Modern lighting.

A new Essentra Components brochure makes it easier for manufacturers and installers to source component solutions for lighting projects. Supported by over 45,000 standard products and an enviable reputation for being easy to deal with when working with top global lighting companies, Essentra Components make it easier for manufacturers and installers to source components solutions for lighting projects.

They explain that it is an exciting time for the lighting industry as technologies are rapidly evolving and innovation is bursting through at incredible speed with ever wider connectivity. This is clear in the emergence of smart homes, buildings and even cities, that are connected and controlled remotely or via central servers, smartphones or smart speakers. Function and form are now inseparable with strong global growth fuelled by smart lighting and other technology innovations in both commercial and residential lighting - making the stakes higher than ever.

Backed as they are by decades of experience serving the lighting industry all around the world Essentra Components are proud to supply 7 of the top 10 global lighting manufacturers through this time of change for new and refurbishment installations everywhere. They are proud that their expert advice, hassle-free service and comprehensive cable management, PCB hardware, LED hardware and access solutions continue to help lighting manufacturers overcome design, production and transport challenges.

Where a standard component is not suitable this brochure explains how Essentra Components are able to develop the perfect custom fitting from concept to production, while providing samples and 3D prototypes throughout.

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The right cable clamp.

Integration of electrical and electronic systems always involves wiring issues regarding such matters as strain relief, accessibility, routing, security and similar, so this new “Guide to choosing the right cable clamp” from Essentra Components (Ireland) is likely to be of interest to all relevant assembly and installation engineers.

This new guide discusses options for mounting cables on the panel boards of various types of enclosures, such as data centre server cabinets or outdoor telecom equipment cabinets.

The guide points out that using a cable clamp has some distinct advantages over cable mounts. For example, if you need to move, adjust, or add to the bundle while using a zip tie mount, you must cut the tie. On the other hand, many cable clamps can be opened to allow for easy adjustments. While ties can still be used for bundling, you'll often find you need fewer of them when bundles are secured with clamps. 

In many instances, they advise that making up a new enclosure is faster when using cable clamps. For example, once the wire cable clamp installation is complete — guided by a good set of layout diagrams — cable and wire installation consists of simply routing the cables and conductors and snapping them into place.

Many clamp designs are illustrated with notes on applications, while CAD downloads are indicated to assist in the design stages of a project.

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For the well equipped enclosure!

A new guide from Essentra Components acknowledges the extensive array of cabinet and other mounting hardware that specialist panel builders need to assemble in producing a complete package. Their downloadable guide highlights the particular industrial components such as fasteners and hinges, levelling feet and gasket, cable glands and card slides, while providing help as to which builders should use.

For example: what attaches where and how, choosing cabinet door handles and hinges – using quarter turn latches and swinghandles, what can you use to secure the cabling and castors to help move the cabinet around in production or installation? Even down to the PCB level – Essentra Components have included guidance on support pillars, standoffs, mounting blocks and screw grommets. 

Their new Guide – includes links to downloadable CAD drawings and to request free samples before starting the ordering process.

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LED and Light Guide mounting.

Essentra Components have seen that for approximately the last three decades LEDs have taken over from incandescents in electronic equipment, then in higher power electrical applications and most recently of course in domestic/public decorative lighting and general illumination. This popularity has led Essentra to become market-leaders in the manufacture of mounts, spacers and cable clamps which make the installation of LEDs a simple and inexpensive task.

Covering an informative description of the LED market, their advantage, colour availability, areas of use and installation, this guide deals with installation considerations as well as factors such as orientation and use of light pipes.

Drawing on their many years of worldwide experience in this field, they have produced an “LED Light Guide for product and panel building” which may be viewed on their website here.

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Consolidating component buying.

Essentra Components (Ireland) offer guidance to companies worldwide who are struggling with multiple suppliers, perhaps all working to differing standards and practices – a situation where relationship benefits and cost savings can be hard to achieve in a complex web of supply channels.

The Essentra Components online guide to consolidating a company's component buying is a valuable discussion document available on their Knowledge Centre.

This useful guide covers issues which include how to benefit by streamlining component supply, building better relationships to achieve big benefits, quicker hassle-free customer service, one supplier/one component quality, assessing the latest processes, obtaining improved value for money and factors to consider with component consolidation. The guide is presented from extensive experience of teamworking through the consolidation process. Real life examples are given to illustrate this process, including companies from air conditioning and refrigeration, steel construction and metal fabrication.

The team at Essentra Components believe that by integrating manufacturing and supply with a worldwide distribution system then supplier/customer relationships can bloom to maximise benefits and minimise problems.

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Thousands of components.

Following the acquisition of Micro Plastics in 2017, Essentra Components acquired Nolato Hertila AB in 2018 to increase their product offering to 35,000 products available – 75% of which are manufactured under the Essentra brand covering fasteners, caps and plugs, access hardware, cable management and feet.

The new Essentra Components catalogue contains over 1,000 new items in 10 key areas with now over 1 billion parts available ex-stock to aid manufacturing and installation-based industries from electronics to vehicles, HVAC to hydraulics.

New Essentra Components products are exemplified by the Parallel Protection Plug in LDPE to protect connectors and ensure a clean finish – moulded with a tab for easy application and removal.

Hinge bearing protection is offered by the low-density polyethylene and polypropylene plugs for hinge bearings and swivel joints.

In similar vein we see the new threaded Blasting Plug range which is especially designed for blast cleaning and wet painting applications where it excludes grit and ensures minimal paint shadow on assemblies. The plugs incorporate a screwdriver slot for ease of application and removal.

Focusing again on cleanliness in assembly and installation is the new Quick-Fit Connector LDPE yellow protection plug to SAE J2044 for fuel system quick connectors, which combines a tight internal fit with flange protection and an easy-pull central tab.

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Fasteners: metal or plastic?

Essentra Components have established a presence in Ireland adding to their regional distribution sites across Europe and an international network extending to the Americas and Asia, including 12 principal manufacturing facilities and 47 sales and distribution operations.

Here they discuss plastic vs. metal fasteners and why plastic can be a better choice.

Metal is the most common material used to create fastening solutions, however plastic fasteners offer a different and often more appropriate set of characteristics. Notably, they’re used in space – for example the Hubble Telescope and International Space Station are held together using plastic fasteners.

On a more terrestrial level, plastic fasteners can offer significant advantages over their metallic counterparts for earth-based projects.

Materially speaking metal fasteners generally corrode and develop rust over time, especially when exposed to moisture or salty conditions. Corrosion, of course, leads to degradation, so if it’s corrosion-resistant fasteners you need, then often you want plastic. If your product will face salt-water conditions, consider fasteners made from PVC, Isoplast or PET which also give you high strength to weight ratio, don’t absorb water, and withstand chemicals and corrosive substances such as diesel fuel and petrol.

Plastic is resistant to UV rays. That being said, some plastics do absorb UV rays and develop free radicals that corrode, so if UV protection is important, opt for fasteners made from polyimides or FEP.

Plastic fasteners are ideal for electrical or electronic applications where non-conductivity of heat or electricity may be a critical property.

Plastics can cost less - plastic clips weigh less than metal brackets and for many industries such as automotive manufacturing this means improved performance and efficiency. This is just one reason the automotive industry often favours plastic fasteners; another is that plastic screws and bolts can cost less than metal fasteners. Plastic is simply a lower-cost material and when you’re mass producing assemblies and this can amount to substantial savings over time.

Plastic is extremely versatile with the ability to mould into complex shapes in any colour you want. Metal, usually requires secondary processes – for instance, cutting or stamping, drilling and cleaning processes where oil has to be removed to allow the product to be coated.

A good rule of thumb when deciding between plastic and metal fasteners is to think about your application. If environmental, thermal, weight, chemical or electrical properties need to be considered there are probably good reasons to go with plastic fasteners.

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Guides to Circuit Board Hardware.

Essentra Components have produced two new guides for electronics design and production engineers to assist in the selection and use of PCB hardware components. By sharing their expertise in component technologies Essentra Components short-cut the search process and save time in the development cycle.

Their application guide to “Circuit Board Hardware” covers the use of spacers, component mounts, PCB supports, card guides, insulators and standoffs for applications such as consumer electronics, electrical cabinets, white goods and office machinery. Hex spacers, LED mounts and reverse mounted board supports are especially relevant to the consumer electronics arena, while supports, card guides and spacers are favourites for electrical cabinets. White goods and office equipment components are illustrated with a touch control spacer, a blind hole circuit board support and a metric low voltage insulator, as well as a hex threaded standoff ideal for these applications.

Coupled with this comes the Essentra Components “Buyers Guide to Circuit Board Hardware” which covers an introduction to the broad sweep of spacers, standoffs, supports, card guides and LED hardware available on the market that cater to a variety of type, feature, material, specification and suitability requirements.

The guides also address what to think about when considering PCB substrate and space limitations –the relative merits of plastic and metal, followed by considerations on the many types of mounting styles.

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Electrical cable terminals.

A new range of high quality, low cost terminals is now available from Essentra Components as part of their new Electrical Catalogue listing. High conductivity and long life crimp joints are quickly formed using a crimping tool on both uninsulated or polyamide insulated options listed. Available styles include spade terminals and cord end terminals in sizes from 1.3mm to 8.5mm core dia.

Applications include electrical installation, domestic appliances, heating industry, automotive industry, cabinet and panel building where ensuring a complete and secure connection is essential.

Essentra Components cable terminals for manufacturers and contractors are part of their one-stop-shop, fast delivery from stock service – and may be evaluated for production/installation with free samples on request.

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