The European association of abnormal road transport and mobile cranes (ESTA) and the European Association of Lifting Equipment Manufacturers (FEM) have started work on an updated best practice guide on the safe use, inspection and maintenance of rope sheaves on mobile cranes.
ESTA has had several reports from its members expressing concern about problems with sheaves, prompting further investigation. The team behind the project – made up of ESTA’s Klaus Meissner, Gerrit van Hove of Sarens, and Mammoet’s Hermen Kamp – intend on bringing together all stakeholders to discuss the issues, including sheave and bearing manufacturers as well as crane manufacturers and users.
“When we carried out the work on winch gearboxes, we were delighted to received support and valuable input from multiple manufacturers right along the supply chain,” said Meissner. “We very much hope that the same will apply to this project and that we can pool all of our different skills and knowledge for the benefit of the industry as a whole.”
Rope sheaves on mobile cranes are pulley-like wheels with grooves around their circumference, designed to guide wire ropes or cables, and serve a key function by holding the load and often being the luffing mechanism of the crane boom. They also extend a mobile crane’s life and enhance its safety by ensuring that the wire rope follows a controlled and efficient path between the boom, winch drum, and hook block, without contact to fixed parts – which reducing abrasion and fatigue on the rope.
Earlier this month, HLPFI reported that ESTA was urging Europe’s national regulators to agree a common inspection procedure for mobile cranes.
