Regardless of the industry, protecting lines through which electricity or liquids pass increases safety and productivity in work environments. OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) has policies in place to advise businesses on how to deal with hazardous conditions that can lead to electrocution present in the workplace, along with dangers from tripping. In industrial settings, unprotected bundles of wiring and cabling can create dangerous conditions from electrical hazards, while hoses through which chemicals or hydraulic fluid pass also pose a threat to workers. Even in relatively safe environments like office buildings, loose unbundled wiring and cabling is not only unsightly; it presents a tripping hazard that can also interrupt workflow. A solution for these situations is spiral wrap tubing, a unique and versatile way to organize wires, cables, and hoses.
What is Spiral Wrap Tubing?
Spiral wrap tubing helps protect, maintain and organize bunches of cables, hoses, and wires. This solution also allows maintenance personnel to easily reroute, repair, or replace multiple bundled components while safeguarding workers. Conventional bundling often requires completely disconnecting all pathways within a bundle to perform any sort of work. Spiral wrap protection also minimizes dangers caused by abrasion, as can occur from exposed wiring or leaking hoses. Additionally, spiral wrap tubing allows easier alteration of systems involving bundles of wiring, hosing, or cabling.
Types of Material for Spiral Wrap Tubing
As a versatile tool for a range of applications, spiral wrap tubing can be made from various materials, each of which can suit specific applications.
Materials often used in spiral wrap tubing fabrication include:
- Polyethylene offers a cost-effective means to protect against harsh chemicals and extremes in temperature, working well for indoor and outdoor environments. Even so, it works in operating temperatures between -76°F to 190°F-(60°C to 88°C).
- Nylon (polyamides) works well for applications where the risk of abrasion or fire is an issue. It does not emit toxic chemicals when exposed to flames; nylon spiral wrap tubing is often used in engines, for example industrial applications and to protect hydraulic hosing. It works well in temperatures between -40 °F to 250 °F (-40 °C to 121°C).
- PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) provides the widest operating temperature for spiral wrap tubing, along with being chemically inert and non-flammable. It operates in environments where temperatures are between -450°F to 500°F (268°C to 260°C).
Some types of polyethylene spiral wrap tubing can also be made fire-resistant, allowing it to be utilized for applications in which self-extinguishing material is required.
Uses for Spiral Wrap Tubing
Coming in a variety of lengths and sizes, spiral wrap tubing can be easily customized to suit various purposes. Their spiraling nature makes maintenance or expansion of systems easier. As the spirals are flexible, they can compact and expand as needed without compromising strength, providing greater control. Increasing the width of a gap gives bundles greater flexibility for tracking around bends, while lessening the gap improves insulating properties and abrasion resistance, along with making bundles more rigid. Due to its versatility, spiral wrap is used in many industries and for various applications.
Industries that utilize spiral wrap tubing include:
- Aeronautical
- Automotive
- Construction
- Electronics
- Robotics
- Utilities
Additionally, spiral wrap is used for computer networking systems, control systems, electro-mechanical assemblies, and automated manufacturing plants.
Heli-Tube® Spiral Wrap by M. M. Newman Corporation
M. M. Newman Corporation’s Registered Trade Marked Heli-Tube® spiral wrap offers a number of advantages. The company can customize the diameter, pitch, and wall thickness of the tubing, while lengths can also be cut according to customer specifications., Heli-Tube® is both functional and decorative. Depending on the material from which it is made, their spiral wrap tubing comes in various colors to make identifying bundles simpler. It also wraps around wiring, tubing, hoses, and cabling with ease, making routing or rerouting bundles an uncomplicated task. While offering abrasion resistance and insulation properties, it also lessens vibrations and can even be manufactured to meet applicable military specifications.