Advantages of the Textile Chain
- 6 kg per meter
- Up to 85% lighter than steel
- Measured by weight, 40% stronger than aramid fibers and 15x stronger than quality steel
- Resistant to chemicals
- Cut-resistant and particularly abrasion-resistant
A yellow low-loader from Northwest Logistics Heavy Haul, carrying a voluminous white tank, stands in the sun at the side of the road. The heavy load is secured with seven DoNova® PowerLash systems, each almost 10 meters long.
What is the story behind it?
What convinced the crane service company from Oklahoma to use our new textile chains made from the high-performance fiber Dyneema®? And what experiences has it had with them?
“We want to try out new creative technologies that bring improvements to our industry,” explains Ace Carter, engineer at Northwest Logistics Heavy Haul. “We were told that the flexible DoNova® PowerLash chains are much lighter and easier to handle than steel lashing chains - even though they are just as powerful. A statement like that naturally makes us curious,” he laughs.
The American company uses the lightweight PowerLash to transport heavy, large-volume tanks and containers and to secure equally heavy crane components. The important thing here is to transport the sensitive loads to their destination without damaging them. However, the “normal” textile securing materials tested in the past, which are particularly suitable for these requirements due to their soft material, had to accept weaknesses in terms of abrasion and UV resistance. Initial reservations about the DoNova® PowerLash lashing chain were therefore primarily due to its robustness and durability. Fortunately, these concerns have not been confirmed.
Ace Carter reports that the advantage of low weight and low elongation (<1%) offers a range of additional benefits: It is easier and less time-consuming for the user to attach the DoNova® PowerLash as a load securing device. Secondly, the risk of injury is reduced when handling these securing devices, which are often 10 meters or more in length in the heavy transport sector. Ace Carter enthuses: “Our drivers ‘love’ the PowerLash chains!”
The contractor also benefits from using the DoNova® PowerLash. “Working with them is a lot easier. The loading and unloading processes are much quicker and the driver doesn't get tired as quickly,” explains Ace Carter. We at Dolezych are delighted with how the advantages of the DoNova® PowerLash have been confirmed at Northwest Logistics Heavy Haul and have been able to provide concrete benefits!
Bolk Transport B.V. from the Netherlands is faced with the challenge of transporting four huge storage tanks, each 35 meters in diameter and 20 meters long, from Germany to Luxembourg.
The to-do list is long: to enable the XXL transport to negotiate sharp bends and traffic circles, individual roads are closed and temporary parking bans are imposed in view of the special dimensions. Cafés and restaurants have to relocate their terraces and the rest of the traffic is temporarily diverted. The transport company uses special low-loader vehicles (so-called tank bridges) to be able to pass under bridges on the way to the port. The huge stainless steel tanks are secured with our DoNova® PowerLash textile chain. Thanks to its outstanding properties, the valuable cargo is well secured: The chain made of the high-performance fiber Dyneema® is light as a feather, but secures the storage tanks, which weigh tons, as strong as an ox.
We are delighted to be able to simply make the world of transportation safer with our textile chain: Easy and back-friendly work when securing loads thanks to the low dead weight of the chain, guaranteed safety for the load thanks to certification and strict testing.