In modern industrial environments, protecting cables from the ingress of dust and moisture can be an essential part of minimising downtime and keeping machinery running productively and efficiently.
Cable glands allow cables to be inserted into a housing. This securely seals both the cable and the housing and achieves strain relief for the cable. Additionally, cable glands protect the housing interior from harmful environmental influences such as dust and moisture.
But which cable glands should be used in which contexts, for optimum reliability and performance? Let's look at the range of options available for cable glands.
Pick your material - plastic, brass, or stainless steel:
Nylon Cable Glands
have the primary aim of safely inserting a cable into the housing of a machine or control cabinet. They are single-entry systems (meaning they only introduce a single cable), and they mean the cable is affixed, centred, hermetically sealed, and has optimum strain relief.
deliver the same benefits mentioned about, which additional resistances and benefits for cold environments, cables with EMC protection, Halogen-free cables, ATEX areas, and cables with permanent bending. Brass offers good chemical resistance and particular mechanical stability, which is why it is very popular in the manufacture of cable glands.
The majority of LAPP’s brass cable glands are nickel-plated brass, which means they have an additional nickel coating. This is because nickel is corrosion-resistant and wear-resistant, thus protecting the brass body from many environmental influences that could impair its function.
are designed for use under tough conditions and have high chemical and mechanical resistances, and can be used in clean rooms, pharmaceutical applications, and offshore areas, for example. In general, it can be said that stainless steel is a raw material with a higher degree of purity than brass, which not only often has a much higher quality, but is also corrosion-resistant, and therefore extremely durable, depending on the composition.
Pick your entry - single or multiple
Single-cable entry systems introduce a single cable. As a result, the (normative) requirements associated with each purpose of use must be explored in an application-specific and individual manner.
Multi-cable entry systems introduce more than one cable at a time, and are typically split into two designs:
- Multi-cable entry systems for assembled cables, which should be selected if the plug is already ready. The frame of these modular multi-cable glands is screwed to the unit or machine housing and the modules that clamp individual cables can be exchanged individually.
- Multi-cable entry systems for non-assembled cables, which should be selected if the cable end is still open. A unique gel seal with special membrane technology means that no pre-piercing of the bushings is necessary.
Pick your resistances and protections
Different cable glands deliver different protections and resistances to meet a broad range of applications. These can include:
Sealing in accordance with IP protection classes. Cable glands protect the housing against external influences. Soiling such as dust or moisture or even water must not penetrate through the hole in the housing. The degree to which protection is guaranteed depends on the specified IP protection class (“Ingress Protection”).
Temperature resistance. The temperature essentially determines the current properties of a material. It’s important to make sure that the specified temperature ranges are adhered to when using cable glands. For example, LAPP has specific ranges for sub-zero temperatures down to -70oC and for extreme temperatures up to +200oC.
Bending protection. If a cable or wire is used in moving machine parts, the minimum bending radius of the product must be observed. For example, a cable’s shape can be designed to prevent kinking on the cable gland.
Chemical resistance. Depending on the application area, a cable gland comes into contact with substances that can attack the gland material. This could be salt, oil, acid, or alkaline solutions, and each will require specific resistances to meet Standards.
Flame retardance. Cable glands with flame-retardant properties are relevant to safety in areas with high potential hazard in the event of a fire. Cable glands with halogen-free and highly flame-retardant components are therefore suitable for areas at risk of fire. They reduce the risk of flame propagation, high smoke density and toxic flue gases in the event of a fire.
Food safety. Smooth surfaces and contours without corners or edges prevent residues such as liquids and micro-organisms from accumulating on a cable gland and there is a risk of contamination for food in the processing facility. As all food processing plants are regularly cleaned with hot water or water steam or by foaming and aggressive disinfectants are used, standard suitability for the food industry is only achieved using stainless steel cable glands.
ATEX applications. In chemical factories or filling stations, explosive gases can form, for example during the generation and filling of fuels. However, precautions must also be taken in the production of sugar and flour to prevent dust explosions. In order to be able to rule out any ignition source, all construction materials used there must have their properties comply with the standards that have been set up to prevent accidents.
ATEX stands for “ATmosphères Explosibles”. It is a set of European Union regulations – recognised in Australia and many countries around the world – that are designed to ensure the safety of products being used in explosive environments. LAPP cable entry systems with the addition “ATEX” meet the explosion protection requirements in accordance with relevant local and global Standards.
LAPP SKINTOP® cable glands: secure and effective
LAPP has produced its SKINTOP® range of cable glands for more than 40 years, innovating and evolving the range over time to suit changing needs of industry. Today, just insert the cable, tighten, and the task is complete – simple, secure, and effective.
Key benefits of the LAPP SKINTOP® range of cable glands include:
- Optimum strain relief thanks to the extreme wide clamping range that secures, centres and prevents the cable from being pulled out, even with strong movement in the application
- Permanent protection against vibration: intensively tested for the toughest application
- Maximum sealing against environmental influences such as dust, dirt and water
- Secure connection: cables are secured, centred and hermetically sealed
- Installing a SKINTOP® cable gland is extremely easy
- High resistance to oil, UV, and ozone
LAPP’s universal systems are both simple and effective, securing and centring the cable, hermetically sealing it, and guaranteeing optimum strain relief. Options include plastic or brass materials, cables for EX and EMC applications, halogen-free or anti-kink protection, and a choice of metric, PG, or NPT sizes.