Strapped for ideas

…the more unusual uses of cable ties

It may be merely a piece of moulded plastic but the usefulness of the cable tie is renowned. The electrical and communications industries rely on the device to transform multiple wires into organised bundles in order to prevent damage and help trace wiring during servicing. The ability to print on the tie makes the device a useful advertising tool, as well as a way for contractors to control their warranty pledges.

There are a wide variety of other uses for the humble cable tie, however. Parents of excited children on Christmas morning will know only too well the effectiveness of the cable tie in keeping toys in place and looking pristine within their packaging. Garden centres use large volumes of them for supporting and labelling plants. The motor industry employs them both during vehicle manufacturing and in the after sales environment for the quick identification of parts. The Royal Mail and other postal companies rely on them for the rapid and secure sealing of mailbags.

Perhaps you had guessed some of these applications. Did you know, though, that the shellfish and aquaculture industries use cable ties extensively? Made from rigid plastic, they are impervious to water, as well as being resistant to the degrading effects of sunlight and all but the extremes of temperatures. They have even been used in scientific research projects to tag crabs off the coast of Scotland to track their migratory habits!

The Forestry Commission uses cable ties to fit rabbit guards in order to protect saplings, as well as a whole host of other applications relating to forestry management.

Cable ties are often used to prevent hubcaps, which can be incredibly expensive items to replace, from falling off of moving vehicles – or being liberated from stationary ones!

In the UK – as well as in Panama, the US, Belgium and other parts of the world – cable ties are sometimes used by the police and military personnel as temporary restraining devices, particularly when there is an urgent need to restore public order in crowded situations.

It’s incredible to think that the modern world has so many uses for an item that wasn’t even invented until the late 1950s!