Testing Services / Tensile Testing
Tensile Testing Services

Tensile Testing Services for Lifting & Engineered Assemblies

Durham Lifting provides high-capacity tensile testing for wire rope assemblies, rigging systems, lifting equipment, fabricated structures and specialist engineered components at Britannia Test House in Middlesbrough, with a 3000Te tension working load on the 3000Te Vertical Test Bed.

3000 tonne tensile test bed at Durham Lifting Britannia Test House
3,000Te Tension working load — 3000Te Vertical Test Bed
Tension Testing

What is tensile testing?

Tensile testing applies a controlled pulling force to assess how an item performs under tension. Depending on the test objective, it can be used to verify performance at a specified load, assess structural integrity or support validation of an engineered component or complete assembly.

Durham Lifting's service is focused on full-size lifting equipment, wire rope and rigging assemblies, fabricated structures and engineered components, with test arrangements developed around the item's geometry, load path and required test outcome.

Used For Wire rope, rigging, lifting equipment and engineered assemblies
Purpose Controlled load verification and performance assessment
Example tensile test: controlled tension loading of an assembly using a test arrangement selected around the required load and test objective.
What We Test

What can be tensile tested at Britannia Test House?

Our tensile testing capability is suited to lifting, rigging and heavy-engineering projects where complete equipment, components or assemblies need to be assessed under controlled tension loading.

Rope Testing Wire rope assemblies Tensile testing for wire rope slings, socketed assemblies, grommets and specialist rope configurations, including projects requiring high load application.
Lifting Equipment Rigging and lifting equipment Controlled tensile testing for shackles, lifting accessories, hooks, spreader systems and other below-the-hook equipment.
Structural Items Fabricated structures Controlled tension testing for lifting frames, fabricated assemblies, structural fabrications and other engineered steelwork.
Heavy Industry Offshore and marine equipment Testing support for offshore lifting systems, marine assemblies and heavy engineered components requiring controlled tensile loading.
Validation Testing Prototype and development items Tensile testing for prototypes, development items and bespoke engineered assemblies where performance needs to be demonstrated against an agreed test requirement.
Specialist Setups Bespoke test arrangements Bespoke tensile test arrangements developed around the item's geometry, connection points, load path and required test outcome.
Large or unusual test requirements? Britannia Test House supports horizontal and vertical tensile testing arrangements, including the 3000Te Vertical Test Bed with a 3000Te tension working load, alongside bespoke engineered setups for large, unusual or non-standard items. For other test methods, view our load testing services.
Tensile Testing FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Practical information about tensile testing capability, wire rope and lifting-equipment testing, proof loads, destructive testing, witnessing and reporting.

Is tensile testing the same as proof load testing?

Not necessarily. Tensile testing describes load being applied in tension, while proof load testing is used to verify an item at an agreed proof load without the intention of causing failure. The correct test method depends on the item and the required outcome. See our proof load testing service for dedicated proof testing information.

What types of items can be tensile tested?

Durham Lifting supports tensile testing for wire rope assemblies, rigging systems, lifting equipment, fabricated structures, offshore components and bespoke engineered assemblies.

What is the tensile testing capacity at Britannia Test House?

Britannia Test House supports high-capacity tensile testing using horizontal and vertical test arrangements, including the 3000Te Vertical Test Bed with a 3000Te tension working load.

Can wire rope assemblies be tensile tested?

Yes. Durham Lifting regularly carries out tensile testing for wire rope slings, socketed assemblies, grommets and specialist rigging systems.

Can you carry out tensile testing to failure?

Where the purpose of the test is to establish failure behaviour or break load, a destructive testing programme may be more appropriate. Durham Lifting provides a separate destructive testing service for controlled load-to-failure requirements.

Can tensile testing be witnessed?

Yes. Tensile testing can be witnessed by clients, third-party surveyors, insurers or verification bodies where project specifications require independent witnessing.

Do you provide test reports and recorded data?

Yes. Following completion of the tensile test programme, Durham Lifting can provide test certification, recorded load data and supporting reporting documentation.

What information is needed for a tensile testing enquiry?

Send drawings, dimensions, photographs, the required test load, connection or assembly details, and any certification, reporting or witnessing requirements. This helps our team review the item and identify the most appropriate test arrangement before quotation.

Have a tensile testing requirement?

Send us the item details, drawings, required load and any reporting or witnessing requirements. Our team can review the most suitable test arrangement and quotation route.

Request a Tensile Testing Quote
Durham Lifting Established 1996
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