Hitachi Cable Develops EN Adjusted Halogen-Free Train Car Cables

Hitachi Cable announced on Wednesday the firm developed new halogen-free electric wires and cables for train cars to meet European Norm (EN), named “POLYENEX.” POLYENEX adopts engineering plastic containing highly elastic materials or cross-linked polyolefin proof against oil and fuel oil as covering materials. These materials enable high flame resistance and fire safety required by EN. Hitachi Cable expects for global demand growth for train-car cables, especially in Europe and Asia where railway constructions are actively planned or progressed.

Specifications of train cars and related components are generally defined by each country’s original standards. European Union (EU) has introduced EN, a unified standard in EU area, and adopted EN to the local railway industry. EN is expected to become required by railway industries in other countries and areas than EU since EN is a globally noticed standard.

Hitachi Cable has produced and supplied train-car wires and cables for Taiwan and UK since 1980s. The firm has developed and produced train-car wires and cables to meet each country’s standard so far. Meanwhile, the firm aimed to release the products in accordance with EN to expand the sales in highly growing offshore railway markets.