EW January 2011

technology news

Crosshead for foamed RF cable The Rosendahl Crosshead RX 25T for foamed RF cable cores is designed to manufacture the complete RF cable range from ¼" SF to 2¼" F. The basic design comprises an oil heated crosshead with skin application, equipped with an optimised temperature control to cover expansion rates of up to 86%. Two heating/cooling zones on the crosshead – one for the main body, the second for the die holder – provide excellent temperature control and even temperature distribution in the polymer gas melt.

Full natural balancing minimises the shear rates and provides smooth melt flow for perfect roundness, concentricity and mechanical stability. Superior manifold technology enables small formed cells and an homogenous cell distribution at this high foaming degree. Temperature control, shear stress, pressure drop and flow speed optimisation in the crosshead are significant factors for achieving foam expansion rates on the final cable of up to 86%. This new design is said to enable RF cable manufacturers to surpass the limitations currently experienced with standard equipment. Rosendahl Maschinen GmbH – Austria Fax : +43 3113 5100 51

Email : office@rosendahlaustria.com Website : www.rosendahlaustria.com

Crosshead RX 25T covers the ▲ ▲ entire RF cable range

True sequential footage gives precision

Renewable power subsea cable

Draka Offshore has fulfilled an order for 11,000m of 20kV subsea cable for the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC). Produced at Draka’s production facility in Drammen, Norway, the 11,000m of power cable, weighing more than 300 metric tonnes, was directly loaded from the factory to the CS Sovereign vessel owned by Global Marine Services. “Because the Draka factory is adjacent to a deepwater port, load out and logistics for these large projects is very simple,” explained Martin Dale, subsea product manager for Draka. “The cable was taken directly from the factory and installed in the field.” EMEC provides test facilities for a wide range of technologies that can tap into the huge potential of wave and tidal renewable energy. Wave power alone has an estimated global potential of approximately 1,000–10,000 GW, in the same order of magnitude as the world’s electricity consumption. Located in the Orkney Islands of Northern Scotland, the wave and tidal sites are designed to test a range of machines located down to a depth of 50m and up to two kilometres from shore. Draka Offshore – Norway Fax : +47 32 24 90 80

Cerro Wire LLC, a manufacturer of copper electrical building wire and cable, has introduced True Sequential Footage™, a sequentially printed cable reel that provides accurate wire length with each cut. True Sequential Footage prevents the need to carry excess cable inventory, providing precision length, accurate footage and cost control. True Sequential Footage uses a footage mark to document remaining wire, beginning with zero at the bottom of the reel and ending with the finished length at the top. The accurate footage mark allows for quick identification of the re-order point, guaranteeing the full purchased wire length and reducing random lengths. This better controls end-of-reel scrap. The need to carry excess inventory is reduced with the precision cutting allowed by True Sequential Footage. Wire normally lost on each cut made with less accurate cutting systems (3 to 8%) is said to be saved when True Sequential Footage’s precision footage marking system is used. CerroWire LLC – USA Website : www.cerrowire.com Spiral cables Spiral cables are intended for applications that necessitate repetitive actions of extension and recoiling. Spiral cables from Galaxy Enterprises have complete retracement and recoiling qualities, even after stretching up to three times the cable’s closed spiral length. The spiral cable can be screened with copper braid or Mylar, or left unscreened. The conductor diameter range is from 0.2mm 2 to 4mm 2 of between 2 and 37 cores. A stretched length from 1,000mm to 10,000mm can be specified, as can the length of straight ends on both sides of the spiral – usually 100mm. The closed length may be specified or not. Custom-design cables are available. Spiral cables are used in a variety of applications, including CNC machines, conveyors and agricultural equipment. Galaxy Enterprises – India Fax : +91 22 22085790 Email : gentp@rediff.com

Email : subseacable@draka.com Website : www.drakamog.com

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EuroWire – January 2011