The Ölflex DC Robot 900 connecting cable is characterized above all by its torsional and bending strength. The visible difference to conventional Ölflex cables 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 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.

Save energy with direct current

Such cables are an important building block for a future direct current infrastructure in factories. A lot of energy can be saved without the conversion between direct and alternating current that has been necessary up to now. Experts are therefore calling for the development of direct current networks. Industry has already started to equip production cells with them. Switching to direct current (DC) in industry could save 20 percent or more energy. However, there are still a number of technical challenges to overcome before a direct current infrastructure can be implemented.

Initial research by Lapp in collaboration with the Technical University of Illmenau has shown that certain insulation materials are less suitable for permanent DC applications. The company already offers various DC cables for fixed installation through to flexible cables for energy supply chains. With the Ölflex DC Robot 900 with TPE core insulation and a PUR sheath, the manufacturer is further rounding off its portfolio.

Further research work

LAPP 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 working on a standardization roadmap for direct current.