XLPE Armored Cables
XLPE armored cables use cross-linked polyethylene insulation under a steel wire or tape armor layer, built to run underground or in exposed industrial routes. NLS sources single-core and multi-core XLPE armored cable from 0.6/1kV up to 33kV, built to IEC 60502 and BS 5467, and has supplied cable packages into a live Saudi Aramco NGL project.
XLPE armored cable pairs cross-linked polyethylene insulation with a layer of galvanized steel wire or steel tape armor, then an outer PVC or LSZH sheath. The armor gives the cable mechanical protection for direct burial, cable trench, and tray routes where a plain PVC cable would fail under load or rodent damage. XLPE insulation holds up to higher conductor temperatures than PVC, which lets a smaller cross-section carry the same current, and it performs better under the heat cycling that comes with Saudi ambient temperatures and buried runs near process piping.
NLS sources XLPE armored cable across low voltage (0.6/1kV) and medium voltage classes up to 33kV, in single-core and multi-core configurations, copper or aluminum conductor, to IEC 60502 and BS 5467/6622 as the reference standards for the class ordered. Typical Saudi project use includes power distribution feeders on industrial sites, substation-to-switchgear runs, and site-wide LV reticulation on hospital, aviation, and process plant builds.
This is NLS's proven category: the company has sourced and delivered cable packages into a live Saudi Aramco NGL project, which means the documentation trail, packing lists, and QA sign-off process are already built to the standard Aramco procurement teams expect, not assembled for the first time on a new order.
Sourcing runs on a straightforward path. A project team sends drum lengths, voltage class, and conductor sizing, either from a BOQ or a single-line diagram, and NLS returns a priced quote in USD with a lead time based on manufacturer stock and drum-length availability. Lengths under 1,000m typically ship faster than custom-length reels. For large orders tied to a project schedule, NLS can stage delivery in phases to match the contractor's cable-pulling sequence instead of a single bulk delivery that sits on site waiting for the right work package.
Specifications
- ✓Insulation: cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE), higher continuous conductor temperature rating than PVC
- ✓Armor: galvanized steel wire armor (SWA) or steel tape armor (STA) for direct burial and mechanical protection
- ✓Voltage classes: 0.6/1kV low voltage through 11kV, 22kV and 33kV medium voltage
- ✓Standards referenced: IEC 60502-1/2, BS 5467, BS 6622
- ✓Conductor: stranded copper or aluminum, single-core and multi-core
- ✓Sheath: PVC or low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) outer sheath on request
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between XLPE and PVC insulated cable?+
XLPE insulation holds a higher continuous operating temperature than PVC, typically 90°C against 70°C, so it carries more current through the same conductor size and holds up better under sustained heat. PVC cable costs less per meter but is generally limited to lower voltage, less demanding installations.
Can XLPE armored cable be buried directly in the ground?+
Yes. The steel wire or tape armor is designed for direct burial, protecting the conductor from soil pressure, digging damage, and rodents, provided it's laid on a sand bed with route marker tape above it per standard trenching practice.
What voltage range does NLS supply for armored cable?+
NLS sources XLPE armored cable from 0.6/1kV low voltage up to 33kV medium voltage, in single-core and multi-core, copper or aluminum conductor, matched to the voltage class and drum length a project specifies.
Does NLS have experience supplying cable for Saudi Aramco projects?+
Yes. NLS has supplied cable packages into a live Saudi Aramco NGL project, which means the QA documentation and packing-list format are already proven against Aramco's procurement standard.