Topic: environments

Any damage to your cable’s jacketing material as it moves across a rough surface is considered abrasion. Common causes of failure due to abrasive applications are having too thin of a jacket or too soft of a jacket that fails to protect your cable’s conductors or your cable’s shielding during operation.

Choosing the proper abrasion resistant cable will keep your machines up and running efficiently, reduce downtime and allow you to use cable for a longer period of time. 

Cranes are essential to the steel-making process. They’re used for quick, safe loading and unloading of materials and they keep vehicles moving throughout the facility. Cranes also handle scrap or raw materials, liquid metal, and melting buckets. Constantly running, cranes are fully integrated into a steel mill’s processes. Here are the cranes used in the steel industry and the industrial power cables they require.

What is an Industrial Bus?

In computing, a bus is referred to as a communication system that transfers data between components. An example would be a USB. USB stands for Universal Serial Bus and many devices use this cable, connector, and protocol to interact with a computer.

Electric wire and cable systems are imperative to any industrial application. It's not only important to choose the correct cable for the job, it's crucial to understand the environment and the ampacity of your cable. A lack of understanding can cause your cables to fail and the entire system can come to a halt leaving you with costly downtime. 

Electrical tape is a common household item that can be used for more than simply insulating electrical wires. The wide variety of uses and applications requires a product that can withstand a wide range of environments. Unfortunately, the simplicity of electrical tape can fall short in industrial applications. Electrical tape relies on adhesive and adhesive fails in dirty, oily and high temperature conditions. Regular electrical tape is also thin which requires substantially more tape in order to get any level of dielectric strength or abrasion protection. The quality of tape can mean be difference between a safe fix and a severe problem.

Not all wire and cable are created equally, with only a small elite group of solutions designed to withstand aggressive routine and harsh abuse. With the high price tag associated with electrical failures due to downtime and constant cord and cable replacement, it’s important to take a close look in the areas where cables are replaced most often. 

Flexible wire and cable is beneficial across various industrial applications from crane hoists to conveyors. It’s important to understand that this flexibility doesn't happen by accident. It’s achieved by maximizing best practices and using high-quality materials throughout each and every wire and cable product.

In an industrial setting, it’s imperative to be aware of the chemicals coming into contact with your cable and how they may impact the life of the cable. The cable’s jacket can swell, bloat, or harden after exposure, and even penetrate to the cable itself. Being armed with this knowledge will help you choose a proper cable that will last.

Here are some of the common chemicals to which your industrial power cables may be subjected.

WHY HAVE AN EMERGENCY OPERATIONS PLAN?

If we've learned anything from recent events, having an operations plan in case of an emergency plays a very important role in keeping your facility up and running and your people safe. Your plan can provide guidance to employees during an emergency and highlight potential issues in your facility, such as hazardous conditions and a lack of resources, that you may be able to fix prior to an emergency happening.

The Wood, Pulp & Paper industry is known for producing wood chips, pulp slush, and waste water (aeration ponds). The paper-making process results in a lot dust and other particles that can put machinery and cables at an increased risk for failure. 

Without proper maintenance, it is hard to protect your investments. Here are 5 maintenance tips for wood and pulp equipment: