WCA January 2011

Industry news

Teknor Apex to distribute COIM compounds

General Cable acquires BICC Egypt General Cable Corporation has acquired BICC Egypt. BICC Egypt manufactures a wide variety of wire and cable products for the electrical markets including low voltage insulated power and control cables, building wire, instrumentation cable, halogen free power and control cables, and overhead power cables. In the last twelve months, the business reported revenues of approximately $30 million. The acquisition of BICC Egypt furthers General Cable’s geographic expansion by establishing a production and commercial base in the region. The company believes the demand for wire and cable products in Egypt will continue to grow faster than many other nations due to increasing investment in infrastructure and power generation projects. Egypt continues to invest heavily in large-scale transport, construction, power generation, and transmission and distribution infrastructure. General Cable Corporation – USA Email : info@generalcable.com Website : www.generalcable.com

The Italian chemical company COIM SpA has appointed Teknor Apex Company to be its exclusive distributor of Laripur™ thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) elastomer compounds to wire and cable manufacturers in the USA, Canada and Mexico. Teknor Apex’s Vinyl Division will supply the Laripur materials. “We are very pleased to engage in a strategic co-operation with a high-value partner like Teknor Apex,” said COIM’s Antonio Piroddi, division manager for Laripur TPU. “Their technical and commercial capabilities combined with COIM’s TPU expertise and broad product offering provides a valuable new resource for wire and cable customers in North America.” Teknor Apex vice president, Louis R Cappucci, noted: “TPUs are particularly valuable for withstanding rugged end-use conditions because of their resistance to abrasion, chemicals, microbial attack, and hydrolysis, as well as flexibility at low temperatures.” Laripur compounds are available in grades ranging in hardness from 60 Shore A to 75 Shore D. As elastomers they are inherently flexible and contain no plasticisers, except as required for certain specialised formulations. Typical applications include cables for automotive sensor and antilock brake systems and for mining, seismic monitoring and oil exploration.

Teknor Apex Company – USA Email : vinyl@teknorapex.com Website : www.teknorapex.com

COIM SpA – Italy Website : www.coimgroup.com Sharing expertise at international conference AMEinfo.com reported that a delegation from Emirates Steel was among the participants sharing their expertise at a specialised iron and steel conference in Italy during October 2010. The conference, hosted by Danieli, focused on the latest achievements and developments in both long and flat products.

Highlighting the importance of the event, HE Hussain J Al Nowais, chairman of General Holding Company (GHC), Emirates Steel’s parent company, said Emirates Steel has achieved its business goal to be an efficient and competitive producer of finished steel products. He added that “since the establishment of Emirates Steel four years ago, our goal has been to achieve a sustainable competitive advantage by delivering benefits that exceed those of competing products and creating superior value for our customers. By utilizing our resources and capabilities to the fullest, we have been able to create a series of competitive advantages in cost, production and environmental protection.” Mr Al Nowais, who headed the Emirates Steel delegation to the conference, pointed out that “the objective of our participation is to get acquainted with the latest technologies in the field in order for us to further improve our product quality and performance.” Addressing the conference, Engineer Ahmed S Al Dhaheri, Emirates Steel’s vice president

Members of the Emirates Steel delegation with the conference m m organisers

of projects, highlighted the various phases of Emirates Steel’s development and explained that by the end of 2013, Emirates steel is anticipated to reach a capacity of 6 million MTPA, placing it amongst the largest producers of steel in the Middle East region. Emirates Steel controls approximately 45% of the rebar and wire rod market in the UAE. Its main objective is to play a major role in advancing the industrial sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi whilst providing extensive work opportunities to UAE nationals.

Emirates Steel Industries – United Arab Emirates

Website : www.esi-steel.com

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Wire & Cable ASIA – January/February 2011