Nov. 2007 - Dramatic increase in the orders for production of special steel wire rope

Users do not come into contact with most of the delays in production of components and raw materials that have slowed down new crane supplies. One exception is wire rope, which is sold to original equipment manufacturers as well as the aftermarket. The situation looks set to get worse before it gets better.

The European rope brands and the Swiss-Korean brand Verope , all report delays in delivery of their most advanced high-technology special wire ropes.

"There is definitely a shortage in special wire ropes for crane applications," says Pierre Verreet , chief executive officer of Verope . "I can confirm that European manufacturers have significant order backlog at present," he adds, and includes Verope AG in that group.

All of the European brands are currently expanding production for next year. Verope's Korean supplier Kiswire is doubling its 2007 capacity to 800t/month, and in 2008 to 1,200t/month.

- Extract from <Cranes Today> English version