PTFE liners for mechanical operating cables (Bowden cables)
Mechanical operating cables, also known as Bowden cables, are used in a wide variety of applications in all sectors of industry, especially in vehicle construction. For example, you can find up to 20 of these economical and reliable components in any average mid-range car. One of the most important components of these wire ropes is the so-called liner, which together with the inner rope is responsible for the efficiency and service life of the hoist.
GREMCO FITCO® PTFE-liner family
For years GREMCO has been producing a wide range of liners which are utilized by almost all wire rope suppliers worldwide. Liners made of pure and modified PTFE meet the highest requirements of the automotive industry in terms of temperature resistance, efficiency and service life (actuation cycles). The base material, PTFE, exhibits excellent sliding properties, and special additives also guarantee the abrasion resistance required for service life. Our modern manufacturing and testing processes of the PTFE-liners guarantee compliance with the stringent tolerances essential for the efficiency of the end product.
GREMCO FITCO® FP-liner family
Apart from the traditional, rather high-priced PTFE material, GREMCO developed a new, more economically advantageous FP liner using PBT (polybutylene terephthalate) as the base material. The abbreviation FP in the name stands for fluorinated polymer, which is because various filler materials are used to further enhance the liner’s properties. In addition, the liner is available in smooth form on the inner bore or corrugated to work with grease typically use for these cables. PBT can withstand the same industrial high-performance requirements for demanding applications in the manual and automatic transmission field, with an operating temperature up to 140 °C. Therefore, GREMCO introduced the FITCO® FP line which offers an alternative to the classical PTFE liner, with a better cost-effectiveness such as a superior durability. Moreover, the FITCO® Liner FP holds the properties of low friction, which improves the general service efficiency, and a guaranteed dimensional accuracy thanks to specially designed extrusion lines complimented by inline laser equipment. See our magazine for more information on FP liners as a PTFE alternative.
