Guidelok SL for Verticle Cable Carrier Applications
igus Inc. Posted 02/08/2011
Cable carrier expert, igus®, has launched Guidelok Slimline (SL), a system designed to safely guide cables at heights up to 262 feet.
Guidelok SL is designed for vertical cable carrier applications operating on storage-and-retrieval units in high-bay warehouses, as well as elevators and material-handling equipment. Compact and easy to install, even when being retrofitted into an existing system, it allows safe energy and data supply in warehouses, deep-freeze storage units, crane systems, or power stations.
Vertical cable carrier applications are reaching higher heights and faster speeds and accelerations than ever before. In such applications, it is possible for a cable carrier supplying power and data to swing out of its normal area of operation. If it then collides with a metal beam or pallets, cable carrier and cable damage can occur.
Normally a hanging cable carrier is guided vertically in an enclosed trough system. With Guidelok SL, these types of trough systems can be eliminated and costs reduced by about 80 percent as a result. The cable carrier is also easier to maintain, because it is not in a continuous trough. Guidelok SL locks the cable carrier into position using a unique design.
The cable carrier travels freely and safely between small sections of easy-to-install steel trough. These units feature two large control buttons which are pushed back, as the radius of the cable carrier passes between them, and then move back into position where they hold the hanging length in place. This not only provides operational safety, but also reduces noise due to the smooth, controlled motion.
Several manufacturers of storage-and-retrieval units for high-bay warehouses have already successfully implemented Guidelok SL.
igus develops industry-leading Energy Chain® cable carriers, Chainflex® continuous-flex cables, iglide® plastic plain bearings, igubal® spherical bearings, and DryLin® linear bearings and guide systems. These seemingly unrelated products are linked together through a belief in making functionally advanced, yet affordable plastic components and assemblies. With plastic bearing experience since 1964, cable carrier experience since 1971 and continuous-flex cable since 1989, igus provides the right solution from over 80,000 products available from stock. No minimum order required.