How much can change in 100 years? In a world where digitization is increasingly replacing physical labor, the assembly of cable joints remains human work. This article is the second part of a series on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of Lovink Enertech, which began in 1919 with the production of cable joints.

From craftsmanship to ease of assembly

With the start of the cabling of distribution networks, cable joints made their appearance. At the time, assembly required a lot of craftsmanship and mechanic-dependent actions, such as working with molten tin. Although liquid insulation is still used, oil and bitumen have been replaced by modern chemical liquids. Photos from 1935 show that the basic principles have hardly changed.

Cable preparation and connection

The cable preparation has remained largely the same, although modern tools have made it easier to peel. Connecting cables improved significantly with the advent of steel connectors in the 1960s, making tinning a thing of the past.

Evolution of cable joints

The first cast iron low-voltage joints were filled with bitumen. In the seventies, synthetic resin followed. Assembly improved further with the introduction of heat shrink technology (1960s) and cold shrink technology (1980s). Later, wrapping sleeves came onto the market, a flexible system that is still used in low voltage.

The introduction of universal liquid silicone sleeves in the eighties meant a revolution. Lovink developed a joint with an inner and outer joint and a filler for electrical and mechanical insulation. Mounting without a burner, a smaller weld hole and step-by-step construction made this solution popular with technicians. When the cast iron outer shell was replaced by plastic, assembly became even easier. Further improvements have recently been made, such as pre-assembled parts and a logical structure.

Future of Medium Voltage cable jointing

Underground cable connections remain essential. The energy transition and rising electricity demand are causing higher voltages and load fluctuations. At the same time, the number of well-trained professionals is decreasing, making ease of assembly crucial to prevent malfunctions. In addition, digitalization will play a role in real-time monitoring of networks.