Flat woven webbing slings, also called web slings, are made of flat strips of wide woven webbing. They are used for lifting, rigging and material handling applications where strength, durability and affordability are required. This blog post discusses the properties, uses and safety tips for flat polyester webbing slings.
What Are Flat Webbing Slings?
Polyester Flat webbing sling is as comprised of wide strips of flat woven webbing made from synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon or polypropylene. They have distinctive features:
- Flat woven construction – Provides high strength and flexibility for repetitive use. Threads are interlaced at right angles to make the webbing.
- Continuous length – Many web slings are endless, ie. they form a continuous loop without attachments or joints. This eliminates potential weak spots.
- Broad surface area – The wide, flat construction distributes loads across a larger surface area, reducing pressures on lifted items.
- Affordable – Flat webbing slings tend to cost less than metal chain slings and wire rope slings due to their simpler woven construction.
- Lighter weight – The webbing material makes web slings significantly lighter in weight compared to chain or wire rope options.
Properties Of Polyester Webbing Slings
Polyester is a common synthetic fiber used for webbing slings due to its high strength, durability and resistance to wear, abrasion and many chemicals. Some key properties are:
- High Tensile Strength – Provides sufficient strength for lifting medium to heavy loads.
- Good Abrasion Resistance – Can withstand the friction caused by repeated load handling.
- Resistant to Oils and Chemicals – Polyester webbing is resistant to degradation from common chemicals and lubricants.
- Wide Temperature Range – Remains flexible from -40°F to 170°F.
- Non-Corrosive – Will not corrode over time like metallic slings.
- Non-Conductive – Makes these slings safe for use near electrical hazards.
Uses Of Polyester Webbing Slings
Handling loads during material transport and movement:
Polyester webbing slings are used for lifting and handling various loads like machinery parts, objects, packaging and pallets during shipping, logistics operations and manufacturing assembly. Their broad surface area aids in gripping bulky or odd-shaped items without damaging them.
Machinery assembly and installation:
The flexibility and strength of polyester webbing slings make them well-suited for rigging and assembling parts, components and equipment. They can provide temporary support during transport or maneuvering of large machinery.
Warehouse applications:
Polyester webbing slings see wide application in warehouses for tasks like loading and unloading trucks, lifting objects onto shelves, and moving stock between locations. Their light weight, low cost and ease of use are beneficial in these environments.
Construction work:
These slings are commonly used on construction sites for lifting materials, tools and equipment. Their heat resistance allows use around hot work and their non-conductivity ensures safety near energized lines.
General industrial applications:
Polyester webbing slings have myriad industrial uses wherever strong, cost-effective and chemical-resistant lifting aids are required. Their versatility makes them suitable for a broad range of lifting and handling applications across many industries.