Introduction: The Nexans Pedigree from Rheydt

The RHEYCORD® (RTS) brand carries one of the most storied lineages in European cable manufacturing. The “RHEY” prefix traces to Rheydt, the historic cable manufacturing city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany — home to Kabelfabrik Rheydt (later AEG Kabel, then Nexans Deutschland). For over a century, Rheydt has been synonymous with premium industrial cable engineering. The RHEYCORD (RTS) is Nexans’ extra heavy duty reeling cable, distributed through Klaus Faber AG alongside the Prysmian CORDAFLEX and Bitner BiTcrane product families — giving procurement engineers access to three competing OEM manufacturers through a single distributor.

The RHEYCORD (RTS) occupies a strategic position in the Klaus Faber catalogue: it offers two configurations — 3×150+3×70/3 and 3×300+3×150/3 — that span the critical gap between standard CORDAFLEX power cables (which max at 3×240) and the ultra-heavy BiTcrane (which offers only 3×300). The 3×150 configuration delivers 399 A — significantly higher than the CORDAFLEX (SMK) 3×150 at 335 A — thanks to bare copper conductors and HEPR insulation. The 3×300 configuration matches the BiTcrane’s 621 A but at 12,350 kg/km — a 6% weight saving that reduces drum structural loading and motor torque requirements.

Full Technical Specification

2 Configurations: The Strategic 150/300 Pairing

The two-configuration pairing is strategically significant. The 3×150 and 3×300 are not arbitrary choices — they represent the two most common high-power motor drive requirements in port and mining applications. The 3×150 at 399 A serves motor drives in the 200–300 kW range (at 690 V) — typical for RTG/RMG crane travel drives, medium stacker-reclaimer travel drives, and ship loader boom hoists. The 3×300 at 621 A serves motor drives in the 400–600 kW range — the largest STS crane hoist and trolley drives, mega stacker-reclaimer main drives, and bucket wheel excavator slew drives.

Fzd/Fzp = 2.0× on Both Configurations

The consistent Fzd/Fzp = 2.0× ratio across both configurations confirms this is a deliberate design specification of the RHEYCORD (RTS) family, not an artefact of a single configuration. The Fzp-per-mm² values of approximately 13.0 N/mm² are essentially identical to the BiTcrane’s values — indicating that both cables (despite different OEMs) share a similar approach to translating the 30 N/mm² conductor tensile into practical cable assembly limits. The Fzd-per-mm² values of approximately 26 N/mm² approach the 30 N/mm² conductor material limit, meaning the dynamic rating utilises nearly the full conductor tensile capacity for short-duration peak loads.

6% Weight Advantage at 3×300: The Lighter Heavy Cable

The RHEYCORD (RTS) 3×300+3×150/3 weighs 12,350 kg/km — compared to the BiTcrane® 3×300+3×150/3 at 13,136 kg/km. This is a 786 kg/km (6%) weight saving at identical conductor cross-section, identical ampacity (621 A), identical resistance (0.0641 Ω/km), identical outer diameter (74 mm), and identical tensile ratings (Fzp 13,500 N / Fzd 27,000 N).

The entire 786 kg/km weight difference comes from the non-copper components — insulation, inner sheath, torsion braid, and outer sheath. The RHEYCORD (RTS) achieves a 26% reduction in non-copper weight while maintaining identical OD, tensile, and performance parameters. This suggests Nexans’ HEPR insulation and CR 5GM5 sheath formulations achieve higher density efficiency — delivering the same mechanical protection with less material mass. For a 400-metre cable run on a stacker-reclaimer, the weight saving translates to approximately 314 kg less cable on the drum — reducing structural load on the drum support bearings and allowing a proportional reduction in drum motor torque specification.

Bending Radius: 4-Mode Table with Size-Dependent Free Movement

Both published configurations (56 mm and 74 mm OD) fall in the >20 mm column: free movement at 5×D, reeling operation at 6×D, multi-roller at 7.5×D, and S-shaped track curves at ≥20×D. These values are identical to the BiTcrane for both cables’ actual operating sizes. The smaller size columns (<8–12 mm and >13–20 mm) apply to future configurations in the RHEYCORD (RTS) family if Nexans extends the product line to smaller cross-sections.

The 3×D free movement at <8–12 mm is notably tight — tighter than any equivalent specification in the CORDAFLEX or BiTcrane families. This suggests the RHEYCORD (RTS) architecture (HEPR + CR 5GM5 + synthetic braid) is particularly well-suited for small-diameter, high-flexibility applications if the product line is extended downward.

Three-Way Comparison: RHEYCORD vs. BiTcrane vs. CORDAFLEX (SMK)

Cost-Effective Alternative from Feichun

Feichun Lead Times: 3×150+3×70/3: 6–10 weeks. 3×300+3×150/3: 10–14 weeks. Custom RHEYCORD-equivalent configurations: 12–16 weeks. European OEM: 24–36 weeks.

Technical FAQ

Why doesn’t the RHEYCORD (RTS) datasheet list operating speed? The Klaus Faber datasheet for the RHEYCORD (RTS) does not publish an operating speed (m/min). This omission is notable because both the BiTcrane and CORDAFLEX families explicitly specify 240 m/min. The Nexans RHEYCORD (RTS) original catalogue specifies operating speeds on a per-configuration basis rather than as a blanket cable-family specification. For engineering purposes, the cable’s construction (HEPR + CR 5GM5 + synthetic braid + 30 N/mm²) is equivalent to the BiTcrane, which is rated at 240 m/min. Feichun’s equivalent is tested and rated at 240 m/min for both configurations.

Why doesn’t the datasheet list ozone resistance? The Klaus Faber datasheet omits explicit ozone resistance, while the BiTcrane lists “ozone-resistant: yes.” The CR 5GM5 (chloroprene rubber) compound inherently provides ozone resistance — chloroprene’s molecular structure makes it one of the most ozone-resistant synthetic rubbers available. The omission from the datasheet is likely a documentation difference rather than a material performance difference. Feichun’s equivalent is tested per DIN EN 60811-2-1 for ozone resistance and confirmed compliant.

What does “(RTS)” mean in the RHEYCORD designation? In Nexans’ product nomenclature, “RTS” indicates the extra heavy duty / reduced-diameter construction class — a cable engineered for the highest mechanical loads with optimised (reduced) outer diameter for the given conductor cross-section. The standard RHEYCORD (without RTS) is available in a broader range of configurations for standard heavy duty applications. The (RTS) variant uses HEPR insulation and CR 5GM5 dual sheath to achieve the premium 30 N/mm² tensile and 2.0× Fzd/Fzp ratio that distinguish it from the standard RHEYCORD.

Why is the RHEYCORD 3×150 lighter than the CORDAFLEX (SMK) 3×150? RHEYCORD (RTS) 3×150: 6,460 kg/km at 56 mm OD. CORDAFLEX (SMK) 3×150: 7,647 kg/km at 57.9 mm OD. The 1,187 kg/km (16%) weight difference and the 1.9 mm OD reduction come from three factors: bare copper (lower density from absence of tin coating, though the difference is small), HEPR insulation (harder, denser, thinner wall at equivalent dielectric strength), and the optimised “(RTS)” reduced-diameter construction philosophy. For cable reel engineers, this means the RHEYCORD (RTS) 3×150 occupies less drum volume and imposes lower structural loads than the CORDAFLEX (SMK) at the same cross-section — while delivering 19% more ampacity.