EuroWire March 2017

28 / 132

News
Corporate
26 March 2017
MOTION plastics specialist igus has announced that it now
provides guaranteed temperature ratings for all chainflex
cables operating in fixed and moving applications, as well as
for cables in energy chains.
The announcement follows the installation of a second
climatic test chamber during the company’s recent test lab
extension in Cologne, Germany.
“As part of our test lab extension to 2,750m2, the second
40-foot climatic test chamber enables us to carry out high
and low temperature tests simultaneously,” said Justin
Leonard, ‘the-chain’ director, igus.
“This separation gives us more precise test results, which
enables us to provide our customers with a guaranteed
service-life for our chainflex cables – whether running at
-40ºC or +60ºC.”
In each of the test chambers, energy chains are populated
with cables and tested under real-life conditions at various
speeds. The varying temperatures in applications under
these conditions are as different as the problems that can
arise. In the case of extremely low temperatures, jacket
ruptures are the biggest challenge.
Excessive heat, on the other hand, can run the risk of
distorting the core formation. As a result, for example, single
strand breakage or the so-called ‘corkscrew’ effect can occur.
In addition, problems associated with condensing water
caused by rapid temperature changes can be highlighted.
“We not only provide the information on the specific
temperatures in which a cable is suitable for fixed
installation, as well as for the movement according to
the standard cold winding test, we can also specify a
temperature for each chainflex cable in which the cable can
move with guaranteed reliability in an e-chain,” added Mr
Leonard.
igus – Germany
Website:
Cables guaranteed
to run reliably
in hot and cold
environments
▲ ▲ igus cables operating at extreme temperatures