Performance

Reliability

Durability

BUFLEX® X’PREMBoost the performance and durability

of your cranes and gantries

Broch Buflex Xprem 3V.qxd 3/08/07 15:12 Page 3

BUFLEX® X’PREM for durability and high performance

Nexans’ new range ofBUFLEX® X’PREM reelingcable is a polyurethane-sheathed energy cable whichincorporates an innovativedesign to achieve exceptionallong-term performance. It comes in two differentcategories:

•BUFLEX® X’PREM medium-voltage(6 to 20 kV):a “red” version for ports andfreight terminals whichcontains 3 phase conductorsand 3 earth conductors. One of the earths can be replaced by optical fibersfor control, instrumentation,and data applications.

•BUFLEX® X’PREM low-voltage (1 kV):a “yellow” version for theindustrial market comes in a 3 phases plus 1 earthfor sizes up to 16 mm2, and 3 phases plus 3 earthconductors for higher cross-section. Once again, an earth can be replaced by optical fibers.

All of the BUFLEX® X’PREMfamily are designed in order to eliminate wobbling andtwisting, which are often thecause of cable degradation.Not only can this increasecable lifetime up to ten timesand more, it allows OEMs to use smaller motorized reelsto achieve equal or superiorproductivity. Also, databus andoptical fibers can be integratedwithin the cable for enhancedcontrol functions.

Benefits:

•Extended lifecables last up to 10 timeslonger on test bench

•Durabilityeven under severe operating conditions

•High speed up to 150 meters/minute

•Rapid acceleration 0.3 m/s2, from zero to full speed in 8 seconds

•High tensile load up to 25 N/mm2

cross-section area

•Lighter and smallercompared to standard rubber cables

•High reliability, less maintenancefor lower operating costs

•Advanced control solutionsby combining power supply with optical fibers

Broch Buflex Xprem 3V.qxd 14/09/07 14:55 Page 1

Large crane efficiency depends on reliable cables

Gantries and Ship-to-Shorecranes play a key role in thisupgrade. They must move faster,both vertically and horizontallyover extended periods of time.High velocity puts a great strainon cables in terms of flexibility,durability, tension, torque andoverall wear and tear.

Nexans BUFLEX® X’PREMenergy cables meet thechallenges of greater bulk,higher speeds and long termdurability by optimizingcable structure andincorporating new materialsto handle the toughestoperating conditions.

Material handling is a booming industryworldwide, with globalhandling equipment demandprojected to expand by 4.5%annually through 2010 to some$117 billion. This growth isdriven by a number of factorswhich include the quadruplingof world trade over the pastthree decades, and thecontinuing expansion of Asianand other economies.

Large cranes and gantries are the backbones of steel mills and thermal power plants.These giants also serve theworld’s superports andintermodal freight hubs.

•As a port/hub authority (or their consultant), you wantyour cranes to be extremelyreliable, with high performanceand long life so as to reducethe risk of cargo congestionand costly flow stoppages.

•As a crane manufacturer you would like to support yourcustomers’ needs by offeringa complete range ofinnovative equipment, in addition to providing highservice levels that includerapid delivery and technicalsupport.

Nexans’ innovative BUFLEX®

X’PREM energy cables satisfyboth sets of demands byboosting performance,durability and efficiency andreducing unit operatingcosts over a lifetime.

Nexans’ global offer formaterial handling is broadand adapted to specific needs.Our cables are lighter andthinner than standard cables,thus reducing the total weightof the reel, and saving moneyfor a complete handling system.Also, these specialized cablesusually offer higher tensilestrength, ensuring a long lifecycle, adding safety for goodsand personnel, and maintainingfreight flow continuity around-the-clock.

Large cranes have been strainedto their limits by larger ships(post-Panamax container vessels/bulk carriers), the dramaticincrease in air cargo, and thesteady growth of rail freightworldwide.

Infrastructure must expand toaccommodate higher containervolumes, assure the rapidturnaround of carriers, andaccomplish a seamlessinterchange of goods to variousmodes of inland transportation.

Broch Buflex Xprem 3V.qxd 14/09/07 14:56 Page 4

Simulation and testing for optimum reliability

Dynamic numericalanalysis takes the stressout of new designs

Because cables for large cranesare constantly moving, reelingand unreeling at extremelyhigh speeds, Nexans designerswanted to thoroughly pre-testall performance parametersbefore producing a prototype.

Dynamic numerical analysissimulation software allows us toevaluate the mechanicalperformance of reeling cabledesigns. Designers can accuratelypredict how stress will bedistributed in the cross-sectionin terms of traction, torsion,bending, and crush load.

By pinpointing where stressoccurs, this simulation toolmade it possible for usto arrive at the new designfor BUFLEX® X’PREM in recordtime, creating a cable whichcould outlast conventionalreeling cables by 10 times.

The handling cablesapplication center assuresoptimum reliability

Reeling cables also need to berigorously tested in actualconditions non-stop to see howprototypes and existing cablesperform and compare. Toachieve this, Nexans developeda suite of machines in a uniquehandling cables applicationcenter to subject cables tosevere accelerated conditions.Sensors pick up all relevantdata which is input into PCs tocharacterize cable performanceas it would actually occur on a crane.

These tests include:

• Reverse reeling machine to detect and analyze strain in real time

• Torsion test bench to speedup cable ageing so as to improve cable design

• Reverse bending test equipment to subject cablesto 90°C bends around pulleys

• Stiffness test equipmentto calculate the force needed to bend a cable

• Alternative roller bendingto measure flexibility to avoidshort circuits and breaks

Precision testing allowed usto design BUFLEX® X’PREMso as to achieve exceptionalperformance and durability.This means faster time tomarket, more accuratelifetime prediction forcables, and increased cranereliability.

Handling cables design modeling

Broch Buflex Xprem 3V.qxd 3/08/07 15:12 Page 5

Services andsupport to keepcranes andgantries operating

GLOBAL EXPERTISE

Nexans helps you find theright cable for the right craneapplication, whether astandard or customized state-of-the-art product. Ourcables deliver fastacceleration and high tensilestrength, while ensuring highreliability. That is why portauthorities and cranemanufacturers keep comingback for advice, design inputand support.

LOCAL PRESENCE

Because Nexans is presentaround the world, theinternational handlingbusiness always has expertsclose at hand who are ableto draw on both local andcompany-wide resources.Permanent emergency stock,and rapid delivery andmaintenance supporteliminate the need forexpensive safety inventories.

TECHNICAL LEADERSHIP

A high-tech superport orinternational hub, often builtby an international consortium,requires state-of-the-artproducts, especially for reelingcables which support largecranes. Through itsCompetence and ResearchCenters, Nexans has constantlyincreased the reliability anddurability of its cables.

>Nexans delivered advancedfestoon and high-voltagereeling cables to ShanghaiZhenhua Port MachineryCompany Ltd. (ZPMC).

>Nexans is the leadingsupplier of pendant cablesfor the international originalequipment manufacturer, KCIKonecranes Group.

>Gottwald Port Technologyis incorporating Nexans’ MVcables in their new high-speedAutomated Stacking Cranes forthe Antwerp Gateway Terminal(Belgium).

>For Stemmann, Nexansprovides flat-form reeling cablesthat are ideal for slowapplications. Their flat formallow a longer length of cableto be reeled onto one drum.

>Nexans provides reelingcables to OEMs (like theConductix Group and Cavotec)for motorized reels used in various industrial and bulk handling cranes.

>Nexans supplied spreadercables to the European ContainerTerminal in Rotterdam, which is the largest container port inEurope, and to the MTL Terminalin Hong Kong.

>The port of Marseille haschosen Nexans BUFLEX® MVcables to equip its STS cranes.

>Nexans supplies BUFLEX®

LV and MV cables for RTG’selectrical converters.

Meeting challenges with global actors

Broch Buflex Xprem 3V.qxd 3/08/07 15:13 Page 6

Global expert in cables and cabling systems

08/2

007

Cre

dits

: ©

Mat

ton

Imag

es -

ITSt

ock

- In

gram

- K

CIK

onec

rane

s G

roup

- G

ottw

ald

Port

Tech

nolo

gy -

Nex

ans

- D

R.

With energy as the basis of its development, Nexans,the worldwide leader in the cable industry, offers anextensive range of cables and cabling systems. The Groupis a global player in the infrastructure, industry andbuilding markets. Nexans addresses a series of marketsegments from energy, transport and telecom networksto shipbuilding, oil and gas, nuclear power, automoti-ves, electronics, aeronautics, material handling andautomation. With an industrial presence in more than 30 countriesand commercial activities worldwide, Nexans employs21,000 people and had sales in 2006 of 7.5 billioneuros. Nexans is listed on the Paris stock exchange.

Nexans S.A. - 170, avenue Jean Jaurès - 69007 Lyon - FranceTel: +33 (0)4 72 72 24 24 - Fax: +33 (0)4 72 72 95 74

www.nexans.com - www.nexans.com/e-servicemarcom.info@nexans.com

Broch Buflex Xprem 3V.qxd 3/08/07 15:12 Page 2