Mammoth carrier handles 'really big' wires

East Providence, RI -If you think your conduit is too big for plastic cable carriers, think again.

The latest Energy Chain cable carrier from igus inc. features an inner height of 7.87 inches and inner widths up to 23.62 inches. With previous models topping out at 4.4 inches high, the new Mammoth carrier measures up as the world's largest, its maker claims.

Thanks to heavy-duty construction that includes four crossbars per link and side plates that both overlap and interlock, an unsupported Mammoth spans distances up to 26 ft-for more than a 15% improvement over earlier models. In semi-supported travels, the Mammoth can stretch even further-to 59 ft. Designed to withstand push-pull forces of more than 2,250 lbs and hold up to 60 lb/ft, the carrier can serve as an alternative to metal carriers, according to Ralph Kabus, manager for the company's Energy Chain products.

Because it's made from a reinforced nylon, the Mammoth does have some temperature limitations. For long-term use, which igus defines as 20,000 hours, temperatures in excess of 266F would compromise the carrier's mechanical properties. But for short-term use, the maximum temperature bumps up to 392F, which lets the Mammoth serve in some oven pick-and-place applications. "The plastic can take a lot more heat than people expect," Kabus says.

And because it's nylon, the Mammoth offers corrosion resistance important in shoreline equipment, oil rigs, and corrosive indoor environments. Kabus reports that the first North American use for the new product has ironically come in an Alabama steel mill, owned by Trico Steel. "There are very few applications left that still require steel carriers," Kabus says.