A changing market by cooperation between Top Cable and Installers.


In 1999 Top Cable introduced a new flexible powercable for fixed installations on the Dutch market. The Dutch installers had only used rigid cable before (class 2), and they were very enthusiastic about this solution since it made their work lighter, quicker and reduced installation costs. Since then, Holland has experienced a progressive change from rigid to flexible cable installation over the last 4 years.

One of the first Installation companies in Holland to use this cable was the company VDR Groep (http://www.vdr-holding.nl). VDR Groep is a cooperative group of specialized companies, active in the wide-ranging field of development, design, construction, installation engineering, supervision, maintenance and operation. Positioned in the east of Holland and with 200 employees they give a full support network to their clients.

Mr. T. Doorn, a project engineer at VDR Groep, realised at the beginning the advantages of using flexible installation cables.

They first started to use this cables in 2000 and since have they changed their entire range of cable used (above 6 mm2 conductors) to flexible.
Interviewing a project engineer who installs flexible cable on a constant basis
During our conversation Mr. Doorn admits that the cable is more expensive than the old rigid cables but the flexible conductors have numerous advantages and all these advantages result in cutting down the installation costs at the end of the projects.

Using flexible cables makes it much easier to connect the cables in distribution boards, as the installing and positioning of the cable on the cabletray reduces installation time.

With the special construction of the high flexible class 2 conductors VDR installers still use their standard cable lugs to which they are accustomed.

Mr. Doorn could see no disadvantages in using flexible cables, except that he found it a pity that Top Cable couldn't deliver these flexible cables in an armoured version. Top Cable cannot deliver these special conductors below 10 mm2 conductor size, because of the Dutch installation norm which requires rigid class one conductors below 10 mm2.

These new cables are such a success in the Dutch market that Mr. Doorn believes that in the near future all cables will have flexible conductors. The price difference are minimal between rigid cables and the savings in cost and time are much higher.