Photo by Matthew Kapust
SURF Crews change Ross Hoist rope
In April 2026, technicians and engineers at SURF installed about 6100 feet of new rope on the Ross Cage.
Video by Stephen Kenny - Photos by Matthew Kapust and Stephen Kenny
The wire rope that holds the conveyance, or cage, which transports personnel and equipment up and down the nearly mile-deep shaft at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) is routinely inspected and changed out when needed.
The last rope change at SURF took place in 2020. In April 2026, technicians and engineers at SURF installed about 6100 feet of new rope on the Ross Cage. SURF crews worked alongside contractors from Fortis Mining Engineering & Manufacturing Company out of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, to complete the rope change.
Colton Clark is the hoist and maintenance superintendent at SURF. He says the rope is comprised of steel wire-like cable with a fiber core that provides flexibility. This new rope will enable the installation of a new double-decker cage inside the Ross Shaft.
While wire rope inspections and replacements at SURF are routine, special safety catches inside the cage are a fail-safe in the unlikely event of a rope breaking.
“At 4.7 pounds per foot, the entire rope weighs about 27 thousand pounds,” Clark said. This new rope is rated for a 285-thousand-pound breaking strength, which increases our factor of safety over the previous rope and allows us to increase the number of personnel specifically for the double deck cage, which will go in later this year.”
“This successful rope change is really a great example of safety teamwork and SURF’s Core Values all rolled up in one,” said Wendy Straub, the Chief Operating Officer at SURF. “Throughout the process, the team worked together to ensure each step prioritized safety and the best methods for execution.”
Straub credits Colton Clark, the hoist and maintenance superintendent, who did a great deal of research to confirm the metallurgical makeup of the new hoist rope properly increases the safety factor desired for the new double decker cage. She also credits Jeff Barthel, a rigging specialist at SURF, for his leadership as a longtime master rigger at SURF. She thanks Ross mine host mechanics, Jared Burleson, Brian Johnson, and Dustin Tucker, alongside the entire Ross Shaft crew, Todd Hubbard, and the SURF engineering team, and Ross Hoist operators for all the hard work in this successful operation.
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Photo by Matthew Kapust
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Photo by Matthew Kapust
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Photo by Matthew Kapust
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Photo by Stephen Kenny
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Photo by Matthew Kapust
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Photo by Matthew Kapust
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Photo by Stephen Kenny
