistance and more stability under high load or heat, which is why steel-core rope is often specified for crane and heavy hoisting duties. Toco stocks fibre-core rope as standard and supplies IWRC rope on request, so the core can be matched to the application rather than assumed.
Working load limit, breaking load and the D/d ratio
Two figures govern safe use of steel wire rope. The breaking load (minimum breaking strength, MBS) is the load at which the rope physically fails. The working load limit (WLL) is the rated safe service load, calculated as the breaking load divided by a safety factor. For general lifting the factor is 5:1; for steel wire rope slings and grommets it is 8:1 in line with DMR 18. A rope is never worked at its breaking load.
The D/d ratio describes how sharply a rope is bent, the diameter of the sheave or pin (D) against the diameter of the rope (d). Bending a rope too tightly sharply reduces its effective strength and shortens its life. As a general guide, keep D/d at 16:1 or greater for steel wire rope in general lifting, and 18:1 or greater for the drum-to-rope ratio on winches. For the certified minimum breaking force of a specific diameter and construction, request the rope certificate from Toco rather than working from a generic chart.
“Steel wire rope assemblies are core to what we do. We run a full scale assembly service and we pride ourselves on quick turnaround. When a site needs a sling, waiting is the expensive part.”
Finishes and where steel wire rope is used
Toco supplies steel wire rope in galvanised, self-colour (ungalvanised), stainless steel (grades 304 and 316) and PVC-coated finishes. Galvanised and stainless rope resist corrosion for outdoor, marine and washdown environments; PVC-coated rope adds a protective and lower-friction outer layer. The right finish depends on the working environment, Toco will help match it.
| Sector | Typical steel wire rope duty |
|---|---|
| Mining | Hoisting, shaft work, winch lines, and rope for sling and grommet assemblies |
| Construction | Crane ropes, lifting lines, guy and stay ropes, on-site rigging |
| Heavy engineering and cranes | Overhead and mobile crane ropes, reeving, general lifting |
| Oil, gas and refineries | Winching, equipment handling and rigging in corrosive environments |
| Marine and fishery | Deck rigging, towing and anchoring, where corrosion resistance matters |
Toco does not limit steel wire rope to these sectors, rope is cut and supplied for any lifting, lashing or rigging duty. For heavy lifting, Toco also manufactures wire rope slings and cable-laid grommets from stocked rope.
Certified steel wire rope, tested under LME 008
Steel wire rope is one of the equipment categories within Toco’s Lifting Machinery Entity registration, LME No. 008, held under DMR 18(5) of the OHS Act. Each rope length supplied by Toco is issued with a certificate under that scope. When rope is assembled into a wire rope sling, the finished sling is issued with its own Conformance Inspection Certificate. Where an OEM material trace is required, a Mill Certificate can accompany the rope or component on request. Technical oversight is provided by Anton van Staden, an ECSA-registered Lifting Machinery Inspector (Reg. #201112078). Full detail of Toco’s testing and certification scope is on the Lifting Equipment Testing & Certification page.
Frequently asked questions
What size steel wire rope does Toco stock?
Toco stocks steel wire rope from 1 mm to 30 mm diameter, with the full range from 1 mm to 56 mm available, sizes of 32 mm and larger are sourced on enquiry. The standard stocked construction is 6×36 F, ungalvanised, right-hand lay, in 1960 MPa grade. Other constructions, cores, lays and finishes are sourced to specification.
Can I buy steel wire rope cut to length?
Yes. Toco cuts and supplies steel wire rope by the metre to the length you need, and can also assemble it into wire rope slings and grommets. Specify the diameter, construction, finish and length required, then call 011 345 8800 or email sales@toco.co.za for a quote.
What is the difference between fibre core and IWRC wire rope?
A fibre-core rope is more flexible and lighter and is Toco’s standard 6×36 F stock. An independent wire rope core (IWRC) is a steel core that adds strength, crush resistance and stability under high load or heat, often specified for crane and heavy hoisting ropes. Toco supplies both, matched to the application.
What grade is Toco’s steel wire rope?
Toco’s stocked steel wire rope is predominantly 1960 MPa grade, which covers the majority of general lifting and rigging duties. Where a different grade is required for a specific application, rope is sourced to that specification on enquiry.
What D/d ratio should I use for wire rope slings?
As a general guide, keep the D/d ratio, the diameter of the sheave or pin against the rope diameter, at 16:1 or greater for steel wire rope in general lifting, and 18:1 or greater for the drum-to-rope ratio on winches. Bending a rope more tightly than this reduces its effective strength and shortens its service life.
Where can I get certified steel wire rope with certificates in South Africa?
Toco Lifting supplies certified steel wire rope as a registered Lifting Machinery Entity, LME No. 008, under DMR 18(5) of the OHS Act, with technical oversight by ECSA-registered Lifting Machinery Inspector Anton van Staden (Reg. #201112078). Each rope length is supplied with a certificate under LME 008 scope, and finished wire rope slings are issued with a Conformance Inspection Certificate.
How often should steel wire rope and slings be inspected?
Steel wire rope slings and lifting tackle must be examined regularly and replaced when discard criteria are met, broken wires, corrosion, deformation, reduced diameter or damaged terminations. Toco inspects, tests and certifies wire rope slings as part of its LME 008 service. For the statutory inspection and testing intervals, see the testing and certification page.
Request a steel wire rope quote. Tell Toco the diameter, construction, finish and length you need, or ask about a certified wire rope sling assembly. Call 011 345 8800 or email sales@toco.co.za. Germiston head office and Cape Town branch, supplying South Africa and SADC.
