WCA March 2025

Technology News

Stranders, cablers and armouring lines FLYMCA is a Spanish manufacturer of rotating machines (stranders and cablers) for the production of electrical cables and steel ropes. The company builds traditional stranders and cablers (tubular, rigid, planetary stranders; bow skip stranders/cablers; drum twisters; large double twist bunchers), and all types of equipment for complete lines such as take-ups, payoffs, caterpillars, capstans and taping heads. wires). These systems are used with a single or a dual planetary cage working in tandem. The machines also incorporate automatic bobbin loading systems to minimise the downtime associated with bobbin changeovers.

FLYMCA’s latest installation and com- missioning of an armouring planetary line for the submarine market was composed of two planetary stranding cages with 96-112 bobbins (Ø 800mm). It also included six additional 1,000mm bobbins for fibre optic elements. It operates with galvanised high-carbon steel wires with round section (Ø 3-7mm) or flat wire from 6 x 1.5 to 13 x 5mm. The line features several systems to apply high-temperature bitumen with PP yarn applicators and tape, and includes four loading robots. The machine has a maximum pulling capacity of 40T and is customised to reach a production speed of 15m per minute. With rising need for submarine cables, there is demand for robust cross sectional conductors manufactured in rigid stranding lines using up to 133 wires or more. These stranding machines are equipped with automatic bobbin loading systems, and are prepared for round and trapezoidal wire sections, with substantial compacting systems Both modems support the use of video technology, operator terminals, passenger counting systems, LCD/ TFT displays, WLAN modules, GPS and mobile applications, as well as the reservation system on an Ethernet network basis. The modems will be available in variants with Power over Ethernet (PoE), eliminating the need for a separate power supply. The TLMs act like a cable to ensure a transparent connection for all partici- pants, keeping data traffic undisturbed, which simplifies the retrofitting of Ethernet in existing vehicles. After network discovery, the modems establish 128-bit AES-encrypted commu- nication between all devices. To ensure optimal data throughput, the modems continuously monitor the bandwidth using a digital signal processor (DSP). The modems’ configuration tool offers comprehensive features for manage- ment, diagnostics and updating. The TLMs feature a wide-range input that

FLYMCA is focused on the design and construction of specialised and custom- ised machinery for large-scale stranding, cabling, screening and armouring pur- poses, with an emphasis on machinery for special products such as submarine, offshore and umbilical cables. Armouring lines are created in two different configurations: • Large tubular stranders for multiple steel wires with bullhead prepared for the FO core paying off that avoids any torsion on the FO element or tube. The last tubular strander produced by FLYMCA featured 36 bobbins (Ø 630mm). • Large planetary armouring lines for heavy power transmission cables produced on large, heavy-duty machines with a high number of steel wires, based on single- or double-wire layer design (up to 214 Transportation has introduced the new TLM-X and TLM-20 train line modems for transmitting Gigabit Ethernet over existing routes with speeds up to 2 Gbps. The modems enable data transmission both within the vehicle and across vehicle couplings over distances of up to 300m. The TLM-X uses a robust transmission method that is suitable for retrofit projects with older, partially unshielded wiring. It is particularly useful in environments with high electro- magnetic interference, and at contact and coupling transitions prone to disturbances. Under these conditions, the TLM-X can enable a stable, high speed Ethernet connection with speeds of up to 950 Mbps between train sections, which is advantageous for time-critical applications. The TLM-20 relies on a transmission method that benefits technically supe rior infrastructure, allowing bandwidths of up to 2 Gbps.

Heavy-duty equipment from FLYMCA

and devices for applying water-blocking yarns and powder. FLYMCA is also producing six tubular stranders at the same time, all designed for the ACSR market. These 1+8 tubular stranders can rotate at 1,000 rpm and are suitable for aerial cables. While focusing on these specialised machines, the company continues to produce equipment for aerial cable, railway, communication and other traditional markets such as steel ropes. FLYMCA will take part in Interwire in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, from 13 to 15 May, with its partner Niehoff Endex North America on Booth 839. FLYMCA SL www.flymca.com supports a DC voltage of 24 to 110 V, and are therefore suitable for worldwide use in all rail networks, in both diesel and electric vehicles. Both models are fully rail-compatible and meet the relevant standards for vibration and shock loads, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC), and fire protection according to EN 50155, EN 50121-3-2, EN 50124-1 and EN 61373. Continuous operation is guaranteed in a temperature range from -40 to +70°C. Typical applications include direct data transmission over the vehicle coupling or within a vehicle, especially in long vehicle configurations. TLMs can also be used as a redundant system across the coupling to ensure faster and more reliable data transmission. By using additional redundant TLM pairs in the train, availability can be increased and safety-critical applications can also be transmitted. Lütze Transportation GmbH www.luetze.de

Retrofitting of high-speed Ethernet for rail vehicles Rail technology specialist Lütze

25

www.read-wca.com

March 2025