Kansas-based WireCo said its UNION Gladiator synthetic pendants are engineered to reduce vibration and shock transfer in draglines and electric rope shovels. Synthetic pendants act as a damping element within the load path, absorbing and dissipating a portion of that energy before it propagates through the boom.
By reducing peak loads and smoothing stress distribution, the pendants help limit stress concentrations that can lead to cracking and premature component failure. In a comparative analysis on an electric rope shovel, WireCo said synthetic pendants reduced harmonic energy by 13% and lowered sideloading stress by around 29%, translating into an average 14% increase in component life.
“Vibration doesn’t always get the attention it deserves, but it’s a major driver of long-term structural damage,” said Brent Dein, Technical Services engineering manager at WireCo. “If you can control how that energy moves through the machine, you can reduce fatigue, limit repairs and keep equipment running more consistently.”
There is also a knock-on effect for operators. Lower vibration levels can improve comfort over long shifts and support wider industry efforts to manage exposure in line with workplace safety expectations, including guidance from organizations such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The commercial case is increasingly being viewed over the full lifecycle of the asset. While synthetic pendants come at a higher upfront cost than steel, noted WireCo, they are designed to last for the life of the machine – reducing replacement frequency, maintenance intervention, and improving availability over time.
“For high-output operations, the cost of downtime quickly outweighs the initial investment,” added Dein. “That’s why we’re seeing more mines evaluate these decisions based on long-term performance rather than upfront cost alone.”