A Huge Range of Electrical Products

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29239, 24 June 1960, Page 11

A Huge Range of Electrical Products

The principal raw materials used in the manufacture of plastic-insulated electric cables

are copper, as conductors; and varying types of plastic compounds, for insulation and sheathing. At the factory of a major New Zealand cable maker in Christchurch, only electrolytically refined copper is used. It

Two main plastic materials are employed, one being polythene, which is used essentially as a dielectric: the other is polyvinyl chloride (P.V.C.), which is used as dielectric on certain types of cable, and as sheathing for polythene-insul-ated conductors. Several grades of each type of plastic compound are employed, and research is being made continuously to ensure that each

fitted with automatic stops operating when one of the individual wires break. Hard drawn wires are tested for compliance with the relevant Standard Specification by means of tensile test. The process used to insulate and sheath the cables is carried out on a machine known as a plastics extruder. These machines are basically similar to a domestic mincing

i still in a “dough-like” state f an automatic embossing wheel I indicates the manufacturer's name, type of cable, working voltage, etc. The cable is then immersed in a long trough of running cold water, which brings the plastic back to room temperature, where it is found to have the desired end-use properties, mechanical strength, flexibility, and electrical resistivity.

— - 1957-58 1958-59 Number Value Number Value Domestic ranges— £ Electric— £ Ranges ,, Rangettes .. Coal— • e • e 29,130 4,379 1.405,374 68,651 34,806 4,286 1,786,149 69,078 Ranges t , Rangettes • e • • 3,624 140,292 667 27,706 Destructors .. 9 • > 3,920 73,216 4,769 96,090 Other stoves .. • e Parts for above e • • e 120,218 • • 144,248 Industrial ranges and parts Radios—* • e • e 71,383 • • 77,216 Car .. • e 21,256 346,584 20,428 275,445 Portable .. e • 10,922 170,610 22,760 349,349 Table .. ,, • • 41,662 394,736 49,617 610,467 Console Radiograms— • • 174 4,350 e • • e Portable .. • • ► 3,855 87,675 f 1.680 30,909 Table .. • • I 1,152 29,698 Console .. • e ►28,435 1,269,044 1*27,000 1,060,813* Recordergram • • 559,123 I 4,625 368,727 Other radio equipment • e • • 618,686 Batteries, storage . e • 313,008 1,253,672 316,348 1,230,435 Flex, cable, switches, plugs, and sockets .. Domestic appliances— • • • • 1,840,983 • • 2,098,809 Toasters 9 • 28,559 86,978 33,640 122,571 Irons .. .. • • 8,939 23,608 19,872 92,878 Jugs, kettles, etc. e • 55,744 122,492 47,169 129,135 Radiators . • • e 35,129 142,799 51,117 224,502 Vacuum cleaners .. « • 34,784 516,036 38,210 557,796 Elements for appliances Fluorescent lighting— • • 613,397 267,073 679,193 277,172 Complete units— Single lamp • • 19,225 86,131 23,675 105,064 Double lamp .. • • 28,113 193,587 34,215 244,876 Other lamps .. « • • • 45,538 • • 28,766 — Abstract of Statistics