SWITZERLAND – Pioneering technology leader ABB has developed a two-piece cable tie that is both antimicrobial and detectable for use in contamination sensitive environments such as food and beverage processing.

In food processing, where reducing the growth of unhealthy microorganisms is critical, the presence of heat, moisture and organic material common in these environments can encourage the growth of bacteria, fungus and mold.

Cable ties generally provide a conducive environment for these microorganisms to thrive due to their design which is full of notches and grooves.

The company says the Ty-Rap TyGenic cable ties help guard against a wide range of microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, protozoans and fungi like mould and mildew.

The ties are moulded from an EU food contact-approved, halogen-free nylon resin blend that resist microbes from adhering and replicating on their surface.

Ty-Rap TyGenic cable ties combine antimicrobial properties with detectable particles and a deep blue color for easy three-way identification via x-ray, metal and visual detection systems, enhancing its efficacy.

Depending on the density of product being verified, the cable ties display a differential of between 200 and 2000 on the x-ray gray scale.

Made from UV-resistant material and designed for operating environments up to 85°C, the ties have the ‘Grip of Steel’ stainless steel locking device for “proven fastening performance” ​in commercial and household use, says ABB.

“No one wants to worry about fragments in their product and risk costly contamination. Our Ty-Rap TyGenic cable ties combine antimicrobial technology with detectability and fastening performance to help customers create cleaner, safer environments,”​ said Matthias Heilmann, President, ABB Installation Products Division.

The company disclosed that they are in the process of obtaining patents for the Ty-Rap TyGenic antimicrobial detectable.

The cables, produced at ABB’s Vega Baja, Puerto Rico facility, are available globally in four sizes which ABB claims meet safety standards of the industry.

Even though the ties have been tested to be 99% effective at inhibiting microbial growth, they provide no antimicrobial inhibitory activity beyond protection of the cable ties themselves, reports Food Manufacture.

The Ty-Rap TyGenic cable ties is the outcome of 16 years’ worth of work which started with the Ty-Rap two-piece detectable cable tie in 2006. This was followed by a single piece bacteria-resistant cable tie in 2018.

Since then, ABB’s Ty-Rap engineers have been working to combine the two ideas into one for customers in food and beverage and other contamination sensitive industries; the result is the “Ty-Rap TyGenic cable ties”.

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