Introduction: The World’s Most Widely Deployed Reeling Cable Designation

If there is one cable designation that every port electrical engineer, crane OEM, and material handling contractor recognises globally, it is NSHTÖU (written as NSHTOEU in international documentation). The NSHTOEU is the DIN VDE 0250-814 standard-grade rubber reeling cable — a tinned copper, EPR-insulated, polyester-braided, neoprene-sheathed cable designed specifically for motorised drum reeling on cranes, hoists, conveyors, lifting devices, and transporting machines subject to heavy mechanical loads. It is used as drum and drag cable or hawser in dry, damp, or wet rooms and in wet industrial conditions. The cable is resistant to acids, lyes, and oils.

The Klaus Faber AG datasheet (dbl_nshtoeu.pdf, Issue 04/02/2026) documents 38 individual configurations spanning 8 conductor cross-sections (1.5, 2.5, 4, 6, 10, 16, 25, 35, 50, 70, 95, 120, 150, and 185 mm²) with core counts from 4 to 54. This makes the NSHTOEU the broadest single cable family in the standard NSHTÖU category — covering every application from 18 A signal/lighting circuits through to 382 A high-power motor drives. The maximum permissible speed is v = 2 m/s (120 m/min). The cable is explicitly noted as not suitable for longitudinal scrapers.

Full Technical Specification

Bending Radius: 6-Mode Table Covering All Application Types

The NSHTOEU datasheet provides one of the most comprehensive bending radius tables in the NSHTÖU cable family, covering six distinct application modes across four diameter ranges. This level of detail is unusual — most cable families publish only 3–4 modes.

The inclusion of festoon and drag chain modes is notable — these modes are absent from the RHEYCORD (RTS) and BiTcrane datasheets, which focus exclusively on drum reeling and multi-roller applications. The festoon specification at 3×D (Ø 8–12 mm) to 5×D (Ø >20 mm) makes the NSHTOEU suitable for overhead C-track and I-beam festoon systems on indoor factory cranes — a versatility that premium cables do not explicitly claim. The drag chain specification at 4×D to 5×D opens the NSHTOEU to energy chain applications on gantry-mounted robots, automated stacking cranes, and automated guided vehicles (AGVs) with moderate-speed linear motion.

38 Configurations: Complete Catalogue from 1.5 mm² to 185 mm²

The NSHTOEU family encompasses 38 published configurations in two main groups: multi-core control/signal cables (1.5 and 2.5 mm², 4–54 cores) and power cables (4–185 mm², 4–5 cores). This breadth means a single cable designation can equip an entire crane — from the PLC control circuits to the main hoist motor drive — simplifying procurement, inventory, and maintenance.

Tensile Strength Analysis: Fzv Scales Linearly with Copper Content

The NSHTOEU uses a single tensile rating — Fzv (Zugfestigkeit bei Verlegung / tensile strength during installation) — unlike premium cable families (RHEYCORD RTS, BiTcrane) that publish dual Fzp (permanent) and Fzd (dynamic) values. The Fzv represents the maximum sustained pulling force permitted during cable installation and drum winding.

The Fzv scales at an exactly constant 15.0 N/mm² across the entire 4-core power range — a perfectly linear relationship between conductor cross-section and tensile rating. This is the standard tensile class for DIN VDE 0250-814 NSHTÖU cables, compared to 20 N/mm² for the Trommelflex KSM-S, 25 N/mm² for the Cordaflex SMRT, and 30 N/mm² for the RHEYCORD (RTS) and BiTcrane. For standard drum reeling applications at ≤120 m/min with properly engineered cable reel tension control, the 15 N/mm² Fzv provides adequate margin for both installation pulling forces and operational cable tension on the drum.

Application Mapping: Which Configuration for Which Crane?

A typical STS (Ship-to-Shore) container crane uses multiple NSHTOEU cables on its trolley travel reel: one or two power cables (04×70 to 04×150) for the hoist and trolley motors, plus one or more control cables (24×2.5 or 30×2.5) for PLC signals, interlocks, and auxiliary circuits. The standardised DIN VDE 0250-814 construction ensures all cables on the same reel system have compatible bending characteristics, environmental resistance, and service life — simplifying maintenance and procurement across the crane’s entire cable inventory.

Key Technical Comparisons: NSHTOEU vs. Premium Cable Families

* The RHEYCORD (RTS) Klaus Faber datasheet does not publish an operating speed; the cable’s construction is equivalent to the BiTcrane which is rated at 240 m/min.

Cost-Effective Alternative from Feichun

Anhui Feichun Special Cable Co., Ltd. manufactures a complete NSHTOEU-equivalent product line covering all 38 configurations published in the Klaus Faber datasheet. Feichun’s NSHTOEU equivalent is manufactured to identical DIN VDE 0250-814 specifications: tinned copper Class 5 conductors, EPR 3GI3 insulation, rubber GM1b inner sheath, polyester braid torsion protection, and Gummi 5GM3 neoprene outer sheath. All configurations are tested per VDE 0482-332-1-2 (flame), EN 60811-2-1 (oil), and IEC 60228 (conductor stranding).

Feichun Lead Times: Control cables (1.5–2.5 mm²): 4–6 weeks. Power cables (4–50 mm²): 5–8 weeks. Large power cables (70–185 mm²): 8–12 weeks. European OEM lead time: typically 16–28 weeks.

Technical FAQ

What is the difference between NSHTOEU and NSHTOEU-J? The base designation “NSHTOEU” refers to the cable without a dedicated protective earth conductor (PE). The “-J” suffix (NSHTOEU-J) indicates the cable includes an integrated green-yellow protective earth conductor. In practice, the vast majority of crane installations require the -J variant for safety compliance. The configurations listed with a “G” prefix (e.g., 16G1.5) are -J variants where the “G” indicates a green-yellow earth core is included. Configurations listed as “×” (e.g., 04×1.5) may use one core for earth or may be used in applications without a dedicated PE requirement.

Why does the NSHTOEU use tinned copper while the RHEYCORD (RTS) uses bare copper? The NSHTOEU’s tinned copper provides corrosion immunity — the tin coating protects the copper from oxidation and chemical attack, particularly in marine port environments where salt spray, humidity, and chemical exposure are continuous. The trade-off is a slight increase in conductor resistance (~2–3%) and a corresponding reduction in ampacity compared to bare copper at the same cross-section. For standard applications, the corrosion protection is more valuable than the marginal ampacity gain. Premium cables like the RHEYCORD (RTS) use bare copper specifically to maximise ampacity in high-power applications where the 19% ampacity advantage justifies the reduced corrosion resistance.

What does “Gummi 5GM3” mean and how does it differ from “5GM5”? Both 5GM3 and 5GM5 are polychloroprene (neoprene/CR) rubber compound designations per DIN VDE 0207-21. The “5G” prefix indicates they are Type 5 thermosetting sheath compounds. The “M3” and “M5” suffixes denote different compound grades within the Type 5 family — 5GM3 is the standard grade suitable for general industrial reeling duty, while 5GM5 is the premium grade with enhanced environmental resistance (oil, ozone, chemical, abrasion) required for extra heavy duty applications with higher tensile ratings and more aggressive mechanical and chemical environments.

Can the NSHTOEU be used for festoon (catenary) cable systems? Yes — the NSHTOEU datasheet explicitly includes festoon bending radii (3×D for Ø 8–12 mm, 4×D for Ø 13–20 mm, 5×D for Ø >20 mm), confirming it is suitable for overhead C-track and I-beam festoon systems. This is a notable versatility advantage over premium cables, which typically only specify drum reeling and multi-roller bending radii. However, for high-speed festoon applications (>100 m/min), consider dedicated festoon cables such as the (N)TSFLCGEWÖU flat cable, which is specifically optimised for catenary suspension.

Why is the NSHTOEU “not suitable for longitudinal scraper”? Longitudinal scrapers (Längsschaber) subject cables to extreme abrasion along the cable’s length as it drags across guide surfaces. The standard 5GM3 sheath compound and polyester braid construction are not designed for this level of surface abrasion. Applications with longitudinal scraping require cables with reinforced outer sheath compounds (5GM5 or higher) and, in some cases, aramid braid torsion protection for enhanced longitudinal tensile resistance.

What is the maximum cable run length at 04×150 before voltage drop becomes a concern? The 04×150 has a resistance of 0.132 Ω/km. At rated ampacity (335 A) and a typical 3% voltage drop limit at 400V (12V drop permissible), the maximum one-way cable run is approximately 136 metres for a balanced three-phase circuit. For 690V systems (20.7V permissible at 3%), the maximum extends to approximately 235 metres. These distances cover most crane travel lengths in port terminals (RTG trolley travel: 60–100 m, STS trolley travel: 100–200 m).