Traditional Splicing, Long Splicing & Rope Termination Services
LB Wire Ropes provides specialist wire rope and fibre rope splicing services for lifting, winching, mining, marine, defence and industrial applications.
Established in 1962, LB Wire Ropes continues to maintain traditional hand-splicing skills alongside modern rope termination and assembly methods. Our experienced riggers work with wire rope, conventional fibre ropes and modern high-performance synthetic ropes to produce splices and terminations suited to the rope construction and intended application.
Traditional hand splicing remains particularly valuable where the size and bulk of a mechanical termination is undesirable. For many fibre rope constructions, splicing is also fundamental to producing an effective termination without the damaging compression associated with conventional wire rope ferrules and fittings.
As new rope technologies such as UHMWPE are increasingly used in applications traditionally served by wire rope and conventional fibre rope, specialist splicing knowledge remains an important part of modern rope technology.
Wire Rope Splicing
LB Wire Ropes maintains specialist hand-splicing capabilities for wire rope applications where a traditional splice is required or provides advantages over a conventional mechanical termination.
Our wire rope splicing capabilities include:
- Le Blanc eye splices
- Flemish eye splices
- Long splices for continuous wire rope systems
- Hand-spliced specialist wire rope assemblies
- Machine-swaged wire rope terminations
The appropriate method depends on the rope construction, application, required termination and operating conditions.
Le Blanc Eye Splices
The Le Blanc eye splice is a traditional wire rope splicing technique used to form an eye directly in the wire rope without the large external ferrule associated with a conventional machine-spliced eye.
This can be particularly useful where the physical size or bulk of a ferrule would interfere with the equipment, connection arrangement or operation of the assembly.
LB Wire Ropes maintains the specialist rigging skills required to manufacture Le Blanc eye splices for suitable wire rope applications.
Flemish Eye Splices
Flemish eye splices provide another method of forming an eye termination in wire rope and are used across lifting, mining, marine and heavy industrial applications.
The rope strands are separated and formed back around the eye before the termination is completed using the appropriate method for the assembly.
LB Wire Ropes can manufacture Flemish eye wire rope assemblies where this termination is appropriate for the rope and application.
Long-Spliced Endless Wire Ropes
Long splicing is a highly specialised technique used to join the ends of a wire rope to create a continuous operating rope without a conventional end termination.
Rather than concentrating the connection at a single point, the strands are progressively interwoven through the rope over a considerable distance. This allows the completed rope to operate continuously around suitable drums, sheaves or drive systems.
LB Wire Ropes manufactures long-spliced endless wire ropes for specialised applications including:
- Ferris wheels
- greyhound racing tracks
- conveyor systems
- specialised winching systems
- other continuous wire rope applications
Long-spliced ropes require careful consideration of the rope construction, equipment and operating system. Our technical team can assist with replacement rope selection and the manufacture of long-spliced endless ropes for suitable applications.
Machine-Swaged Wire Rope Terminations
Traditional hand splicing is one of several methods available for terminating wire rope.
LB Wire Ropes also manufactures machine-swaged wire rope assemblies using a range of ferrules and fittings, including:
- aluminium ferrules
- copper ferrules
- stainless steel ferrules & fittings
- steel ferrules & fittings
The most appropriate termination method depends on the rope, application, dimensional requirements and operating environment.
Having both traditional hand-splicing and modern machine-swaging capabilities allows the termination method to be selected to suit the particular application rather than relying on a single manufacturing technique.
Fibre Rope Splicing
Splicing is particularly important for fibre rope because conventional compression-type wire rope ferrules are generally not appropriate for many fibre rope constructions and can damage the rope.
A correctly designed splice transfers load through the rope construction itself and can provide a strong, compact termination without introducing the concentrated mechanical compression associated with a ferrule.
LB Wire Ropes provides fibre rope splicing across a range of traditional and modern rope constructions.
Our capabilities include:
- 3-strand Hawser Lay eye splices
- 3-strand short splices
- 3-strand back splices
- double braid eye splices
- 8-strand eye splices
- 12-strand eye splices
- 16-strand eye splices
- specialist splicing of suitable high-performance fibre ropes
3-Strand Rope Splicing
Traditional 3-strand rope remains widely used across marine, industrial and general-purpose applications.
LB Wire Ropes can produce traditional splices including:
- eye splices
- short splices
- back splices
The splice is formed by separating and progressively tucking the individual strands back into the rope construction to produce the required termination or join.
Double Braid Rope Splicing
Double braid ropes consist of a braided core surrounded by a braided cover, requiring a different splicing technique from conventional 3-strand rope.
LB Wire Ropes performs eye splices in suitable double braid rope constructions for industrial, marine and other specialist applications.
The precise splice technique depends on the construction and manufacturer requirements of the particular rope.
8, 12 & 16-Strand Rope Splicing
Multi-strand braided ropes are increasingly used where flexibility, strength, handling characteristics or weight provide advantages over traditional rope constructions.
LB Wire Ropes provides eye splicing for suitable 8, 12 and 16-strand fibre ropes, with the splice method selected according to the particular rope construction and application.
UHMWPE & High-Performance Fibre Rope Splicing
Modern high-performance fibre ropes are increasingly being used in applications traditionally served by steel wire rope and conventional fibre ropes.
UHMWPE ropes offer a high strength-to-weight ratio and very low weight compared with steel wire rope, creating opportunities in winching, pulling, lifting and other industrial applications where reduced rope weight and easier handling can provide significant advantages.
Products manufactured from UHMWPE fibres are often known by recognised fibre brands such as Dyneema®, although rope construction and splicing requirements vary between manufacturers and products.
Splicing is an important part of working with these ropes. Their construction and material properties require termination techniques appropriate to the particular rope rather than conventional wire rope termination methods.
LB Wire Ropes combines established fibre rope splicing knowledge with the techniques required for modern high-performance rope constructions as industry develops new applications for synthetic ropes.
Selecting the Appropriate Splice or Termination
There is no single termination method suitable for every rope or application.
Factors that may need to be considered include:
- rope material and construction
- rope diameter
- intended application
- required strength
- connection arrangement
- available space
- bending and flexibility requirements
- operating environment
- equipment configuration
- termination dimensions
- manufacturer requirements
- inspection and maintenance requirements
For wire rope, a machine-swaged termination may provide the simplest and most economical solution for many applications. In others, the reduced bulk or particular characteristics of a traditional hand splice may make it more appropriate.
For fibre and high-performance synthetic ropes, the rope construction itself often determines the splicing technique required.
Our technical team can assist in determining an appropriate rope and termination method for the application.
Custom Rope Assemblies
LB Wire Ropes manufactures both standard and specialised rope assemblies from our Western Sydney facility.
Our capabilities include the combination of:
- wire rope selection
- fibre rope selection
- hand splicing
- machine swaging
- long splicing
- sockets and specialised terminations
- custom rope lengths
- application-specific assemblies
- inspection and testing where required
This combination of traditional rigging skills and modern manufacturing capability allows us to support applications that cannot always be addressed using standard off-the-shelf rope assemblies.
Why Choose LB Wire Ropes?
LB Wire Ropes has worked with wire rope and fibre rope since 1962 and continues to maintain specialist rope skills that have been developed across generations of riggers.
Our capabilities include:
- traditional wire rope hand splicing
- traditional fibre rope splicing
- long-spliced endless wire ropes
- splicing of suitable high-performance fibre ropes
- machine-swaged wire rope assemblies
- custom rope assembly manufacturing
- experienced rigging personnel
- technical assistance with rope and termination selection
- in-house manufacturing in Western Sydney
- Full Membership of the Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA)
Maintaining both traditional and modern rope-working techniques allows LB Wire Ropes to apply the method appropriate to the rope and application rather than being limited to one termination system.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you still hand splice wire rope?
Yes. LB Wire Ropes maintains traditional wire rope hand-splicing capabilities, including Le Blanc eye splices, Flemish eye splices and long splices for suitable applications.
Why use a hand-spliced wire rope eye instead of a ferrule?
A hand-spliced eye can be useful where the additional size and bulk created by a ferrule is undesirable or where a particular rope or equipment arrangement calls for a traditional hand-spliced termination.
The appropriate termination depends on the rope and application.
Can you make an endless wire rope?
Yes. LB Wire Ropes manufactures long-spliced endless wire ropes for suitable continuous rope systems. Applications we have supplied include Ferris wheels, greyhound racing tracks, conveyor systems and specialised winching systems.
What is a long splice?
A long splice joins the ends of a wire rope to form a continuous rope without a conventional end termination. The strands are progressively interwoven over an extended length of rope, allowing the completed rope to operate as a continuous loop in suitable systems such as Ferris wheels, greyhound racing tracks, conveyors and specialised winching applications.
Do you splice fibre rope?
Yes. Our fibre rope splicing capabilities include traditional 3-strand ropes, double braid ropes and suitable 8, 12 and 16-strand constructions.
Do you splice UHMWPE rope?
LB Wire Ropes can splice suitable high-performance fibre rope constructions, including UHMWPE ropes. The required splice depends on the particular rope construction and manufacturer requirements, so the rope and intended application should be identified before determining the appropriate splice.
Is Dyneema the same as UHMWPE rope?
Dyneema® is a brand of UHMWPE fibre used in the manufacture of high-performance ropes and other products. Not all UHMWPE ropes are Dyneema-branded products, and rope constructions and splicing requirements can vary.
Can fibre rope use a metal ferrule like wire rope?
Conventional wire rope ferrule terminations are generally not suitable for many fibre rope constructions because the compression can damage the rope fibres and adversely affect the termination. Fibre ropes are commonly terminated using a splice specifically designed for the rope construction.
Can you help determine which splice or termination I need?
Yes. Provide our team with details of the rope, application, equipment and required connection. Where possible, rope manufacturer and construction information should also be provided.
Discuss Your Rope Splicing Requirements
Need a traditional wire rope splice, long-spliced endless rope, fibre rope splice or termination for a specialised rope application?