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When cables and wires are involved then it is important to select a grommet edging solution to protect them. Grommet edging is a proven solution for protecting your wires from damages and can save you a lot of money and frustration. But what goes into making the right choice for grommet edging?
HTF in partnership with manufacturers like Device Technologies, Inc., has been leading the way for decades when it comes to supplying wire protection grommet edging. Let’s explore in more detail and start by answering the question of what wire protection grommet edging is precisely. Read on to learn about how to choose the right material for your needs.
What Is a Grommet Edging?
In general terms a grommet is a ring or eyelet inserted into a hole to provide protective edging around the rough exposed edges of the hole in a thin material. Grommets provide protection, but they also strengthen the material around the hole. They will often have two flared edges so they are secured tightly without the need for adhesive or fasteners. The main functions a grommet serves is to reinforce the material they are inserted within and to provide protection for wires passing through a hole.
The grommet edging protects wires and cables from abrasion as they pass through a sharp or rough-edged surface. It’s important to have this protection to prevent the wearing away of the cable's protective coating. Damage to wires and cables can lead to failure of electronic and communication equipment, or worse, pose a health and safety hazard by leading to electric shock or fire.
When a product is manufactured, whether plastic, wood, or metal, there will always be a rough edge or burrs in the material where the access hole was cut. This is why grommet edging, or trim, needs to be applied directly to the surface material in order to protect components such as wires from harm. Grommet strips are a type of edging that can be made in custom lengths pre-cut for installation in your chosen material. Device Technologies Inc produces grommets to fit every application. They are a trusted HTF partner making the right grommet for your application easy to find and fast to ship to you.
How to Choose the Right Grommet Edging Material
Grommet edge protection is made from a number of materials including silicone, rubber, polyethylene, PVC, and encapsulated metal strips. One such product line from DTI is the Spring-Fast grommet edging which is fully encapsulated in a flexible non-halogen, flame retardant, low smoke, low corrosive, and low toxic TPE for EN 45545-2 FST compliant abrasion protection. Let’s discuss the different applications most appropriate for the various materials.
Grommet edging protection made from thermoplastics provide strength and durability with low surface friction. Long lasting materials like silicone rubber have great retention cutting down on the need for adhesive. They are very durable and can take a lot of contact and use without failing or breaking down. If you’re looking for more cost effective grommets without compromising protection, Nylon or PVC could be right for you. They provide many of the same benefits with less cost than rubber. However nylon will require adhesive which does not have the lifespan of the other materials. Finally, encapsulated spring metal is a fantastic choice for most applications to protect wires from wear and damage.
Consider the Overall Purpose
The most important place to start when choosing grommets is to define the overall purpose. What will you be protecting? What is the material in which the grommet will be installed? The grommets used for a desk will consist of different materials and sizing than those used in industrial applications.
The function of the grommet will determine its overall design. A grommet found in a desk will most likely be open and made of plastic or rubber to protect phone and computer cables from the damage of rubbing against rough wood or metal edges. There are also grommets that have soft materials able to be cut so that wires can pass through without debris or dust passing through while also guiding and holding the cable in the desired location.
Think About the Look of the Selection
If the application of the product you are installing a grommet in is more functional and utilitarian than black plastic or rubber grommets are a solid choice. They can be professional or utilitarian depending on their surroundings. For higher end finishes there are polished metal grommets and grommets with covers that can be snapped into place once the wires have been run through. Most performed grommets are circular in nature, but there are other rectangular options as well as grommet strips for straight edges.
Take Note of Sizing
The size of the opening as well as the thickness of the wires and cables will determine the size of the grommet. It is important to have an idea of the number of possible wires that will be run through the grommet at the time of installation and throughout the life of the product. This will help to determine the diameter of the grommet.
Grommet Edging Materials
As mentioned above, there are many different materials for grommet edging at different price points and benefits for certain applications. Below we will breakdown the different material choices available:
Silicone Rubber also known as polydimethylsiloxane is a synthetic polymer with excellent flexibility, making it ideal for use in grommet edging. It is also a tough material with superior durability. Silicone rubber resists corrosion and most chemicals and functions as a good insulator able to handle high temperatures. The smooth nature of the silicone rubber means it has low levels of friction to damage wires and cables. It is most often found being used as grommet strip edge protection along straight runs due to its rigidity.
PVC, or polyvinyl chloride, is a synthetic thermoplastic which is rigid by nature. To make PVC work as workable grommet edging, plasticizers must be added to make its flexibility consistent with the metal core. The combination of the PVC with an aluminum core provides the ideal retention for installation without adhesives. Due to its strength, and affordability, PVC is a cost effective substitute for silicone rubber.
Nylon is another synthetic thermoplastic used for grommet edging protection. It is strong and resistant to corrosion, chemicals, and abrasion. Nylon does have a low surface friction which will protect the cables from breaking down over time, however it is installed with adhesive that will begin to fail over time.
Encapsulated Metal Grommets have spring stainless steel encapsulated with a durable flame retardant thermoplastic which provides a strong edge retention like others mentioned above, meaning it does not require adhesives. This lowers the installation cost and has longer durability than grommets requiring adhesive.
Increase Wire Protection With Grommet Edging Solutions From Top Manufacturers
Keep your product safe and damage free with grommets like the SL-FST Series from Device Technologies. DTI has been in business for over thirty years and they are relied on for grommet protection solutions across a multitude of industries HTF partners with DTI to supply grommets for every application.
DTI has grown over the last thirty years, much like HTF. Their success as the original source for wire protection grommet edging has grown by meeting their customer’s needs under an AS9100 Quality Control system. HTF is here to provide excellent customer service and same day shipping. We can get the DTI line of Spring-Fast grommet edging to you with same day shipping and an expert on hand to discuss options to fit your needs. Reach out today!
