Spreader Cable

A container spreader twists, lifts and travels thousands of times per day — and its power and control cable flexes with every cycle, often on a reeling drum inside the spreader frame or across festoon rollers under the trolley. Spreader cable is a heavy duty flat cable built for exactly this duty: compact geometry for tight drum winding, high cycle bending life, and sheath compounds that survive port weather, oil and mechanical abuse. This page explains the construction, the duty requirements and how to match a spreader cable to your terminal equipment.

Product Overview

Spreader cable supplies power, control and increasingly data to container spreaders on ship-to-shore cranes. Two installation styles dominate: reeled flat cable wound on a drum inside the spreader, and festoon style running across trolley rollers. Both demand extreme flexing performance in a compact flat profile that layers neatly on small drums.

Typical constructions use flexible class 5 stranded copper conductors, EPR or high grade PVC insulation in colored cores with yellow-green earth, cores laid parallel under a common sheath, and an oil resistant, abrasion resistant outer jacket of chloroprene or polyurethane. Fiber optic elements for spreader control and monitoring data are an increasingly common integration. Standard configurations range from 4 to 24 cores in sizes from 1.0mm2 to 6mm2, for example 4x4, 4x6, 7x1.5, 12x2.5 and 24x1.5, with fiber hybrid versions combining power cores and optical units in one flat. Voltage ratings commonly specified are 300/500V and 450/750V. Exact configurations are confirmed per project against the spreader maker's cable list.

Key Features / Construction

• Flexible class 5 stranded copper conductor, IEC 60228 class 5, tinned options

• Insulation: EPR for heat and flexibility, or heat resistant PVC, colored cores with yellow-green earth

• Parallel flat geometry for compact layering on reeling drums and smooth roller travel

• Optional integrated fiber optic cores for spreader control, weighing and monitoring data

• Optional integrated steel or aramid support element for hanging and reeling tension

• Outer sheath: oil-, abrasion- and weather-resistant chloroprene, or high-wear PUR for severe duty

• Small bending radius for high cycle drum winding, typically 8 to 10 times cable height

• Flame retardant constructions available where terminal fire codes require

Electrical and mechanical data reflect commonly specified values for this family. Your project's exact core layout, fiber integration and bend radius are confirmed on the type TDS before order.

Standards & Certifications

• Conductors per IEC 60228 (class 5 flexible)

• Design practice aligned with IEC 60245 and VDE 0298 for flexible rubber cables, adapted to spreader reeling duty

• Flame retardant options per IEC 60332 family where the terminal specification requires

• Project-specific tests: repeated bending cycles, torsion, drum simulation, oil immersion and low temperature flexing per specification

Where the spreader cable forms part of classed crane equipment, project documentation may require type test reports — confirm with your crane maker's cable schedule. Refer to the Certifications page or contact us with your terminal and class details.

Applications

• Container spreaders on STS quay cranes, reeled or festoon supply

• RTG and RMG spreader and trolley power, control and data

• Heavy duty hoist and lifting equipment with compact drum winding

• Automated terminals with data-integrated spreader systems

• Harbor mobile cranes and level luffing cranes with flat reeling duty

Why Choose Anhui Tiankang

• Spreader-duty engineering. Core pitch, sheath hardness and fiber integration are tuned for high cycle drum winding and roller travel — not a generic flat cable with a tough jacket.

• Data-ready options. Fiber cores for spreader weighing, alignment and control systems supplied and documented in the same flat cable as power cores.

• Terminal-proven compounds. Chloroprene for general port duty, PUR for high abrasion reeling, cold-flexible versions for northern terminals — recommended per your operating profile.

• Complete festoon range. Spreader cable, flat crane cable and festoon system cable from one manufacturer, so mixed terminal systems match mechanically.

• Schedule-based quoting. Send the spreader maker's cable list and we match each line, flagging fiber integration and drum compatibility where required.

Selection Guide / Buying Considerations

1. Confirm the installation: reeling drum inside the spreader, festoon rollers under the trolley, or combined — each sets different mechanical requirements.
2. State voltage and function — 300/500V or 450/750V — plus core layout, e.g. 4x4, 4x6, 7x1.5, 12x2.5, or power plus fiber in one flat.
3. Measure the drum or sheave dimensions: cable height and minimum bend radius must fit the smallest winding layer.
4. Confirm data requirements: fiber count, fiber type and whether power and fiber share one flat or separate cables.
5. Describe the environment: oil splash, coastal salt mist, temperature range, and daily duty cycles.
6. Provide quantity, preferred cut lengths and destination port.

Photos of the existing cable, the reeling drum and the spreader maker's cable schedule are enough for a first accurate quotation.

FAQ

Q1: What is the difference between spreader cable and flat crane cable?
Spreader cable is a heavy duty flat type built for container spreader reeling with higher mechanical stress, tighter drum winding and often fiber integration. Flat crane cable covers general trolley and hoist duty. For spreaders, specify spreader cable — send your spreader model and we confirm.

Q2: Can power and fiber run in one flat cable?
Yes. Hybrid flat constructions combining power cores and fiber optic units are standard offerings, documented in the TDS with fiber type, count and protection elements. This saves a separate data cable across the spreader.

Q3: What bending radius should I design for?
For high cycle reeling, plan around 8 to 10 times the cable height for this family, subject to construction and drum geometry. Drum diameter and layer stacking define the real limit — share the dimensions and we verify fit.

Q4: Chloroprene or PUR sheath for spreader duty?
Chloroprene covers general container terminal duty with oil and weather resistance. PUR is selected where drum winding pressure, edge abrasion or very high cycle counts dominate. Both are available — the choice follows your spreader make and cycle profile.

Q5: What information do you need to quote?
Spreader or crane type, voltage and core layout, fiber requirements if any, drum or roller dimensions, environmental conditions and quantity. Use the contact page to send the spreader maker's cable schedule.

Contact / Request a Quote

Send your spreader data, cable schedule or photos of the existing installation through the contact page. We will confirm the spreader construction, fiber integration and drum compatibility for your terminal, and return a quotation with delivery plans. For system level selection see our port crane and bulk handling cable solutions and the Flat & Festoon Cables range.