Tycan Chain Manufactured from Dyneema Fiber is Introduced

 

May 14, 2015 - In collaboration with DSM Dyneema, Norway-based Load Solutions AS will officially launch their lightweight synthetic Tycan chain at BreakBulk Europe 2015 next week in Antwerp, Belgium. On the market since January, the new chain has been hailed for its outstanding performance by users across a wide range of industries, from shipping and heavy-haul to mining and oil and gas. Commercial field trials are ongoing globally in various industries to further expand the commercial market opportunities for Tycan.

Tycan is a non-metallic link chain made with Dyneema fiber developed to replace the steel chains traditionally used to lash and secure project cargo during transport. Dyneema is a patent-protected ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fiber made by DSM Dyneema. Fifteen times stronger than steel on a weight-to-weight basis, it is up to 40% stronger than aramid materials, according to the manufacturer.

Daniel Taylor, global marketing manager of DSM Dyneema, said response to the chain from industries across the board had been impressive. “The overwhelming interest, commercial trials, and repetitive commercial orders from leading European and American companies in industries including heavy haulage and oil and gas, are proof of Tycan’s end user benefits,” he said.

Tycan chain weighs up to eight times less than its conventional metal counterparts and is more than 50 times less noisy in use, according to product marketing materials. 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, according to 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,” said Alex Rock, Load Solutions manager, marketing and sales. 

The lighter weight of Tycan chain translates in many cases to lower labor costs—fewer simultaneous hands needed, more efficient securing processes. Additional significant savings can also be realized by the substantially lower claim costs for damaged freight and equipment.