WCA September 2011

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Technology news
Wire & Cable ASIA – September/October 2011 60
Electric and fibre optic cable
manufacturer Tratos has launched the
innovative and cost-effective Tratos
Microcable solution for Open
Settlement Protocol (OSP) applications
in the broadband market.
Tratos Microcable contains a high-fibre
density but is exceptionally compact
and lightweight, thus maximising the
fibre count available in a small cable
diameter.
It is produced in stranded loose tube
design and is available in fibre counts
from 144 to 192, with outer diameters
ranging between 4 and 7.5mm – the
7.5mm Tratos Microcable incorporating
192 fibres is claimed to be the smallest
such cable in the world today.
Even with the maximum number of
fibres incorporated, Tratos Microcable
remains flexible (it has a minimum
bending radius of 15 x outer diameter
without tension) and is lightweight
enough for air-blown installation in very
small ducts or sub ducts using Tratos
Microduct.
Tratos Microcable requires fewer joints
in installation, providing reduced
resistance when being passed through
the ducting.
As a result, Tratos Microcable is ideal
for installations where duct space is at
a premium and has the added benefit
of being easy to handle and install. It
also provides a simple, neat and
commercially viable solution to
upgrade a network at a later date as
fibre is simply deployed as and when
needed.
Tratos Microcable can be used in
operating temperatures of
-30°C/+60ºC. It has been designed
and manufactured to IEC 60794.
Tratos – UK
Fax: +44 1246 858001
Email :
Website:
Flexible solution for
broadband OSP applications
❍ ❍ Tratos Microcable
August Strecker’s focus this year is
on small size electric strand
buttwelders.
With more than 75 years’ experience,
Strecker has gained an enviable
reputation in manufacturing electric
and cold pressure buttwelding
machines and large welding machines
for medium or high voltage submarine
cables.
Here the tendency is straight to welds
without tubes, using dual upset
welders with automatic flash removal
system. A recent development is of
machines powered by three-phase
transformers, reducing the current
consumption and facilitating machine
installation in the individual cable
factories.
Progress continues, as it is planned to
enlarge the welding ranges for
stranded copper up to 1,600 or even
2,000mm².
There has been continuous demand
this year for types SE 1, SE 2 and SE 4
buttwelders.
These three units cover a total range
for stranded copper from 0.08mm² to
35mm² or stranded aluminium from
1.5mm² to 50mm², welds being made
using ceramic tubes.
A typical application would be in the
automotive industry or for electric
installations.
August Strecker GmbH & Co KG –
Germany
Fax: +49 5431 44 221
Email:
Website:
Focus on small buttwelders
❍ ❍ The type SE1 from Strecker