Posted to News on 28th May 2015, 00:00
CAT 5, 6, 6A and 7 Ethernet cable standards supported for energy chains
Energy chain and continuous flex cable expert igus now offers a full range of Ethernet chainflex cables, qualified for CAT 5, 6, 6A and 7 standards. Each cable type has been rigorously tested for more than 40 million strokes at the igus test facility in Cologne, ensuring secure data transmission even under the highest mechanical demands.
>"Ethernet cables for energy chains are a fundamental part of the comprehensive 1,040 lines in the chainflex range," says Justin Leonard, director, igus. "The chainflex Ethernet CAT 5 cable was introduced in 1999, with CAT 6 cable following four years later. To date, the chainflex Ethernet cable programme consists of more than 17 different cables and assemblies. With the world's first CAT 7 cable for continuous moving e-chains, igus continues on this path of innovation and offers customers cable solutions for tomorrow's standards."
>The special construction of the chainflex CAT 7 cable guarantees reliability and integrity in continuous flex applications. The braiding has been increased substantially and overall shielding has 90 percent optical cover, which ensures high-level functionality, even after millions of bending cycles. In addition, the special conductor and stranding techniques used increase the cable's overall lifetime.
>The CAT 7 cable is flame retardant as are all cables with the abrasion resistant TPE outer jacket. In addition, the cable is UL / CSA, EAC and CTP certified and DESINA compliant. The CAT 7 range is also suitable for use in clean room environments and has DNV GL approval for energy chain applications in offshore environments.
>"Because of the extensive testing already performed on the new CAT 7 cable, our customers can calculate its expected lifetime, based on parameters such as travel, bending radius and speed, using our chainflex(r) online configurator," adds Leonard.
