Festoons vs. e-chain® cable carriers
On festoon systems, cables hang free and loose, exposed to the wind and weather. Unprotected, they can swing freely and become tangled, leading to costly maintenance efforts. Festoons typically require regular maintenance operations to lubricate the cable trolleys, and long travels can require motor and control systems. igus® offers a secure and modular alternative that allows you to save cables and avoid downtime. e-chain® cable carriers are ideal for industries such as port and terminal cranes, oil and gas and shorepower, as well as various applications for various cranes such as bulkhandling, reachstacker, STS, RTG/RMG, and indoor cranes. Browse all crane applications.
Benefits:
- Essentially maintenance free operation
- Decreased mechanical stress on cables
- No additional motors or controls required for long travels
- Roller chains allow for a significant reduction in required drive force
- Approx. 50% less cable length required
- Cables are guided with a defined bending radius at all times
- Guide trough secures system from wind effects
- Easily add or replace cables as needed in the carrier
- Trolley speeds of up to 32.8ft/s and travel distances of up to 2,600 ft
What are the differences between e-chain® cable carriers and festoons?
In the solution with cable carriers, the cables are fed into the e-chain in the middle of the travel. The e-chain is pushed or pulled to halfway.
In a cable trolley system, the cables are attached at the end of the travel and the cable loops are pulled all the way by the trolley.
Cable lengths/space requirements
-About 50% less cable (52m cable length with centre-fed installations and approx. 100m travel)
-Approx. 800mm system height
-About 10% less structural steel (for the cable festoon)Influence on the crane girder construction
No cable festoon required.
Dynamic parameters
Rolling energy chains can be operated at a speed of over 600m/min. and with over 2m/sec.2 acceleration.
Secure cable guidance
Cables are safely routed in the energy chain and cannot get caught anywhere.
Cable lengths/space requirements
-Approx. 115m cable (115% travel length) for 100m travel
-About 3,500mm length for the "cable loops", system height approx. 5,000mmInfluence on the crane girder construction
Cable festoon is required
Dynamic parameters
Cable trolley systems reach their limits at speeds of 240m/min. and accelerations of more than 0.8m/sec.2
Secure cable guidance
Cables hang uncontrollably and may get caught in the crane structure (e.g. by wind).
Browse Recommended Cable Carriers
E4.1 series
High loads, long unsupported lengths and also for sliding applications.
E2/000 series
The all-rounder for unsupported applications. Cost-effective.
4040R/5050R series
Travels up to 800m possible. Speeds up to 6m/s possible.
4040HD/5050HD series
Very high stability. High tensile stability (20% higher tensile strength than in 4040 series). Standard for long travels.
P4.1 series
Travels of more than 1,000m. Speeds of more than 5m/s. Low vibration and noise thanks to split profile roller
Predictive maintenance
Defects are detected before they occur, unscheduled downtime and failures are avoided.
Orange Services
Proper installation is essential for the life of your cable carrier, and igus® has a team of dedicated engineers ready to assist you every step of the way. From site inspection, to installation, to complete modernization and even training, our team will ensure the longest possible service life for your cable carrier system.
Contact us at (800) 521-2747 to discuss your project today!
