Wide Applications of Lightweight TYCAN® Chains Made With Dyneema®

New Products and Innovation

Wide Applications of Lightweight TYCAN® Chains Made With Dyneema®

In collaboration with DSM Dyneema, Norway-based Load Solutions AS, a global provider of lashing and loading systems for the transport industry, officially launched their innovative lightweight synthetic TYCAN® chain at the international trade show BreakBulk Europe 2015, May 18-21 in Antwerp, Belgium. Available on the market since January of this year, the new chain has been hailed for its outstanding performance by users across a wide range of industries, from shipping, mining and oil and gas to commercial fishing. Already, Load Solutions is seeing very sizable new orders and reorders from initial customers. Commercial field trials are ongoing globally in various industrial branches to further expand the commercial market opportunities for TYCAN®.

TYCAN® chain is a non-metallic link chain made with Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™. It has been developed to replace the steel chains that are traditionally used to lash and secure project cargo during transportation. Dyneema® is a patent-protected ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber made by DSM Dyneema. Dyneema® is 15 times stronger than steel on a weight-to-weight basis and up to 40% stronger than aramid materials.

Daniel Taylor, Global Marketing Manager of DSM Dyneema confirmed that the response from industries across the board had been massive, saying, “The global market is excited about this new product and welcomes TYCAN®! The overwhelming interest, commercial trials and repetitive commercial orders from leading European and American companies in industries including: heavy haulage, oil and gas and fishery are proof of TYCAN®’s amazing end user benefits.”

Marco Global Inc. (Seattle, USA), a leading American brand for fishery equipment that recently put TYCAN® chain through its paces, was extremely impressed by the new chain’s performance. David O'Neill, Business Development Manager of Marco Global explained, “Inspired by previous announced successful field trials of Mammoet and by Nor Lines Shipping in Europe, we developed the world's first use of TYCAN® on commercial fishing boats as a lash and pull link chain.”

“Our best customers, active in the sustainable fishing industry in the coastal waters of Alaska, Washington, Oregon, California and in Mexico, enthusiastically tested TYCAN® with highly satisfying results. These new synthetic link chains, which are lashed and pulled under any and all weather conditions, up to twenty four times a day by the fishermen, are incredibly light, safe and easy to use!”, he said.

TYCAN® chain weighs up to 8 times less than its conventional metal counterparts and is more than fifty times less noisy in use. The chain has been shown to provide impressive productivity gains and savings in cost throughout the entire transport process. On trucks, outsize cargo, such as electricity pylons or windmill turbine blades can weigh almost as much as the vehicle’s maximum payload capacity. Using TYCAN® chain significantly reduces dead weight, which means trucks can safely carry more cargo while remaining within the insurable limits.

Alex Rock, Manager Marketing and Sales of Load Solutions, “For multi-unit logistics companies, every bit of cargo means euros. We have developed a weight–saving calculator, available on our website, that allows customers to calculate exactly how much weight they can save by using TYCAN® chain.”

The lighter weight of TYCAN® chain translates in many cases to lower labour costs - fewer simultaneous hands needed, more efficient securing processes – and on ships, to shorter port stay times and hence lower costs. Additional significant savings can also be realized by the substantially lower claim costs for damaged freight and equipment.

Says Alex Rock, “There is a major cost benefit for painted surface and sensitive cargo. Using TYCAN® chain to lash this type of cargo eliminates the dents and scratches often caused by lashing with steel chains, and can very significantly lower the cost burden of damage claims borne by shipping companies.”

He added, “And, unlike steel chains, which are phenomenally noisy when dropped and can cause damage when dragged across decks, TYCAN® chain is far quieter in use, enabling better communication and promoting safer and more user-friendly working conditions.”