An exceptionally long and effective test bench has been installed at Hampidjan Baltic in Lithuania, capable of load testing ropes and slings up to 104 metres in length, with tensions of up to 2,000 tonnes.
There is no other test bench of this size with comparable capacity in Europe, as the maximum length other benches can handle is around 27 metres. Length is of critical importance because slings are continually getting longer as cranes become larger and more powerful, especially those used for installing offshore wind turbines and oil platforms.
The test bench serves a dual purpose. During the production of large slings, it is vital to first set the length precisely as the splicing process begins, and once production is complete, slings are load tested to much higher tensions than they are designed for. Following testing, a certificate is issued confirming the load test and exact length, ensuring that slings and ropes meet strict safety requirements before being put into use.
This provides a significant competitive advantage in high performance slings, as the Hampidjan Baltic high performance rope production factory is considered the most technically advanced of its kind. The braiding machine used to produce the high performance slings is the largest available, and now it is complemented by the longest test bench in Europe for load testing up to 2,000 tonnes.
The bench was originally designed and built by Dutch company Dutch Heavy Lift Consultants (DHLC), with which Hampidjan has maintained a close partnership for many years.
The test bench was initially 40 metres in length and located in the Netherlands. However, as transporting slings back and forth between countries for testing was time-consuming, costly, and labour-intensive, a decision was made to relocate the facility to Hampidjan Baltic in Lithuania—and to take the opportunity to extend it to 104 metres.
Hampidjan Baltic can now, alongside the design and production of high performance slings, handle testing for DHLC and deliver projects faster and more cost-effectively.
The bench is also used for projects from other customers, as there is a steady increase in demand for large high performance slings.
The first project on the new test bench involved testing 24 slings made of Robus HMPE high-performance fiber, produced by Hampidjan Baltic for a Dutch heavy lifting company. The braided rope has a diameter of 186mm, and the longest slings are up to 80 metres. The total weight of the 24 slings is around 32 tonnes. These slings will be in service this summer for the installation of two offshore wind farms in the North Sea.
