The Ölflex DC Robot 900 connecting cable is characterized above all by its torsional and bending strength. The visible difference to conventional Ölflex cables - if the sheath is removed - is the different color coding of the cores: red, white and green-yellow, in accordance with the DIN EN 60445 (VDE 0197):2018-02 standard for DC cables.

The materials used are no less important: the insulation of the cores is made of TPE, the sheath of PUR. This makes the cable halogen-free and suitable for places where people are present, as no corrosive vapors escape from the plastic in the event of a fire. The material is also UV and weather-resistant, water-resistant and flexible at low temperatures.

Pioneer in direct current cables
Cables such as the Ölflex DC Robot 900 are an important building block for the future direct current infrastructure in factories. Without the back and forth conversion between direct and alternating current that has been necessary up to now, enormous amounts of energy can be saved. Energy experts are therefore calling for the construction of direct current grids. Industry has already started to equip production cells with them. Switching to direct current (DC) in industry could save 20 percent or more energy. There are still a number of technical challenges to overcome before a direct current infrastructure can become a reality.

Lapp is a pioneer in cabling for direct current. Initial research carried out by Lapp in collaboration with the Technical University of Illmenau has shown that certain insulation materials are less suitable for permanent DC applications. On this basis, the specialist for integrated connection systems has presented its first DC portfolio worldwide. The Ölflex DC 100 with PVC insulation is suitable for permanent installation without mechanical stress. In the Ölflex DC Servo 700, the conductor is insulated with special PVC and is intended for fixed installation and occasional flexible use. The Ölflex DC Chain 800 has TPE insulation. It is suitable for continuous movement in cable drag chains and linear moving machine parts. And Lapp is now rounding off its portfolio with the Ölflex DC Robot 900 with TPE core insulation and a PUR sheath.

Further research
The company is heavily involved in the development of DC-compatible connection solutions. As a funded partner in the DC-Industrie2 project, Lapp is currently researching the long-term stability of insulation materials for cables and wires. Other aspects of the DC-Industrie2 consortium are DC-compatible plugs and switches. In addition, the DKE German Commission for Electrical, Electronic & Information Technologies in DIN and VDE is currently working on a standardization roadmap for direct current. as