Belden (NYSE: BDC) has announced continuous aluminum armor cladding options for its standard or special cable constructions, including industrial communication and networking products, as well as those for instrumentation, control, and variable frequency drive (VFD) systems.
Impervious to fluid ingress and suitable for installation in harsh and hazardous locations, the continuous aluminum armor is MC rated for superior crush resistance. The company adds that the continuous armor option eliminates the need for conduit and makes cabling easier to install and re-route, reducing both the physical and labor costs of deployment.
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Belden states that its continuous aluminum armor is impenetrable because it is applied as a continuous strip of aluminum, which is wrapped around the cable and welded at the seam for impenetrability. The armor's corrugation permits bending without kinking. Standard Belden cables available with continuous armor include: Foundation Fieldbus / Profibus PA (183076F), Profibus DP (183079A), ControlNet Quad Shielded Coax (183092A) and Blue Hose Cable (189463).
With the addition of continuously corrugated aluminum armor, Belden now offers three types of MC armor; cables also can be protected by aluminum interlocked armor and galvanized steel interlocked armor. The company also offers its Belclad corrugated aluminum or steel tape, which is sealed to prevent fluid ingress (i.e., chemicals, water and other fluids) into the cable core.
The products are aimed at plant and facility designers in fields such as oil and gas, petrochemical, and pulp and paper, who require cabling that provides robust protection from impact or crushing, as well as environmental protection. The company notes that cable failure in industrial applications "can cost thousands of dollars per minute."
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