wiUSA December 2013

INDEX

R E A D WATCH SHARE IT

wiredIn USA Digital . Networking . Monthly .

Merry Christmas

December 2013 issue - No 30

www.wiredinUSA.com

wiredIn USA Sun shines on Hawaii's solar industry Page9

An earlier solar panel installation in Hawaii. The solar industry is one of Hawaii's strongest growth sectors. Photograph courtesy of www.earthjustice.org

wiredInUSA - December 2013

2

INDEX

What better way to end 2013 than with a very brief look back at the highlights of the year – from wiredInUSA's point of view that is… The year started with good news for ski-lovers on the slopes of Vail, Colorado, who were able to ride the world's fastest single cable, ten-person gondola. Developers chose ArcelorMittal to help build a new ski lift with a steel rope capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions at 8,500 feet. San Francisco 49ers were next on the ball with electrical work on the new stadium in Santa Clara using enough wire to link CaliforniaandNebraska – completewithaback-upgenerator capable of supplying enough power for 4,000 homes. The Interwire exhibition in Atlanta also featured heavily, as did the other shows on the continent throughout the year – wire South America in October and the IWCS Conference and exhibition in November. Spread inbetween these was news of a solar energy project in Nevada, capable of providing enough electricity to power 45,000 homes; Nexans investing $85m for the construction of a 125m-high tower for its extra high voltage cable plant in South Carolina; and 375 jobs being created at Southwire with its continuing investment in Carroll County, Georgia. I only hope we're able to bring you as much good news during 2014! All the team at wiredInUSA would like to wish you all Season's Greetings and a happy, healthy and prosperous #30 EDITOR

new year. David Bell Editor

3

wiredInUSA - December 2013

CONTENT

Sales & Marketing (International ) Jason Smith jason@wiredinusa.com +44 1926 834 684 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Advertisement Coordinator Liz Hughes Accounts Manager

INDEX

READ WATCH SHARE IT

wiredIn USA Digital . Networking . Monthly .

Merry Christmas

December 2013 issue -No 30

www.wiredinUSA.com

wiredIn USA

Julie Case Publisher Caroline Sullens - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - INTRAS OFFICES Europe:

News Editor David Bell david@wiredinusa.com Features Editor (USA) Dorothy Fabian Features Editor (Europe) Gill Watson Editorial assistant Christian Bradley Design/Production/ Free Subscription Hélène Phillips helene@wiredinusa.com #30

46 Holly Walk, Leamington Spa Warwickshire CV32 4HY, UK

Tel: +44 1926 334137 Fax: +44 1926 314755

Email: read@wiredinusa.com Website: www.wiredinusa.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - USA: Danbury Corporate Center, 107 Mill Plain Road, Danbury, CT 06811, USA Tel: +1 203 794 0444 Email: doug@intras.co.uk

wiredInUSA - December 2013 wiredInUSA - D cember 2013

4

10

INDEX

06 Show Diary 2013 and 2014

09 Making the News Industry news from the USA

51

41

38 Industry Trade Association Spotlight on awards, education and events 40 Asia & Africa News The latest news from Asia & Africa 32 Europe News The latest news from Europe 46 Products, Machines and Technology The latest news from machine industries

53

24

wiredInUSA - December 2013

5

DIARY SHOW EVENTS

2014

17-18 June: Polymers in Cables Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA Conference www.amiplastics-na.com SEPTEMBER 24-27 September: wire China 2014 Shanghai, China Exhibition www.wirechina.net

APRIL 7-11 April: wire Düsseldorf 2014 Düsseldorf, Germany Exhibition www.wire.de MAY 6-7 May: Wire Expo 2014 Indianapolis, IN, USA Exhibition www.wirenet.org 14-15 May: National Electric Wire Processing Expo Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA Exhibition

OCTOBER 28-30 October: wire India Mumbai, India Exhibition www.wire-india.com

NOVEMBER TBA: IWCS Rhode Island, USA Conference and table top exhibition

www.epishows.com 14-17 May: Lamiera Bologna, Italy Exhibition www.lamiera.net

www.iwcs.org 2015 April 28-30 April: Interwire 2015 Atlanta, Georgia, USA Exhibition www.wirenet.org

JUNE 16-18 June: Guangzhou International Guangzhou, China Exhibition www.metalchina-gz.com

wiredInUSA - December 2013 i I

6

INDEX

OPTICAL FIBRES Measurement Instruments In line data collection, display, record and report

Measure & Control Instruments

CIM PC software:

LIS-Glass:

Laser Interferometric Sensor

 Diameter repeatability: ±0.005µm at 50kHz  Diameter uncertainty: ±0.15µm  Defect detection 75kHz , event recording  Ultra fine air line detection, 0.3µm, 400Hz  Fibre position: ±2mm range ±0.1mm , 1kHz  Spinning frequency profile  Fibre no circularity measurement Non Contact Tension Measurement (Drawing force Birefringence principle)

NCTM:

 0-400 grams ±1gram, 1kHz  Measurement field: 4mm Ø ± 1 gr within 10-40°C ambient Coating Monitor 5 axes

CM5:

 Absolute diameter: ±0.2µm, 400Hz  XY Positions ±0.1mm 1kHz  5 axes Lump & Neck: ±2µm, 3.6MHz sampling  Coating asymmetry: 30Hz  Internal defect detection: 800kHz (Airlines, bubbles, inclusions, delaminations…) AIR (AIRline detector) LDS-T (Laser Diffraction Sensor for transparent product) www.CERSA-MCI.com

Others:

wiredInUSA - December 2013

7

wiredInUSA - December 2013

8

INDEX MAKING THENEWS

Hawaii solar farm After a blessing and groundbreaking ceremony, construction has begun on Kauai Island Utility Cooperative’s $40 million, 12MW solar energy facility on Kauai's South Shore. The solar photovoltaic development is beingbuilt onnearly70acresof former sugar cane field land near Koloaand is scheduled for completion in 2014. Consisting of 45,000 panels, the site will contribute around five percent of the island’s electricity demand. The project is the second largest utility-scale solar facility to be built on Kauai; the 6MW Port Allen solar farm opened in 2012 and two smaller systems, a 1MW array in Kapaa and a 300kW array in Omao, also provide power to the grid. KIUC said that when the Koloa solar project is completed, it will generate 19MW during the day, enough power to meet nearly 30 percent of the island’s daytime electricity demands.

customers, not just those who can afford to install their own PV systems,” KIUC board chairman Allan Smith said in a statement. “Using this system saves us from importing about 1.7 million gallons of oil annually.” The net cost of electricity generated by the solar energy facility will be between 10 cents and 13.5 cents per kilowatt hour, far below the present cost of oil at around 23 cents per kilowatt hour, KIUC said.

*Picture: From left, Jon Yoshimura of SolarCity; Arryl Kaneshiro of Grove Farm; Kauai mayor, Bernard Carvalho Jr; Kauai Island Utility Cooperative CEO and president, David Bissell; Kumu Sabra Kauka; KIUC board chairman Allan Smith; and vice chairman Jan TenBruggencate at the blessing and groundbreaking ceremony. Photo courtesy of Kauai Island Utility Cooperative

“By owning this project, the benefits of cheap, clean solar are shared by all of our

9

wiredInUSA - December 2013

Makai Ocean Engineering has received a $3.6 million contract from the Hawaii Natural Energy Institute and the Office of Naval Research for research and design work on the marine renewable energy known as ocean thermal energy conversion (OTEC). The Waimanalo-based ocean technology firm will perform this work at its Ocean Energy Research Center in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island, which is the largest OTEC research facility in the world. “Ifwecanuseonepercent of theenergy [generated by OTEC] for electricity and other things, the potential is so big,” National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration senior scientist Joseph Huang said, in a statement. “It is more than 100 to 1,000 times more than the current consumption of worldwide energy. The potential is huge. There OTEC contract

is not any other renewable energy that can compare with OTEC, which is unique among renewables because it can provide large quantities of constant electricity.” Makai Ocean Engineering will work on two initiatives towards making commercial OTEC a reality, including designing, manufacturing and testing an improved heat exchanger for OTEC and connecting power from its OTEC plant to the electric grid on the Big Island. Heat exchangers make up about a third of the cost of an OTEC plant, so Makai plans to develop a high performance, low cost and corrosion-resistant OTEC heat exchanger. Makai will also install a 100kW turbine at the Ocean Energy Research Center to generate OTEC power onto the local grid by mid-2014.

wiredInUSA - December 2013 i I

10

INDEX

Power grid improvements

American Electric Power Company Inc plans to invest over $11 billion on capital improvement projects over the next three years, with much of the money aimed at upgrading the company’s electricity transmission system. AEP made its plans known at the Edison Institute financial conference in Orlando. The Columbus-based company said it will have capital budgets of $3.8 billion a year in 2014, 2015 and 2016. “Nearly 40 percent of that money will be for transmission upgrades,” said AEP spokesman Melissa McHenry, adding that work will include

power line upgrades and investments in new transmission projects approved by PJM Interconnection. Of the total, $2.13 billion will be spent on projects in Ohio. In a press release, AEP CEO Nick Akins said the company’s infrastructure investment will be aimed at improving the reliability of electric service to customers. He said the company expects to invest nearly $5 billion in its AEP Transmission Holding Co unit, adding that the holding company’s contribution to earnings will almost double in 2014.

wiredInUSA - December 2013

11

California to benefit from new line

Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), MidAmerican Transmission LLC and Citizens Energy Corporation have been chosen by the California Independent System Operator Corporation (ISO) to develop, own and operate a new transmission line in the Central Valley region of California. The 230kV line will span 70 miles across Fresno, Madera and Kings counties, running between the PG&E substations Gates and Gregg. Approved to address the growing power demand in the greater Fresno area, the new line will help reduce the number and duration of power outages and bolster efforts to integrate clean, renewable energy onto the grid. The transmission line should be operational no later than 2022.

The ISO approved the project during its annual Transmission Planning Process in March. The ISO chose the consortium of PG&E, MidAmerican Transmission and Citizens Energy over four other qualified bidders in a competitive process. The project is the second to be approved under new ISO rules requiring that some new transmission projects be subject to competition. The project will need to undergo an approval process through the California Public Utilities Commission.

Copyright: http://dryicons.com/

i

I

-

wiredInUSA - December 2013

12

INDEX

Come to see us at wire Düsseldorf Booth 11D72

wiredInUSA - December 2013

13

Recycling partnership

Nuclear cable RSCC Nuclear Cable is to begin manufacturing class1E cables for delivery to the United Arab Emirates’ peaceful nuclear energy program. RSCC was selected on technical merit to supply safety-class cables to the four-reactor project, managed by Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC). RSCC has supplied the nuclear energy industry for over 40 years, believed longer than any other cable maker. In addition to supplying cables to every reactor in North America, RSCC supplies reactors in over a dozen countries throughoutAsia, Europe, andSouth America. RSCC has also provided safety-related cables to US government nuclear facilities and has qualified safety-related cables for more nuclear applications than any other company in the world. “RSCC is pleased to be selected for the UAE peaceful nuclear energy program. RSCC has successfully met or exceeded all test requirements to date, and we are confident about our ability to complete and pass remaining tests on time to meet all customer and regulatory expectations and requirements,” said Steven Bonnell, president of RSCC Wire & Cable.

Recycling Equipment Canada has partnered with OBC Baling Equipment to support the distribution of MG Recycling branded equipment throughout Canada. MG Recycling equipment uses a metered pulverization process and a patented Zig Zag Turbo air separation system to deliver accurate and efficient copper recovery from solid and stranded wireandcable.Thissameequipment also processes aluminum, radiators and e-waste (WEEE). In early 2013, OBC Baling Equipment was awarded exclusive distribution rights of MG Recycling products throughout Canada. With the Recycling Equipment Canada partnership, OBC Baling will be well positioned to serve and support the Canadian markets. “We’re excited to offer our customers a copper wire recycling system that delivers 99 percent pure copper from all types of copper wire and cable. The MG systems can handle everything from fine gauge auto wiring harnesses to the largest solid copper power cables,” explained Pete Mulvany, CEO of Recycling Equipment Canada.

wiredInUSA - December 2013

14

INDEX

Wire manufacturer seeks sale

Reuters has reported that wire and cable manufacturer Coleman Cable Inc is exploring the sale of the company. Coleman is said to be in early discussions with potential buyers before distributing detailed financial information in the very near future.

taxes, depreciation and amortization and may be valued at more than $750 million, sources revealed. Investment bank Jefferies will advise Coleman during the sale process, which is expected to draw interest mainly from larger cable and wire manufacturers.

The Illinois-based company has about $90 million in annual earnings before interest,

wiredInUSA - December 2013

15

Breischaft joins SDI LaFarga

SDI LaFarga LLC has named Kurt Breischaft as president of SDI LaFarga, a copper rod mill located in New Haven, Indiana. The company is a joint venture between Steel Dynamics Inc and the La Farga Group, headquartered in Spain. Formerly vice president and general manager of Cerro Plumbing Products, part of the Marmon Group/Berkshire Hathaway Company, Mr Breischaft brings more than 20 years of experience in the copper industry. A graduate of Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology with a Bachelor of Science degree in electrical engineering and an MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University, his career includes positions as a process engineer, engineering manager, plant manager, and manufacturing manager at the Essex Group Inc/Superior Essex.

In July 2010, he was named director of manufacturing for CerroWire, followed by an assignment as vice president, business development for Marmon, where he was responsible for marketing and new product development for the copper tube product line, and subsequently appointed vice president/ general manager for Cerro Plumbing. SDI LaFarga has a workforce of nearly 40, producing high purity 8mm copper rod. The plant's design capacity is 180,000,000lb per year, and was built at a cost of over $40M in 2012. Mr Breischaft is a past board member of the Wire Association International, and a 2006 Wire Link Scholar.

wiredInUSA - December 2013

16

16

INDEX

KEIR - B ack Bone TM

Flyer Bow

Features: • Improved bow strength (no holes) • Wire is out of the airstream • Bow shaped like a wing for improved aerodynamics and low cw factor • Wear strip eliminated and replaced by wear bushings with windows for easy inspection and dust cleaning • Wear bushings can be changed while bow is mounted on the rotor Advantages: • Lower power (amps) consumption and reduced noise • Higher TPM - maintaining wire quality • Reduced elongation @ higher TPM • Reduced bow breakage • Increased life on wear surfaces reducing down-times and maintenance • Wire breaks are contained within the bow - extending bow life KEIR Manufacturing, Inc. Phone: +1.828.885.8444 Phone USA: 800.992.2402 Fax: +1.828.884.7494 Email: sales@KEIRmfg.com Website: +1. 828.885.8444 800.992.2402 +1. 828 884.7494 Sales@KEIRmfg.com www.BackBoneBows.com www.KEIRmfg.com Features: • Improved bow strength (no holes) • Wire is out of the airstream • Bow shaped like a wing for improved aerodynamics and low cw factor • Wear strip eliminated and replaced by wear bushings with windows for easy inspection and dust cleaning • Wear bushings can be changed while bow is mount d n the r tor Advantages: • Lower power (amps) consumption and reduced noise • Higher TPM – maintaining wire quality • Reduced bow breakage • Increased life on wear surfaces reducing down- times andmai tenance • Wire breakds are contained within the bow – extending bow life +1. 828.885.8444 00.992.2402 +1. 828 884.7494 Sales@KEIRmfg.com ww.BackBoneBows.com www.KEIRmfg.com Features: • Improved bow strength (no hol ) • Wire is out of the airstream • Bow shaped lik a wing for improved aerodynamics and low cw factor • Wea strip eliminated and replaced by wear bushings with windows for easy inspection and dust cleaning • Wear bushings can be changed while bow is mounted on the rotor Advantages: • Lower power (amps) consumption and reduced noise • Higher TPM – maintaining wire quality • Reduced bow breakage • Increased life on ear surfaces reducing down- times andmaintenance • Wire breakds are contained within the bow – extending bow life +1. 828.885.8444 800.992.2402 +1. 828 884.7494 Sales@KEIRmfg.com www.BackBoneBows.com www.KEIRmfg.com Features: • I proved bow strength (no holes) • ire is out of the airstrea • Bow shaped like a wing for i proved aerodyna ics and low cw factor • ear strip eli inated and replaced by wear bushings with windows for easy inspection and dust cleaning • ear bushings can be changed while bow is ounted on the rotor Advantages: • L w r power (a ps) consu ption an reduced noise • Higher TP – intaining wire quality • Redu ed bow breaka • Increa ed li e on ea surfaces reducing down- ti es d aintenance • i e ea ds are contained within th bow – xte ding bow life +1. 828.885.8444 800.992.2402 +1. 828 884.7494 Sales@KEIRmfg.com www.BackBoneBows.com www.KEIRmfg.com Features: • Imp oved bow strength (no holes) • Wir is out of the airstream • Bow shaped like a wing for improved aerodynamics and low cw factor • Wear strip eliminated and replaced by wear bushings with windows for easy inspection and dust cleaning • Wear bushings can be changed while bow is mount d on the rotor Advantages: • Lower power (amps) c nsumption and reduced ise • i r – i t i ing wire quality • d e bow breakage • Incr as d life on we r surfaces r duci g down- tim an maintenance • Wir breakds are contained within the bow – exten ing bow life

US Patent #6,233,513 #5,809,703 and Other Patents Pending

US Patent # 6,233,513 # 5,809,703 and Other Patents Pending US Patent # 6,233,513 # 5,809,703 and Other Paten s Pending US Patent # 6,233,513 # 5,809,703 and Other Patents Pending US Patent # 6,233,513 # 5,809,703 and Other Patents Pending

KEIRManufacturing Inc. KEIRManufacturing Inc. EI a fact ri I c. Phone: KEIRManufacturing Inc.

Phone: Phone USA Phone: Phone: Fax:

Phone USA Phone USA Phone USA E-mail:

Fax: E-mail: F x: Fax:

E-mail: E-mail: Website: Website: Website:

Website:

www.BackBoneBows.com www.KEIRmfg.com

K E I R

wiredInUSA - December 2013

17

More OnCore

OnCore Manufacturing has launched OnCore Interconnect, with the capabilities and certifications, including UL approval, to manufacture cable and harness products for OnCore’s target markets – the industrial, medical, military and aerospace sectors. The new Interconnect portfolio includes multi-conductor wiring kits and cable assemblies, flat and ribbon cables, coaxial and RF cable assemblies and complex harness assemblies. “We have assembled an engineering and operations team with an average of 18 years of cable and harness manufacturing experience,” commentedBobWeber, OnCoreVPof manufacturing. “OnCore Interconnect fulfills our customers’ requirements for a high quality interconnect source that is integrated into their product’s manufacture.” “Many of our expanding set of system integration customers have shared their desire for new cable and harness sourcingalternatives. We have listened and invested in OnCore Interconnect, a new growth business for OnCore,” said Sajjad Malik, president and CEO of OnCore. “The investment is aligned with our growth strategy for adding selective vertical integration services that align with our core offering and target markets.”

18

wiredInUSA - December 2013

18

INDEX

wiredInUSA - December 2013 iredIn - ece ber 2013

19 19

Technology center opens for business

Marmon Engineered Wire & Cable has opened the 16,000ft 2 Innovation & Technology Center in Connecticut. The center is available to the 14 manufacturers that operate as part of Marmon Engineered Wire & Cable. Robert Konnik, chief technology officer, and 14 engineers and consultants will work on proprietary materials development and extrusion technology projects to support customers that require electrical or electronic high performance cables for harsh or extreme environments. Mr Konnik explained: "In general, we have prototype samples where our lab has performed some tests and the customer can then do their own tests before scaling up to larger sizes and quantities in the plant. This center has pilot compounding and extrusion

capabilities to support current customer efforts, and we welcome the opportunity to add new projects in the future." "Weobviouslycannot disclose specific details about proprietary customer designs already in the works," he continued, "but we can share that our priorities include the development of low smoke zero halogen [and] ceramic based materials to meet fire safety applications in the oil and gas and transit infrastructure cable industry segments." Dennis Chalk, president of Marmon Engineered Wire & Cable, said: "Further investment will continue as the need arises. We have always considered new products as the life blood of the Marmon EWC Group."

wiredInUSA - December 2013

20

wiredInUSA - December 2013

21

Parker Hannifin Corporation has been awarded a contract by SBM Monaco for the supply of the wire rope sections within the mooring system for the Prelude floating liquefied natural gas project, under construction in Northwest Australia. Royal Dutch Shell made the decision to begin construction of Prelude, the world’s first floating liquefied natural gas project, in May 2011. Measuring 488m

Steel rope offering moor

from bow to stern, the natural gas facility is believed to be the largest floating facility ever built. The Prelude facility is expected to remain moored on location for 25 years. Parker’s wire rope sections will have the highest minimum breaking load of any steel wire mooring system component ever supplied.

22 0 2

wiredInUSA - December 2013 i I

INDEX

Cables 2 0 1 4

The international conference and exhibition for the plastic cable industry

Reasons to register

• Hear from 3 of the largest cable manufacturers • Lots of opportunities for networking • Includes a site visit

HEADLINE SPONSOR

11-13 March 2014 MaritimHotel, Cologne, Germany

Images courtesy of: ExxonMobil and Prysmian Group UK

* + 19% German VAT

SPECIAL OFFER : Save € 150* if you register before 7th February 2014

Also sponsored by:

Media supporters:

Organised by: Applied Market Information Ltd.

wiredInUSA - December 2013 Becca Utteridge – Conference Organiser Email: ju@amiplastics.comTel: +44(0)117 924 9442Web: www.amiplastics.com

23

Chemical contract

Marmon Engineered Wire & Cable affiliates, RSCC Wire & Cable and Dekoron Wire & Cable, have contracts to supply high performance cables to the SadaraChemical joint venture between Dow Chemical and Saudi Aramco. DekoronWire&Cableproduces custom TC-ER cables for instrumentation applications, offered in single end up to 24-pair count multi-conductor product types.

RSCC, through its Exane ® business unit, will provide its VITALink 2000 power, control and instrumentation fire rated cables. Robert Canny, vice president and general manager, said: “VITALink 2000 cablewas selectedbecauseof its performance capabilities in a catastrophic petrochemical fire. These cables will be used for all critical, life safety, and emergency circuits at the plant such as emergency lighting, fire alarms and emergency isolation valves.”

wiredInUSA - December 2013 ir I - r

24

INDEX

Greg Smith, subsector president, said orders received during 2013 and carried over into the first quarter of 2014 represent over $12 million in sales. Recent statements from Dow and Saudi Aramco indicate that the two companies will invest $19 billion to establish 26 manufacturing units to produce ethylene and polyethylene chemical products.

wiredInUSA - December 2013 wire In - r

25

BICSI and CCCA cable collaboration

At Europol’s awareness and knowledge building conference on counterfeit household products and fake automotive parts, held in November in Spain, BICSI’s president, Jerry Bowman, gave a presentation on research and the wider activities of the Communications Cable and Connectivity Association (CCCA) in the fight against counterfeiting. The conference also featured speakers from the European Union, world law enforcement and customs officials such as Europol, Interpol, and World Customs Organization, as well as private sector experts from major household, industry and automotive brands. “All [information technology systems] industry stakeholders are affected by counterfeit and substandard product,” Bowman said. “Everyone in the supply chain has a duty of care to ensure that the product they are purchasing

or installing conforms with safety and quality standards and regulations. When a counterfeit product is installed it’s more than a performance issue – it can threaten the safety of the workplace and put the consumer at risk. I am proud to have represented both organizations in educating the European law enforcement and customs officials about the roles of BICSI and CCCA in ensuring safety and quality of the ITS infrastructure.” Frank Peri, CCCA’s executive director, added: "This is an excellent example of CCCA and BICSI leadership working together to educate international law enforcement on counterfeit cables that threaten a global industry and risk public safety. We are proud to collaborate with BICSI in an ongoing effort to protect legitimate brands, quality cable and connectivity products and public safety."

wiredInUSA - December 2013

26

INDEX

Network reconstruction

Potomac Edison, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp, has reconstructed a 138kV transmission line in a project to strengthen its regional transmission network and help maintain reliable electric service for customers in parts of Maryland. As part of the $5.3 million project, crews installed higher capacity conductor on a 13-mile stretch of transmission line connecting substations in Frederick and Carroll Counties. "The new equipment is expected to enhance service reliability to our customers and increase the capacity of the transmission line to meet anticipated load growth in the region," said James A Sears Jr, president of FirstEnergy's Maryland operations. "The original scope of the project included reconstructing

substations along with a transmission line, all at considerably more cost. Through our merger with FirstEnergy in 2011, we were able to scale back the project by utilizing existing equipment located nearby, ultimately providing a high degree of reliability while saving our customers money in the process." The project is part of Potomac Edison's plan to spend $55 million in 2013 to further enhance the electrical system and reliability in its western Maryland and Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia service areas. Major projects scheduled for this year include transmission improvements, building new distribution circuits, replacing underground cables, inspecting and replacing utility poles, and ongoing vegetation management programs.

wiredInUSA - December 2013

27

The US government has approved the majority of a 1,600km HVAC transmission line to strengthen the national grid and to encourage greater development of renewable power. The Gateway West transmission line will carry up to 1.5GW of capacity from southern Wyoming to southern Idaho, and is being developed by the Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power utilities. Wyoming is the least populated state in the country, but Windpower Intelligence has calculated that the 2020 wind energy pipeline will be 6,975MW, the second highest of any US state. The power will need to be moved to more densely populated areas. "The line will strengthen the Western grid, bringing a diversified portfolio of renewable and conventional energy to meet the region's projected growth in electricity demand," said interior secretary Sally Jewell, announcing the project. "When built, these projects will help increase electric reliability, integrate new renewable energy into the grid, and save consumers money," she added. Idaho Power and Rocky Mountain Power proposed the line as ten segments beginning near Glenrock, Wyoming, and ending at the Hemingway substation in Idaho. Transmission approval

wiredInUSA - December 2013

28

INDEX

Houston Wire & Cable upgraded to “neutral” AmericanBankingNews.com reports that Zacks has upgraded shares of Houston Wire & Cable Co from an underperform rating to a neutral rating. Houston Wire & Cable Co traded up 2.34 percent immediately after the announcement, hitting $13.53 while 39,209 shares of the company’s stock changed hands. Houston Wire & Cable Co has a 52-week low of $10.39 and a 52-week high of $15.07. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $13.74 and a 200-day moving average of $13.87. The company has a market cap of $242.7 million and a price-earnings ratio of 14.22. Houston Wire & Cable Co announced its earnings results on 12 th November, reporting $0.20 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the analysts’ consensus estimate of $0.23 by $0.03. The company had revenue of $95.20 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $99.50 million. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $0.24 earnings per share. Houston Wire & Cable Co’s revenue was down 0.9 percent compared to the same quarter last year. The company recently announced a quarterly dividend, scheduled for 2 nd December, of $0.11 per share.

wiredInUSA - December 2013 wiredInUSA - Dece ber 2013

29 29

Local newspaper La Republica reports that Peru’s ministry of energy and mines (MEM) is currently reviewing two PV project proposals with a combined capacity of 110MW. companies Energy Renovable and Energia Renovable Ilo-Moquegua SAC have submitted proposals to build PV plants with a capacity of 50MW and 60MW, respectively, along the Pan-American Highway in the south of Peru. The MEM has granted permission for Enel Green Power Peru SA to start feasibility studies for two 40MW PV projects planned for the south of the country. The company, a subsidiary of Italian renewable energy developer Enel Green Power SpA, part of the Enel Group, submitted project proposals for the Central Solar Pampa Siguas and Central Peruvian PV review Peruvian-based

Solar Tesoro projects in January. The projects would be the largest solar power plants in the country. Peru’s minister of energy and mines, Jorge Merino, has previously announced that proposals for the installation of hydroelectric, biomass, solar and other renewable energy power plants will be sought soon. The budget devoted to the development is set at $3.1 billion, with around $2.6 billion reserved for 1.1GW of hydroelectric power plants. The remaining $500 million will be allocated for the development of 250MW of renewable energy power plants, including 50MW of biomass projects. Selected projects must come online in 2016. According to the government, its energy program will enable 95 percent of the country to have access to electricity by the end of 2016.

wiredInUSA - December 2013 i I

30

DOWNLOAD IT ...

INDEX

2014 Media Pack Now available

In print On-line CD Rom Apps

Eurowire magazine

@EOW_magazine

... and book your advertising now

www.read-eurowire.com

wiredInUSA - December 2013

31

Picture : www.bigstockphoto.com ‘Spring’ Photographer - ‘ Rafal Steciuk’

wiredInUSA - December 2013 wiredInUSA - April 2013 June ir I - Ju 2013 28 EUROPE NEWS c

26

32

INDEX

Ultraconductive copper award

carbon nanomaterials research group within the department of materials science and metallurgy at the University of Cambridge. “The EC's FP7 funding recognizes the power of transferring technology from Europe's leading research institutions into companies responsible for producing and using millions of tonnes of copper each year.” John Schonenberger, chief executive of the European Copper Institute, added: “The copper industry's participation in this project reflects the importance the industry places on improving the sustainability of its products through increased resource efficiency,” continuing: “While this technology is in the very early stages of development, with many significant hurdles to cross, ultraconductive copper would bring about a step change in the end-use performance obtainable from one tonne of copper.”

A consortium of 14 companies and universities has signed a €3.3 million funding contract through the European Commission's FP7 program to work on the “Ultrawire” project. The project aims to develop ultraconductive copper to manufacturing level within three years. The consortium members will contribute an additional €1.7million of funding to the project. “This is an opportunity for Europe to capture early market share and new manufacturing jobs from the promising new technology of ultraconductive copper,” said Jan Janssen, technical manager of the project and senior productionmanager of copper producer Aurubis. “We are exploiting forefront European carbon manufacturing technology and transferring exciting new materials into industry,” said Dr Krzysztof Koziol, project coordinator and head of the electric

EUROPE NEWS

wiredInUSA - December 2013

33

Josef Hösl

Adding 100G to SAm-1 networks

Eldan installs its third line in Germany

The Estato Umweltservice GmbH has started up its third steel cleaning line and becomes Germany’s largest processor of steel wire from used tires. The line was supplied by Eldan Recycling A/S, based in Faaborg, Denmark, withwhomEstatoUmweltservice has a long-standing working relationship. Josef Hösl, managing director at Estato Umweltservice, said: “We started tire recycling back in 2001 and in 2006 steel cleaning followed as we want to remain the innovator of tire recycling within our segment in Germany. We have high demands towards our business partners and Eldan Recycling A/S has been in a position to constantly meet our demands.” recycling company

Telefónica Global Solutions has upgraded the SAm-1 submarine and terrestrial network with 100Gbps coherent transmission capabilities from Ciena Corp. The 25,000km SAm-1 undersea cable and terrestrial fiber optic network features landing stations in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Peru, and the US, including Florida and Puerto Rico. According to Telefónica and Ciena, the network sees daily peak traffic loads of over 2Tbps, and transports more than 20 billion international voice minutes a year. Its activated IP capacity exceeds 6Tbps. The upgrade saw Telefónica Global Solutions deploy Ciena’s 5400 reconfigurable switching system and 6500 packet-optical platform, including advancedROADMfeaturesandGeoMesh optical bypass. The 5400 packet-optical transport systems support 100G service provision across multiple network links, including a 6,700km submarine network link that connects Boca Raton to Fortaleza in Brazil and a 2,100km unregenerated terrestrial link that connects Buenos Aires to Valparaiso in Chile.

wiredInUSA - December 2013

34

INDEX

Emerald Networks, a new undersea fiber optic network submarine cable system provider, has signed an agreement with CenturyLink Inc to purchase bandwidth capacity on its “Emerald Express” system. The system will provide CenturyLink with additional connectivity between North America and Europe. The Emerald Express undersea cable system is scheduled to be in operation before the end of 2014 with connections to North America, Europe and Iceland. It will provide low-latency, coherent, digital transmission at wavelengths of 100Gbps and higher. Dr William C Marra, Emerald Networks CEO, believes this agreement confirms the urgency for more secure and reliable high-speed data connections between the United States and Europe. “We are pleased CenturyLink selected us and look forward to a long-term relationship that will deliver outstanding reach and reliability for their use,” said Dr Marra. Emerald and CenturyLink in agreement

Floating turbine gets connected

UK cable specialist First Subsea has supplied its self-activated cable connectors to the Marubeni-led consortium behind Japan’s floating turbine pilot project. The cable connector’s mechanism enables offshoreconnectionwithoutusingadiverora remotely operated vehicle (ROV). The male connectors are guided into receptacles on the wind turbine and substation. Once engaged they cannot be released until the load has been removed. A disengage mechanism allows the connector to be released and recovered for re-use. Three subsea connectors will be used to connect 66kV and 22kV cables to the 2MW floating turbine and the floating substation, located 20km off the Fukushima coast. First Subsea said the diverless cable connection provides significant savings in vessel time and offers flexibility to cope with changes in offshore weather conditions.

EUROPE NEWS

wiredInUSA - December 2013

35

Infrastructure conference

Offshore cable JV

The Lithuania EU presidency and the European Commission organized a conference to discuss completion of the EU internal energy market by integration of energy infrastructure. “Completing the internal energy market: building an integrated European energy network” was held in Vilnius during November, and attended by around 160 high level representatives from project promoters, financial institutions, regulators, EU institutions, member states’ governments, and members of the European Economic Area and the energy community. Keynote addresses were delivered by Günther Oettinger, European commissioner for energy; Jaroslav Neverovič, minister of energy for the republic of Lithuania; Jerzy Buzek, member of European parliament; and Fatih Birol, chief economist at the International Energy Agency. Much of the discussions focused on the implementation of the 248 projects of common interest (PCIs) recently presented by the European Commission, and whether specific infrastructure targets should be introduced in the context of the upcoming 2030 Energy and Climate Package.

Royal Boskalis Westminster and Royal Volker Wessels Stevin have formed a 50/50 joint venture, Visser & Smit Marine Contracting Holding, to enter the offshore cable installation sector, particularly in relation to offshore wind farms. Visser & Smit Marine Contracting Holding will have two cable-laying vessels at its disposal, the Stemat Spirit and Ndurance . The Ndurance is due for delivery at the end of this year. Both vessels are fitted with DP class 2 equipment and a cable turntable capacity of around 5,000 tonnes. Boskalis and VolkerWessels see great potential in the collaboration. Boskalis and VolkerWessels have worked successfully together for some years on a project basis, including the installation of power cables for significant offshore wind farms such as Nordsee Ost and Meerwind in Germany, and Westermost Rough and Humber Gateway in the United Kingdom.

wiredInUSA - December 2013

36

INDEX

Plan for German link

Abengoa’s Brazilian project

A joint venture between Tennet and TransnetBW is proposing a direct-current extra-high voltage line to carry electricity from wind farms in Schleswig-Holstein, in the north of Germany, to cities in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg in the south. The 800km line project consists of two links, a connection betweenWilster near Hamburg and Grafenrheinfeld near Schweinfurt, and a connection between Brunsbüttel and Großgartach in Baden-Württemberg. Both are being proposed as part of the government’s plan to expand the national grid. According to the national grid development plan, Germany needs 3,800km (2,356 miles) of new power lines to accommodate the boom in renewable energy and the planned withdrawal from nuclear energy over the coming decade. Before a formal application is made to the Federal Network Agency, Tennet and TransnetBW will consult the public on possible routes for the cables. The line, known as the SUED.LINK project, is intended to become operational in 2022.

The Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency (ANEEL) has chosen Abengoa to carry out a new electricity transmission project in southeast Brazil. The investment equals $228.6 million and Abengoa will directly contribute around $26.8 million. Abengoa’s responsibilities will include the engineering, design, construction, maintenance and commissioning of the 228-mile, 500kV electricity transmission concession, which is due to come into operation in September 2017. Abengoa has previously completed other projects for the Brazilian Electricity Regulatory Agency, including the Linha Verde and Norte Brasil lines. The most recent project, awarded in May, involves three new lines with a total length of 1,242 miles. This latest project will further develop Abengoa's experience in this sector in Latin America, where it already has over 13,670 miles of this type of transmission project. It has also participated in developing 7,456 miles of electricity transport infrastructures in Brazil.

EUROPE NEWS

wiredInUSA - December 2013

37

Press Release: CabWire quality throughout World Conference 2013 took place in Milan on 4 th November.

Keynote speakers were economic development specialist Professor Vitale, of Italy, who presented ‘Towards a new economy: the maps of Europe and Italy,’ and Philip Radbourne, of Integer Research, UK, who presented ‘A review of the European wire and cable sector’ to delegates.

The variety and quality of technical papers at this year’s CabWire Conference in Milan, Italy, was the highlight for delegates attending the one-day conference.

There was also a good take-up of visitors to the table-top conference throughout the day. More than 180 people attended the event, and the gala dinner in the evening at the Palazzo Clerici, originally the home of the rich and influential noble family of Milan Clerici. renowned international companies acted as both speakers and visitors to CabWire,” said Andy Lewis, executive manager of the IWMA, joint organisers. “The whole event was well attended and the feedback we have received has been both positive and praising.” and

www.iwma.org “Well established

‘Innovations driving worldwide wire and cable markets’ was the theme for the event, held at the Palazzo Turati in Milan on Monday, 4 th November. Organised by the International Wire and Machinery Association, ACIMAF, IWCEA, CET and the WAI, the welcome was given by both Ferruccio Bellina of ACIMAF and Guillio Properzi, of Continuus Properzi SpA.

wiredInUSA - December 2013

38

INDEX

Countdown starts to wire Düsseldorf

It is just five months before the wire and cable industry head to Germany for wire Düsseldorf 2014, and many companies are already thinking ahead to the largest exhibition in the industry calendar. Friedrich-Georg Kehrer, director of both exhibitions for organisers Messe Düsseldorf, industry partner of the association, gave a frank interview looking forward to both wire and Tube exhibitions, which run from 7 th to 11 th April. Here is an extract of the interview. What is the state of affairs today, five months before the trade fairs begin? Mr Kehrer: To begin with, we are confident that we will achieve a good level of registrations again with the 2014 fairs. Once more we are expecting more than 2,500 companies and more than 100,000m 2 of rented space. Fifteen exhibition halls are occupied. Five months before wire 2014 begins, more than 58,000m 2 are booked in halls 9 to 12 and 15 to 17. That is already more than the total space booked in 2012, and with that the exhibition halls for wire 2014 are full. It is still possible, however, to get onto a waiting list. For Tube, 49,000m 2 have already been booked. In 2012 the total space occupied in halls 1 to 7a was 48,500m 2 . Again, we are seeing the trend toward larger stands and a more substantial trade fair presence – a development that was observed in the previous events. What status do the wire and Tube trade fairs have internationally? Mr Kehrer: The two trade fairs are by far the leading trade fairs in their respective industries. As a platform for "mother trade fairs", Düsseldorf is internationally the number one meeting place for steel experts and professionals in the NE metals segment from around the globe. Here, technological innovations in the wire, cable and tube industries are presented. Exhibitors meet with their international clientele and establish new contacts for future business. No expanding company can afford not to show their colors in Düsseldorf. Where do most of the exhibitors come from? Mr Kehrer : Traditionally, exhibitors from Italy, Great Britain, France, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Spain and Germany are strongly represented. The majority of the exhibitors from overseas are from the USA, India, Taiwan and China.

7 - 14 April 2014

Copyright: Bar Products and Services

wiredInUSA - December 2013 ir I - r

39

39

Picture : Alessandro Paiva

ASIA & AFRICA NEWS

wiredInUSA - December 2013 i I

40

INDEX

Somalia’s first fiber optic link to the world

Although it hasoneof the longest shorelineson the continent, Somalia does not benefit from the three undersea cables that run alongside it. All of them land further south in Kenya, from where Liquid Telecom will be linking to it. The company has access to capacity on all three cables and is a shareholder in one, the East African Marine System. Liquid provides bandwidth connectivity to clients in 16 countries such as the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Zimbabwe, throughboth satelliteandcableconnections. Rudnick said the company would spend $250 million over the next two years to extend its network to more African cities including major centers in west Africa.

Liquid Telecom, an African fiber optic company, has delivered a broadband Internet cable to Somalia. The cable is the first terrestrial connection to the country, which has had to rely on expensive satellite links. Liquid Telecom has agreed a deal with Somalian mobile operator Hormuud to connect to its 17,000km network of terrestrial cables crossing 11 African countries. Liquid already provides Somalia with international Internet links via satellite, but will now deliver more capacity faster. "If there is a place that is not connected, that is the place that attracts us," Nic Rudnick, chief executive of Mauritius-based Liquid Telecom, told Reuters at an African telecoms conference in Cape Town, South Africa.

ASIA / AFRICA NEWS

wiredInUSA - December 2013

41

China’s General Steel Holdings Inc has begun a trial production run on a newly constructed1.2millionmetrictonadvanced continuous rebar rolling production line at its principal manufacturing facility, Shaanxi Longmen Iron and Steel Co Ltd. The company expects the new production line to reach full operation by the end of the year. The continuous rolling production line expands on the company's successful launch of a 900,000 metric ton line in July 2013. Longmen Joint Venture now has a total continuous rolling capacity of 4.3 metric tons, including 3.3 metric tons of rebar and one metric ton of high-speed wire. When the two newly constructed production lines reach their designed efficiency, thecompany expects to reduce overall production cost by approximately $24.5 million per year by eliminating intermediate transportation, re-heating, and outsourced-processing costs. Trial run for continuous rebar production line

Steel cord consolidation

Bridgestone Corp is to consolidate steel cord production in Japan at its Saga plant, so ending tire cord and bead wire production at its Kuroiso plant. The Kuroiso facility will close in late September 2014, affecting 355 employees. The decision to consolidate came despite a number of initiatives taken to help strengthen the competitiveness and overall profitability of the Kuroiso plant, whose daily capacities are listed as 135 metric tons of steel cord, 18 tons of hose wire and 85 tons of bead wire. Bridgestone lists the Saga plant’s daily capacities as 263 tons of steel cord, and two tons of cable bead wire, but did not say what it expects the plant’s capacities to be after the consolidation.

wiredInUSA - December 2013

42