WCA September 2018

India Insight

Pakistan ACCC partnership

wiring systems in Bangalore and is looking at a possible new location in Pune. GKN Aerospace, GKN Driveline and GKN Powder Metallurgy have made significant investments in India in recent years. The three businesses operate eight locations in India with 2,000 employees and India is an important country in GKN Aerospace’s global business model. Pune offers favourable conditions in the areas of business development, labour, education and training, and infrastructure. It also has an excellent location relative to the company’s major customers in India. The plans also include the installation of proprietary wiring design and manufacturing systems that are to be rolled out to all manufacturing locations worldwide to ensure consistent quality. Michiel Barendse, managing director of GKN Fokker Elmo, said: “India’s growing economy, and the presence of leading aerospace companies, show that the important success factors are in place and in line with the needs of the aerospace industry. Being close to the customers is part of GKN Aerospace’s long term strategy: we have received excellent support from the regional government and look forward to developing the next stage of our plans.” GKN – UK Website : www.gkn.com Monsoon-proof power Long power breakdowns during the monsoon season may become a thing of the past in Telangana state. Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Ltd (TSSPDCL) will replace domestic 11kV power lines with covered conductors in areas where there is an abundance of trees. At present, power lines are snapped during gales and high winds, leading to power disruptions for several hours. Officials said the covered conductors will be made from a material that withstands gales and rain and prevents power tripping. This Swedish technology is also being implemented in other states, including Maharashtra and Gujarat. Post-bifurcation, the Andhra Pradesh government took up the covered conductors project, with World Bank assistance, to cover around 700km to 800km. As many as 6,000 to 7,000 disruptions and breakdowns are recorded every month as a result of gales and high winds. A permanent solution is to lay underground lines, but covered conductors are significantly cheaper. Covered conductors do not result in breakdowns, even if a tree branch falls on the line, and can withstand winds and gales. “On an experimental basis, about 100km [of] covered conductor has been laid in areas such as Banjara Hills, Jubilee Hills and Kondapur. A detailed project report is being prepared to lay the lines for about 600km by taking loans from [the] Asian Development Bank,” said TSSPDCL director (operations) J Srinivas Reddy. Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Ltd – India Website : www.tssouthernpower.com

CTC Global (Irvine, California, USA) and Pakistan Cables Ltd (Karachi, Pakistan) have announced a partnership to produce, distribute, market and sell ACCC electrical conductors in Pakistan. Pakistan Cables Ltd is amongst the country’s leading manufacturers of wires, cables, overhead conductors, copper rod, PVC compound and aluminium profiles. CTC Global will provide Pakistan Cables with its patented carbon fibre ACCC composite core in a range of sizes. Pakistan Cables will manufacture and deliver ACCC conductors tailored to meet the specifications of Pakistan’s electric transmission and distribution utilities. Pakistan Cables – Pakistan Website : www.pakistancables.com CTC Global – USA Website : www.ctcglobal.com Steel producer attracting interest Business Line, citing sources close to the development, reports that Tata Steel has placed an aggressive bid to acquire Usha Martin, the Jamshedpur steel producer with a production capacity of one million tonnes. The report quoted a source as saying that: “Tata Steel had a meeting with Usha Martin officials in Kolkata… and, in all probability, they will outbid JSW Steel. Vedanta is also believed to be in the race to acquire Usha Martin.” Usha Martin is among the largest wire rope manufacturers in the world, and a leading speciality steel manufacturer in India. The company established its first long product plant in 1974 near Jamshedpur, and uses iron ore and coal from captive mines, enabling it to achieve consistent quality in its products. Tata Steel – India Website : www.tatasteel.com Usha Martin – India Website : www.ushamartin.com Aerospace wiring expansion GKN Fokker Elmo is discussing plans for a second wiring systems manufacturing facility in India. GKN Aerospace’s Fokker Elmo business already operates a joint venture for

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