Archive for the ‘PMA products’ category

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New search function added to PMA site

January 25th, 2012

CAD files for PMA’s extensive range of cable protection products are now easier to download

A new function has been added to the PMA website which is set to make life easier for all their customers when searching online for specific products.

Previously in order to access the CAD file for a particular PMA component, the procedure was to enter the CADENAS system via the download area of the website and then use the menu to search for the part required. However, if the customer is at a loss as to which product category the part belongs, they may have had difficulty finding it.

Recognising the issue, PMA have introduced a new function which will make the process far simpler to use. Now in the Product Information area of the website you will see, in addition to the possibility of downloading the data sheet and catalogue for specific products, it is now also possible to jump straight to the CAD files for the product in question.

This is the perfect time-saver for PMA’s customer base, making finding what they need possible at the touch of a button. Simples!

For more information, visit www.pma.ch

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Posted in Cable protection, PMA online, PMA products

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PMA installs largest solar project in region

December 15th, 2011

The Swiss headquarters of PMA have recently undergone a transformation which puts them top of the bill when it comes to being green.

Solar panels installed upon PMA's headquarters make it the largest project of its kind in the Zurich highland region

Having begun the installation of almost 250 solar panels back in the autumn of 2011, the rooftop system at PMA’s main office in Uster, Switzerland, has revolutionised the building’s power supply.

The development is the largest of its kind in the Zurich highland region, with a whopping 241 panels installed, providing a surface area of around 400 square meters. This grand design has the capacity to supply 15 households with electrical power and PMA nylon cable protection systems have been incorporated into the project to aid its longevity and durability against the elements.

Forward-thinking PMA Manager, Bruno Krauer, first had the idea of fitting a solar energy system on top of the building back in 2006. After discussions with various installation companies, as well as the Swiss government authorities regarding the rate paid for energy fed into the network, by the beginning of 2011 all that remained was to convince the directors of PMA’s new owner Thomas & Betts that the investment was worthwhile.

Be-Netz, the largest and best-known company in the solar panel business, was chosen to implement the installation using PMA’s photovoltaic system, which had been designed to stand up against UV and weather exposure. Indeed, the product’s fire-resistant qualities also proved of great value, when the local building regulations office threatened to halt the project for fear of potential risks associated with voltage levels.

Philip Allington, PMA’s Application & Development Manager said:

“We are delighted with the solar system that has been successfully installed, particularly as it incorporates our specialist products, without which, this project would not have taken place.  The PMA multilayer conduit type XSOLL has impressed Be-Netz so much, they are now using the PMA conduit type for future installations.”

For more information, visit www.pma.ch or call Donna Clash at PMA’s UK head office on 01264 333 527 or email sales@pma-uk.com

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Posted in Cable protection, Company News, Eco-friendly, PMA products, Resistance, Thomas & Betts

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Thomas & Betts attend RenewableUK Exhibition 2011

October 14th, 2011

Thomas & Betts will be exhibiting their portfolio of market leading
brands at the forthcoming RenewableUK Exhibition at Manchester
Central Convention Complex from 25-27 October 2011.

Thomas & Betts delivers innovative and reliable safety solutions from
their renowned brand portfolio including Adaptaflex – flexible conduit
systems, Furse – earthing, lightning and electronic systems protection,
PMA – cable protection systems and Ty-Met®, Ty-Rap® – cable
management solutions.

Come and visit us at STAND 116 and enter into our free prize draw
to win an Apple iPad.

If you would like to pre-book an appointment with our sales team during
the show please call our Marketing Department on 0115 964 3709 or
email enquiryuk@tnb.com

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Posted in Company News, PMA products, RenewableUK, Thomas & Betts

PMA joins Link-up!

September 14th, 2011

We’re excited to announce that PMA have recently become part of Link-Up, the UK’s largest rail industry supplier qualification management system.

Used extensively with buying organisations such as Network Rail, London Underground, a number of train operators and other large companies working in the UK rail sector, PMA’s products are now first in line for new developments on railways.

Providing polyamide cable protection solutions which are resistant to rodents, extreme temperatures and fungal decay, PMA’s range of products has also tested its mettle when it comes to vandalism and is now renowned in the industry as an affordable, easily-installed alternative to more traditional systems.

Link-Up presents new opportunities for us, with the scheme used extensively by procurement, engineering, safety and quality professionals from over one hundred leading companies, and serving as the ideal tool when it comes to sourcing products which comply with current standards and legislation.

For more information, click here or visit www.pma.ch

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Posted in Cable protection, Company News, Link-Up, PMA products, Rail, Theft

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Running hot and cold?

September 7th, 2011

PMA products provide the solution for difficult desert conditions

Manufactured from high-grade, specially modified polyamide materials, PMA AG cable protection systems have triumphed in evaluations for their suitability for use in desert conditions.

PMA products excel in desert conditions

As one of the world’s leading manufacturers of cable protection systems, PMA have put their polyamide range of products to the test in some of the toughest conditions on the planet; from snow-topped mountain railways to pest-ridden environments – but now, PMA have one more box ticked, which supports the use of their products in many new areas.

Desert conditions present extremes of temperature, as well as an additional list of complications. In the day, dry, hot conditions can be expected with high UV exposure. At night, temperatures can sink far into minus figures. Add to this the need for a reliable, strong system which requires minimum maintenance and the search for a product to fit the bill can seem difficult.

PMA, however, have developed a broad range of systems which exhibit high resistance to UV, and remain unaffected chemically by either sand or salt. PA12 Black is one ‘super’ material which has been trialled under such conditions.

PMA has conducted a series of tests on their specially modified PA12 material to investigate the resistance of their polyamide conduits and fittings within a sand storm. The tests involved the use of a quartz sand blasting machine to simulate the extremities of such weather conditions. Conduits and fittings were subjected for 60 seconds to a jet of sand from such a machine at distances of 10cm and 20cm and at pressures of 4 bar and 6 bar.

With these tests designed to represent a far higher level of exposure than could ever be seen in the desert, the naturally occurring wind speeds and number of impacting grains of sand would be many factors lower in a real sand storm than simulated in this test. Since a real sand storm in the desert does not produce such intense local exposure at a single point and the grains of sand are likely to be much finer than the quartz sand used for the experiment, scientist concluded that a sand storm would be unlikely to cause any deterioration to PMA polyamide cable protection parts.

Philip Allington, PMA’s Application & Development Manager commented: “PMA PCS PA12 material has excellent abrasion and UV resistance characteristics. This conduit type is extremely tough and its material possesses very good damping characteristics. PCS will also resist well to the low humidity, which could cause some materials to become brittle. Combined with a high wall thickness, PCS is an ideal choice for applications in the desert.”

For more information, visit www.pma.ch or call Donna Clash at PMA’s UK head office on 01264 333 527 or email sales@pma-uk.com

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Posted in Cable protection, Extreme Weather Conditions, Hazardous Environments, PMA products, Protection From Rats, Rail, Resistance

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PMA products tough on termites

August 31st, 2011
Termites: known for their incredible ability to devour, the tiny insects have presented huge problems in countries such as Australia, America and Africa for centuries – but if you thought we were safe, think again. The threat of termite infestations in the UK is increasing, with recent reports showing that, despite a £190,000 eradication programme, the UK has its own 12 year-old colony which shows no sign of diminishing.

Termites present a potentially huge problem for Britain's railways if colony numbers grow

Although termites are commonly associated with the demolition of wooden structures, the insects also pose a threat to rail connections and wiring systems. Luckily for PMA, the company are pleased to report that their cable protection systems are one kind of conduit these little creatures won’t be munching on.
Renowned for their ability to destruct timber buildings, bridges and frames in record timings, termites can also present two separate dangers for cable protection materials: one chemical and one mechanical. PMA tests have discovered however, that polyamide has good resistance to formic acid as produced by termites and the surface hardness ensures that PMA products also withstand mechanical damage by such insects.
Philip Allington, PMA’s Application & Development Manager comments: “PMA products can and do protect cables against termite, insect and rodent attack. Presently used signalling cables possess two layers that have been used against such damage – the outermost nylon jacket serves as the primary protection, also serving as a mechanical protection and providing sufficient slipperiness. Secondly, the copper tapes are used as a shield against termite attack, whilst also provides electrical shielding for the cable.”
A new study examining the DNA sequences of five genes in the insects has unveiled large similarities between termites and a species of wood-eating cockroaches – leading to the bugs’ new classification of ‘social cockroaches’ by leading expert, Dr Paul Eggleton of the Natural History Museum.
With recent reports revealing that Britain’s only colony of termites has survived 12 years of attempts to wipe it out using chemicals, concerns of the potential damage which could be caused if numbers cannot be controlled are mounting. Scientists suspect the colony first came to the UK from the Canary Islands in a plant pot, and are at a loss on how to counteract the bugs’ resistance. In the meantime, polyamide presents an answer for installations on railways and industrial buildings: the perfect pest-proof solution for the protection of cables.
For more information, visit www.pma.ch or call Donna Clash at PMA’s UK head office on 01264 333 527 or email sales@pma-uk.com

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Posted in Cable protection, PMA products, Resistance, Termites

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Thomas & Betts rail products right on track at Railtex 2011

June 28th, 2011

With a portfolio of market leading brands and products under a single stand, Thomas & Betts successfully introduced its full range of rail solution products at Railtex 2011.

The Thomas & Betts stand featured leading brands such as PMA, Furse and Adaptaflex

Held at Earls Court, London during 14 – 16th June Railtex is a key event in the rail industry calendar with over 8,000 visitors from 47 countries. For Thomas and Betts it proved a successful platform to include the entire range of Thomas & Betts rail products.

With renowned brands including Adaptaflex, PMA and Furse, and product ranges including marketing leading flexible conduit systems, earthing & lightning protection and electrical systems protection the stand attracted interest from a wide range of industry professionals. Visitors included rail operators, infrastructure / maintenance providers and regulatory authorities – and a host of key enquiries were generated over the three days.

“The Railtex exhibition was a great success – providing an ideal opportunity to showcase the Thomas & Betts portfolio of innovative and reliable solutions for the rail industry”, said Tony Marston, Thomas & Betts Sales Director, UK & Eire.

Plus, there was a great deal of visitor enthusiasm for the Ipad2 prize draw – with the three winners set to be announced on the brand websites week commencing 27th June 2011.

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Posted in Cable protection, Company News, PMA products, Rail, Railtex

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No environmental concerns for PMA

March 17th, 2011

In an age when we all have to consider the environmental implications of how we travel, what we buy and the products we use, PMA are removing the headache for engineers and planners by certifying their range as entirely safe to use and eco-friendly.

Under the EU REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of CHemicals) directive, PMA confirms that none of its products are required to be registered. With all the cable protection manufacturer’s ranges certified as asbestos free and entirely without trace of a hazardous substance, PMA’s products are some of the safest and most durable on the market.

© www.istockphoto.com/pareto

The company knows, however, that in many cases where materials contain no contaminants or toxicity, products are often still manufactured using processes which can cause a negative impact to the environment. Not the case here, though, as a good deal of consideration has been taken over the development of each of the company’s systems and components so as not to detract from their eco ethos.

In layman’s terms, PMA makes sure that all legal requirements are fulfilled, and the raw materials used in the injection moulding and extrusion processes are completely ecologically harmless.

And the proof in the pudding lies in the company’s Environmental Management System (according to ISO 14001) which has been implemented and is maintained as part of PMA’s Integrated Management System. This complements the continuous monitoring of environmental issues with an aim to consistently negate the impact of their activities, products and services.*

What does all this mean for customers, designers, engineers and fitters? That they can work with easily installed, safe and strong products which also have a conscience. That should not only help everyone sleep a little sounder at night, it also ticks some of those increasingly important boxes on the paperwork. After all, we all need to be doing our bit now – and PMA makes that even easier.

For more information, visit www.pma.ch or contact PMA’s Quality Manager, Peter Schuster, on peter.schuster@pma.ch.

*Although the cable protection manufacturer has not sought independent certification of this module to date, the company readily invites its customers to audit their processes and efforts regarding quality, environmental and operational safety.

 

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Posted in Cable protection, Eco-friendly, Environment, PMA products

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Polyamide products prove resistant to seawater

February 16th, 2011

With PMA supplying crucial components to wind turbines across the globe in 2010, polyamide-based products are proven to exhibit excellent resistance to seawater.

Confirmed by PMA’s raw material suppliers, based upon the chemical composition as well as a long-term application experience in the toughest conditions, polyamide (or nylon) products have proved to exhibit outstanding mechanical and physical properties over a wide range of application temperatures.

Indeed, the manufacturer has seen a dramatic increase in the popularity of its products, with profits up on last year. This has been attributed to awareness of the benefits of using nylon cable protection, such as its strength and flexibility, but also its resilience against fungal decay, bad weather, rodents – and many more factors which must be considered by engineers and designers in a broad range of industries.

PMA’s Tony Hollands says: “Our polyamide products have been subjected to extensive testing to show their suitability for a broad range of application areas. Perhaps the best indication of the suitability of nylon (Polyamide 6 type) for applications exposed to seawater is the fact that it is the material most commonly used for the manufacture of fishing lines and nets.”

Traditional materials, including plastics, are often predisposed to toughening or changes in their innate properties when exposed to high or low temperatures or levels of moisture content, but in order to provide consistent movement and flexibility, most PMA products have been modified to make them immune to climate changes of this kind. Given the difficulty in repairing off-shore turbines, this has led to a rise in the number of off-shore applications using a more reliable polyamide cable protection.

For more information, visit www.pma.ch or call Donna Clash at PMA’s UK head office on 01264 333 527

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Posted in Cable protection, PMA products, Seawater Resistant

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PMA nominated for HazardEx award

January 18th, 2011

Nominees for the annual HazardEx awards have recently been announced, with cable protection manufacturer PMA receiving recognition in the ‘Technical Innovation’ category.

Since PMA launched the world’s first nylon-based cable protection system, approved to ATEX standards and suitable for use in hazardous environments, the system has been implemented into a number of industries, from rail and construction, to power and renewable energy.

Used in a number of situations where other systems may not be suitable, PMA’s products are now proving popular with breweries, where hops could cause ignition, and places where potentially hazardous environments exist such as refineries, power stations, paint shops and petrol stations.

Tony Hollands, national sales manager of PMA-UK says: “We are all delighted to be considered for this prestigious award. Our Atex approval has opened many new doors for us and more people are realising that nylon provides both a flexible and durable system for use in a number of sensitive environments. We are thrilled that the product is gaining the recognition we believe it deserves.”

The HazardEx winners will be announced at a Gala Dinner Evening on 23rd February 2011 at the Majestic Hotel in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. The categories for 2011 include: Contribution towards Safety (sponsored by Intertek), Environmental Contribution to Industry, Best User Application and Lifetime Contribution to the Industry.

To place your vote, visit: http://www.hazardexonthenet.net/awards/vote.aspx

PMA products are available from our electrical wholesaler key stockist network.  For more information, visit www.pma.ch or call Donna Clash at PMA’s UK head office on 01264 333 527

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Posted in Cable protection, HazardEx, PMA products

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