What is steel wire? Steel wire is essentially a bundle of multiple steel strands. They are usually braided or joined together in some other way. Steel wire can be used for many different applications, such as lifting objects, elevators, or winches. Steel wire is also frequently found in cable cars. Steel wire has a major advantage over rope : it has much greater tensile strength and cannot shrink or stretch with changes in humidity. Only at higher temperatures can differences occur.
There's a long history behind the origins of steel wire. Generally speaking, bundling multiple layers of wire began sometime in the late 19th century (before 1900). It appears to have been manufactured around 1890. Steel cables were possibly first bundled and used by Thomas Seale, who worked for the California Street Cable Railroad. The cables were used for the cable cars that operated there at the time. Steel wire is precisely the right material for such an application because it is very flexible. Other engineers improved Seale's design to achieve greater flexibility.
Later, the strands of six wires were wound around a core. This is where the name "Warrington wire rope" comes from. Whether this wasn't already the case in the mid-nineteenth century is not entirely clear. The original idea may have come from John Roebling, but he never put steel wire into production. It wasn't until the early 1920s that steel wire was manufactured as we know it today.
Steel wire is usually made of unalloyed steel, which is then bundled together. The tensile strength of each steel wire varies. This depends primarily on the amount of carbon in the steel. The more carbon, the higher the tensile load. In principle, steel wires always have the same structure: a core, strands, and wires. These are then twisted into different constructions. Consider, for example, the standard construction. In this case, each layer of a strand is twisted at the same angle and has the same diameter.
Steel wire is often also available in a parallel construction. In such a case, the stroke angle is adjusted for each layer to ensure a consistent stroke length. They make contact in lines instead of points. Therefore, it's always wise to pay attention to the precise construction of the steel wire.
Steel wire can be used for various applications. Think, for example, of pulling and lifting heavy objects. Steel wire is always the best choice. If you need very strong steel wire, it's best to choose the maximum thickness. That's why we've included steel wires in our range with a maximum load capacity of up to 2110 daN. It's even possible to create a loop in the steel wire using a steel wire clamp.
Those who need significantly more strength and for whom regular steel wire isn't sufficient can opt for braided steel wire. Steel wire is certainly a very strong product, thanks in part to the high-quality stainless steel, preventing corrosion. However, the wires consist of multiple strands, each of which is made up of multiple wires. These wires are braided together, creating a braided steel wire. Ideal for lifting a very heavy object. Braided steel wire can be used for pulling and hoisting, but it can also be used as a curtain rod.
Steel wire doesn't always have to be used in construction. It's also frequently used in industrial-style homes to hang kitchen utensils. This also makes it a good decorative material.
