EuroWire March 2019

Technology News

Metalube goes formaldehyde free

METALUBE has taken steps to comply with the reclassification of the chemical formaldehyde, from the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA). Whilst the ECHA re-classification currently recommends limiting the use/exposure of three types of formaldehyde actives, Metalube made the decision to remove all formaldehyde actives from its product ranges from 1 st December 2018. In a statement about the change Douglas Hunt, commercial director, said: “At Metalube we are not only committed to providing our customers with quality lubricants but to also ensuring their safety when using our products. “Removing formaldehyde from all of our ranges is now a priority and ensures that we are fully compliant with the ECHA reclassification.” Specialists in the company’s technology centre have carefully selected Metalube’s new ‘formaldehyde free’ alternatives. Through extensive product testing, the company has ensured that product performance and capability have not been compromised. Access to fibre optics is one of the hottest topics around the world. Fast network expansion, efficient urban planning, big data and digitalisation: these are all key issues in the development of fibre 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 fibre 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 traffic control, city lighting or guidance finding 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. Speeding to the cloud Metalube exports 95 per cent of

▲ ▲ Specialists at work in Metalube’s technology centre

Research and development are key to the business and it is constantly investing in the Metalube® Technology Centre, ensuring tech- nical excellence and innovation across its entire range of products and services. Metalube Ltd – UK Website : www.metalube.co.uk 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 demon- strate 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 flame-retardant properties of fibre optic cable. For instance, bedding compound FM 0474/5 (LOI 63) will provide a cost-effective boost to fire resis- tance Cables made with Melos’s low-smoke, halogen-free, fire-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 flame retardancy. Melos GmbH – Germany Website : www.melos-gmbh.com

its production to over 90 countries worldwide and has offices in Manchester, UK; Dubai, UAE; Mumbai, India; São Paulo, Brazil; and Shanghai, China. From its headquarters in Manchester the company has a fully integrated lubricant manufacturing facility including new laboratories. Consequently, there is no way around utilising an up-to-date fibre optic infrastructure. The sheathing of the fibre optic cables plays an important role. The fibre inside requires a stable, reliable sheath to protect it against mechanical damage and humidity in order to retain the specified optical values in the long term. In addition, fibre optic cables have to conform to building safety requirements, eg performance in case of fire and the consequences of smoke release. The sheathing material is therefore one of the important factors in fibre optic cable construction. Melos provides a range of compound solutions: • Compound Mecoline S TP 1005 F offers a reliable halogen-free, fire-retardant alternative to PBT in “loose tube” applications. This material is particularly suitable due to its low shrinkage properties, high melt strength and relative stiffness (E-modulus) • Other fire-retardant sheathing options, such as compound

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March 2019