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President's Message: Season’s Greetings Cordage Institute!
I am pleased to report that 2025 has been an excellent year for our organization. Our meetings have been well attended, our membership has increased, and our financial position is robust and stable. Thanks to the participation of all our members, we continue to build a worldwide network and strong interconnected rope community.
The Cordage Institute Technical Committee continues to work on important test methods and rope standards. CIRTS recently conducted a testing round robin for CI 1505 – Test Method: Fiber Rope Static Bend and is continuing to collaborate on a draft of CI 1504 – Test Method: Mooring Line Abrasion. Other recent CI technical activities include the development of CI 2016 – Guideline: Cut Testing Guidelines and an initial draft of CI 1507 – Test Method: Tensile Properties of Synthetic Fibers for Ropes. Finally, our MEG4 FAQ document jointly developed with Eurocord was well received by OCIMF last month. OCIMF is interested in additional input from our work groups regarding MEG4 recertification and mooring related data.
We extend sincere thanks to our Associate members for their generous financial support of the Institute which enhances our meetings with gracious hospitality and engaging social events. The contributing Associate members for the Fall 2025 Technical Meeting were: Fletcher Industries, Hailide America, Inc, Hamilton International, I-Coats N.V., Kuraray America, Inc., Robco Engineering, Teijin Aramid, and TP Industrial Yarns B.V.
Thank you to Pete Lance (Executive Director), Dan Paschke (Administrative Director), and Sarah Padilla (Technical Director) for all the work they do to keep the organization running smoothly. Special thanks to Loet Hoppe and Patrick Yerger who are currently serving as our Technical Committee Chair and Vice Chair. We also like to recognize our Communications Committee headed by Fran Hoffman and James Wolfington (Marketing Director), for keeping us all connected and well informed through social media.
Please remember to mark your calendars for the Winter Virtual Technical Meeting on 27-28 January 2026. This once-a-year digital format enables the valuable participation of members who may otherwise not be able to attend CI meetings due to travel constraints.
We look forward to networking and collaborating in person at our annual meeting which will be held in conjunction with Eurocord 14-17 June 2026 at the Grande Real Santa Eulalia Resort & Hotel Spa in Algarve, Portugal. The Algarve is Portugal's southernmost region, known for its stunning coastline, world-class golf courses, and vibrant surf culture. It is a popular destination with a warm climate and local activities include beach-hopping, boating, inland hiking, and enjoying fresh seafood. Reservation details and the agenda will be shared in future correspondences.
May your hearts be filled with joy and peace this holiday season. We wish you and your families abundant happiness, good health, and prosperity in the coming new year.
Faithfully yours,
Elizabeth Huntley
| | Cordage Institute Happenings | | Highlights of the Cordage Institute Fall 2025 Technical Meeting | | On September 30 - October 1, 2025, the Cordage Institute held a Technical Meeting at the dual-branded Element Philadelphia Downtown and W Philadelphia, conveniently located near Rittenhouse Square and City Hall. This year's meeting included an evening of friendly bowling that offered attendees an opportunity to connect and unwind in a fun setting. Additionally, the full Cordage Institute Technical Committee met, with each subcommittee and Task Group presenting their reports. | | | Celebrating Excellence: Tony Bon Receives the Gale Foster Award of Merit | | |
The Cordage Institute proudly honored Tony Bon, longtime industry leader and former President & CEO of Samson Rope Technologies, with the Gale Foster Award of Merit at a special ceremony held in Bellingham, Washington.
The evening was graciously hosted by Board Member Christian Rheault of Samson Rope Technologies, with Cordage Institute President Elizabeth Huntley presenting Tony with a plaque in recognition of his remarkable career and lasting impact. Also in attendance were Vice President Fran Hoffman; Board Members Stuart Janke, Amy Jenkins, and Mark Swiackey; and Executive Director Pete Lance.
Named after the Cordage Institute’s esteemed former Technical Director, the Gale Foster Award of Merit recognizes individuals who have made outstanding, long-term contributions to both the organization and the fiber rope industry. Past recipients include Steve Hudson, Rollin Stirman, John Flory, Steve Swiackey, Simi Whitehill, Tom Yale, and Bill Hagenbuch.
Tony’s career has spanned over four decades of innovation and leadership. From joining Samson in 1973 to serving as President & CEO, Tony guided the company through major advancements in high-performance rope technology and global growth. Beyond Samson, he was an active member of the Cordage Institute Board of Directors (2010–2015) and a driving force for collaboration, safety, and education across the industry.
Please join us in congratulating Tony Bon on this well-deserved recognition and celebrating his lasting impact on the rope and cordage community.
| | Save the Date for the Cordage Institute Winter 2026 Technical Committee Meeting | | |
The next meeting of the Cordage Institute’s Technical Committee will be held virtually on Tuesday January 27 and Wednesday, January 28, 2026 via Zoom.
The meetings will begin on both days at 7:00 a.m. PST | 9:00 a.m. CST | 10:00 a.m. EST | 4:00 p.m. CET (Your time zone). The agenda and meeting times will be confirmed based on how much time each subcommittee and task group will need.
Please mark your calendars for these meetings. Once meeting times are finalized, an agenda with information on joining the meetings will be sent to members. In the meantime, please reach out to the CI office if you have any questions.
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Next year, we will come together once again for our 7th Joint Conference, which will take place from June 14–17, 2026, in Portugal.
The venue is located in Albufeira, in the Algarve, at a beautiful seafront hotel, where our community will once again meet to learn, collaborate, and connect. It combines natural beauty with a vibrant atmosphere, making it an excellent setting for our international meeting.
This joint event will offer opportunities to connect with fellow members of both organizations and engage in technical and industry-focused discussions. The program will include keynote speakers, parallel and joint technical working group sessions, business meetings, and more. Golf activities and an interactive community-building session in a “team-building” format will also be organized. The planning committee is excited and full of ideas for this conference!
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Knots & Notes
By Sarah Padilla, Cordage Institute Technical Director
| | The Knots and N otes section of Ropecord News informs 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.
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Standards Update
Updates from the Cordage Institute Standards subcommittees on how things are progressing since the last newsletter.
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The Standard Review
Updates from other standards bodies that are relevant to the cordage industry.
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| | Member News and Press Releases | | |
Pelican Rope Works® Partners with Scope to Expand AI-Powered Rope Inspection Capabilities
Press Release - Pelican Rope Works
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Pelican Rope Works®, a leading domestic rope manufacturer, has announced a strategic partnership with Scope, the industry’s foremost provider of AI-robotic inspection systems. Scope’s advanced inspection technology will be used nationwide to support Pelican Rope’s safety-first mission—offering intelligent, real-time diagnostics for rope condition, performance, and lifecycle integrity in the field. Scope’s system leverages artificial intelligence and computer vision to detect strand separation, abrasion, compression damage, and other wear indicators with unmatched confidence. The result is a digital inspection record that improves reliability, extends rope life, and reduces downtime in safety-critical environments.
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HERZOG Open House 2025 – New Developments and Strong Commitment to the Oldenburg Site
Press Release - Herzog GmbH
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From 5 to 10 October 2025, HERZOG GmbH once again opened its doors in Oldenburg for the company’s traditional Open House. Numerous visitors from Germany and abroad took the opportunity to experience the latest developments in braiding, winding, and rewinding technology directly on site.
In total, more than 50 exhibits were on display, amongst them more than a dozen new or improved machines, demonstrating HERZOG’s continuous focus on performance, flexibility, and user-friendly operation.
The event was rounded off by 11 partner exhibitors who presented their products that complement the braiding process, made contacts and developed exciting ideas.
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Repurposing End-of-Life Marine Ropes
Press Release - Samson Rope Technologies
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In the marine industry, high-performance ropes are essential for demanding applications like towing, vessel mooring, and offshore operations. Due to the durability required, rope form factor, and contamination that use at sea generates, traditional recycling approaches are unavailable, these materials can’t be placed with curbside recyclables once their useful life comes to an end. This lack of an industrial solution makes landfill diversion for users of high-performance ropes challenged today. Samson Rope Technology, Inc. and Ocean Legacy are collaborating to tackle solutions to this recycling challenge and are excited to announce consumer products made from used marine rope.
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Eurocord Corner
Dear Partners and Friends,
As another year comes to an end, it is time to reflect on our achievements and look ahead to new opportunities.
This year was particularly special for Eurocord as we celebrated our 50th anniversary—an incredible milestone. We marked this occasion in June in Spain with a wonderful event and great participation from our members.
Global geopolitical challenges have impacted our industries, reinforcing the importance of associations like Eurocord and the Cordage Institute. In the current international context and amid growing environmental challenges, the partnership between our organizations is more significant than ever.
Working together to establish industry standards will be fundamental to ensuring sustainability and long-term success for all members.
Looking ahead, we are excited about next year’s Joint Conference, which will take place in Portugal from June 14 to 17 at the Grande Real Santa Eulália Resort & Hotel Spa in Algarve. We look forward to welcoming all Cordage Institute members to this important event, where we will share insights and address common matters that are critical for both Eurocord and CI.
We hope the coming year brings new business opportunities and sustainable growth for our industries, which continue to evolve from traditional roots to more technical and advanced solutions—providing essential products and services for modern society.
Finally, I would like to wish you and your families a wonderful holiday season. Stay healthy and enjoy this special time together.
Warm regards,
Luís Teixeira
Eurocord President
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Hoist Rope Innovation to Fix a Pain Point
Alex Dahm, Crane & Transport Briefing
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A high-performance hoist rope is crucial to the safety and efficiency of crane operations.
As lifting demands escalate, engineering breakthroughs in rope design, for example, resistance to rotation, are pushing the industry into a new era of reliability and performance.
In addition to strength, heavy lifting requires precision, consistency and longevity. For global crane manufacturers like Tadano, these demands are compounded by increasingly extreme working environments, particularly in renewable energy projects where, for example, the height of wind turbines continues to rise.
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Taylor Swift Gets Caught in a Web of Her Own Making in a Dress Made Entirely Out of Ropes
Sophie Wang, Harper's Bazaar
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Prior to this weekend, if you tried to picture Taylor Swift with dark brown hair, you’d likely conjure up an image of her “You Belong With Me” music video, in which the artist played both the blonde girl-next-door protagonist and the popular (brunette) cheerleader. But now, 16 years and ten albums later, she’s stepped back into the look for The Life of a Showgirl, revealing cover art for new acoustic versions of over half the tracks on her album.
In the image, Swift was photographed in a pile of ropes hanging from the ceiling, wearing a Roberto Cavalli dress made entirely from the same material. Camouflaging into her surroundings, making it difficult to decipher where her dress ends and the backdrop begins, she posed with poise, seemingly unbothered by this apparent captivity. Her deep brown hair and dark eyeliner created a striking contrast to the beige ropes, and her signature red lip provided the only bit of color to the shot. Behind her, a chalkboard revealed numbers next to handwritten initials of her songs, with the 6th (“Ruin the Friendship”), 7th (“Actually Romantic”), and 8th (“Wi$h Li$t”) tracks visible.
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Testing Finds Chatham Islands’ Waka Rēkohu From Mid-1400s
Pokere Paewai, TE AO Maori News
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Interim radiocarbon dating on a partially excavated waka in Chatham Islands has revealed the waka arrived on the islands in the mid 1400s.
A previous report concluded the waka, unearthed by father and son Vincent and Nikau Dix, was of pre-European construction and likely from a time before significant cultural separation between Aotearoa and the Pacific.
Lead Archaeologist Dr Justin Maxwell, from Sunrise Archaeology, said recent archaeological research has suggested the first arrival of people on Rēkohu occurred between 1450 and 1650 AD.
“Together, these findings point to the arrival of the waka on Rēkohu Wharekauri Chatham Island between 1440 and 1470 AD. It is important to note that nearly all dated samples from the waka were on short-lived materials, such as cordage that may have been replaced over time. Some materials were older, suggesting the main components of the waka itself could be considerably older than the dated items,” Maxwell said.
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Increasing the Recycling Rates of Post-Use Fishing Ropes: The Role of Cleaning Processes and the Possibilities of a Systematic Individual-Producer-Responsibility Implementation
Thomas Potempa, Nguyen Van Nhi Tran, Max Ehleben, Quang Nguyen Pham, Le Binh Do, Xuan Huyen Vo, Robin Führmann, Welf Graf v. Luxburg-Marten, and Julia Tetzner, Environmental Challenges, Volume 21
| | Plastics from fishing gear represent a significant source of marine pollution, with post-use fishing ropes made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) and polypropylene (PP) posing both environmental challenges and recycling opportunities. This study investigates the mechanical recyclability of post-use fishing ropes and the effect of washing processes on material recovery. Used ropes collected from Vietnamese fisheries were sorted, subjected to up to five washing cycles, and analyzed through FTIR spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and mechanical testing. Results indicate that washing significantly reduces surface impurities, leading to improved flexural modulus and yield strength of the recyclates, while impact strength remains largely unaffected. Both old bright (OBR) and old dark ropes (ODR) retain accessible crystallinity and mechanical properties comparable to virgin material when optimally washed. The study demonstrates that the mechanical properties of recycled material are sufficient for reintegration as up to 25 % recyclate in new fishing ropes, supporting circular economy goals and forthcoming EU requirements for recycled content. Our findings underscore the feasibility of closed-loop recycling for fishing gear polymers and advocate for integrating washing steps and producer responsibility schemes to improve material circularity and reduce marine plastic pollution. | | |
David Shrigley's 'Exhibition of Old Rope' Turns 10 Tons of Discarded Marine Waste into Million-Pound Art
Art Daily
| | Stephen Friedman Gallery is presenting David Shrigley’s ninth solo exhibition with the gallery, Exhibition of Old Rope, marking over twenty-eight years of fruitful collaboration with the celebrated British artist. Expanding his conceptual practice, Shrigley showcases a 10-ton installation made entirely from discarded rope and a large-scale four-part neon. | | | |
Cordage Institute Winter 2026 Virtual Technical Meeting
January 27-28, 2026
Zoom
AWRF 2026 PIE Meeting
April 20-23, 2026
Marriott Marquis Houston
Houston, Texas
Techtextil Frankfurt
April 21-24, 2026
Messe Frankfurt
Frankfurt, Germany
Offshore Technology Conference
May 4-7, 2026
NRG Park
Houston, Texas
WSTDA 2026 Annual Meeting
May 18-20, 2026
The Scottsdale Plaza Resort
Scottsdale, Arizona
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Cordage Institute and Eurocrod 7th Joint Conference
June 14-17, 2026
Grande Real Santa Eulalia
Algarve, Portugal
Techtextil North America
August 4-6, 2026
Raleigh Convention Center
Raleigh, North Carolina
AWRF 50th Anniversary – 2026 Fall General Meeting
October 18-21, 2026
Wailea Beach Resort
Wailea, Hawaii
International Workboat Show
December 2-4, 2026
Morial Convention Center
New Orleans, Louisiana
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Ropecord News
Ropecord News 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 Ropecord News 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.
Peter M. Lance, Executive Director
Tel: 610-971-4854
Fax: 610-971-4859
E-mail: info@ropecord.com
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