Electrifying performance from Benvic Cable technology

New European CPR Regulations

The impact of the EU’s upcoming Construction Products Regulations (CPR) cannot be overstated on the development of the cable industry. Benvic anticipated and met the CPR challenge head-on, and is now in a position to offer a wide range of materials that all comply with the incoming legislation at optimum cost.

In addition to regulation, Benvic sees the cable market as subject to a number of dynamic issues in the coming years; global decarbonisation; the growth of the global grid; global raw material constraints; recycling and alternative technologies.

Benvic market researchers and planners also expect a rapidly growing cabling market because of many factors and many niches. Transportation, electrification, data booms, AI and computing will all drive the market in many different ways – and some of these developments may be extremely disruptive.

Expansion of the Linkflex HFFR Portfolio

The Benvic Montornes cable compound facility, near Barcelona, Spain has been key to Benvic’s success and service in this marketplace. The cabling team there includes applications experts from many blue-chip names in the industry, including several important engineering hires from Benvic’s customer base.

Dani Calveras, Benvic R&D, W&C Director Europe says that, ‘our team has a very long trajectory - not only in R&D and technical areas, but also in purchasing and commercial functions. And our track record includes unique expertise from a team with strong skills and experience. The length and breadth of our know-how therefore gives our customers value – and saves them much time and cost.’

Dani adds that :

In the Benvic Montornes laboratory, material scientists are continually developing a) applied cable innovations (new products) and b) new application horizons through the use of new compounded polymers.  

And since the introduction of its halogen free Linkflex HF range, Benvic has further widened its overall polymer compound portfolio for cabling, which now stands on four main ‘legs’;

These are:

• Linkflex HFFR compounds (including cross linked and recycled options)
• ProVinyl PVC compounds – for electromobility and building
• Dotflex TPE (& TPR & TPS) compounds for cable and gasket applications

Dani notes that ‘thanks to our core legacy business in PVC, we offer a great deal of depth with our ProVinyl compounds. Our portfolio covers most of the standards and uses in insulation, sheathing and bedding.’

Benvic’s Linkflex HFFR solutions lead the way in the cabling market: Initially, the low voltage cabling segment was targeted - for sheathing and insulation needs.  Since then, a host of Benvic Linkflex innovations have been developed for applications in markets such as telecommunications, fibre optics, industrial, marine, mining, vehicles and energy transportation.

Expanding the Linkflex HFFR Portfolio with New Compounds

Benvic’s complete Linkflex HFFR range now includes thermoplastic compounds for insulation, bedding and sheathing (internal and external) and covers the main requirements defined in international standards.

Energy has become a primary driver for Benvic Linkflex HF - renewable energy requires new grid systems for solar and wind energy and their distribution networks.  Accordingly, Benvic has developed Linkflex HF grades, uniquely – and integration of post-consumer recyclate is available on request for these grades.

Innovation is continual at Benvic Montornes. For example, Dani notes that ‘our HFB bedding compound range will be developed and extended: These compounds are designed to be used as fire barriers, protecting the inner part of the cable from the fire. Their use, with easy processing and high flame retardancy should help to service the most severe cable constructions that are subject to the highest CFR safety standards.’

Dani also expects Benvic’s range of HFX cabling to undergo further investment, including ‘crosslinkable sioplas technology to be used in PV cables (solar cables), insulation compounds for energy cables @ 90 ºC T service with high flame retardancy needed, and also sheathing compounds for marine cables with oil resistance (SHF2) as the main applications.

For the future, Benvic will stick to the threefold business formula that has lately served it so well: By staying close to a) the regulatory environment b) the OEM specifier and c) even closer to its own customers, Benvic intends to develop and increase its leadership in Europe’s cable markets for some time to come.