EoW November 2012

Focus on USA

Global supplier of compounds

compromising the integrity of the cable. These compounds can be used for both insulation and jacketing • Speciality products include conductive vinyl, conductive polyolefin, and custom-formulated compounds based on blends and alloys with nitrile rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane, and other polymers The Thermoplastic Elastomer Division produces a broad range of compounds for the wire and cable industry. Included are formulations based on three widely differing TPE chemistries: • Styrene block copolymer compounds combine superior electrical properties with flexibility and toughness. They are used in a wide range of power, communications and data cable, as well as in injection moulded plugs and connectors. With brittle points as low as -100°C, and continuous operating temperatures UL rated for 105°C and 125°C, these span a wide temperature range • Thermoplastic vulcanisates (TPVs), which consist of dynamically crosslinked elastomers in a polyolefin matrix, provide rubber-like flexibility and elastic recovery, weather resistance, ozone and oil resistance, tear resistance, long term ageing resistance, and excellent tactile properties • Thermoplastic olefins (TPOs) are polyolefin/rubber blends that provide rubber-like feel and physical properties and resistance to heat aging and ozone. They are available in flame-retardant grades for both fibre optic and copper cable applications A privately held firm founded in 1924, Teknor Apex operates 12 compounding facilities in the US, Europe, Singapore and China and sells in 90 countries. In Europe it has offices in the Netherlands and the UK and plants in the UK and Belgium. Teknor Apex Asia Pacific is based in Singapore and manufactures compounds there and in Suzhou, China. The company maintains dedicated business units for bioplastics, colour masterbatches, nylons, thermoplastic elastomers, toll and speciality compounds, and flexible and rigid vinyl. Teknor Apex – USA Website : www.teknorapex.com Catering for all your needs Tensor Machinery is a designer and builder of cabling equipment for the wire and cable industry, and provides a wide variety of solutions to manufacture fibre optic or copper cable including individual pieces of equipment to complete cable manufacturing lines ready to produce cable. Products include: UV colouring lines, loose tube manufacturing, SZ stranding lines, armouring lines, yarn serving, pay-offs, take-ups and jacketing lines for indoor and outdoor cable products. Tensor’s main focus has been on fibre optic cable equipment since 1985 but it can also provide some equipment solutions for the copper wire and power cable industries. All Tensor equipment is engineered to withstand the daily demand placed on it by production and it uses the latest in mechanical, electrical and electronic technology. As companies look to enter into the different cable markets or are looking at cost reduction, many have turned to Tensor as the solution.

In more than six decades as a supplier to wire and cable manufacturers, Teknor Apex has developed compounds for every type of insulation, jacket, plug, and connector application in the industry. Its database includes many thousands of custom and standard vinyl (PVC) and thermoplastic elastomer (TPE) formulations. The company’s laboratories provide valuable customer support by carrying out most tests required for compliance with ASTM, UL, CSA, NEMA, SAE, ISO, IEC and other industry codes and standards. All of the company’s products are RoHS and REACH compliant.

▲ ▲ Wire products from Teknor Apex

The Vinyl Division is a pioneer in the application of plastics to wire and cable, having produced its first vinyl products in 1946. The PVC resins used in manufacturing vinyl compounds are made flexible with plasticisers, many of which are manufactured by the Teknor Apex Chemical Division. • Apex® vinyl compounds make up the broadest and most widely used range of wire and cable products. Teknor Apex offers more than 200 standard Apex products and maintains a database of over 3,000 Apex formulations • Fireguard® low-smoke, flame resistant compounds meet and exceed all applicable UL requirements pertaining to applications in copper and fibre optic plenum cables used in commercial buildings • Halguard® halogen-free flame retardant products are low-smoke compounds suitable for cables used in appliances, computer interconnect, and central office switching equipment • Flexalloy® vinyl elastomers based on ultra-high-molecular- weight (UHMW) PVC provide rugged performance under aggressive environmental conditions. With a brittle point of -50°C and a high temperature rating of +105°C, Flexalloy compounds stay flexible, withstanding extreme cold, searing heat, and wet environments without cracking, softening or

Tensor Machinery Ltd – Canada Website : www.tensorfiber.com

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November 2012