U.K.-based KnitMesh Technologies (KnitMesh) reports that it has created a wire knitting machine that is able to manufacture wire mesh six feet across, a width that the company reports is an industry record.

A press release said that the model was specifically designed to produce mesh as wide as four meters to exacting tolerances to produce “green” hydrogen from water. The process “splits” water into separate hydrogen and oxygen molecules using an electrolysis process, and having access to larger size wire mesh provides economies of scale. The KnitMesh model can process wire from 0.10 mm to 0.50 mm in special metals and alloys, including stainless steels, nickel and coated wires. The company notes that it designed and produced the new system, as well as other bespoke equipment.

Asked by WJI whether the record width related just to the new demand, and if it could have been made at an earlier time, and possibly even wider, the company responded, “Theoretically, it could have been done before, but practical experience gained on recent large knitting machines has enabled this step.” As for the width, it observed, “Any width is possible, but any larger and the machines would require significant development of new components, such as bearings. The size of the new machine (we made) meets customer requirements for the foreseeable future.”

 KnitMesh Managing Director Peter Evans said that he is enthusiastic about the company’s role in shaping a carbon-free future through hydrogen fuel technologies. “We see hydrogen fuel as a key component of a sustainable future, and KnitMesh Technologies is proud to be a major supplier to this industry. We are actively expanding our business through recruitment and new equipment, and we foresee a bright future for our hydrogen division.”

In October, the company exhibited at Hydrogen Technology Expo Europe, held in Hamburg Messe in Hamburg, Germany. There they showcased their range of knitted wire mesh products, such as gas diffusion layers, porous transport layers, and mist eliminators. “The products garnered significant interest from attendees, reinforcing KnitMesh Technologies’ position as a leader in manufacturing advanced knitted wire mesh solutions.”

Founded in 1957, KnitMesh also has a plant in India, and activity there is expected to increase. “We are working with several Indian customers who will require meshes for green hydrogen electrolysers, and when they reach the series production stage we will install equipment at our Indian plant so we can ensure local supply.”

KnitMesh notes that wire mesh for creating “green” hyrdogen is a world-wide product. “Our main markets are currently Europe and North America, and we already supply similar electrolyzer meshes to customers in North America. As demand grows, we are likely to open a plant in North America.”

RTE, the transmission system operator (TSO) for France, has contracted with five suppliers–Prysmian, Nexans, NKT-SolidAI and Hellenic Cables–to secure underground power cables supplies for its projects through 2028.

A press release said that the collective project will cost almost €1 billion for the supply and installation of around 5,200 km of underground cables for voltage levels ranging from 90,000 to 400,000 volts, with the cost for the cables at €668 million euros, including €300 million for cable installation and assembly services.

One third of the cables will be made in France at Prysmian plants in Gron (Yonne) and Montereau-Fault-Yonne (Seine-et-Marne) and the Nexans plant in Bourg-en-Bresse (Ain). With this commitment, RTE is reserving almost all of the French production capacity still available until 2028, for the production of more than 1,700 km of cables. The release noted that the order to develop and strengthen the existing French electricity transmission network has allowed Prysmian to invest in a new cable production line in Seine-et-Marne.

Prysmian CEO Massimo Battaini said that the order “represents an exceptional opportunity for Prysmian to actively contribute to the local economic and social development of our sites in France with continued investments aimed at leveraging know-how and technologies available on the territory and creating new jobs.”

“Nexans is proud to put its expertise at the service of this common ambition for a more reliable electricity grid and a stronger industry,” said Nexans CEO Christopher Guérin.

“We are excited to continue the long-term collaboration with RTE as they modernize and strengthen France’s power grid and support the transition to renewable energy,” said NKT President and CEO Claes Westerlind, who noted that his company has been working with RTE since 2011. Of note, in June, NKT acquired SolidAl, which was one of the five cable suppliers cited in the press release.

“We are honored to be part of RTE’s ambitious initiative, which not only strengthens France’s energy infrastructure but also emphasizes sustainable, European-made solutions for the regional electricity transmission network,” said Alexis Alexiou, CEO of Cenergy Holdings, which owns Hellenic Cables.

South Korea’s Taihan Cable & Solution Co. (Taihan) has secured a contract through its U.S. subsidiary, TE USA, to supply power cable in the western U.S.

Per a report in The Korea Economic Daily, Taihan will supply power cables worth about $21.8 million a year for three years. Earlier this year, the company won a similar large supply project, and the total value of contracts won this year is $54.5 million, the highest amount since the company entered the North American market.

Alaska Power & Telephone Company (AP&T) has completed the company’s “SEALink South” submarine fiber optic cable project, the latest segment in its growing southeast Alaska broadband network.

A press release said that the AP&T team completed the installation one year ahead of schedule. SEALink South includes a submarine cable system interconnecting Ketchikan with the communities of Hollis and Coffman Cove, beachfront cable landing sites, various terrestrial facilities, and associated transport equipment.

Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke, a subsidiary of Prysmian Group, provided the cable for SEALink in 2022 and it also provided the cable for SEALink South. That project was noteworthy as it represented the first- ever fiber optic link to continental North America. That project required 214 miles of submarine fiber optic cable from Prince of Wales Island to Juneau, with an overland crossing on Mitkof Island through the community of Petersburg. It was funded by a $21.5 million grant from the USDA Rural Utility Services, and more than $7 million in matching funds from APTW. It was completed two years ahead of schedule.

The SEALink South Project uses 101 miles of submarine fiber optic cable to expand connectivity in Alaska’s Alexander Archipelago region, enhancing resilience through diverse routing options and a fiber “ring” around Prince of Wales Island. SEALink South was funded via a $29.3m USDA ReConnect grant, plus additional matching funds supplied by AP&T.

In addition to supporting AP&T’s needs as a rural service provider, SEALink is available as a regional resource to assist carriers with transport and routing diversity requirements. This includes indigenous stakeholders working to develop tribal broadband solutions who have actively supported SEALink throughout the course of its development.