Balestro is always looking for solutions to customer problems and has developed an insulator for use in distribution systems which are subjected to aggressive environments. The insulator profile for extra-high pollution with aerodynamic sheds is designed for excellent behavior in extreme conditions, also take advantage of the benefits already prevailing in silicon rubber. The fittings add both technology to aluminum resistance to aggressive environments, allowing them to withstand mechanical loads of up to 70kN (15klb).

From this combination appears a totally innovative product and which gives an excellent performance in bad environments. It is particularly suitable for application in coastal electric distribution networks, which are exposed to saline action. The main advantages obtained from the use of Balestro polymeric insulators, with aluminum fittings, IPB-AL series are:

•   One of the major properties of aluminum is its resistance to corrosion, not suffering
    the effects of saline corrosion, which do occur in steel fittings, that even with a
    high-quality hot galvanized layer, after some years, can generate problems like loss
    of mechanical resistance to corrosion and working life reduction; An aluminum
    fittings weighs about a third of a steel one, resulting in lighter insulators than the
    conventional polymeric ones. This further reduces the cost of assembly, transport
    and storage, as well as installation labor, etc;
•   Protection against vandalism;
•   High mechanical load resistance (up to 70kN/15klb);
•   Excellent electrical performance adveing better electrical values over conventional
    polymeric insulators of the same voltage class. This has been confirmed by results
    from both laboratory testing and in the field;
•   Molded in a single piece, ensuring excellent hermeticity and preventing water or
    moisture ingress inside the insulators (specially at triple contact point);
•   With their EAP design (Extra-High Pollution), especially developed for polluted areas,
    these insulators possess aerodynamic sheds with alternate diameters, that ensure
    areas more protected against pollution ingress, and also they have excellent
    behavior to aggressive environments due to the peculiar characteristics of the
    silicone housing, such as hydrophobicity, which ensures high superficial resistance
    to the insulator even under wet conditions, avoiding the forming of continuous water
    films, dry channels and arcs on the surface of the insulator, which reduces the risk
    of "flashover." This characteristic of the silicone is transferred to possible deposits
    of solid pollutants on the surface of the insulator,
•   Maintaining hydrophobicity even under polluted conditions;
•   High resistance to electrical tracking and erosion and also to the proliferation
    of fungus.