Rope maker Bridon opens crane rope facility

International rope manufacturer Bridon has launched a state-of-the-art facility for the development of the world’s most advanced crane ropes. The Bridon Technology Centre (BTC) houses a range of purpose-built equipment to test rope properties and performance, enabling Bridon to refine complex rope constructions and optimise their design. The facility is set to develop the largest and most sophisticated rope products ever made available to the crane sector.

Bridon chief executive Jon Templeman (pictured) said: “BTC will be a high-tech hub for next generation rope development, where the finest minds in rope technology use sophisticated testing equipment to validate the designs of the largest and most complex ropes ever made.”

Bridon has cited crane industry demand as a key reason for the centre’s development, noting the sector’s need for stronger, more sophisticated ropes that can perform at the highest levels in the world’s most punishing environments.

Bridon has invested £5 million in the centre’s custom-made testing and analysis equipment, which is designed to evaluate advanced rope constructions for their suitability in even the most challenging conditions.

The facility has the capacity to test samples from ropes that will weigh hundreds of tonnes, assessing their strength under extreme loads, their endurance against bend fatigue, their rotational characteristics, and their response to repeated layering on smaller, more economical spools. It also invested in the latest 3D microscope technology to examine ropes in minute detail.

BTC also affords Bridon the opportunity to work with customers on selected technical projects. Over the coming months, the company is expected to enter talks with major operators looking to optimise a rope for their equipment or application.

The launch of the Bridon Technology Centre follows the opening three months ago of Bridon Neptune Quay, a manufacturing facility capable of producing the largest and most complex ropes in the world.