EuroWire July 2024

Corporate News

Busbar capabilities to cater for growing demand

electric vehicle drivetrains: we are also seeing wider potential in marine, rail and static electrical installation, such as mining and other heavy industries.” Traditionally, busbars are stamped, bent and then insulated, but stamping can be cost prohibitive due to expensive stamping tools/dies, and is less flexible if the geometries need to be changed or altered. These limitations make bending and forming from reel-stock a more efficient and viable process. William Hughes’s technique uses CNC technology to precisely form pre-coated copper stock in such a way that the existing insulation remains completely viable along the length of the bar. The technique has been researched and developed to exploit the fact that straight copper bar stock can be more easily coated than bar that has already been shaped.

Following a number of successful projects last year, spring and wire form designer and fabricator William Hughes Group is investing in and expanding its busbar research, design, test and CNC fabrication operations. With an engineering heritage dating back to before the Industrial Revolution, the company will leverage its significant wire-forming expertise and deploy it in the creation of complex busbar geometries fabricated from ready insulated, reel-fed stock. Graham Burgon, sales executive at William Hughes, explained, “With battery based systems gaining a significant foothold in a variety of markets all over the world, there is growing demand from OEMs and their tier-one suppliers for precision engineered electrical components that can be fabricated to cater for complex real-estate limitations. These applications are not just for

William Hughes can create complex busbars to order

“Busbars are a natural progression from our wire and spring capabilities,” said Mr Burgon. “Indeed, the fabrication techniques and processes are similar, albeit with stock materials with a different cross-section. We are also able to leverage our extensive R&D capabilities. In addition to our existing successes in the electric vehicle market, the growing economies of scale in the global mobile battery market will expand battery and low-voltage applications, which in turn will drive demand for ancillaries such as busbars – but only if they match the strict quality and complexity criteria.”

William Hughes Ltd www.wmhughes.co.uk

Cable and pipe sealing solution provider appoints Vietnam distributor

markets. The group sees opportunity for expansion and strengthened customer relations. “Given the initial success in expanding our outreach locally, we see the opportunity to leverage our position and tap into other potential sectors,” said Dx Lin. Roxtec www.roxtec.com

culture strong technical expertise, we managed to further strengthen our position with key local customers,” says Dx Lin, managing director of Roxtec Singapore. “Additionally, they continue to invest in the Roxtec brand, which has led to a positive positioning of our brand in Vietnam.” Roxtec Group has 28 subsidiaries around the world and is active in more than 80 knowledge and

Roxtec, a producer of modular-based cable and pipe transits, has appointed Roxtec Sealing Solution Vietnam Co, Ltd as its exclusive distributor in Vietnam. The Vietnam team, led by managing director Le Viet Nga, first engaged with Roxtec Singapore five years ago as non exclusive distributor. “Tapping on to their existing local relationships, extensive business

Sustainability milestone through completion of life cycle analyses

Huber’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in its 2023 Ecovadis silver rating, its World Business Council for Sustainable Development membership, its Climate Risk Assessment completion, its industry average Carbon Disclosure Project score and being recognised as a 2023 US Best Managed Company Gold Standard honoree by Deloitte. Huber Advanced Materials www.huberadvancedmaterials.com

collaborative global supplier, Huber Advanced Materials will share LCA data with customers on request, to support customers’ sustainability efforts. The company is making continuous investments to further reduce its environmental footprint. Examples of sustainability projects include an investment into a modern natural gas-fired cogeneration plant at its Martinswerk site in Germany, scheduled for start-up early 2025, and a solar array at its Marblehead site in Illinois, USA.

Huber Advanced Materials – a producer of halogen-free fire-retardant additives, speciality aluminas and organic matting agents – has achieved a major milestone in its sustainability journey. The company has completed “cradle to gate” life cycle analyses (LCAs) for more than 90 per cent of its entire product portfolio, including its aluminium hydroxides, calcined aluminas, activated aluminas and Vertex® magnesium hydroxides. As a transparent and

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July 2024