RRC Archives

New England Ropes Recalls Climbing Lines Due to Fall Hazard

NEWS from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 29, 2008
Release #08-346

Firm's Recall Hotline: (866) 617-9038
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

New England Ropes Recalls Climbing Lines Due to Fall Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in
cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of
the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled
products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Maxim Apogee and Maxim Pinnacle Dynamic Climbing
Lines/Ropes

Units: About 530

Manufacturer: New England Ropes, of Fall River, Mass.

Hazard: The climbing lines can break, posing a serious fall hazard for
climbers.

Incidents/Injuries: None.

Description: Two types of climbing ropes have been included in this recall,
the Maxim Apogee 9.1mm and Maxim Pinnacle 9.5mm. The Maxim Apogee 9.1mm is a
48 carrier climbing rope. The colors are yellow and black, and red and
yellow. The model numbers are 3411-91 and 3415-91, with date codes 060801
thru 080601. The UPC codes are: 75396312299, 75396312298, 75396312301, and
75396312300. The Maxim Pinnacle 9.5mm is a blue 48 carrier climbing rope.
The Model number is 3403-95, with date codes 070201 thru 080601. The UPC
codes are 75396312292 and 75396312293. The date codes and the UPC codes are
on the original packaging.

Sold at: Retailers nationwide from August 2006 through June 2008 for between
$180 and $262.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled dynamic
climbing lines and contact the manufacturer for a free replacement.

Consumer Contact: For more information, consumers can contact New England
Ropes toll-free at (866) 617-9038 anytime or visit the firm's Web site at
www.neropes.com/Climbing.aspx

To see this recall on CPSC's web site, including pictures of the recalled
product, please go to:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml08/08346.html

512OW wrote:Buy Maxim. Jesus will love you more.

Where's the love?

damn dronez, if only you would have taken a GOOD fall on my new maxim rope!

ahhh, who am i kidding... i'm still a rookie who uses 10+mm diameter ropes.

If those things have been sold since Aug. 2006, I'm surprised nobody has died on one yet.

It's not really clear what the issue is, other then it might not hold 5 uiaa falls. I wonder if that is a minimum to get the cert or something. Since uiaa falls are really hard, I would guess that the ropes are probably OK for general use and probably don't fail with normal sport climbing falls. But, I don't know for sure (and I climb on kinda scary ropes most of the time anyway) so you should probably get a new one if you have one.

Hmm, should check ebay for a used one.

From what I understand, the ropes were labeled with the wrong fall information. Something like they were labeled with 6, and should have been labeled 5 (though I don't remember exact numbers).

Regardless, I know several people who are super psyched to get a new rope out of the deal...

It's interesting how few units are in this recall, while at the same time, there are three separate model numbers.

I wouldn't be surprised in the recall was based on something as minor as misplaced quality control paperwork for a spool of yarn, or similar technicality. Given that this is "life safety" equipment even the slightest problem would probably trigger a recall.

I never owned one. Do the people out there in redriver climbing land like them?

aw crap. sounds like my rope. Mrs ynot sold my old rope at a yard sale too.