As industrial, medical and automated machines become smarter and more interconnected, they increasingly require a wide assortment of cables. These cables, including power, data, control, Ethernet, hydraulics and pneumatics, can result in a complex design — often where space is at a premium. They must also be able to withstand harsh conditions.

Integrating several individual cables to meet these requirements drives a lot of time and money. Hybrid and special cables can address these challenges, expanding the possibilities of standard cables while providing many additional benefits.

Satisfy Many Needs With a Single, Space-Saving Hybrid Cable

With hybrid and specialized cables, you can bundle multiple conductors or insulation materials in a single, space-saving jacket tailored to its operating conditions. Here are some of the reasons why you should consider a hybrid or specialized solution for your application:

• Allow multiple functions in limited space. Hybrid cables allow you to combine multiple cable types to reduce their combined OD requirements into a single jacket, saving installation space, time and to help prevent tangling. These benefits can be especially important for control panels or other applications with complex cable arrangements such as combining vision with control or power or adding pneumatics, to name a few.
• Withstand harsh environments. Because some operating conditions may be too tough for standard cables, you can customize special and hybrid cables with an appropriate jacket or insulator to withstand, for example, extreme temperatures, tears and abrasions, washdowns, oils, solvents or flames.
• Solve application challenges. In addition to resolving space constraints, special or hybrid cables may be appropriate for solving connection limitations, meeting high-speed data needs, addressing EMI/RFI issues near motors and drives, or withstanding mechanical stresses and millions of bending cycles in automated systems. In hygienic equipment, hybrid cables reduce the number of cables exposed to washdown, saving cleaning time and effort. And, they can be outfitted with an ideal jacket to resist the harmful effects of disinfectants and cleaning substances.
• Combine many materials to tailor a cable to your needs. At SAB, we offer a wide selection of conductors and jacketing materials, allowing you to combine power, control, fiber optics, coax, signal, Ethernet, bus, hoses, pneumatics and hydraulics, as well as using reinforced jackets to help with strain relief to suit almost any application.
• Reap additional benefits. Hybrid and special cables minimize maintenance needs and reduce installation time and labor, increasing system uptime to help maximize efficiency and cost savings.

Partner With a Supplier That Specializes in Solving Problems

When it comes to choosing hybrid or special cables for your application, it’s important to work with a supplier that specializes in solving design challenges and delivering rugged, reliable cables that withstand harsh conditions.

At SAB, we can assist you in creating a special or hybrid cable, construct it to your exact specifications in our ISO-9001-certified facility and turn it around quickly. We will also test your cable in our laboratory to ensure it performs reliably over a long lifetime. Minimums begin as low as 1,500 feet. To get started, simply fill out our Special Cable Inquiry Form.

For more information about SAB hybrid and specialty cables, download our custom cable brochure.