Andromeda Industries is a locally owned manufacturing company that develops and supplies a range of well-engineered products; the result of in-house research and development while investing in quality people, systems, and business practices. Its specialty? The design and manufacture of plaited and woven steel cable and terminal systems.
For nearly 50 years, Andromeda Industries has been producing Superflex cable to solve rigging gear problems. Used in a wide variety of industries including civil construction, mining and by electricity providers, they are known as an innovator throughout the lifting and rigging industry.
Andromeda Industries is the only producer of Superflex steel cable and relishes the opportunity to continually improve and provide solutions to the lifting and rigging market both nationally and internationally – all while being conscious of sustainability. In a world of throw away products, Andromeda Industries’ range of plaited and woven steel slings and cables are not only made to last but are fully recyclable at the end of their lifting life. As Andromeda’s customer relationship manager Geoff Bower says: “to be sustainable and recyclable in today’s environment is fantastic.”
Andromeda Industries’ Superflex cable is a steel cable of plaited configuration, not laid or twisted like wire rope. This gives Superflex its unique flexible and set resistant cable – the plaiting of the steel cords creates a very tough and set resistant cable composed of many more wires than is possible with laid wire rope.
As the name suggests, Superflex is a highly flexible steel cable, with the flexibility of synthetic but the durability of steel. “Superflex cable is really the best of both worlds and can solve a multitude of lifting problems and scenarios,” says Geoff.
Through years of research and development, Andromeda Industries has introduced innovative and unique slings to the market such as the Dean-0 Sling. This special sling is designed to be made very short and provide a single lifting point under a Ramshorn Hook on large cranes. This enables a single point of load to be attached and still maintain centreline loading on the cranes’ lower hoisting block assembly. With sizes ranging from 11 tonnes through to 165 tonnes, the sling covers a plethora of lifting needs.
The Dean-0 sling is one of many different slings that Andromeda Industries produces. Other products produced by the NSW-based company are the Superflex Sling, Superflex Strop, Superflex Double-Ended Strop, Steel Flat Woven Slings in both Cradle Lift and Choker Lift configuration and cover all bases with slings ranging in size from 10mm ND through to 96mm ND.
Depending on the sling or strop required, the Superflex slings range has lifting capacity from 1 tonne in straight pull through to 168 tonnes for the Superflex Double-Ended Strop. Additionally, the sling can increase to 330 tonnes in cradle configuration and everything in between, allowing for vast coverage of various lifting applications.
Another standout product is Andromeda Industries’ Superflex strops which are used to choke around loads and, due to the great flexibility of the steel cable, holds immense gripping properties – allowing for safe lifting of slippery and greasy poles, used in an array of industries from electricity providers through to aluminium smelters.
Andromeda Industries has also developed its own unique all-steel termination systems for its Superflex steel cables. The Low Deformation (LD) system was developed over a 15-year period and has been in full production now for over 10 years. The LD ferrule system allows for a ferrule that is 18 per cent smaller in diameter than equivalent aluminium ones, creates a sling made entirely of steel which allows for use in maritime, caustic and extreme heat environments and has a smooth tapered ferrule which neatly covers the wire ends, eliminating the chance of cutting your hand on sharp wire tails.
With NATA accreditation and full membership with LEEA, the quality of each sling in an industry where safety and quality are paramount is ensured through rigorous testing processes. With numerous swaging presses that include a 4,200 tonne Talurit press, and testing facilities that include a vertical 45 tonne test machine and a 300-tonne test bed, consumers are guaranteed the lifting equipment they receive from Andromeda Industries has gone through all the necessary checks and balances.
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