President's Message
Luis Padilla
Welcome to the spring edition of our Ropecord News! We are nearing our 4th joint conference with Eurocord and I hope to see you there. Past joint conferences have been successful in fostering collaboration between our associations. We are seeing the fruits of our efforts through CIRTS as well as more effective alignment in addressing common concerns. We have an interesting group of technical speakers who will continue the environmental topics we discussed during our last annual meeting. I have heard Johan Van Overtveldt, our general speaker, give a talk in the past and he is a fascinating individual with great economic insights. As always, we will continue the technical work through our committees and will have a chance for a lively discussion during the social functions.
I have been giving some thought to our association as I near the end of my term as President. I think back at the times I had to explain the work the association does in creating standards and usually the first thing that stands out is the collaboration between competitors. The ability to work through our differences for the betterment of our industry and users of our products is one of our greatest strengths; The mutual respect of our members is what makes this possible. The same is true of the Board of Directors. I am grateful for the honor to serve as President over the last two years and I want to take this opportunity to thank the rest of the Board of Directors for their efforts, insights, guidance, and support. I would also like to thank Pete Lance, James Wolfington and Sarah Padilla for making sure things happen when they should and as they should.
See you in Washington!
|
|
Cordage Institute Happenings
|
|
There is Still Time to Register for the Cordage Institute and Eurocord's 4th Joint Conference
|
The 4th Joint Conference of the Cordage Institute and Eurocord will offer excellent opportunities to interact and network with members of both organizations and to engage in strong technical content. The program will feature technical working group and committee meetings, technical and industry speakers, member presentations, golf, and other social activities.
|
|
|
Join us for the 4th Joint Conference to learn about new technologies, innovations, and success stories. The following presenters have already been confirmed:
|
|
|
|
General Session Speaker
U.S. Department of Commerce | International Trade Administration Presentation
Lloyd Wood
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Office of Textiles, Consumer Goods and Materials
Lloyd Wood was appointed the Deputy Assistant Secretary (DAS) for Textiles, Consumer Goods, and Materials (TCGM) in February 2019. As DAS, he oversees programs and strategies designed to boost U.S. jobs and exports by improving the global competitiveness of a wide range of U.S. manufacturing industries, including textiles, apparel, footwear, travel products, consumer goods, chemicals, metals, building products, and forest products.
|
|
|
|
General Session Speaker
Living, Working, and Investing in a World of Multiple Uncertainties
Johan Van Overtveldt
The world is awash in uncertainty today: Brexit, trade war, China’s debt mountain, central bank policies, and technical innovation taking place at a breathtaking speed. Where does that all end up? Are we we heading toward a new long expansion or is everything falling apart? You don’t want to miss this interactve lecture covering these major areas and how they interact.
Johan Van Overtveldt was the chief editor of Trends from 2010 to 2013, and of Knack from 2011 to 2012. In 2013, he switched over to politics, becoming a member of the New Flemish Alliance. He was elected as a member of the European Parliament in 2014, and served as the Minister of Finance from 2014 to 2018.
|
|
Technical Seminar Speaker
Plastic Industry Efforts to Address Marine Debris
Stewart Harris
Director, Marine and Environmental Stewardship, Plastics Division at the American Chemistry Council
Stewart Harris is the Director of Marine and Environmental Stewardship at the American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Plastics Division where he manages ACC’s Marine Debris program. He is also Chair of the Advocacy Committee for the plastics industry’s Global Action Team, which implements the Declaration of the Global Plastics Associations for Solutions on Marine Litter. As part of the Global Declaration, 69 signatories from 35 countries have implemented over 260 projects addressing marine litter since 2011.
|
|
Technical Seminar Speaker
Lost Fishing Gear - Marine Debris Prevention Strategies & Solutions
MaryLee Haughwout
Deputy Director of the Marine Debris Program at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
Anything man-made, including litter and fishing gear, can become marine debris once lost or thrown into the ocean or Great Lakes. Derelict fishing gear includes nets, lines, crab/shrimp pots, and other recreational or commercial fishing equipment that has been lost, abandoned, or discarded in the marine environment. Derelict fishing gear can damage sensitive habitats, create navigational hazards, entangle marine animals, and continue to trap and kill various marine species including harvestable species (a phenomenon called ghost fishing), resulting in lost catch opportunities and financial losses for fishermen. NOAA’s Marine Debris Program is the U.S. Federal lead on marine debris and works with communities around the country to find solutions. The presentation will provide an overview of successful partnerships and projects seeking to address the problem of derelict gear in the marine environment.
|
|
Member Presentations
The following companies will be presenting during the Technical Seminar:
|
|
|
|
|
Tension Technology International
|
|
Additional presentations to be announced!
|
|
Knots & Notes
by Sarah Padilla, Cordage Institute Technical Director
|
|
Back by popular demand, the Knots and N
otes section of RopecordNews will inform you of the standards being developed by the Cordage Institute, as well as by other industry organizations. As we develop this section of the newsletter, please let us know what type of content is of interest to you by sending an email to
sarah@ropecord.com or
info@ropecord.com.
|
|
Standards Update
Updates from the Cordage Institute Standards sub-committees on how things are progressing since the last newsletter
|
|
The Standard Review
Updates from other standards bodies that are relevant to the cordage industry.
|
|
Member News and Press Releases
|
|
Lankhorst Ropes Brings Strength, Knowledge and Innovation to the North American Market with Opening of its USA Office
|
|
Lankhorst Ropes USA is now open for business. As one of the world’s leading suppliers of maritime and heavy lift ropes, and part of Kansas based, WireCo WorldGroup, one of the world’s largest steel wire and synthetic ropes manufacturer, Lankhorst Ropes is set to offer the US and Canadian vessel operators market leading products that will transform your business.
|
|
|
Cortland: High Performance Rope Slings Give Lift to Major European Wind Farm
|
|
Synthetic rope slings designed and manufactured by Cortland have lifted one of Europe’s largest offshore wind farms into place, saving considerable project time compared with conventional wire rope, while increasing safety for technicians.
The Norther Offshore Wind Farm will feature 44 turbines, each 8.4 MW, when completed near Belgium’s coast at Ostend later this year. Global synthetic rope slings specialist Cortland was selected to support the lifting of monopile, transition pieces and turbines for the project.
|
|
|
EU: Parliament Seals Ban on Throwaway Plastics by 2021
|
Parliament recently approved a new law banning single-use plastic items such as plates, cutlery, straws and cotton buds sticks.
560 MEPs voted in favour of the agreement with EU ministers, 35 against and 28 abstained.
The following products will be banned in the EU by 2021:
- Single-use plastic cutlery (forks, knives, spoons and chopsticks)
- Single-use plastic plates
- Plastic straws
- Cotton bud sticks made of plastic
- Plastic balloon sticks
- Oxo-degradable plastics and food containers and expanded polystyrene cups
|
|
NFWF: Fishing for Energy Marks 10 Years, 4 Million Pounds of Marine Debris Converted to Energy
|
More than 4 million pounds of derelict fishing gear that would otherwise have become marine debris has been collected, recycled and converted into energy, thanks to Fishing for Energy, a partnership between the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), the NOAA Marine Debris Program, Covanta and Schnitzer Steel Industries.
Over the past decade, the Fishing for Energy partnership has worked directly with 55 U.S. fishing communities in 12 states by offering no-cost solutions to recycle derelict and retired gear. Through the installation of collection bins at strategic ports, local communities have been able to responsibly dispose of fishing traps and nets that are no longer in use, thus preventing them from entering U.S. waterways and coastlines.
|
|
87 Skiers Evacuated by Rope from Showdown Chairlift
By: Zachary Schermele –
MTN News
|
Around 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 30th, 87 skiers were evacuated by rope from Showdown Ski Area’s largest chairlift, according to a press release obtained by MTN News from Avery Gold, the ski hill’s marketing director.
Saturday marked the first time in its over 80-year history that Showdown has had to fully initiate a rope evacuation from a chairlift, although “Ski Patrol and staff rigorously train for this situation,” the release stated.
No injuries were reported.
|
|
This Project is Turning Abandoned Fishing Gear into Volleyball Nets
By Johnny Wood,
World Economic Forum
|
A team of environmentalists is turning “ghost nets” into sports nets, giving new life to abandoned fishing gear adrift in the world’s oceans.
The organization responsible for world volleyball (FIVB) has teamed up with marine conservation group the Ghost Fishing Foundation to launch Good Net. Supported by collaborators like the Healthy Seas initiative, World Animal Protection and Greenpeace, the project is designed to rid the seas of discarded fishing nets, with many becoming recycled into volleyball nets for local community use around the world.
|
|
Global Steel Wire Rope Market Overview 2019: WireCo World Group, Bekaert, Kiswire and Teufelberger
By Laverne McCrory,
Global Education Market
|
Global Steel Wire Rope market research report 2019-2024 provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability. Steel Wire Rope market report helps businessman/investor avoiding unpleasant surprises. Intuition and experience can be helpful at times, but research and facts often paint a more accurate picture of your market.
|
|
May 6-9, 2019
Houston, Texas
NRG Park
May 6-8, 2019
Cancun, Mexico
Casa Magna Marriott Resort
May 14-17, 2019
Frankfurt, Germany
June 2-5, 2019
Leesburg, Virginia (near Washington, DC)
Lansdowne Resort & Spa
June 20-26, 2019
Barcelona, Spain
October 27-30, 2019
San Diego, California
Westin San Diego Gaslamp Quarter
October 28-31, 2019
Seattle, Washington
Washington State Convention Center
|
|
RopecordNews
RopecordNews is published by the Cordage Institute. The Cordage Institute is an international association of rope, twine, and related manufacturers, their suppliers, and affiliated industries. Articles appearing in RopecordNews are the views of the authors and not necessarily those of the Cordage Institute. Members are encouraged to contribute articles and items of interest by emailing them to
info@ropecord.com.
Rates for advertising
are available from the Institute.
Cordage Institute Headquarters
Peter M. Lance, Executive Director
Tel: 610-971-4854
Fax: 610-971-4859
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
