Press Releases

Generation Plants Project Six-figure Savings Replacing Heat-Shrink Insulators with New Tape
ATLANTA -- United Controls International's silicone rubber splicing tape, NukeTape®, qualified for use in all safety-related applications in nuclear/harsh environments, is being used as an alternative to heat-shrink insulators in many nuclear plants. In addition to the nuclear plants, the tape is being used in many non-nuclear plants as well as power distribution.

NukeTape® was originally considered only for safety-related/harsh applications, but plant officials have found the tape to be so cost effective that it will be used throughout the plant, even in non-safety applications, wherever ordinary splicing tape or heat-shrink would be used.

The UCI tape was recognized by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in their annual pick of the Top Ten Products of the Year and published in the December, 1999 issue of Aerospace Engineering as one the most noteworthy products or technologies of the year.

More recently, the tape has been used by United States Navy shipyard maintenance personnel and by a military contractor providing engineering and product support for repairs to United States Army helicopters.

SAVINGS IN MATERIAL COSTS
Cost comparisons by UCI and plant operators show that the material costs to complete a typical splice using the UCI tape averages $20. The same splice insulated with the most widely used heat-shrink insulator costs $120 in materials. The heat gun or torch needed for a heat-shrink splice costs $60 and requires an outlet and service cord or torch fuel. The utility knife, the only tool necessary for the tape splice, costs $6.

SAVINGS IN PROCUREMENT AND INVENTORY
The single part number for UCI tape effectively replaces scores of inventory items, eliminating conventional insulating and jacketing tapes as well as over thirty (30) heat-shrink kits and the tools to apply them. The UCI tape is shipped within one week of order so that the operator need not maintain large, on-site inventories.

SAVINGS IN TRAINING
Plant technicians and subcontractors working in safety-related environments must undergo annual training in the uses of the splicing system employed. Training in the use of the UCI tape can be accomplished in one brief session, whereas training in the heat-shrink system requires many days of complex training in using the many kit configurations. Each training session can consume thousands of dollars in costly heat-shrink materials.

SAVINGS IN TIME
The UCI tape can be applied in about half the time required by heat-shrink insulators. Should it be necessary to rework the splice, UCI tape may be cut and peeled away clean without residue. A heat-shrink insulator will often take more than an hour to remove and clean with volatile solvents.