The evolving heat shrink technology is being embraced by new business sectors to resolve various concerns including waterproofing, tough jointing of cables, secure cable connections, long-term effective insulation, sturdy electrical installation against all possible odds, and others. Heat shrink power cable accessories are replacing traditional insulation practices because of being more reliant for commercial and industrial electrical installations that need the best protection to minimize accidents. The benefits of heat shrink power cable accessories are driving more technicians, engineers, and industrial consultants to use heat shrink insulation products. In this blog, I list the benefits and usage scope of the most used low-cost basic heat shrink power cable accessory the heat shrink sleeves to help you secure your electrical installations to reduce downtime and accidents.
What Is Heat Shrink Tube? Also called heat shrink tubes, these are thin tubes made of polyolefin having memory effect property; therefore, these tubes shrink on being heated at a particular temperature. Heat shrink tubes offer numerous advantages including protection against corrosion, abrasion, and mechanical damage.
Which industries are the top users of heat shrink tubes? Industries such as oil and gas, telecommunications, automotive, electronics, renewable energy, chemicals, processing, mining, and electrical power distribution etc are the top users of heat shrink tubes.
What is the usage scope of heat shrink tube? As of today, heat shrink tubing has become a common element in complex electrical installations; these are used to insulate electrical components from moisture, abrasion, dust, electrical stresses, chipping, peeling, scuffing, denting, and sharp objects. These protect sensitive components in electrical setups from contaminants like moisture and chemicals that cause corrosion and/or oxidation.
Should you embrace heat shrink technology? The demand for heat shrink sleeves is on the rise due to their effectiveness in ensuring the longevity and reliability of various products and infrastructure. Market data reveals an increasing demand for heat-shrink tubing in recent times; for example, the global heat-shrink tubing market is estimated to be $2.3 billion in 2024 growing at a CAGR of 5.3% (Source: marketsandmarkets.com).
Is it easy to use heat shrink tubes? Yes, these polyolefin tubes are supplied in a kit containing all the accessories. You don’t need any special training to use heat shrink cable accessories.
What are the options to buy heat shrink sleeves? Leading brands like the one Gala Thermo offers heat shrink tubes in various categories-
- Thin Wall Tubes
- Medium/Heavy Wall Tubes-Commercial
- Red Insulation Tubes
- Non-Tracking Tubes or Anti Tracking tubes
- Busbar Tubes
- Stress Control Tubes
- Double Layer Tubes
What is heat shrink anti tracking tube? Also known as non-tracking tube, anti-tracking tubes are used to insulate medium voltage cable joints and terminations up to 36 KV. Anti-tracking tubes protect cable insulation and substrates from erosion created by leakage current. Anti-tracking tubes provide excellent protection against accidental flashover.
How should you start using heat shrink tubes? As per my 10 years of experience in using heat shrink products and guiding new users, I would say that the little investment made in embracing heat-shrink power cable accessories comes back to users’ pockets in the form of multiple long-term benefits. I trust Gala Thermo to buy the quality best heat shrink tubes and power cable accessories; the company provides complete support to use its heat shrink products up to their full potential.