Latest News

CPR - Frequently Asked Questions

Who is responsible for CPR? It's up to the designer, specifier or installer to satisfy themselves that the products chosen are appropriate for the application and meet any contractual requirements.

O2 Arena - Case Study

The O2 Arena, housed in the former Millennium Dome (now ‘the O2’) is one of the largest multi-purpose indoor arenas in Europe. FS Cables supplied a number of specialist cables to this £600m project which is the first of its kind in the UK. This state-o

EZ-RJ45 Connectors & Tools for Cat 5E & Cat 6 Cables

HDBaseT Recommended Cat 5E & Cat 6 Now In Stock

HDBaseT is a simple, cost effective solution for HD media distribution with outstanding performance levels. FS Cables have been members of the HDBaseT Alliance since 2013, offering large stocks of HDBaseT approved Cat 5E and Cat 6. HDBaseT is the le

EZ-RJ45 Connectors for Cat 5E & Cat 6

Cat 5E Multipair

2491B – Flexible Single Core Low Smoke Halogen Free

The FS Cables 2491B single core cables are available in a range of sizes from 0.5mm² to 240mm². These cables come in a variety of colours, including black, blue, brown, red, white, violet, grey, pink, orange, yellow, green and green/yellow. Class 5

Cat 5E UTP Colours - Now in Stock

FS Cables now stock Cat-5E UTP in a range of new colours. In addition to the standard grey sheath, Cat-5E UTP is now available in red, blue, green, yellow and white for easy circuit identification. Tested to 350Mhz, these cables allow transfer of h

Cutting Corners – 10 Ways You Shouldn’t Save Money Buying Cable!

A tongue in cheek look at some of the more unscrupulous techniques used to save money when buying cable...

Now Available From Stock - Cat 5E and Cat 6 Connectors & Tools

What's in a Cable? - Part 1 - Conductors

As a regular feature in upcoming editions of Wired, we are going to take a look at the manufacturing processes involved in cable production. There is a great degree of variation in the cable production process. This makes cables highly customisable and su

Cat 6 Duct Grade

We have recently added the Cat 6 Duct Grade cable to our product range. Featuring a heavy black polyethylene sheath and a flame retardant PVC inner jacket for easy stripping, the Cat 6 offers high speed data transfers where underground duct or a weathe

Draka Firetuf Data and Coax

The market for soft skin fire alarm cables is now well established and some might say over subscribed! However it has taken years to develop a high performance data cable to meet the same standards. Draka FireTuf Data is a totally new product which has

Reigniting an Old Flame

New fire safety laws came into force on the 1st October this year, and early indications suggest that a number of employers are still unaware of the implications. The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order (RRFSO) sets out a change in legislation applying

Cat 5 Armoured and Duct Grade in Stock

External data applications for Cat-5 cables are increasing all the time and so are the physical demands that these cables are being asked to cope with. Long gone are the days when cables were simply contained in trunking around offices or under suspended

What's in a Cable? - Part 4 - Braiding, Screening and Armouring

Part 4 - Braiding, Screening and Armouring In this series we have looked at cable manufacturing, starting with the original conductor, the insulation material and the process of laying up the cores.

DSEI 2009

Defence Systems & Equipment International is the worlds largest defence and security exhibition, bringing together senior international trade and military experts from across the entire defence supply chain. A wide range of innovative products will be

What's in a Cable? Part 5 - Jacketing & Sheathing

The purpose of a jacket or sheath is the same as skin – to keep the outside out and the insides in. Jackets come in many different forms from braids and tapes to the more common extruded thermoplastic or thermosetting materials.

Wired - Editorial With Jon Herbert

At present our business is split fairly evenly between contractor, reseller/wholesaler and OEM markets. A common thread that links most discussions we have is how margins are being squeezed across the board. In some cases goods are free issued by the c

What's in a Cable? - Part 3 - The Laying Up Process

Part 3 - The Laying Up Process This instalment of “What’s in a Cable” covers the process of laying up. This process is used to create the core bundle once the conductors have been insulated.

What's in a Cable? - Part 2 - Insulation

This issue’s instalment of ‘What’s in a Cable’ covers insulation. Insulation is a non-conductive material used to coat the conductor to keep the electricity flowing to its intended destination. In the case of a transformer or motor armature this may be

Issue 10 of The Little Red Book Released

Issue 10 of the FS Cables cabling guide ‘The Little Red Book’ is out now. Extended to 176 pages and increased in size to A5, a host of new products and updated technical tables are included.

FS Cables Joins CEDIA

FS Cables have joined CEDIA as a trade supplier. CEDIA is a worldwide trade organisation for the home electronics industry and promotes professional standards around the design, supply and installation of automated electronic systems for the modern int

Multipair Cat 3 & Cat 5 cables

Where you need to run large numbers of pairs of Cat-3 or Cat-5 cables over distances multipair versions may be the answer. Cat-3 10, 25, 50, 100 or 200 pair and Cat-5 25 pair are now held in stock on bulk reels so you can order just the cut lengths you n

Cat 5 Boxes Now in Stock

Large stocks of Cat 5 / Cat 5E / Cat 6 UTP & FTP boxes are now available from stock in PVC or Low Smoke Halogen Free versions. Boxes contain a metre marked 1000ft (305m) length offering convenience, easy storage and great value.

BS4737 Standard Alarm Cables

The new BS4737-3.30:2015 standard helps installers determine differences between types or grades of alarm cable. A previous lack of regulation allowed high-end installations to be mistakenly connected by poor quality cable - leading to faults, call ..

Apprenticeship Update

Following the success of the FS Cables Apprenticeship programme, we're pleased to announce a further two members of staff have joined the team. The FS Cables apprenticeship scheme offers school and college leavers the opportunity to learn key skills...

Full Range of Lighting Control Cables Cables Now In Stock

FS Cables stock a range of cables designed for lighting control, allowing for complete control of lighting pre-programmed or at a push of a button. These cables feature a screened pair for data alongside either 18AWG or 12AWG power cores.

HDBaseT Recommended Cat 5E, Cat 6 & Cat 6A

As a member of the HDBaseT Alliance, FS Cables are offering large stocks of HDBaseT Recommended Cat 5E, Cat 6 & Cat 6A cables in a range of different colours. Available in either PVC or LSHF and in 305 metre pull boxes for your convenience...

FS Cables to Provide Cable for WorldSkills Competition

FS Cables are providing the KNX cable to be used on the electrical installation competition at WorldSkills 2011 at Excel, London from 5th – 8th October. Billed as ‘the skill Olympics’, WorldSkills is the largest international skills competition where y

Apprentice Programme Update - Wired Issue 11

Since the last issue of Wired the FS Cables Apprenticeship Programme has continued to grow, with a further four apprentices joining the programme. Now, more than two years in, six apprentices have completed the programme and are working in full time pos

Editorial with Jon Herbert

I spent some of April in China and was interested to see the way various factories are dealing with the Western downturn. More Chinese companies are focusing on their expanding home market whilst juggling wage inflation of 20% per annum with a workforce t

Apprenticeship Ambassadors

As part of our commitment to supporting apprentices, we are participating in an Apprenticeship Ambassador Programme run by Hertfordshire County Council. One of our apprentices is currently taking part in the Programme and has attended seminars to present

Apprenticeship Program - Update

The FS Cables Apprenticeship Programme is a Government backed initiative offering work based training to young people. As well as studying for an NVQ, each apprentice spends time learning ‘hands-on’ in each area of the company before returning to their j

Draka Fire Resistant Fibre Now in Stock

Fibre Optic Cables Now in Stock

LU Approved KNX Certified Cable - Now in Stock

N-Type Connectors for Antennax™ Now in Stock

IMPA 2015

Wear it Pink for Breast Cancer Now

Essential Install Live North 2015

ISE 2015, Amsterdam RAI - Show Review

Tru Cables & Connectors Catalogue Issue 2

Next Working-Day Delivery on Thousands of Cables

Profinet Type A Cable Now in Stock

Now Available From Stock - CAI Approved WF100 Digital Coaxial Cable

FS Cables have now added to stock the CAI Approved WF100 digital satellite coaxial cable. CAI is the benchmark standard for aerial and satellite broadcast cables ensuring accurate transmission of TV signal.

Copper Update

Copper has just hit the lowest average price for a month since June 2010, with worldwide copper stocks also down. We will undoubtedly see more fluctuations throughout the year but most of the long term forecasts talk of stagnation with few big surprises

Editorial With Jon Herbert

It’s been a good start to the year with the new home automation cables launched at the ISE exhibition (Integrated Systems Europe) in Amsterdam. The show had record attendance with excellent UK visitor numbers and serious interest for our export company FS

Tru - A New Concept In Home And Building Automation Cabling

FS Cables have launched a new range of high performance cables for home and building automation. The Tru cable range covers cables for most popular applications including AV, entertainment, building control, lighting and security. Tru cables have been d

Home Automation - The Future

As our lifestyles are becoming increasingly digital, the devices and equipment we use to consume digital media are becoming more integrated into the home. No longer a dream of tomorrow, the ‘connected home’ is now very much a reality with more and more p

Video - How to Terminate WF100 in Seconds with our Self-Install Connector

Increased Bus Cable Range

FS Cables have increased the range of bus cables held in stock. Increased stocks are now available of Profibus PA in both PVC and LSHF, the CC-Link® Fieldlink cable, Devicenet™ 'Thick' and 'Thin', Modbus and Profibus DP in PVC, LSHF or SWA. CAN-Bus High

FS Cables Release Issue 11 of Cabling Guide – ‘The Little Red Book’

ISE 2014 Show Review

Online Order Tracking

New Office

Low Smoke Halogen Free SY - Niltox LF-349

FS Cables now stock the Niltox® range of LF-349 flexible LSHF SY multicore control cables. Niltox LF-349 is a low smoke halogen free (LSHF) version of traditional SY cable. It is made up of class 5 stranded conductors, LSHF multicores, LSHF bedding, an

Telephone Cables - Talk to Us

FS Cables have increased their stocks and improved pricing on the range of CW1308 internal and CW1308B internal / external telephone cables. CW1308 0.5mm is now held in 2, 3, 4, 6, 10, 10+E, 20 and 20+E pair versions. 40 and 50 pair versions are also av

KNX Certified One Pair Cable

KNX member FS Cables has added the KNX certified 1 pair cable to its KNX range. Similar in construction to the standard 2 x 2 x 0.8mm, the one pair version features a single twisted solid conductor pair with a foil screen in a green low smoke halogen fre

New Additions to Our Antennax Ultra Low Loss Coaxial Cable Range

FS Cables has enhanced the range of high performance low loss Antennax coaxial cables by introducing Antennax-400 and Antennax-600 in 75ohm versions. This is in addition to the 50ohm versions also held in stock. Antennax cables are designed to carry sig

Draka Derby – Factory Closure

The Draka factory at Derby is due to close by the end of 2012 with a loss of over 200 jobs. Previously called Delta, the site has been manufacturing cable since the 1930s.

Flexible Control Cables - Range Increased

In response to customer demand, FS Cables have increased the range of flexible control cables held in stock. The range includes YY multicores, SY steel braided multicores and LiYCY screened multicores in many popular sizes and core counts.

Crestron Lighting Control Cable

Easter Bank Holiday - Delivery Information

Integrated Systems Europe 2014 - Amsterdam RAI

Opinion - Top Contractor Projects Being Squeezed

It is interesting that a number of top contractors are publicly acknowledging they won’t take jobs at a loss. Suicides bids normally lead to further problems down the road for not only the main contractor but very often the client and the supplier. This

Essential Install Live - Sandown Park

FS Cables will be at Essential Install Live at Sandown Park on 12th June 2013. Essential Install Live is a regional tradeshow supporting the custom installation, AV and home automation sector.

Easter Bank Holiday - Delivery Update

FS Cables are open as usual up until end of business Thursday 28th, re-opening again on Tuesday 2nd April. Orders placed on Thursday will be shipped to arrive standard next working-day – Tuesday 2nd April. Express services including pr- 9am, 10.30am or 1

Q&A With Katrina Maltman - Human Resources

What is your role at FS Cables? I am involved in all aspects of HR administration. Most of my time over the last few months was spent on recruitment, mainly focused on trainees for our Apprenticeship Training Programme. I am also responsible for ensuring

Copper Price Beginning to Rally

Copper is having a bit of a rally hitting highs last seen in mid-October. The long term prediction are still pretty pessimistic with world economies dictating when the recovery will happen.

Use Approved Cable or Die!

That's the message from some in the industry. The reality may be different, as Jon Herbert explains. There’s been a lot in the press recently about the choices facing the cable buyer regarding approvals, foreign cable and quality issues.

Wired - Editorial With Jon Herbert

Welcome to Wired from FS Cables. Our ambition is to bring you news from around the industry together with information and updates about our company.

FSC Global Goes to Kazakhstan - KIOGE 2006

FSC Global, the export arm of FS Cables exhibited at KIOGE 2006, the premier exhibition in Kazakhstan for Oil and Gas exploration and distribution.

Q&A - With Purchasing Manager Gary Banfield

The Q&A from issue of 1 of our newsletter 'Wired' talks to Purchasing Manager Gary Banfield.

ISO 14001 - Environmental Management

At FS Cables our objective for this year is to make significant reductions to our impact on the environment. It was one of our contracting customers who suggested attaining ISO14001 status. Work on this is well underway, with many good ideas coming forwar

Transducer Cables

Transducer cables are designed specifically for connecting to load cells or sensors that may be used in hostile environments to monitor movement, loads or stresses. Many applications are outdoors or in tunnels where the cables are often exposed to signif

LUL approval for the Draka Firetuf range

FS Cables are pleased to announce that the Draka Firetuf range of data and coax cables have successfully met the requirements of LUL standard 2-01001-002. As the official distributor of the Draka Firetuf range of data and coax cables FS Cables are deligh

Link-Up Approval for FS Cables

FS Cables is pleased to announce its status as a Link-Up approved supplier. Link-Up is the supplier qualification and verification scheme for the UK rail industry and ensures and maintains the quality of products and services to this sector.

Cable Approvals Update

Following on from the article in the last issue entitled ‘Use Approved Cable or Die’, BASEC wrote to us to provide more information on testing and approvals. They do visit BASEC approved manufacturers several times a year and test samples from production

M&E 2008 - Olympia

Working Buildings ’08 comprised three exhibitions - Total Workplace Management, Energy Solutions and our show - M&E 2008. M&E is aimed at building services professionals building services professionals involved in all aspects of design, specification, in

Next Working Day Delivery on Thousands of Cables

From our 55,000 sq. ft. warehouse based just north of London, FS Cables offer thousands of cables ‘off the shelf’ for next-working day delivery. There is no cut off time for orders – if we can ship your order we will. We also cut to length on many produc

Wired - Editorial With Jon Herbert

It would be difficult to write this without acknowledging the current market conditions. Certainly some projects are being put on hold or cancelled and some sectors will spend a lot less this year on development and growth than they did last year. There

Rail Cables Debut in Cabling Catalogue

Issue 9 of ‘The Little Red Book’ from FS Cables features a dedicated rail cabling section detailing a range of signalling, high and medium voltage power, trackside telecoms and rolling stock cables. Many products listed are available in Low Smoke Haloge

Copper Update - Cable Theft

When issue 9 of Wired was printed in November 2010, copper price stood at USD8000 per tonne. It got as high as USD9800 at the beginning of August 2011 but has fallen back a little since.

Q&A With Marketing Departments Owen Dale

Q: What’s the role of the Marketing Department at FS Cables? We’re here to make sure the customers’ needs are being met and ensuring they have access to reliable, concise technical information.

Tough, Durable Cabling Solutions

The FS range of duct grade cables are designed to withstand the toughest physical conditions To cope with the increasing range of demanding external installations, FS Cables offer a range of data, coaxial, signal and control and telecoms cables with toug

ISO 14001 Accreditation - FS Cables 'Goes Green'

FS Cables are proud to have been awarded ISO 14001 environmental accreditation. This achievement represents many months of hard work and has taken the best efforts of all members of staff.

Wired - Editorial With Jon Herbert

There is quite a bit in this issue about the customer feedback survey and I’d like to add my thanks to all of those that took part. It’s always good to read positive comments but the real reason for doing it was to improve our service. It’s much easier to

Composite Coax Cables

The benefits of running just one cable instead of several are considerable. The FS Cables range of composite coax cables enables you to run a video signal, control and power simultaneously to your CCTV / security camera system.

KNX Update

In addition to the KNX two pair cable, FSC now offer duct grade, armoured and white versions with KNX certification. The duct grade version features a tough black UV resistant polyethylene (PE) waterproof jacket over the standard LSHF inner sheath. The a

PV Cables Now in Stock

To meet customer demand, FS Cables now stock PV cables in both 4mm² & 6mm². PV Cables have excellent UV and high temperature stability making them ideal for linking solar panels on rooftops. Heat and weather can damage conventional cables causing them to

Issue 9 of Wired Released

Issue 9 of Wired, the cabling newsletter from FS Cables is out now. As well as launching the latest edition of our cabling guide ‘The Little Red Book’, Wired looks back at the price of copper in 2010 and the effect it’s had on the price of cable.

Wired Issue 8 Released

Wired issue 8 from FS Cables is now available online. The major issue covered is the confusion that still surrounds the difference between LSF (Low Smoke & Fume) and LSHF (Low Smoke Halogen Free) cables.

M&E 2006 - The Building Services Event 2006

M&E 2006 is the annual building services exhibition based at Olympia, London. As one of around 100 exhibitors at the show, FS Cables was pleased to meet many existing and potential customers to discuss our varied product range.

Intelligent Building Technologies - Complex Technologies – Simple Cabling

Premier League footballer and World Cup hopeful Gary Neville’s recent application for a new luxury eco-home complex incorporates cutting edge intelligent building automation technology alongside impressive green credentials. Neville’s new eco-mansion –

TruSound OFC Professional 16/2 & 16/4 Speaker Cables

FS Cables have added 16/2 and 16/4 OFC speaker cables to the TruSound Professional range of high performance audio cables. Featuring stranded OFC (oxygen free copper) conductors, the cables combine flexibility with optimum levels of performance and sound

Niltox LF-319 & LF-329 - The Safe, Flexible Datacentre Wiring Solution

Niltox LF-319 and LF-329 are the low smoke halogen free power, signal and control cables from FS Cables. Similar in construction to PVC YY and LiYCY, both cables are low smoke halogen free throughout making them ideal for installations in computer room

White Certified KNX Cable

Where KNX cabling is run internally and may be visible, FS Cables offer a certified KNX cable with a white jacket instead of the standard green. The cable is the same in construction as the standard green 2 x 2 x 0.8mm but has a white LSHF sheath with y

FS Cables join KNX UK as a Manufacturer Member

FS Cables have joined the KNX UK association as a manufacturer member. Joining KNX UK is part of FS Cables continuing support for the KNX standard and follows membership of the international KNX association and subsequent certification of its KNX twisted

External Grade Certified KNX Cable

To cope with the increasing range of demanding external installations, FS Cables now offer a duct grade twisted pair KNX certified cable with a tough, black, UV resistant polyethylene (PE) waterproof jacket over the standard LSHF inner sheath. The durabl

External Grade Armoured Certified KNX Cable

The KNX certified cable from FS Cables is now available in a steel wire armoured (SWA) version. Using the standard green 2 x 2 x 0.8mm KNX cable as a base, the cable features a tough, PE inner sheath and 0.9mm solid galvanised steel wires cased in a hea

Home Automation Composite Cables

CEDIA trade supplier FS Cables has developed a series of high performance home automation composite cables. Designed to carry HD video, HDMI and high speed data around the home, these composite cables combine individual elements such as digital coax, Cat

HD Media Composite Cables

FS Cables have launched a new range of HD Media Composite Cables. Designed to carry HD video, HDMI and high speed data, all the components have been developed with both the present and future in mind.

Fire Alarm Cables in Stock for Next Working-Day Delivery

Within the industry it is now recognised that in the event of fire the continued functionality of some cables is essential in providing sufficient time for evacuation. Airports, hospitals and train Stations are just some examples of areas which rely on

FS Cables Launch Online Cable Finder

In response to popular demand, www.fscables.com now features an easy to use, hassle free reference finder to help track down your alternatives to Belden data cables. The FS Cables range of alternatives to Belden cables includes most well-known types, man

Next Working-Day Delivery on Thousands of Cables

From a 55,000 sq. ft. warehouse based just north of London, FS Cables offer thousands of cables ‘off the shelf’ for next-working day delivery. There is no cut off time for orders – if we can ship your order we will. We also cut to length on many products

FS Cables Staff Wear it Pink for Breast Cancer Campaign

Members of the FS Cables team dressed in pink last week in aid of Breast Cancer Campaign, a charity dedicated to researching the cure for breast cancer. ‘Wear it Pink’ day took place on Friday the 28th of October and was the charity’s biggest fundraising

Antennax - The High Performance, Ultra Low Loss Coaxial Cable

Antennax is the new range of high performance, ultra low loss coaxial cables designed to carry signals from a cabinet to an antenna, aerial or dish. Developed for microwave, satellite and mobile phone masts, these cables are manufactured and tested to 6GH

Draka Firetuf Data and Coax Becomes FT Data and FT Coax

FS Cables, working in partnership with Draka are the official distribution partner for the FT range of high performance circuit integrity cables. Previously known as Firetuf, these cables provide continued functionality in the event of fire. Both types o

Conductor Sizing

There have been high profile cases recently of substantially undersized conductors being sold, mainly in products such as conduit wire, T&E or flexes, showing total disregard to safety. In the good old days when copper was relatively cheap, conductors w

Wired - Editorial With Jon Herbert

It’s been a fascinating year – we’ve certainly worked harder, hopefully smarter, with a record number of shipments. Copper fluctuations have been as challenging as ever with a fine line between getting pricing right and maintaining stocks. Overall we’ve

Antennax Passes IEC 60332-3-24 Fire Test

The FS Cables Antennax range of LSHF microwave cables have been enhanced and independently tested by leading test house BRE to meet IEC 60332-3-24 flame retardance requirements. The cables tested were the 50 Ohm ANT-400-LSHF, ANT-600-LSHF and the 75 Ohm A

Honeywell Door Entry Cable

To meet the needs of installers of Honeywell equipment, FS Cables now stock a new door entry cable. With an overall screen and 6 cores of 18(7) AWG, this PVC data cable is for use on card reader systems, connecting the reader where a card is swiped to t

Copper Price - What Effect On Cable Will The New Year Bring?

While the price of copper has been threatening to spike for the last 5 years, with rumours of shortages and the increase in demand from the emerging markets, it is in these last 12 months when we have witnessed an unprecedented surge in the growth.

Industry News

Welcome to turbulent times. After what was generally regarded as a great year for the cabling industry 2007 has started rather shakily. Copper is dominant factor with the price falling and now starting to recover. If you are buying power cables there a

Copper - What next?

After ending 2006 at well over £3000 per ton, copper fell back to around £2600 in mid February 2007. Since March it has steadily climbed to over £4000 – a rise of over 50% in just 8 weeks. It is quite possible that the previous high of £4600+ of last May

Whipping for cable thieves!

It was a headline that certainly caught our eye. On a recent holiday to Malaysia, Sharon, our financial controller bought a copy of the New Sabbah Times featuring the front page news of the rise in cable and copper theft.

Is China a Threat or a Bonus For The Cable Industry?

An ever increasing array of products is now coming into the UK from the Far East. Although bras have been hitting the headlines in the recent bra wars, the effect of cable imports from around the world has devastated the UK cable industry with an estimate

Copper Latest

Fluctuations of between 10 and 12% over a 3 month period would once have sparked fear in the cable industry but are now taken in its stride.

Copper vs. Aluminium

As mentioned a couple of issues ago the practice of substituting solid copper with copper coated aluminium (CCA) to save money has reached the UK. Cables mainly affected so far are internal telephone cables (CW1308 type) alarm cables and coax. One of the

Copper on the Rise

Copper has steadily risen since Christmas showing an almost mirror image of price and movement over the past five months when compared to the same period in 2006/7.

Copper

Although there have been recent falls in the world copper market these have been somewhat offset by the weaker pound as copper is priced in US Dollars on the world market.

Copper - the Facts

Tired of (wrongly!) predicting the fluctuations in copper price, Wired would like to give you some facts in this issue. The electrical industry is the largest user of copper consuming 42% of the annual production with Asia contributing 43% of the total co

Copper Update

This year copper has increased from $2770/ton to $6419/ton – a rise of over 130%. And they say the stock market is volatile! Some of this pain has been offset by the strengthening pound but it is still a massive rise, particularly in general wiring and p

Copper on the Move

The rescue of the 33 trapped Chilean copper miners was perhaps the only good press copper received in 2010. Unfortunately as each plucky miner was rising skyward, so was the price of copper.

Copper Stats

With the price of copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) varying by the hour it is impossible to predict where it will be tomorrow, let alone next month. Add to this the variations in exchange rate, and you’ve got a recipe for volatility.

Wired - Editorial With Jon Herbert

What turbulent times we live in! Copper through the roof and then dropping 10%, summer factory shut-downs, increasing delivery times and world shortages of raw materials, all this while we are in the depths of a world recession!

Thermocouple Cables in Stock

Thermocouple, compensating and extension cables are used to carry electrical signals from temperature sensing probes to displays or CPUs. They are usually found in industrial applications measuring temperatures in tanks, pipelines or equipment and are es

External Telecoms - Wide Range of Telephone Cables in Stock

The increasing use of External Telecom cable for private networks has led us to extend both the range and quantity of cables stocked.

Great Deals on Telephone Cables

Whilst we have always held good stocks of external telephone cables we are now more competitive than ever on pricing.

Telephone Cables

There is a growing need for telephone cables which are able to function in a variety of environments and installations. FS Cables hold large stocks of BT styles and other popular types in a range of screening, armouring and insulation options. The screen

Great Prices on Telephone Cables

Due to special purchasing arrangements we have some fantastic deals on telephone cables including internal CW1308 & external CW1128 with or without an armour.

Fire Alarm Cables now in stock

FS Cables adds NoBurn® to its range of fire cables Within the industry it is now recognised that in the event of fire the continued functionality of some cables is essential to provide sufficient time for evacuation.

Prysmian FP100 & 200 Gold and Plus

FS Cables are pleased to announce we now hold stock of the premium quality, market leading Prysmian range of fire performance cables. FP Plus and FP200 Gold are stocked in all popular sizes. As well as the standard 100m pack length, some are also stocke

FP200 Gold & FP Plus Now in Stock

FP 200 Gold & FP Plus now available from stock in either red or white sheath. Prysmian manufactured fire cables are market leader in terms of quality and performance. Many “softskin” fire cables use silicone rubber insulation which is prone to nicks and

New Great Prices on LiYCYs

An expanded range of high quality LiYCY control cables at very competitive prices are now in stock. Featuring an aluminium foil inside a tinned copper wire braid and a soft, flexible PVC sheath, we are confident this is one of the best quality products i

CY Cables

In response to your feedback FS Cables have increased stocks and looked at pricing on the CY control cables range. Unlike many on the market, our CY cables feature an overall foil around the 70% braid screen for added protection.

SY Control Cable Range Increased

FS Cables now offer an increased range of SY cables, stocking 10mm² and 16mm² in 3 and 4 core versions. This is in addition to our existing range of number coded SY 0.75mm² to 16mm² and colour coded SY 0.75mm² to 2.5mm² in 2, 3 and 4 core versions.

LMR Connectors

A full range of LMR connectors are now in stock. This means FS can now to offer a complete solution when supplying cable to the RF transmissions industry. Ideal for installations on microwave antennas or mobile phone masts, the FS LMR range are manufactu

Speaker Cables - PVC or LSHF, they both sound great!

Big stocks of the popular Hi-Strand OFC speaker cables are available for next day delivery. The Low Smoke Halogen Free versions are proving to be very popular with pubs, clubs and fitness centres.

Safe-T-Shield Offers Time, Space and Weight Savings for the Installer

The new Safe-T-Shield range from FS Cables has been designed to comply with 17th edition revision BS7671:2008, in particular clause 522.6 which relates to the protection against impact of cables that are concealed in a wall or partition at a depth of less

The Move to St. Albans

A view from the warehouse floor Our recent move to St. Albans from London Colney took the efforts of the whole company. All staff lent a hand as we successfully relocated approximately three miles up the road to a new 55,000 sq. ft premises. Wired spok

Exhibition Review

IFSEC, the International Fire & Security Exhibition was held in Birmingham NEC for four days in May. The array of products on show was mind-blowing with everything from the humble padlock to the latest in anti-terrorist equipment.

17th Edition Wiring Regulations

Confused by the new wiring regulations? Safe-T-Shield hits the nail right on the head The 17th Edition Wiring Regulations BS7671: 2008 set by the Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE) came into effect on July 1st 2008 and have important implications fo

PTFE Shortages

Recent global shortages and price increases of PTFE resin have caused significant price rises in PTFE insulated cables across the industry. Virgin PTFE has almost trebled in price in the last year. The global shortage is estimated to be around 1000 tonne

Next Working-Day Delivery Service Unaffected by Worst Snow in 18 Years

Despite the atrocious weather conditions over the past few days, we are pleased to announce that the next working-day delivery service is running as normal. As of Monday evening, all orders have been dispatched as normal and on time.

Telecoms 2008 - Olympia 2

Telecoms ‘08 is the UK’s only dedicated networking infrastructure event aimed at those working in the telecommunications industry. As well as exhibitors such as ourselves, Telecoms ’08 featured a dedicated ‘data centre village’ and various seminars by in

Niltox® LF-249 - The Flexible Panel Wiring Solution

The Niltox® range of low smoke halogen free flexible single cores provides a ‘safe’ and flexible solution to panel and conduit wiring. Featuring plain fine copper wire strands to BS 6360 class 5 installation, LF-249 is easy and fast to install in pane

Issue of 6 of Newsletter 'Wired' Released

Issue 6 of our cabling newsletter Wired is out now. This edition launches the brand new, issue 9 of 'The Little Red Book'. Extended to 128 pages, this free cabling guide is an invaluable source of information to the electrical installer.

Join FS Cables at the Home Technology Event at Excel, 15-17 June 2010

FS Cables are exhibiting at the Home Technology Event for the first time this year. Featuring the latest innovations and technologies in home automation, lighting control, home cinema, multi-room audio, home-networking and security systems, the Home Tech

FS Cables Staff Complete St Albans Half Marathon

Members of FS Cables staff have successfully taken part in the St Albans Half Marathon again this year. Sponsorship money raised by the team went to supporting the British Heart Foundation charity, the biggest funder of heart and circulatory research in

Antennax Range Launched

Antennax is the new range of high performance, ultra low loss coaxial cables designed to carry signals from a transmitter to an antenna, aerial or dish. Developed for microwave, satellite and telecommunication masts, the Antennax™ range is manufactured to

Feedback

A big thank you to those who left us comments on the reply card for the winter edition of this newsletter. We had an overwhelmingly positive response and were delighted to read your feedback, please keep it coming. Trying to incorporate some of your sugg

Yellow Reply Cards

More and more customers are telling us what they think of our service by using the yellow reply cards we send out with consignments. These cards are one of the best ways for us to improve our service to you.

Visit FS Cables at Interplas 2011

FS Cables are exhibiting at the British Plastics Show – Interplas, at Birmingham NEC, 27th-29th September. From machines to materials, software and contract manufacturing services, Interplas covers the complete spectrum of the plastic industry.

FS Cables Join CC-Link Association

As a CC-Link cable supplier, FS Cables has joined the CC-Link association. CC-Link (Control & Communication Link) is an integrated family of open networks originally developed by Mitsubishi Electric.

Prysmian Bids to Buy Draka

Following an unsuccessful attempt from Nexans in October 2010, Prysmian are now bidding to acquire Draka. At time of going to press Prysmian has offered €840 million for Draka the Dutch based cable manufacturer who took over Delta Enfield in the 90’s.

FS Cables Customer Feedback Survey

To help us improve our service levels, stock and delivery capability, Wired is inviting readers to participate in the annual FS Cables Customer Feedback Survey.

Q&A - With Quality Manager Bob Barnard

Q: What’s your role at FS Cables? I work externally for a few clients including FS Cables and I’m responsible for assessing and managing both the quality and environmental management systems.

TNT - For Those Really Urgent Jobs

When you need cable urgently, we find TNT does the job. Collecting nightly from our distribution centre, TNT deliver ‘next working day’ as standard to most of the UK mainland.

Pricing

Over the past 12 months we’ve reduced hundreds of prices by looking critically at the supply chain and where possible cutting out costs without reducing either quality or service. One key area is working with product managers to calculate optimum manufac

New Arrivals

There have been some new additions to the workforce recently. We are pleased to welcome Laura Martin back from maternity leave and Lee Ypey has rejoined the company following 18 months travelling in Asia.

KNX Cable Approval

FS Cables have joined the KNX association as a KNX certified cable supplier. KNX is an ideal solution for consultants, specifiers, designers, installers and end users as a flexible, user friendly and energy efficient system.

Customer Feedback Survey - The Results are in!

Wired would like to say a big thanks to all those who took part in the customer feedback survey we ran in the last issue. We received nearly 600 responses across a range of industries which has given us some incredibly useful information about what matte

Great prices on YY Cables

New lower prices on YY control flex are now standard at FS Cables. Most 2, 3 & 4 core sizes are stocked either number or colour coded and larger multicores are available number coded.

LSHF - Prysmian Join the Debate

We’re extremely pleased that Prysmian have joined the debate on LSF vs LSHF.

Little Red Book Issue 9

As we go to press, the finishing touches are being made to issue 9 of ‘The Little Red Book’. Expanded to 128 pages a whole host of products are now included. With details of many popular yet sometimes seen as specialist cables, ‘The Little Red Book’ has

FSC Global Return to Kazakhstan

For the second year running our export division FSC Global exhibited at the KIOGE 2007 oil and gas show in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Daniel Butterfield spoke to Wired about his experiences at the show, including a brush with royalty. Prince Andrew, Duke of Yor

We've Moved Premises!

Although front page news for a lot of companies, we almost hope you haven’t noticed that we have moved premises. The new building isn’t far, only about 3 miles up the road. It’s substantially larger than the total of the two units we leave behind - about

Industry awaits impact of Chinese RoHS

The industry is bracing itself to see what impact the China RoHS legislation will have on Europe, which differs significantly from the EU directive in terms of scope. While it is similar in terms of the 6 hazardous substances - lead, mercury, hexavalent c

'WEEE still don't understand!'

Many UK companies are still facing confusion over the upcoming WEEE directive, which has been branded vague and lacking in scope. Firms involved in manufacturing or selling OEM parts are most likely to be affected by the new legislation, but where do you

RiserFlex and RiserShield

The new RiserFlex and RiserShield range of cables have been developed primarily to run alongside power cables due to their 0.6/1kV power rating. The dual screened version uses an overall foil and tinned copper wire braid to reduce both radiated and induce

LF319 - The LSHF Alternative to PVC YY

The demand for Low Smoke Halogen Free flexible control cables is increasing. Where previously PVC YY Control cables were being used in vast quantities, more and more users are starting to see the benefit of specifying LSHF in their place.

Investors In People

We are delighted to announce that FS Cables has been officially recognised as an Investor in People. It took around a year to achieve this prestigious accolade and involved the efforts of all members of the company. The net results so far have been very p

Wired - Editorial With Jon Herbert

In the past few months I’ve amassed a carbon footprint the size of a small island travelling to meet suppliers and look around their factories. Sadly, I haven’t been able to spend as much time as I’d like talking to customers. For me the great value of

Wired - Editorial With Jon Herbert

The big news for this issue is our move to larger premises. After 7 years in London Colney we are moving a few miles up the road to a bigger single unit in St. Albans. In true corporate speak ‘we’re all really excited about it’.

Wired - Editorial With Jon Herbert

The economic forecasts for UK are grim and I await the next few months with a mixture of fear and optimism. We are now entering uncharted territory. The recessions of the seventies and eighties were slow to start in comparison to the situation we find our

Issue 9 of 'The Little Red Book'

Get your free copy for a chance to win an LED flashlight Issue 9 of ‘The Little Red Book’ is now available. Expanded to 128 pages, a whole host of new products are included this time in response to your feedback.

New faces at FS Cables

We are pleased to welcome six new faces to the FSC family. Andrew Mallard joins us as sales manager and is in charge of the contractor and OEM sales teams – both of which also benefit from a new recruit, Katy Johnson and Stuart Beagle respectively.

Nickel Price

Since we last went to print there have been massive fluctuations in the price of nickel. The spring edition reported a rise of over £8,000 / tonne to £25,238. Since then it has dropped by 48% to around £13,000 / tonne.

The Little Red Book - Now available on CD

The CD version of the Little Red Book is proving to be very popular. More and more customers are asking to receive it in this format rather than in print. The main advantage of the CD is it can be easily copied onto a work computer or a laptop if taken

Editorial - With Jon Herbert

One thing you can rely on in business today is change. It sometimes appears we have two choices – either change and adapt or die. The latter is clearly less appealing so we’ve decided to change and adapt. But have we got it right? Some years ago we pr

Complaints

Here in Britain it is often remarked that we don’t complain enough. At FS Cables we know its true – although we send out pre-paid “Service Cards” with every shipment we get relatively little feed back and even less point out our failings.