34
Tube Products International September 2013
products & developments
High-performance clamp
Norma Group exhibited its newly
developed pipe retaining clamp made
of plastic at the Paris Air Show in June.
Red Grip can be used for fastening
pipes, cables and lines in aircraft, motor
vehicles, commercial vehicles or trains.
The new clamp is manufactured from
high-performance plastic polyether
ether ketone (PEEK), which provides
significant material properties: the
clip is suitable for applications in the
temperature range between -50°C
and +250°C, such as in an aircraft
engine compartment.
“Red Grip is an outstanding example
of our engineering skill, which even
goes into such small products,”
commented Bernd Kleinhens, board
member, business development. “The
new plastic pipe clip not only shortens
assembly time; its low weight also helps
our customers save resources.”
To reduce the overall weight of the
systems, companies are increasingly
turning to lightweight construction.
This trend is continuing down to
the smallest components.
The Red Grip pipe
clip is around 10 to
15 per cent lighter
than
standard
configurations of
metal retaining clip,
and its design is
compact.
Red Grip makes it possible to encircle
cable harnesses and piping systems
completely. A silicone pad, which is
securely mounted in the two-component
injection moulding process, eliminates
the need for special tools: the plastic
pipe clip can be fastened quickly to the
cable or pipe with just one movement of
the hand. The permanently integrated
silicone pad protects cable insulation
by decoupling oscillations caused by
vibrations. Due to the robust material
properties, the plastic pipe clip barely
changes its shape under strong
temperature fluctuations. It is resistant
against oils, fuels, alcohols, acids and
ageing due to UV exposure.
Red Grip is available in sizes ranging
from 8 to 50mm.
Norma Group manufactures a wide
range of engineered joining technology
solutions in three product categories
– clamp, connect and fluid – and
offers more than 30,000 products and
solutions to approximately 10,000
customers in 100 countries.
Norma Group AG
– Germany
Norma’s Red Grip
pipe retaining clamp
The forefront of metals innovation
Fine Tubes holds a position at the
cutting edge of material processing
developments for a wide range of
sectors, including aerospace, medical,
chemical process, nuclear, power and
oil and gas, and currently has particular
focus on aerospace and defence.
The company has new materials
available for cold drawn tubing and is
attracting new customers with other
developments. Cold working not only
allows the reshaping of metal; it also
strengthens it in the process, allowing
creation of a wide range of potential
products that have to perform reliably.
Managing director Ronen Day
commented, “Fine Tubes is continuing
to bring brand new materials to existing
processes that allow for a wide range
of applications. Everything we learn
in each of our specialist sectors is
carefully analysed for use elsewhere.
This approach is currently allowing
us to adapt high resistance materials
traditionally associated with chemical
process to great effect in aerospace
design.”
The company is also involved in the
development of high pressure hydraulic
tubing for the Airbus A350 XWB. The
A350 prototypes are currently being
manufactured and ground-tested, with
first flight testing in the near future.
The aircraft is due to go into service in
2014.
In 2006 Fine Tubes became one of the
first qualified suppliers for the Airbus
A380 hydraulic tubing, producing Ti
3AL/2.5V for the new 5,000psi system.
Each Airbus A380 uses around 1km of
hydraulic tubing, and Fine Tubes is one
of the few mills qualified to produce this
product.
Fine Tubes is continuing to cater for the
future of aerospace by developing tubing
solutions in new, higher strength grades
of titanium that can offer substantial
weight savings compared to the current
industry standard.
The company has sales offices in
Germany, France and India, and
currently exports its products to over
35 countries. Its projects have included
work on the development of a heat
exchange system for the Skylon space
plane. Fine Tubes recently achieved
Nadcap accreditation for welding,
alongside previous Nadcap approval
for its heat treating and NDT processes.
Other quality certifications include
ISO 9001, AS/EN 9100, TUV AD-2000
Merkblatt W0/TRD 100, and PED
Pressure Equipment Directive.
Fine Tubes Ltd
– UK
