As anyone who works within an industrial setting will know, minimising the risk of injury is essential. In addition, the equipment used within environments such as warehouses, manufacturing plants and offshore oil rigs is usually either specially made or very heavy, meaning any damage can be incredibly costly to the company. This is especially the case when it comes to the likes of cabling.
After all, what powers manufacturing or engineering equipment, or at the very least other essential structures within the building is cabling. As something that can stretch for miles across any given space, the chances of the cable causing injury or being damaged and therefore having a knock-on effect for the rest of the production is huge.
That’s why a solution in the form of drag chains is often called upon to protect such delicate structures. Looking similar in appearance to that of a robotic arm, drag chains can take many forms, as flexible structures that provide a protective shield around the cables, so that they won’t become damaged by nearby activity.
Here is what you need to know about drag chains, along with how you can order them for your business operations.
Alternative Names For Drag Chains
- Cable carriers
- Cable chains
- Cable drag chains
- Cable track
- Energy trains
What Are Drag Chains Used For?
Drag chains are used to guide, support and protect the likes of cables, hoses and hydraulic lines when in motion. Without drag chains, the potential for such structures to become tangled or damaged would be high.
Therefore, drag chains help to extend the life of cables, hoses and hydraulic lines. After all, if a cable is tangled, it can require a huge effort to manually untangle the cables, and in the process, the pressure from the tangle itself can weaken the cables. If the cable has been completely severed a fix is sometimes possible but cannot be guaranteed, therefore the only option would be to carry out a full replacement of the cable.
From a health and safety perspective, keeping cables protected and in a position where someone cannot trip over them also reduces the likelihood of injury. After all, a trip or fall is bad enough in any environment, but if there is a potential for the person to knock into heavy machinery, come into contact with chemicals, or even if the location is off-shore meaning medical help is not as readily available, this can all dramatically increase the risk factor for your employees, not to mention push up insurance costs.
Likewise, given drag chains can carry a variety of substances including gases and fluids, if there were to be a leak this could have disastrous consequences depending on the contents of the substance. Why take the risk, when drag chains provide a safe and easy solution that’s built with your operation needs in mind?
Drag Chain Benefits
- Built to last
- Extends the lifespan of cables
- Increased safety for employees
- Reduced downtime
- Reduced costs
- Suitable for a wide variety of industries
- Steel drag chains can carry electricity, gases and fluids simultaneously
- Various designs available
Drag Chains UK
Metreel is a leading supplier of drag chains. We’re based in Ilkeston, Derbyshire covering the UK and beyond.
All of our drag chains can be supplied in a variety of configurations. With over 50 years in business, we’re proud to have installations spanning the globe, including our drag chains.
We custom make drag chains for a wide variety of industries including general industry, the oil and gas industry. Using only the highest grade of materials for both your safety and satisfaction, we can also offer a range of delivery and installation options depending on your requirements.
If you would like to find out more about our drag chains, or if you’re interested in any other of the services we provide, please give us a call on 0115 932 7010, or drop us an email.
Alternatively, check out the Metreel Brochure to discover our full range of products and services.