The Importance of Cable Drum Dispensers

Used to carry various wires or rope materials, cable reeling drums or a cable drum is essential for transporting various components. This includes everything from electrical cables to fibre optic cables and wire products. As such, cable reeling has become integral to heavy-duty industries such as construction, entertainment, telecommunications, electrical, mining, and transportation. 

This article will explore the importance of cable drum dispensers, the common types, and how these components work together to retrieve and store cables safely as required for cranes, hoists, and all material-handling equipment.

 

Importance of Efficient Cable Installation

Cables are required to supply power and dispense fluids, so keeping these cables organised is a major consideration. Sustaining damage if not properly used or maintained, cable drums are engineered solutions that are superior to the house cable. 

As cylindrical-shaped constructions that store, dispense, and retrieve cable wires, the drum is electronically powered by a motor, easily un-winded as needed along a track. 

Commonly used for construction, manufacturing, mining, chemicals, nuclear, and wastewater industries, cable installation plays an integral role in various industries and sectors. As one of the core components of a cable management framework, the cable drum roller offers various benefits. These are:  

 

 

Time-saving

Production, maintenance, and profits can be impacted in many industries, and heavy cable drums allow for quicker deployment across mining sites, ships, and off-shore projects.

 

Workplace safety

Many operations involve harsh environments and heavy machinery where the handling of cables can pose a safety risk, such as injuries from lifting accidents or tripping on cables! Cable drums increase workplace safety by automating the process of cable unwinding.

 

Better productivity

Once in place, a cable drum roller allows equipment and machinery to operate sooner, maximising resources and production in mining, aerospace, or transportation industries.

 

Optimising maintenance procedures

Maintaining electrical infrastructure prevents expensive downtime, making installation easier. As neatly arranged cables are easy to inspect and access, troubleshooting and repair procedures are also simplified.

 

Adaptable to harsh environments

Even when exposed to extreme temperatures such as dust, vibration, moisture, and extreme temperatures, the drums of cable wires are designed for heavy-duty applications with reliable performance.

 

Cost-efficient

As aerospace and defence industries are capital-intensive, heavy cable drums cut back labour requirements, costly installation errors, and repairs from cable damages.

 

Reliable and compliant

Designed and tested following strict safety regulations, cable drum dispensers support various cable installation practices. These cables help to prevent electrical faults or failures that could compromise workers’ safety.

 

 

Configuration of Cable Reels

Cable reels can be configured in many ways. Some of the most common include:

• Collapsible cable reels. These can be collapsed or broken down for compact shipping or bulky storage.
• Live connection reels. Connection hardware is installed on live connection reels to allow electricity to pass through while the cable is still on – or partially on – the reel.
• Portable reels. Easily moved by hand, a lifting handle is included in this configuration.
• Reel and cable assembly. A wire, a reel, and features installed onto the cable, such as an electrical cord on the reel with a light connected!
• Storage reel. This cable drum transports items such as plastic or paper.

If you want to learn more about cable management tooling and its importance to safety, check out our recent article on aircraft cable management systems.  

 

 

Do you want to learn more about materials and equipment that benefit industries that rely on strength and strict quality standards? Have a read of the importance of ERG materials in advancing aerospace technology. 

 

 

Primary Applications of Cable Drums

Cable drum dispensers apply to a wide range of industries. Let’s cover the environments and sectors where they are commonly used.

 

Telecommunications: Telecom companies use cable drums to install, repair, and maintain coaxial cables, fibre optic cables, and other communication lines.

Transportation: A cable dispenser is used for wiring ships, vehicles, aircraft, and other forms of transportation. 

Oil and gas: Wiring offshore platforms, pipelines, and drilling equipment is critical in this sector,

Agriculture: Infrastructure development projects such as roads, public buildings, and bridges use cable rollers to install communication, electrical, and security systems.

Renewable energy: Solar and wind power install cables in solar farms, wind turbines, and other renewable energy installations.

Mining: Workers are prone to safety hazards, so heavy-duty cables are used to power equipment and machinery and handle and deploy these cables.

 

 

Types of Cable Reels

Many types of cable reels support efficient operations, reduce potential hazards in the workplace, and provide smoother access to cables. Let’s take a look at the various types used.

 

Wooden cable reels

Made from wood, wooden cable reels are essential for carrying heavy loads and reeling in ropes, wires, and electrical cables. These reels can be tailored to different lengths and diameters.

 

Plywood cable reels

As soaked and heated logs to be cut to suitable sizes, plywood reels are moisture resistant, shock resistant, high-strength, resistant to fire, flexible, and provide a high level of sound and thermal insulation.

 

Marine plywood cable reel

Made of high-quality hardwood, this cable reel is robust, lightweight, defect-free, and an excellent choice on ships.

 

Shuttering plywood cable reel

This reel is built with thick hardwood with a smooth film coating on both sides, which is commonly used for building projects and heavy-duty applications that require large loads.

 

Plastic cable reels

Recyclable, lightweight, and sturdy, these reel options are used for electrical wiring, data transmission cables, ribbon or tape manufacturers, or monofilament manufacturers for recreational and medicinal applications.

 

Steel cable reels

Largely replacing wooden drums in the wire and cable business, steel drums can be welded, fixed drums or collapsible. Steel reels can be loaded with cables and wires from lightest to heaviest.

 

Spring cable reels

Used on a range of moving machinery to automatically reel cables, this cable drum can be used in conjunction with hoisting and material handling devices such as machinery, excavators, mobile cranes, transfer vehicles, transport systems, or skimmers in purifying plants.

 

Hose reels

Used to transfer liquids and gases in industrial settings, hose reels keep fluid flowing even during unwinding. Different types can be dismantled for transportation or storage, are portable, can be moved by hand, and can store rope, paper, hose, or cables for extended periods. Likewise, some hose reels use electric, hydraulic, pneumatic, or internal springs.

 

Retractable cable reels

With a retractable mechanism, these transmit mains electricity, used where electricity or air is critical in different locations. As a versatile tool, these reels provide a ratcheting mechanism to prevent cables from retracting while in use! 

 

Motor-driven cable reels

Storing and releasing cables is critical to mobile equipment, and motor-driven cables assist with indoor cranes, loading devices, large-scale open-cast mining equipment, or scraper bridges in purifying plants. Easily determine distance, acceleration, speed, direction, mass, and movement.

 

Fixed reels

With robust construction and permanently assembled for cable handling tasks, fixed reel wound and unwind steel wire ropes or power cables are essential for lifting and loading cranes, elevators, and ropeways.

 

 

Cable Management Tooling

With a new generation of cable handling systems developed, produced, and distributed 40 years ago by LUBBERING, what are some innovative options for cable rolls?

 

FLEXIPASS

 

Preventing the damage of cables in harsh tray installations, sensitive data, or power cables, A9022940 FLEXIPASS Single Unit is a universal cable routing system for many kinds of cable trays.

For cables up to a diameter of 38mm, multiple FLEXIPASS units navigate sharp edges and round corners of cable trays, only weigh 0.85kg, can be fixed with a one-hand clamping mechanism on lightweight cable trays, and include a carry bag.

 

ORIGINAL

 

The A90101 Roll Profi ORIGINAL is protected from dirt and corrosion with closed-reel bearings that reflect customers’ high standards.

With anti-slip reeling, the cable reel is prevented from slipping off during winding, provides an ergonomic design with rounded edges for the operator, and is a completely maintenance-free tool.

 

CLOU

 

As a folding design that shrinks to a small size when not in use by disappearing into the Profi carrying bag, the A90220 Roll Profi CLOU requires minimal storage space!

Useful for handling unwieldy tubes or heavy cable coils with the VARIO unwinding technique, the CLOU works with big and heavy units. Able to handle the most critical of materials, this cable giant can handle coil diameters of 750mm. 

 

Applied Fasteners and Tooling – Choose Aircraft Cable Routing Systems

If your industry requires cable drum dispensers that are cut out for the job, Applied Fasteners and Tooling help you save valuable time when assembling and dismantling cable routing systems.

We supply quality fasteners and assembly tooling consumables worldwide to the space, defence, industrial platforms, marine, transport, and aerospace industries that need them. Whether you’re looking for speciality Click Bond Fasteners, Monogram Fasteners, TAPERLOK Fasteners, Laminated Shims, Gang Channels or MS Fasteners, we have everything you need.

Registered and AS9120 Qualified in 2014 by approved standards, we supply the aerospace and defence industries with specialised products and trustworthy technical support. All parts are supplied with certificates of conformance to customer requirements. 

Meeting the Quality Assurance Procurement Requirements, contact us today to discuss your design and manufacturing operations with us.