Northwire’s PUR, HFFR, LSZH, Cold Temp and Steadicam HD Cables Expand LEMO’s Field-Proven Broadcast Range

Feb. 24, 2016
Cable engineering company, Northwire, Inc., (NWI), in collaboration with precision cable connector market leader LEMO expands their field-proven family of broadcast solutions with the addition of a new range of ruggedized fibre optic hybrid HDTV SMPTE camera cables.

Well-known in the high-tech broadcast marketplace, LEMO’s suite of products, including the SMPTE 3K.93C Series, media converters and its families of Push-Pull connectors add PUR (Polyurethane), HFFR (Halogen Free Flame Retardant cables), LSZH (Low Smoke Zero Halogen cables) cold/low temperature cable and Steadicam HD cable products to their offering.

Launching at the Broadcast Video Expo Trade Show in London, UK February 23 through 25, 2016, those searching for connector and cable solutions can view technical demonstrations of HDTV SMPTE (Society of Motion Picture and Television Engineers) camera cable assemblies subjected to extreme weight challenges and discuss cable assembly and connector needs with LEMO UK and LEMO F.O.U.R. (Fibre Optics Unit of Research) colleagues. 

LEMO developed the 3K.93C Series connectors in the early stages of the introduction of HDTV in the 1990s, becoming the global standard for high-definition camera systems. It is one of the only connectors being used worldwide that complies fully with SMPTE, ARIB and EBU standards and is specified for many national and international broadcast companies. Waterproof to IP68 rating, LEMO’s self-latching Push-Pull connectors can operate in extreme environments with temperatures ranging from -40° C to +80° C. The stainless steel 3K.93C cable connector can sustain 20,000 mating cycles, making it a very robust solution. The LEMO 3K.93C series is available in 11 different shell styles with applications ranging from studios to sports arenas, outside broadcast to concert halls and many others.

LEMO’s range of fibre media converters feature a wide selection of options, are lightweight, and portable, and are compatible with SD, HD, and a range of SMPTE standards, providing extra flexibility to broadcast operators and the challenges faced at events.

LEMO’s range of fibre media converters feature a wide selection of options, are lightweight, and portable, and are compatible with SD, HD, and a range of SMPTE standards, providing extra flexibility to broadcast operators and the challenges faced at events.

● MEERKAT triax to fibre converter encodes the camera’s triaxial signal and converts it for transmission using Northwire’s SMPTE 311 cable.
● SERBAL features a four channel multiplexer for HD/SDI to fibre conversion also using SMPTE fibre cable. The 3G version is suitable for 4K transmission.
● SHACK coverts unit from SMPTE fibre cable to duplex single mode fibre, enabling the use of existing single mode fibre building infrastructure.
● HD Z Link is a fibre camera back which changes a camcorder into a system camera that can be connected to SMPTE cable.

Hundreds of years of expertise amongst The LEMO Group subsidiaries and Northwire R&D engineers have combined to meet customers’ request for earth-friendly interconnectivity solutions that can withstand extreme conditions. Here are the high-level features of Northwire’s expanded HD Cable offering:

  • Ruggedized SMPTE PUR LSZH Cold-Flex; Eco-friendly, Steel Strength HD Cable. Featuring advanced Low Smoke Zero Halogen and Halogen Free Flame Retardant jacket, this environmentally-friendly HD SMPTE certified cable also has HFFR inners. The stainless steel strength member meets the pull strength compressive specification and operates in extreme temperature ranges of -60°C to +80°C.
  • Harsh Duty PUR LSZH Cold-Flex HD Cable; Eco-friendly, Aramid Fibre HD Cable. While ultra-flexible, this Northwire offering meets all of the same specifications as the SMPTE Harsh Environment Low Smoke Zero Halogen cable listed above, the aramid fibre that serves as the strength member does not allow the SMPTE name.
  • Flex-lite 6.8mm Steadicam HD Cable; Powerful, Featherweight HD Cable. Steadicam technology was born in the 1970’s and Northwire’s progressive material selection and design reduces weight without compromising performance. Design optimised for Steadicam to recorder applications where cable lengths are limited to 5 metres.

Engineered and manufactured for harsh-duty applications, Northwire’s hybrid cables are fully compatible with LEMO’s 3K.93C hybrid connector. Featuring signal, power, control and a low coefficient of friction to ensure the smoothest end-user experience, click the link for the data sheet to learn more about materials and construction of the new SMPTE cables including braid and shielding, auxiliary and signal conductors, and fibres and strength members. With a bend radius of 6x cable diameter, Northwire’s harsh-duty SMPTE and ARIB cable is built for optimal flexibility including torsional, rolling, variable, bend and continuous. Check out some of the highlights for Northwire’s SMPTE and ARIB ruggedized cable. With the line extension benefit options in bold, the heavy duty cable meets or exceeds the following standards:

● Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LSZH)
● Halogen Free Flame Retardant (HFFR)
● Low Temperature Rating -60°C
● Cold Bend Radius -60°C
● High Temperature Rating 80°C
● 6.8mm Steadicam Dimensions
● Aramid Fibre Pull Strength Spec
● Stainless Steel Pull Strength Compressive Spec

● SMPTE 311
● ARIB ● RoHS2 Compliant
● UL 758 AWM and ANSI
● CE Mark Approved
● REACH Compliant
● Impact Resistant
● Crush Resistant
● Cut and Oil Resistant
● Use in Wet Locations
● Wash-down Resistant
● VW-1 Flame Resistant


Joining their Maintenance Repair Operations equipped colleagues with fibre termination facilities within the LEMO Group in the United Kingdom, Germany, Benelux, Japan, China, Singapore, and the United States, Northwire achieved LEMO’s Certified SMPTE Cable Assembler requirements to build and repair SMPTE 311M fibre optic cable assemblies. With a suite of offerings of connectors, cable and media converters, LEMO and NWI are your innovative solutions providers for a wide variety of custom and standard cable assemblies:

● Coaxial and Triaxial cable
● Audio and Video Cable
● Multi-conductor
● PTFE and PUR Cable
● Silicone Cable
● Silicone-Free Cable
● Special…Viton
 ● Computer Cable
● High Voltage Cable
● Hybrid Cable
● Retractable Cable
● Fibre Optic Cable
● Plastic Optical Fibre Cable
● Miniature Cable
● Base-station Cable
● Cat 5 | Cat 7 Cable
● Flat Cable
● And much more…

With almost 20 subsidiaries and close to 20 distributors easily accessible, the likelihood that LEMO is just around the corner is high – and odds are getting better. Impressively quick and ultra-convenient, The LEMO – Northwire European master distribution centre is fully operational. Strategically located at LEMO Connectors Benelux, the state-of-the art facility will serve all of LEMO’s European outlets in addition to their local marketplace – Netherlands and Belgium. Working collaboratively with you, LEMO will create a flexible supply chain designed specifically to meet your needs including special service arrangements for five day lead-times for the new LEMO-Northwire SMPTE and ARIB hybrid fibre cables. Contact your local LEMO Colleagues for further information.

Efficiently and effectively consolidate your supply base with LEMO and Northwire’s comprehensive broadcast solutions. Schedule a joint ‘Lunch and Learn’ with LEMO and Northwire or contact Northwire for complimentary representative wire and cable samples.

>> For more information please click here.

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