Sustainable connections

LAPP is a family business. In order to leave a healthy planet to future generations, sustainable and long-term action is deeply rooted in the DNA of the Stuttgart-based company. LAPP has already developed a number of products, projects and ideas based on this sustainability concept: These include the world’s first portfolio of lead-free brass cable glands from the LAPP brand SKINTOP®, the ETHERLINE® FD bioP Cat.5e data cable from LAPP with a partially bio-based jacket material, as well as the calculation of the product carbon footprint (PCF) of the LAPP portfolio or the use of sustainable packaging materials in the LAPP logistics centres.

But that’s not enough for LAPP: the Stuttgart-based company is bringing prototypes of two LAPP brand EPIC® connectors to the trade fair stand at SPS 2024 in Nuremberg. "There is great interest in sustainable solutions, as we have clearly seen at previous trade fairs with our more sustainable data cable," says Alexander Denk, Vice President Business Unit EPIC®. "We are building on this and presenting an organic version of the EPIC® H-A 3 and EPIC® H-Q TG connector housings."

Same technical properties as fossil versions

In the futureLAB, where LAPP will be providing insights into future ideas and technology trends at SPS 2024, visitors can discuss the more sustainable connectors with LAPP experts. "The special thing about the more sustainable versions is that they have exactly the same technical properties as our conventional connectors," says Alexander Denk. This makes them equally suitable for all applications, machines and industries in which they are otherwise used. In addition to automation, this also includes the robotics sector. However, the right material had to be found first. A challenge, as the variety of bioplastics is still limited.

"When making our selection, it was important to us that a more sustainable version was also economical," says Alexander Denk. "By finding a bioplastic that has the same shrinkage during production as the fossilised version, we can use the same tools in our production facilities to manufacture the connectors." In addition, the housings of the connectors in particular are often exposed to strong environmental influences during use. It was therefore necessary for the more sustainable variants to undergo the same ageing and UV tests. The pleasing result: here too, there are no differences between the fossil and bio variants.

The more sustainable versions of the two connectors are made of a bio-plastic based on corn starch and have 35% less bound carbon than their sisters made of conventional plastic.

The EPIC® H-A 3 bio based is a standard connector for a wide range of industries (e.g. mechanical engineering, renewable energies, food production, agriculture). With the smallest housing of all industrial connectors from LAPP, it guarantees the safest connection in the tightest of spaces and is compatible with all applications. The EPIC® H-Q TG bio-based is a compact and robust connector for the power supply of electric motors and servo drives. Its compact design ensures a high contact density for versatile use in power and signal transmission. Both connector housings are free from red phosphorus and halogen.

SKINTOP® and EPIC®: Sustainable portfolio to be further expanded

In addition to the housings, a complete connector also includes the inserts. However, they present the developers at LAPP with additional challenges, as they also have to fulfil the electrical properties of their fossil sisters in equal measure – including for the necessary certifications. "This is the next challenge for us," says Alexander Denk about the next steps. At the same time, LAPP is developing SKINTOP® BIO, bio-based versions of its SKINTOP® cable glands. Up to 90 % bio-based materials can be used here.