What is cable sleeving?

Cable sleeving is a protective covering for electrical and data cables that bundles wires together and shields them from abrasion, heat and moisture. Commonly used in industrial, automotive and electronics applications, cable sleeves can be made of materials like PVC, silicone, glass fibre or braided textiles to meet different environmental and electrical insulation needs. Proper sleeving keeps cable runs neat, improves airflow around cables, and prevents damage to insulation over time.

Types of cable sleeving

Cable sleeving comes in several main types, each suited to specific uses:

Braided sleeving: Flexible, expandable sleeves made of woven polyester or fibreglass yarns. Braided sleeves are ideal for protecting cable bundles from abrasion and providing strain relief. (e.g. braided copper foil sleeves for EMI shielding, glass-fibre sleeves for high-temperature insulation).

Silicone rubber sleeving: Highly heat-resistant and durable. Silicone sleeves fit over wires and cables to provide electrical insulation and thermal protection. Supplied in black, blue, brown, grey, natural, yellow or red, often as coiled lengths.

PVC sleeving: Cost-effective and flame-retardant. PVC cable sleeves are available in various colours (black, red, blue, etc.) for insulation and colour-coding. They resist oils and chemicals, suitable for general electrical installations.

Neoprene sleeves: Neoprene rubber sleeves offer good oil and chemical resistance along with flexibility. Often used for abrasion protection or marking connections.

Heat-shrink tubing: Although technically a form of sleeving, heat-shrink tubes (polyolefin or vinyl) shrink when heated to form a tight seal around cables. They provide moisture sealing and stress relief (included here for completeness).

Each type is available in multiple sizes (diameters) to match cable thickness, from thin instrument cables to large power cables.

Range

Cablecraft’s Cable Sleeving & Protection range covers the full spectrum of cable sleeving products. We stock braided sleeving, braided knitted/woven sleeving, glass fibre sleeving, silicone rubber sleeving, PVC electrical sleeving, and neoprene cable sleeves. These come in various sizes (e.g. 3mm up to 100mm ID), colours and pack lengths (reel or coil format).

For example, our braided polyester sleeves are supplied on reels for easy dispensing, while glass-fibre and silicone sleeves often come in 25m or 100m coils to cover larger installations. We also offer speciality sleeves such as tin-plated copper braid for electrical shielding.

Cable Spiral Binding

Cable spiral wrap (spiral binding) is a type of tubular wrap used to bundle and protect multiple cables as a group. Made from flexible plastic, it easily wraps around wire bundles and provides abrasion protection and organisation. Spiral binding allows cables to exit at any point, unlike closed sleeves, making it useful for panels or equipment with many branch-offs. Cablecraft offers spiral cable wraps in various diameters and colours for professional cable management.

Grommets and Edging Strips

Grommets and edging strips are used alongside sleeving to protect and finish cable entry points. A grommet (cable gland) typically lines holes or cutouts, preventing sharp edges from cutting into wires. Edging strip (PVC edge protector) provides a smooth, resilient edge on cut panels. Both ensure a neat, safe installation when feeding sleeved cables through enclosures or machinery.

Cable Protectors

Cable protectors are protective conduits or tubes that shield cables from impact and wear in high-traffic or mechanical areas as well as helping reduce trip hazards. This includes rugged PVC or rubber channels for floor or wall cable runs. Cablecraft’s range includes floor duct covers and split conduit that complement cable sleeving by offering added protection on surfaces. These products ensure sleeved cables remain protected against crushing or abrasion in harsh environments.