NAI Manufactures New Box Builds for the Mining Industry

February 12, 2020

NAI, a designer and manufacturer of custom interconnect solutions which deliver power and signals for monitoring data, connecting people and keeping equipment performing, has announced a new phase to a design and manufacturing project for large mining operations in China.

NAI manufacturing operations in Suzhou, China, had recently begun the development and manufacture of very complex cable harnesses for installation within large explosion-proof enclosures positioned in coal mines.  Now, NAI is also installing these harnesses into various box build configurations.  Each of these enclosures operates a different facet of a larger variable frequency drive and inverter system, and they are collectively installed within larger enclosures.

NAI assembles five different industrial-grade enclosures to house specific operational equipment: a main controller for a high voltage inverter, a DSP module, a power controller, the main controller for the inverter and a control unit for intrinsic mine safety.  Each of various complex harnesses are installed within these enclosures, along with electronics and other components.  The customer then installs these smaller enclosures into larger cabinets to house the main control system.

NAI products meet the requirements of the following tests, ratings or standards:

• –   2-2010 for explosive atmospheric conditions
• –   High voltage test at 330V for power cable
• –   Connectors are IP67 rated for resistance to dust and water

These cabinets control and operate variable frequency drives and inverters.  These drives power and control conveyor belts, water and oil pumps, cooling fans, tape winding devices and brakes inside the mines.  In addition, they provide alerts and notifications for transformers, motors, cables and other components when they are not operating within the expected temperature range, voltage range or other parameters.  All operational drives utilize NAI interconnect solutions for the transmission of control signals and essentially act as the nerve system for mining operations.

The customer for this mining project awarded the design and manufacturing of harnesses and box builds to NAI after producing the harnesses themselves internally.  The company realized they were not as well suited to this kind of operation as NAI, and they ultimately preferred to focus on their main mining control equipment business and outsource this custom work to NAI.  They acknowledged that, by using NAI, they reduced their quality risks and manufacturing lead times and they gained access to NAI’s global supply chain for advantages with various components.

NAI designs and manufactures custom rugged cable assemblies and harnesses for a variety of industrial applications for mining machinery, construction and agricultural equipment, robotics, machine tools, material handling equipment, instrumentation & control and other industries with demanding requirements.  Broad design capabilities, a global manufacturing footprint, rigorous Quality Management Systems, along with the ability to make things happen very quickly, combine to make NAI a totally unique and attractive supplier for interconnect solutions.

https://www.nai-group.com/nai-manufactures-new-box-builds-for-the-mining-industry/