Our Association was formed in 1975 and incorporated the following year by a group of concerned businessmen who felt there was a need for sling fabricators and special rigging components manufacturers to join together to form a trade association. Originally created by representatives from nine companies in the United States, in two decades the organization grew to address the needs of over 300 member companies worldwide.

AWRF promotes interests common among companies manufacturing, fabricating, or distributing lifting, rigging and load securement devices made of chain, rope, and synthetic products. The association works to establish, acquire, preserve, and disseminate various technical information, and encourages the development of safety standards and programs, and product identification procedures. Assistance has been provided for establishing and maintaining adequate products liability insurance, as well as other insurance needs of the industry. Common problems and purposes of the industry, such as those involving production, distribution, service and safety are reviewed and advanced by lawful means on a regular basis.