BIW Compact 2-2012 English

02 AUTOMOTIVE – CABLE PROTECTION SYSTEMS MADE BY BIW COMPACT When it comes to competence When it comes to competence Division manager cable protection systems Siegfried Gmyrek At the (new) establishment of BIW in 1971 the only available premises in a ribbon weaving mill more or less coincidentally introduced the textile processing of glass-fibre to the already existing silicone technology. Both materials, glass-fibre and silicone, are characterised by a particularly high temperature resistance, which quickly induced the founders of the company to combine these two materials. The first combination of a braided glass-fibre hose and silicon coating in the extrusion method was the start of the success story of BIW cable protection systems. For now more than four decades BIW, together with its customers, has continuously improved and modified this product line, expanded it by adding new variations and developed the product portfolio in the technical textiles sector and its diverse refinements. Today, almost all automotive customers of the cable manufacturing or wire harness sector are supplied with these innovations, developed and qualified by the committed developers at the BIW Technology Centre. This still includes those customers from the early days, which proves the reliability, the performance poten- tial and the productivity of BIW to the present day. BIW production of cable protection systems, managed by Siegfried Gmyrek, now produces an average of more than 1,000,000 metres per week. This makes BIW one of the three leading companies in this market segment worldwide. For a first impression we shall introduce a few examples of the sector automotive cable protection systems in this newsletter: EXPANDEX PET / PA6.6 (the classic abrasion protection) Due to the limited space in the engine compartment electrical/ media-conducting cables are constantly in close proximity and thus need to be protected against abrasion due to vibration during the driving operation. The expandable braided sleeves Expandex Pet / PA66 made of abrasion-proof polyester or polyamide monofilament ensure optimal long-term protection at temperatures of up to 180 °C. ISOTEX 300R / ISOFLEX 300R (the optimal heat reflection protection) Ever tighter engine compartments require the installation of electrical cables also in the area of the manifold and the exhaust system. As well as increasing permanent temperatures, also the radiation temperatures are constantly rising and require appropriate conductor protection. Isotex 300R with a specially developed silicon mix in grey-aluminium provides excellent heat reflection and thus optimal protection for the electrical circuits. Naturally, this option is also available as a more economic version Isoflex 300R in a knitted instead of braided construction. FLEXTEX SK (the self-closing, abrasion-proof conductor protection) Flextex SK is a cost efficient abrasion resistant conductor protection for medium temperature range (150 °C, short term even 180 °C) for quick and subsequent installation including seal through double-sided tape to protect the standard cable strand for applications in motor wiring as well as cockpit and seat area. Naturally, this cable protection system is also available in orange for hybrid/electro applications.

BIW Compact 2-2012 English

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