EoW November 2012

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Focus on
USA
November 2012 62
Global supplier of
compounds
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.
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
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:
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.
Tensor Machinery Ltd – Canada
Website:
▲ ▲ Wire products from Teknor Apex