SKINTOP HYGIENIC for Food & Beverage Applications

The new SKINTOP® HYGIENIC from Lapp Group is designed for food zone applications and prevents micro-organisms and bacteria from sticking to the surface. With an IP68/IP69 rating the gland can withstand high pressure and high temperature washdowns which makes it ideal for food & beverage applications.

Cable Glands For Full EMI Protection

Winning the war against electromagnetic interference (EMI) on today’s factory floors requires attention to detail. One of those details involves the ability of cable glands to contribute to a reliable grounding system.

Left unprotected, cable glands transmit electrical noise that can wreak havoc on motor-driven industrial processes. Many types of cable glands feature shielding to keep EMI at bay, yet the effectiveness of that shielding  can vary widely from product to product.

The ease of installation can vary as well. Some shielding options have difficult termination methods or grounding connections that can drive up labor cost and time.  

With SKINTOP^® MS-M Brush, our engineers have addressed both the shielding and installation issues. As its name suggests, this cable gland features a brush-type grounding connection that:

•  Enhances EMI control. Unlike other connection methods, such as the grounding clamps commonly used on drive systems, the brush provides continuous 360° contact around the cable’s screen braid. This continuous contact protects against EMI by lowering the resistance of current ground path and providing a low impedance connection between the cable shield and the housing.

•  Eases Installation. Making an EMI-free connection between cable and the SKINTOP cable gland is simple. Installers simply insert the cable, push the screen braid into the brush and tighten the cable gland assembly. Other grounding methods require far more effort to make the termination. Earth sleeves, for example, can serve as an effective grounding method, but their termination process requires precision measurements and exacting preparation of the stripped area.

In addition to its innovative brush-type connection, SKINTOP^® MS-M Brush offers IP 68 protection and resists temperatures up to 100ºC. Until recently, it was available only in metric sizes, ranging from M–25X1.5 to M–110X2.0. This month, we’ve introduced NPT sizes from ¾” to 2”.

Click here for detailed technical information on SKINTOP^® MS-M Brush

New Cable Bushing Maximizes Density, Minimizes Installation Headaches

More cables, less space. That’s the challenge faced by anyone trying to bring all the necessary power and signal connections into today’s increasingly complex electronics enclosures. But help is on the way, thanks to a new multi-cable bushing system that debuted last month at the Hannover Fair.

Called SKINTOP® Cube Multi, the new cable bushing allows combinations of up to 23 electrical cables or pneumatic lines to pass directly through the enclosure wall. Like our earlier multi-cable bushings, SKINTOP Cube Multi system places a rigid, glass-reinforced nylon frame into an standard-sized cutout in the enclosure wall. Inside this rectangular frame is an polycarbonate insert with gel-filled hole for the cables or lines to pass through.

Innovative Sealing Mechanism

The elastomeric gel represents SKINTOP Cube Multi’s key technical breakthrough and an industry first. The gel allows the cables to be easily inserted through the holes. Yet at the same time, the gel’s elastomeric properties create a lasting seal around the cables and provide strain relief.

Available in two versions for now with more sizes to come, Cube Multi maximizes wire density for a given size cutout. For example, one version can pack 23 cables, ranging in size from 6 to 9 mm, into 36 x 112 mm cutout, which is the standard size for a 24-pin industrial connector.

The second version squeezes two fewer cables—or pneumatic lines—into the same cutout. But it supports more varied combinations with room for nine 3 to 6 mm cables, nine 6 to 9 mm cables, two 9 to 13 mm cables and one 13 to 16 mm cable.

Technical Specifications Cube Multi is a new product, so you should expect its technical specifications to evolve over time. For now, the specs include: 

* Protection to IP 65. 

* Operating temperature range from –30 to 100ºC 

* UL 94 V–2 flame rating.

 

Hygienic Cable Connections Made Easy

What’s the most important thing to bear in mind when designing systems for hygienic manufacturing environments? Smooth, stainless steel surfaces might be one answer. But more fundamentally, hygiene requires attention to detail.

Take cable glands, for example.  Standard models, while suitable for most industrial settings, typically have exposed threads, tiny openings and protruding surface features that make them less than ideal from a hygiene standpoint.  Recently, our engineers have turned their attention to these easy-to-overlook cable gland details. The result is a new hygienic cable connector called SKINTOP® INOX.

Made from food-grade 316L stainless steel,  SKINTOP® INOX features enclosed, sealed threads. And its exterior surfaces have no gaps or protruding features that can trap particulate or microbes. Even the number of tooling flats, which blend seamlessly with the surrounding housing surfaces, have been reduced to just two. SKINTOP® INOX cable glands finally feature integral food-grade silicone o-rings for IP 68 protection at 5 bar.

Aside from their outward appearance and internal seals, the new hygienic glands meet the same high performance and ease-of-use standards as our other SKINTOP® products. These include:

*  Operating temperature range of -30° to 100° C.

*  Wide clamping range of 7 to 13 mm with M20 x 1.5 threads.

* Compliance with ISO 14159 standards for machinery hygiene.

The first SKINTOP® INOX models, which were introduced last month, are intended for use in splash zones and not for direct contact with food or pharmaceuticals. Models for use in washdown and direct contact applications will be introduced soon.

Download the technical specifications for SKINTOP® INOX here.

SKINTOP® The Best Connection for Your Applications

Over the years, the SKINTOP® cable gland product line has grown and evolved in many ways. With a product offering that spans both polyamide and metallic options suitable for EMI and even explosive environments, it is possible to find a gland for virtually any industrial application.

Call 800-774-3539 or email us sales(at)lappusa.com for more information about this product or to order a sample.