Affordable Wire Management Launches New Hardware Offerings to Boost Construction Productivity

Affordable Wire Management (AWM), a leading provider of solar cable management systems (CMS), announced two new hardware offerings. AWM’s PHOTON Kit drastically cuts down on project installation times, improves safety and decreases cable sag. The HELIOS Beam Rod improves upon AWM’s earlier hex rod offering, while delivering significant technical advantages for installers. Both the HELIOS Beam Rod and the PHOTON Kit, built for tough terrain and extreme weather, are value-engineered to last the lifetime of any utility-scale solar power plant.     

PHOTON Kit: A game changer for above-ground utility-scale CMS

AWM's PHOTON Kit leverages winch technology with expert guidance to streamline construction and cut down on labor costs during messenger cable install. Traditionally, above-ground CMS have required the installation and tensioning of thousands of feet of messenger cable one pile at a time, a lengthy process that requires regular references to temperature-dependent sag charts. 

AWM's guidance for the assisted tensioning method eliminates these headaches for utility-scale solar installers. Utilizing a calibrated scale and winch, the PHOTON Kit allows for precise, end-to-end tensioning of the messenger cable based on temperature-agnostic guidelines. AWM’s safety-first approach diminishes the potential for cable snap or human error. 

Scott Rand, co-founder and CEO of AWM explains, “Our PHOTON Kit has been proven to reduce project install times, often improving installation rates by 2.5 times or more. This is significant, since utility-scale solar investments today are challenged by rising financing costs. Project delays only serve to exacerbate the cost of capital, so quick deployment is key to recouping ROI.”

“We have seen cost benefits in the past from AWM’s Arden Hangers - even before implementing their assisted tensioning kit. That being said, the PHOTON Kit has been an absolute gamechanger for our Escalante Solar project,” said David McElroy, Electrical Operations Manager at Gridworks. “Construction crews were able to tighten 1000-1500 feet of cable in mere minutes and the 200+ MW project was completed in just a few months. That is record time, thanks to AWM’s innovations.”

HELIOS Beam Rod: Customizable, adaptable, and durable

AWM’s HELIOS Beam Rod is compatible with multiple pile types and can be attached directly to standard piles using a simple screw. It can also be adapted to attach to cylindrical piles using a U-bolt system. HELIOS is available in various lengths, and is able to accommodate angled runs, making it a cost-effective and practical solution for utility-scale solar projects on complex or uneven terrain. 

“Manufactured through an extrusion process, our HELIOS Beam Rod is stronger, more scalable, and more corrosion-resistant than its predecessors, making it robust enough to handle even the most challenging conditions,” remarked Rand.

Like AWM’s other products, the HELIOS Beam Rod and all sub-components are manufactured in the U.S., providing a win for procurement teams looking to benefit from the IRA’s tax incentives for domestic content. 

Affordable Wire Management | https://affordablewm.com/solutions/