WCA September 2013

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100 Wire & Cable ASIA – September/October 2013
Cable design is continually becoming more and more
complex because cables must meet ever more demanding
tasks. In order to keep up with these developments, the
manufacturers of such high quality cables need refined
equipment which operates economically and can be
used to produce reliably and efficiently today’s and
tomorrow’s cables. The DSI stranding system developed by
Maschinenfabrik Niehoff meets these requirements.
The already field-proven double twist stranding machines
DSI 631 and DSI 1001 are designed to manufacture
insulated conductors into pairs or quads or to strand
conductor pairs into special cables with or without foils.
Compared to conventional cable stranding machines,
energy consumption and noise emission of the DSI
machines are significantly reduced due to their one-bow
design and a state-of-the-art energy saving drive
technology. A further characteristic is the contactless
machine data transfer system which minimises
maintenance and operational and material costs.
The DSI machines are built for a wide conductor
cross-section range and a maximum strand diameter of
8.5mm or 15mm, respectively. The lay length can be freely
adjusted over a wide range within a very narrow tolerance
band. The machines can be combined in a modular system
with double twist backtwist pay-offs, longitudinal tape
pay-offs, pre-twisters and other ancillary equipment. In this
way complete lines can be configured, perfectly adapted to
the requirements of each user.
Such user-specific complete lines can be used to
manufacture cables such as bus, data, sensor, signal,
instrumentation and LAN cables. Depending on the
configuration, a DSI stranding line can apply up to three
foils inline on a cable under controlled foil tension in the
multi-taping process.
Also backtwisting of single insulated conductors with a
diameter of up to 3mm as well as pairs and quads can be
achieved. The back twist ratio can be regulated from 0-100
per cent or even higher if required. The number of twists
is infinitely variable up to 3,200 twists/min. The tension is
on-line controlled during the operation; the production
speed is up to 300m/min. Optionally the double twist
backtwist pay-offs can be used to enable a triple twist
stranding mode. In this configuration the stranding speed
and therefore the production capacity can be increased
considerably and – as a consequence – production costs
can be reduced further.
With DSI lines all types of the above mentioned cables –
and even cables of future categories – can be manufactured
with high speeds and the utmost precision and quality.
Because of the modular concept, DSI stranding lines can
be modified and adapted to increasingly changing cable
designs and specifications.
The user benefit of DSI stranding lines is even further
enhanced by the fact that they can be adapted flexibly to
manufacturing scheduling and planning: If a line is not fully
utilised with the stranding of data cables, it can be used
to manufacture other cables. It is also possible to realise
completely new manufacturing processes and to test the
production of new products.
In this manner, the DSI lines enable a maximum efficiency
and productivity. Another advantage for the users of
these and other Niehoff systems is that Niehoff supports
customers with comprehensive process knowledge,
professional after sales services and expedient customer
services. The users of Niehoff technology therefore have the
ideal tools at hand to benefit from the further development
in the cable sector.
Maschinenfabrik Niehoff GmbH & Co KG – Germany
Website:
Custom-made manufacturing lines
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❍ Interior of a DSI 1001 type double twist stranding machine
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❍ DSI pairing line consisiting of an ARD 630 double twist backtwist pay-off, an ALB longitudinal tape pay-off and a type DSI 631 double
twist stranding machine