Cable ties are primarily used to organize and bundle wires and cable in many choice commercial and military applications.

The History of Cable Ties

The need for cable ties arose around end of the ninetieth century with the introduction of the first commercial and residential wiring systems as well as inventions that contained internal electrical wiring systems. Within these early electronic devices there was a need to collect, contain and control multiple wires into tightly organized groups. By bundling and routing wires clear of moving parts manufactures were able to better prevent damage from occurring to both the wires as well as the mechanical parts. Bundling wires also provided a consistent, organized and efficient wiring layout, which made tracing and servicing of internal wiring systems faster and easier.

Early Wire Bundling Method

Early methods for securing and routing wiring were simple and straight forward but presented many drawbacks and hazards. Manufacturers utilized twine, lacing cord or friction tape to bundle and route the wiring. Although these early bundling methods proved effective in the basic task of containing groups of wires, they did not offer the convenience of a product designed specifically for the task. Hand wrapping of lacing cord required a great deal of time in manufacturing and tying off did not produce a very secure and tight bundle. There was also the danger that thin cord would cut into wire insulation, where as the adhesive on tape tended to dry out over time causing it to peel off. These problems triggered efforts to design a device that would encircle, bundle and route wires more efficiently, at a uniform tension, and on a more permanent basis. Some early prototype devices included separate straps and locking mechanisms, which required two operations to install. All these devices lacked fine adjustment and permanent locking features.

The First Cable Ties

The first device designed especially to bundle and route wires effectively was similar in appearance and function to today's standard cable tie. It had a steel pawl or barb inserted at an angle inside its head. Although this design allowed for fine adjustment and self-locking it required two separate, time consuming manufacturing operations - molding the tie and insertion of the steel pawl. In addition, there was the possibility that the steel pawl could work loose or break off, with potentially disastrous results if it fell into printed circuits or closely spaced relay contacts. The next major development was a two-component, self-locking cable tie completely produced from nylon material. Although it was finely adjustable, it still maintained the time-consuming, two-step manufacturing process. Because of its design, this improved cable tie provided better hand-eye coordination and reduced installation time. Over time, cable tie design improved steadily and eventually led to the development of a one-piece, molded, self-locking nylon cable tie. Since the development of the first one-piece, self-locking cable tie its design was steadily refined to improve the effectiveness of the product as a wire bundling device. The basic one-piece, self-locking cable tie now comes in many sizes and styles for a diverse range of applications. It has also been modified into specialty ties with all the qualities of the basic tie, plus added features for different uses.