Industrial equipment supplier BMG now supplies and supports the full range of Tsubaki chain, power transmission and motion controls, including the Kabelschlepp cable carriers, which have been developed for dependable use in diverse industries.

BMG power transmission division business unit manager Carlo Beukes explains that the heavy-duty Kabelschlepp cable carrier systems – which are heat resistant and lubricant-free – are ideally suited for use in harsh, corrosive industries such as steel plants.

In standard applications in steel mills, BMG recommends the use of solid plastic cable carriers with fixed chain widths. The advantages of these carriers include cost-efficiency, quick availability ex-stock as well as fast and easy cable installation.

The plastic cable carrier range includes several series: the Basic-Line, which features solid and press-in carriers with fixed chain widths; the Vario-Line, offering adjustable chain widths; the Tube-Line, designed as enclosed carriers with flexible energy conduits; and the 3D-Line, built for multidirectional, three- dimensional movement.

In advanced applications, BMG’s specialists recommend the use of cable carriers with variable chain widths, which the supplier has available from its light, heavy-duty or linkless series.

While the plastic frame stays are available in 4 mm, 8 mm or 16 mm width increments, the aluminium frame stays are available in custom widths that can be made to the exact millimetre required.

It should be noted that this system has been designed for quick and easy opening to the inside or outside radius.

“BMG specialists offer a technical advisory service to ensure the correct cable carrier is selected for every application. These systems are available in standard widths or are customised to the exact specifications required,” explains Beukes.

He elaborates that, depending on the application, either full-plastic, hybrid (with the sideband made of plastic and stays made of aluminium) or steel and stainless-steel materials are recommended.

Moreover, BMG is also able to supply fully harnessed systems, with cables and connectors pre-installed.

In more extreme applications, BMG advises the use of heat-resistant steel cable carriers – which feature a robust design for mechanical loads. These systems are available in heavy-duty steel (S) and corrosion resistant stainless steel (SX).

The design of the S/SX series allows for unsupported lengths and large additional loads without sagging – when it is correctly sized for the application – even in the harshest of environments.

Additionally, the stroke system, with special bolts and locking rings, is designed to offer extended service life. Beukes notes that all the Kabelschlepp cable carriers are lubricant-free.

He adds that “the typical applications for these cable carrier systems extend from standard applications, [such as] machine tools, cranes, car-wash systems and medical and laboratory technologies, to more complex applications, including industrial robots, offshore oil rigs and aerospace [applications]”.

Moreover, the Kabelschlepp range also aims to enhance safety, prevent downtime and reduce repair costs.

As such, the emergency cable carriers (ECC) series helps detect blockages that occur in the travel lengths of cable carriers and will automatically switch the system off to prevent damage to the system.

In addition to the emergency stop function, the ECC series also offers a bridging safeguard for the braking distance in both directions of travel. Beukes notes that once a blockage has been removed, the system is easily re-coupled and is immediately ready for operation.

The ECC series also forms part of the offering in the Steel-Line series, which features both lightweight and heavy-duty cable carriers, and is designed to deliver dependable performance over long operating cycles, particularly in harsh industrial settings where fine, abrasive materials are present.

To further safeguard the integrity of routed cables, rust-free steel band covers are available to shield them from contaminants such as steel and aluminium swarf, wood or plastic chips and/or other industrial debris.

Depending on the operational requirements, users can choose between screwed or riveted connections.

Complementing these are the Life-Line safety cables, which encompass a variety of control, power, data, coaxial, system and signal cables.

For streamlined installation and enhanced compatibility, the Totaltrax complete systems are offered as fully integrated solutions, comprising pre-assembled and ready-to-connect components — including cable carriers, cables, connectors and mounting plates — all optimally matched to ensure reliable system integration.

Beukes concludes that “apart from offering a comprehensive selection of standard solutions, which are immediately available nationally from BMG, we can also offer customised systems, developed specifically to meet a customer’s specific requirements”.