Thermoplastic Moulding

We are used to household appliances being supplied with a three-pin plug moulded to the cable. This is a thermoset technology and it does the job perfectly. However, the platforms our customers require cabling solutions for operate in incredibly different environments to those in which domestic appliances are used.

Our customers need to connect systems operating deep under water or at altitude, as well as at varying levels of humidity, temperature and chemical exposure, each of which may change rapidly. Due to the criticality of the dependent system, cabling solutions must work first time, every time, for decades.

SMI’s Thermoplastic Technology

SMI’s thermoplastic technology might look similar to a domestic approach but the science and resulting capabilities are very different.

Thermoplastic is a material that becomes softer when heated and hard when cooled — but crucially, thermoplastic can be cooled and heated several times without any change in its chemistry or mechanical properties. When thermoplastics are heated to their melting point, they melt to a liquid. Applying high pressure to liquid thermoplastics during the moulding process creates molecular changes leading to useful finished product characteristics.

More Than 20,000 Installations with Zero Failures

SMI’s advanced engineering expertise can deliver cable amalgamation, overmoulding, splices and the addition of advanced plugs to cable systems that eliminate leak paths and which will not delaminate. Thermoplastic mouldings provide extended lifetimes and unparalleled reliability in submerged or dirty environments.

Mastering the art of thermoplastic moulding is widely considered too difficult. SMI is the UK’s subject matter expert, if not the world’s. We believe in continuous improvement of our people and our technology, and we are proud to develop and improve the technology through the sponsorship of PhD studies.

Our Thermoplastic Technologies

SMI has developed a number of proprietary thermoplastic technologies, each engineered to address specific performance demands. Overmoulding ruggedises components such as sonar transducers, sensors and cable breakouts for long-term immersion in sea water. PlastEthUrm combines polyethylene and polyurethane jacket materials in a single moulding, delivering the insulation resistance of PE with the abrasion resistance of TPPU — backed by an industry-leading 10 year warranty. Fibregence extends this expertise into electro-optic applications.

To find out more about SMI’s thermoplastic moulding capability, get in touch today.