Electricity + Control February 2019

round up CABLES + ACCESSORIES

Industrial connectivity solutions in the range of different housing-styles, codings and a large number of cables, customers will find the right solution for any given application. Whether it is M8- or M12-connectors, RJ45- or valve-connec- tors – all products are available in many ca- ble-lengths. Useful T- andY-splitters, recep- tacles, adapters, and I/O-modules provide for flexible wiring structures. If the standard range proves insuffi- cient, ESCHA modifies and adapts existing products to customers' needs. This may involve a specific cable quality, a particular colour, or a special circuit. ESCHA is also the right partner for customer-specific de-

Prime Automation, sole agent for Pilz Safe- ty Systems in South Africa, has a distribu- tion agreement with the ESCHA Group, a leading international supplier in the field of industrial connectivity solutions. For more than 35 years, the family-con- trolled company has been developing innovative products for the automation components market. Based on its stand- ard product programme, the German com- pany also designs custom-made connec- tivity and individual specialised solutions. ESCHA standard connectivity stands for diversity, quality, and reliability in pro- tection classes IP67, IP68, and IP69. With-

velopments from scratch. Staff specialised in electrical engineering and plastic tech- nology will develop a solution to meet the customer’s specific requirements. With more than 900 employees in five countries and through its in-depth develop- ment and production, ESCHA is extending its product portfolio constantly and inde- pendently. The company guarantees high availability and consistent quality of its products worldwide via a network of inter- national sales partners and companies. Enquiries: Prime Automation.

Tel. +27 (0) 41 819 7746 or email: sales@primeautomation.co.za

Prime Automation now supplies ESCHA connectivity solutions for industrial automation.

PVC or PUR: Choosing the right cable

As cables are an essential part of any industrial application it is important to choose the appropriate cable material for the environment, especially where chem- ical cleaning solutions, cutting fluids, and other caustic liquids are present. The two main types of cables used in industrial ap- plications are PVC and PUR, and they are Polyvinyl chloride, or PVC, cables are sheathed and insulated. They are an excel- lent choice for most chemical wash-down applications in the food and beverage industries. They have good-to-excellent resistance to common cleaning solvents including, but not limited, to: • Sodium hypochlorite • Sodium hydroxide • Potassium hydroxide • Per acetic acid • Hydrogen peroxide • Quaternary ammonium compounds It is important to take into consideration chemical concentration, process temper- suited to different environments. PVC cables: when to use them

ature, and duration and frequency of ex- posure, since these factors can impact the suitability of PVC for the application. PVC has limited resistance to oils, making it less suited for automotive and machine tool industries. In addition to being resistant to com- mon cleaning chemicals, PVC cables are generally more rigid than other types of cables. This makes them suitable for use in applications where they will be exposed to high temperature, high pressure wash- down. The rigidity of the PVC sheathing protects the cable from damage and ex- tends the life of the cable. A PVC cable with a rating of IP69K means it is sealed against the ingress of water even during wash-down. However, the rigidity of the cables can be a disad- vantage in freezer applications, where low temperatures can cause the materi- al to crack if the cables are being flexed. Discuss specific application requirements with an expert to determine the best cable material in these circumstances.

PUR cables: when to use them PUR (or polyurethane) is a thermoplastic material used for cable jackets. Because PUR cables are resistant to cutting fluids, oils, and other harsh chemicals, they are a good choice for many automotive man- ufacturing, stamping and machining appli- cations. PUR cables have high tensile strength, tear resistance, and abrasion resistance. They are also extremely flexible, with a small bend radius.This makes them ideal for appli- cations where connections move or bend frequently, such as robotic applications.

PVC cable

PUR cable

Condition

Cleaning chemicals X Wash-down applications X Cutting fluids/oils

X X

Repeated flexing

Enquiries: BrandonTopham, brandon. topham@retautomation.com

10 Electricity + Control

FEBRUARY 2019