Steel wire ropes, fishing, shipping and other ropes are something that most people rarely think about; however, this tool has been a part of civilization for hundreds of thousands of years. In the 20th century, due to technological advances and to an increased demand for materials that could hold massive amounts of weight and better withstand the elements, raw materials for rope began to move away from natural fibres to stronger, manmade materials such as steel. The cable itself is constructed from steel filaments twisted around a core, which can be natural or manmade.

Steel wire ropes, commonly referred to as cables, are a basic component in many industries. One of the biggest users of this tool has become the fishing industry; cables are used for the ship’s rigging, for towing or anchoring, and fishing lines. Not only are these wires stronger than traditional natural fibres such as hemp, they are better equipped to handle weathering and damage from salt water. These types of rope use galvanised steel, meaning they are covered with a layer of anti-corrosive material; this type of rope is usually a little weaker than ungalvanised, but the galvanisation allows the rope to last longer.

Other segments of industry in which steel rope is integral are construction (for lifting and hauling), mining, aeronautics and space exploration, shipping (for hauling and securing freight), and civil engineering (i.e. suspension bridges, cable cars, etc.). In short, steel wire ropes, engineering, fishing, shipping and other ropes are an indispensible part of modern society.