Enduro Softslings is a developer and manufacturer of heavy duty softslings which are used worldwide in the on- and offshore industry for all kinds of heavy lifting operations. The company manufactures slings with working load limits (WLL) up to 1000 tons and above, and provides a full range of standard and special made softslings that will suit your applications. They serve the market through a selected dealer network or through your trusted supplier.
Interview with Sytse van der Molen, General Manager at Enduro Softslings.
Easy Engineering: A brief description of the company and its activities.
Sytse van der Molen: Enduro Softslings can provide your operation with HMPE (Ultra high molecular weight polyethylene) slings, wear-pads, corner protection and more heavy lifting supplies in addition to your round slings. HMPE slings are extremely tough, abrasion resistant, low in weight and easy to handle. This results in a safer and ergonomically working environment and saves valuable time. With the greatest attention to detail and and a constant drive to innovate and improve, Enduro Softslings stands for quality and efficiency. We look forward to adding value to your project with the delivery of softslings and providence of inspection and repair at our facility or on-site.
E.E: What are the main areas of activity of the company?
S.v.d.M: We manufacture slings for the offshore heavy lifting market like the installation of jackets, platform constructions and monopolies. Our slings are also used in subsea operations because of their buoyancy. With our experience in the use of heavy lift softslings for offshore projects, we can help equipment wholesalers and end users with engineering the right sling configuration.
For the onshore lifting crane market we provide more light weight round slings up to 100t. Also used in the manufacturing industry with a special application in cleanrooms.
Besides manufacturing and inspection, we do our own research to the behavior of HMPE under various circumstances. This R&D activity provides a lot of data and insights on both the capability of the material as on the most efficient way of processing during the engineering and production process.
E.E: What’s the news about new products?
S.v.d.M: We’re constantly improving the quality of our slings by upgrading and finetuning our production methods. Therefore, we do a lot of R&D. We continuously improve on a lot of different work fields. By doing so we get the most efficiency out of our load-bearing yarns, like longer lifetime out of the sling-covers. Also, we are able to manufacture longer slings with larger capacities than we could ever imagine the day we just started. This continues development in the demand of capacity growth will be a constant part of our activities.
E.E: What are the ranges of products?
S.v.d.M: We provide heavy lift synthetic softslings with a MBL up to 3500t and a safety factor <3.38 (on request). The core material of our slings is mainly HMPE, but also aramide, PES en LCP. We can produce sling lengths op to 150mtr
For the crane market we have a lighter weight range we call Easyquip Crane & Construction Slings. These slings for the lighter weight lifting operations form 10t to 100t offers the advantage of easier rigging and no need for slings of various lifting capacities. A 100t HMPE round sling is so thin and easy to handle you practically have no need for other slings to lift everything below the 100t.
For the use in for example clean rooms we also provide webbing slings out of HMPE with a WLL from 500kg up to 4000 kg.
And to complete our product range we offer protection material like corner protectors, covers and wearpads. Especially under extreme conditions or complex loads this production material will help enduro the condition and safe use of the slings.
E.E: At what stage is the market where you are currently active?
S.v.d.M: The market of heavy lifting with softslings is still emerging. The demand for sustainable energy will continue to grow. Offshore energy projects will be a constantly developing market. This expectation gives us a great potential to evolve our business.
E.E: What can you tell us about market trends?
S.v.d.M: Everything gets bigger. Bigger wind turbines, bigger foundations, bigger piles, bigger cranes, bigger ships.
E.E: What are the most innovative products marketed?
S.v.d.M: We just launched a patented design for a sling cover without wrinkles. Where a sling is bended around a hook, shackle or trunnion, the cover is forced into wrinkles due to the difference in circumference between the outer and inner curve. These wrinkles were possible points of failure and were reducing the slings lifetime significantly. Now with the new type of cover we improved predictability in sling behavior, and also extended the lifetime of our products significantly.
E.E: What estimations do you have for 2023?
S.v.d.M: We see a strong and stable growth of our company. This is caused mainly by the growing offshore renewables market. But also, the significant efficiency benefits and safety improvements from the use of synthetic softslings strengthens the demand for light weight equipment in complex lifting operations.
Other markets like construction, military and production industries are less familiar with the benefits our products could bring. We will continue to pitch our proposition as much as possible to get these markets to know us and the possibilities of the product. Next year is our aim to grow at maximum but stable pace. We will increase our efforts within the already know market segments and spread the word in the markets that are less familiar with Enduro Softslings.