RSS Launches Industrial Tools, Products and Services Division

Rope and Sling Specialists Ltd. (RSS) has launched a new division: Industrial Tools, Products and Services (ITPS). It will be based at the company’s depot in Netherton, near Dudley, which will serve as a central stock and technical support hub for customers nationwide.

13/10/2026

RSS already offers a comprehensive portfolio of rigging hardware and training, in addition to live365 digitalisation and compliance technology. It supplies blocks, shackles, hooks, slings and working at height equipment, all covered by periodic Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER) examinations. ITPS will primarily serve large-scale infrastructure projects and blue-chip firms across the UK.

Beyond lifting and below-the-hook equipment, RSS also stocks comprehensive ranges of complementary industrial tooling and products. It is the UK’s authorised service centre and distributor for Holmatro hydraulic equipment and sells a full line of cylinders, pumps, hoses, and components. RSS can dynamically test and certify all hydraulic cylinders, including those from other brands.

Notably, the Netherton facility serves as a Holmatro base, from where hire, sales, and service are coordinated nationally. The site has undergone an overhaul, with the entire upstairs level converted to ITPS operations. In addition to Holmatro, other established product ranges at the centre of the portfolio include Allspeeds, Cyclops Global, Load Monitoring Systems (LMS), Modulift, Murlink, pewag, The Buddie System, Tagattach and Thern.

Innovative, leading brands

Paul Smith, ITPS divisional manager at RSS, said: “The idea is to bring innovative, leading brands to customers across the UK through our nationwide depot network, supported by the ITPS stockroom here in Netherton. We continue to differentiate ourselves from traditional lifting equipment companies by combining access to leading products with engineered solutions that meet specific customer needs and create lasting benefits at the point of use.

“This approach is particularly relevant to large-scale infrastructure projects and blue-chip organisations, where complex applications often demand more than a standard, off-the-shelf solution. With the potential cost of delays and unsuitable equipment significant, customers increasingly value suppliers that can combine access to products, technical knowledge and practical problem-solving. For ITPS, this creates an opportunity to support customers further upstream in the decision-making process, helping them identify solutions that can improve efficiency, safety and project delivery.”

The ITPS division will provide sales, hire and after-sales services. Comprehensive after-market support will be coordinated from Netherton, which will transition into a centre of excellence, covering repair, testing and service for specialist products as the division develops through 2027. This will provide customers with a single point of technical support throughout the life of their equipment.

While ITPS will predominantly offer complete solutions from individual brands, there will be opportunities to combine specialist products with established industry-standard components where this adds value. This flexibility will allow ITPS to introduce innovative technologies alongside familiar equipment, giving customers access to new solutions without necessarily requiring them to move away from components and systems they already use and trust.