ADVANTAGES OVER STEEL WIRE / CABLE

advantages-over-steel-cable

The handling weight of steel wire tie-backs and hardware are recognized as industry-wide safety hazard.  The average 23T/1.5” steel tie-back weighs 90 lbs, and when coupled with 29lb shackle, weighs 119lbs, typically requiring a 2 person installation.  The sheer weight requires many cables be left on the body, which dramatically increases lifecycle cost and introduces the potential for damaged, unsafe wires.  The Applied Fiber tie-back eliminates the need to leave cables on the body by addressing weight (3X lighter) and nearly every other ergonomic drawback of steel wire tie-backs – as outlined below:

HANDLING SAFETY / INJURY PREVENTION

  • Reduced Handling Weight and Strains: Typical 3X weight savings dramatically reduces injury potential.
  • Lower Crushing/Dropping Weight: Less drops due to less hardware and less weight.
  • No Cable Torsion /Twist Fighting: Stiff steel wires often get twisted in non-ideal positions, and require the user to force them back with each installation. Applied Fiber tie-backs have permanent memory and are easily positioned without tools or straining.
  • No Kinking & Misalignment Fighting: Stiff steel wires kink easily and once bent, are difficult to align do to the cable’s inherent stiffness. Applied Fiber tie-backs don’t kink and are highly flexible making installations easy.
  • No Broken Wire “Fish-Hooks” / ”Jaggers”: Any broken wires creates a signifant safety hazard. Applied Fiber tie-backs have no such wires.
  • No Shackle Weight to Elevate and Maneuver: Shackle weight and installation process alone introduces a safety hazard, especially when elevated. The Applied Fiber tie-back eliminates the need for shackles.
  • No Pins/Wrenches/Shackles to Handle or Drop at Elevation: Applied Fiber’s ergonomic pin system is fully self contained. No tools are needed and no hardware can fall off during an elevated installation.
  • Reduced Pinch Points and Crush Weights: Creating single operator installation, reducing system weight, and eliminating shackles and other hardware significantly reduces potential for pinches and crushing during installation.
  • Improved Field Use with Single Operator: Applied Fiber tie-backs are easily transported, require no additional hardware, have no parts to lose, and are safely installed by one person, making them ideal for emergency field repairs.
  • Reduced Potential for Improper Use: No “wrong shackle” or “wrong hardware” to pull, and reduced chance of cable damage that is common with truck body field wear.

OTHER FINANCIAL SAVINGS:

  • Longer Lifespan through Truck Body Removal:  If cables are currently left on the bed, the Applied Fiber system will produce significant cost savings from longevity alone.
  • Opportunity Cost, Operational Cost, and/or Direct Labor Cost Savings:  When considering the actual downtime cost and frequency of use, most operations will generate an ROI in this area alone.
    • No added hardware to locate, pull, and put up
    • Single person install reduces 1st person downtime created in waiting on 2nd person availability
    • Single person install eliminates 2nd person disruption downtime (2X downtime)
    • Faster connection / disconnection and handling
  • Insurance Claims and Workforce Downtime Costs

 

ADVANTAGES OVER SYNTHETIC FIBER SLINGS

advantages-over-slings

Traditional synthetic fiber slings improve the weight and handling issues with conventional wire, and are considered safe when handled and installed properly.  Safety and reliability are commonly compromised with fiber slings however, due to the high probability of repeated misuse and abuse that is typically unnoticed and in many cases is not inspectable or measurable.  Applied Fiber’s purpose built tie-back systems are engineered to mitigate the potential for misuse and abuse while improving inspectability – significantly advancing safety and reliability over traditional fiber sling technology.

ENGINEERED RELIABILITY & SAFETY / RISK MITIGATION:

  • Advanced Inspectability:  Applied Fiber tie-backs are designed to provide visual indication of typical misuse and abuse from the outside in.  The metal terminations are inspectable for abnormal wear or stretching due to overloading or improper installation.  The dual layer jacket provides a go-no-go, multi-stage, visual indication of wear.  Further, the core is visually inspectable at its typical points of failure.
  • Integrated Design Minimizes Improper Hardware and Installation Issues:  Proper connection hardware and setup is a very common area of misuse and abuse that goes unnoticed.  Examples would include wrong shackle shape, strength rating, orientation, or an improper setup.  Applied Fiber connection components are integrated into the purpose-built tie-back to prevent such an occurrence.
  • No Strength Loss When Wet:  Many high strength slings lose 5-7% strength when wet.  Applied Fiber’s Plasma fiber is unaffected by moisture.
  • Advanced Chemical Resistance:  System sealing helps prevent most chemicals from reaching the core strength member.  Additionally, Plasma fiber has higher chemical resistance than most fiber sling materials.
  • Advanced Fiber Damage Protection and Control at the Ends:  In traditional fiber slings, misuse, abuse, and strength breakdown typically occurs at the end points where stresses are highest.  This strength loss is not measurable or inspectable.  Applied Fiber’s system uses specialized metal terminations that keep fibers straight and shielded from any abrasion, excessive bends, sharp edges, and harmful mine debris – controlling the fiber’s environment and conditions in this critical area.
  • Advanced Fiber Damage Protection and Control in the Cable:  The Applied Fiber system creates an unprecedented level of fiber core protection and environmental/usage control to significantly improve reliability and predictability.  Two layers of engineered protection are used to shield the core from potential welding sparks, dragging abrasion and cuts, chemicals, harmful mine debris, etc.  The dual layer system also minimizes cable bends to create a controlled bending condition.
  • Minimized Potential for System Strength Loss Due to Unknown Conditions:  By controlling the fiber’s environment and manner in which the product can be used, the Applied Fiber system minimizes potential for strength loss due to unknown fiber conditions such as overloads, contamination, pinched fibers, miss-aligned fibers, fatigued fibers, etc.

HANDLING SAFETY / INJURY PREVENTION:

  • No Pins/Wrenches/Shackles/Links to Handle or Drop at Elevation
  • Reduced Hardware Pinch Points
  • Improved Weight and Ergonomics over Nylon/Polyester Slings
  • No Increase in Weight When Wet – Ideal for Wash Stations
  • No Eye Contamination from Dirt/Dust Saturation
  • No Freezing from Wet/Cold Conditions – Improved Field Use.

QUALITY ASSURANCE:

  • 100% Applied Fiber Manufacturing:  A global leader in terminated synthetic system production and ISO 9001 certified company.  (Learn More)
  • 100% Proof Tested to 2X Working Load
  • 100% Serialized with Complete Material and Process Traceability

OTHER FINANCIAL SAVINGS:

  • Opportunity Cost, Operational Cost, and/or Direct Labor Cost Savings: 
    • No added hardware to locate, pull, and put up
    • Single person install reduces 1st person downtime created in waiting on 2nd person availability
    • Single person install eliminates 2nd person disruption downtime (2X downtime)
    • Faster connection / disconnection and handling
  • Insurance Claim and Workforce Downtime Cost Savings