EoW July 2008

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EuroWire – July 2008 38
english technology news
European growth for
Xtra-Guard cables
Alpha Wire International has announced
that sales of its Xtra-Guard® flexible
cables range have doubled year on year
in Europe for the last three years.
Growth has increased across the board
in terms of industry sector but is most
prevalent in the automation and control
environments where robotics are
increasingly utilised in manufacture.
Xtra-Guard increases flex life cycles,
refining cable profile and improving
durability in single and multi-axis flexing
applications.
Engineers are said to be increasingly
aware of the difference between flexible
and flexing. The ability of a cable to
be bent and routed in order to create
a ‘dressed’ installation is, of course,
crucial. A flexible cable allows for easier
installation and simplifies troubleshooting
in the cabinet and/or equipment
installation.
In many manufacturing applications
cables have to withstand millions of flex
cycles – something far more complex
than simple flexibility.
Designers need to first consider the type
of flexing that the cable will be required
to withstand – such as single axis,
torsional, multi axis or variable – as each
requires a specific set of cable attributes.
In applications where the cables will be
subject to torsional or variable flexing,
in robotics applications for example,
it is essential to specify sophisticated
cables that will be capable of twisting
and random robotic flexing operation of
±360º per metre.
Harry Quinn, European director for
Alpha Wire commented: “Our customers
depend on us with their most critical
applications, so just as systems become
more demanding we continue to
improve and refine all of our products.
“We understand that helping our
customers to select the correct cable
first time is essential to overall system
reliability, system performance and
safety. It’s also crucial that this selection
is made first time to avoid cable failure,
which can be very costly in terms of
production levels, profits and a company’s
reputation.”
Alpha Wire has also made it easier to
specify the right flex cable for the right
application with
– an interactive web site and selection
guide – that offers an intuitive and
graphically-based product selector
function. It allows engineers to quickly
identify cable specifications for their
system requirements.
AlphaWire International – UK
Fax: +44 1932 772433
Email:
Website: