- Home
- Products
- Certificates
- Cooperation
- About Us
- News
- Contact
Contact
+86 188 3213 4509
Contact
+86 188 3213 4509
Industry News
Industry news
Oct. 21, 2025
Steel Tape Armoured (STA) cable is a type of power cable reinforced with steel tape layers to provide strong mechanical protection. Unlike Steel Wire Armoured (SWA) cable, which uses round steel wires, STA cable uses two layers of steel tape wrapped around the cable core. This design makes STA cable especially suitable for applications that require resistance to external pressure, compression, and mechanical impact.
As a global cable manufacturer, Zhuhai Cable offers STA armoured power cables up to 35 kV, widely used in industrial, commercial, and outdoor power transmission projects worldwide.
One of the primary uses of Steel Tape Armoured cable is underground installation, including:
Direct burial in soil
Installation inside underground ducts or trenches
Power supply to buildings, factories, substations, and infrastructure
The steel tape layer protects the cable from:
Soil pressure
External compression
Accidental impact during digging or construction
This makes STA cable ideal for situations where cables may be exposed to mechanical stress under the ground.
STA cables are widely used in:
Manufacturing plants
Chemical plants
Mining sites
Steel factories
Cement plants
These locations often involve heavy equipment and machinery that may cause crushing, dropping tools, or mechanical vibration. The steel tape armour keeps the cable safe from damage, ensuring reliable power transmission.
Because steel tape armour is flat and provides excellent compression resistance, STA cables are also used inside large buildings:
Underground parking areas
Basements
Utility tunnels
Cable channels and concrete ducts
They offer protection where cables may be subject to pressure from walls, concrete, or structural components.
STA armoured cables are suitable for fixed installations where mechanical protection is required:
Cable trays
Cable shafts
Energy tunnels
Substation cable trenches
Since STA armour is not designed for tensile strength (unlike SWA), it is ideal for fixed, stationary power distribution, not for areas requiring cable pulling over long distances.
Zhuhai Cable manufactures STA armoured XLPE power cables widely used in medium-voltage applications:
6 kV
10 kV
15 kV
20 kV
35 kV
These cables are used for:
Utility power grids
Industrial MV distribution
Renewable energy transmission
Transformer connections
The armour ensures reliability in environments where power stability is critical.
STA cables are used outdoors when the installation area poses risks of:
Compression from soil or rocks
Passing vehicles
Construction machinery
Rodents
Environmental impact
While STA does not offer the same tensile strength as SWA, it is excellent for protecting against vertical pressure and side impact.
Strong compression resistance
Suitable for underground and fixed installations
Protected against mechanical stress
Good flame-retardant and moisture-resistant properties
Cost-effective for medium-voltage applications
Copper or aluminum conductors
XLPE or PVC insulation
Choice of single-core or multi-core configurations
Manufactured with international standards such as IEC, BS, DIN
Widely exported to Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Americas
Steel Tape Armoured (STA) cable is mainly used for underground, indoor, and industrial power distribution where strong compression resistance is required. Its steel tape armour makes it ideal for fixed installations where the cable may face mechanical pressure during operation.
Because of durability, stability, and cost-effectiveness, STA cables are widely used in power grids, factories, construction projects, and infrastructure around the world.
