Crane & Lifting Technology

• soLITE® is the intelligent high-strength fiber rope to be used for challenging lifting applications and, in particular, on mobile, crawler cranes and tower cranes which have so far been equipped with steel wire ropes only.

• The innovative rope design has been developed by Teufelberger in cooperation with LIEBHERR.

It has to be checked on a case-by-case basis if soLITE® is compatible with the employed winch. There is no intention to convert from steel wire ropes to soLITE® as a retrofit. To be able to utilize the full increase in load capacity, further components would have to be exchanged and the control system adapted. For customers to benefi t from the full load capacity increase, Liebherr has therefore developed crane types that are optimized for soLITE®.

Just like every other rope, soLITE® elongates when operated under load. The elasticity of soLITE® is approx. 20 - 30% higher than that of comparable steel wire ropes. Thus, soLITE® provides for a softer and more precise response during loading/unloading compared to a high performance wire rope.

On a tower crane, a service life of 7 years can be achieved in normal construction site operation, this means four times the service life of a steel wire rope. In other rope applications, the attainable service life may be even longer. In realistic trials with multi-layer spooling, a service life of at least ten times longer than that of a steel wire rope has been achieved on a steady basis.

Generally, it is possible to repair the cover, provided that the load-bearing core has remained undamaged. Whether or not such repair is possible and sensible must be assessed by an expert case by case.

Other than with comparable fiber ropes, the point of discard of soLITE® can be determined via several mutually independent methods:

• Visually, via a cover wearing in three stages: The cover consists of different fibers of various colours wearing at different speeds. As soon as the fibers of the cover are worn, the red core of this laid kernmantle rope will become visible. This is a clear sign that soLITE® has to be discarded.

• Via external data monitoring at the crane.

Moreover, the FEM 5.024 standard, which has been in force since 2017, defines special guidelines regarding the point of discard to ensure the safe use of high-strength fiber ropes in cranes.

In case of the grooving-system of the drum, the spooling pattern of soLITE® is the same as that of a steel wire rope. Therefore, there is no diff erence in operation for the user. This is due to the laid design of soLITE® - which features all the characteristics of a steel wire rope that are crucial for a high spooling quality. Due to the special construction, the wear and tear of soLITE® in a multi-layer spooling system is considerably lower than that of a steel wire rope. More than a 10 times higher life time can be achieved this way.

The higher acquisition cost of soLITE® is compensated over the whole utilization phase. The lower costs over the entire lifecycle and the additional benefi ts are conspicuous:

• 80% less rope weight, thus allowing a lighter hook block and therefore 10% more load capacity than with a steel wire rope

• No lubricants are required for operation.

• Reduced wear on rope sheaves and drums

• Longer service life compared to steel ropes under specified operating conditions.

• Higher crane availability

• Simpler and safer detection of when the rope needs replacing

The load-bearing fi bers of the rope core are highly resistant to chemicals and/or oils and protected against environmental infl uences in several ways (protective cover, special coatings, etc.). However, contact with concentrated chemicals, acids and lyes should be avoided as they might adversely affect the service life of the rope. Sands or other particles may lead to a quicker wear both of the rope drum and the high-strength fiber rope.