Powermite, a division of Hudaco (Pty) Ltd., is a mechanical and electrical engineering specialist that leads the Southern African market in the supply of superior, reliable and economical cable reeling systems to meet both customer and application requirements.
Cable reeling systems are responsible for the laying down and retrieval of cable in applications where a predetermined length of travel and a fixed amount of cable is connected to a fixed point while a moving point travels over a fixed line, rail, ground or height at a set speed. These reeling systems carry a variety of cabling (medium voltage, low voltage and milli power, control, fibre optic/data and composite cables for data and video supply) as well as water, air and hydraulic hosing. The system must keep the correct tension at all times to prevent damage during operation and to keep the cable out of harm’s way.
The cable reeling systems, supplied through Powermite’s materials handling division, are extremely versatile. “Our cable reeling equipment is manufactured in a variety of materials including, painted steel, stainless steel, and hot dip galvanized surfaces, to suit a wide range of applications such as indoor, outdoor, dusty, corrosive or specific environmental conditions,” states Donovan Marks, Marketing and Sales Director. “The length of the systems can be increased or decreased as requirements deem fit and they can be applied to low speeds (5m/min) or high speeds (120m/min) over distances ranging from 1m to over a 1000m.”
Over the past five years, Powermite has supplemented its renowned spring driven, torque motor and permanent magnet clutch drives with Variable Speed Drive (VSD) technology that enables all the drives to provide a constant torque to ensure the cable is protected and kept out of harm’s way during winding and un-winding functions.
By utilising the anti-runback bearing/braking resistive-based drive systems, Powermite achieves tremendous success with system reliability. “Our systems continue to run regularly over several years in extremely robust environments,” affirms Marks.
The main gearbox unit located inside the motorised reeling drum carries the slip ring assembly, the spool and the drive units. Due to its supporting function, the specification of the main gearbox unit is directly related to the size and type of reel. The spring units are provided with a flange for mounting onto structures, frames or walls. Encased in a steel housing with safety anchors, each spring has an operational duty cycle of 80,000 operations. Slip rings are mounted onto the shaft supported by greased-for- life bearings, ensuring a maintenance free cable reeling solution.
Powermite supplies cable reel solutions to a wide range of industries including mining, plant, factory, warehousing, waterworks and stockyards. The company’s customer base includes bulk mining OEM companies, crane manufacturers, system installers, machine builders, automation manufacturers, industry and wholesalers/retailers. “Our bulk materials handling equipment operates on stackers and reclaimers, spreaders, shiploaders and other port handling applications for coal, iron ore, magnesium, ash, etc. and supply power to long travel cranes, portal cranes, hoists, magnets, transfer cars, etc.”
In tough economic climates, refurbishment is a cost-effective alternative compared to new equipment purchase. “Powermite has the necessary capabilities and expertise to refurbish cable reeling systems to OEM standards,” says Marks.
A range of cable reeling system accessories including one-way or two-way guiding devices with optional slack cable, over tension and position detection systems, anchoring drums with or without connection boxes, connection boxes for LT/MV power, control and fibre optics cable and slicing kits, end limit switches for end of travel and drum full safety, cable sleeves and shock absorber springs, etc. are also available from Powermite.
“With over 40 years’ experience across numerous fields of industry, we understand that quality is of paramount importance to our customers as it has a direct link to reliability and productivity,” states Powermite Marketing Director, Donovan Marks. Our local manufacture is in accordance to the local industry norms with SANS 9001, 14001 and 18001 alongside our overseas principles Conductix and European EU and IEC standards.”
As a leading supplier, manufacturer and importer under one roof, Powermite augments its cable reeling equipment with a comprehensive range of world-class quality cables, plugs and sockets, festoon systems, drag chain controllers, container load sensing systems, downshop lead systems, etc., all conveniently available from a single source.
