Industrial environments are prime locations for cable management, where in large facilities heavy equipment and workers can often encounter cables, wires, and hoses. It is here where the act of organizing harnesses is critical to protect cables, equipment, and the people around both. Unmanaged wires can become entangled in equipment — or turn into a trip hazard. For the safety of people, machinery, and cables, we have recommended products below to assist you with your industrial cable management.
CABLE TRACKS AND HOSE CARRIERS:
These flexible tracks and carriers, which have a chain-like appearance, help to guide large cables and hoses around machinery. They additionally keep them free from abrasion, damage, and exceeding their bend radius.
CABLE COVER PROTECTION
Cord cover protects cables, wires, and hoses, with various levels of strength. CableOrganizer® offers several categories, which can each be used depending on where they exist in an industrial environment. Light capacity cable cover may be useful in settings such as an office, where there is no exposure to vehicles, and limited foot traffic. This type often has some light channeling or comes in a drop-over style. Medium capacity cord cover is made of heavier duty materials and may have deeper channels, to withstand more pedestrians and some light vehicle types. High capacity cord cover is for applications where there could be cables, wires, and hoses in a parking lot, with potential exposure to heavy vehicles. This type is comprised of even deeper channels, and more durable materials. Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) ramps comply with the Act, to allow accessibility and provide safe navigability over cables, wires, and hoses for people with disabilities.
CABLE TRAYS
Cable trays of varying capacities can be another cable management resource for an industrial environment. Basket cable trays work under desks, as hanging trays, and in raised flooring systems, to organize and ventilate wires. A ladder-style cable tray can handle heavy duty runs above grounds, and even in basements. There are additionally special trays for fiber optic cabling, like this FiberRunner® Cable Routing System. Snake trays are made of hand-bendable steel to navigate walls, ceilings, or underneath floors.
CABLE RACEWAY
Cable raceway is known for its ease of installation to route wires and cables along surfaces, walls, ceilings, and floors, typically concealing them in an enclosed, snap-together system. Some raceway may have latching accessories to navigate around corners. It can protect certain cables in industry, providing chemical and temperature resistance.
WIRE DUCT
Wiring Duct is like cable raceway but can be slotted to provide exit areas for individual wires in a run. Wire duct's accessibility facilitates repairs and modifications to wiring. It not only organizes cables but can separate power and data cables in industrial settings to prevent crosstalk and EMI (electromagnetic interference).
BRAIDED SLEEVING
Braided sleeving is a flexible and often expandable product that can accommodate wire harnesses in numerous ways. Some sleeving is made of PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) that is cut or abrasion resistant, which may be suitable for general purpose applications in an industrial location. For existing wire harnesses, a wrap-around sleeve, also frequently known as split wire loom, can be another option, even in standard applications. Abrasion resistant sleeves are used on heavy equipment to cover hoses and cables, among the purposes they can serve. Many of these types are wrap varieties with hook and loop closures. Others are a heavier duty braid. Electrical insulation sleeves — braided then coated with silicone, vinyl, or acrylic — can be used in high voltage applications.
CONDUIT
Conduit is another cable management option that is made of metal and non-metallic materials. It is often corrugated and flexible, though some types may be slightly more rigid. Conduit is typically used outdoors to protect low voltage, electrical, optical, or communications cables, even underground. In industrial applications, conduit may additionally be used in fire protection systems and for EMI shielding.
HEAT SHRINK
Heat shrink can come in a range of materials, with some that are designed for more high-stress atmospheres. While polyolefin types of heatshrink can provide some insulation and wire organization properties in lighter aspects of industry, there are other types meant for heavier use. Shrinkflex® Viton™ is one type of heat shrink that provides extreme protection in high temperature environments against abrasion, chemicals, solvents, and oils. WireWrap™ adhesive lined heat shrink tubing has a dual wall, along with adhesive, to create a watertight seal. Diesel Resistant Heat Shrink protects mechanical components from damage, abrasion, fuels, fluids, and oils. Heavy Wall Flame Retardant Self-Adhesive Heat Shrink is helpful in protecting wires up to 600V, with Heavy Wall Flame Retardant Self-Adhesive Heat Shrink Tubing for up to 1,000 volts. High Flow Adhesive Heat Shrink Tubing offers a weatherproof connection for superior strain relief. Shrinkflex® 2:1 Fabric Heat Shrink Tubing offers abrasion resistance for plastic pipes, rubber hoses, cable bundles, and oddly shaped objects.
CORD REELS AND WINDERS
Another way to keep cables off the floors and out of the way is with a cord reel and cord winder. Some of these reels and winders are designed to keep even the most heavy duty electrical cable out of the way. It provides a source of power when needed simply by pulling it off the reel or winder.
CABLE CLIPS
When some think of cable clips, it may often be of those self-adhesive types. But there are clips that are meant for heavier duty applications like the Mag Daddy™ Magnetic Cable Clip. It comes with a neodymium magnet that enables cables and low voltage wires to be run along metallic surfaces. These clips can be relocated with ease without ruining the surface where they are placed.
Shop here at CableOrganizer® for more industrial products.
