JDR, which is based in the U.K. and is part of the TFKable Group, announced that it has an MoU with the Emdad Group to establish a Middle East service base.

A press release said that agreement with the Emdad Group— a Saudi-based industrial services company —reflects the importance of the partnership and shared commitment to providing localized support to the energy industry. It also noted that there are plans to expand operations to Saudi Arabia in the near future, further strengthening our regional capabilities.

To be located within Emdad’s facility in Abu Dhabi (UAE), the new service base will provide access to skilled technicians, advanced equipment and faster mobilization, enabling immediate and efficient support for customers, the release said. The facility will serve as a regional hub for installation and termination services, equipment storage and rapid mobilization of spares to support both existing and forthcoming projects.

“This new service base represents another step forward in JDR’s mission to deliver reliable, responsive, and innovative subsea cable and umbilical solutions, ensuring greater efficiency and customer focus in every project.”

Egypt-based Kemet Industries Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with Emirati-Chinese firm Al Qalaa Red Flag to invest up to $3.5 billion in three mega industrial projects, one of which is for manufacturing optical fiber cables.

A press release from the principals said that the projects will be located in the Ain Sokhna Industrial Zone, part of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE). The fiber optic plant will bolster Egypt’s expanding digital infrastructure sector, contributing to faster, more efficient high-speed networks.

Egypt has at least one major Egyptian-owned and operated fiber optic cable manufacturing plant: Elsewedy Communications Cables Factory, which opened earlier this year in 10th of Ramadan City. That plant was described as the largest telecom cables manufacturing facility in Egypt and the Middle East, producing both fiber optic and copper communications cables. Another fiber optic plant is run by Benya Cables, which operates in partnership with the Arab Organization for Industrialization and international technology partners. Benya, which is partly Egyptian-owned, is based in Egypt.

Al Qalaa Red Flag is a consortium with Emirati and Chinese ownership focused on industrial investments in Egypt. The other two “mega” projects are for manufacturing steel pipe factory and tires.

Nexans reports that its Halden plant in Norway marked a historic milestone as its cable-laying vessel, Nexans Aurora, departed with a record 9,731 tons of subsea cable.

A press release said that cargo represents the highest load ever in the company’s history, exceeding the previous record, set in 2023 for the Oseberg Project, by 256 tons. “This feat represents not only a record for Nexans Aurora but also for the Halden plant itself, which has been supplying large-scale cable solutions since its first delivery to Nexans Skagerrak in 1976.​”

The Halden’s newly expanded high-voltage subsea cable facility, completed in early 2024, enabled this scale of operations, more than doubling its capacity for state-of-the-art HVDC and HVAC cable production. The plant now employs around 1,000 people and houses the tallest building in Norway—its second extrusion tower—allowing simultaneous cable insulation across four production lines.​

This latest record highlights Halden’s role as a cornerstone in Nexans’ global supply chain, supporting key offshore wind farm, interconnector, and electrification projects worldwide.

Denmark’s NKT has joined the First Movers Coalition (FMC), reinforcing its commitment to the advancement of low-carbon aluminum across global supply chains.

A press release said that FMC, led by the World Economic Forum, brings together industry leaders to accelerate decarbonization in sectors that are traditionally challenging to abate. By participating in the FMC’s aluminium sector, NKT pledges that by 2030, at least 10% of its annual primary aluminum purchases will be low-carbon, in accordance with the coalition’s stringent emissions criteria. This move marks a notable strategic step in NKT’s broader objective to reduce the carbon intensity of its power cables—a priority that supports both the company’s sustainability targets and the decarbonization goals of its clients.

This strategic move supports NKT’s broader goal to reduce the carbon intensity of its power cables, aiding both its sustainability targets and those of its clients. The company’s pursuit of lower-carbon materials is already underway, highlighted by its April 2025 agreement with Norwegian group Hydro for REDUXA 4.0 aluminum—produced using renewable energy and featuring a carbon footprint 75% lower than the global average.

 NKT also secured first rights to Hydro’s upcoming REDUXA 3.0, furthering its role in Europe’s energy transition and grid modernization. The collaboration also sends a strong market signal, encouraging early adoption of climate technologies and reinforcing NKT’s position as a proactive force in the shift to greener infrastructure.

Madem-Moorecraft Reels USA, a subsidiary of the Madem Reels Group Brazil, announces a significant expansion of its wooden reel production capacity at its Tarboro, North Carolina facility.

A press release said that $7 million was invested in the project. It includes new production lines that use fully robotized machinery, enabling a 50% increase in the plant’s installed capacity.

Madem-Moorecraft already operates a solid logistics network with distribution centers in Texas, Georgia, Arizona, West Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina. As part of its expansion plan, the company is considering opening new distribution centers in Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisianna, Missouri, Maryland  and Pennsylvania, further enhancing its coverage and proximity to key customers. In addition to its Tarboro plant, Madem-Moorecraft also operates another industrial facility in Denton, Texas.

Madem Reels Group has manufacturing plants in Brazil,  Colombia, Mexico, Spain and Bahrain. It supplies some 200 cable producers in 45 countries.