Elevating Rope Performance

In industries such as oil and gas, renewables, and mining, ropes are mission-critical components. Ensuring their reliability is essential not only for operational continuity but also for the safety of personnel Therefore, next to high product quality, companies are eager to work with external providers to deliver them services such as visual inspection, technical advice, installation, maintenance and training.

However, our discussions with customers revealed an additional challenge: rope inspections are time consuming and unexpected downtimes often cause operational disruptions and result in considerable financial losses. Additionally, the inspections themselves are, more often than not, taking place in remote or hazardous locations, which also presents significant safety concerns. These issues are further exacerbated by a growing shortage of skilled labor, making it increasingly challenging for customers to uphold safety standards and maintain operational efficiency.

These observations led us to investigate solutions and technologies that could help us to address these challenges. Subsequently, we expanded our rope inspection expertise with the acquisition of VisionTek. This leading 3D optical measurement technology for automated rope inspection enables to provide comprehensive support services. The technology runs performance and surface algorithms to compare real-time performance with critical rope parameter requirements, maximizing rope lifetime and monitoring rope integrity. Bundled with decades of rope expertise, these state-of-the-art digital capabilities allow to remotely monitor mission-critical ropes in real-time. Integrating the system with other advanced sensor technologies, such as non-destructive testing equipment, further elevated the solution. 

The digitization of rope inspection offers significant benefits:

• Safety: Continuous monitoring ensures that ropes are always in optimal condition and allows for quick detection of issues that may require maintenance or replacement.
• Maximum Productivity: Faster inspections mean less downtime and higher operational efficiency.
• Enhanced Decision-Making: Supports data-driven decisions, improving maintenance planning and asset management
• Cost Savings: Faster inspections, optimized maintenance schedules and a remotely operated system reduces the need for costly technician mobilizations and eliminates revenue loss by maximizing machinery uptime.

These gains are most evident in critical applications where the cost of downtime and the importance of safety are paramount. An inspection report can also be generated before the rope leaves the manufacturing plant to guarantee it is in perfect condition upon delivery.

Developing advanced rope monitoring solutions was driven by our deep understanding of customer needs. By listening to their challenges, we have further professionalized our services, leveraging the latest technological advancements to deliver real value.

In offshore construction, automated rope inspection eliminates the need for costly and time-consuming port calls, as well as the logistical complexities of flying in inspectors and waiting for suitable weather conditions. Crews can now conduct inspections independently using a user-friendly system that provides real-time data and generates reports on demand. This not only saves valuable crew time but also minimizes unplanned downtime caused by rope issues. Additionally, our expert technicians offer remote support and in-depth analysis, ensuring that customers receive the insights needed to improve safety, optimize maintenance planning, and extend rope lifetime.

Benefits have been made tangible in several real-life projects. In the mining industry, for instance, where every second of downtime translates into substantial losses, significant savings were achieved on annual basis by reducing inspection times and minimizing operational disruptions. One case study highlighted a mine that typically operated at high speeds but had to run up to eight times slower during inspections. With our help, the mine maintained higher operational speeds during inspections, greatly boosting productivity and keeping financial losses due to downtime at an absolute low.

Currently, there is a proven track record for this service offering in the offshore construction industry, including wind turbine installation. Our innovative solution stands out by integrating seamlessly with magnetic rope testing devices, offering a single, user-friendly interface.

Looking ahead, cloud connectivity and wireless operating units will bring additional benefits. These enhancements will enable remote access, report downloads, and easy handling, with built-in AI functionalities for faster diagnostics and automated insights, setting new benchmarks for efficiency and innovation.

Keeping the finger on the pulse with our customers is essential to make sure we bring solutions that solve real-life challenges. There is a lot to gain from the information technology. This project demonstrates how it can lead to clear added value. Automation and data-driven decision-making allow organizations to work faster, more efficiently, and at lower risk. As we continue to collaborate closely with our customers, we are poised to set new standards in service and innovation, transforming the way our customers operate and ensuring their long-term success.