Safety hook and lifting chain specialist Gunnebo Lifting is experiencing increased sales from the offshore sector, including a new crane safety hook supplied early this year to Statoil.
Quality and safety are the company's priorities, according to export manager Urban Hedman. The Statoil safety hook has a 5:1 safety factor, which means that the breaking load is five times the working load limit.
The hook underwent impact testing to a force of 42J, well above the normal 27J. All the hook's parts (made from a special material) are fully traceable from the raw material stage onwards.
Statoil personnel visited Gunnebo's Ramnas plant to inspect the hook before delivery. This highlights the importance to an offshore installation of avoiding the risk of dropping heavy objects while they are being lifted.
Statoil uses its own spec based on the DnV 2-7/1 specification, says Hedman. DnV 2-7/1 was originally a spec for anchor chain, Around mid-year, however, the certifying authority was due to introduce a new spec specifically for lifting chain and hooks.
Gunnebo has already adopted the new spec and expects to receive DnV accreditation shortly. It was one of the first companies in Sweden to receive ISO 9001 quality approval.
One of the company's strengths is that it is involved at all stages of the process, from design to finished product. The design of the safety hook was laid down 30 years ago and has now been adopted by manufacturers around the world.
Gunnebo's design activities are based at Ramnas, with forging performed at its Vaxjo plant. Items then come to Ramnas for testing, machinery, hardening and tempering. Every component undergoes proof load testing up to 62% of the breaking load. Magnaflux treatment is used for crack detection testing.
Offshore sales are now expanding, and are expected to account for 20% of turnover within two years. The largest selling item for this market is chain slings. Gunnebo is also the only manufacturer of GBK and OBK grip latches, and of 20kg BK/28/8 safety hooks for a 25 tonne working load.
Recently it introduced a new swivel hook, designated BKLK-16-8 Offshore, for use on chain slings, and a new range of master links.
For more information contact Urban Hedman, Gunnebo Lifting: telephone +46 220 22100 or fax +46 220 35021.
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