United Sling Co, in conjunction with Black Snake, utilised CICA’s National Conference and Exhibition to premiere the LiftLink™ Sling – the world’s first next-generation heavy lift sling innovation.
The LiftLink™ generated strong interest from the crane and rigging industry during the event, with visitors recognising it as a truly unique Australian development.
An Australian collaboration
United Sling Co and Black Snake – two of Australia’s leading manufacturers in lifting and recovery technology – have combined their strengths to engineer a patent-pending heavy lift sling system for the global market.
Formed in mid-2024, the partnership set out to deliver the world’s first Australian-designed and manufactured HMPE high performance round sling featuring integrated steel thimbles and a captive pin system, eliminating the need for separate shackles.
The collaboration merges United Sling Co’s expertise in HMPE high-performance sling design and National Association of Testing Authorities (NATA)-accredited manufacturing with Black Snake’s renowned termination technology and proven field durability. The result is a sling that combines the exceptional strength-to-weight ratio of HMPE with the rugged resilience of Black Snake’s rubber-coated terminations, engineered to perform in the harshest lifting environments.
Why LiftLink™?
The LiftLink™ sling is more than just another round sling. By integrating connection hardware into a single streamlined design, it reduces rigging weight, shortens setup times, and improves safety for crane crews and rigging teams.
Key Advantages of LiftLink™ (Patent application No. 2025904530)
• Shackle-free connection: Patent-pending captive pin and thimble design for fast, safe attachment.
• Field-proven durability: Black Snake’s rubber-coated termination technology combined with Webbing Industries Australia’s woven HMPE sleeving to resist wear, cuts, bursts, and corrosion.
• Extended service life: Steel thimbles reinforce sling eyes, preventing deformation and abrasion.
• Lightweight rigging: HMPE core and integrated terminations reduce rigging weight without compromising strength.
• Optimised geometry: Rubber “throat” design matches shackle body dimensions, built in d:D ratios removing the need for edge-radius calculations.
• Simplified load path: Fewer load-bearing contact points improve reliability and safety.
All LiftLink™ slings are RFID (Radiofrequency identification)-traceable, proof-tested, and supplied with NATA certification and fully compliant to the relevant standards.
Australian-made from fibre to finish
United Sling Co manufactures a full range of round slings, flat slings, and synthetic lifting and rigging solutions from its Perth facility. Originally founded in 2007 by John and Sue Maras, the company has built a strong reputation for heavy-duty, high-quality products –all compliant with AS 4497:2018 and AS 1353.1:1997.
In early 2024, United Sling Co was acquired by the Greatorex Group, a third-generation Australian technical textile manufacturer with origins dating back to 1946.
This acquisition united two of Australia’s most specialised textile manufacturers – United Sling Co and Webbing Industries Australia, which has been weaving high-performance industrial webbing since 1949.
United Sling Co is the only sling manufacturer in the country producing slings made exclusively from Australian-woven webbing. Every metre of webbing used at United Sling Co is designed, woven, and finished locally by Webbing Industries Australia at its 8000 square metre facility in Moorabbin, Victoria.
In an industry increasingly reliant on imported synthetic components, the relationship between United Sling Co and Webbing Industries Australia stands apart – representing a fully integrated Australian supply chain from fibre to finished sling, ensuring complete quality control, traceability, and national manufacturing pride.
Collaborating on LiftLink™
Alex Greatorex of the Greatorex Group comments that: “Since the acquisition of United Sling Co., I relocated with my family to Perth. I have been working full time in the United Sling Co business and tending to other Greatorex Group matters as needed.
“Our business relationship with Black Snake dates back nearly 25 years, when Marc Rinderer, the founder of Black Snake, had dealings with my father Len when he first established the company. We have often spoken about working together on projects.
“We had been brainstorming different ideas when Marc proposed transforming Black Snake’s extensive experience with recovery strop manufacturing techniques to create a radical and unique lifting sling innovation. We subsequently quickly applied for a patent and then launched at the Crane Industry Council of Australia (CICA) show,” said Alex.
The CICA National Conference and Exhibition marked the official launch of the LiftLink™.
“We had a really interesting few days at the CICA event and the response from visitors to the stand was overwhelmingly positive,” said Alex.
“From what I’ve been told, the LiftLink™ was the talk of the show with industry professionals excited to see and feel the weight reduction. We’re confident LiftLink™ will resonate strongly across the lifting sector.”