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SMALL COMPONENT, BIG IMPLICATIONS: WHY CABLE GLAND SPECIFICATION MATTERS MORE THAN YOU THINK
Accommodating a broad range of cable types, including unarmoured, braided, flexible and flatform cables, simplifies specification and stockholding.
BY CRAIG ANNAL, HEAD OF PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT, CMP C
hoosing the right cable gland at specification stage is critical to maximising uptime, protecting safety and meeting rigorous compliance in any project. Get it wrong and the consequences can be
costly: cable jacket damage and premature failure, ingress and corrosion that undermine enclosure IP (Ingress Protection) performance or even intermittent communication / drive errors due to poor EMC bonding and screening. With many different cable types available on the market, designed for multiple applications, the precise gland selection underpins sealing integrity, strain relief, and long-term operational reliability, ensuring safe and compliant performance in even the most demanding environments. Therefore, having the right cable glands is absolutely vital.
Material matters
Glands are generally available in either polymer or metallic materials and we’re seeing an increasing demand for our polymer ranges, as they are an ideal solution that combines versatility, durability and cost effectiveness for a wide range of industrial and commercial operations. Polymer cable glands can be the preferred choice when every gram matters. The low-weight and non-conductive nature make handling and installation quicker and safer, particularly in high-volume or space-constrained applications. They also mitigate mixed-metal corrosion risks between cable gland and enclosure materials, providing a robust, non-reactive interface.
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In contrast, metallic glands can be the most suitable choice where the weight of the gland is not so much of an issue and where strength, durability and protection are critical in demanding industrial environments. If there is a further requirement for reliable electromagnetic compatibility, metallic glands with a 360-degree low impedance contact, between cable screen and metallic enclosure, are an ideal option to help maintain EMC integrity. Typically, installation scenarios are VFD/servo motors, robot axes, switching power supplies, industrial Ethernet, radio/IoT modules and other high-frequency or high-speed signals where RFI/EMI must be contained.
Successful sealing
Selecting the right sealing method is critical to maintain ingress protection, strain relief and long term reliability across varied cable constructions and environments. To help engineers match performance to application, whether space constrained control panels, trace heating terminations or mixed cable size, a good range of glands includes a wide selection of versatile, safety compliant options and sealing options which can cover a wide cable range, accommodating more cable sizes within each cable gland size, or specific sealing options to suit, flatform and multiform cable requirements, offers the ultimate flexibility, particularly for contractors.
Safety guaranteed
Not all products are tested to the same standards. Some manufacturers perform only minimal testing to meet export laws. This approach is risky, which
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is why you should only deal with companies whose products not only comply with the prevailing safety standards for cable glands, but in many areas, exceed them.
At a minimum, you should look for products with IEC / EN 62444 certification, while explosive atmospheres products should be tested and certified to IEC / EN 60079-0,7, 31.
Engineering durability The weight of larger cables should never be underestimated. If not properly restrained, a cable can pull out during service, causing significant damage to the equipment and costly downtime. Using certified cable glands is the only way to ensure safe cable retention and protect electrical infrastructure.
Fire protection Fire safety is another critical consideration in many installations. In this instance look for flame retardant options. The UL94 standards tests for flammability and evaluates both burning & afterglow times. The best rating, V-0, should ensure any ignition self-extinguishes within a matter of seconds.
Cable glands may be small, but their role in any installation is enormous. What this means in practice is that they need to be sourced and specified with as much care as any of the big ticket items in a cable installation. Cable glands should tick all the specification boxes, meaning they can be specified and installed with complete confidence.
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