Cable carriers ensure problem-free bridge operation

When the retractable Kattendijk bridge in the port of Antwerp kept malfunctioning because the high humidity levels had damaged the sensitive electronics, the maintenance firm Jacops asked Kabelschlepp Metool to develop a robust power supply. A solution built around Kabelschlepp’s M series cable carrier was developed within just two weeks.

The Kattendijk bridge not only connects the Schelde river to a yachting marina, but also forms part of the main access road to large chemical companies such as BASF, Fina, and Solvay. When the bridge was closed due to technical issues, delivery vehicles had to take long detours to reach their destination.

The problems were caused by the conductor rails that provided the power supply for the retractable bridge. The damp, salty air tended to corrode the rails, which interrupted the flow of electricity. Jacops, which is contracted with the maintenance of the bridge, therefore asked Kabelschlepp Metool to develop an alternative to the existing power supply as a matter of urgency. The project was implemented in collaboration with the Belgian cable carrier supplier Incasys, the exclusive Kabelschlepp dealer in Belgium.

The experts selected a plastic cable carrier from the M series (MC0650) for guiding the cables and lines. These cable carriers feature an encapsulated, dirt-resistant stroke system and 4-fold bolted aluminium stays that can resist even the most extreme conditions. Both are important prerequisites for use on the bridge. As the structure has a total length of 30 m, the Kabelschlepp Metool engineers added a 30,000 mm long, corrosion-resistant U-shaped stainless steel guide channel in which the cable carrier moves on plastic sliders. These sliders are replaceable, making it possible to only replace the worn sliders rather than the entire cable carrier.

The cable carrier installed on the Kattendijk bridge has an inner width of 120 mm and a bending radius of 260 mm. Thanks to the robust link plate design, the sidebands of the cable carrier are very sturdy and easy to assemble. The 2-disc principle also ensures a low level of wear on the links. Seven different TRAXLINE cables from Kabelschlepp Metool were installed in the cable carrier to supply the bridge drive with power: they are extremely flexible and durable and have been specially developed for use in cable carriers. Integrating the cables into the cable carrier was very easy because the aluminium frame stays can be opened quickly and easily with a 90° rotation.

The fast work of Kabelschlepp Metool ensured that the Kattendijk bridge was repaired within a very short time, and thanks to the robust cable carrier, it will no longer fail so easily.