chainflex® Flexible Cables Used at Great Heights
By Sascha Mais
The list for where and in what types of applications you can use chainflex® cables is a long one. Therefore, it’s difficult to say in a nutshell where cables can be used. This is partly due to the various industries that igus® supplies its wide range of products to. It is always exciting for us to see where our products end up.
chainflex® cables are mostly used in e-chains®, and these can be found almost anywhere. We have prepared a blog series that shows the versatility of our cables.
Where Are Cables Used?
Cables are used at great heights, for example. Many of these cases are crane applications often found in ports. But there, too, we distinguish once again between many different systems.
Cables for Harbour Cranes
The cranes in the harbour are, so to speak, the direct interface to the sea. Today, they load containers and bulk goods in a highly automated way. They load and unload ships in the shortest time possible.
Cables must always be able to withstand the occurring loads in every application. In dockside crane systems and container handling, the stress is even greater because the cables are exposed to a harsh environment. Changing wind and weather conditions expect high durability from cables in every situation. In addition, cables in outdoor installations are often exposed to dust and salt as well as fluctuating temperatures. The cables must withstand the weather conditions and guarantee dependable operation.
chainflex® in the RTG crane
For more than 10 years, an RTG crane with an igus® energy chain system has been operating smoothly in Asia without having to replace components.
There are now over 10,000 harbour cranes that can be reliably operated thanks to chainflex® cables, including ship-to-shore cranes, cranes for bulk handling and Goliath cranes. Together with our energy chains, chainflex® cables function reliably and effectively even under the most difficult conditions. Our robust control and motor cables CF9/10 and CF37.D/38 are especially used here, but single cores for hoists such as the CF330.D/340 series and fiber optic cables are also part of our standard range. In our 41,000ft² test laboratory, we test the systems under real conditions. This enables us to guarantee long-term reliability and has established a cost-effective and maintenance-free alternative to festoon systems and cable drums on the market.
A crane does not necessarily have to be in a port. Contact us to learn more about additional successful application examples of our chainflex® cables in cranes.
Why chainflex®?
Maximum reliability is what counts in crane applications. For example, ships that are to be loaded or unloaded in Hamburg are expected long before their arrival. For them, there is only a short-term window of time in which standstill has no place. A standstill would be disastrous because the transshipment times are planned far into the North Sea and ships take this into account in advance during their route planning days .
Conclusion
Regardless of the application area you are dealing with, igus® has made it its business to find a cable that meets all requirements, from low-cost solutions with PVC outer jacket to high-end TPE cables. Everything falls in line with our motto: Tech Up, Cost Down!
To learn more about chainflex® cables or to contact chainflex® Product Manager Gary Johnson, visit our webpage.
