WCA July 2013

Shenzhen Woer Heat-Shrinkable Material Co Ltd is to buy the Asian consumer electronics assets of American cable maker Belden Inc. The acquisition of Belden’s Hong Kong-based LTK International subsidiary will give Shenzhen Woer substantial additional manufacturing capacity in China. It is also designed, company officials said, to expand its presence in the electronics industry and speed development of environmentally orientated cross-linked materials. Woer products include cross-linked polyethylene wires, heat shrinkable tubing and materials, poly-tetrafluoroeth- ylene tubing and EPDM elastomer tubing. “Through this acquisition, Woer aims not only to develop its electronics business but also give LTK the ability to share and capitalise on the resources of both Woer and LTK,” LTK said in a January letter to customers. “This strategic alliance will allow both parties to stay ahead of their competitors and offer new attention-getting and leading products in electronic cable as well as environmentally friendly cross-linked materials.” Belden bought LTK in 2007 for $195 million. At the time, Belden said LTK had 2006 annual sales of about $220 million. Belden says the Woer deal involves only a part of the original LTK purchase in 2007. LTK has four manufacturing plants in China and makes products such as PVC and TPE jacketed cables for data, transmission and automotive applications. Shenzhen Woer Heat-Shrinkable Material Co Ltd – China Website : www.woer.com Chinese cable maker buys Asian assets New launch in Kunduz province Work has begun on a major optic fibre line from Kunduz to Badakhshan and Takhar, in Afghanistan. Minister of telecommunication and information technology, Amirzai Sangin, said the optic fibre line is being built at a total cost of $6.1million, with financial support from the World Bank. The network will deliver greater connectivity to Afghanistan’s neighbouring countries and the world, Amirzai Sangin added, describing Afghanistan as a pioneer in telecommunications in the region. Kunduz officials are welcoming the potential for standard telecommunication services in the province. “Kunduz is a boundary province, which shares a border with Tajikistan. We should try to have as developed a country as our neighbours,” said Kunduz governor Mohammad Anwar Jigdalak. Afghanistan’s fibre optic network could ultimately cost in the region of $60 million, and will earn the government $5 million per month when complete.

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Wire & Cable ASIA – July/August 2013