Systems and methods are provided for forming a cable. In one embodiment, a system for forming a cable comprises a non-driven roll station having a plurality of rolls for forming a shape of one or more strands associated with a first layer of the cable. Movement of the plurality of rolls of the non-driven roll station occurs passively during travel of the one or more strands associated with the first layer of the cable. The system further comprises a driven roll station having a plurality of rolls for forming a shape of one or more strands associated with a second layer of the cable. The plurality of rolls of the driven roll station are actively driven to effect movement and speed of the one or more strands associated with the second layer of the cable.

A strander apparatus includes a disk and a plurality of cradles, each of the cradles includes a reel and a cradle shaft, the cradle shaft extending in an axial direction from the disk. Each reel dispenses cable. The strander includes a main shaft, wherein the cradles are disposed on the cradle shafts radially about the main shaft. Planetary gears are disposed between the main shaft and the plurality of cradle shafts. The strander operates in one of a planetary mode and a rigid mode. In the planetary mode, while the main shaft rotates, the planetary gears are engaged to rotate each of the plurality of cradles on the respective cradle shafts. In the rigid mode, the planetary gears are disengaged.

A factory for producing an elongated tension member has a buoyant body, which may be a ship with a hull and an upper deck, arranged to support at least one apparatus for producing the elongated tension member. The at least one apparatus for producing the elongated tension member has a feeder, a processing device and at least one end fitting device. The feeder is arranged to provide input material, such as at least one load bearing yarn and/or at least one load bearing wire and/or load bearing fibres (fibers). The processing device is arranged to wind and/or twist and/or bundle the input material provided by the feeder. The at least one end fitting device is arranged to provide the elongated tension member with a proximal end fitting and a distal end fitting.

A factory for producing an elongated tension member has a buoyant body, which may be a ship with a hull and an upper deck, arranged to support at least one apparatus for producing the elongated tension member. The at least one apparatus for producing the elongated tension member has a feeder, a processing device and at least one end fitting device. The feeder is arranged to provide input material, such as at least one load bearing yarn and/or at least one load bearing wire and/or load bearing fibres (fibers). The processing device is arranged to wind and/or twist and/or bundle the input material provided by the feeder. The at least one end fitting device is arranged to provide the elongated tension member with a proximal end fitting and a distal end fitting.