CLOVERLEAF SLINGS FOR UNITIZATION OF BAGGED CARGO
Marine Services has been experimenting since early 1979 with various types of slings for unitization of bagged cargo as well as meat quarters and other cargo commodities. The company has been acting as a consultant to several large importers, exporters and transportation organizations as well as to the Government. The sling which is now called Cloverleaf, has been successfully applied to the carriage of cement, flour, coffee, asbestos, citrus in cartons, frozen meat in quarters, etc. Cloverleaf slings serve a dual purpose: as a sling for lifting and transporting the bags from one mode of transportation into another until the final destinations reached; and for holding the bags or packages together when resting.
The principle of unitization is observed by the fact that once a number of bags or packages are pre-slinked, they are, from then on, handled as one large unit. This arrangement eliminates repeated handling of single units at every major interface during the process of transportation. In turn, it reduces consi­derably the handling costs and handling time. The reduction in handling time (loading and discharging) is of particular signi ficance to modern ocean carriers since such reduction improves port turn-around time and increases its potential earning capa city.
An attractive characteristic of the Cloverleaf sling is dispo-sability. The price sufficiently low to permit the disposal of the sling and thus eliminate the cost and labour involved in returning the used slings to the point of origin. We are pleased to inform you that the above sling has been undergoing trials for improvement which clients have been most satisfied with the new design.
INRRODUCE--CLOVERLEAF SLINGS-----DISPOSABLE FLAT BELT SLINGS
1, There are three types of materials used for disposable flat lifting slings, a polyethylene, a water resistant reinforced paper or a woven webbing outer layer to contain straight polyester fibres. They are made in several widths and strengths according to the intended use. The slings are designed for one load only (to enable that load to be despatched and received) and are not intended for repeated use.
2, They are normally used in the pre-slinging of bagged cargo and are assembled into a form known as 'cloverleaf' as the empty sling in plan view resembles a four leaf clover. Increasingly they are being used in the construction industry to lift sections of timber framed houses or roof trusses and in manufacturing for packs of steel, wood or plastic.
3, They are not used for general lifting purposes because, although they have a satisfactory but slightly lower factor of safety, they are not suitable for repeated use due to their comparatively light construction and low abrasive resistance. These slings should be disposed of once they have been detached from the load at the final destination.
4, Slings of this type are not individually proof tested, but any metal fittings, such as rings or links, should be proof tested in the normal way. This type of sling would not need to be subjected to periodic examination by a competent person, due to its disposable nature.
5, There is no specific standard for Disposable Flat Lifting Slings (the old Bristish standard has been withdrawn) therefore BS EN 1492-1: 2000 may be used as a guide to compliance with the Essential Safety Requirements of the Supply of Machinery Regulations 1992 Schedule 2 Part 4. There are however standards for the production of disposible bags, known as Flexible IBC’s BS EN 1898.2001 which should be used.
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