Hylec-APL introduces three super-fast cable sealing solutions to the UK

UK electronic component supply specialist Hylec-APL has introduced a range of three sealing solutions designed to replace traditional cable gland seals in most applications. The range includes simple inexpensive TSS grommet seals that can be used where locking cable glands would be overkill, and rubber Rutaseal glands that have superior IP rating compared to a standard ‘stuffing’ type cable gland, yet take moments to fit. The range topper is the ingenious Klikseal locking grommet, which is as quick to fit as a rubber Rutaseal, provides a high IP rating similar to a dome-top cable gland as well as mechanical cable retention, and is still competitively priced compared to traditional glands.

Terry Spriggs of Wellingborough based Hylec-APL explains, “The TSS grommet and the Rutaseal strong positions in the German and the Swedish market where they originate, but have had little exposure in the UK. The real innovation however is with the new Klikseal product. The Klikseal provides most of the advantages of a cable gland while avoiding some of its disadvantages. The main advantage being the fitting time for a Klikseal, this can be as low as ten seconds, compared with minutes for a cable gland. The 90% reduction in fitting time amounts to a huge amount of money saved on large installations and OEM assembly lines.”

Klikseal is constructed using two materials, a high integrity plastic cage provides the ‘click’ push-fit the title suggests, adjusting to wall thicknesses from 1.5mm to 5mm automatically and expanding to clamp the seal in place once inserted. The shape of the cage component also provides strong positive cable anchorage once the cable is inserted, something that previously was only available from traditional cables glands with internal clamping and locknuts.  Temporary blanking plugs are also not required as, once fitted, the Klikseal provides a total seal until the cable is inserted and is extremely fast.

The softer sealing material is moulded around the cage material and provides the sealing as well as adding to the anchorage capability. The design of the soft sealing material creates a kind of ‘sock’ that is in contact with a large area of the cable outer sheath, providing flexibility and excellent sealing up to IP67. Once a hole has been drilled or knocked out of an enclosure wall or a bulkhead, the grommets are assembled by push-fit so no tools are needed to fit any of the grommets in the range, adding to their flexibility and ease of installation. The unique feature to highlight is the pop membrane. This enables the grommet to act as a blanking plug when not in use but also ensures that the high IP rating is not compromised once the cable has been inserted.   The majority of other grommets on the market today require some form of piercing with a tool that can compromise the IP rating.

Other advantages offered by all three sealing products include ease of fitting in confined spaces where there is no room to use the spanners needed to effectively tighten a lock-nut. Where an M25 sized cable gland requires the fitter to reach both sides of an enclosure wall or bulkhead, a grommet can simply be pushed in from either side.

An M25 gland would stand 30mm+ proud of the side wall where the Klikseal for example would sit only 5.7mm proud of the surface, reducing the space required, and also protecting the seal from knocks and bangs that could break or distort thin enclosure side walls and render the seal useless.  The equivalent Klikseal will also accommodate cable sizes from 4mm to 14mm diameter, a substantially greater range than is available from a standard cable gland and therefore cutting down significantly on inventory in some applications.

All three grommets provide added benefits for IT systems where optical cables can be damaged by cable glands that can be over-tightened. Other benefits offered by the rubber Rutaseal product include superior protection from UV-light, ozone, acids and weathering; where some cable glands will deteriorate badly in extreme weather conditions, a Rutaseal will withstand a temperature range of minus 40 to plus 110 degrees.

The TSS seal is similar in design to the soft part of a Klikseal and so provides less cable retention force, but is moulded in one material and is therefore suited to less demanding applications. The TSS also offers an additional price advantage over the other grommets and cable glands. This is one of, if not ‘the’ fastest and most cost effective cable entry sealing product on the market today.

All these gland products are available in a range of sizes in colours grey (RAL 7035), black (RAL 9005) and white (RAL9010) as standard. They are also available in a range of other colours, subject to minimum production quantities. The products are held in stock at Hylec-APL HQ and central stocking facility in Wellingborough Northants. Hylec-APL specialises in the bulk supply of electronic and electro-mechanical components to OEMs, sub-contract manufacturers, and distribution organisations and supplies free samples as well as technical support and application advice.

……….Ends……….
Contact for Sales Enquiries: Terry Spriggs, Hylec APL Ltd., 6 Stanton Close, Finedon Road Ind. Estate, Wellingborough, Northants NN8 4HN
Telephone: 01933 234400 Fax: 01933 234411 email: sales@Hylec-APL.com
Web: www.Hylec-APL.com
 
Contact For Editorial Enquiries: Roland Renshaw, DMA Europa.
Tel: +44 (0)1299 405454 Email: roland@dmaeuropa.com

About Hylec-APL: Making the right connections

Hylec-APL provides a wide range of product options and solutions including many thousands of different line items. From PCB Connectors and Terminal Blocks, to Cable Glands, Cable Accessories, LEDs, Switches, Buzzers, Relays, IP Rated Connectors and DIN Rail Mounting Enclosures, all items are quality assured and supported by dedicated technical expertise.