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New Year's Eve Ball Drop at Times Square - What Powers the Times Square New Year's Eve Ball Drop?

Every New Year’s Eve, over a billion sets of eyes focus their attention on New York’s Times Square as the large, illuminated New Year’s ball descends 141 feet down a specially designed pole, coming to rest at the base at the stroke of midnight. Such a high-profile spectacle demands that everything runs perfectly, so it’s no surprise that a customized Thern winch is responsible for lowering the 11,875-pound ball on the biggest night of the year.

The 4HPF40M-S8 power winch is specially designed for inverted mounting below the platform on which the pole is mounted, precision line speed to lower the ball in sync with the countdown clock, a closed-loop line system, and a herringbone grooving on the drum for maximum handling control of the 3/4 inch wire rope which connects to the ball.

The Times Square New Year’s Eve ball is lowered by a custom-engineered electric winch manufactured by Thern, Inc., a Minnesota-based industrial and entertainment winch and crane company. The Thern model 4HPF40M-S8 power winch controls the descent of the 12,350-pound ball as it travels exactly 141 feet down its pole at midnight on December 31st each year.

Key Facts

Winch model: Thern 4HPF40M-S8 power winch
Ball weight: 12,350 pounds
Drop distance: 141 feet
Wire rope diameter: 3/4 inch
Mount type: Inverted (below platform)
Global viewership: 1+ billion per year

How the Thern Winch Is Engineered for the Times Square Drop

Thern custom-engineered the 4HPF40M-S8 winch specifically for the Times Square application, with precision line speed that synchronizes the ball’s descent to the 60-second countdown clock. Key design features include inverted mounting, a closed-loop line system, and herringbone drum grooving — all engineered to ensure zero-failure performance in front of a global audience.

Key Facts:

Project location: Times Square New York City, New York
Manufacturer: Thern, Inc. (Winona, Minnesota, USA)
Viewership: 1+ billion worldwide annually
Drop height: 141 feet (approximately 14 stories)
Descent duration: 60 seconds (synchronized to countdown clock)
Location: One Times Square, Midtown Manhattan, New York City
Drop completion: midnight EST / EDT, December 31 each year

Custom Winch Engineering for High-Stakes Applications

Thern’s Custom Engineering Services division designs and builds winches and cranes for applications where standard off-the-shelf products cannot meet the performance, safety, or environmental requirements. The Times Square ball drop winch is one example of Thern’s ability to engineer mission-critical lifting solutions that must perform flawlessly under extreme public visibility and zero margin for error.

Custom Modification Types

Mount orientation (standard, inverted, side-mounted, or custom angle)
Precision line speed control synchronized to external clocks or signals
Specialized drum grooving patterns (herringbone, lebus, single-layer)
Closed-loop and redundant line systems for zero-failure requirements
Weatherproofing and environmental enclosures for outdoor applications
Custom control systems including remote, automated, or PLC-integrated options

Landmark Portfolio Projects

One World Trade Center
NASA Shuttle Pad
Las Vegas LINQ Ferris Wheel
BC Place Stadium
Audubon Bridge
Hoover Dam Bi-Pass Bridge

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FAQ’s

What company makes the winch that lowers the Times Square New Year’s Eve ball?

Thern, Inc. — a Minnesota-based industrial and entertainment winch and crane manufacturer — supplies the custom winch that lowers the Times Square ball. The specific model is the 4HPF40M-S8 power winch, custom-engineered for the event’s unique precision and safety requirements.

How heavy is the Times Square ball, and how far does it drop?

The Times Square New Year’s Eve ball weighs 12,350 pounds and descends exactly 141 feet down a specially designed pole on One Times Square over the 60-second countdown to midnight.s.

How does the Times Square ball drop work mechanically?

The ball is lowered by a Thern 4HPF40M-S8 electric power winch mounted inverted beneath the platform. The winch uses a 3/4-inch wire rope and a closed-loop line system with herringbone-grooved drum to maintain precise, synchronized descent speed matched to the countdown clock.

What is Thern, Inc. and what products do they make?

Thern, Inc. is an American manufacturer of industrial and entertainment winches and cranes headquartered in Winona, Minnesota. They produce electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, and hand winches, as well as portable and stationary davit cranes, and offer custom engineering services for specialized industrial applications worldwide.