Marlow Ropes
Marlow Ropes Ltd is a privately owned British manufacturer specializing in synthetic fiber ropes and cordage. The factory in Hailsham, East Sussex, boasts advanced rope and line production capabilities and technology.
Marlow Ropes takes pride in its heritage—not only as a globally recognized brand known for quality, performance, and innovation, but also as a company that has been part of the local community for over 200 years. The company specializes in working with high-performance synthetic fibers such as Vectran, Zylon, Technora, Nomex, and Twaron, and is a key partner of DSM Dyneema, having developed specialized lines using Dyneema SK99, SK78, SK75, SK38, DM20, and XBO.
Defence Ropes
Marlow Ropes have earned an outstanding reputation for quality and technical innovation for our defence and special forces products around the world. This reputation is born out of pioneering designs that have been tried and tested in the world’s harshest environments and toughest combat zones.
Marlow are known and respected around the world for British design and quality excellence. Our facility in Hailsham, United Kingdom houses our R&D Centre and specialist production units and it is from here that we manufacture and distribute quality British made products to 100 countries worldwide.
They adhere to tough ISO quality standards with many of our products also meeting stringent CE, NFPA and ANSI compliance testing and NATO codification rules.
Click on the link: Marlow Ropes Köite ja nööride kataloog, to get a good overview of their products
1. Fast Ropes
Purpose: Rapid troop deployment from helicopters without harnesses.
Construction: Low elongation, abrasion-resistant, durable polyamide ropes.
Grip: Firm, consistent outer braid for controlled descent—optimized for gloved hands.
Variations: Available with or without insertion loops, with the FRIES system (Fast Rope Insertion & Extraction System) for additional extraction capability.
Features: Heat-resistant, minimized twist, often compatible with fast rope descent devices.
2. Insertion & Extraction
Purpose: Rope systems used for rapid insertion into or extraction from hostile or difficult terrain.
FRIES Loops: Integrated into fast ropes to allow personnel or cargo to be lifted/extracted by helicopter.
Helicopter Ropes: Designed for air-to-ground operations under load-bearing and vibration-heavy conditions.
Certification: Often tested to NATO or military standards for tensile strength, sheath integrity, and UV/weather resistance.
3. Abseil & Climbing
Purpose: For vertical mobility during tactical operations (urban assault, cliff-side missions, etc.)
Dynamic Climbing Ropes: Offer controlled elongation to absorb falls.
Static Ropes: Minimal stretch for controlled descent or hauling.
Compatibility: Designed for use with military descenders, ascenders, and harnesses.
Durability: Resistant to dirt, sand, UV exposure, and wet conditions—crucial in combat environments.
4. Hardware & Accessories
Purpose: To support rope systems with compatible and robust connectors and tools.
Connectors & Carabiners: Tactical-grade, lightweight alloys or steel, tested for high loads.
Descent Devices: Engineered for controlled, fast descent with gloved use.
Rope Bags, Anchors, Slings: Tactical colors (black, coyote, olive), built for field resilience.
Maintenance Tools: Include rope markers, cleaning kits, and inspection tools.
5. Vehicle Winching & Recovery
Purpose: Recovery of disabled vehicles or equipment in field operations.
Winch Ropes: High-strength, low-weight alternatives to steel wire—made from Dyneema® or similar.
Strength: Extremely high breaking load and minimal elongation under strain.
Safety: Reduced recoil risk compared to metal cables if breakage occurs.
Custom Ends: Can include soft eyes, thimbles, or reinforced loops for various vehicle types.
6. Naval Forces
Purpose: Ropes suited for shipboard and maritime use in military settings.
Mooring Lines: High-tenacity, low-creep synthetic fibers (e.g., HMPE, polyester).
Towing Ropes: Abrasion, UV, and saltwater resistant.
Boarding Ropes & Ladders: Lightweight, high-grip, tangle-resistant designs.
Color Coding: Often uses black or navy for reduced visibility in tactical conditions.
7. Blackline Tactical Range
Purpose: Discreet, high-performance rope range optimized for special forces.
Low-Visibility: All-black or dark-colored rope range for covert operations.
Tactical Specification: Available across categories—fast rope, static lines, abseil ropes, and accessories.
Silent Movement: Designed to reduce noise during deployment or manipulation.
Custom Builds: Many products tailored for elite units with specific operational requirements.
| Subcategory | Key Features |
|---|---|
| Fast Ropes | High-grip, abrasion-resistant, optional loops |
| Insertion & Extraction | FRIES compatible, aerial deployment/extraction |
| Abseil & Climbing | Static/dynamic ropes, high durability |
| Hardware & Accessories | Tactical-grade gear, field resilience |
| Vehicle Winching | HMPE ropes, lightweight, high-strength |
| Naval Forces | UV/saltwater resistance, mooring/towing |
| Blackline | Covert, black, special forces-grade |
Different materials:
HMPE (High Modulus Polyethylene)
The next “exotic” material to enter the market was high-modulus polyethylene, such as Dyneema and Spectra. Like aramids, it is a high-strength, low-stretch fiber, but HMPE ropes are lighter than aramids (relative density of HMPE is 0.97) and do not suffer the same strength loss when used with small D:d ratios. For more details, see information about Dyneema.
Vectran
Vectran, or aromatic liquid crystal polyester, is another high-strength, low-stretch material. Vectran exhibits very low creep and has greater durability than aramid. It also offers excellent heat resistance.
PBO
PBO (poly(p-phenylene-2,6-benzobisoxazole)) is marketed under the trade name Zylon. This is a relatively new material on the market. PBO is currently one of the strongest materials available for rope manufacturing; it has extremely low stretch and exceptional high-temperature resistance. However, like aramids, it must be protected from UV radiation and abrasion.
Polyester
This synthetic material has excellent resistance to UV radiation and abrasion. Water does not affect polyester. This combination of properties means polyester is used both in protective sheaths and as pure polyester ropes. Polyester has a density of 1.38, a melting point of 260°C, and an elongation at break of about 12%.
Nylon
Also known as polyamide, this material is slightly stronger than polyester when dry but loses up to 10% of its strength when wet. Nylon has good UV and abrasion resistance. Its main advantage over other materials is its 30% elongation at break, making it ideal for energy absorption applications. Nylon’s relative density is 1.14, and its melting point is 220°C.
Polypropylene
Polypropylene is a very lightweight material with a density of 0.91, meaning ropes made from it float. It has moderate resistance to UV and abrasion. Its breaking point is similar to that of polyester, though its strength is lower. It has a relatively low melting point of 170°C. Polypropylene has good resistance to a wide range of chemicals.
Polyethylene
Polyethylene shares similar properties with polypropylene but has slightly better UV resistance. Its relative density is 0.97, and its melting point is approximately 165°C.
PEEK
PEEK (polyether ether ketone) belongs to the family of polyaryletherketones and offers exceptional thermal and dimensional stability. The real value of Zyex PEEK fibers lies in their extended lifespan under extreme temperatures, steam, or chemical exposure in various abrasive conditions.