EuroWire May 2021

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Editor ....................................................................................... David Bell

Editorial Assistant .......................................... Christian Bradley

An entire new challenge Facing challenges of a whole different nature is Nexans who, through its customer relationship with Programa Amazônia Conectada, is bringing high-speed data connectivity to a remote and environmentally sensitive region of Brazil. Last year, 470km of submarine fibre-optic cables were laid on river beds of the Amazon Basin, and this is now being added to with a further 620km scheduled for delivery in 2021. For the full story turn to page 18. Investment is high on the agenda for British Steel, bought out of liquidation last year by Jingye Group. It is investing £100mn in its manufacturing operations and supporting clean growth. During its first year as a new business, British Steel achieved operational improve- ments, launched new products, introduced 24-7 operations at its Teesside and Skinningrove mills in the UK, and resumed operational control of Immingham Bulk Terminal. More details on page 25. Automation is proving fruitful for Windak, which is highlighting this with its cable packaging equipment providing an increase in productivity and saving on cable packaging costs, optimising labour utilisation and reducing waste. Manual packaging can lead to delivery delays, with customers increasingly wanting speed and quality, and this is something Windak has addressed with its packaging machinery (turn to page 28 for full details). With the company stating that more than 40 per cent of labour cost in cable factories is in the packaging area, automation is ensuring quality and consistent accuracy, and reducing production down time. Themoney will help finance projects including a newbillet caster, a scrap pre-heating facility, cranes and a new environmental emission control system.

Design & Production ............................................... Lisa Wright

Advertising/Marketing ........................................ Jason Smith UK, Italy, ROW, USA & Canada Linda Li 中国

Advertisement Coordinator .............................. Liz Hughes

Accounts Manager ......................................... Louise Jennings

Subscriptions ......................................... Louise Jennings

Founder .......................................................................... John C Hogg

Europe

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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 offices. POSTMASTER : Send address changes to EuroWire, Intras Ltd, C/O 701 Ashland Ave, Folcroft PA 19032. This publication and its full contents of layout, text, images, and graphics is copyright protected. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical including photocopying, recording or any other storage or retrieval system without the publisher’s written permission. The publisher, owners, agents, printers, editors and contributors cannot be held responsible for and hereby exclude all liability whatsoever for errors, omissions or the accuracy and claims printed or inferred in the editorial or advertisements published in this, previous or subsequent editions or for any damages, costs or losses caused thereby. EuroWire reserves the right to edit, reword and subedit all editorial submissions in accordance with editorial policy. EuroWire expressed graphically or by text is a registered name and style trademark of Intras Ltd, UK. All matters relating to this Disclaimer are governed by the laws of England. EuroWire is published six times per year and incorporates the title and publishing rights only of the former series of publications known as ‘ Transfil Europe ’. EuroWire is circulated to engineers, managers and personnel in the wire, cable, fibre optic and wire product industries upon receipt of a completed subscription form. An annual subscription is available from Intras Ltd, UK, at Euros 140.00, £120.00, US$195.00.

Our ever-popular ‘Focus On’ feature in this issue relates to German, Austrian and Swiss wire and cable companies.

Whether it is new innovations, technological advance- ments, plants and sites expanding, or new additions to company management, there is a large section of news relating to these areas. This starts on page 44.

David Bell Editor

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May 2021