What’s Holding Up the HVAC Industry?

How HVAC Suspension Has Evolved from Threaded Rod to Cable

It comes as no surprise to anyone in the HVAC industry that finding enough qualified workers is probably the number one issue for most contractors.

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects about 40,100 openings for HVAC mechanics and installers every year until 2034. This includes both new jobs and those created by folks retiring from the industry.

When drilling down to the sheet metal industry, the numbers get even more depressing. SMACNA reported in 2026 that approximately 35,000 sheet metal workers are expected to retire in the near future, more than half the workforce is over 45, and for every five workers leaving the trade, only two are entering. SMACNA also says 90% of its contractor members report facing a labor shortage.

There are two ways contractors can overcome this problem. They can recruit and hire more skilled technicians. That, of course, is easier said than done. The second option is to look at their operation and find ways for their technicians to work smarter and not harder. This means making the employees more efficient during their time on the clock.

One easy change HVAC contractors can make is using cable suspension rather than threaded rod. Why does this make a difference? This leads to faster installations, less cutting and threading, lighter material to transport around a jobsite, and easier height adjustments.

“The shift from traditional threaded rod toward cable-based systems has really been driven by labor and installation efficiency,” said Brian Pimental, HVAC Sales Manager for Griplock Systems. “Think about all the time spent on the ground cutting rod and strut, deburring it, handling nuts and bolts, and moving materials around the jobsite. Cable eliminates many of those steps.”

One of the biggest differences between the technologies is the number of touch points involved. With cable, contractors can take a box up on a scissor lift and stay there, rather than repeatedly coming down for materials or spending time cutting, grinding and deburring rods or dealing with cutoff wheels and power cords.

“Jobsite logistics are a big part of it, too. Rod and strut can come in on a flatbed and require a significant amount of space to store. With cable, a pallet of boxes can do the same job with a much smaller footprint. On a tight jobsite, that makes a real difference,” said Larry Dalton, HVAC Sales Manager for Griplock Systems.

In fact, there was a Greenville, South Carolina HVAC contractor that recently switched from traditional strut and all thread to Griplock Systems cable suspension for ductwork. One project involved approximately 150 feet of large spiral duct. The contractor originally expected the installation to take about two days. Using Griplock’s cable suspension system, the crew saved more than a full day, which the contractor estimated amounted to roughly 60% labor savings.

The savings came primarily from simplifying the installation process. With the contractor’s traditional method, workers had to measure and cut strut, attach it to the structure, and install threaded rod. Cable suspension eliminated several of those steps and made installation and adjustment quicker.

“I’ve always said that 60% is a good average for the installation time savings you can see with cable. Some applications will save more, but 60% is a comfortable number across the board,” Dalton said.

The contractor’s project manager also reported a positive experience with the product and Griplock, citing the quality of the suspension system and responsive customer service, and said he would recommend it for HVAC suspension applications.

Ductwork remains the primary HVAC application for cable suspension, since it’s found on virtually every HVAC project. But its use is expanding into other applications, including VAV boxes, VRF systems, furnaces, and air handlers.

Cable is also gaining traction in residential applications, particularly custom homes with vaulted ceilings where there may not be a convenient surface for mounting equipment. In those situations, suspending equipment with cable can offer contractors a simpler, more practical solution.

Cable suspension systems have evolved to become easier to install and adjust. Early systems required tools to release and reposition the cable, while newer push-button designs allow for quicker adjustments and can accommodate applications beyond ductwork, including cable tray and conduit racks. Griplock’s system also uses an internal three-ball-bearing mechanism designed to grip the cable without digging into it, allowing for smoother adjustment while helping maintain cable integrity.

As with any newer technology, there are some misconceptions in the marketplace. One misconception is that cable is going to sway more than threaded rod. Cable can move, but so can a long run of threaded rod. If you’re on a job site and push against a 20-foot drop of threaded rod, it’s going to sway, too.

“I think another misconception is that all cable suspension systems are the same,” Dalton said. “Contractors may see similar-looking products and assume they all perform the same way. The differences are in the design, the locking mechanism, the materials and how the system connects to the cable.”

The question is what is next for this technology. According to the folks at Griplock Systems, it could be the expansion into different trades.

“That’s where we see a lot of opportunity with our MEP system, ModuGrip. The future is not just about hanging ductwork; it’s about providing suspension solutions that help coordinate multiple trades, particularly on complex projects such as data centers,” Pimental said.