EoW January 2013

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January 2013 9
New plant for the world’s
largest wire ropes
▲ ▲ Wire rope heading onto the take-up stand at Neptune Quay, site of Bridon’s new plant
Industry leaders from companies
including Heerema, NOV and Certex
assembled in Northern England to watch
UK business minister Michael Fallon open
a facility that will manufacture the world’s
largest ropes.
The event marked the start of
manufacturing at Bridon Neptune
Quay (BNQ), a state-of-the-art factory
constructed by Bridon International,
which will produce the largest and most
complex offshore ropes in the world.
The facility will have the capacity to
produce highly engineered ropes in
package weights of 650 tonnes, boasting
enhanced breaking loads, optimised bend
fatigue performance, effective lubrication,
and minimal rotation under load.
The occasion was marked by the
switching-on of the factory’s rope-closing
machine, which is the largest of its kind
in existence. The machine, which was
constructed to a unique specification by
German engineering company SKET, will
allow the company to produce far more
complex ropes than had ever previously
been possible with such weights.
Pulling the lever to activate the machine
was UK business minister Michael Fallon,
who praised Bridon for establishing a
global technology leadership position
through its consistent investment in
innovation.
Accompanying Bridon chief executive
Jon Templeman at the event were a
host of senior industry figures including
Certex CEO Peter Keith and NOV Cranes
division head Oddvar Hoydal, who
noted how Bridon’s highly engineered
ropes could improve their companies’
heavy lifting and deepwater deployment
capabilities.
In addition to the switching-on of
the facility’s rope-closing machine,
the opening event offered a range of
technical seminars for attending industry
leaders, designed to demonstrate Bridon’s
unique services offering.
Focused on ensuring customers
get the most out of Bridon’s highly
complex ropes, this package provides
tailored support throughout a rope’s
development, installation and application.
Now operational, Bridon Neptune
Quay is already taking on orders from
major multinational operators, and its
production schedule is designed to cater
to the highest possible levels of demand.
The factory’s portside location, along
with its state-of-the-art take-up stand for
lifting reels directly from dock to vessel,
will help Bridon to significantly improve
logistics.
Bridon International Ltd – UK
Website:
Corporatenews