Igus - Cables for cranes and other demanding applications

igus has introduced a new range of products for port cranes at the TOC Europe in Bremen. The aims are to improve technique, increase lifetime whilst saving costs. The “P4” energy chain system which has been around for about one and a half years now, is available in two new sizes: P4.32 and P4.42. The P4.42 (42 mm inner height) in a “heavy-duty design” is made for particularly demanding crane applications: high speeds up to 10 m/s, long travels up to 800 m, high filling weights up to 10 kg/m. In contrast the P4.32 (32 mm inner height) has been developed in a new design – lighter and slimmer – for high speeds when the installation space is limited. Upper run and lower run are rolling offset over each other. Though the plastic profile rolls are not completely parallel, they still roll on a wide surface which greatly increases the lifetime of the chain. Additionally, the pitch of the chain link is equal for links both with and without rollers, so that the energy chain® is especially low noise and vibration in operation. The rollers themselves are fixed into the chains side links, whilst the “auto-glide” cross bars are made of tribologically optimized plastic. A special trough system finally ensures the energy chain® runs safely.

From Duisburg Harbour to China
With the “P4” there is now a product with sufficient reserves available and for the largest cranes in service and being conceived for the future. The company from Cologne has already mounted the new system (size “P4.56”) on an RMG crane in the inland port in Duisburg. Also, the “P4” successfully runs on a Chinese ship-to-shore crane in a container loading plant (240 m/min speed, 126 m travel).

New special cable saves space
There is also a new special cable for these energy chain® applications too: the Fibre Optic bus cable Chainflex® CFLG.2LB, a universally applicable bus cable for all bus systems giving a high cycle life. The new Fibre Optic cable series for small radii down to 40 mm in energy chains helps to save installation space on cranes. Because of the matched length of the fibre optic cores and the aramid strain and torsion relief, more than 8.5 million double strokes have been proved for energy chains in a 38mm test machine. The highly abrasion resistant TPE jacket protects against mechanical damage and is highly oil and chemically resistant too. For more information go to: www.igus-cranes.com