Automation, artificial intelligence (AI) and smart data management systems are making increasing inroads into the field of tunnel-boring machinery. At the same time, sensors and hydraulic equipment requirements have become considerably more challenging.

Systems today are typically semi- or fully automated and carry thousands of sensors to monitor processes in real time as well as actuators to control them. With data being recorded for every second and projects lasting several years, thousands of billions of data points are generated and processed by powerful data management systems.

For this reason, cables must meet the most stringent requirements in terms of reliable data transmission. The High-Performance Hybrid Cable is one option provided by HRADIL among others and was specially designed to meet the extreme demands of tunneling and mining tasks. With 40 years of expertise under their belt, HRADIL’s engineers devise solutions that work without fail notwithstanding the toughest conditions, whether mechanical, thermal or chemical.

The high-performance cable by HRADIL Special Cable is a hybrid cable that was specially designed to perform the most rigorous tasks in the field of mining and tunnel construction, specifically for heavy-duty construction and tunnel-boring machines. Combining several state-of-the-art technologies it features, for example, hoses for pneumatic and hydraulic applications integrated in the interior, CAN bus lines, a coaxial conductor, Cat7 ethernet as well as fibre-optics. The hybrid cable presents a reliable solution for safety-relevant real-time applications such remote or video monitoring, the control and transmission of sensor as well as real-time data – all of this while also providing power supply.



Fig. 2a: HRADIL High-Performance Hybrid Cable for Mining and Tunneling. Longitudinal view




Fig. 2b: HRADIL High-Performance Hybrid Cable for Mining and Tunneling. Cross-Section


Its innovative design and high-quality materials provide extraordinary mechanical performance characteristics. Thanks to a tensile strength of up to 10,000 N it is capable of withstanding extremely high loads, offering supreme reliability even in the harshest of conditions. Additionally, it can resist extreme temperatures ranging from -40 °C up to +125 °C. It is this versatility because of which cable can be used in a wide range of different environments and applications.




Fig. 3a: Explosion-protected HRADIL Cable for Mining and Tunneling Applications – specially designed for engine power supply and control in demanding environments. Longitudinal view.




Fig. 3b: Explosion-protected HRADIL Cable for Mining and Tunneling Applications – specially designed for engine power supply and control in demanding environments. Cross-section.