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Industry News

5/4/2022 -

NKT has finalized the repair of the 285 kV HVDC power cable system Kontiskan 2 that connects the power grids of Sweden and Denmark.

A press release said that NKT was awarded the repair contract after the Kontiskan 2 interconnector—operated by Svenska Kraftnät and Energinet—suffered a fault due to external impact at the end of January 2022. Roughly eight weeks after the fault occurred, the 285 kV mass impregnated (MI) HVDC power cable system was back in full operation. The actual repair operation took only 12 days. 

NKT performed the initial fault finding from shore identifying that the damage was located offshore. The damaged cable section was located 33 km from the converter station in Billdal, Sweden, after further pinpointing with a third-party vessel. NKT completed the repair operation within only 12 days after the mobilization of a third-party repair vessel. Following the operation, NKT buried the power cable at safe water depth to mitigate the risk of external impact.

 The Kontiskan 2 was energized shortly after the repair bringing the power cable connection back in full operation. The interconnector was installed in 1988 as an addition to the Kontiskan 1 from 1969 to support the exchange of energy between the Nordic countries by connecting the national power grids in Denmark and Sweden.

“Once again, we demonstrated that we are among the fastest companies in the market when it comes to offshore repairs,” the release said.

Last modified on May 4, 2022

5/4/2022 -

Wind, a Dutch subsea cable specialist, has signed a long-term cooperation agreement with Waterson Terminals to establish a new cable storage yard in Rhode Island.

A press release said that the cable storage yard, to be located at ProvPort in Providence, is expected to be fully operational by the beginning of the third quarter of this year. It added that there was also the possibility of expanding capacity into other facilities of Waterson Terminals as the business grows and more space is required. The Providence yard will provide all cable and accessories storage and handling, while the project management will be carried out from Wind’s headquarters in Alkmaar in the Netherlands.

“Waterson Terminal Services is thrilled to partner with Wind as we work to provide a high level of port logistics and stevedoring service to the US offshore wind supply chain,” said Waterson Terminal Services general manager Chris Waterson.

Wind’s clients include Prysmian, which chose it for the transport, handling and temporary storage of a ±150 km array cable for the Hollandse Kust Zuid Offshore Wind Farm.

Last modified on May 4, 2022

5/4/2022 -

U.K. metals tycoon Sanjeev Gupta has secured $125 million in new financing for Liberty Steel, a manufacturer of steel wire rod in the U.S.

In an article in The Wall Street Journal, Liberty Steel USA reported that it has been given funding from Eclipse Business Capital, a U.S. lender. It replaces an existing loan with Wells Fargo. The deal provides financial relief to a part of Gupta’s global empire amid a wider restructuring following the collapse of specialty lender Greensill Capital. Terms of the loan were not released, but the article described Eclipse as a Chicago-based lender to midsize companies.

Gupta owns Liberty Steel USA through his GFG Alliance group of companies, which have more than 200 manufacturing assets in 12 countries. In the U.S., Liberty Steel manufactures wire rod and has operations in states including Illinois and South Carolina. Those include the Georgetown mill that Liberty purchased in a shuttered state from ArcelorMittal in December 2017, and reopened seven months later.

The prospects of GFG’s steel operations have been at risk for months following the unraveling last year of specialty finance firm Greensill Capital. Greensill and GFG were closely intertwined, with Greensill supplying the Gupta family’s steel, aluminum and energy businesses with their main source of funding.

Last modified on May 4, 2022

5/4/2022 -

The Prysmian Group reports that it is keeping pace with executing its plan to invest some €1 billion by 2024, mainly targeted at developing businesses that support the energy transition.

A press release said that global trends for creating more power through renewable resources were fueling the company’s investment plans. “Development of the trans-European power grid plays a strategic role in decarbonization and in the transition to renewable sources, as well as in improving EU energy autonomy — an urgent need that has returned to the fore with the Russia-Ukraine conflict,” said Prysmian Group CEO Valerio Battista. “As a global leader in the cable industry, we have decided to increase investments chiefly in support of energy interconnection projects and connections for renewable sources.”

The investment plan seeks to consolidate the company’s approximately 35-40% share in the high voltage submarine and underground cable market, which per 2025 forecasts is projected to top  €8 billion a year in terms of projects awarded. In 2021, Prysmian acquired projects worth €4.8 billion.

The Group is accelerating its plan to build the first high-voltage submarine cable facility in Massachusetts, USA, which with an investment of approximately €200 million will be a hub of strategic importance for the development of the offshore wind power industry in the country.

Significant investments will be made in expanding the production capacity and technological equipment of the key excellence centers for power transmission submarine cables. An investment of over €80 million will go to the Arco Felice (Naples) plant, which will be expanded, including in view of the execution of the Tyrrhenian Link interconnection. An investment of over €100 million will go to Pikkala (Finland) center of excellence for Northern Europe, particularly focused on offshore wind farm cabling projects, as well as to the Gron plant in France for the production of the German HVDC cable projects. The current submarine cable production structure is rounded out by the plants in Nordenham, Germany, and Drammen, Norway.

Another investment was in the Leonardo da Vinci, the world’s largest cable-laying vessel, which required an investment exceeding €170 million. Built by the Vard Group (Fincantieri), the vessel will expedite the time needed to complete submarine interconnection projects, while also decreasing their environmental impact. The Group’s fleet of cable-laying vessels also includes in addition to the new barge Barbarossa. Moreover, in addition to the Arco Felice (Naples) base, it can also count on the Middlesbrough operating base in Great Britain.

In terms of technical advances, Prysmian notes that its 525 kV P-Laser cable system, offers unparalleled efficiency in energy transmission and an innovative aramid-armored cable for submarine depths of up to 3,000 meters. Another innovation has been the development of digital devices for power grid monitoring, an area in which Prysmian is on the cutting edge with the PRY-CAM technology. Following the integration of the acquired Omnisens with Prysmian Electronics, the Group created the new EOSS Division with the objective of further developing this promising niche market capacity expansion at the Italian, Finnish and French plants.

Last modified on May 4, 2022

5/4/2022 -

Per a report in The Times of India, RR Kable plans to invest more than 1,000 crore (one crore equals approximately $131,000 as of April 16). “We are having major expansion plans at our facility in Vadodara and Silvassa. The manufacturing capacity will be ramped up and new facilities will also be set up,” said Shreegopal Kabra, group president and managing director, RR Kabel. He added that about Rs 650 crore will be invested in wire and cable, Rs 200 crore in lighting and fan, and the rest in the production of switchgear. He said that the company will also increase its employee strength amid the expansion.

“We will hire about 2,500 employees in the next three years. Our current employee strength is 5,000 employees and we plan to take it to 10,000 in the next few years,” Shreegopal told TOI. The company has also set up a new plant in Waghodia where it will manufacture an entire range of switch products. Their exports currently stand at 27% of their production. The management also said that it will increase the number of women employees from the current 9% to 25% in the next five years. Established in 1986, RR Kabel currently has Rs 9,000 crore of annual turnover. They recently announced the acquisition of Luminous Home Electrical business from Schneider.

“This acquisition will further strengthen the company’s consumer electrical business,” said the release. noting that the transaction is expected to close in May this year. RR Kabel is the flagship company of RR Global and it is among the leading wire and cable manufacturers in India.

Last modified on May 4, 2022

5/4/2022 -

The Madem Reels Group will open a new plant in North America as part of its expansion plans.

A press release said that shareholders of Madem-Moorecraft Reels USA, Inc., have agreed to open a new manufacturing, assembly and distribution plant in Denton, Texas. This will be the company’s second manufacturing plant in North America, following the opening of its first one in North Carolina. “Madem Group is successfully shaping another important project through excellence in streaming its core competencies,” said Madem Moorecraft Reels USA President Marcos Ramalho.

Plans call for operations to begin in 2022, with assembly and distribution beginning in the second quarter, and manufacturing in the fourth quarter. The company has invested in cutting-edge CNC lines, and expects to create a hundred new jobs. Annual capacity should reach over 1,200 truckloads of KD reel kits per year. “The new Denton plant represents our latest commitment to increase production capacity and expand our North American distribution network,” said Steve Redhage, vice president of sales.

Based in Brazil, the Madem Group is a leading global manufacturer of nailed wooden reels. It has its own renewable forests, sawmill and manufacturing facilities in Brazil that support the company’s global partners in the U.S., Bahrain, Colombia, Mexico, and Spain. We employ over 700 dedicated associates worldwide. Combined annual production exceeds 6,000 containers of knocked down reels, including customized products, that ship to over 150 wire and cable plants worldwide. 

Last modified on May 4, 2022

5/4/2022 -

Google has announced a project to connect Canada and Japan with an undersea fiber optic cable called Topaz, a project that will connect Vancouver and Port Alberni to Mie and Ibaraki prefectures in Japan.

A press release said that Topaz will have 16 fiber pairs that are capable of speeds up to 240 Terabits per second. “We expect the cable to be ready for service in 2023, not only delivering low-latency access to Search, Gmail and YouTube, Google Cloud, and other Google services, but also increasing capacity to the region for a variety of network operators in both Japan and Canada.”

Google is working with local partners in B.C. and Japan to help complete the project, including the Hupacasath, Maa-nulth, and Tseshaht First Nations. This will be the first trans-pacific cable to connect Canada to Japan.

Google noted that with the addition of Topaz, the company has now announced investments in 20 subsea cable projects. These include Curie, Dunant, Equiano, Firmina and Grace Hopper, and consortium cables like Blue, Echo, Havfrue and Raman—all connecting 29 cloud regions, 88 zones, 146 network edge locations across more than 200 countries and territories.

Last modified on May 4, 2022

5/4/2022 -

Nexans has been awarded a contract worth around €100m by French grid operator RTE to supply and install cables for the 496 MW Le Treport offshore wind farm.

A press release said that the contract comprises 47 km of offshore and 18 km of onshore export cable for the wind farm, which is located more than 15.5 km from Le Tréport and 17 km from Dieppe.

The consortium Eoliennes en Mer Dieppe Le Treport is developing the offshore wind farm. RTE has been appointed by the French government to connect the wind farm from the offshore substation to the onshore power grid by installing two subsea and onshore links.

For the subsea section, Nexans will supply two 23.5 km lengths of 225 kV three-core cable. The cable has hybrid armoring and incorporates a fiber-optic element to remotely monitor the health of the link and transmit information between the offshore wind farm and the onshore base.

Nexans’ Halden plant in Norway will manufacture the subsea cables, while the land cables will come from the Nexans plant in Charleroi, Belgium. The fiber-optic elements will be supplied from the Norwegian site in Rognan. The installation of the subsea cables should start in the second half of 2024.

The cables will be laid by the CS Skagerrak, one of Nexans’ two cable laying vessels. The onshore link will have 18 km of 225 kV single-core cable, similar to that supplied to RTE by Nexans under the current framework contract for onshore cables. Nexans will also be in charge of the cable burial and protection for the onshore section.

Last modified on May 4, 2022

Madison, Connecticut, USA  4/14/2022 - The conference and exhibits open at the Hyatt Regency Dallas, Dallas, Texas, USA, June 7-8, 2022. WAI’s popular Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing Course precedes the activities on June 6, which is the first in-person offering of the program in two years.

 The exhibit includes a full complement of products and supplies from 125 participating companies. A tour to Encore Wire plant in McKinney, Texas, is planned on June 8 when the manufacturer of copper and aluminum residential, commercial, and industrial building wire hosts Wire Expo guests.

 Describing the event in the April issue of Wire Journal International, WAI 2022 President James York wrote: "We believe that there is great value in being together “in person.” This is the reason WAI was formed in 1930, and why we continue to take time to gather even with our demanding schedules. …The program elements were assembled by the Board {of Directors} to address today’s evolving challenges. These include the supply chain, workforce and continuous improvement of manufacturing. The theme ‘Rising to the Challenges’ speaks to the intestinal fortitude of the members of our industry.”

 Keynote Speakers:

 Tuesday, June 7 - The new normal in raw material procurement for the wire and cable industry”
Keynote speaker Brian Schulties, the Chief Procurement Officer for Prysmian Group North America, will share his insights into the opportunities and challenges facing supply chain in the wire and cable industry in this era of tight supplies.

 Wednesday, June 8 - “Leadership in a volatile world”
Keynote speaker Ty Garrison, Senior Vice President of Operations, at Commercial Metals Company, will discuss how the last few years have strained businesses across the globe as Covid forced companies to deal with events like virtual work, burn out, unprecedented supply chain disruptions and volatile markets. The need to successfully navigate these situations puts immense pressure on leadership at every level of an organization. When we shift our mindset and view the pressures of leading a team as a privilege rather than a burden, leaders rise to the occasion and companies thrive.  

 Added Highlights:

Overall, 32 subject matter experts address the following and related topics:

“Partner-centered business: Encore’s long-term approach,” by Kevin Heffernan, Encore Wire Co.
“Today’s hourly workforce,” by Chuck McLendon, Southwire Co.                                                         
“Improving hiring practices to stand out in today’s challenging job market,” by Pati Kelly, Egret Consulting Group
“Opportunities for the wire and cable market in a post-pandemic world," by Michael Finch, CRU International

Advance registration savings are in effect through June 1, 2022.  The rates for WAI members and New WAI members are $75, and $140, respectively; the non-WAI member rate is $175. Onsite rates apply after June 1.                                                                                                                                                                            
The full program details, and registration information can be accessed at the event website: www.wireexpo22.com

WAI has the generous support of the following sponsors:

Platinum: Carris Reels Inc.; Encore Wire; Gem Gravure Co. Inc.; James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp., Prysmian Group; SDI LaFarga Inc.; Southwire Co.; and Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp; Gold: Insteel Industries Inc.; and Lloyd & Bouvier Inc.; Silver: Niehoff Endex; and Sikora International Corp.; Bronze: Baum’s Castorine; Fort Wayne Wire Die; NDC Technologies; Precision Payoff Systems; RichardsApex Inc.; and Sonoco Reels & Spools.

The Wire and Cable Industry Suppliers Association (WCISA) is an industry partner with WAI.

About the Organizer:
WAI, founded in 1930, is a not-for-profit association with nearly 2,000 individual members in 50 countries. The association serves the educational needs of the wire and cable manufacturing industry through a variety of products and services. WAI manages the Interwire Trade Exhibition and the WAI Operations Summit & Wire Expo and publishes the Wire Journal International and the Wire Journal International Reference Guide.

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Media Contacts: Janice E. Swindells, Director Marketing & Corporate Communications, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: +1-203-453-2777 x. 117; Steven J. Fetteroll, Executive Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: +1-203-453-1777.

Last modified on April 14, 2022

4/3/2022 - Earlier this year, LS Group’s cable manufacturing unit, LS Cable & System (LSCS), officially opened its new power cable plant in Indonesia, a joint venture.

A press release said that the new plant, called LSAGI, is a joint venture between LSCS and Artha Graha Network, Indonesia’s 10th-largest conglomerate. The Korean firm owns a 75% stake in the entity.

The plant, located on a 64,000-square-meter site in the Artha Industrial Complex near Jakarta, will mainly produce overhead wires for power transmission and distribution and low-voltage cables for buildings and plants.

LSCS said it aims to expand its presence in the Southeast Asian country by taking advantage of its local partnership business experience and sales networks ranging from banks to hotels. “In the cable industry, each country is strengthening policies to protect its own companies,” an LS official said. “We will pursue different strategies for different markets to better meet the local demands.”

The firm also expected a quick recovery of the pandemic-hit cable market, citing Indonesia’s planned relocation of its capital from Jakarta to a jungled area of Kalimantan on Borneo island, which involves a $32 billion mega development project. LSCS now operates a total of 12 production facilities around the world, including in the U.S., Poland, Vietnam and China.

Last modified on April 3, 2022

4/3/2022 - Egypt and Greece have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to partner further growth of their cable infrastructure.

Per multiple media reports, Telecom Egypt, Egypt’s first integrated telecom operator and one of the leading subsea cables operators in the region, and GRID Telecom, subsidiary of the Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) in Greece, will seek future directions.

The MoU does not spell out a finalized submarine cable system plan, although Egypt plans to spend $60 million to put a fiber-optic cable under the Mediterranean Sea to Greece for data transmission. Egyptian Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat said that technical studies will help determine the most feasible route for the project. He said that Egypt’s strategic location allows it to play a vital role in transferring data from the Middle East to Europe, and a key would be more service paths.

“Egypt and Greece have deep rooted economic, political, and cultural ties, which have united the two countries for over thousands of years given that they are among the oldest civilizations known to humanity,” Talaat said. “The MoU signed between the two companies will contribute to strengthening bilateral cooperation in the field of communications and information technology by maximizing data traffic that crosses the Mediterranean Sea, through Egypt and Greece.”

The strategic agreement allows for exploration of different connectivity options between Greece and Egypt, as well as the optimal use of Telecom Egypt’s and Grid Telecom’s networks and international reach, through their existing and future interconnectivity to neighboring countries.

Telecom Egypt’s international network extends to over 140 landing points in more than 60 countries, while Grid Telecom’s domestic fiber optic network exceeds 4,000 km.

Of note, Egypt’s distinct geographic location makes it a regional data hub, as it transfers traffic to Asia, Africa, and Europe through more than 13 submarine cables, which are scheduled to increase to 18 cables within three years.

“IPTO’s agreement to work with one of the world’s leading subsea cables operators further advances our international growth strategy and can actively contribute to Greece’s emergence as a key telecommunication hub in the broader Mediterranean region,” said IPTO Chairman and CEO Manos Manousakis.

Last modified on April 3, 2022

4/3/2022 - Egypt’s Elsewedy Cables has won a six-year contract for the supply of 66kV rated XLPE underground cables for Nexel Denmark.

A press release said that the cables will be manufactured at one of the company’s production facilities in the manufacturing zone of the 10th of Ramadan City in Cairo. They will then be transported to NEXEL sites and storage locations around Denmark as and when required by the customer. The contract also provides an option to deliver associated cable network design services.

Nexel Denmark is part of Andel group, the largest energy supplier and grid operator in Denmark, managing and operating the Cerius and Radius Elnet grids covering 1.4 million customers.

“This prominent contract is a significant milestone for Elsewedy Cables in its drive to become a major supplier of complex medium and high voltage cables in Europe,” the release said. The award is a testimony to our manufacturing capability, quality products and engineering expertise. Elsewedy Cables continuously invests in the latest machinery, technology, and testing facilities to enable the production of cables and accessories that are compliant with stringent European standards.

Elsewedy Cables is a subsidiary of Elsewedy Electric Group which has 15 manufacturing facilities worldwide that produce cables, overhead lines, transformers, and smart meters.

Last modified on April 3, 2022

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