Rigging and Lifting Slings
Rigging and lifting slings connect the crane hook to the load. Holloway Houston manufactures chain slings, synthetic round slings, web slings, and wire rope slings in Houston, Texas - plus specialty product lines including Python Slings, Hammerhead Slings, and Storm Surge Slings - with Working Load Limits from 1 ton through 100+ tons covered across the catalog. Every sling ships with its ID tag, WLL markings, and inspection documentation. Same-day pickup on in-stock sizes.
Lifting Slings
Holloway Houston (HHI) manufactures and stocks every type of lifting sling required for modern industrial rigging. From our headquarters in Houston, Texas the nation’s largest single-location sling shop and testing facility we provide the lifting industry with high-performance rigging slings designed for safety and durability. Whether you require the flexibility of a polyester round sling , the surface protection of nylon lifting straps, or the sheer strength of chain slings and wire rope slings , every product we build is proof-tested to ASME B30.9 standards. We combine 90+ years of manufacturing expertise with massive inventory to ensure your slings for lifting are ready to ship the same day you order.
Lifting Sling Types
- Chain Slings : alloy steel chain (Grade 80 or 100), single or multi-leg configurations. For abrasion, heat, and sharp-edged load applications. Browse chain slings
- Round Slings : synthetic polyester continuous-loop slings with color-coded capacity jackets. Flexible, light, and gentle on finished loads. Browse round slings
- Web Slings : synthetic web (nylon or polyester) flat slings with reinforced eyes. For general-duty lifting where a flat contact surface protects the load. Browse web slings
- Wire Rope Slings : IWRC wire rope with swaged or hand-spliced eyes. For cyclic loading and applications where chain is too heavy and synthetic is too susceptible to abrasion.
Selecting the correct lifting sling types is critical for both safety and efficiency. Use the table below to compare our four primary sling categories.
| Factor | Round Slings | Web Slings | Chain Slings | Wire Rope Slings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best For | Versatile general lifting | Finished/Delicate surfaces | High-temp/Abrasive | Heavy, rough, permanent |
| Material | Polyester fiber core | Nylon or Polyester | Grade 80/100 Steel | Steel wire rope |
| WLL Range | 2,600 - 100,000+ lbs | 600 - 96,000+ lbs | 2,100 - 67,000+ lbs | Per rope diameter |
| Temp Limit | 194°F | 194°F | 400°F - 500°F | 400°F |
| Flexibility | Highest | High | Moderate | Low |
| Abrasion Resistance | Low (needs pads) | Moderate | Highest | High |
Why Holloway Houston
Holloway Houston operates one of the largest single-location sling shops and testing facilities in the United States. Our production line builds the sling in Houston, our test beds verify it before shipment, and our inventory ships nationwide with same-day pickup on most in-stock items. Decades of industrial rigging and lifting experience, ISO 9001 certification covering our manufacturing process, and in-house load-testing capability to verify Minimum Breaking Strength on our own product. Holloway Houston also offers rigging inspection services for customers managing inspection cycles across their sling inventory — contact us for inspection scheduling.
Matching a Sling to the Lift
Sling selection is driven by the load, the lift environment, and the connection geometry:
- Load weight and shape : Governs the WLL rating needed and whether a single-leg or multi-leg sling is appropriate.
- Contact surface : Sharp or abrasive edges favor chain; finished surfaces favor synthetic round or web.
- Environment : Heat and chemical exposure affect synthetic sling service life. Manufacturer documentation covers temperature limits and chemical compatibility per sling type.
- Hitch configuration : Vertical, choker, basket, or multi-leg hitch. WLL changes with hitch type; the sling tag shows the rating for each configuration.
- Inspection cycle : Slings in frequent-use service need a more active inspection program than slings used occasionally. ASME B30.9 describes frequent and periodic inspection tiers.
Holloway Houston rigging specialists help match a sling to a specific lift when the selection involves multiple trade-offs.
Standards and Compliance
Lifting slings used in overhead service fall under ASME B30.9 (Slings), which covers selection, use, inspection, maintenance, and marking. OSHA 29 CFR 1910.184 applies to slings in general industry. Synthetic slings reference the Web Sling and Tiedown Association standards (WSTDA WS-1 for web, RS-1 for round). Every Holloway Houston sling ships with its ID tag, WLL markings for the hitch types it is rated for, and manufacturer identification — the same information inspectors use to assess the sling during frequent and periodic inspection cycles.
Brands We Carry
Holloway Houston manufactures the majority of our sling inventory in Houston, chain slings, synthetic round slings, web slings, and specialty product lines (Python Slings, Hammerhead Slings, Storm Surge Slings) all come off the Holloway production line. For wire rope slings and other specialty components, we source from established OEM partners and include manufacturer documentation with every sling.
Frequently Asked Questions
The four main sling categories in overhead lifting service are chain slings (alloy steel, for abrasion and heat resistance), synthetic round slings (continuous-loop polyester, flexible and light), synthetic web slings (flat polyester or nylon, for general-duty lifting), and wire rope slings (steel rope with swaged eyes, for cyclic loading). Specialty variants including Python, Hammerhead, and Storm Surge slings are covered in the Holloway Houston catalog.
Sharp or abrasive load edges favor chain. Finished or painted surfaces favor synthetic round or web slings, which grip and protect the load. High-cycle applications and loads with hot surfaces favor wire rope or chain. Manufacturer documentation for each sling type covers temperature ranges, chemical exposure limits, and fatigue-cycle expectations. A rigging specialist can help match the sling to the application when the trade-offs aren't obvious.
Industry standards indicate a two-tier inspection program: a frequent (visual) inspection performed by the sling user before each use, and a periodic (documented) inspection performed by a designated person at intervals based on service conditions. ASME B30.9 covers the specific inspection language. Holloway Houston's rigging inspection services cover periodic inspections with documentation.
WLL stands for Working Load Limit, the maximum load the sling is rated to carry in a specific hitch configuration under normal service conditions. WLL is the rated working capacity, not the ultimate strength or breaking strength of the sling material. The WLL printed on the tag applies to the hitch type and rating conditions shown. WLL, proof load, and minimum breaking strength are three separate concepts, the sling manufacturer's documentation defines each.
Holloway Houston manufactures chain slings, synthetic round slings, web slings, Python Slings, Hammerhead Slings, and Storm Surge Slings in our Houston facility. We also source wire rope slings and certain specialty components from established OEM partners. Every sling ships with the ID tag, WLL markings, and inspection documentation needed for a compliant rigging program.