Teufelberger at a glance: ropes, strapping, EPDs
Teufelberger-Redaelli lives where steel and fiber meet real‑world loads. The group supplies structural ropes for bridges and tensile roofs, hoist ropes for cranes, marine and industrial cordage, plus plastic strapping and fall‑protection gear. Here’s what they sell into the built environment and how their Environmental Product Declarations stack up.
What Teufelberger makes for the built world
Teufelberger-Redaelli is best known for steel wire ropes used on cable‑supported structures, stadium roofs, facades, ropeways, and heavy lifting. The group also offers synthetic ropes for industrial and marine use, plastic strapping for packaging, and a growing fall‑protection line. The portfolio spans multiple categories rather than a single pure play.
Across steel and fiber rope families alone, the catalog runs into the hundreds of SKUs by construction and diameter. Strapping adds dozens more, as do preassembled slings and safety kits. Exact counts shift by market and year, so treat these as directional.
EPD coverage today
In 2024, the Redaelli unit published product‑specific EPDs under the International EPD System for structural ropes used in buildings and infrastructure. Verification attestations show entries for open spiral strand ropes and full locked coil ropes with September and October 2024 issue dates (Teufelberger downloads, 2025) (Teufelberger downloads, 2025). Registry records list “Fune chiusa” and “Fune spiroidale” as valid to July 30, 2029 under EN 15804+A2 (International EPD System, 2024) (International EPD System, 2024).
That means structural cable packages for bridges and tensile architecture can already be backed by third‑party verified data in common European and global schemes. EPDs isn’t the only lever, but it removes a recurring procurement question before it ever lands in legal’s inbox.
Where coverage is thin
We did not find public, product‑specific EPDs for several adjacent families likely to appear on construction jobs: general hoist and auxiliary ropes for cranes, elevator hoist ropes, synthetic safety lines and lifelines, or plastic strapping used on‑site. If those are strategic in key markets, they represent practical EPD opportunities.
On strapping, the group communicates circularity targets such as 90% recycled content by 2030 and an internal take‑back model for used bands (Teufelberger Strapping Sustainability, 2025). They also report TÜV Austria “OK recycled” certification across more than 1,000 PP and PET SKUs confirming 30% PP and 100% PET recycled content claims in scope items (Teufelberger news, 2024). Those are credible signals, yet they are not substitutes for product EPDs when a tender explicitly asks for one.
Why this matters commercially
On public works, large campuses, and owners aligned with LEED v5 era expectations, product‑specific EPDs are increasingly table stakes for permanent building components. Without one, specifiers often default to conservative impact factors that penalize selection. Teams that walk in with an EPD avoid that friction and keep price from becoming the only story.
A likely spec moment they could miss
General‑purpose wire ropes for cranes and elevators show up on many projects. ArcelorMittal Bourg‑en‑Bresse has a “Wire Ropes” EPD registered in February 2024 and valid to 2029, covering hoisting and ropeway applications under EN 15804+A2 (ArcelorMittal EPD, 2024) (ArcelorMittal EPD, 2024). If an owner or GC requests EPD documentation across major permanent equipment, that competitor’s paperwork can clear a path while a comparable Teufelberger item might require exceptions or extra justification.
Competitors Teufelberger meets in bids
In structural cables and related packages, frequent rivals include Bekaert’s Bridon brand, Pfeifer, and system integrators like VSL and Freyssinet who bundle stay cables, anchors, ducts, and installation. In crane and industrial ropes, WireCo brands and WDI Python appear often. In bridge stays and roofs, alternatives can also include bar‑tendon systems that sometimes carry their own disclosures. The practical takeaway is simple. When a competitor shows up with an EPD in hand for the same functional role, the path to approval shortens.
Fastest wins for expanding EPD coverage
If we were prioritizing with a sales lens, we would start where volume meets spec visibility.
- Elevator and building‑maintenance hoist ropes. Permanent to the asset and increasingly in scope for whole‑building LCAs.
- Crane ropes supplied as part of fixed facility equipment on industrial projects where owner standards call for EPD coverage.
- Safety and rescue lines commonly listed in O&M documentation for towers and roofs.
- High‑volume strapping SKUs sold into construction product packaging, where customers may request verified data for scope‑3 reporting even if it does not earn building credits.
Each can sit under PCR 2019:14 Construction products, the same rulebook used for the current Redaelli rope EPDs, which keeps program choices familiar to reviewers (International EPD System, 2024).
Sustainability resources worth a look
Teufelberger publishes a strapping circularity roadmap and take‑back program that many construction manufacturers will appreciate. It is practical, visual, and easy to socialize with procurement teams (Strapping sustainability).
What to watch next
Structural rope EPDs are in place and valid to mid‑2029, which buys time to broaden coverage into elevator, crane, and safety lines. Meanwhile, competitors are registering adjacent components too, such as colored stay pipes for cable systems, which keep the bar rising in infrastructure specs (International EPD System, 2025). A measured rollout that targets your highest‑visibility rope families first will pay back in smoother bids and fewer exceptions.
(Teufelberger downloads, 2025) lists four 2024 EPD verification attestations for structural ropes. (International EPD System, 2024) confirms EN 15804+A2 registration and validity to 2029 for “Fune chiusa” and “Fune spiroidale.” (ArcelorMittal EPD, 2024) shows a competing “Wire Ropes” EPD valid to 2029. (Teufelberger Strapping Sustainability, 2025) states a 90% recycled‑content goal for strapping by 2030. (Teufelberger news, 2024) notes TÜV Austria OK recycled certifications across strapping SKUs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Teufelberger products currently have product-specific EPDs relevant to buildings and infrastructure?
Structural ropes manufactured by Redaelli Tecna, specifically open spiral strand and full locked coil families, with 2024 registrations under EN 15804+A2 and validity to 2029 (International EPD System, 2024).
Are Teufelberger’s strapping sustainability claims the same as an EPD?
No. They report circularity goals and TÜV Austria OK recycled certifications for recycled content. Helpful for buyer due diligence, but not a substitute where a tender asks for a third‑party verified EPD (Teufelberger news, 2024; Teufelberger Strapping Sustainability, 2025).
Where would additional EPDs most help in specs?
Elevator and maintenance hoist ropes, common crane rope families used in fixed facilities, and widely used safety lines. These show up in owner standards and can trigger documentation requests in LEED v5‑aligned projects.
About the Author
Eric works at the intersection of sustainability, regulation, and business strategy, helping manufacturers navigate the evolving landscape of EPDs and LCAs. Having spoken with hundreds of teams across North America, brings a deep understanding of what drives ROI, what regulators are asking for, and how companies can stay ahead with smart, scalable approaches to environmental reporting.
