Ontario, Canada-based Unirope Limited has opened a new training centre at its headquarters in Mississauga.

Unirope, which started work on the new facility in April 2024, is a specialist in the manufacture, distribution, testing, certification, and inspection of high-performance wire rope and rigging products. It has additional facilities in Quebec and Alberta; the three sites combine to deliver a service nationwide and to select customers in the U.S. and Europe.

The company has utilized an existing area previously used for manufacturing to create a 1,800-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility that is designed to accommodate large groups. It features a dedicated entrance and washrooms; a 13-foot large screen for presentations; and will eventually incorporate a lifting demonstration rig to showcase proper rigging practices.

Justin Brown, president at Unirope, said: “Previously, we rented a space in a neighbouring building for training. However, since 2021, we have not had a dedicated facility due to other expansion works. The demand for training has grown, as customers increasingly seek to upskill their teams. This aligns with our commitment to promote safe lifting practices and ensure workers return home safely at the end of their day. The new centre allows us to better serve our industry and customers.”

Unirope is already delivering training at its new training centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.

Unirope is a widely recognized provider of world-class training content. Its trainers hold certifications with reputable organizations, such as the National Commission for the Certification of Crane Operators (better known as NCCCO), and the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA), which represent the highest standards in lifting and rigging education.

Unirope’s primary training program is called, ‘Prevention of Rigger Mortis,’ which covers essential rigging practices and inspection. It also offers product-specific training, such as a crane rope seminar, and facilitates third-party rigger certifications.

Brown added: “Training is not a revenue driver for Unirope. We are a high-end supplier with deep expertise, and our goal is to share that knowledge. While there are fees for courses, they are designed to sustain the program rather than generate profit. In-person training provides hands-on experience and fosters stronger engagement, which we believe is critical for effective learning.

“Professional development is a core principle at Unirope,” he continued. “We actively track our employees’ progress, ensuring they maintain certifications and continue to grow their expertise. It’s a vital part of delivering the quality and safety our customers expect.”

Several courses have already been conducted in the new Mississauga training centre, while future bookings are quickly filling up. Courses will continue to be given by an experienced team of rigging consultants, all of whom have strong practical backgrounds. Unirope will also host key vendors that specialize in certain product lines.

Unirope Ltd.’s Knut Buschmann won the inaugural Associated Wire Rope Fabricators (AWRF) Industry Leader Award, presented at last month’s Fall General Meeting in La Quinta, California.

The nomination for industry veteran Buschmann, who attended his first AWRF meeting in 1989, was led by the association’s incoming president, Mike Poroo, of Scope Computer Vision Technologies Corp. It was the latest of multiple awards bestowed on Buschmann, who was Unirope’s president until 2020 and served on numerous technical and standards committees.

Poroo said: “Knut has generously donated his time post-retirement to consult with me, teaching me how to think about, design, and write guidelines and standards for my business and the rigging industry. Multiple documents, several revisions, and countless hours have been involved.

“As Knut had no monetary incentive to assist,” he continued, “It became clear just how much motivation and personal fulfillment he found in being able to pass his knowledge and experience on to those that want to learn. His dedication to helping others is truly admirable and I look forward to many more years of mentorship.”

Mississauga, Ontario-based Unirope is a specialist in the manufacture, distribution, testing, certification, and inspection of high-performance wire rope and rigging products. It has additional facilities in Quebec and Alberta; the three sites combine to deliver a service nationwide and to select customers in the U.S. and Europe.

The awards program was new to this year’s AWRF Fall event, and launched to recognize major contributions towards the growth and success of the association and the rigging industry as a whole. Winners were announced during a gala evening. Categories included Industry Leader Awards in Individual and Company classifications; The Caldwell Group Inc. was the other winner.

Buschmann, who wasn’t in attendance, said: “I heard [I won] from my wife who got a text from someone else in the room during the presentation. I was much surprised because I never heard about that award before — and I thought I was up to date with AWRF board decisions.

“My initial motivation was to educate people in the subject of rope, rigging, and fabrication practices. The more people understood basic, or even advanced, engineering principals in our industry, the easier it became for me to have meaningful conversations about standards, product applications, or future directions of industry associations.”

Justin Brown, president at Unirope, and outgoing AWRF president, said: “Knut’s dedication to the lifting and rigging industry extends far beyond his impressive career; in the past year alone, he has volunteered countless hours to mentor, guide, and educate, sharing his extensive expertise to build standards that will shape our future. His contributions exemplify a commitment to quality and progress. Knut’s passion for helping others, coupled with his technical brilliance, make him a true cornerstone of our community.”

Unirope Ltd.’s Knut Buschmann attended his first AWRF meeting in 1989.

Poroo added: “There aren’t many that have contributed more to AWRF or even the rigging industry as a whole than Knut Buschmann. Without question, he is one of the brightest minds in our industry, grounded in philanthropic endeavor to raise the entire lifting and rigging community.”

Industry legacy

German native Buschmann moved to Canada in 1989 to lead the Unirope business. Not long after that, in 1995, he was asked to join the AWRF Technical Committee to form and chair the Web-Sling Sub-Committee. At that time, AWRF had embarked on a test program to determine the fabrication efficiencies of some wide-width and multiple ply web slings by breaking strength testing about 1,000 slings at the University of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania.

He said: “All these results landed in my lap, and, in the end, we agreed upon recommended sling capacities of such slings, which we then published and later got adopted by the WSTDA [Web Sling & Tie Down Association]. That took about two years with, how my mentor Charles Lucas always described, the ‘lightning speed of frozen molasses running down a hill’. Not long after that I joined the AWRF Board of Directors and became AWRF president for the year 2001.”

This proved to be a period of great upheaval because of illness at AWRF leadership level and the 9/11 terror attack. Having re-joined the Technical Committee, focus turned to updating the Swager Safety Guide and a pathway was opened towards the Recommended Practices and Guidelines (RP&G) that are central to the association’s function today. Buschmann led on creation of guidelines for chain and wire rope testing procedures; hoist and magnet testing; and a safety guide for test beds.

“My last assignment,” he said, “Was to develop an RP&G for Aluminum Turnback Wire Rope Terminations, which was adopted by AWRF in 2023. Along the way, I also re-designed the AWRF Quality Survey that I then morphed into the Recommended Practice for the Operation of Sling Shops, which, in turn, became the basis for the LEEA [Lifting Equipment Engineers Association] / AWRF Sling Shop Certification Program. I eventually stepped down from the AWRF Technical Committee last year.”

AWRF and LEEA are just two associations to benefit from Buschmann’s voluntary advocacy work. The International Organization for the Study of Ropes (OIPEEC) is another, where he also served as president, while other beneficiaries include the Canadian Standards Organization (CSA); Cordage Institute, which regulates fiber ropes and slings; and American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME). Buschmann is still active in the ASME B30.30 Rope Committee and the Infrastructure Health and Safety Association (IHSA).

He said: “In recent years, AWRF has developed more relevant technical content for members. The industry is changing quickly and is joined by young professionals not always coming with a rigging background. They are looking for guidance and inspiration on neutral ground — and AWRF can provide them with that. One has to understand that in North America, no standards exist for many of the products we are using or fabricating every day, which is different to Europe.

“The industry at large has to come together first and show that there is interest to write and design safety standards for rigging. If something falls down, gravity can do great damage — RP&Gs can guide members towards a safer and more structured way to produce and fabricate their products.”

Ontario-based Unirope Limited has implemented Scope Computer Vision Technologies Corp.’s state-of-the-art utility stringing technology for periodic inspection of pilot and pulling lines.

Mississauga-based Unirope is a specialist in the manufacture, distribution, testing, certification, and inspection of high-performance wire rope and rigging products.

It has additional facilities in Quebec and Alberta; the three sites combine to deliver a service nationwide and to select customers in the U.S. and Europe.

In the utility sector, wire stringing includes all activities associated with the installation of the primary conductors onto the transmission line structures. Central to operations is stringing the pilot line to install the conductor. A lightweight fiber rope  (pilot) is flown from tower-to-tower by helicopter, threading the line through rollers. Unirope provides and inspects these pilot lines. Better known as stringing lines, pilot lines can be anywhere in the range of 5,000 to 30,000 feet long.

Unirope has integrated Scope’s cutting-edge technology into their inspection processes, revolutionizing how utility stringing lines are maintained. The AI-powered solution augments the human in the loop, providing real-time insights and enhancing the human inspectors’ ability to detect potential issues quickly and accurately. This advancement ensures safer operations by identifying potential hazards on the line before they become critical.

Justin Brown, President at Unirope, said:

“Our partnership with Scope has allowed us to enhance our inspection processes significantly for our utility, electric utility contractor, and manufacturer customer base. The integration of their technology into our operations has not only improved safety but also increased the efficiency of our inspections.”

“It’s incredible that Scope has inspected over 60 million feet of rope to date. We are proud to lead the way in adopting innovative solutions that set new benchmarks in the industry.”

Scope’s AI-powered solution augments the human in the loop, providing real-time insights when conducting periodic inspection of pilot lines.

Scope of work

There are four major elements to the system: primary and repair scans; the inspection unit; and a tablet. Rope is spooled in through the Scope device while sensors detect damage and output a projected break strength per segment, and an inspection report is generated — made available to users online. The machine identifies areas of concern and a technician, trained in the inspection and repair of fiber ropes, can decide on remediation.

Brown said:

“At up to 5mph, this is much faster than the human eye can perceive during an inspection. At minimum, it is 400% faster, but it’s the accuracy that is most impressive. When a human is looking at a rope, they are not getting a 360-degree view. At best, they can only see the side they are looking at or approximately 33%. A single person inspecting a line can very easily miss damaged sections. Also, that person cannot reliably predict with any certainty the overall condition of the rope.”

“This is all about safety. Stringing line failures are costly and a risk to jobsite safety as well as the general public. With this system and our trained technicians, customers finally have a way to know if a line is up to the job, avoiding the expense of unnecessarily replacing good rope and, most importantly, replacing failing rope with confidence before a catastrophic event can occur.”

The successful implementation of Scope’s utility stringing inspection technology at Unirope underscores the importance of embracing advanced technologies to improve safety and efficiency in critical operations. Both companies are committed to continuing their collaboration to bring further innovations to the industry.

Mike Poroo, President at Scope, said:

“Our technology leverages AI to enhance human capabilities, providing a more thorough and reliable inspection process. This collaboration is a testament to Scope’s commitment to innovation and safety, most notably in the utility sector.”

The machine is trained to specific products and covers an estimated 85% of all stringing lines in service in the US and Canada.

Mississauga, Ontario-based Unirope Limited has added 50,000 square feet of manufacturing space to its headquarters, improving lead times by as much as 400%.

Unirope is a specialist in the manufacture, distribution, testing, certification, and inspection of high-performance wire rope and rigging products. It has additional facilities in Quebec and Alberta; the three sites combine to deliver a service nationwide and to select customers in the U.S. and Europe.

The expansion represents completion of a journey that started in 2018, prior to ground-breaking two years later, and a major construction project that concluded in 2021. Since then, further investment has been committed to equipping the facility with a suite of state-of-the-art machining and fabrication equipment, centered on wire rope fabrication, synthetic sling manufacturing and computer numerical control (CNC) technology.

Justin Brown, president at Unirope, said: “At a minimum we have cut lead times in half, and in the best case we have seen a 400% improvement. We are moving towards modernizing the traditional rigging shop model. The words ‘rigging shop’ and ‘modern’ are rarely mentioned in the same breath. Many of the products are heavy and lined with grease, and most factories are stuck in the 1980s with equipment from the 1960s. Not us.”

He continued: “We have implemented material handling solutions to help with heavy lifting; installed modern machinery to make reeling, cutting, and fabrication easier; utilized technology to put work instructions at the fingertips of production workers; installed a full machine shop with modern [CNC] capabilities for custom wire rope end fittings; upgraded ventilation to keep the air clean; and fitted environmentally friendly plant lighting alongside fit-for-purpose test units.”

The majority of Unirope’s work is on customized rigging products; an interesting statistic, for example, is that 90% of all chain slings that it manufactured in 2023 were unique, either in size, length, or configuration. The business can proof test up to 1.3 million pounds, and the highest single vertical sling capacity in the portfolio is 600,000 pounds.

68 Years in the Making

Unirope, which has been servicing the industry since 1956, already had two warehouses in Mississauga, but it was running out of space to store growing inventory, and the situation was starting to impede production. It would have been impossible to navigate an aggressive phase of growth without expanding and streamlining operations.

Brown said: “With strategic machinery updates, we were able to eliminate certain labor intensive tasks, and ease the burden on production employees. The work is difficult, so anything we could do to make the jobs more efficient, eased the physical impact on our employees. Remember, unemployment is at an all-time low, so we have to optimize our workforce. The overall investment led to efficiencies that allowed us to eliminate bottlenecks, deliver faster, and increase our outputs.”

An automatic wire rope cutting line, plus additional swagers and upgraded annealing machines will be operated with an additional test bed and a third Twin-Path^® machine. Additional warehouse space also meant that inventory could also be increased across all product lines, including Python^® high-performance wire rope, Grade 100 chain, and range of Crosby rigging hardware. Python^® wire rope is stocked in a wide variety of constructions for tower cranes, mobile and truck cranes, overhead cranes, and gantry cranes. These ropes are widely used in construction, automotive, and industrial applications. Unirope also stocks a variety of other standard and custom ropes, all meeting national and international standards.

Brown added: “We have built a diversified customer base over the last 68 years and continue to build on that strategy. Our customers, without exception, are looking for professional and attentive service. They want our input and expertise; they are not looking for the cheapest and untested; they want reliability and quality.”

Unirope has added 50,000 square feet of manufacturing space to its headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario.

The facility is equipped with a suite of state-of-the-art machining and fabrication equipment.

Unirope is a specialist in the manufacture, distribution, testing, certification, and inspection of high-performance wire rope and rigging products.

Unirope Limited was the first rigging shop to become an Associated Wire Rope Fabricators (AWRF) Accredited Member.

Mississauga, Ontario-based Unirope completed a successful in-person audit, conducted by AWRF’s third-party auditors, the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA).

The AWRF Accreditation Program is a voluntary opportunity for all member companies and their affiliated branches. Using the current revision of AWRF RP&G, Recommended Practice for the Operation of Sling Shops, as a basis for evaluation, LEEA works with interested members to ensure compliance. In other words, the audit was developed by LEEA according to requirements set out by AWRF.

Unirope—it is also a LEEA member—is a specialist in the manufacture, distribution, testing, certification, and inspection of high-performance wire rope and rigging products. It has additional facilities in Quebec and Alberta; the three sites combine to deliver a service nationwide and to select customers in the U.S. and Europe.

Justin Brown, president at Unirope, said: “There is a sense of pride that comes with being first across any line or to be the first to achieve a goal. That said, we undertook this as a project to support AWRF, our industry, and all the end users of rigging products that will in the future be looking for a way to distinguish quality rigging fabricators from the rest.

“In three to five years, this program will be the benchmark in our industry. End users of rigging products will demand that they are produced by an AWRF Accredited Member and there will be a clear quality benchmark between those that can comply and those that cannot.”

Having completed the audit, Unirope can now market itself as an AWRF Accredited Member, which includes the use of a logo that has recently been developed. The goals of the program are to ensure safer sling shop operation; to drive more business to member companies; and to help member companies win more market share—ultimately adding value to being a member.

Brown said: “The third-party audit and accreditation is significant beyond AWRF membership—and it is important to know the difference. Membership alone brings a lot of benefits but simply being a member of a trade association doesn’t prove that you abide by its recommended best practices. It’s the difference between talking the talk and walking the walk.”

Rallying Call

Interestingly, 25% of AWRF membership is from outside of the U.S. Half of the international contingent is based in Canada, and nearly all Canadian members are rigging shops. The AWRF Accreditation Program is not the same as being a LEEA accredited member. As Unirope proved, LEEA members must still proceed via the same processes as non-LEEA members—and Brown has urged all AWRF members, LEEA members and not, to join the program.

He said: “Everything we do at Unirope starts with one basic idea that guides every decision. And that is the basic right that everyone that uses or comes into contact with our products gets to go home after their shift; we extend that idea to the entire industry, which is why we will absolutely encourage every rigging shop to gain accreditation. The more AWRF members that get on board, the safer our industry will become. Companies will find things during their audits that need to be changed or improved and implement those changes as part of this process.

“The marketing power you gain by being accredited will prove invaluable. Accreditation demonstrates and sets a quality benchmark, exhibits accountability to the market, reduces risk, and increases efficiency. There are endless ways to cut corners in our industry, which is counter to the needs of such a high-risk sector. For example, things like die maintenance and verification of after swage dimensions, are convenient to bypass or ignore, but critical to the performance of the final product.”

• The accreditation is valid for three years, with annual visits and check-ups. An audit must be completed for each individual location.

Unirope technicians perform a final length verification on custom wire rope assemblies.

A Unirope technician verifies the thread dimension on a custom manufactured threaded stud that will be used to make a custom wire rope assembly.

Quality testing the fatigue properties of a wire rope.

Verifying the after swage dimension of a wire rope sleeve.

Following inspection and repair of this 7/8” adjustable chain sling, a proof test is performed prior to return to the customer.

Have a look and discover our new and updated product catalogues for:

• Wire Ropes
• Wire Rope Slings
• Chain Slings
• Synthetic Slings
• Rigging Hardware

Call for Printed Versions.
Download PDF Versions NOW at https://unirope.com/technical-literature/

Have a look and discover our new and updated steel mesh products.

Call for a Printed Version.
Download PDF Version NOW at https://unirope.com/technical-literature/

• Inspection
• Handling
• Installation
• Maintenance
• Engineering

… and more.
Call for a Printed Version.
Download PDF Version NOW at https://unirope.com/technical-literature/
View New Version online at https://unirope.com/products/ropes/wire-ropes/

New Product 1: Self Locking Swivel Hooks with Ball Bearings

NOW available with a free swiveling Ball Bearing top attachment.

This allows you to swivel a load while IT IS LIFTED and SUSPENDED.
Standard “Positioning” swivels can ONLY be rotated while they are NOT under any load.

Note that Ball Bearing swivels must NOT be used with wire rope as the swiveling action will UNLAY the rope.

Click here to see product page for more details.

New Product 2: In-Line Clevis Grab Shortening Hooks with Half Link Connector

Half Link In-Line Clevis Grab Shortening Hooks

This is the next evolution chain shortening. You Not only avoid the extra chain connector in the shortening link, you also avoid the extra chain connector to the master link. In addition this turns the entire chain shortening link by 90° which makes it much easier to the handle the chain for shortening.

Click here to see product page for more details.

New Product 3: Unirope® Wire Mesh Slings

• Mesh is made from 302 Stainless steel
• Corrosion Resistant
• Cross Rods WELDED to Spirals
• Each sling comes Proof Tested to 2 x WLL
• Maximum Operating Temperature 550˚F
• Slings comply with ASME B30.9-3

Click here to see product page for more details.