Common Types of Crane Wire Rope (and How To Choose The Right One)

Whether it’s a construction-site crane or port lifting equipment, crane wire rope is a critical load-bearing component. Different operating conditions—such as lifting height, load weight, abrasion, and rotation control—require different rope structures. Below are the most common types of wire rope used for cranes and heavy lifting, along with their key advantages and typical applications.

1) Shaped Strand (Profiled Strand) Wire Rope

Shaped strand wire rope(4V×48S+5FC；4×25Fi+PP) is formed and then processed using methods such as swaging/compacting. By changing the rope’s effective diameter and surface profile, this structure can increase breaking strength while maintaining good flexibility and a smoother outer surface.

Key benefits

• Rotation resistance

• Long service life

• Stable structure

• Good wear resistance

• Smooth surface and strong breaking load

Typical applications

• Vertical shaft hoisting (shaft sinking / mine construction)

• Vertical shaft balance ropes (typically for alternating lay designs)

• Port handling and cargo loading/unloading

• Tower cranes, truck cranes

• Marine cargo handling (galvanized versions commonly used)

  

2) Rotation-Resistant Wire Rope

As lifting height increases and loads become heavier, standard wire ropes are more likely to spin and twist. For equipment such as tower cranes, rotary drilling rigs, and high-lift hoisting systems, rotation-resistant wire rope is often required to improve safety and control.

Where it’s commonly used

• Vertical shaft hoisting

• Shaft sinking hoisting (mine construction)

• Vertical shaft balance ropes (typically for alternating lay designs)

• Shaft guide ropes and aerial ropeway load-bearing ropes (same-direction lay often recommended)

• Marine cargo handling

• Rotary drilling rigs

• Excavators / electric rope shovels (winch systems)

• Oil drilling operations

  
  

  

3) Compacted Strand Wire Rope

In compacted strand wire rope, each strand is processed before closing the rope using methods such as drawing, rolling, or forging. This modifies strand diameter and shape, which increases breaking strength and significantly improves abrasion resistance.

Key benefits

• Higher breaking load

• Better wear resistance

• Improved drum winding stability

• More durable in heavy-duty environments

Typical applications

• Vertical shaft hoisting (same-direction lay often recommended)

• Shaft sinking hoisting (mine construction)

• Vertical shaft balance ropes (typically for alternating lay designs)

• Shaft guide ropes and ropeway load-bearing ropes

• Oil drilling

• Excavators and rotary drilling rigs

• Large casting/steel pouring cranes

• Port handling equipment

• Tower cranes and marine cargo handling

  
  

  

4) Line Contact vs. Point Contact Wire Rope

Point Contact Wire Rope

In point contact wire rope, at least one layer of wires in the strand shares the same lay direction, and wires between layers cross each other, creating point-to-point contact.

Key advantage

• Very good flexibility

Line Contact Wire Rope

In line contact wire rope, wire layers are arranged so that wires make line contact, improving resistance to crushing and deformation.

Key advantage

• Better anti-crushing performance than point contact rope

• Generally more widely used in lifting and industrial environments

Typical applications for both

• Tugboats and towing

• Cargo nets and floating timber transport

• Ship mast tensioning and suspension bridge operations

• Fishing trawls

• Oil drilling

Additional applications for line contact wire rope

• Vertical shaft hoisting

• Cable cars / ropeways

• Hot rolling mill equipment

• Marine cargo handling

• Salvage operations (wreck recovery)

• Cranes, rotary drilling rigs, excavators, and more

How to Choose the Right Crane Wire Rope

Different wire rope structures deliver different performance in real operations. When selecting crane wire rope, consider:

• Load weight and lifting height (risk of rotation increases with height)

• Need for rotation control (tower cranes, high-lift systems, rotary drilling rigs often require rotation-resistant designs)

• Abrasion and drum/sheave wear (compacted strand is often preferred)

• Crushing resistance (line contact typically performs better than point contact)

• Environmental corrosion (galvanized options for marine/outdoor use)