| Umbilical cable systems are in great demand by the off-shore industry for the research of oil and gas produced from wells located sub-sea. Umbilical cables assemble elements together for the control of operating systems used in off-shore exploitation of hydrocarbon and in particular: hydraulic power, wells service fluid, gas lift, electrical signal, electrical power, high-voltage / high-power, optical data transmission. Elements of umbilical cables comprise stainless steel tube, thermoplastic hose, electrical power cables, control cables, data supports such as optical fibre, etc. Planetary systems (both vertical or horizontal configuration) to manufacture such a cable can be very different when considering the wire range of possible elements that compose the umbilical cables. It also depends of the final purpose of the cable, of the depth of water, etc.
Since the early 1990s, the German company J.A. Kraft, a division of the Italian group Continuus SpA, has been involved in the design and manufacture of components related to the assembling of elements included in umbilical cables. The company�s designers are always facing the tough challenge of providing top quality stranding machines capable of manufacturing elements with totally different physical characteristics. Back-twist and tension control are critical topics that modern design analysis and electronic monitoring solved successfully.
Within the Continuus SpA group, J.A. Kraft is also involved in co-ordinated turnkey projects for the production of power and telephone cables. The company designs and manufactures a complete range of machinery for this segment of the industry, including complete stranding, armouring, cabling and lay-up lines that are suitable for telecommunication and power cables as well as transformers and pay-offs, take-ups, capstans and all kinds of special auxiliary equipment. In addition, J.A. Kraft Group develops large capacity planetary high-carbon steel armouring units for up to 140 wires and for umbilical: assemblies up to 500mm diameter.
Photo: Example of machines provided by J.A Kraft within the Continnus SpA Group
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