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Expanding Our Capabilities: Ribbons Acquires Machinery from Marathon Belting

At Ribbons, we’re always looking for ways to strengthen our capabilities and deliver more to our customers. We’re excited to announce that we have recently acquired specialist machinery following the closure of Marathon Belting in Rochdale, a respected name in webbing manufacturing.

This acquisition marks a significant step forward for Ribbons, enhancing both our production capabilities and technical expertise — particularly in the manufacture of arrestor tape used in military applications to decelerate aircraft and cut-resistant webbing made from HMPE (High Modulus Polyethylene), known under the brand name Dyneema®.

Advanced Technology, Enhanced Performance

Bringing this new equipment into our facility wasn’t without its challenges. The installation process required careful planning, skilled engineering, and a fair bit of teamwork to get everything aligned and operational. But the effort was well worth it — the machinery is now fully up and running, and we’re already seeing the benefits in our production capabilities and our offerings to customers.

This specialist machinery allows us to produce webbing with exceptional strength-to-weight ratios and outstanding resistance to cuts and abrasion. HMPE fibres are up to 15 times stronger than steel (weight for weight) and are renowned for their durability, flexibility, and lightness.

With this new machinery in place, we can now offer our customers an even broader range of high-quality webbing products, combined with our continued commitment to customer service. 

The Benefits of Cut-Resistant Webbing

Cut-resistant webbing is essential across many industries where safety and reliability are critical. From industrial lifting and cargo restraint systems to PPE, marine, and defence applications, webbing made with high-tenacity HMPE fibres (Dyneema®) provides superior protection and longevity in demanding environments.

Its unique combination of low weight, high strength, and exceptional cut resistance makes it ideal for use in applications where traditional polyester or nylon webbing may wear out more quickly — offering exceptional flexibility and outstanding abrasion resistance even under extreme pressure, all of which translates to safer, longer-lasting, and more cost-effective performance. 

For textile lifting slings, cut-resistant HMPE fibres provide additional safety and reliability. They reduce the risk of accidental slicing or abrasion from sharp edges, extend the operational life of the sling, and maintain load integrity under heavy-duty lifting conditions. This makes them an excellent choice for industrial applications where both strength and durability are essential.

Looking Ahead

The integration of Marathon’s machinery represents more than an investment in equipment — it’s an investment in the future of Ribbons and our customers. With expanded capabilities and advanced materials expertise, we’re ready to meet growing demand and continue delivering the dependable webbing solutions our customers can rely on.

• Tag Name
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• HMPE
• Cut resistant webbing
• webbing
• Ribbons
• arrestor tape

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