Why polyurethane (PUR) sheathed cables outlast PVC in cable carriers, robots and harsh machine environments, and how to choose between PUR and PVC/PUR cables.
Cables that move thousands of times a day — in drag chains, gantries, packaging machines and robots — fail in ways that static cables never do: corkscrewing, broken conductors, worn sheaths and cracked insulation. The single most effective way to avoid those failures is to choose a cable designed for continuous flexing, usually with a polyurethane (PUR) outer sheath.
Compared with PVC, a polyurethane sheath offers:
Many cables combine PVC core insulation with a PUR outer sheath. This is a cost-effective construction for moderate flexing and oil exposure. Fully optimised drag-chain cables use special core insulation and short-lay stranding designed for millions of bending cycles.
| Cable | Construction | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| PVC/PUR | PVC-insulated cores, PUR sheath | Machines with oil exposure and moderate movement |
| PVC/PUR-C | As above, with copper braid screen | Sensors and drives on moving machine parts |
| PUR flexible control cable | Optimised for continuous flexing | Cable carriers, gantries, handling systems |
| PUR-C screened control cable | Screened version for EMC | Servo and encoder circuits in drag chains |
| H07BQ-F | Harmonised, EPR insulation, PUR sheath | Heavy-duty flexible power supply on sites and in workshops |
Even the best cable fails early if the cable carrier is badly filled. Follow these rules:
Servo motors and encoders on moving axes need screened cables. A braid in a moving cable must be designed for flexing; standard braids in static cables break and lose screening effectiveness. Choose a screened PUR cable rated for continuous flexing, and terminate the screen with 360° EMC glands.
Crane and hoist pendant stations are another demanding application: the cable hangs vertically, carries its own weight and is handled every day. A dedicated pendant control cable with integrated strain-relief elements avoids the conductor breakage that occurs when a standard control cable is used. For reeling and festoon systems on cranes, see our guide to reeling cables.
For fixed installation inside panels and machines, where the cable is only bent during installation, PVC control cables such as YSLY remain a sensible and economical choice. The extra cost of PUR is justified wherever cables move, are exposed to oil or are handled frequently.
Tell us your application — bending radius, travel length, speed, number of cycles, oil exposure and temperature — through our quote form, and we will propose suitable PUR or PVC/PUR cables from our industrial cable range.
Polyurethane sheaths resist abrasion, tearing and oil, and stay flexible at low temperatures. Combined with suitable conductor stranding and core design, they withstand the millions of bending cycles found in cable carriers far better than PVC.
Moving applications need a larger radius than fixed installation, often around 7.5 to 10 times the cable’s outer diameter. Always use the value given on the cable datasheet for continuous flexing.
Servo motor and encoder cables on moving axes should be screened with a braid designed for continuous flexing. Standard braids in static cables can break and lose their screening effect after repeated movement.
Industrial CablesThese polyurethane sheathed cables are used in mobile equipments, machines, production lines, industial machinery and movable appliances which work under high mechanical stress. This cable is also very suitable for…
Industrial CablesThese polyurethane sheathed cables are used in electrical tools, mobile equipments, machines, production lines, industial machinery and movable appliances which work under normal mechanical stress. This cable is also very…
Industrial CablesThese polyurethane sheathed cables are used in electrical tools, mobile equipments, machines, production lines, industial machinery and movable appliances which work under normal mechanical stress. This cable is also very…
Industrial CablesThese polyurethane sheathed cables are used in electrical tools, mobile equipments, machines, production lines, industial machinery and movable appliances which work under normal mechanical stress. This cable is also very…
Industrial CablesThese cables are flexible power cords of electrical tools and equipments, agricultural machines and for sea vessels power connection in marinas and shipyards. Thanks to it’s construction it is suitable…
Industrial CablesThese pendant cables are used as control or feeder cables in lifts and hoists. The two steel load bearing elements can be detached without damaging the outer sheath and fixed…
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