Cabling solutions for transport equipment industry

On Aug 26, 2019

Transport Equipment Industry- An Overview

The transport sector of a country plays a major role in the economy as it has a direct impact on the development of the population. The reason is, when the transport system is effective, it backs the social and economic opportunities by offering benefits like better accessibility, employment etc. As per industry reports, this industry have emerged as the one of the top reasons behind the escalating growth of the transport sector in India.

The transport equipment sector is a critical manufacturing sector comprised of two main subsectors, namely motor vehicles, parts & accessories and other transport equipment. Transport equipment manufacturing also includes the manufacture of aircraft and other aerospace equipment, railroad equipment, motor vehicles and auto parts, motorcycles and bicycles, as well as the building, repairing and breaking of ships. This sector has managed to provide a significant boost to the Indian economy by providing phased global integration which has increased the volume and scale of local production, thereby expanding exports, and modernizing and upgrading the industry.

Globalization has also played a pivotal role in revamping this industry. It has opened doors for new markets and production locations. It has also implemented technology to make better and faster transportation equipments. In spite of the credit crunch due to the economic slump in the recent times, the industry has managed to rise above it branching out into several other sectors like recycling. By looking at the statistics, it can be safely concluded that the transport equipment industry has reached its maximum efficiency level. It will continue to operate optimally if the industry continues to be backed by a stable regulatory structure, sustainable project revenues and good corporate governance, as these are the factors which define and shape the success of the transport equipment sector.

Characteristics of Cables in the Transport Equipment Industry

The main objective of the spare part manufacturing industry is to build parts for the machines in case of a failure in the machines which will eventually work towards reducing operational downtime for its customers. Cable requirements of this industry vary based on the type of spare parts the company is manufacturing. Some can be ordered right off the catalogue while others have to be custom made for the client.

However, some of the common characteristics are listed below.

The cables should be oil resistant. Oil has a tendency to get absorbed into the cable resulting in swelling and softening and eventually degrades the tensile property of the cable.
Cables must also be able to sustain vibrations. One should also ensure that the vibrations in the machine do not cause loose connections in the circuitry. The connecting glands must be unaffected by the oil as well.
Crimping of cables must be avoided.
The connectors must be ingress protected. IP is a European rating standard for measuring the degree of protection offered by mechanical and electrical equipments against solid and liquid particles.
The cables should be dust resistant
The cables must be protected against temporary/ continuous immersion in liquids.
HFFR (halogen free and flame resistant) cables are mandatory accounting for the safety of the staff and surrounding equipments.
The cables must comprise of abrasion resistant insulation.
Although this primarily depends on the application, it is advisable to use cables which are high temperature resistant (the maximum temperature is to be dictated by the application).
Constantly halting operations to replace cables in the machines will lead to unavoidable financial losses for the company. Hence, cables which require low maintenance and guarantee long life are ideal.
Most industrial machines consist of at least one moving part. In this context, the cable is required to be sufficiently flexible to cope with the to-and-fro or up-and-down motion.
The industry demands cables that be free from oxidation.
Joint free cables are ideally preferred as they lower the losses and prevent excessive heating up of the cables.
The cables should also adhere to the space constraints of the machines.

Applications of Cables for High Movement conditions

A Crane System is a typical example of a high movement condition – It is mandatory that the cables be highly flexible and durable. Cables are flat and are highly flexible and durable, making them ideal for high movement applications. These cables maintain high safety standards as they are flame retardant and can withstand high temperature.

For the trolley systems, Lapp öLFLEX^® CRANE F and öLFLEX^® CRANE CF cables. These flat cables are ideal for locations with space constraints. They are highly flexible and are also capable of withstanding harsh environmental and operational conditions. They are made up of strands of bare or tinned-copper wires with rubber based core insulation. The cables also have individual core screening consisting of tin-plated copper braiding and plastic foil wrapping. The copper braiding screens the cable against electromagnetic interference.

Heat Resistant Cables for Long Term Failure-Free Operation

Lapp also supplies silicon cables öLFLEX^® HEAT 180 SiHF cable is ideal for locations which have high ambient temperatures and where insulating and sheath materials of conventional cables will become brittle after a short while. The cables comprise of fine wires with tinned copper conductor. They have silicon based core insulation with a twisted and layered core.

The cables also possess a silicon based outer sheath. They are halogen-free and flame-retardant and are resistant to oils, alcohols, vegetable and animal fats, and chemical substances. Lapp also provides SILVYN conduits to offer additional protection to cables used in the drag chain. These conduits are dimensionally stable. They offer high resistance to oil, petrol, acid and grease. The conduits are air tight and impermeable. They are halogen and cadmium-free.

Web: www.lappindia.com