Posts Tagged ‘cable protection systems’

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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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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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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Snowed under? We’ll make sure you keep working…

May 28th, 2010

The UK suffered huge setbacks in the early part of the year due to the icy arctic blasts which swept across the country, leaving thousands stranded in snow drifts and causing an estimated loss of £3bn to the British economy.

It’s the second time in less than a year we have experienced extreme weather conditions, and with temperatures dropping to as low as -21°c in the Scottish Highlands – just one degree warmer than the South Pole – a new consideration has to be adopted when choosing components for machinery in the rail industry, to ensure continued functioning during periods of adverse weather.

As a world leader in nylon cable protection systems, PMA’s range of 6500 products has cemented the company’s drive to dominance in the UK’s construction, transport, mechanical engineering and automation services. Providing systems which exhibit strength and resistance in some of the toughest conditions, PMA products prove their resistance in hazardous environments, against high pressure water and in exposure to the most extreme of elements.

From locomotives and motor rail coaches built to move large masses of material, to signalling boxes on high-altitude railways, it’s of the utmost importance that individual components perform in fluctuating temperatures and a variety of conditions, as well as being capable of working under significant pressure.

Having been implemented on railways in the Swiss Alps, PMA’s products have proven their suitability for use in unrelenting sub-zero temperatures, functioning in applications on the line and in signalling devices, when frozen solid with packed ice.

The benefits of PMA’s polyamide and polypropylene systems dramatically outweigh the use of more traditional materials such as metal. Providing flexible, malleable systems that are both safe to use and easy to install, PMA products manage to embody a superior strength and resistance, as well as being more cost-efficient, both in terms of the product’s price, and in the time saved through installation.

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Posted in Cable protection, Extreme Weather Conditions

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PMA products prove resistant to rodents

April 27th, 2010

As a world leader in nylon cable protection systems, PMA has achieved a global reputation with its range of 6500 products, which exhibit strength and resistance in some of the toughest conditions.

With their vast range of strong, yet malleable systems, PMA’s products are renowned for their outstanding level of performance in extreme weather, hazardous environments, high-pressure water – and even against rats!

It’s well-known that rodents are a major culprit of causing technical failure and disruption due to their habit of gnawing through cable protection and damaging the wires within. However, this problem may be a thing of the past, with PMA’s products (manufactured from polyamide and polypropylene) proving to be completely resistant to the small teeth of pests such as rats.

This huge benefit is not down to any funny-flavoured chemicals, it’s actually due to the innate properties of PMA materials, which although recognised for having a fantastic memory when returning to shape after an impact (see www.pmahammertest.com), are very good at forgetting when it comes to scents and smells.

Rodents mark their territory rigorously. So much so, that when a car which has been marked by a rodent is parked in a different place to usual – and in the territory of another rodent – the local animal will try to remove all traces of the ‘intruder’.

Raw materials which are softer, such as cable insulation or PVC tubing, and materials with a rougher surface are very good at retaining rats’ marking smells for longer – meaning that there is a far greater danger that other rodents will bite away all traces of that scent in order to defend their territories.

With polyamide or polypropylene, this risk is significantly reduced because urine and other marking substances don’t adhere to its smooth, shiny surface. It really is as simple as that!

A further explanation for the gnawing behaviour of rodents is the gathering of raw material for nest building. With their sharp teeth, rats and other rodents are capable of biting through almost any type of material, including metal.

Despite this behaviour being instinctive, it is thought that polyamide is considered an unattractive ‘building material’ due to its natural taste and the effort required to bite into it, due to its hard and elastic properties on which teeth are inclined to slip. This also means that the larger the conduit, the more difficult it is for an animal to bite into its surface. These findings have been confirmed by an institute in Florida, whose research showed that even when rodents began to nibble into polyamide, they very quickly lose interest.

PMA products have been used on railways throughout the world for over thirty years, and in that time no cases of damage caused by rodents have been reported.

With rail applications of conduit in the UK including the likes of the London Underground, as well as on lines which are in close proximity to canals, the incidence of rodents causing damage to cables is relatively high – so the discovery that rats have an aversion to PMA materials has been added to the vast list of benefits of using nylon-based cable protection systems over more traditional materials.

With their vast range of products, PMA provides a very simple solution, but one that has the potential to prevent a large number of problems on our railways, subsequently saving huge amounts of both time and money.

For more information, call 01264 333 527 now!

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Posted in Cable protection, Protection From Rats

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