EuroWire March 2016

News Technology

One concept – several possibilities for quality

Films and tapes for the insulation of joints in the high-voltage cable area are produced by using the same high quality XLPE 2 material that is used for the insulation of the cable. This brings some logistic challenges with it. Tapes are coiled when they are sent out by the manufacturer and need, therefore, to be delivered and used before they get cross linked by environmental circumstances. Therefore, a stockpiling order is just as problematic as possible delivery delays. A possible solution is the independent production of films/tapes at the manu- facturing site. By using an extruder, the tapes can be extruded. The used XLPE material can either be inspected for contamination from 50μm prior to entering the extruder by the Purity Scanner, or after the extrusion by the Purity Concept system. 1 Used films/tapes are often thin enough that they can be inspected with both the X-ray technology and the optical sensors

Sikora is launching its new models of the Purity Concept systems. With that, the company offers an outlook on the varied potential of its systems for online and offline inspection and analysis of plastic material. According to the application, the systems are equipped with X-ray technology (X), infrared technology (IR) or optical sensors (V) and can be used for samples during production in order to find impurities from 50μm. Especially interesting are the systems for the production of high voltage cables. An essential criterion of high voltage cables is the production over long distances with as few joints as possible. Various factors make the production of a cable in one length sometimes impossible to realise. In this case two cable ends have to be connected to each other in order to cover larger distances. In order to connect two cables with each other, the ends have to be stripped first. Both blank conductors are welded together. The occurring gap in the insulation is closed by manually applied layers of tape. Thereby, it is essential that the tape does not contain any contamination, which might later cause

breakdowns of the cable. However, for all the care, there might be contamination that is not visible with the naked eye – metallic and organic contamination from 50μm in the tape. The Purity Concept systems with optical sensors are suitable for the inspection and analysis of thin, transparent films/tapes. The systems with X-ray technology are appropriate, for example, for thick, black tapes 1 . In this way, it can be ensured that the same quality as used for the main insulation is used during the production of the tapes. ▲ ▲ Purity Concept X for the analysis of films and tapes

XLPE: Cross-linked polyethylene

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Sikora AG – Germany Website : www.sikora.net

At Wire Show Duesseldorf 2016, a Vertical Taping Machine with Vertical Oven will be exhibited. We would appreciate welcoming you to our booth, no. 12 B 22.

Lukas Anlagenbau GmbH is a family owned company, established in 1959, that produces customer-specific equipment for the wire and cable industry. The focus of our products is complete taping lines for producing taped or wrapped conductors with tape materials like PTFE, Kapton, Mica, Paper, etc. We also produce special cables for medical and aircraft applications, our taping lines can be found at many well-known suppliers worldwide. Furthermore our product range covers single components like pay-offs, capstans, caterpillars and take-ups, up to complete rewinding lines and fine wire drawing lines for non-ferrous materials.

During recent years our development has been advanced by a focus on energy and size reduction. At this year’s wire show we answer this request with new components that are intended to solidify our top position in taping machines for magnet wire applications and to extend our business in the cable industry with cost-optimized and easy-to-integrate taping and heating solutions. This should make our products more competitive especially to the Asian market. At our newly designed and enlarged booth 12B22 we are looking forward to meeting new and existing customers.

www.lukas-anlagenbau.de Am Forst 1, D-92648 Vohenstrauss • Phone: +49 9651 / 930-0 • info@lukas-anlagenbau.de w .luka - l bau.de

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March 2016