Bookmarks – This feature allows to you insert a message to yourself the next time you check The Mueller Group eCatalog.  The message is saved on the page that it was written and appears as a colored box on the border of the catalog.  (Note: Saving is based on each users cookie settings.)

PDF – This allows you to download a single sheet out of the catalog or an entire section.  You are able to decide what you need.  Once downloaded you can save the file to your computer for future reference.

Print – Allows you to select a page(s) to print out.  Clicking this button opens a window that asks if the right or left page is to be printed or you have the option to select a page range.

Help – this button takes you to ePaper Flip’s website.  On this page they provide you with a detailed description of each button or tool and how it is best used.

If you have a question about The Mueller Group’s eCatalog, or are having any problems, please contact us.  We are happy to help all of our customers in their wire & cable needs.

In a recent Assembly Magazine article, cable insulation was the topic, with a ‘Green’ focus.  Cable insulation not only needs to be able to stand up to conductors of higher voltage, but also needs to be compliant with new standards and expectations of being environmentally friendly during and especially at the end of it’s life.  While many applications require low smoke, halogen free insulation, it is more difficult to recycle and dispose of.  On the other hand, the common jacket material, PVC, is very easy to recycle.  However, it contains halogens and releases hazardous chemicals when burned.  There are now several companies that are developing new materials that are safe while in use and easily recycled at the end of the cable life.

Over the next few years, the industry will see an increase in lighter, more efficient, and ‘Greener’ materials.  As this becomes more and more of a standard, look to The Mueller Group to be your provider of environmentally friendly European Wire & Cable.  In the meantime, we are happy to provide you with the same quality products and service you have come to expect from us.

To read the full article from October 2011 Assembly Magazine, click here.

Table of Contents – This brings you back to page 5.  On this page is the Table of Contents which enables you to click on the section you are looking for and jump directly to it.

Page Links – There are also many links inserted onto every page.  On the bottom of each page there is a “Contact The Mueller Group” page link and one to email the sales staff directly.  Another useful link is accessed by clicking the colored tab on each page. That takes you to the Table of Contents for that section.  Once there you can review all the items in the section.

Links are built into each section’s Table of Contents page.  Click on either the category or page # to jump ahead to that page.

Search Bar – Know what you’re looking for? Type in an item name and it will be identified at every use in the site. The left side panel will pop out & display the thumbnails of each page. In the document, the keyword will also be highlighted in yellow.  EX: Searching “WEEE” is displayed on page 4 twice and once on page 210.

If you have a question about The Mueller Group’s eCatalog, or are having any problems, please contact us.  We are happy to help all of our customers in their wire & cable needs.

The Japanese company, Asahi Kasei Fibers, has constructed the wire so that the the conductors are coiled inside the jacket which is made out of spandex.  In a demonstration, you can see the cable uses less space that a traditional cable allowing for less clutter behind your computer.  Not exactly something The Mueller Group expects to launch as our product of 2012, but maybe a glimpse into flexible and robotic cables of the years to come.

Click here for the full story.

Some of the features of the eCatalog are…

• View the entire Mueller product line at once
• Search Bar – Find the terms you are looking for Quickly & Easily
• 1-Click Zoom In & Out
• Table of Contents and links throughout document for efficient navigation
• Ability to download, save, print, and email any page
• Easy access to The Mueller Group contact information and email
• Anyone can access the eCatalog as no login is required

As you view the catalog, please contact us with any questions you have about the eCatalog or any of our products.

Image courtesy of Stock.Xchng

There are constant improvements that affect wire and cable.  Some of the biggest are being driven by the aerospace manufacturers. With over 170 miles of wire and cable on a Boeing 747, reducing the amount of cable needed can make big improvements on efficiency of the overall aircraft.  However, the cable can only be reduced if the quality and performance level is able to be maintained.

One alternative to the products currently being used is straight aluminum or hybrid aluminum-copper blended stranding.  The obvious problem with these is the lack of reliability and longevity associated with conductors other than copper.  Another way that this is possible is through better insulation.  If a new type of insulation can be developed to withstand higher temperatures and more conductors, fewer cables will be necessary, thus reducing the weight.

Smaller products that perform just as well as their full-size counterparts are driving innovation across many industries.  As an industry that provides components for finished goods, some of the significant changes we see in aerospace, automotive, and personal electronics are the results of our products.

Information for this post was acquired from “Product Focus: Wire & Cable.”

Image from Stock.Xchng

In the wire and cable industry, it can be difficult to understand what a good price is when they seem to be constantly changing for any given cable.  Everyone knows that the price of raw copper is a huge indicator of wire and cable prices, but there isn’t always a clear correlation.

Copper prices change.  This is a fact of all commodity products just like corn or wheat.  However, what many people don’t think about is that this is copper in its raw form.  Any product in its raw or natural form will not have the same price variance as the end product.  One of the contributing factors to this uneven correlation is simply the lapse of time between procurement and the delivery of the finished product.  If the cost of raw copper changes today, that is the price that the manufacturer buys it at.   Then the production process needs to take place, which is a minimum of 5-6 weeks.  The import to the United States alone can take an additional 2-8 weeks depending on the transportation method.  Now consider that the wire that you may be buying today is priced according to raw copper when it was first bought, a minimum of 2 months ago.  In order for the end buyer to see a drop in price, they would have to wait at least 2-4 months and typically longer.  In this time, the price can drastically drop, double, and return to its original rate. This is why prices of wire and cable overall remain fairly steady and do not fluctuate on a daily basis.

The Mueller Group is committed to offering its customers competitive prices for all products.  We will work with you to ensure that the cable we are selling is the appropriate product for your application and budget.

The original application for Low Smoke, Zero Halogen products was on offshore marine platforms and shipboards due to the confined spaces.  This is why they are more popular in Europe; where the distance between a manufacturing facility and local village is not very far.  Should there be a fire at the facility with halogen cables present, the entire village can feel the effects.

While there are obvious reasons that low smoke, zero halogen cables are necessary, they do have some drawbacks.  The largest is that they need to be replaced more often due to a higher rate of cracking and are more susceptible to water and oil absorption.

The Mueller Group stocks and has access to a number of cables in various constructions that are available low smoke and halogen free.  Let us help you determine the correct cable for your application.