Leading manufacturer of Harsh Environment Cables

Harsh environment cables, sometimes referred to also as extreme environment cables, are products that are designed for use within demanding applications.

Harsh environment cables are designed to withstand extreme conditions that would damage or degrade standard cables. They are mainly used in industries like aerospace, military, oil & gas, marine, mining, and heavy manufacturing.

As our harsh environment cables are utilised across a wide range of market sectors, it’s only natural to assume that they will need to have properties capable of resisting a significant amount environmental factors such as:

Chemical resistance

Harsh environment cables are incredibly chemical resistant, making them essential in many different industries. They are engineered specifically to withstand exposure to oils, solvents, acids, alkalis, fuels, and other corrosive chemicals without degrading in performance or safety. This is essential if you need a harsh environment fibre optic cable that needs to transmit data without being damaged in extreme environments. Chemical resistance is widely needed in industries such as chemical plants, refineries, food processing, pharmaceuticals, mining, and marine environments.

Flammability resistance

Flame-retardant and fire-resistant harsh environment cables are critical in environments where fire safety is especially important. In aerospace, mass transit, military, oil & gas, construction, and industrial settings, harsh environment ethernet cables are incredibly important. These cables are engineered to resist fire, and continue functioning during or after a fire (depending on the type). Our cables are also able to come with LSHZ technology, so the cables emit minimal toxic gases when burnt. 

Food contact regulations

Harsh environment cables are perfect for environments that need to fit food contact regulations. They are highly chemically resistant, meaning they can easily meet food contact regulations in food processing applications

Fuel and diesel resistance

It’s essential that our extreme cables, including harsh environment fibre optic cables, are resistant to fuel and diesel. This is extremely important in automotive, aerospace, marine, mining, oil & gas, and industrial machinery applications. It’s essential that harsh environment cat6 cables can maintain optimal fuel and diesel resistance, so important information can continue to be transmitted even if there is a fuel spillage.

Halogen emission

Halogen emission should be a key factor when choosing harsh environment cables, especially in enclosed or populated areas like mass transit systems, aircraft, marine vessels, data centres, tunnels, or industrial plants. Many of our harsh environment cables are labeled as LSZH, which stands for Low Smoke Zero Halogen. This means that when burnt, our cables will not emit toxic, corrosive gases. This is essential where lots of people will be working, as these toxins can impair breathing and damage electronics. In environments where preserving electronics is essential, such as data centres, using LSZH harsh environment fibre optic cables is best practice. 

Medical sterilisation procedures such as autoclave cleaning

In environments such as medical sterilisation, it’s essential that harsh environment cables are made to withstand anything. In medical settings, it’s important that harsh environment cables don’t get damaged easily, as any interference could have serious consequences. 

Microbe resistance

Our harsh environment cables are designed with microbe resistance in mind, making them perfect for moist, organic-rich, or hygiene-critical environments. Microbial interference can lead to damage to the cable jacket, electrical faults, and contamination. The microbial resistance of our harsh environment fibre optic cables mean they are great to use in food processing, medical, pharmaceutical, agriculture, mining and oil applications. 

Mud resistance

Being resistant to environmental factors such as mud and dirt is important in a lot of different applications – which is why our harsh environment cables make the perfect choice. Our cables are designed to withstand dirt in a lot of environments, making them perfect for outdoor use such as in agricultural and mining settings. Some cables can be easily damaged by mud and dirt which can interfere with operations – making our harsh environment cables perfect for the job. 

Oil resistance

As well as being resistant to fuel and diesel, our harsh environment cables are also resistant to oil. This is important in many settings, but particularly in the oil and gas industry. Oil can be extremely corrosive to the outer jacket, and if you don’t select the right cables, can result in electrical interference. It’s essential that you choose harsh environment cat6 cables to ensure the cables you use can withstand any oil damage. 

Rodent/Pest protection

Rodent and pest protection is essential in industries that are outside, such as agriculture, mining, marine and oil & gas industries. Our harsh environment cables are designed to be extremely resistant to rodents and pests, meaning there will be no interruption or damage. 

Temperature resistance

Our temperature resistant harsh environment cables make them perfect to use in many different settings. Temperature resistant cables can withstand both extremely hot and cold temperatures, or rapid thermal cycling, where an environment can flip between temperatures quickly. They are essential in environments where extreme temperatures can be very damaging, including aerospace, automotive, oil & gas, foundries, military, HVAC, and renewable energy.

Need harsh environment cables? 

Through the use of only the highest quality materials and correct cable design principles, we can ensure that our products meet all of the specific requirements.

We understand that it can be quite a daunting task when specifying a product particularly one that will be expected to operate within a harsh environment. With this in mind, we are here to assist you with your requirements and will advise on all individual aspects recommending materials suitable to ensure that your cable meets your individual needs. Contact us now to learn more about harsh environment cables.

Our excellent customer service and fast turnaround times are the cornerstone of the service that we offer. We maintain constant communication with our clients throughout each project to ensure that all products are delivered on time and to the highest quality standard, even for the most challenging deadlines. If you’re looking for any type of specific harsh environment fibre optic cable, make sure to get in touch with us so we can help recommend the best products for your needs. 

In addition to exceptionally fast turnaround times and high-quality cable construction, we offer:

• Full adherence to cable industry standards
• Access to a comprehensive material and component library
• Free consultation and advice

Contact us today to get a quote for your harsh environment cable requirements.

Frequently asked questions about harsh environment cables

Which cable type would be most suitable for a high temperature environment?

If you’re working in an environment known for its high temperatures or temperature cycling, then harsh environment cables are essential. Industries such as aerospace, military, oil & gas, marine, mining, and heavy manufacturing often use environments that can have high temperatures, so it’s essential to choose the best communication cables that won’t break down. If you also need cables to keep transmitting information in case of high temperature or fire, our harsh environment fibre optic cables can provide the necessary technology. 

Which industries need harsh environment cables? 

There are so many industries that can benefit from using harsh environment cables. Some industries need them because they often work outside or in dangerous conditions, such as mining, aerospace, renewable energy, agriculture, and oil and gas. However, some industries may need to use harsh environment cables to prevent damage to the cables from corrosive materials, like chemical plants, refineries, food processing and the medical industry. However, other industries may also benefit from using strong cables – for example, data centres may need to use harsh environment ethernet cables to prevent damage to any surrounding technology. 

How do I know if I need a harsh environment cable? 

It can be quite a daunting task when specifying a product, particularly one that will be expected to operate within a harsh or extreme environment. Many industries such as mining, medical, aerospace, marine and oil often use harsh environment cables – however, if you’re unsure, our team can advise you. At CDC, we are here to assist you with your requirements and will advise on all individual aspects recommending materials suitable to ensure that your cable meets your individual needs. Contact us now to learn more about harsh environment cables, and if you need one for the industry where you work.