A long-lifespan alternative to steel

Today’s ropes and cables are used in very challenging conditions, and the drive for tougher, more resistant and durable products is rapidly gaining momentum. In the offshore industry, for example, ropes and cables need to last longer, lift heavier weights and reach greater depths. This means there is a huge demand for greater efficiencies and enabling technologies, which puts even more pressure on rope and cable producers. To meet these increasingly high demands, Selantic AS – Cortland Company uses Teijin Aramid’s Technora® as the product of choice for its high-performance applications, such as synthetic tethers.

Long lifespan with Technora®
“Selantic is active in a wide variety of markets, such as Oil & Gas, heavy lifting, subsea installation and specialty lifting industries,” says Irene Tveiten, Offshore Sales Engineer at Selantic AS. “The products we develop for these markets require the best fatigue, low specific weight and yarn-to-yarn abrasion performance. Creep is also key, especially because of the lifespan requirements in these applications. That’s why we use Technora®, which is low-weight, strong and highly durable.”

The disadvantages of steel
The heavy weight of chain or steel wire rope for anchoring of flexible risers and umbilicals is one of the main reasons for the industry to use synthetic tethers for permanent anchoring of flexible risers and umbilicals and subsea mid-water arch structures. However, weight is not the only issue. “Given a lifespan of 20-50 years, steel systems tend to suffer from fatigue challenges and corrosion,” says Irene. “A thorough design assessment has shown that synthetic tethers installed in a subsea environment will last at least 30-50 years. Failures in steel systems therefore make using a synthetic, lightweight alternative like Technora® an attractive option for such specialized anchoring systems.”

Co-creation: the best solution
Selantic AS has been using Teijin Aramid products since 1998. Irene: “At Teijin Aramid they believe that the best solutions are ‘co-creations’ – in other words, they’re based on shared know-how and technical expertise in products, production processes and market requirements. Teijin Aramid’s proactive approach in this respect has resulted in a very productive business relationship.”