Steel Wire Rope
Description
Steel Wire Rope, Quick Facts
| Product | Steel wire rope |
|---|---|
| Diameter range | 1 mm to 56 mm |
| Standard stocked construction | 6×36 fibre core, ungalvanised, right hand lay, 1960 MPa grade |
| Constructions and cores | 6×19 and 6×36, fibre core or steel core (IWRC) |
| Governing standard | SANS 4309 |
| Lays and finishes | Right hand, left hand, ordinary and Langs lay, galvanised or ungalvanised, to specification on enquiry |
| WLL and breaking load | Per certificate, on enquiry |
| Supplied from | Toco Lifting, Germiston and Cape Town |
Toco Lifting is approved by the Department of Labour as a Lifting Machinery Entity (LME No. 008), and steel wire rope is within its LME 008 testing scope. Toco has supplied certified lifting, lashing and rigging equipment across South Africa and SADC since 2002.
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 Toco is approved to inspect and test.
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?
Choose 6×19 for abrasion resistance and 6×36 for flexibility. A 6×19 rope has fewer, thicker outer wires that resist wear but bend less easily; a 6×36 rope has more, finer wires that flex better and resist fatigue over sheaves and drums. 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, and Toco will advise on the construction best suited to your duty.
Fibre core or steel core (IWRC)?
A fibre core gives a lighter, more flexible rope and is the core in Toco’s standard 6×36 F stock. An independent wire rope core (IWRC), or steel core, gives greater strength, better crush resistance and more stability under high load or heat, so it 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 is matched to the application rather than assumed.
Working load limit, breaking load and the D/d ratio
The working load limit (WLL) is the rated safe service load; the breaking load (minimum breaking strength) is where the rope physically fails. WLL equals the breaking load divided by a safety factor. Toco rates steel wire rope slings at 6:1 in line with DMR 18, and cable-laid grommets at 8:1. A rope is never worked at its breaking load.
Where SANS or EN specify a different ratio, the statutory DMR 18 figure governs.
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 is supplied with a certificate under that scope, and a finished wire rope sling is issued with its own Conformance Inspection Certificate. An OEM Certificate can accompany the rope where material trace is required.
Technical oversight is provided by a Lifting Machinery Inspector registered with the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA Reg. 201112078) and team. Full detail of the 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 a dedicated Lifting Machinery Inspector and Team. 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. The care, inspection and discard of steel wire rope is governed by SANS 4309. 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.
Toco supplies steel wire rope across Southern Africa on an Ex Works Germiston basis. See Toco’s lifting equipment supply across Southern Africa for the markets served.
Steel wire rope and its assemblies are examined under South Africa’s Driven Machinery Regulation 18. See Toco’s DMR 18 compliance guide for the examination requirements.
