A flat cable gland is a cable entry fitting with a shaped seal for flat cables. It grips the cable, relieves strain, and blocks dust and water at the enclosure wall. A standard round gland cannot do this job reliably on a flat profile.
- How it works: A shaped seal or insert compresses evenly around the flat sheath, so the gland seals without crushing the conductors.
- When to use it: Choose one for lifts, cranes, conveyors, heat-trace lines, and twin-and-earth runs that enter panels.
- What it involves: You need the cable width, thickness, thread, material, and IP rating. Price follows material and certification.
Engineers look for a cable gland for flat cable when round glands leak or crush the sheath. This guide shows how to pick the right fit. It also covers sizing, IP ratings, hazardous-area options, and installation. Cabex India supports buyers in Europe, the UK, Australia, and the Middle East with exactly this question.
What Is a Flat Cable Gland and How Does It Work?
A flat cable gland replaces the round sealing ring with a seal shaped like the cable. In fact, the seal matches the oval or rectangular cross-section of the sheath. As you tighten the gland, the seal compresses evenly. It then holds the cable and closes the gap against dust and moisture.
Unlike a flat cable gland, a round gland squeezes a flat cable at only a few points. As a result, gaps open at the narrow edges. Meanwhile, water and dust find those gaps quickly. The shaped seal removes them. It also spreads the clamping force across the full flat surface, which protects the conductors inside.
Most designs combine a metal or polyamide body with an inner insert. Some use lateral sealing lips that adjust to different widths. For example, the Lapp SKINTOP SVF-M uses automatically fitting lateral lips. It can also clamp up to two flat cables in one opening. That flexibility cuts the number of part numbers a panel builder must stock. In practice, one cable gland for flat cable can then serve several cable sizes in the same panel.
Which Cables Need a Cable Gland for Flat Cable?
Any cable with an oval or rectangular profile needs a cable gland for flat cable. Round glands, in contrast, only suit round sheaths. Four cable groups come up most often in industrial work.
- Flat travelling cables: Lifts, cranes, and conveyor systems use these. They flex constantly, so strain relief matters.
- Twin-and-earth cable: Building and light-industrial wiring uses it widely.
- Heat-trace cable: Pipe and tank heating systems run flat self-regulating cable.
- Flat shielded cable: Some instrumentation circuits use it where screening must continue through the entry.
ABB lists filled flat, twin-and-earth, and heat-trace cables as suitable for its C2F flat compression glands. However, armoured cables need a different construction. Our guide to the types of cable glands explains how armoured designs differ.
Each group has its own demands. A cable gland for flat cable on a crane must tolerate vibration. In contrast, a cable gland for flat cable on a heating line must tolerate sustained heat.
What Types of Flat Cable Gland Are Available?
Three main types of cable gland for flat cable cover most projects. Overall, each one suits a different risk level and budget.
Compression-Type Glands
These glands use a shaped elastomer seal. Tightening the dome nut compresses the seal around the cable. Overall, they are the standard choice for unarmoured flat cable in panels and junction boxes.
Insert-Type Glands With Lateral Lips
Here, a polyamide insert with soft lips closes around the sheath. Lapp states that its SKINTOP FLAT reaches IP68 across the entire clamping range. It also has a wide clamping range, so one size covers several cables.
EMC Flat Cable Glands
Shielded flat cables need continuity at the entry point. EMC types add multiple screening contacts for this purpose. ABB’s C6F series is one example. It lists a temperature range of -60°C to +140°C.
How Does a Flat Cable Gland Compare With the Alternatives?
A flat cable gland beats a round gland and a rubber grommet on sealing and strain relief for flat profiles. The table below compares all three.
| Feature | Flat cable gland | Standard round gland | Rubber grommet |
| Fit on flat cable | Shaped to the profile | Poor; gaps at edges | Depends on cutout |
| Sealing level | Up to IP68 (by series) | Reduced on flat cable | Low to moderate |
| Strain relief | Strong | Weak on flat cable | Minimal |
| Hazardous-area options | Yes (Ex e / Ex d series) | Yes, for round cable | Rarely |
| Typical use | Lifts, heat trace, panels | Round power and control cable | Light-duty pass-through |
Source: manufacturer datasheets from Lapp and ABB; Cabex India engineering notes.
In short, a cable gland for flat cable wins whenever sealing and strain relief both matter.
What Does the IP Rating of a Flat Cable Gland Mean?
The IP rating shows how well a gland resists solid objects and water. IEC 60529 defines the code. The standard covers enclosures with a rated voltage up to 72.5 kV, according to the IEC webstore.
Specifically, the first digit covers solids, and the second covers liquids. IP68 means dust-tight and suitable for continuous immersion under agreed conditions. However, the test pressure and duration vary by manufacturer.
Here is a specific example. According to Lapp, the SKINTOP FLAT is rated IP68 at 5 bar and works from -20°C to +100°C. This means a buyer can use it on submersible pumps and outdoor cranes. Always check the datasheet for the test conditions, because a bare “IP68” label says little. Every cable gland for flat cable should list its test pressure and duration.
Can You Use a Flat Cable Gland in Hazardous Areas?
Yes, but only a certified one. Therefore, hazardous areas need glands tested to ATEX or IECEx rules. Also, the gland marking must match the zone and the equipment.
ABB’s C2F series shows what is possible. It carries ATEX and IECEx approval for Ex e, with a stated range of -60°C to +80°C. It suits gas zones 1 and 2 and dust zones 21 and 22. As a result, it fits heat tracing and control panels in process plants.
Never swap an uncertified gland into an Ex enclosure. Instead, request the certificate and check the marking against your zone. Cabex India explains the rules in its ATEX cable gland guide. Our page on hazardous area cable glands covers the Ex d, Ex e, and barrier options.
Where Are Flat Cable Glands Used in Industry?
Flat cable glands appear wherever moving or space-limited machinery needs sealed power. First, material handling is the largest group. Lifts, cranes, and conveyor lines all use flat travelling cable. Each one needs a cable gland for flat cable at the control box.
Building services come next. Twin-and-earth runs enter distribution boards and lighting housings daily. In addition, process plants use heat-trace cable on pipes and tanks. These sites often need ATEX or IECEx approval, so certified flat glands matter there. Submersible pumps form a fourth group. They need IP68 sealing because water pressure acts on the entry point.
Buyers in Europe, the Middle East, and Australia often specify metric threads and certified Ex marking. Therefore, always confirm the thread standard and certificate before you place an order. A cable gland for flat cable with the wrong thread wastes both time and freight.
How Do You Choose the Right Flat Cable Gland?
Selecting a cable gland for flat cable starts with the cable, not the catalogue. Match the gland to the cable first and the environment second. Follow these steps.
- Measure the cable. Record width and thickness at the thickest point of the sheath.
- Check the clamping range. The gland must cover both dimensions, not just one.
- Pick the thread. Metric, PG, NPT, and BSP all exist, so match the enclosure.
- Choose the material. Nickel-plated brass suits most industrial work. Stainless steel 316L suits corrosive sites. Polyamide suits light duty.
- Set the IP rating. Use IP66 for washdown areas. Use IP68 where immersion is possible.
- Confirm certification. Add ATEX or IECEx if the area is hazardous.
Brass remains the most common metal choice because it resists corrosion and keeps earth continuity. Our brass cable gland manufacturer page lists the finishes and thread options.
How Do You Size a Flat Cable Gland? A Worked Example
In fact, sizing is simple when you follow the numbers. Suppose a lift cable measures 30 mm wide and 8 mm thick. You need a flat cable gland whose clamping range covers both values. The Lapp SVF-M data lists widths of 24 to 34 mm. It also lists thicknesses of 4 to 11.5 mm. This cable sits inside both ranges, so the size works on paper.
However, paper checks are not enough. Measure the cable at several points, because sheaths vary along their length. Then add the thread size your enclosure allows. If one value falls outside the range, move up one size. Never force a cable into a gland that is too small. A correctly sized cable gland for flat cable closes evenly and leaves no visible gap at the narrow edges.
How Do You Install a Flat Cable Gland?
Fitting a cable gland for flat cable takes about five minutes when you prepare well. Follow the manufacturer’s torque values, because they differ by series. Lapp notes this directly in its SKINTOP FLAT documentation.
- Drill or punch the entry hole to the thread size.
- Fit the gland body and tighten the locknut from inside the enclosure.
- Slide the dome nut and seal insert over the flat cable.
- Seat the cable with the flat face aligned to the insert.
- Tighten the dome nut until the seal grips evenly.
- Check that the cable cannot pull or twist by hand.
Also, keep the cable straight at the entry. A sharp bend at the gland breaks the seal over time. For this reason, leave a gentle curve inside the enclosure.
How Do You Maintain a Flat Cable Gland?
In practice, good maintenance extends seal life by years. Inspect each gland during routine panel checks. Look for cracked seals, loose dome nuts, and cable movement at the entry. In addition, check for corrosion on the body in damp or coastal sites.
Next, retighten only to the manufacturer’s torque value. Likewise, replace any seal that feels hard or shows cuts. Moreover, keep a record of gland sizes in your maintenance file. As a result, that record speeds up spares orders later. Check every cable gland for flat cable on moving machinery often. Vibration loosens nuts over time.
What Mistakes Should You Avoid With Flat Cable Glands?
Most failures come from poor sizing, not poor products. Watch for these errors.
- Using a round gland instead of a cable gland for flat cable. The seal never closes at the edges.
- Ignoring cable thickness. A gland that fits the width may still leak on thickness.
- Over-tightening. Excess torque crushes the sheath and the insulation.
- Skipping the certificate. A non-certified gland voids hazardous-area compliance.
- Reusing worn seals. Aged seals harden and lose their grip.
What Affects the Price of a Flat Cable Gland?
In general, price depends on material, size, certification, and order volume. For example, a polyamide gland costs the least. A stainless steel Ex-certified gland costs the most. In addition, custom thread sizes and special seals add cost.
Buyers should compare total cost, not unit price alone, when they quote a cable gland for flat cable. A failed seal can stop a line or void an Ex certificate. Therefore, the right gland pays for itself quickly.
Why Source Cable Glands From Cabex India?
Cabex India manufactures industrial and hazardous-area cable glands for global projects. The company holds ATEX, IECEx, and PESO approvals and supplies Europe, the UK, Australia, and the Middle East. It also offers custom cable glands. Ask the team whether a custom cable gland suits your profile.
Send your cable width, thickness, thread, and zone to the export team at export@cabexindia.com. The team will recommend a suitable gland. You can read more on the Cabex India website. You can also review the explosion protection cable glands.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a flat cable gland used for?
It seals and secures flat cables where they enter panels, junction boxes, and machines.
Can I use a round gland on flat cable?
No, because a round seal leaves gaps at the narrow edges and fails to seal properly.
What IP rating can a flat cable gland reach?
Many series reach IP66 to IP68, but you must check the test pressure on the datasheet.
Do hazardous areas allow flat cable glands?
Yes, if the gland carries ATEX or IECEx certification that matches the zone.
How do I size a cable gland for flat cable?
Measure the cable width and thickness, then pick a gland whose clamping range covers both.
Conclusion
This solves a problem that round glands cannot. It seals the flat profile, protects the conductors, and holds the cable in place. First, measure the cable. Next, match thread, material, and IP rating. Finally, confirm certification for hazardous sites. Choose a cable gland for flat cable with these steps, and your enclosures stay sealed for years. To get a recommendation, contact the Cabex India export team today.
