Cast & Welded Wire Rope Drums with Full Quality Control
When you need a crane drum supplier, Hanko supplies wire rope drums in cast iron, cast steel, and welded steel constructions with spiral or Lebus groove patterns. This page covers our drum manufacturing capabilities, groove machining, welding standards, and quality control.
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Hanko supplies crane drums in cast iron (HT200), cast steel (ZG230-450), and welded steel (Q235B/Q345B). Drum diameters range from 250 mm to 1200+ mm. Groove types include spiral (single-layer) and Lebus (multi-layer). Welded drums use submerged arc welding (SAW) for shell seams. Material certificates (for example EN 10204 3.1) and dimensional inspection reports are available on request.
Drum Manufacturing Methods
Cast Drums
| Material | Tensile Strength (MPa) | Application | Max Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| HT200 (cast iron) | 200 | Light-duty, small drums | 2 tons |
| ZG230-450 (cast steel) | 450–550 | Standard industrial cranes | 8 tons |
| ZG270-500 (cast steel) | 500–600 | Heavy-duty cranes | 8 tons |
When you choose cast drums, resin sand molding produces a near-net-shape drum body. Your casting includes integral flanges and rough groove profile. After casting, the drum is fully machined to your final dimensions.
Advantages: Integral flange construction, good vibration damping, economical for medium-volume production.
Limitations: Maximum weight per piece (8 tons for steel casting), longer lead time for pattern making on new sizes.
Welded Drums
| Material | Application | Max Diameter |
|---|---|---|
| Q235B | Standard overhead and gantry cranes | 1500 mm |
| Q345B | Heavy-duty and port cranes | 3000+ mm |
When you choose welded drums, your shell plate is rolled and welded with submerged arc welding (SAW), end flanges are cut from plate and welded to the shell, and shaft journals are welded or bolted to end plates. All your welds are inspected by dye penetrant (PT) and, for heavy-duty drums, radiographic testing (RT).
Advantages: No pattern required, unlimited diameter range, faster lead time for custom sizes, material optimization.
Limitations: Requires skilled welding and post-weld heat treatment to relieve residual stress. For more on welding procedures, see our wire rope drum design article.
Groove Machining
Spiral (Helical) Groove
When you need spiral groove, it is standard for your single-layer spooling. It is machined on CNC lathes with a form tool that cuts the rope-matching profile.
- Groove pitch: rope diameter + 1–3 mm
- Groove depth: 0.5–0.6 × rope diameter
- Pitch tolerance: ±0.3 mm (standard), ±0.15 mm (precision)
- Surface roughness: Ra 3.2–6.3 µm (standard), Ra 1.6–3.2 µm (precision)
For full groove dimension data, see our crane drum dimensions guide.
Lebus (Parallel) Groove
When you need Lebus groove, it is required for your multi-layer spooling (2+ layers). The Lebus pattern features:
– Parallel groove section (~75% of circumference)
– Cross-over zone (~25%) where the rope steps up to the next layer
– Prevents rope crushing, cross-overs, and premature failure
Your Lebus grooves are machined on CNC lathes with specialized programming or on CNC milling machines. For more on Lebus groove design, see our drum performance guide.
Quality Control
In-Process Inspection
| Stage | Inspection |
|---|---|
| Material | Spectrometer analysis of chemical composition |
| Casting | Radiographic testing on critical sections (for cast drums) |
| Welding | Dye penetrant (PT) on all welds; radiographic (RT) for heavy-duty |
| Rough machining | Dimensional check against drawing |
| Groove machining | Pitch, depth, and profile measurement |
| Finish machining | CMM or digital measurement of flange, bore, journal |
| Post-weld heat treatment | Stress relief verification (for welded drums) |
Final Testing and Certificates on Request
| Item | Scope |
|---|---|
| Material certificate (e.g. EN 10204 3.1) | Chemical composition + mechanical properties |
| Dimensional inspection report | All critical dimensions |
| Weld inspection report | PT and/or RT results |
| Hardness test | Shell surface (for hardened drums) |
| Balance test | Static balance for high-speed drums |
Drum Types by Crane Application
| Crane Type | Typical Drum Specs | Material |
|---|---|---|
| Light overhead crane (≤10 t) | Ø250–400 mm, single-layer | Cast iron or welded Q235B |
| Medium overhead crane (16–32 t) | Ø400–650 mm, single or multi-layer | Cast steel or welded Q345B |
| Heavy overhead crane (50–100 t) | Ø650–1000 mm, multi-layer | Welded Q345B |
| Port gantry / RTG | Ø800–1200+ mm, multi-layer Lebus | Welded Q345B |
| Metallurgical crane | Ø700–1200 mm, heavy-duty | Welded Q345B with NDT |
For selection guidance, see our crane drum selection guide y maximum service life article. For pricing factors, see our drum price guide.
How to Order Custom Crane Drums
| Parámetro | Description |
|---|---|
| Rope diameter | Wire rope outer diameter |
| Rope construction | 6×37, 6×19, IWRC, etc. |
| Lifting height | Maximum working height |
| Number of rope falls | Reeving ratio (1/1, 2/1, 4/1, etc.) |
| Spooling layers | Single or multi-layer |
| Groove type | Spiral or Lebus |
| Drum diameter ratio (D/d) | Based on duty class |
| Material | Cast iron, cast steel, or welded steel |
| Duty class | FEM or ISO classification |
| Operating speed | Hoisting speed (m/min) |
| Shaft connection | Keyway, flange, or integral shaft |
| Dibujo | PDF or CAD for replacement drums |
When you order replacement drums, provide the old drum or a dimensional sketch including diameter, barrel length, flange diameter, bore, and groove pitch. We will produce a manufacturing drawing for your approval.
For our full drum product range, visit the Crane Drums product page. For design fundamentals, see our crane drum design guide.
Ready to order crane drums? Send your rope diameter, lifting height, reeving ratio, and groove type to Visado. Our engineers will calculate the drum dimensions and provide a quotation with a manufacturing drawing within 24 hours.
FAQ
What is the difference between cast and welded crane drums?
When you choose between cast and welded crane drums, cast drums are produced in one piece from cast iron or cast steel — integral flanges, no welds. Welded drums are built from rolled steel plate with welded shell and flanges. You should choose cast drums for economical standard sizes; welded drums for large diameters, custom sizes, and heavy-duty applications.
Does Hanko supply Lebus groove drums?
Yes. When you need multi-layer spooling, Hanko machines both spiral (helical) grooves for single-layer and Lebus (parallel) grooves for multi-layer. You should use Lebus grooves whenever your drum has 2 or more rope layers.
What materials are used for crane drums?
When you select drum material, cast iron (HT200) is for light-duty drums, cast steel (ZG230-450 or ZG270-500) for standard service, and welded steel (Q235B or Q345B) for heavy-duty and custom drums. Your material selection is based on rope tension, duty class, and drum size.
What is the maximum drum diameter Hanko can supply?
Hanko supplies welded drums up to 3000+ mm diameter. Cast drums up to approximately 2000 mm (limited by casting capacity). If you need drums beyond standard ranges, contact us with your specifications.
Can Hanko supply a replacement drum from an existing sample?
Yes. Send the old drum or provide dimensions (diameter, barrel length, flange diameter, groove pitch, bore, shaft connection). We will manufacture a replacement to your exact specifications.
Does Hanko export crane drums to Russia and other target markets?
Yes. Hanko exports crane drums to Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, Brazil, and other target markets. You can request localized documentation, material certificates (e.g. EN 10204 3.1), and packaging suited to your country’s import requirements. Contact Hanko with your destination country for specific logistics support.
If you have drum drawings or specifications ready, send them to Hanko for a technical review and quotation. Hanko serves customers in Russia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, South America, and other markets with complete export documentation.
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