In Bahrain, on the shores of the Persian Gulf, a desalination plant has been operating since 2010 with our Insulating cable trays 66 in U23X. To monitor their condition, we visited the facility a few months ago. Exposed to the elements, with temperatures exceeding 45 °C, constant humidity, saline corrosion and solar radiation, our cable trays have remained free of deformation, functional alterations or the need for replacement. Fifteen years on, they are still in place, performing their function as they did on day one.
This story is not unique. With sixty years as specialist manufacturers of insulating cable management systems, successful cases— and this is a source of pride for all of us at Unex— are numerous.
Imagine a desalination plant by the sea in Barcelona, with a salty atmosphere and machinery running 24/7. Or a wastewater treatment plant in Australia, exposed to some of the highest levels of solar radiation on the planet. Even a Colombian Caribbean port battered by corrosive sea breeze. In such environments, many materials promise to last, but few succeed. Metal rusts, common polymers become brittle under UV rays, and repairs or replacements become inevitable, increasing project costs. We have already proven that in these types of facilities, our solutions deliver.
This is what we mean by durability. This is Unex durability.
Years of experience and proprietary technology
How is product durability achieved? Through decades of accumulated knowledge about how our solutions behave in extreme environments and the proprietary development of our raw materials.
Unex durability has been verified through numerous laboratory tests, but also in real installations exposed to the passage of time. A track record that can only be built through years of service.
The image accompanying this text is proof. On the left, the components of the Bahrain installation after assembly; on the right, their current state fifteen years later. The contrast is clear: while the metal structure shows visible degradation, our trays retain their shape and surface in perfect condition.
Our solutions are designed with materials and engineering to achieve superior technical characteristics. Our insulating cable trays and trunkings are manufactured with a proprietary raw material that is intrinsically immune to humid or saline corrosion. Actually, according to Cable tray standard IEC 61537, Unex insulating materials are “inherently resistant to corrosion and do not requiring testing”.
That is why, even after years exposed to the elements, you will not see our trays rust or deteriorate. Furthermore, the formulation is designed to withstand intense ultraviolet radiation without cracking or becoming brittle.
Mechanical strength is another key factor for our solutions to retain their structural properties over time. Each tray and trunking are designed by our engineers to withstand not only the usual cable loads but also accidental overloads, impacts or prolonged vibrations. Thus, unlike other materials that may lose structural rigidity over the years, our solutions maintain their integrity.
A more sustainable life cycle
By extending the life cycle of installations, Unex durability also directly contributes to reducing waste generation. Products that maintain their performance for decades without requiring maintenance or replacements help avoid unnecessary production of spare parts and the associated interventions.
This approach is embedded in the development of our materials. We work to ensure they are technically recyclable and to increase their recycled content (U48X), always maintaining the mechanical, dielectric and environmental resistance characteristics that define our solutions.
As part of this vision, we also provide Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) verified according to ISO 14025. These documents, available in the technical section of our website, provide quantified information about the product life cycle. They include all our Cable ties 22, Insulating cable trays 66 in U23X and U48X, Trunkings 73 in U23X, and Slotted trunkings 88 in U43X.
The reflection of this commitment is not in words: it is in the installations that, after 10, 20, 30 or more years, continue to operate with our cable management systems as they did on day one.
In the end, the best proof is reality itself.
If you want to learn more about the technical characteristics of our products,
On the Unex blog, we cover a wide range of topics of interest and share experiences from our clients. We remind you that all legal information and information regarding compliance with applicable regulations can be found on our official website. We invite you to consult it for a more comprehensive and accurate understanding.
