WCA September 2013

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Wire & Cable ASIA – September/October 2013
Blachford’s new low dust lubricants
are being run in a number of steel wire
drawing applications, from high
carbon, to weld wire, and tyre
reinforcement wire, all with very good
results. The new low dust lubricants
are delivering to these applications
both reduced observable dust creation
and improved performance.
Blachford’s new low dust lubricant
technology also affects the material that
falls from the die outlet – often referred
to as “feathers”. Most lubricants
produce feathers in some form; whether
just chips that fall out of the die, flakes
or streamers, most lubricants can
feather. These feathers can contribute
to dust formation when they cool and
become brittle, break into fine particles
and become airborne.
The same technical improvements that
help Blachford’s new low dust
lubricants to remain attached to the
wire even after the wire and lubricant
are cool, also reduce the tendency of
the resulting feathers to become brittle
and break into fine particles. Therefore,
feathers created with the new low dust
products are less likely to contribute to
dust creation.
In addition to the development of these
new products, Blachford has invested
in learning about dusts, their risks and
methods of controlling them. Blachford
sent research and development
personnel to train at Chillworth Global
(a leading dust testing lab services
provider) to better help customers
mitigate dust risk. It has tested many
of its own products at Chillworth, to
understand the products’ impact.
Blachford has authored an Information
Bulletin (“Controlling Dusts From Dry
Wire Drawing Lubricants”) – a copy of
which can be supplied on request from
the company.
Blachford has developed new
products, gathered relevant
information and invested in training so
as to provide customers with the best
guidance in the control and mitigation
of dust risk.
The company’s new low dust
lubricants may provide to steel wire
drawers an opportunity to reduce dust
risk, while also improving overall
process performance and profitability.
Blachford Corporation – USA
Website:
EA Technology has launched the most
effective instrument yet for identifying
defects in live cables of distribution
voltages.
The CableData Collector works by
testing for partial discharge (PD)
activity: small discharges, which result
in damage to the cable, and if left
unattended will lead to insulation
failure.
EA Technology commercial director
Neil Davies said: “Measuring PD
activity is a very accurate way of
assessing the condition of cables and
their likelihood of failure and outage.
The ability to test cables without the
need to de-energise them is a real
benefit. Essentially, they can be fixed
before they fail and cause expensive
outages.”
The instrument quickly detects PD
activity in live cables by measuring
radio frequency currents. It works with
most types of single and three phase
insulated cables at distribution
voltages, up to several miles/
kilometres in length.
Information about PD activity is
recorded by the CableData Collector
hardware and can be sent to EA
Technology for expert analysis.
Alternatively, users can buy EA
Technology’s software package to
perform their own data analysis. In
either case, they will have access to
clear reports on cables affected by PD
activity and recommendations for
remedial action.
CableData Collector instruments are
supplied as complete, ready-to-use
kits, with Radio Frequency Current
Transformers (RFCTs), cabling,
USB-powered data collection unit and
carry case, together with optional
software, training and factory technical
support. Kits are also available for
rental, or EA Technology engineers can
provide cable testing as a site service,
anywhere in the world.
EA Technology Group – UK
Website:
CableData Collector finds defects in live cables
❍
❍ The new CableData Collector from EA
Technology