EuroWire March 2019

Focus on Germany

Fibre optic cables – high-speed connectivity to the cloud

Nationwide access to bre optics is one of the hottest topics across the globe. Fast network expansion, e cient urban planning, big data and digitalisation: these are all key issues in the development of bre optic networks. Technological innovation is rapidly proceeding and presents a challenge to cable manufacturers. Governments, network providers and the public sector are working under pressure to provide countries with fast Internet connections. Cities and municipal authorities are determined to provide their regions with bre optic networks as quickly as possible. Alongside network expansion for Internet, telephone and digital TV services, the development of other innovative projects is being planned, such as “Smart Home” and “Smart City”, to manage and control systems such as intelligent tra c control, city lighting or guidance nding a parking space. An important condition to achieve these goals is the speed of data transfer. The transfer of data should be almost instantaneous, because big data plays an important role in the actual digital transformation processes. Consequently, there is no way around utilising an up-to-date bre optic infrastructure. The sheathing of the bre optic cables plays an important role. The bre inside requires a stable, reliable sheath to protect it against mechanical damage and humidity in order to retain the speci ed optical values in the long term. In addition, bre optic cables have to conform to building safety requirements, eg performance in case of re and the consequences of smoke release. The sheathing material is therefore one of the important factors in bre optic cable construction. Compound Mecoline S TP 1005 F o ers a reliable halogen-free, re-retardant alternative to PBT in “loose tube” applications. This material is particularly suitable due to its low shrinkage properties, high melt strength and relative sti ness (E-modulus) Melos provides a range of compound solutions: •

▲ Nationwide access to bre optics is a hot topic around the world

• Other re-retardant sheathing options, such as compound Mecoline S TP 1006 F (aluminium hydroxide-based) and Mecoline IS TP 1033 F (magnesium hydroxide-based), are also worth considering. Both of these easily processable compounds demonstrate low shrinkage properties All sheathing compounds can also be supplied with an additional UV package to withstand 720 hours of UV weathering resistance in compliance with ISO 4892-2. Especially in critical applications, the use of a bedding compound can improve the ame-retardant properties of bre optic cable. For instance, bedding compound FM 0474/5 (LOI 63) will provide a cost-e ective boost to re resistance. Cables made with Melos’s low-smoke, halogen-free, re-retardant sheathing compounds can be installed in (corrugated) pipes, cable trays and cable ducts. Moreover, these cables are suitable for applications in homes, public buildings and industrial facilities requiring a high degree of ame retardancy. Melos GmbH – Germany Website : www.melos-gmbh.com

As a producer of wire rolling machines, the Germany-based company Fuhr has more than 70 years’ experience in making the production of shaped, rectangular, ferrous or non- ferrous wire more e cient and reliable, as well as taking its quality to continuously higher levels. Volker Gerth, Fuhr’s general manager, has been making observations with regard to the current and future trends in the wire processing industry. The automotive industry is focusing on electric drives. The goals of highly e cient electrical motors can only be reached by the use of rectangularly wound wires which are insulated by high temperature resistant enamels. Any dimensional failure or surface defect will result in failure of the entire drive system. Therefore, the industry is asking for continuous production from drawn, round wire to enamelled, rectangular wire. The inline dimensional measuring systems that were available in the past have not been able to ful l market Experience counts at Fuhr

provided in order to locate cyclic failures in the rolling machine’s drive system. In North America, the armouring of power cable with at strips of aluminium alloys is a very popular technology. These strips provide both mechanical armouring and electrical shielding. The advantage of using strip rolled from wire rod compared to slit strip is based on an apparent in nite production, which allows longer production runs of armouring machines. Fuhr has always seen itself as a full-service provider of process solutions for the wire industry and has set itself the goal to supply tailor-made equipment and systems in close collaboration with customers to achieve 100 per cent satisfaction. The company will be displaying its rolling mill technology at wire Southeast Asia, as well as wire South America. Fuhr – Germany Website : www.fuhr-wire.com

demands like Industry 4.0 or big data. Fuhr has developed its own system, which works as a contact measuring device. The data processing is done by means of a real-time computer system that allows measurement frequencies of 100 Hz and above. The data can be analysed in terms of process capacity and capability, and later can be exported and stored for in-depth analysis and for quality control purposes. Moreover, an FFT analysis is

Inline wire dimension measurement

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March 2019