What is a cable chain? In which industries is it used?

Cable drag chains, also known as cable protection drag chains, are devices used to secure cables, wires, air compressor hoses, and hydraulic hoses, allowing them to rotate and move smoothly. Similar to tank tracks, they are composed of flexible rotating unit links, possessing high compressive and tensile load capacity, good toughness, high elasticity, and wear resistance. They are also flame-retardant, maintain stable performance at high and low temperatures, and can be used in outdoor environments. Furthermore, cable drag chains are resistant to oil, salt, and to a certain extent, acids and alkalis.

Cable chains have wide applications in many industries, including but not limited to the following:

• Machine tool manufacturing: In machine tools, various hydraulic pipes and cables are in constant motion, operating in harsh environments. Cable chains, as a protective device, are widely used in machine tool manufacturing to prevent damage to these pipes from friction and vibration, thereby extending equipment lifespan.
• Logistics equipment: Logistics equipment includes various conveyor belts, stacker cranes, elevators, etc., which require energy transfer via cables or conveyor pipelines. Cable chains can protect these cables or conveyor pipelines from damage caused by friction and vibration during operation.
• Automated Equipment: With the increasing level of industrial automation, various automated equipment has been widely used. Cable chains also play an important role in automated production lines, protecting the cables of moving robotic arms and other equipment from external interference.
• Other industrial sectors: Cable chains are also widely used in electronic equipment, glass machinery, injection molding machine robots, material handling machinery, plastics machinery, lifting equipment, woodworking machinery, the automotive industry, industrial vehicles, metal processing machinery, casting machinery, port equipment, and other industries. In these industries, cable chains play a vital role in protecting pipelines and preventing them from becoming tangled, twisted, or damaged.