Highly flexible flat cables are used in food-manufacturing machinery where long-term reliability is critical and down-time is not an option. The nontoxic silicone-encased cables are engineered to provide space, weight savings, durability, cable flexibility, and are well suited to meet the stringent cleanliness requirements of food-processing applications.
The cables need no external “armor” or conduit for protection, are tear resistant, and will not deform or wear during their 10 million+ cycle lifetime, even under tight bending radius and high-speed flexing conditions. The cables are self-healing from small punctures and cable-jacket damage is easily repaired in the field. Coating options are available for applications requiring friction and adhesion resistance.
A process of encapsulating individual components in a shock-absorbing silicone jacket renders the cables unaffected by repeated exposure to severe vibration, wash-down processes, cold temperatures (–65°C), UV light, autoclave, radiation, physical stress, cooking oils, animal fats, cleaning agents, sanitizers, heat (260°C), steam, water, high pressure sprays, moist environments, salt, microbial growth, bacteria, and many chemicals. These features make the hygienic cables an alternative to wire harnesses, bulky round cables, and particulate-generating cable tracks.
Halogen-free flat cables use components including power conductors, feedback pairs, shielded control wires, video conductors, FlexRail self-supporting flat cable system, and StripMount fastening strip, all combined in a single condensed cable design, precisely controlling the inner component spacing, jacket thickness, and overall cable shape. Custom and standard cables are available in continuous lengths, cut to order, or as assemblies, complete with connectors.Cicoil Corp., 24960 Avenue Tibbitts, Valencia, CA 91355, (661) 295-1295, www.cicoil.com