A crucial part of deciding on a cable, strand or wire rope product is deciding what material works best with your specific project or application. Depending on corrosion risks and other environmental factors, as well as the need for strength and durability can impact what material performs best.
At Loos & Company, we provide multiple material options to ensure our customers have the right product to maximize the potential of their project and to eliminate risks of potential material damage.
Below are our material options, and within which product lines they are available in:
Nylon Coated Cable
Nylon is an extremely durable material that is resilient to abrasion and impact. It offers a long cycle life, especially in high-use environments where it moves along pulleys or sheaves. It can withstand harsh conditions as well as temperature shifts while remaining intact and in use.
A nylon coated cable includes a core wire wrapped in a protective nylon casing. The casing creates a cable with high tensile strength capable of withstanding heavy loads and tension. The coating features a textured surface and is robust and durable. Even though nylon cables have a strong coating, they remain flexible enough to use in many different ways.
Vinyl Coated Cable
Vinyl is softer and traditionally more flexible than Nylon. Vinyl is an excellent general-use material, and usually less expensive than Nylon, too. Though vinyl coating may experience shredding, it still withstands tension and abrasion to a certain degree in its applications.
A vinyl coated cable is a core wire wrapped in a vinyl casing. The casing is smoother, and more uniform compared to a nylon coating, resulting in a softer exterior layer. To avoid abrasion and other damage, these coatings can come in slightly thicker varieties. Vinyl coatings also have a glossy finish, making the appearance much different than the nylon alternative.
Galvanized Steel
When products need extra strength and durability to perform, Galvanized Steel is often the material of choice. Adding weight and durability, the zinc coating on our Galvanized products also protects wires and cables from rust and harsh industry conditions.
Our Strand, Cable, Aircraft Cable, Coated Cable and Wire Rope product lines have Galvanized Steel material options to handle some of the most physically demanding end-use conditions across the industries we serve.
Stainless Steel
One of our most commonly sold materials is Stainless Steel. With multiple alloys available, our Stainless products provide stability, strength, flexibility, and resistance to oxidation and chemical exposure to handle the difficult conditions of industries like Mining or Oil and Gas.
Our Wire Rope, Cable, Aircraft Cable, Strand and Coated Cable product lines are available in Stainless Steel. 302/304 alloy is the most common, but some constructions and products are available in 305 and 316 as well.
Specialty Alloys
If you’re looking for products beyond our normal stainless or galvanized steel alloys, we provide Specialty Alloy products as well. Our 7×19 and 7×7 cable sizes are available in two Specialty Alloy options – Monel 400® (Nickel-Copper based) and Tin over Zinc.
Monel® 400 offers added corrosion and high temperature resistance for use in more demanding outdoor applications. The high tensile strength also allows for more durability after repeated use.
Tin over Zinc does not add as much strength as Monel® but adds corrosion resistance as well as a shiny and aesthetically pleasing finish. In indoor and mild outdoor applications this material can handle repeated use, and it can create aesthetic appeal in applications such as decorative lighting fixtures.