wiredinUSA September 2012

wiredInUSA - September 2012

Designed to provide maximum cable

protection and support, OnTrac includes

side wall curves that keep cables secure

within the tray through each turn, while

an open-top design allows users to quickly

and easily move, add or change cables.

OnTraccanbeused inplenumspaces and is

UL classified for use as an equipment

grounding conductor.

Constructed of 5mm and 6mm diameter

steel wires, and welded in 2'' x 4'' (50mm

x 100mm) intersections, OnTrac offers a

solid and reliable solution for critical network

cables. Optional splices and fasteners

allow trays to be connected end-to-end

or in an L-, T- or Y-shaped intersection to

match pathway requirements, while ceiling,

wall, floor and rack system supports permit

multiple installation possibilities. Cable tray

inserts, covers, dividers, bend radius, radius

drops, power brackets, label holders and

grounding clamps are also available.

Arctic cable

Cicoil has developed silicone cables for

extreme operating conditions, including low

temperatures (-65°C) and severe weather.

Designed for use in land, sea and air

equipment, these halogen–free and

flame resistant (UL 94 V-0) cables offer

an alternative to PVC, neoprene and

polyurethane cables that are less reliable

than silicone in sub–zero temperatures.

A shock absorbing silicone encapsulation

needs no external conduit for protection,

retains its shape and flexibility and is said

to resist wearing or cracking even

after long–term exposure to intensely cold

environments. The durable silicone is

“self–healing” from small punctures, and

cable jacket damage can be easily

repaired on site.

Some outdoor cables become stiff and

brittle when used in Arctic conditions,

but Cicoil’s silicone cables have been

developed to be unaffected when

exposed to hurricane–force winds, snow

and ice storms, sea ice, vibration, salt

water submersion, permafrost, high heat

(+260

C), weld spark, physical shock,

operational stress, high levels of UV and

ozone, de–icing fluids and most chemicals.

Cicoil’s extrusion process allows multiple

wires, power conductors, shielded pairs,

coax conductors, tubing, and design

elements such as Cicoil’s StripMount

fastening strip to be placed in a single

flat cable, precisely controlling the inner

component spacing, jacket thickness and

the overall cable shape. Incorporating

multiple elements into a single, compact

flat cable allows for a tighter bend

radius, noise reduction and greater current

carrying capacity.

Bonding at IMAPS

The American subsidiary of Hesse & Knipps

Semiconductor Equipment GmbH, Hesse &

Knipps Inc, will be demonstrating the new

3mil wire bonding capability on its BJ935

automatic heavy wire bonder for back–

end semiconductor packaging at the

International Symposium on Microelec-

tronics (IMAPS) in San Diego in September.

Hesse & Knipps has enhanced the

capabilities of its BJ935 heavy wire bonder

to process gold, aluminum and copper

semiconductor die bonding wire with

diameters from 3mil to 20mil (75 to 500µm).

In addition to the new 3mil heavy wire

bonding capability, the Bondjet BJ935

offers ribbon bonding from 0.075 x 0.75mm

to 0.3 x 2mm on the same platform. The new

slim active wire cutter has been adapted

for fine pitch to give increased cutter life

and yield improvement compared to pas-

sive cutting. The cutter enables precise,

repeatable positioning and programmable

depth of the cutter and better access into

dense, complex wire-bonded packages.

The new “air cut” passive cutting option

offers touch–free front–cutting for use on

sensitive chip surfaces.

LSZH wire and cable

Northwire has launched a UL/CSA AWM

approved LSZH technical wire and cable

with low smoke zero halogen for both

insulation and jacket.

The new product has been designed to

provide cold temperature resistance with

improved bend, variable, torsional and

rolling flexibility across a temperature range

of –50°C to 80°C. Custom cable designs

are available, over-mold and assembly

compatible and can be coiled for retractile

cord applications.

LSZH has a smaller than standard diameter

and will be suitable for closely confined

areas, such as rolling stock, aerospace or

marine shipboard cable, where protection

of people and equipment from toxic and

corrosive gas is essential.

Kevin DePratter, director of research and

development at Northwire, explained the

advantage of the company’s new range:

“For years, many manufacturers have been

touting the attributes of their low smoke

halogen-free cable products, but they

haven’t told the marketplace that while

their jacket is LSZH, the insulation, on the

other hand, is olefin-based and does

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