Roxtec, an international cable, and pipe protection seal maker, is launching a new product to Saudi Arabia after establishing the first dedicated Saudi Arabian company registered in Al Khobar.

The groundbreaking Roxtec UG transit, according to Firas Kafafi, Roxtec Saudi Arabia's director of Middle East operations, is being introduced on the United Nations World Day for Health and Safety at Work and has been explicitly planned to assist the electricity, civil building, and infrastructure industries.

He announced that the substance is being manufactured in the Kingdom to finance the government's ambitious 2030 Vision program.

“I have effectively suggested this commodity to my customers around the Middle East for so many years, and we are now pleased to sell it in KSA,” he said.

“Originally designed for the European power generation and transmission markets to combat rain and extreme water seepage, it has proved to be a success in the MENA region, where high water tables, standing water, and flash floods can be a major issue.”

The professional seal, according to Kafafi, is suitable for power cables accessing underground entrances of buildings, such as foundations and basements, and supports structures such as power substations.

This is because it contains a specially developed high elastic EPDM rubber that is used to close cable ducts underneath the ground.

According to Kafafi, the Roxtec UG seal is IP68-rated, has a devastating water pressure rating of 1 bar and a constant water force rating of 0.3 bar, and can be used on trefoil single-core cables.

The device has been checked in a specialized laboratory with persistence checks of 1400N and 3300N, depending on the component chosen, indicating that it can withstand the weight of several cables, which is often the source of failure in conventional adhesives.

The seal can be positioned in damp areas and above flowing water, and it can survive intense cable bending.

“These watertight seals operate by acting as a conduit for various cables and pipes entering through frameworks,” Kafafi said. They are simple to set up, administer, and examine.

“These can be used on different-sized cables because of the interchangeable membranes, and that's how they prevent floods in sub-station basements.

As detailed in the leading industry whitepaper Humidity Effects in Substations, they decrease water leakage in power stations, which can cause humidity, resulting in partial discharge, switchgear loss, and power failure.

“The seal can also be installed in running water applications and serves as long-lasting protection against gas, rust, and rodents.

“Most significantly, Roxtec UG seals are simple to insert onto concrete foundations and do not need drying or curing, saving time and money. A knock-out sleeve that is built to be inserted into the base structure is available.

“It operates in 3 industry-standard sizes and is designed to accommodate Roxtec seals and frames. A knock-out plate in the sleeve guarantees a watertight seal before routing cables, preventing water leaks during building.

According to Kafafi, the launch of the latest seal in Saudi Arabia would help Swedish-headquartered Roxtec demonstrate its track record as the world leader in cable and pipe seals, while still fulfilling the overarching strategic goal of expanding its Saudi Arabian existence.

He stated that Roxtec Saudi Arabia, which will open in January 2021, will draw on the company's existing commercial relationships in the area, having traded in KSA for over 20 years.

Roxtec has a long history of supply in Saudi Arabia, involving work on ventures in the telecommunications and water sectors. Furthermore, its materials are used in onshore and offshore oil and gas installations in the Kingdom, and petrochemicals.