EuroWire March 2018

MEXICHEM_INDIA_222x210.ai 6 18/12/2017 14:40

Tailored plastic compound solutions for the wire & cable markets Proven compound solutions f r c pp r and fiber optic applications

For information call: USA +1 888 540 9074 UK +44(0) 1664 882462 www.mexichemspecialtycompounds.com mscenquiries@mexichem.com wire Düsseldorf 2018 show issue

Mexichem Specialty Compounds

UK Beler Way, Leicester Road Industrial Estate, Melton Mowbray, Leicester LE13 0DG England

USA Massachusetts 170 Pioneer Drive, Leominster MA 01453 USA North Carolina 9635 Industrial Drive, Pineville NC 28134 USA

Stephanie Works, Chinley High Peak, Derbyshire SK23 6BT, United Kingdom

New site in Goa India, 2018

ISSN 1463-2438

8.0 – 30mm diameter

Equipment for production of 5,000 to 24,000 tonnes per year

16 - 20 April 2018 Stand no. 10 B 52, Wire 2018, Düsseldorf, Germany

MEXICHEM_INDIA_222x210.ai 6 18/12/2017 14:40

Tailored plastic compound solutions for the wire & cable markets Proven compound solutions f r c pp r and fiber optic applications

For information call: USA +1 888 540 9074 UK +44(0) 1664 882462 www.mexichemspecialtycompounds.com mscenquiries@mexichem.com

Mexichem Specialty Compounds

UK Beler Way, Leicester Road Industrial Estate, Melton Mowbray, Leicester LE13 0DG England

USA Massachusetts 170 Pioneer Drive, Leominster MA 01453 USA North Carolina 9635 Industrial Drive, Pineville NC 28134 USA

Stephanie Works, Chinley High Peak, Derbyshire SK23 6BT, United Kingdom

New site in Goa India, 2018

ISSN 1463-2438

Interest peaking as Düsseldorf gears up for wire 2018

Record trading gures for companies, forthcoming exhibitions in China and the USA, company expertise and anniversary celebrations all feature in this latest issue of EuroWire . But it is wire 2018 in Düsseldorf, Germany, that rightly steals the headlines. Turning to page 90 will give you an insight into more than 100 pages dedicated to the week-long exhibition at the city’s fairgrounds. Record numbers of exhibitors will, no doubt, be impressed by the number of visitors, with some 70,000 people expected to pour into the city. There is also an interview with Friedrich Kehrer, of organisers Messe Düsseldorf, who outlines what will be happening in the 16 halls at the exhibition, which runs alongside Tube 2018. He also touches on the boom in the industries on a global scale, citing the considerable sums of money being invested in infrastructure projects, construction and the automotive

industries in Southeast Asia, South America, parts of Africa and across Europe. And while Germany’s European neighbours are again expected to be out in force at the exhibition, an increasing number of visitors are expected from the USA, Brazil, India and China. The interest is now clearly peaking for the show with companies outlining their activities right through to page 192.

You can get your free copy of EuroWire and sister publication Wire & Cable ASIA , and CDs of wiredInUSA from our stands at the North entrance (EN03) and 11D26.

David Bell Editor

Publishing Team

Editor:

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

Features Editor (USA):

.....................................................................................................................Dorothy Fabian

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: ................................................................................................................................ Julie Case Subscriptions: ................................................................................................................................Julie Case Publisher: ....................................................................................................................Caroline Sullens Founder: ..........................................................................................................................John C Hogg

* US$33 purchase only Mexichem Specialty Compounds See page 221 for further details 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 UKP Worldwide, 3390 Rand Road, South Plain eld, NJ 07080. Periodicals postage paid at Rahway, NJ and at additional mailing o ces. POSTMASTER : Send address changes to EuroWire, Intras Ltd, C/O 3390 Rand Road, South Plain eld NJ 07080. www.read-eurowire.com © 2018 Intras Ltd, UK ISSN 1463-2438

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March 2018

90

Contents

(photo courtesy: Messe Düsseldorf/ctillmann)

March 2018

Regulars

Market News

Deutsch Inhalt 196 Neuigkeiten 221 Inserentenverzeichnis

8

Diary of events

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Corporate News

Sommaire Français 206 Nouvelles du Marché 221 Index des Annonceurs Indice Italiano 211 Notizie del Mercato 221 Indice degli Inserzionisti Содержание на русском языке 201 Ηοвости рьінка 221 Перечень рекламодателей Indice Español 216 Noticias de Mercado 221 Indice de Anunciadores

60

Transatlantic Cable

66

Technology News

90

wire Düsseldorf 2018

221 Editorial Index

221 Advertisers Index

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March 2018

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Next Issue GettingTechnical Use of Sepiolite Masterbatches for Enhanced Fire Performance in Cable Compounds

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Technical Articles

193

208

The use of steel strip, shaped wire and round wire in the production of umbilical cable and submarine cable By Sean Harrington, Ceeco Bartell Products, Canada

Emploi de bandes d’acier, l façonné et l rond dans la production de câbles ombilicaux et câbles sous- marins Par Sean Harrington, Ceeco Bartell Products, Canada Impiego di nastri di acciaio, lo sagomato e lo tondo nella produzione di cavi ombelicali e cavi sottomarini A cura di Sean Harrington, Ceeco Bartell Products, Canada Uso de eje de acero, alambre conformado y alambre redondo en la producción de cable umbilical y submarino Por Sean Harrington, Ceeco Bartell Products, Canadá

198

Der Einsatz von Stahlband, pro liertem Draht und

213

Rundstahl in der Herstellung von Versorgungskabeln und Seekabeln von Sean Harrington, Ceeco Bartell Products, Kanada Использование стальной ленты, фасонной проволоки и проволоки круглого сечения в производстве шлангокабеля и подводного кабеля Шонн Хэррингтон, Ceeco Bartell Products, Канада

203

218

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Dates for your diary. . . March

6–8 March: AMI Cables Conference – conference – Cologne, Germany Organisers : Applied Market Information LLC Tel : +44 117 314 8111 Email : lr@amiplastics.com Website : www.amiplastics-na.com

May

15–16 May: Wire Expo – exhibition – Nashville, Tennessee, USA Organisers : Wire Association International Fax : +1 203 453 8384

Email : sales@wirenet.org Website : www.wirenet.org

June

6–8 June: International Metal and Metallurgy Exhibition – trade exhibition – Guangzhou, China Organisers :

16–20 April: wire 2018 – exhibition – Düsseldorf, Germany Organisers : wire 2018

Julang Exhibition Co Ltd Fax : +86 203 862 0781 Email : julang@julang.com.cn Website : www.julang.com.cn

September

Messe Düsseldorf GmbH Fax : +49 211 45 60668 Email : wire@messe-duesseldorf.de Website : www.wire.de

26–29 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

October

3-5 October: wire South America – trade exhibition – São Paulo, Brazil Organisers :

Messe Düsseldorf GmbH Fax : +49 211 4560 668

Email : info@wire-south-america.com Website : www.wire-south-america.com

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March 2018

PhotocourtesyMesseDüsseldorf/CTillmann ©

Corporate News

▲ ▲ The tower crane is designed for a 180º motion and has to withstand extreme conditions at sea

Solid stainless steel cable carrier

The cable carriers are positioned at the base of the crane, only a few metres above the water’s surface, and are therefore regularly fully exposed to salt water. At the same time, they have to function without interruption, even under extreme weather conditions. Another important factor is the high level of stability of the cable carriers, taking into account the ship’s motion. The overall solution developed by Tsubaki Kabelschlepp using 3D simulations meets all these requirements – demonstrably, as the cable carrier was tested extensively and deemed suitable during a factory acceptance test before commissioning.

With a lifting capacity of 420 tons, the innovative SHS Tower Crane from the Norwegian manufacturer AXTech allows installation and maintenance of subsea systems and technical equipment in the North Sea: with a motion radius of 180°, it can lift heavy equipment and systems from the ship’s deck and into the sea. A total of 15 hydraulic hoses with a working pressure of 450 bar ensure supply to the crane. Due to the rotating motion of the crane, it is necessary to guide the hoses during movement. This is ensured by a customised cable carrier from Tsubaki Kabelschlepp. The crane system is operated and maintained by TechnipFMC.

TSUBAKI Kabelschlepp has designed and implemented a solid stainless steel cable carrier including a support structure for a rotating tower crane from AXTech, used on the multi-function vessel North Sea Giant in the offshore business. The resulting solution takes into account the limited packaging spaces and extreme requirements of this application and has been used successfully for two-and-a-half years. This was made possible by close cooperation with the customer, advanced 3D simulations during the design engineering phase and, last but not least, extensive testing under realistic conditions.

Tsubaki Kabelschlepp – Germany Website : www.kabelschlepp.de

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March 2018

Corporate News Corporate N ws

Induction tempering: the modern alternative to oil tempered wire

OIL tempering (OT) is recognised as the traditional method of producing spring wire for cold coiling. However, due to environmental concerns with this process, induction tempered (IT) wire is growing in popularity. Additionally, spring makers for cold coiling applications are moving to IT wire due to its mechanical properties. Ori Martin SpA, of Brescia, Italy, placed its trust in Inductotherm Heating & Welding Ltd and the Radyne brand to purchase its first Radyne spring wire line for the production of IT wire. To date, Radyne has supplied 15 of these high efficiency lines with production capacities of 1,500 to 3,000kg/hr. Typically the Radyne lines treat SAE9254 or equivalent and are also used to treat more exotic alloys with vanadium and nickel additions. As main project contractor, Inductotherm Heating & Welding is responsible for the complete heat treatment process, from pay- off to take-up. With these established Radyne lines there are no harmful chemicals to pose a risk to operator health or the environment. The quench tanks only require tap water as the quenching medium. Induction heating technology generates heat directly within the wire and only when the line is in production, minimising start-up times and energy losses as well as ensuring maximum power efficiency.

▲ ▲ IT wire line from Inductotherm

With a scheduled production start-up date of late 2018, the Radyne IT spring wire processing line will allow Ori Martin to offer processed wire of high quality and consistency to spring makers. Inductotherm Heating &Welding Ltd – UK Website : www.inductothermhw.com

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Corporate News

Record year for BWE

2017 proved to be a successful year for BWE. As well as a Conform™ machine for refrigeration tube and a Conklad™ machine for specialised OPGW cables, BWE was able to secure three further contracts for SheathEx™ technology. two aluminium rods (12mm or 9.5mm Ø) to form a ‘seamless’ aluminium sheath around HV and EHV cables. Baosheng High Voltage Cable Co Ltd (BHVC) from China required a SheathEx machine to complement what it already produced on a conventional extrusion press. BHVC continues its expansion in supplying XLPE, HV and EHV power cables (up to 500kV) using manufacturing equipment from Europe. Pacific Electric Wire & Cable Co Ltd (PEWC), from Taiwan, and Iljin Electric Co Ltd, from South Korea, already supplied aluminium-sheathed HV cables using the welding method. Cable requirements in new markets demanded a ‘seamless’ and corrugated A SheathEx machine uses Plasmait, an Austrian supplier of plasma heat and surface treatment machinery for wire, tube and strip products, has moved into a new facility in Lannach, near Graz, Austria. The new facility includes a large shop floor space with a crane and offices. The facility hosts four heat and surface treatment demo lines used for client demonstrations and trials. Demo lines are used for heat treatment trials on various ferrous and non-ferrous materials in a wide temperature range. Demonstrations of surface cleaning, surface activation and coating can also be performed on client materials. Demonstrations of the PlasmaPreplate process are performed in line with a hot dip tin bath for acid-free and flux-free hot dip tinning of copper, steel and aluminium alloys. The process can perform simultaneous heat treatment of the material prior to tinning. Demonstration lines are also available for rental, which allows clients to test plasma treatment machinery at their own facilities, integrated into their existing manufacturing process. Plasmait offers demonstrations and testing on its batch plasma treatment machine, where various size components

▲ ▲ A SheathEx production line

BWE, by securing yet another SheathEx contract for a ‘smooth’ aluminium sheath cable application in Europe. BWE Ltd – UK Website : www.bwe.co.uk

aluminium sheath (ie no weld). Apart from investing in a large and expensive extrusion press, the only option for them was SheathEx.

2018 has started where 2017 left off for

Plasmait moves to a new facility

and parts can be plasma treated. The batch machine is designed for a wide temperature range and can be utilised with various process gases, including hydrogen. The machine is equipped with ▲ ▲ Demonstrations are available at Plasmait’s new site

a cooling system that allows adjustable cooling rates.

Plasmait GmbH – Austria Website : www.plasmait.com

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Corporate News

THE Wire Association International (WAI) Inc returns to Nashville, Tennessee, USA, for its biennial Operations Summit & Wire Expo, which will be held in conjunction with its 88 th annual convention. All of the events are hosted at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center. The Summit runs from 14 th to 16 th May, and exhibits are open 15 th to 16 th May. Curt Cronin, keynote speaker, and former Navy SEAL, is living proof that with the proper preparation and fortitude anything is possible. In the midst of combat, he transformed an offensive unit of Navy SEALs into a defensive presidential protection unit; he also single-handedly created the model for multi-disciplinary counter-terrorism oper- ations as part of an Embassy team in the Middle East. His presentation, entitled, “Tapping into Your Potential: Attempting the Absurd and Achieving the Impossible”, sets the tone for the convention and is open to all registrants. Nearly 80 per cent of the available booth space has already been sold; 125 exhibiting companies will occupy 150 stands. Displays cover more than 80 product types including wire and cable making machinery, supplies and ancillary equipment, and industry services. Wire Expo exhibits are open in the Ryman Convention Hall from 10am to 5pm Roblon’s new appointment Nashville gears up for WAI’s Expo

▲ ▲ Keynote speaker Curt Cronin

and 10am to 3pm on 15 th and 16 th May, respectively. demonstrations, a popular staple in the exhibit hall, are scheduled on Tuesday, 15 th May. WAI members are invited to attend the WAI Rewards Breakfast and annual meeting, also on the Wednesday. A post-show plant tour of the Nissan Motor Company’s assembly plant in Smyrna, Tennessee, is planned on Thursday, 17 th May. Production solution

Wire Association International – USA Website : www.wireexpo18.com

will be a great asset and match our position and expectations,” said Uffe Pedersen, general manager. “We are delighted to get David on board our Roblon US team.” two technology centres at Roblon Denmark and Roblon US, there will be a lot of technical interactions and transfer of technologies, which is part of the company’s plans to be able to serve Between the

Roblon

US

Inc

has

appointed C Esker as technology and innovation manager for its production site at Granite Falls, North Carolina, USA. According to Roblon’s strategy, the company’s aim to be close to its customers resulted in its acquisition of the Neptco FOCC business in April last year, and since then, it has been in the process of building up its organisation, resulting in this recent important function. David

▲ ▲ David Esker

and support the industry in the best possible way from a global and local perspective.

“David has a strong background and experience within the fibre optic cable industry. His knowledge of fibres and composite solutions in the cable industry

Roblon US Inc – USA Website : www.roblon.com

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Corporate News

Refurbishing of braiding machines

A

service

provider

like

Spirka

SPIRKA refurbishes braiding and spiralling machines from Hacoba, Spirka and Schnellflechter Berlin, based on long-term expertise, existing drawings and original spare parts stock. Refurbishing braiding machines – also called reconditioning – is a sensible response to economic pressures. Purchasing a rebuilt braiding machine, for example, means that you will receive the same performance and reliability customers get with a new machine, but at a fraction of the cost. Refurbishing also eliminates the potential downtime and worries associated with buying a used machine “as is”. A used machine is just that – a machine that has been used and not necessarily maintained or serviced. It may look shiny on the outside after a strong power wash, but the functionality of the machine is not guaranteed. Refurbishment, on the other hand, should mean that a machine is meticulously disassembled and inspected, and that any damaged or worn parts are either Schnellflechter

Schnellflechter reconditioning

is

specialised

in

machines their original, factory state, and provides some form of warranty on the work done. Reconditioning is not appropriate in all cases. At some point, it will become necessary, or at least preferable, to replace any machine. This applies especially if the machine has been extensively damaged, or has already undergone a less than ideal reconditioning process once or more in the past. A thorough inspection by specialists can help determine whether the machine has reached this point. Another consideration is that refurbishment takes time, and temporary loss of machinery can put a strain on smaller enterprises. Over the long term, however, it is often the most sustainable, cost-effective option. Spirka Schnellflechter GmbH – Germany Website : www.spirka-schnellflechter.com to

repaired or replaced. The machine is then reassembled, returning it to “as new” condition. Refurbished sliding elements, for instance, have been serviced with the aim of offsetting the wear and tear associated with daily use. This increases the longevity of the machinery, along with the overall sustainability of any braiding business. When choosing a service provider for the refurbishment, it should be clear exactly what the service provider means to do. Aim to avoid a service provider that may simply apply a fresh coat of paint. ▲ ▲ Reconditioning is a sensible approach to economic pressures

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Corporate News

Positive trend as wire China looms on the horizon

Weilly Diamond Industrial Co Ltd: With more than 25 years of experience in both natural and polycrystalline diamond wire drawing dies, WDI has become a major company in Taiwan. WDI’s shaped diamond die came out in 1995 and the company is now the first and only manufacturer of shaped diamond dies in Taiwan. Elite Machine and Design Ltd: Elite Machine and Design specialises in producing combined drawing machines, drawing systems for steel and non-ferrous steel, straightening/polishing lines for bright bar production, two-roll straightener machines, chamfering machines, extending machines, multi-roll straightener machines and other equipment. Totoku Toryo Group: A professional manufacturer of insulation coatings. Fu Pao Chemical is a company under the Totoku Toryo Group. Its products include PU, PE, PEI, PAI, self bonding, over coating, PVF, anti corona products, etc. Visitor pre-registration is already open for the event, and more details can be found at the www.wirechina.net website. Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co Ltd – China Website : www.wirechina.net

The number of exhibitors appearing at this year’s wire China in Shanghai, in September, reflects the positive trend in the Asian wire and cable market. Messe Düsseldorf has already received a high number of exhibitor requests, with many companies increasing stand space at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre from 26 th to 29 th September. The organisers expect more than 1,700 brands to gather during the four-day exhibition. In addition to local Chinese exhibitors, brands from Germany, Italy, North America, Austria, France, South Korea, Japan and Taiwan will be highlighted at the international pavilion in hall W1. The biennial wire China is set to be one of the most important gatherings in the industry. It is estimated that the 2018 event will attract 46,000 professional visitors from 95 countries and regions. Cheng I Drawing Machinery Co Ltd: Since its establishment in 1970, Cheng I Drawing Machinery Co Ltd has been exclusively engaged in developing and manufacturing various types of wire drawing machinery. In order to thrive in this era of technology revolutions and highly competitive global markets, it has dedicated itself to developing more advanced and better quality machinery. Some of the companies already lined up for the event include:

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Corporate News

OVAKO has introduced an innovative steel family that it says challenges traditional steel categorisations – Hybrid Steel. It offers properties of tool steel, maraging steel and stainless steel, combined with the production economy of engineering steel. It is set to enable customers to achieve enhanced performance and help reduce production costs. “We are convinced that our hybrid steel is a groundbreaking innovation for the steel industry,” said Marcus Hedblom, president and CEO at Ovako. Because Hybrid Steel develops its full properties though heat treatment at temperatures that cause a very low distortion, manufacturers will be able to adopt new, more efficient processes that eliminate a number of stages. For example, a component might be machined to its final dimensions in a softer condition and then heat treated to achieve its full strength, a route that could offer a significant reduction in manufacturing cost and complexity. Hybrid Steel takes its name from the simultaneous hardening by both carbides and intermetallic precipitations. ”In this hybrid steel you combine both mechanisms and indeed the properties are very good, and in particular the material maintains them at elevated temperatures,” said John Ågren, professor in physical metallurgy at the Royal Institute of Technology, Stockholm, Sweden. The development of Hybrid Steel has been carried out at Ovako’s R&D facilities in Hofors, Sweden. Prototype test programmes are already underway with a number of component manufacturers. Ovako AB – Sweden Website : www.ovako.com Ovako introduces Hybrid Steel®, redefining steel design possibilities Death of former Teknor Apex vice president Dr Robert S (Bob) Brookman, a leading figure in the vinyl compounding industry whose career spanned more than 50 years, has died at the age of 83. Most recently he was vice president of business development and a member of the senior management team at Teknor Apex Company. Dr Brookman joined Teknor Apex in 1998 after holding executive positions with other compounding companies, chiefly focusing on vinyl technology. He had been in charge of the company’s vinyl and chemicals businesses before retiring in 2011. He continued to serve Teknor Apex as a consultant.

Teknor Apex – USA Website : www.teknorapex.com

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Corporate News

40 th anniversary time for Gimax It is celebration time for Gimax, which is celebrating its 40 th anniversary this year. The company, founded by Gianluigi Marangoni and partner Giuseppe Magnaguagno, has been intensely active in that period to ensure that Gimax became a reference point in the machinery industry handling ferrous and non-ferrous wire. In more recent years, the next generation has taken over, marking the start of an exponential growth in terms of product mix and market share. It has been this path of transformations, evolution and innovation that in these last few years has established a renewed and coordinated image and company philosophy, as well as a totally renovated factory building that is more sustainable, ecological and technological, with its own solar panels that guarantee power in excess of the factory requirements. A new ERP (enterprise resource planning) and CRM (customer relationship management) system updated in 2015 allows Gimax to offer a more timely and efficient service, as well as having obtained a greater efficiency in manufacturing with its recent five-axis CNC and other tooling machinery. The evolution of its product portfolio, with the recent addition of process machinery (drawbenches and ancillary equipment) and the development of existing machinery (software, components and basic design) has further strengthened the position of the company. Gimax Srl – Italy Website : www.gimaxgroup.com New senior development chemist LUBRICANT manufacturer Metalube has appointed John Mainwaring as a senior development chemist. He will join the laboratory team at the company’s headquarters in Manchester, UK. Mr Mainwaring has a degree in chemical science from Manchester Metropolitan University, and as part of his new role will be responsible for the management and development of Metalube’s chain oils and greases. He joins the company from Millers Oils in Huddersfield, UK, where his expertise included automotive engine and transmission oils, as well as industrial products such as MWF, rust preventatives, gear oils, chain oils and hydraulic oils. Chris Nettleship, technical director, said: “We are delighted to welcome John to our team of chemists at Metalube. His wealth of experience allows him to hit the ground running and he will be a tremendous asset to the lab.” Metalube manufactures a range of non-ferrous drawing oils, maintenance lubricants, greases and chain oils as well as a variety of corrosion protection and forming oils. Metalube Ltd – UK Website : www.metalube.co.uk

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Corporate News

Ultrasound leak detection with Sonochek

WITH the new Sonochek ultrasonic testing device, Prüftechnik, a German specialist for condition monitoring systems, is entering a new field of preventive maintenance.

A target measurement of only one second is sufficient to determine the exact loss volume. The corrective action can be identified immediately thanks to the classification of the leak into five different categories. The broad application spectrum of between 20 and 100 kHz makes it possible to precisely localise all types and sizes of leaks on gas and air pressure systems as well as damage to condensate separators, control cabinets or motor bearings. All ultrasound signals are directly converted into digital signals in the equipment. Reports can therefore be generated quickly and stored with text and voice memos, as well as images thanks to the integrated camera. The user is guided intuitively through the menu. The large touch display enables quick and easy operation similar to a smartphone. Reports can be saved in various formats such as PDF or CSV and transferred to a computer via a USB connection. This gives the user a complete documentation and an optimally functioning system without any energy loss.

With the new Sonochek it is possible to localise specific leaks on high-pressure pipes and to evaluate the total loss volume.

Its broad bandwidth of 20 to 100 kHz allows almost every leak on all industrial compressed gas and air pipes to be tracked, even from a distance.

The Sonochek handheld testing device comes with two apps: Sonolevel and Sonoleak.

The Sonolevel app is a universal leak detection tool, allowing users to search and find leaks, carry out basic monitoring tasks for bearings, check that the condensate separator is in working order and monitor electric control cabinets for spark production. To this end, the handheld equipment is fitted with various sensor attachments for both the airborne (non-contact) and the structure-borne (contact-conditioned) transfer of ultrasound. The Sonoleak app makes the new leak detection system unique. It is used for precise localisation of leaks on all compressed air and gas pipes, and it can also be used to determine the exact leakage loss volume.

Prüfechnik Dieter Busch AG – Germany Website : www.pruftechnik.com

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Corporate News

Lapp’s takeover of SKS group

LAPP Group has bought SKS Automaatio and SKS Connecto in Finland and Poland. “The acquisition of the SKS companies strengthens Lapp’s leading role in cable harnessing and our market position in North-Eastern Europe,” said Andreas Lapp, chairman of Lapp Holding. SKS Connecto Oy is located in Hyvinkää, Finland, and is in the field of cables and cable harnesses for machine and circuit board constructions, as well as being a distributor of rails. SKS Connecto Polska Sp zoo in Gdansk, Poland, is another location of the company and

▲ ▲ Lapp Group’s head office in Stuttgart, Germany

specialises in cable harnesses and wire set manufacturing and electrical assemblies. heavily involved in automation and electrical components and is located in Vantaa, Finland. Along with its broad range of products, the company offers tailor-made package solutions that fit well with Lapp’s future strategy. Both companies have a turnover of €40 million and employ around 280 people. SKS Group is a successful family-run engineering company represented by Heimo J Aho and was founded in 1924. “Automation and cable harnessing are important parts of our Strategy 2020. With SKS Automaatio und SKS Connecto as leading companies in those fields, we strengthen our position in automation and solutions for the benefit of Lapp and SKS customers,” said Matthias Lapp, CEO for Lapp in Europe, Africa, the Middle East (EMEA) and Latin America. The contract with SKS Group was signed on 15 th December 2017. Lapp Group and SKS Group have been partners for over 50 years. “We share the same culture and management philosophy. I really would like to thank the owner families of SKS Group for our trustful cooperation and I am looking forward to our future,” added Andreas Lapp. The takeover is subject to the approval of the relevant regulatory authorities. Lapp Group – Germany Website : www.lappgroup.com OUR COVERAGE OF wire 2018 STARTS ON PAGE 90 SKS Automaatio Oy is

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Corporate News

Turnkey projects and experience counts ▲ ▲ A Unistrong tunnel pickling line

FOUNDED in Taiwan, Unistrong Industrial Ltd initially made tooling and machinery products. This experience quickly led the company to turnkey projects, providing tailored solutions for an expanding client base in Taiwan, China, Thailand and Indonesia. A customer in Ningbo, China, launched production with a Unistrong tunnel pickling line in January 2015. This provides an output of 30,000 tons per year with each line tailored to meet the customer’s specific needs. The pickling line is a specially designed closed tunnel to minimise corrosive fumes and maximise isolation to the outside and operators, resulting in a cleaner environment and safer working conditions. Throughout the entire tunnel, the required treatment medium and time can be controlled automatically or manually for each type of material grade and type using the PLC-equipped system. The PLC system monitors multiple cranes to transport material automatically through the necessary treatment steps, through various chemical baths. For that reason, the high quality final surface requires less chemical and fresh water consumption. • Qualified for worldwide environ- mental certifications • Central and automatic control sys- tems, automatic production • Minimum operator errors • Low manpower requirements • Optimised chemical consumption • Ability to process multiple material types simultaneously • Various treatment programmes Unistrong Industrial Co Ltd – Taiwan Website : www.unistrong.com.tw Other benefits of a Unistrong tunnel pickling line are: • Hazardous-free working environment

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Corporate News

Helukabel breaks ground on new headquarters

HELUKABEL, a manufacturer and supplier of cables, wires and accessories, held a ground breaking ceremony for its new USA headquarters. The eight-acre property is located in the Oakview Corporate Park, 1201 Wesemann Drive, in the Chicago suburb of West Dundee. The initial build will be for a 75,000ft 2 facility – 7,000ft 2 allotted for office space and the remaining to be used for warehousing the company’s in-stock cabling products and accessories. The site allows for further expansion just beyond 200,000ft 2 as the company continues to grow. Helukabel USA has been rapidly growing since it was originally founded at the end of 2007. “This is the second physical expansion over the past ten years. The company initially started out in a 13,000ft 2 facility and we expanded into a 43,000ft 2 facility just five years ago,” said president Markus Dannheim. “It was important to find a property in close geographic proximity to our current location to maintain our existing employee base. “Our employees and the relationships they have created with customers around the world are a fundamental key factor for the continued success our company has experienced over the past years.

▲ ▲ An artist’s impression of the new headquarters of Helukabel USA Inc

and their pragmatic and progress-oriented city officials made it an easy decision for us to invest within their city limits,”he continued. Participants in the ground breaking included Mr Dannheim; CBRE senior vice president Mike Sedjo; vice president/general manager of Opus Development Company Mike Yungerman; West Dundee village manager Joe Cavallaro; West Dundee mayor Chris Nelson; West Dundee community development director Tim Scott; German Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Mark Tomkins; and attorney James Cooke of the law offices of James F Cooke Ltd. The acquisition of this property and construction of its own building is an important strategic milestone for Helukabel USA, creating additional office space for a growing employee base as well as an increased operational and warehousing footprint to facilitate future growth. Helukabel USA Inc – USA Website : www.helukabel.com

“It was furthermore important for us to have immediate Interstate access to minimise lead-times for our customers. West Dundee

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CENTRAN TAPES & YARNS

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Corporate News

Awards time for Borealis

In low-voltage distribution cables, Borealis’s proprietary Visico™/Ambicat™ technology is a silane crosslinked PE solution, which offers not only high productivity in cable manufacturing, but also benefits to distribution system operators when replacing PVC. Borstar® technology is a jacketing solution for power cables, offering low shrinkage and stress crack resistance. Installers can put Borstar-jacketed cables in heavy ground soil without the use of special ducts or sand bedding because the jacket provides high mechanical strength and a high water barrier. Borealis is looking to increase its share in the solar energy market with the recent introduction of its solar brand Quentys™. It is also finalising an investment in an electrical testing laboratory in Sweden where it can perform more demanding tests, adding value for customers. The company’s proprietary

materials (XLPE) for power cable insulation systems and polyethylene for jacketing. Cables using multi-polymer solutions such as XLPE insulation and PVC jacketing pose a recycling challenge that is best addressed through the use of mono-polymer solutions (ie XLPE insulation and PE jacketing). “Utility companies also tend to base their purchase decisions on the total cost of ownership, taking into account functionality and durability rather than just the cost of the cable system,” said Sayan Mukherjee, Frost & Sullivan senior research analyst. “Therefore, cable material manufacturers need to ensure that their products provide the optimal cost of ownership, which means developing cable systems focused on efficiency, effectiveness and recyclability.” Borealis is one of the most prominent and innovative companies in the power cable materials market. Its product portfolio is rich in PE-based polymers, including its proprietary Borlink™ technology, which meets the most demanding applications from utility companies for extra-high-voltage AC and long-distance DC transmission.

BASED on its recent analysis of the power cable materials industry, Frost & Sullivan has recognised Borealis AG with the 2017 European Product Leadership Award for its power cable solutions. The European Commission has begun an initiative in which targeted countries are to interconnect at least 10 per cent of domestically produced power to neighbours, gradually transforming Europe into a single energy market. This initiative is driving Europe’s need for high-capacity power transmission over longer distances; energy industry participants want transmission to be as efficient and effective as possible with a higher voltage level than currently commercialised. To achieve this, there is a need for innovative cables and extruded insulation and jacketing systems. Although some countries such as Turkey still use multi-polymer (PVC and PE) solutions in power cables, major parts of European distribution and transmission system operators have shown a clear preference for crosslinked low-density polyethylene-based

Borealis AG – Austria Website : www.borealisgroup.com

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Corporate News

Proton setting new standards

(to a downstream cutter for example) with opto-isolated relays. Two pulse outputs are available, plus a freely programmable quadrature output with a pulse rate up to 100mHz. There are also laser safety inputs and shutter status outputs (30Vdc/100mA max) to opto-isolated relays for alarm purposes. Proton Products – UK Website : www.protonproducts.com

PROTON Products has set new standards for high-specification measurement performance. The company’s InteliSENS mini series non-contact laser Doppler speed and length sensors deliver high product performance, based on technical specifications, design, intelligence and process interfacing. Doppler non-contact speed and length sensor replaces contacting encoders that encounter slippage, wear and marking. This accurate speed and length measurement helps prevent product give-away or short-length delivery, which translates into financial benefits across a wide range of applications. The InteliSENS SL and SLR mini series provide both uni-directional and bi-directional speed measurement up to 5,000m/min, with the latter being able to measure from a standstill. With a measurement repeatability of ±0.02 per cent and an accuracy of better than ±0.05 per cent, it assures correct final product length delivery to the customer. product acceleration exceeds 1,000m/min, the InteliSENS mini’s measurement update rate of 200kHz makes it the fastest on the market, according to Proton, capable of delivering accurate, high-resolution measurement under rapidly changing process conditions. Standard protocols for the InteliSENS mini’s embedded communications library include RS232, Ethernet TCP/IP and CAN bus with Profinet, Profibus, DeviceNet, Ethernet /IP and Wi-Fi as options. This capability produces straightforward communications to instrumentation platforms with the ability to deliver large volumes of data for maintenance diagnostics, plus process analysis, reporting and archiving on plantwide information platforms. The InteliSENS mini series form factor is 140mmL x 105mmW and 50mmH, weighing just 1.1kg. A comprehensive range of integrated process interfaces are available for measurement and control purposes. Three programmable 24Vdc digital inputs are available for length, speed, direction and pause functions. Two programmable 30Vdc, 100mA (max) digital outputs can be configured for measurement and preset length outputs Proton’s intelligent laser In situations where the

▲ ▲ High product performance from Proton

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Corporate News

Sylvin is added to the Mexichem family Mexichem, a USA-based manufacturer of flexible and semi-rigid vinyl and vinyl alloy compounds, has bought the shares of Pennsylvania, USA-based Sylvin. Founded in 1978 and operating from Denver, Pennsylvania, Sylvin services a broad range of products in the wire and cable, construction, automotive, general purpose and consumer goods industries. Sylvin joins the Mexichem Specialty Compounds team under the Mexichem Compounds Business Unit. Mexichem Specialty Compounds is a supplier of compound solutions serving the global marketplace from two sites in the USA, two sites in the UK, and a purpose-built facility in progress in India that is well positioned to serve the EMEA region. The Mexichem Compounds Business Unit also has sites in Mexico and Colombia, serving its LATAM customer base. It is anticipated that the addition of Sylvin will further expand Mexichem Specialty Compound’s ability to meet global compounding demand. This transaction marks a continuation of Mexichem’s strategy of expanding its portfolio of speciality products and applications through bolt-on acquisitions, capable of accessing new customers and end markets. Since 2011 when Mexichem acquired AlphaGary Corporation and Bayshore Vinyl Compounds, and the 2016 acquisition of the Vinyl Compounds Holdings (UK), Mexichem has grown to service a broad cross-section of industries with an ever-widening portfolio of both standard and specialised materials. With Sylvin on board, Mexichem Specialty Compounds looks forward to delivering even greater value to its combined customer base. In addition to the application development capabilities possessed by Sylvin, Mexichem has underlined the company’s customer-focused business model and strong team structure as attributes which were important factors in the transaction. Daniel DeLisle, general manager of Mexichem Specialty Compounds, said “We are pleased to add Sylvin to our team. Sylvin has built a solid, reputable business over decades by working closely with their customers and providing value-added solutions. “This customer-centric focus on material development is the cornerstone to staying in tune with our customers and bringing next-generation technologies forward.” Chris O’Connell, Sylvin’s vice president of sales and marketing, added: “Joining the Mexichem family is very exciting. We see immediate growth opportunities within our existing markets and core customers. And the group’s now combined capabilities and solutions will really add new value to the speciality compound market space.” Gautam Nivarthy, director of strategy, also added: “The Sylvin management team operates with the same core values we share in the compound business unit and throughout Mexichem. Their additional resources will help us continue to expand globally while enhancing returns on invested capital.”

Mexichem – USA

Website : www.mexichem.com

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Corporate News

Yazaki continues strategic partnership with DiIT

“In order to keep pace with state-of-the-art technology and ensure a standardised, integrated solution with full transparency and traceability, we have had to raise the current structures and systems in our plants with the help of CAO V12 to a new level.” “Yazaki is one of our longest-standing customers. In the new plant we were able to prove the performance of both DiIT software and our project support,” said Bernd Jost, managing director at DiIT AG. “After this great success we are now looking forward to the scheduled changeover in the remaining 23 Yazaki plants in Europe.” User-friendly online Cable Tapes UK has launched its new website at www. cabletapesuk.com. The newly revamped website offers customers a straightforward format and benefits fromuser-friendly navigation. Cable Tapes UK is a home-grown success story, with the company going from strength to strength. Its new website reflects the modern approach to business, designed as it is with its innovative new look. Cable Tapes UK Ltd – UK Website : www.cabletapesuk.com DiIT AG – Germany Website : www.diit.de

AUTOMOTIVE supplier Yazaki has raised its strategic partnership with DiIT, a specialist in wire harness production, to a new level. The new Version 12 of the DiIT solution 4Wire CAO – cutting and assembly optimisation – is replacing the previous system in all 24 plants of the Yazaki Europe Group. Over the next two years DiIT AG, the software vendor of manufacturing execution systems (MES) for wire harness production, will equip all 24 plants of the Yazaki Europe Group with the latest Version 12 of its core product, 4Wire CAO, with the first roll-out already installed in the recently opened plant in Serbia. 4Wire CAO ensures the optimisation of the cutting area and component manufacture production areas, and increases their efficiency, quality and traceability. The tier-1 wiring harness supplier Yazaki has also implemented an additional solution from the 4Wire product range, namely 4Wire PLS, that in the last step supports customised production and JIT/JIS dispatch control. DiIT is also offering 4Wire PPG, which automatically generates the relevant production documentation at the interface between engineering and production. “We have relied on the products of our strategic partner DiIT for well over a decade,” said Andreas Engels, head of IT Europe at Yazaki.

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