ARCUS Elektrotechnik: Tensile Testing of Screw Connectors for Sustainable Energy and Network Expansion with a Refurbished Testing Machine
Case Study
- Customer: ARCUS ELEKTROTECHNIK Alois Schiffmann GmbH
- Location: Munich, Germany
- Industry: Electronics & mechatronics
- Topic: Tensile testing of screw connectors—laboratory technology for cable connection technology that drives renewable networks forward
March 2025
ARCUS Elektrotechnik equips grid operators and municipal utilities with screw connectors that support the maintenance and expansion of electricity grids. The connector is a key element in the transmission of electricity from wind power and photovoltaic systems. To ensure safety and durability, ARCUS tests the tensile strength of the products using the 50 kN RetroLine tensile testing machine from ZwickRoell.
ARCUS Elektrotechnik Alois Schiffmann GmbH offers innovative and safe electrical protection solutions
For over 95 years, the name ARCUS has stood for quality and reliability in cable connection technology and electrical protection. ARCUS Elektrotechnik Alois Schiffmann GmbH specializes in the development and production of high-quality solutions in the field of electrical protection and cable connection technology. Their customers include energy supply companies, industry, railroads, technical aid organizations and wholesalers. The company places a high priority on maximum safety, ensuring compliance with the stringent five safety rules. This includes a wide range of products, from voltage detectors to earthing and short-circuiting devices, which support safe working under various electrical conditions.
In cable connection technology, ARCUS manufactures connections that are crucial for the efficiency and reliability of modern power grids. These connections are designed for all voltage levels and help to strengthen the infrastructural basis for a secure power supply. ARCUS develops products that not only meet current, but also future technological and ecological requirements. The company is committed to providing durable and reliable solutions for future generations to ensure sustainable and safe energy transmission.
The task
Connections that last: ensuring the quality and safety of screw connectors
ARCUS faces the challenge of reconciling the rapid development in cable connection technology with the demand for high quality and safety. The 209 113 screw connector, which is primarily used in Germany at voltage levels of 10 to 30 kV for wind power and photovoltaic systems, presents a special challenge.
The company must ensure that these cable connections comply with strict standards to guarantee the reliability and safety of energy transmission. Particularly in the field of renewable energies, where grid expansion and the maintenance and expansion of existing infrastructures are constantly progressing, the requirements for technical innovations and simultaneous compliance with standards are enormous. ARCUS therefore faces the challenge of continuously adapting its products to changing technical and regulatory requirements in order to maintain and strengthen its leading position in a rapidly evolving market environment.
The ZwickRoell solution
Precision and reliability with 50kN RetroLine tensile testing machine for a green footprint
ARCUS relies on the 50 kN RetroLine tensile testing machine from ZwickRoell to ensure compliance with standards and the quality and safety of bolted joints. This testing technology enables precise measurements of the mechanical load capacity of the products in order to meet the strict standards of DIN EN IEC 61238-1-1 to DIN EN IEC 61238-1-3. In addition to quality assurance, ARCUS also focuses on environmentally conscious action by purchasing pre-owned testing machines, which are a sustainable alternative to new purchases.
The refurbished testing machine is modernized to the technical standard of a new machine and not only carries out precise and reproducible tests, but also documents the results automatically. This data serves as a reliable basis for the continuous further development and optimization of the products. They help to improve the mechanical properties and increase the safety and efficiency of cable connections. This testing technology ensures that the products meet the growing requirements of the energy sector and make a decisive contribution to the development of a modern, safe and sustainable energy infrastructure.
“Precise testing tools are essential for the perfect performance of our products. ZwickRoell's tensile testing machine delivers precise measured values that we can fully rely on—an indispensable contribution to continuous further development. Today and into the future.”
Alexander Blaut , Design Engineer and Technical Developer, ARCUS Elektrotechnik Alois Schiffmann GmbH
The result
Improved test methods for long-term reliability of screw connectors
Screw connectors have to withstand extreme underground loads for decades. The 50 kN RetroLine makes it possible to test products even more precisely and ensure their longevity in a targeted manner. This is crucial, as both the electrical conductivity and the mechanical tensile strength must remain stable even under changing temperatures. Temperature-related thermal expansion must never lead to failures or damage to the cable connection.
The new ZwickRoell testing machine offers the following advantages:
- Higher load capacity: with a maximum tensile force of 50 kN, realistic mechanical stresses can be precisely simulated using compressive and tensile forces. This ensures that even earth movements do not impair the required strength of the connections.
- Extended test area: the increased test chamber height and width enable more flexible test arrangements for different connection types.
- More precise measurement results: the digital measured value output enables exact repetitions of tests and facilitates the comparison of results, which is essential for the standardization and approval of screw connectors in critical infrastructures.
- Increased efficiency and safety: the modern software ensures reliable and reproducible data analysis, while ergonomic improvements such as quieter operation and customizable settings improve everyday laboratory work.
With this technology, the company is optimizing test procedures and setting new standards for quality and safety in cable connection technology.
