Industrial wire rope is an incredibly important piece of equipment. It is used to secure or lift thousands of pounds, so you’ve got to make sure that you are only buying the highest-quality product from your industrial wire rope supplier. 

There are lots of distributors and wholesalers offering a variety of wire ropes – but you shouldn’t trust all of them. Sadly, some suppliers will cut corners with their inventory to increase their profits. This could mean that you get a shoddy product, which could be quite dangerous depending on how you intend to use it.

 Apart from the quality, you also have to consider the experience that your industrial wire rope supplier provides. You want a distributor who is helpful and trustworthy, not one that just views you as another source of income.

 When searching for your next industrial wire rope supplier, here are 10 things to look for: 

  1.     Wide Variety of Wire Rope Types

Although most wire ropes are made from stainless steel, there are many types and sizes of these industrial cables. Several categories differentiate the types of wire ropes, which include: 

  •         Material: Wire ropes may be made from grades 302, 304, or 316 steel, and can be either IPS (improved plow steel) or EIPS (extra improved plow steel)
  •         Construction: This is the number of wires used in each strand to create the rope
  •         Finish: Wire ropes may be coated to protect the steel
  •         Lubrication: There are different types and amounts of lubrication which can be used
  •         Core: The internal core may be made of fiber, independent wire, or a wire strand
  •         Patterns and Lays: Wires may be configured in different wrap patterns

You want to make sure that your wire rope supplier has a good selection of the types and sizes, so you can find the exact one you need, depending on its application. You should look for a wholesaler who offers lots of options for bright, galvanized, and stainless-steel styles with varying diameters, construction, and core options. 

  1.     Wire Rope Accessory Selection

Most wire ropes are used in conjunction with other hardware. For instance, wire rope used for overhead lifting requires rigging hardware like hooks, shackles, swivels, and hoists. You may also need sleeves or clips to hold the wire rope in place, or links to connect two strands together. 

Again, quality and variety are of the utmost importance here. You want to buy from an industrial hardware supplier that sells top-quality products from good materials, like stainless steel. Be sure that your distributor has the right pieces and sizes on hand so you can get your wire ropes and necessary accessories all from one place.

  1. Detailed Product Descriptions

 Unless you are a wire rope expert, chances are that you don’t know what all of the abbreviations and numbers mean on a wire rope description. Terms like ‘FC’, ‘IWRC’, or ‘WSC’ don’t make sense to most people. And trying to find a wire rope that meets all of your specifications for a specific project can be quite confusing if you aren’t given much information.

Another signal that you’ve found a good wire rope supplier is that they provide detailed descriptions and definitions for their products. This will help you narrow down your selection without having to get on the phone with their customer service to ask questions.

  1.     Distribution Center Locations

 Although many wire rope distributors offer shipping, it is generally best to pick a supplier who has distribution centers as close to your location as possible. This will cut down on shipping costs as well as delivery times – which is great if you’ve got last-minute orders or tight project deadlines.

 

If you’re lucky enough to be driving distance to a distribution center, ask if they offer pick-up. Some suppliers will let you get the supply yourself, which could save you on shipping costs.

5.  Order Minimums and Shipping Rates 

Of course, another consideration to keep in mind is shipping rates and costs. Suppliers have different systems here. Some require a total minimum order for a flat shipping rate, while others adjust it based on weight or size. Make sure you inquire with your wire rope distributor about their rates and see if they have order minimums.

6.  Customer Reviews and Testimonials 

When it comes to picking a trustworthy supplier, don’t just take their word for it. Take a little time to research other customer reviews and testimonials about the quality of the product as well as overall customer service.

 Make sure that you look beyond just the reviews posted on the distributor’s website, though. Some shady businesses will delete negative reviews and only highlight positive ones. Instead, browse their Google Reviews or ratings on third-party sites like the Better Business Bureau and Yelp for more accurate feedback. 

  1.     Wire Rope Resources

You’ll want to find every indication possible that a wire rope distributor is knowledgeable about the products they offer. A good supplier will offer lots of valuable information and resources to their customers to ensure the products are used safely.

There are many ways that suppliers may do this, such as trough: 

  1.     Notable Affiliations

Another sign that the wire rope supplier you’ve chosen is reliable and trustworthy is through any earned affiliations and recognitions. This signals that the company is recognized by other organizations for its product and business standards.

Some notable affiliations include: 

  •         Specialized Carriers & Rigging Association
  •         Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association
  •         Associated Wire Rope Fabricators Association
  •         International Organization for Standardization
  1. Customer Service 

Customer service is a very important factor when it comes to business. In a recent survey, 96% of consumers agreed they would most likely find a new supplier after a single bad customer service experience.

You don’t want to take more time finding a new wire rope supplier after the first one provides terrible service. So, make sure that you test it out ahead of time. First, look for information about customer service experiences in online reviews. You can also test it out yourself by phoning in or sending an email. See how long it takes to get a response and how friendly and helpful they are. This will be a pretty good indication of the level of service you can expect.

  1. Expert Advice

Finally, make sure that your wire rope wholesaler actually knows what they’re talking about. You shouldn’t have to do all the research on your own when finding the right type and size of wire rope. Plus, you’ll likely want a second opinion to make sure you’ve got all the right specifications and hardware. 

Make sure that you can easily reach out to the supplier with any questions about their products. You should be able to get in touch with a salesperson fairly easily who can answer any questions and provide further details about their inventory. 

Looking for a Great Industrial Wire Rope Supplier?

Finding a reliable, trustworthy, and overall fantastic wire rope distributor can be challenging. That’s why here at Elite Sales, we do all that we can to meet and exceed our customer’s expectations.

 We offer a vast selection of wire ropes and accessories with lots of information and resources for this equipment. Our team of experts is also just a phone call away to answer questions and help you place an order.

Learn more about Elite Sales today by contacting us!