Selecting the Right Cable Tie for Your Industrial Application

Selecting the right cable tie for your industrial application

December 13, 2024
By Panduit, for the Blue Print

Cable ties are essential for organizing, securing, and identifying cable bundles in industrial applications. They enhance installation efficiency, safety, and reliability, making them indispensable in sectors like renewable energy, manufacturing, transportation, and construction.

Below, a cable tie expert, will walk you through many of the important factors to consider when selecting the proper cable tie for your application.

Material options

Before selecting a cable tie, it is important to understand the application, including the environmental challenges and the applicable regulatory requirements of the installation.

General applications typically use cable ties made with Nylon 6.6 due to its flexibility, durability, low cost, and diversity of color options.

However, specialized environments—like extreme temperatures, chemical exposure, or UV radiation—require materials like PEEK, Acetal, or ETFE to meet specific durability and safety standards.

Cable tie variations

Once material selection is clear, ask yourself four questions:

1. Will the cable tie be used to hold bundles over a lengthy period or for temporary installations?

If the expectation is for the cable tie to remain secured to the bundle over multiple years, a locking cable tie is the best option. The locking cable tie features a mechanism that, once tightened, securely locks the tie in position, ensuring a tight and reliable hold.
Locking cable ties are the most used type across many applications. They are available in multiple materials, cross section sizes, and color options to accommodate a wide range of installation needs.
When the application requires only a temporary hold, a “releasable” cable tie may be the best option. These cable ties include an unlocking tab that permits easy release if changes are anticipated during development, production, or servicing in the field, thus allowing cable tie removal and re-use.

2. Are there any space constraints or any other concerns associated with the handling of the cable tie during installation?

Both locking and releasable cable ties feature a head profile with a locking mechanism. They can span from low profile, parallel entry cable ties for use in severely constrained spaces that limit installation mobility to multiple wedge-locking ties, that accommodate more than one bundle within the same cable tie.
In addition, cable ties often incorporate built-in fastening mechanisms for surface mounting. For example, locking clamp ties are used to screw-mount a cable bundle to another surface such as a control panel, communication rack, wall, or ceiling. Or you could include locking push mount ties that allow bundle attachment in confined spaces by pressing a built-in anchor into a pre-punched hole that locks in place. Some suppliers offer an added wing feature that can be added with this tie, which prevents rattling under high vibration conditions.
Also popular are write-on flag and marker wrap cable ties that both fasten and identify bundles with a single cable tie. These products allow on-site labeling by using a permanent marker pen and are available in multiple color options for greater identification and organization flexibility.

3. What is the diameter range of the bundles you will be managing with the selected cable tie?

Once the application material and installation requirements of the project are clear, it is crucial to understand the performance expectations for the product. To do this, measure the diameter and the weight of the bundles to be fastened. Cable ties are designed in various lengths and cross-section sizes to support a range of weight requirements. Some manufactures will provide outline dimensional drawings and specifications for each of their cable ties to aid customers in the selection process.

4. How will the cable ties be installed?

Once you have selected your cable tie, be sure to follow manufacturer recommended installation practices to ensure the integrity and reliability of your cable bundle systems. Adequate tensioning is vital during cable tie fastening to prevent damage to the bundle, either caused by over-tightening, or bundle instability due to under-tightening. Consult your cable tie manufacturer to select the right type of installation tool. This will ensure safe, reliable, repeatable, and trouble-free installation while maximizing worker productivity throughout the duration of your project.

Conclusion

When performance and reliability are critical, invest in high-quality cable ties tailored to your specific application needs.

Content originally from Panduit. Reused here with permission.