EuroWire January 2020

wire 2020 preview issue

Attention turns to wire 2020 and Düsseldorf

and Wire & Cable ASIA from our stand in the wire halls, 11D26, and from the newHall 1, stand FO01. Sister publications Tube & Pipe Technology and Tube Products INTERNATIONAL will also be available from the Hall 1 stand, and from E44 in Hall 4. This issue of EuroWire also includes a new section – EuroFasteners . Covering the whole fasteners and springs industry, from machinery manufacture to the end products, the section is highlighted by its own covers and features industry news, products and manufacturing technology.

With the seasonal festivities now out of the way, it is time to look ahead to the new year and all that it brings – including wire Düsseldorf. The most in uential exhibition in the wire and cable industry is now just a matter of weeks away, with more than 42,000 trade visitors expected to head to the Fairgrounds in Germany’s sixth largest city. There they will meet up with more than 1,400 exhibitors to learn of new technologies and the latest trends from the industry. Suppliers and buyers from around the world and from all sectors of the industry will converge at the side of the River Rhine for the week-long exhibition. Our coverage starts on page 85 with the current list of exhibitors.

Turn to page 65 for more details.

We look forward to meeting up with many of you in Düsseldorf.

David Bell Editor

You will also be able to collect your free copies of EuroWire

Publishing Team

Editor:

................................................................................................................................David Bell

Features Editor (USA):

............................................................................................................................. Gill Watson

Editorial assistant:

..................................................................................................................Christian Bradley

Design/Production:

............................................................................................................................Julie Tomlin

Production:

..............................................................................................................................Lisa Wright

Sales & Marketing: UK & ROW sales.............................................................................................Jason Smith (International) Italian speaking sales...................................................................Giuliana Benedetto Chinese speaking sales ............................................................................................Linda Li Advertisement Coordinator: ..............................................................................................................................Liz Hughes Accounts Manager: ...............................................................................................................................Karen Low Subscriptions: ...............................................................................................................................Karen Low Publisher: ....................................................................................................................Caroline Sullens Founder: ..........................................................................................................................John C Hogg

* US$33 purchase only Front cover: Maschinenfabrik Niehoff GmbH & Co KG See page 124 for further details

www.read-eurowire.com © 2020 Intras Ltd, UK ISSN 1463-2438 US copies only : EuroWire (ISSN 1463-2483, USPS No: 022-738) is published six times a year, January, March, May, July, September and November by Intras Ltd and distributed in the USA by Asendia USA, 701 Ashland Ave, Folcroft PA. Periodicals postage paid at Philadelphia, PA and additional mailing o ces. POSTMASTER : Send address changes to EuroWire, Intras Ltd, C/O 701 Ashland Ave, Folcroft PA 19032.

Intras Offices

USA :

Advertising/Marketing Intras USA – Doug Zirkle Danbury Corporate Center, 107 Mill Plain Road, Danbury, CT 06811, USA Tel : +1 203 794 0444 Email : doug@intras.co.uk

E urope :

46 Holly Walk, Leamington Spa Warwickshire CV32 4HY, UK

Tel : +44 1926 334137 Fax : +44 1926 314755

Email : eurowire@intras.co.uk Website : www.intras.co.uk Website : www.read-eurowire.com

TheProfessional PublishersAssociation Member

4

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020

Contents

January 2020

(Photos courtesy: Messe Düsseldorf/Constanze Tillmann)

Regulars

Market News

Deutsch Inhalt 99 Neuigkeiten 124 Inserentenverzeichnis

8

Diary of events

9

Corporate News

Sommaire Français 109 Nouvelles du Marché 124 Index des Annonceurs Indice Italiano 114 Notizie del Mercato 124 Indice degli Inserzionisti Содержание на русском языке 104 Ηοвости рьінка 124 Перечень рекламодателей Indice Español 119 Noticias de Mercado 124 Indice de Anunciadores

30

Transatlantic Cable

38

Technology News

65

EuroFasteners

85

wire 2020 Preview

124 Editorial Index

124 Advertisers’ Index

6

Subscribe Now!

Next Issue GettingTechnical Fibre Optic Strain Gauge Using Pseudorandom Code Interrogation

Visit us online at: www.read-eurowire.com

Features wire 2020 show issue EuroFasteners

Technical Articles

Cables inWet Environments By Brian Marchant, Berk-Tek LLC, New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA

96

Câbles en environnements humides Par Brian Marchant, Berk-Tek LLC, New Holland, Pennsylvania, États-Unis

111

Cavi in ambienti umidi A cura di Brian Marchant, Berk-Tek LLC, New Holland, Pennsylvania, Stati Uniti

116

Kabel in nassen Umgebungen von Brian Marchant, Berk-Tek LLC, New Holland, Pennsylvania, USA

101

Кабели во влажных средах Брайан Марчант, Berk-Tek LLC, Нью Холланд, Пенсильвания, США

106

Cables en ambientes mojados Por Brian Marchant, Berk-Tek LLC, New Holland, Pensilvania, EE.UU.

121

7

wire 2020 30 March - 3 April: wire 2020 – trade exhibition – Düsseldorf, Germany Organisers : Messe Düsseldorf GmbH Fax : +49 211 4560 668 Email : wire@messe-duesseldorf.de Website : www.wire.de

Dates for your diary. . .

2020

April

20–24 April: MACH – trade exhibition – Birmingham,UK Organisers : MTA (Manufacturing

Technologies Association) Email : mach@mta.org.uk Website : www.machexhibition.com

June

2–4 June: Wire Expo – trade exhibition and conference – Uncasville, Connecticut, USA Organisers : Wire Association International Fax : +1 203 453 8384 Email : sales@wirenet.org Website : www.wirenet.org trade exhibition – Seoul, South Korea Organisers : KT Fairs Fax : +82 02 784 6810 Email : master1@ktfairs.com Website : www.korea-metal.com 17–20 June 20 – Korea Metal Week – 23–26 September: wire China – trade exhibition – Shanghai, China Organisers : SECRI and Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co Ltd Fax : +86 216 169 8301 Email : shanghai@mdc.com.cn Website : www.wirechina.net September

October

11–14 October: IWCS – technical symposium – Providence, Rhode Island, USA Organisers : IWCS Tel : +1 717 993 9500 Website : www.iwcs.org

(photo courtesy: Messe Düsseldorf/ctillmann)

8

January 2020

Corporate News

▲ ▲ The BWE SheathEx 400

First SheathEx 400 is installed in Russia

An oil-impregnated cable is fed directly into the SheathEx 400 machine. A seamless and smooth aluminium sheath is extruded from 2 x 9.5mm Ø aluminium rods, directly onto the cable. The aluminium sheath is immediately cooled without any cable burn, then automatically coiled onto a large cable drum. The machine was installed and commissioned in record time and BWE continues to work with Rybinskkabel to enhance and optimise the technology. BWE Ltd www.bwe.co.uk

BWE has installed and commissioned the first SheathEx™ 400 machine in Russia. Rybinskkabel LLC, established in 1949, is a major supplier of cable products in Russia. BWE worked with the company to develop a new cable application for BWE’s SheathEx technology. Following the success of the larger 550 model for ‘seamless’ corrugated aluminium sheathing of high-voltage cables, Rybinskkabel had a new application for the smaller 400 model.

9

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020

Corporate News

Quality control in cable extrusion, optical fibre drawing and plastic pellet inspection

With the Fiber Series 6000, Sikora will present a wide range of measuring systems for quality control of optical fibres at different positions in the drawing tower. The range consists of systems for the measurement of the diameter and the position of the naked and coated fibre, as well as for the determination of the tension and detection of airlines. Further gauge heads measure the fibre temperature at the hot position, to determine the fibre temperature for the control of the furnace, and at the cold end, to exactly dose the helium used for the cooling. In addition, a gauge head is available for the determination of the concentricity of the coating as well as for the detection of lumps on the surface of the coated fibre. At wire 2020, Sikora will also exhibit systems for plastic material inspection. The Purity Scanner is an online inspection and sorting system based on X-ray and optical technologies. Contamination inside the pellets as well as on their surface is detected and automatically sorted out. The Purity Concept X is an offline inspection and analysis system, based on X-ray technology. It detects and analyses contamination both on the surface and inside transparent, translucent and coloured plastic material.

SIKORA is a manufacturer and supplier of online measuring, control, inspection, analysis and sorting technologies for the wire and cable, optical fibre, hose and tube, sheets, metals and plastics industries. Its technology is used for increasing quality, process optimisation and efficiency in manufacturing. At wire 2020, Sikora will present laser and X-ray technologies that precisely and reliably measure product parameters such as diameter, ovality, wall thickness and concentricity. The company’s product portfolio includes spark testers for the detection of insulation faults, lump detectors for the detection of faults on the product surface, capacity measuring systems, and devices for conductor preheating and temperature measurement/control. Systems for online and offline inspection, sorting and analysis of raw material, eg for the insulation of high-voltage cables, round off the product range. With the X-ray-based X-Ray 8000 Advanced, Sikora will showcase at wire 2020 the High-Speed Technology (HST) that is tailored to the demands of MV, HV and EHV cable production. It represents an advanced alternative to the X-Ray 8000 NXT. The system is equipped with 16 measuring sensors and measures the diameter, wall thickness and eccentricity of cables in CV lines up to ten times faster than the X-Ray 8000 NXT, for more efficient control and information transparency in terms of Industry 4.0.

Sikora will be exhibiting at wire 2020 in Hall 9, on Stand A41.

Sikora AG

www.sikora.net

10

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020

Supermac enters strategic partnership with German Companies – M/S Scholz to cover CCV Lines and M/S Rubicon to cover Rubber Extrusion Lines in India, Africa and Far East markets.

Supermac Industries, established in the year 1974, is a leader in manufacturing high-end systems and process technology for wire & cable in the power and telecom sector and related industries. The ISO 9001 certi ed company specializes in o ering customized and tailor-made solutions to ful l speci c needs of a variety of customers all across the globe. Withahighlyskilleddesignteam,withthebestofmanufacturing and highly talented commissioning team, and trained experts in cable processes and technology, we o er design to process expertise to bring in the best product for you.

Rubicon/Supermac Silicone and Rubber Cable Co Extruder

The company has established one unit in NewDelhi and two units inManesar, Haryana. The combined area of Supermac manufacturing units adds up to 95000 Sq. ft. The state-of-the-art facilities are equipped with international and domestic machinery to carry out the process of manufacturing as per the customer's requirements. Supermac has recently had its products approved for CE Mark, enabling export to the European market. Supermac has received repeat orders from domestic and international markets: DUBAI, ABU DHABI, SHARJAH, RAS AL KHAIMAH, OMAN, NIGERIA, UGANDA, KENYA, BANGLADESH, SRI LANKA, SAUDI ARABIA, DOHA QATAR, EGYPT, LEBANON, JORDAN, MALAYSIA and PHILIPPINES. Supermac is now endeavoring to expand its presence to NORTH & SOUTH AMERICA, EUROPE, and CIS COUNTRIES & RUSSIA. Supermac specialises in the following areas: · State-of-the-art CCV Line with Scholz Vulcanisation system for Power Cables up to 132 KV XLPE and 33 KV for Rubber · Proven Triple Extrusion Line for SIOPLAS (XLPE) cables · High-speed Insulation Line and Sheathing Line for House Wiring & Control Cables and medical equipment sector · High output and best in class Insulation Line and Sheathing Line for Power Cables · HCV Rubber insulation and sheathing line · Hybrid and composite CCV lines for both XLPE and Rubber · Rubicon make Rubber extruders for Insulation and sheathing materials · Silicone extrusion lines with infrared vulcanisation system · Extruders for variety of applications – up to 175 mm · Cross-Head Single/Dual/Triple · Haul-O Caterpillar · Capstan · Take-up and pay-o of all types and sizes and as per requirement above 4.5 meters and 40 MT Supermac Scholz CCV 132 KV Line

www.supermacindia.com

SUPERMAC INDUSTRIES (INDIA) LIMITED

UNIT-I : Plot No-2, Sector-6, IMT Manesar, Gurgaon Haryana, INDIA Ph.: +91-0124-4690500 | Fax: +91-0124-4690501 E-mail: jasvinder@supermacindia.com, vkohli123@gmail.com

OFFICE : A-28 & 29, NARAINA Industrial Area Phase-1, New Delhi-110028, INDIA Ph.: +91-11-45574317 E-mail: o ce@supermacindia.com

UNIT-II : Plot No. 18-19, Sector-2A, IMT Manesar, Gurgaon, Haryana, INDIA

Corporate News

Teknor Apex appoints new president

process engineer in 1987 after receiving his MSc degree in polymer engineering from the University of Akron. He subsequently served as a technical manager, then as a plant manager, before taking on business development responsibilities for the company’s TPE products. Eventually he took charge of the TPE business and was instrumental in making it a global enterprise, playing key roles in three acquisitions. Upon promotion to senior vice president, he took on leadership of the colour masterbatch business as well as TPE. In 2018 he became executive vice president, continuing to oversee the TPE and colour businesses while supervising all operations in Europe and Asia.

TEKNOR Apex Company has appointed Suresh Swaminathan as its new president. He succeeds William J Murray, who is retiring after 41 years with the company. Mr Swaminathan will be responsible for the company’s worldwide custom compounding business. Teknor Apex operates thirteen manufacturing facilities in the USA, Europe and Asia, and produces flexible and rigid vinyl, TPEs, nylons and other engineering thermoplastics, colour masterbatches and speciality chemicals. “In 32 years with Teknor Apex, Suresh has gained wide experience in technology, manufacturing, sales and business management, and he has played an important role in our worldwide expansion,” said Jonathan D Fain, CEO and chairman of the board. “Under his leadership, Teknor Apex will continue to strengthen its commitment to innovation, global growth and localised service to customers.”

▲ ▲ Suresh Swaminathan, Teknor Apex’s new president

Teknor Apex Company www.teknorapex.com

Mr Swaminathan joined Teknor Apex as a

TURN TO PAGE 85 FOR THEWIRE DÜSSELDORF EXHIBITOR LISTING

12

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020

Corporate News

IWCS 2019 focused on the future

Panellists included Morgan Kurk of CommScope, Claudio Mazzali of Corning, and Srini Siripurapu of the Prysmian Group. Mr Kurk was also the plenary keynote speaker, presenting “Our Future Connected World: Network Architecture to Support 5G and Data Traffic Growth”, and discussing topics such as artificial intelligence, robotics, automation and Industry 4.0. The event featured 110 unique presentations over the four days of the symposium, along with eight professional development courses led by industry experts. Presenters and attendees came from 27 countries, with 80 per cent of attendees from the Americas, and Europe and Asia each contributing 10 per cent. Technical session topics included materials; reliability and network management; data centre and central office; multimode fibre; advancing power and data transmission over copper; special applications; optical fibre design and ultra low loss; codes and standards; and advances in optical connectivity. One paper this year was written and presented by students from the University of North Carolina, which fitted in well with the IWCS emphasis on encouraging and supporting the next generation to enter the industry. This paper will be featured as a technical article in the March issue of EuroWire . The IWCS 2020 Cable & Connectivity Symposium will be held in Providence, Rhode Island, USA, from 11 to 14 October, 2020. IWCS, Inc www.iwcs.org

THE IWCS 2019 International Cable & Connectivity Symposium welcomed attendees to the annual conference in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA, at the end of September. “In spite of international macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges, we overcame them and were more than pleased with our symposium in Charlotte,” said IWCS chairman Scott H Wasserman, PhD, of Dow, Inc. “Vital advances in our industry on the horizon, such as 5G networking, systems and cable innovation, along with the requisite need for new materials to enable them, demand a forum for us to discuss that technology. “IWCS remains the premier global technical forum for open discussion and collaboration that will fuel our industry into the future.” The executive session included CRU’s Richard Mack providing an overview of the global markets for metallic wire and cable as well as optical fibre markets. Michael Finch, also of CRU International, discussed optical cable markets and trends in broadband network construction, and Robert Fry, of Robert Fry Economics, LLC, gave a global economic outlook. Robert Canny, of Marmon Wire and Cable Group, led the Executive Panel Session, which was a lively, informative discussion on the topic “CTO Crystal Ball – Telecommunications in 2025 and Beyond”.

14

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020

Corporate News

Stable investment climate at wire South America

FROM 1 to 3 October 2019, the Expo Exhibition & Convention Center in São Paulo, Brazil, served as a meeting place for regional and international industry experts from the wire, cable and pipe industries. 186 exhibitors at the trade fairs wire South America and Tubotech presented innovative machinery, equipment and services on approximately 5,000m 2 of exhibition space. The new exhibition hall 1, which is more conveniently accessible thanks to its central location, was occupied for the first time. Technology highlights from the fields of metalworking and processing, welding technology and the wire and cable industry were presented, along with trends and technologies from tube production, tube finishing, tube processing, tube accessories and tube trading. The interest of national and international companies to position themselves in South America and to invest in the corresponding machinery and equipment appears to be high, even in the face of difficult economic conditions on the South American continent. A total of 106 companies from 15 countries presented themselves at wire South America 2019, while the parallel Tubotech trade fair for tubes attracted 80 exhibitors from 11 countries. For the third time there was a German joint participation for the wire and cable segments. Ten companies took this opportunity to demonstrate their expertise in Brazil. Over the three days of the trade fairs just under 13,000 trade visitors went São Paulo; 95 per cent of these were from Brazil, with the rest from neighbouring

▲ ▲ Nearly 13,000 people visited the trade fairs in São Paulo

automotive technology and agriculture. Trade visitors came primarily from the oil and gas sector, the automotive industry, the construction sector, metal construction and mining. Messe Düsseldorf GmbH www.wire-south-america.com

countries such as Chile, Colombia, Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay, as well as from India, Canada and China. The products exhibited at the two trade fairs are indispensable, especially in the fields of infrastructure, energy and

Newmarket development hire at ECC

ELECTRIC Cable Compounds (ECC), based in Connecticut, USA, has announced the addition of Jessica Foss to its commercial team. Ms Foss joins as market development manager. Her responsibilities will include promotion and consultative selling of ECC’s products and services to both current and prospective customers, nationally and internationally. Before joining ECC, Ms Foss served as account manager for Colorant Chromatics, a PolyOne company, and previously held sales and marketing positions at T&T Marketing, Inc (now M Holland). She has eight years of experience in the wire and cable industry and is a member of WAI’s New England chapter board of directors. Electric Cable Compounds, Inc www.electriccablecompounds.com

15

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020

Corporate News

Repsol markets its first certified circular polyolefins

REPSOL has achieved a milestone in its commitment to boost the circular economy, with its pioneering work in the production of certified circular polyolefins, which use plastic waste as raw material.

waste, leading the implementation of plastic waste chemical recycling on an industrial scale. The company has obtained ISCC Plus certification for its complex in Puertollano, Spain, for the first tons of circular polyethylene and poly- propylene that are already commercially

New EU HQ and warehouse for Proton Products Europe In spring 2020, Proton Products will celebrate its first 20 years in the industry. The company made a multi-million- euro investment with its recently completed purpose-built European headquarters in Belgium, with ware- housing and training facilities, that will allow it to improve logistics and customer services and accommodate more staff. Proton has grown into a supplier for on-line instrumentation and process machinery for the wire and cable industries. Proton Products Europe director Danny Buelens said, “These modern facilities underline our commitment as an Industry 4.0 company. They will support our further growth into the industries we serve. Here we will accommodate and retain more young professionals to develop the Proton brand and reputation for many years to come.” available to customers in Europe. Repsol’s circular polyolefins are pro- duced by feeding, as an alternative raw material, oils obtained from plastic waste that is not suitable for mechanical recycling and would otherwise go to landfill. This new raw material is fed alongside conventional raw material at the refinery, reducing the consumption of non-renewable resources. With ISCC Plus certification, Repsol can allocate these savings on a specific share to the polyolefins produced in the complex. The certified materials ensure the traceability of the plastic waste used at the source, while offering the same quality and functionality as virgin polyolefins. Repsol www.repsol.com

In 2015, Repsol experimentally began to feed oil from chemically recycled plastic

Proton Products Europe NV www.protonproducts.eu

16

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020

Corporate News

Technical conference advanced discussions on latest industry trends

and have possibilities of communication and interaction, on an international level. Two WAI board members in attendance shared praise of the conference. Kurt Breischaft of SDI LaFarga said, “The Verona event was another solid WAI-ACIMAF offering: excellent presentations on the state of the industry, in-depth plant tours, and many networking opportunities. “The non-ferrous programme was well balanced with something for copper, aluminium, plastic, equipment and the economy in general.” Brian Burr of Sumiden Wire Products Corporation said, “The Wire & Cable Verona Italia 2019 event was an unqualified success. The two educational tracks addressed a wide range of technical topics with many diving deep into the area of Industry 4.0 as well as continuous improvement.” Guests were given a choice between ferrous and non-ferrous wire plant tours, to Pittini Group’s Acciaierie di Verona, and Mondini Cavi, respectively. The gala dinner was held at the Palazzo Verità Poeta. Wire Association International, Inc www.wirenet.org

THE Wire Association International (WAI) Inc and the Italian Machinery Manufacturers Association (ACIMAF) concluded their jointly organised conference in Verona, Italy, in October. The Wire & Cable Verona event was envisioned as a “technical conference of collaboration and innovation”, intended to serve as a venue to further industry knowledge and foster discussions between manufacturers and suppliers. 235 industry professionals participated in the conference, which included presentations, tabletop exhibits, a gala dinner and two plant tours. The technical programme featured 11 ferrous and nine non-ferrous presentations by speakers representing nine countries. 32 companies presented products and services at a tabletop exhibit adjacent to the conference rooms. ACIMAF president Ferruccio Bellina began the event by observing that the global economy remains delicate, and that times are challenging for many industrial sectors: “It is our conviction that these moments require even greater commitment than periods of positive economic growth and that this commitment must be deployed in all the components of the company’s activity, from research and product development, to quality controls, to sales strategies, just to mention a few aspects.”

ItalianWire Machinery Manufacturers Association www.acimaf.com

Mr Bellina said that Wire & Cable Verona was designed to address such needs, so operators can access new innovative proposals

17

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020

Corporate News

SUPPLYING high-performance nickel alloy wire to fuel the growth in nuclear power is helping a UK manufacturer to expand. Alloy Wire International (AWI) has seen a ten per cent surge in orders for its specialist wire, which is being used within components for the sector and critical seals and springs found in many of the world’s largest reactors. Employing 31 people across sites in the West Midlands and Yorkshire, the company is on course to hit £1mn of sales for this industry for the first time in 73 years, and the management team believes its ability to fulfil orders in three weeks is a major factor in this increase. Much of the nickel alloy wire in the company’s range can be treated with a special process that can offer the critical performance required to operate in one of the most demanding business areas. “We have been supplying into this sector for a long time and our track record for manufacturing quality is well known with customers in both the UK and overseas,” explained Mark Venables, managing director of AWI. “The last nine months have definitely been our busiest time to date and we are supplying wire that is going into both existing plants and also new projects taking shape across the globe.” Mr Venables continued, “Companies need to know the material they’ve ordered will withstand harsh temperatures/corrosion and is manufactured in accordance with strict quality controls. With the world relying on nuclear power more than ever, any type of disruption would impact on a lot of people.” AWI manufactures round, flat and profile wire. It has over 200 tonnes of EU/ DFARS-approved stock available at any time, with its 60-strong range including Inconel 600, Inconel 718, Inconel 750, Nimonic 80A and Nimonic 90 – all materials suited to nuclear applications. The firm’s Emergency Manufacturing Service, which involves wire being produced and delivered within a few days, has also been in high demand – up nearly 15 per cent on the same period last year. This underlines the fluctuating requests being placed on spring makers supplying the nuclear sector, and the importance of being able to access material quickly to meet sudden spikes in usage. AWI spent in excess of £250,000 in 2019, in the acquisition of 560mm single block and 200mm multi-block drawing machines. “This has increased our capacity to be able to take on even more nuclear work as we look to build on a record year in this sector,” said Mr Venables. AlloyWire International www.alloywire.com Nuclear powers AlloyWire expansion ▲ ▲ Members of the Alloy Wire team on the shop floor

Decalub green cleaning TecHnOlOgieS FOcuS On: Wire Cleaning ( for plating and high glossy finish )

Wire Rod Lubrication ( for frictionless drawing )

Rod Dry Preparation ( with no speed limit )

DECALUB 31, avenue de Condé 77500 CHELLES, FRANCE E-mail: info@decalub.com Website: www.decalub.com

19

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020

Corporate News

Industrial connector wins Innovative Product Award

Industry – Industrial Intelligence’, the Harting portfolio showcased cloud manufacturing and edge connectivity, as well as solutions for the miniaturisation trend, with the awarded ix connector featuring as one of the highlights. The Harting Technology Group is a worldwide provider of industrial connector technology for data, signals and power, and maintains 14 manufacturing locations and 44 sales companies. manufactures electromagnetic actuators for automotive and industrial series applications and recharging equipment for electric vehicles. The portfolio includes hardware and software for customers and applications in the automation technology, mechanical engineering and plant construction areas, in addition to the robotics and transportation sectors. Harting Stiftung & Co KG www.harting.com The company also

THE Harting Technology Group has been awarded the Innovative Product Award in China, in recognition of its ix Industrial® connector. The award was given by the MM modern manufacturing publication, the counterpart to the specialist magazine MM Maschinenmarkt. The ix Industrial for new industrial devices was developed in response to users, designers and developers who wanted a compact and rugged connector with Cat 6A performance for 1/10 Gbit/s Ethernet on the control level. The latest award is the fourth accolade bestowed on the ix Industrial connector. The Harting Technology Group states that in presenting the ix Industrial, it is keeping pace with the times and has created the future miniaturised interface for Ethernet in the industrial arena. place in connection with the Industrial Automation Show (IAS, Shanghai). In line with the event’s focus on ‘Integrated The award ceremony took

▲ ▲ Daniel Deng, senior product manager device connectivity, was on location to receive the award

20

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020

Corporate News

Business development manager appointments at Metalube

formula. We are thrilled that her move to the UK is already proving so successful.” The second new appointee, Mr Day, has a wealth of experience, with more than twenty years in the lubricant industry, including the last eight focused on speciality lubricants used in the wire drawing, wire rope and non-ferrous tube sectors. Mr Hunt said, “It’s great to have Adrian on board; he is exceptionally experienced and his friendly and highly positive personality will fit well within our business culture. He will be responsible for new business development, sales and working closely with existing clients specifically in Africa, Australasia, China, India and Southeast Asia.” Mr Day added, “I started my lubricant career in 1995 with Texaco Lubricants, later to be Chevron UK. For as long as I can remember I have always had an interest and fascination in all things mechanical and wondered how they work or what they do. The one thing they all have in common is lubricants. From a Ferrari to a Royal Navy frigate to a wire drawing machine, effective and correct lubrication is essential.”

LUBRICANT manufacturer Metalube has appointed Songul Facey and Adrian Day as business development managers. Ms Facey has nearly 20 years’ experience in the lubricant industry and joins the company from her home in Istanbul, Turkey. Her more recent experience has focused on the wire drawing, wood panel and automotive industries, but in previous roles she has worked in the steel and iron, automotive spare parts and fastening sectors. Commenting on her new role, Ms Facey said, “I am very excited to be joining Metalube. I have just completed an MBA master’s degree, and the size of the business, its reputation as a fast growing and exceptionally innovative lubricant company, combined with my own desire for a more international role meant it was a great fit. I also have an engineering degree and relish identifying problems, finding solutions and improving efficiency.” Commercial director Douglas Hunt added, “Songul will be a very valuable asset to the team. She is a confident team player with fantastic leadership and communication skills; these combined with her engineering background make her a winning

▲ ▲ Songul Facey

Metalube Ltd www.metalube.co.uk

▲ ▲ Adrian Day

22

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020

Corporate News

Ajex & Turner success at wire Southeast Asia

AJEX & Turner has reported that it had a successful experience at the latest wire Southeast Asia Fair in Bangkok. wire Southeast Asia is a leading procurement and networking platform that connects local and global manufacturers, suppliers and service providers for the wire, cable and fastener industries, and has witnessed a growth in numbers of exhibitors and visitors in the last few years. Industry-focused conferences and seminars complement the exhibition. Staff from Ajex & Turner met with many old industry colleagues and customers, and had discussions about new industry trends and forthcoming technology. Representatives from Prysmian and Usha Martin were among those who visited the company’s stand. Many new potential customers also visited and explained their requirements and expectations of how to increase production and cut costs. Ajex & Turner showcased its upgraded WPM_3 automatic wire sizing and

▲ ▲ Jareeporn Ngenthaweekoon (left) and Revi Andran (right) from Prysmian were welcomed to the Ajex & Turner stand by Jyoti Bedi and JS Gupta

saving feature, the dies were claimed to have been chosen by many visitors for their future production. For complex applications, the sector/trapezoidal dies were also popular. Ajex & Turner Wire Technologies www.ajexturner.com

polishing machine, and the TCD-11 air-cooled tungsten carbide die polishing and re-grinding machine, with live demonstrations of the machines. The company’s VNT Nano PCD dies were a centre of attraction for visitors. Offering higher output with an additional metal

25

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020

Corporate News

Robotics presents an opportunity for cable manufacturers

THE use of robotics in manufacturing has come some way since the first industrial robot patent in 1954 and General Motors’ early adoption in 1962. Many roles in the factory environment are better suited to robots, for example where parts are too small for human eyes, or where workers need to be protected from high-risk tasks. Where work is mundane or repetitive, using robots brings the added advantage of allocating human resources to more skilled work, such as engineering or programming. Robots require no climate control and can operate continuously in lights-out situations, long after human workers have gone home. Where manufacturers have lost business due to an inability to scale up in time to service a large contract, the use of robotics can improve competitiveness. The rise in popularity of robots also presents an opportunity for cable manufacturers involved in the assembly of robotic cables. However, robots are not cheap, and there is the added cost of assessing the factory to identify where the use of robotics might make the most impact. It can take several years before a return on investment can be achieved. What might dictate the adoption of robotics in the cable industry is how adaptable the technology is to a linear industry. Robotics are already well embedded in discrete industries such as car or mobile phone manufacture. In the mobile phone

▲ ▲ The use of robotics can improve competitiveness

industry, for example, there may be only four different SKUs (stock keeping units) for an iPhone. For the cable industry, however, there could be thousands of different product iterations. Cable and wire manufacture is rarely off-the-shelf, and there will need to be significant advancements in robotics technology before it can be rolled out at pace to this industry. Even then, it is unlikely that it will fully replace the human workforce. Implementing robotics still requires in-depth assessment and continual review, and relies on the capability of the human mind in anticipating issues that may lie ahead and adapting the approach accordingly. Cimteq Ltd https://cimteq.com

26

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020

Corporate News

EAF automation revamping successfully accomplished

AUTOMAZIONI Industriali Capitanio Srl (AIC) has completed the revamping of EAF2 automation at Alfa Acciai in Brescia, Italy. During the last summer shutdown, AIC commissioned the complete revamping of the EAF2 automation at the site, with the main target being to replace the obsolete PLC GE 90-70 and related remote I/Os with Rockwell ControlLogix and GuardLogix Safety PLC. Starting with the engineering phase in March, the project was accomplished according to the time schedule, following the active collaboration between the customer and AIC staff, during both the erection phase and the software tests. The scope of supply included new PLC and safety master PLC for automation of auxiliary items equipped with CPU 1756-L83ES; a set of new RIO cabinets equipped with Rockwell Point I/O for easier data collection and maintenance; and new remote Rockwell Point I/Os installed in the existing cabinets, desk and local stations related to EAF2. AIC also provided electrical drawings of new equipment and an upgrade of all electrical drawings of existing equipment; electrical installation of new cabinets and replacement/cabling of the remote I/Os; software PLC development based on the ControlLogix platform; upgrade of the HMI supervision system; and turnkey commissioning of the whole supply and assistance with the start-up.

▲ ▲ The technicians of AIC and Alfa Acciai on the main desk

management of all auxiliary EAF2 machines, with an effective start-up of the melt shop; the plant completed castings during the first day of production, to the satisfaction of both Alfa Acciai and AIC. AIC is a global system integrator providing advanced and tailored automation solutions for the steel industry, with the aim to continuously improve efficiency, competitiveness and safety of the production processes.

Automazioni Industriali Capitanio Srl www.aicnet.it

The new automation system provides easier and safer

27

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020

Corporate News

Using the sun’s power

THERE are many different possibilities to generate energy. As fossil fuels such as oil or gas are not available indefinitely and are becoming scarcer, renewable energies are increasingly popular. Solar energy offers many benefits to its users. Natural sunlight is available any time and anywhere, consumption releases no climate-damaging emissions and energy can be generated where it is needed. Energy losses due to long-distance transmission are barely present in this form of energy production. The global expansion of solar fields has steadily been increasing in recent years and is still growing. Technologies and systems that will make the use of solar energy better, cheaper and easier are constantly under development. Rosendahl is also investing in the improvement of lines for the production of solar cables. In particular, the processing of new materials and more efficient manufacturing processes must be constantly adapted to current market

▲ ▲ Rosendahl helps harness the power of the sun

The experience and know-how in Rosendahl production lines allow thinner walls on solar cables; higher production speeds; easy operation, using only one extruder group; and shorter line length.

requirements. The two most common methods – electronic beam and Sioplas – ensure that the chemical and mechanical resistance of solar cables stand up to the highest demands, in order to meet the requirements of the current standards and test methods EN 50618: 2014 or TÜV2Pfg1169/08.07.

Rosendahl Nextrom GmbH www.rosendahlnextrom.com

28

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020

Transatlantic Cable

Superconductivity that resists magnetism Strong magnetic fields destroy the superconducting state in the vast majority of materials. In uranium ditelluride, however, a strong magnetic field, in combination with specific experimental conditions, caused Lazarus superconductivity to occur more than once. “These are probably different – quantum mechanically different – from other superconductors that we know about,” said Mr Butch. “Sufficiently different, I think, to expect it will take a while to figure out what’s going on.” With its novel physics, uranium ditelluride shows every sign of being a topological superconductor, as are other spin-triplet superconductors. Mr Butch added that its topological properties suggest it could be a particularly accurate and robust component in the quantum computers of the future. Making history? “The discovery of this Lazarus superconductivity at record-high fields is likely to be among the most important discoveries to emerge from this lab in its 25-year history,” said Greg Boebinger, director of NHMFL. An attempt by state attorneys general to scupper T-Mobile US Inc’s $26 billion merger with Sprint Corp lost an ally in mid-October, when the state of Colorado abandoned the fight. Colorado made a deal with T-Mobile and Dish Network Corp, which is buying assets divested from the merger, whereby Dish pledged to bring 2,000 jobs to the state and T-Mobile pledged to deploy the next generation of wireless 5G across much of Colorado. Colorado’s decision closely followed Mississippi’s announcement that it would withdraw its opposition. Washington DC, New York, California and 13 other states were prepared to fight the companies when the trial began in early December, with 13 states (including Colorado) ready to support the merger. The two companies have agreed to divest Sprint’s prepaid businesses to Dish, and provide access to 20,000 cell sites Telecoms Opposition to T-Mobile and Sprint merger loses an ally

Research

Material displays “weird” physics but with superconductivity potential

Once dismissed by physicists for its “lack of interesting properties”, the material uranium ditelluride has attracted the attention of a team of researchers from the University of Maryland (UMD), the US National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), the US National High Magnetic Field Laboratory (NHMFL) and the University of Oxford in the UK. Two studies, published in rapid succession, detailed the team’s findings, and their implications for future research and development. The team’s paper in Nature Physics reported “re-entrant superconductivity” in uranium ditelluride, a discovery that furthers the case for uranium ditelluride as a promising material for use in quantum computers. Sometimes referred to as Lazarus superconductivity, the phenomenon occurs when a superconducting state arises, breaks down, and then re-emerges in a material following a change in a specific parameter – in this case, the application of a very strong magnetic field. “This is a very recently discovered superconductor with a host of other unconventional behaviour, so it’s already weird,” said Nicholas Butch, an adjunct assistant professor of physics at UMD and a physicist at the NIST Center for Neutron Research. “[Lazarus superconductivity] almost certainly has something to do with the novelty of the material. There’s something different going on in there.” Previous research, published in Science , described finding a rare and exotic ground state known as spin-triplet superconductivity in uranium ditelluride. The discovery offered the first suggestion that uranium ditelluride’s physical properties warranted investigation. “This is...a remarkable material, and it’s keeping us very busy,” said Johnpierre Paglione, a professor of physics at UMD and a co-author of the paper. “Uranium ditelluride may very well become the ‘textbook’ spin-triplet superconductor that people have been seeking... It could be the next strontium ruthenate – another proposed spin-triplet superconductor that has been studied for more than 25 years.” Superconductivity is a state in which electrons travel through a material with perfect efficiency. Compare this with copper – in conductivity, second only to silver – which loses around 20 per cent of power when transmitting over long distances.

Image: www.bigstockphoto.com Photographer Adrian Grosu

30

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020

Transatlantic cable

“We are proud to be the catalyst of the first ever CLS-to-CLS terrestrial route,” stated Gil Santaliz, CEO for NJFX. “This is an integral part of the shift the industry is seeing in new infrastructure being deployed to replace the old networking models. The total capacity of the subsea cables coming out of these two cable landing stations is greater than all of the capacity of the previously placed North American subsea cables, stretching across the Atlantic, combined. Windstream and Telxius are bilaterally leveraging each company’s routes to address customer network diversity requirements and capacity needs. The potential for clients is endless.” Extending reach “Our fibre deployment between two of the most important cable landing stations along the east coast aligns with Windstream’s core strategy to take our national network global,” commented Joe Scattareggia, executive vice president, Windstream Wholesale. “Our fibre connectivity across the US, from Canada to Mexico, combined with our build-out at the NJFX CLS campus in New Jersey and at the Telxius CLS campus in Virginia Beach, offers customers the ability to leverage our national network and go beyond.” Windstream’s domestic network consists of 150,000 fibre route miles connecting Tier 1, 2 and 3 cities throughout the USA. Windstream provides high-speed connectivity directly into NJFX CLS and Telxius CLS campuses, enabling access to multiple subsea cable systems. Customers can now also extend their reach, through Telxius’s network, into South America and Europe.

and hundreds of retail locations, under a Justice Department deal to win anti-trust approval for the merger. However, New York Attorney General Letitia James said that the agreement with Colorado will not fix the “nationwide harms” created by the merger of the USA’s third and fourth largest wireless carriers. “We remain committed to challenging this merger, and have continued to develop strong evidence that it is bad for consumers, bad for workers, and bad for innovation,” she said. The lawsuit against Sprint and T-Mobile, and their respective parent companies, asserts the merger will lead to higher prices for consumers. NJFX, the only cable landing station (CLS) co-location campus in the USA to offer Tier 3, carrier-neutral data centre capabilities, is also the first CLS-to-CLS terrestrial interconnection, connecting NJFX’s CLS in Wall, New Jersey, to Telxius’s CLS facilities in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The move is partly due to its strategic location, 64 feet above sea level, and its Category 5 hurricane-resistant CLS campus. The three cables it currently accesses were to be increased to four subsea cables by the end of 2019, so exceeding 500 Terabits per second of transmission capacity. The Telxius communications campus at Virginia Beach provides direct access to the two top-capacity subsea cables in the world, MAREA and BRUSA. Increase in global connectivity options with a landing station first

31

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020

Transatlantic cable

Unconfirmed reports suggest that GM is considering using its Hummer brand. Mr Fiorani described Hummer as “a still strongly recognised brand name. Putting a Hummer badge on anything is a great idea for General Motors because half the marketing is already paid for. Making it environmentally friendly is just icing on the cake.” General Motors’ previous entrants to the market – the electric hybrid Chevrolet Volt and all-electric Bolt – failed to attract enough interest to generate a profit. GM’s latest programme, named BT1, includes an electric pickup for the GMC brand and an electric SUV for Cadillac, both due in 2023. In the meantime, GM plans to begin low-volume production of the first BT1 model, a pickup but under a different brand, in late 2021. A performance variant of the pickup is expected in 2022, followed by an electric SUV in 2023. Vehicles in the BT1 series will use a new purpose-designed electric vehicle architecture, including a ‘skateboard’ chassis that bundles electric motor and batteries. General Motors president Mark Reuss said in June 2019 that the new EV architecture will be highly flexible, and adaptable to a variety of body shapes, sizes and drive models. Expected to achieve full production by 2024, the plant could be shipping 80,000 vehicles a year. Mr Fiorani anticipates that the GM electric truck will sell at over $90,000, with other models exceeding $100,000.

NJFX’s CLS campus will offer access to four subsea cable systems to Europe and South America and seven independent US fibre-based backhaul providers. Customers can access points of presence in 15 countries across central and South America, Mexico and the Caribbean. The Telxius CLS campus in Virginia Beach includes the Telxius facilities at the MAREA and BRUSA CLS, and connects directly to main data centre campuses in Ashburn, Richmond and Phoenix.

Auto industry

GM eyes a move into pickups and SUVs General Motors is said to be planning a range of premium electric pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. The programme is at the centre of a $3 billion investment in the Detroit-Hamtramck plant, and part of a wider investment programme across GM’s US plants. The plans were revealed by the United Auto Workers union, which has brokered a labour deal with the company. “It makes perfect sense to hit the high end of the market in order to generate some revenue that might actually turn a profit,” said Sam Fiorani, vice president of global vehicle forecasting at Auto Forecast Solutions, who went on to suggest that GM is following Tesla’s lead by starting in the electric vehicle sector “at the high end”.

33

www.read-eurowire.com

January 2020