Heavy duty cable ties are used in almost limitless applications across many industries. You’ll find them wherever there are lots of cables that need organising, for example in electrical installations, manufacturing, music concerts, construction projects and many more.
Read on to learn more about the best cable ties to use for heavy duty applications.
What are heavy duty cable ties used for?
Heavy duty cable ties are used to secure large bundles of electrical cables or pipes in place, mainly for safety purposes, organisation and efficiency. They’re also used in harsh environments with demanding weather or operating conditions, such as on aeroplanes, ships, on offshore oil refineries and mines.
Heavy duty ties are chosen because of their ability to perform under high load and environmental stress. This is partly due to their material - UL approved nylon or stainless steel - and their high tensile strength. Tensile strength is a measure of the maximum stress the cable tie can withstand before breaking. It is also known as tension level.
Our guide to the strongest cable ties has more information on tensile strength, cable tie dimensions and maximum bundle diameters.
What are the thickest cable ties?
The thickest cable ties available in our range are 12.7mm in width and have a huge tensile strength of 114kg.
Heavy duty nylon cable ties (7.6mm - 12.7mm wide)
Heavy duty nylon cable ties are wider and longer than standard cable ties. Made from UL approved nylon polyamide, they are ideal for endless applications and come in a vast range of sizes, up to 1530mm in length and 12.7mm in width.
The table below shows the width and tensile strength of our heavy duty cable ties.
Width of cable tie Tension level
2.5mm cable ties 8.1kg (18lbs)
3.6mm cable ties 18.2kg (40lbs)
4.8mm cable ties 22.2kg (50lbs)
7.6mm cable ties 54.4kg (120lbs)
9.0mm cable ties 79.4kg (175lbs)
13mm cable ties 114kg (250lbs)
Stainless steel cable ties (4.6mm - 7.9mm wide)
Stainless steel cable ties offer the highest levels of tensile strength available - up to 160kg. Made from 316 marine grade steel, they’re commonly used in the aerospace industry in planes, which contain hundreds of miles of electrical cabling.
They’re designed to withstand extreme ranges of temperature too - from -80°C to +540°C. It’s not surprising that they’re used in some of the most harsh work environments such as power plants, mines and oil and gas platforms.
They’re available in two widths - 4.6mm and 7.9mm - and 10 lengths, from 150mm to 1200mm.
Width of cable tie Tension level
4.6mm cable ties 90kg (198lbs)
7.9mm cable ties 160kg (352lbs)
Black PVC coated stainless steel cable ties (4.6mm - 7.9mm wide)
PVC coated stainless steel cable ties are highly robust, with a strong resistance to ageing and weathering. They are frequently used in the marine and mining industries because they are built to cope with exposure to water, salt and harsh chemicals.
Their working temperature range is not as wide as the standard stainless steel cable ties, but it is still suitable for most applications. The range starts from -40°C and goes up to +150°C.
Width of cable tieTension level
4.6mm cable ties89kg (196lbs)
7.9mm cable ties160kg (352lbs)
Black epoxy coated stainless steel cable ties (4.6mm - 7.9mm wide)
Our epoxy coated stainless steel cable ties have the same specification and working temperature range as the PVC coated ties, but they feature a black head instead of silver. So if a consistent look is important to you, they are a good alternative option.
Width of cable tieTension level
4.6mm cable ties89kg (196lbs)
7.9mm cable ties160kg (352lbs)
Which accessories to use with heavy duty cable ties?
Heavy duty cable tie accessories and tools
If you’re installing lots of heavy duty cable ties, it helps to use some tools to make the job quicker and easier.
Cable tie automatic installation and cutting tool
Our cable tie automatic installation and cutting gun makes light work of fastening and cutting lots of cable ties. It works with cable ties between 2.5mm and 13mm wide and is easy to use. You simply insert the cable tie, set the required tension with the control, release and cut.
Cutter and tensioning tool for stainless steel cable ties
To tension and cut metal cable ties, we recommend using our cable tie cutter for stainless steel cable ties. It cuts ties up to 0.3mm thick, and 12mm wide.
The tool has a trigger mechanism for efficiency, and cuts cleanly without leaving sharp edges.
How can you attach a heavy duty cable tie to the wall?
To secure heavy duty cable ties to a wall or other flat surface, you can use cable tie screw mount saddle bases.
By using a screw to attach the mount, they provide stability and can be used with any cable ties measuring up to 12.7mm wide.
The most suitable mount option for heavy duty cable ties is SKU GCTLSBB, which is 18.5mm wide, 40mm long, 16.5mm high and has a hole depth of 6mm.
Get in touch
If you have any questions about the best cable ties to use for your project, please contact us using our live chat function, email us on sales@gtse.co.uk, or call 01246 386 126.