South African power cable manufacturer Aberdare Cables, a Powertech company, has enhanced its wide range of elastomeric trailing cables with a tougher extra heavy duty sheath. The improved sheaths extend the cable’s operational life especially in harsh coal and hard rock mining environments found in South Africa. Trailing cables are used in selected mining applications where they service heavy duty machinery which are either moving or require re-location of power supply from time to time. This non-fixed installation creates a challenging environment, even for the heavy duty elastomeric trailing cables which are designed specifically for these conditions.  The cable is subjected to dragging and impact which could result in abrasion, compression and tearing damage. Any enhancement which would improve the durability of these cables and improve their ability to withstand these conditions will lead to a longer life expectancy for the significant investment which they represent.

The first line of defence for a trailing cable is the protective sheath which serves the purpose of protecting the internal components of cable against water, chemicals, oils, ultraviolet light, extremes of heat and cold and mechanical damage. As part of our continuous improvement program, Aberdare Cables has developed an enhanced extra heavy duty sheathing grade material which will be applied on a range of trailing cables with reinforced sheath from 6.6 kV to 33 kV as standard (Types 66, 611, 622 and 633 to SANS 1520). The new sheathing compound provides longer life due to its improved physical properties and higher abrasion and tear resistance. According to Siphithi Sibeko, Aberdare’s Sales Director, the new innovative technology has significantly increased the strength of the cable and the “un-zippering” effect, which occurs when the sheath is pulled over sharp objects, is significantly reduced.