FLEX-X 9, Union’s Premium Crane Boom Hoist Rope
Testing Proves its Superior Design
The Union brand joined WireCo WorldGroup in 1988 and is a leader in wire rope design and innovation. Starting in 2003, Union began producing the FLEX-X 9 premium boom hoist rope for the crane market. FLEX-X 9 is a highdensity stranded product designed to meet the demanding challenges of a crane boom hoist application. It delivers superior strength, abrasion resistance, and crush resistance; all while providing exceptional flexibility. The combination of its high-density strands and its double parallel lay design minimizes internal nicking. This allows for broken wires to develop on the surface first where they are much more easily detected during inspections. The result is improved safety over similarly designed competing brands in the market which are likely to develop internal breaks first.
| Diameter |
FLEX-X 9® |
Competitor |
ASTM A 1023
6X19/6X36 CS EIP |
| Minimum Breaking Force (tons – 2000 lbs.) |
| 5/8” |
26.2 |
25.5 |
22.7 |
| 3/4” |
37.4 |
36.5 |
32.4 |
| 7/8” |
50.6 |
48.5 |
43.8 |
| 1” |
65.7 |
62.5 |
56.9 |
| 1-1/8” |
82.7 |
79.5 |
71.5 |
FLEX-X 9 has successfully performed in the field timeafter-time over the last 14 years. In an effort to show its superiority, multiple bending fatigue tests were recently completed comparing it to a competitor’s similarly designed product. The average of those test results are shown in the graph. As can be seen, the broken wire retirement criteria was reached in both products at
approximately the same number of cycles. However, after reaching the broken wire retirement criteria, the competitor’s product suffered a complete failure once a relatively short number of additional cycles were completed. The difference in cycles equates to about 29% more until ultimate failure occurs. FLEX-X 9 provided approximately 106% more cycle life to ultimate failure after reaching the broken wire retirement criteria.
The results of these tests show that FLEX-X 9 will hold your load, keeping your boom in the air, even at the end of its industry established service life. All ropes should be used, maintained, inspected, and replaced per industry standards and requirements.
