WCA July 2012

Technology news

Borealis and Borouge launch Borlink and set a new standard

By successfully applying their well-known proprietary Borstar ® and their new Borlink technologies, Borealis and Borouge have delivered a step change innovation for the plastics industry. Borealis completed a major investment of nearly EUR 400 million at its plant in Stenungsund, Sweden, to enhance its capability to provide advanced Borlink materials for the entire wire and cable market. Benefiting from Borlink technology, cables in use for more than 30 years still perform to today’s exacting standards and prove the reliability of Borealis and Borouge’s solutions. Additionally, at the end of their useful life these cables can be fully recycled in combination with standard polyethylene (PE) for a fully sustainable multi-generation life cycle. “Borlink will ensure the credentials we have built as a reputable and innovative partner to the industry are properly positioned to continue to deliver results in the future,” said Marc Hubert, Borealis’ vice president wire and cable. “We are anticipating the step changes that will take place in the power and communications grid world. “Borlink encompasses all aspects of our business, expertise and service capabilities into one central and coordinated technology powerhouse that will connect with the emerging wire and cable value chain.” Mr Hubert added: “Our commitment to the industry is clearly demonstrated by our continued investment in resources and capacity, linking all areas of the wire and cable world and bringing energy all around.” Moreover, in 2010,

Borealis and Borouge, a leading provider of innovative, value-creating solutions for the wire and cable industry, have launched Borlink™, a technology platform offering a complete global package of power materials, experience, knowledge and support. Borlink™ is a wire and cable industry-wide platform cross-linking the technology, products and expertise to connect networks and grids as well as people and their access to energy. This is another major innovation, specifically for the wire and cable power industry. It underlines Borealis and Borouge’s commitment to the industry as it provides an outstanding resource to help meet the challenges the industry faces in the future. By establishing Borlink, Borealis and Borouge have elevated their total network of support to a new level by helping to facilitate the linking of different grids and energy sources together both regionally and globally. Key innovations of Borlink include a tailor-made high pressure (HP) process for the production of high purity and super clean low density polyethylene (LDPE) base polymers with superior electrical properties and the introduction of a closed loop (from monomer to final packaging) which avoids contamination and ensures homogeneous and high quality clean compounds. Applying these technologies enables Borealis and Borouge to deliver a wide range of material solutions such as their unique Supercure™ cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) for high productivity, as well as the first globally available solutions for high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable applications. The value of these innovations was underlined by Frost & Sullivan, who awarded their 2011 Europe Product Leadership Award in the HVDC Insulation Market to Borealis.

Borealis AG – Austria Website : www.borealisgroup.com

Borouge – UAE Website : www.borouge.com

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Wire & Cable ASIA – July/August 2012