WCA March 2012

wire 2012 and cheap, compared to other materials (such as flat aluminium sheets used in a welding line). The cable core passes continuously through the crosshead. A cooled insertion tube protects the cable core on entry to the crosshead, and rapid quench of the aluminium tube immediately after the die prevents thermal damage to the core. Downstream from the SheathEx machine the cable sheath is corrugated in-line and coiled onto large drums. The SheathEx process is a continuous (no stop marks), reliable (no weld) and cost effective (cheap materials, low energy) method of sheathing high voltage power cables. SheathEx, Conform and Conklad are Registered Trade Marks of BWE Ltd. International patents have been filed for the SheathEx process, SheathEx tooling system, machine arrangement, control method and induction heating technology that is employed. BWE Ltd – UK

Photo courtesy Rene Tillmann ©

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The drums, which were needed for the production of cables, also posed a real challenge. Borkener Kistenfabrik GmbH – Netherlands Fax : +49 28 619 339 39 Email : info@borkl.de Website : www.borkl.de

BWE Ltd Stand: 11F26

product and process specifications for this new and unique technology. The SheathEx machine incorporates a large crosshead to accommodate the large diameter dies required for cable sheathing. The aluminium sheath is seamless, with no weld line or bead. The twin groove mode of operation ensures the aluminium sheath is concentric. BWE’s patented induction heating system provides a very even temperature distribution around the tooling, leading to very stable running conditions, and consistent properties in the aluminium tube. The feedstock material is standard CCR aluminium rod, which is readily available ❍ The SheathEx production line

With five lines now in production, BWE’s SheathEx™ process is becoming the new alternative to seamless aluminium sheathing of high voltage cables. A sixth installation will be commissioned during the first half of this year. The SheathEx process is an extension of the well established Conform™ and Conklad™ continuous extrusion tech- nology. The SheathEx machine extrudes a continuous and seamless aluminium tube from two 12mm diameter rods around a high voltage cable core. BWE collaborated with high voltage power cable producers in China to develop the

Fax : +44 1233 630670 Email : mail@bwe.co.uk Website : www.bwe.co.uk

wire 2012 - New Products on show March 26 th – 30 th

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