EuroWire July 2023

Products

New world record for largest forged shackle

be part of a system for the monopile installation of offshore wind turbines. It was forged and produced at GN Rope Fittings’ sole manufacturing facility in Nieuwkoop, the Netherlands, using raw materials from Western Europe. The company first completed one of the world’s largest shackles in 2009, when it manufactured a 1,750-ton version, followed by a 2,000-ton shackle. It broke the record again when it produced a 2,500-ton forged shackle in 2016. For the latest shackle, the bow was designed to be shorter than standard, requiring less raw material. At the client’s request, the bow was designed in a D shape, rather than the conventional omega shape. The bow radius and the jaw opening are larger than for standard shackles, demonstrating GN Rope Fittings’ ability to modify its products to deliver bespoke solutions. Additional features include a shaft for the installation of the pin. The shackle was load tested to DNV lifting standards, followed by a non-destructive testing inspection. The company has its own in-house WLL6000T test bench in the Netherlands, where all testing was carried out. Bart Vossenberg Jr, director, GN Rope Fittings, said, “Innovating forged solutions for the most cost-effective results for our clients is a passion at GN Rope Fittings. We take pride in developing products that not only meet our clients’ needs but also uphold the highest standards of quality and safety. These priorities remain at the forefront of our work. “We’re witnessing an increasing demand in larger capacity equipment for renew able energy projects and we’re grateful for the opportunity to contribute to the growth of this industry. We’re confident that our team’s expertise and capabili ties will continue to drive innovation and deliver bespoke solutions in renewa bles. We’re eager and ready to take on more challenging projects like this in the future.”

The latest product, built in 14 weeks, is a bespoke wide-body shackle with a working load limit of 3,000 tons – equivalent to lifting 13 Statues of Liberty.

GN Rope Fittings, a manufacturer of ROV, mooring, heavy lifting and rigging connections for the global oil and gas and offshore wind industries, has made the world’s largest forged shackle, surpassing its own previous record.

Commissioned by IQIP, the shackle will

(from left) GN Rope Fittings director Bart Vossenberg Jr, head administrator Vera Vossenberg and CEO Bart Vossenberg Sr with the record-breaking shackle

GN Rope Fittings www.gnweb.com

Graphics bigstockphoto.com/Artistnd 3000

EF 6/52

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July 2023