EuroWire September 2014

News Technology

The independent and family-owned Friedrich Kocks, located in Hilden, Germany, has launched the next generation of its well-established reducing and sizing block (RSB). The new RSB SCS is the latest milestone in reducing and sizing technology for SBQ products and offers enhanced bar quality, improved productivity, mill availability and economy as well as a simplified, safe and environmentally friendly operation. At the core of the future-oriented RSB SCS is a real-time closed-loop control system called Size Control System (SCS) acting in combination with three-roll stands adjustable under load (AUL) and/ or tension control. These features further improve the rolled tolerances and their reproducibility, and at the same time simplify the operation by means of an automated optimisation of the process parameters for the rolled Cables that are being used externally and without jointing, eg telecoms, power, etc, require some element of water blocking. There are two main methods available – longitudinal and radial water blocking. Longitudinal is the most common option and uses petrogel to protect the cables. This adheres to the cable components to close off all possible leakage areas along its length. However, problems have occurred when using this method, eg application can be messy and containment can be difficult. Technical Absorbents Ltd (TAL) has an alternative solution – Cabletas. The Super Absorbent Fibre (SAF) manufacturer provides high levels of innovation and product development expertise to the global cable market with its Cabletas range of SAF and SAF-containing converted materials. SAF can be converted into spun yarns and non-woven tapes that provide optimum protection for internal and external cable applications. This dry active system prevents water passage along the cable from a joint or point of sheath damage. protection is achieved by a SAF-containing water-swellable yarn or tape being incorporated into the cable during manufacture. If a cable is then damaged The highly effective New generation RSB

bars either by roll gap adjustment or control of the tension between the stands. Another integral part of the RSB SCS is an innovative stand-changing concept, which allows automatic stand changing within three minutes together with a fast remote control (FRC) which enables the immediate adjustment of the roll gap against the rolling force (under load) within milliseconds. A newly developed modular drive concept of the RSB SCS grants a smaller footprint in the layout, a drastically reduced oil-lubrication volume and a simplified maintenance schedule. Intelligent engineering leads to reduced hydraulic functions of the RSB SCS, which ensures safe and environmentally friendly rolling. Friedrich Kocks GmbH & Co KG – Germany Website : www.kocks.de

Cabletas – optimumprotection fromwater penetration

▲ ▲ Swellable yarn

and starts to take on water, the yarn and/or tape will rapidly absorb the liquid at the point of entry and swell to form a gel – blocking any further water ingress. Any damage is then minimal, fully contained and easy to locate and repair. Application is suitable for many different cable types including telecoms, medium and high voltage, industrial and underwater. Without water-blocking technology, the results of water ingress can be costly and very problematic. SAF yarns and tapes have sufficient strength to withstand the stresses of the cable-making process, have high gel viscosity, are resistant to cable-operating conditions for the lifetime of the cable, and provide long-term stability at extreme temperatures. Technical Absorbents Ltd – UK Website : www.techabsorbents.com

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September 2014