wiredInUSA April 2016

INDEX

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April 2016 issue - No 58

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Safety comes, in any industry, first and foremost. So it is hardly surprising that Washington DC’s Metrorail was temporarily shut down for anemergency inspection followinga tunnel fire inMarch. An average of 700,000 trips a day are made on the system, which celebrated its 40 th birthday on 27 th March. A total of 600 jumper cables were inspected throughout the system, with repair crews replacing the aged cables with newer copper cables with better insulation. The full story can be found on page 11 in this issue of wiredInUSA. Another milestone has also been marked with cable assembly manufacturer Cicoil celebrating 60 years in the business. Established in 1956 as a provider of multi-conductor cables to the mainframe computer industry, the company was the originator of the flexible flat or ribbon cable. Read more about the history on page 13. WireCo World Group is selling its wire rope manufacturing plant in St Joseph to Hillyard Industries, for development of a new manufacturing and national distribution center. Sadly, this comes with the news that 49 employees will lose their jobs, although the company is providing transition help. Turn to page 15 for the full story. #58 EDITOR

David Bell Editor

wiredInUSA - April 2016

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06 PAGE

CONTENT

09 PAGE

Show Diary / 2016

28 PAGE

Making the News / Industry news from the USA

Europe News / The latest news from Europe

34 PAGE

Asia & Africa News / The latest news from Asia & Africa

Wire 2016 Düsseldorf, Germany

40 PAGE

Products, Machines and Technology / The latest news fro

News Editor David Bell

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wiredInUSA - April 2016

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APRIL 2016 issue

#58 machine industries

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© 2016 Intras Limited UK ISSN 2046 - 9497 Publishers of Eurowire and Wire & Cable ASIA magazines INTRAS INTRAS LIMITED

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wiredInUSA - April 2016

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DIARY SHOW EVENTS

2016

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June

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12-14 June 2016 Guangzhou International Exhibition

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may

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11-14 May 2016 Lamiera Bologna, Italy Exhibition www.lamiera.net

26-29 September 2016 wire China Shanghai, PR China Exhibition www.wirechina.net

june

october

7-9 June 2016 Wire Expo Uncasville, Connecticut, USA Conference and Exhibition www.wirenet.org

2-5 October 2016 IWCS Rhode Island, USA Conference and Exhibition www.iwcs.org

wiredInUSA - April 2016

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MAKING THENEWS New Jersey line

Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) has begun construction on a new substation project in New Jersey to improve service reliability for over 180,000 customers in Monmouth county.

using steel poles to replace the current wooden structures.

The overall cost of the project is $124 million, with around $97 million to be spent in 2016. “This transmission project will make our system inMonmouth county more resilient and help meet the growing demand for electricity in the region,” said Jim Fakult, president of JCP&L. “Along with the greater redundancies provided by the new transmission line, the high-tech substation devices we plan to install will give us the ability to operate the system remotely, automatically resetting the equipment instead of having to send a line crew to investigate the cause of the problem.” The new transmission line is expected to be completed and in-service by June 2017.

Work is underway on the new substation project

The project includes building a 230kV steel pole construction transmission line, along 16 miles of existing right-of-way, to connect JCP&L substations in Howell and Neptune. In addition, an existing 230kV transmission line connecting substations in Colts Neck and Neptune will be rebuilt

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WMATA inspected approximately 600 jumper cables throughout the system. According to the Washington Post , repair crews replaced the aged cables with newercoppercableswithbetter insulation. According to WMATA, 22 inspection crews set out to accomplish the work, and the authority had four repair crews on standby to address any issues that the inspection crews discovered. The Metrorail system was 40 years old on 27 th March, but has faced controversy and scrutiny in recent years over budget shortfalls and insufficient funding, leading to a declining ability to maintain the system. Consequently, it has fallen into disrepair, which many officials have cited as the cause of public safety concerns. Putting safety first

Following a tunnel fire on 16 th March, WashingtonDC’sMetrorail was temporarily shut down for an emergency inspection of the entire system’s third-rail power cables. An average 700,000 trips per day are made on the Metro system, and closure displaced hundreds of thousands of commuters with little advance notice. “While the risk to the public is very low, I cannot rule out a potential life safety issue here, and that is why we must take this action immediately,” said Metro general manager Paul J Wiedefeld in a WMATA press release. “When I say safety is our highest priority, I mean it. That sometimes means making tough, unpopular decisions, and this is one of those times. I fully recognize the hardship this will cause.”

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wiredInUSA - April 2016

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60 years of high flying

Image: www.cicoil.com

Cable assembly manufacturer Cicoil is celebrating 60 years in the business. Established in 1956 as a provider of multi-conductor cables to the mainframe computer industry, the company was the originator of the flexible flat or ribbon cable. The silicone rubber flat ribbon cable allowed companies such as IBM, Sperry/ Univac and NCR to replace bulky, stiff round cables with sleek, flexible ribbon cables. In the 1960s Cicoil’s ribbon cables were part of America’s space program, including the first Earth orbit, first space walk in 1965, and the lunar landing in 1969. The cables have since performed on every US fighter jet, most commercial

airplanes, and many demanding missile and land-based applications.

To meet the needs of an increasingly diverse customer base, in 1998 Cicoil developed a new extrusion process that allows it to manufacture continuous lengths of flat cable from a crystal clear material named Flexx-Sil™. Howard Lind, Cicoil president and CEO, commented: “Cicoil’s proud history includes many innovations, including inventing the ribbon cable, and helping to put a man on the moon. Our spirit of exploration and innovation continues today, with new technologies like EZ-Flexx flat cables, and patented cables that include power, data, liquids and pneumatics, all in a compact package.”

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Quick delivery Dynawave Express is an accelerated deliveryprogramforDynawave’sstandard length DynaTest™ cable assemblies (24, 36, and 48”) and custom length, low loss DynaFlex ® cable assemblies. DynaTest assemblies are shipped within 24 hours, and custom length DynaFlex assemblies within two weeks, while quotes for either product will be provided within 24 hours of request. DynaTest assemblies are production test cables with broadband frequency to 26GHz and a highly flexible, phase stable design. The design utilizes several high reliability features such as molded strain

relief taper sleeves, hex/knurl coupling nuts and an abrasion-resistant outer jacket sleeve. DynaFlex series assemblies offer nine standard, low-loss cable options and a variety of connector interfaces to optimize the application solution. Custom lengths allow the designer to get the right assembly without delay, but both series are 100 percent RF tested prior to shipment.

wiredInUSA - April 2016

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INDEX

By Bernard S. Jansen (Own work) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY 2.5], via Wikimedia Commons

Wire rope closure

WireCo World Group is to sell its steel wire rope manufacturing plant in St Joseph to Hillyard Industries, for the eventual development of a new manufacturing and national distribution center. “When conversations with WireCo began, it was immediately apparent that we shared the same vision and goal of making decisions that benefit downtown St Joseph,” said Hillyard president Jim Carolus. “We want to provide opportunities for growth and reinvestment among our employees and in the downtown area where Hillyard has thrived for several generations. We are excited about this project and the vitality it will add to our local community.” WireCo CEO Chris Ayers said the sale of the building will cause 49 employees to lose their jobs. The company will provide transition assistance. “It is difficult to close any manufacturing plant because of the impact to good people, their families and the

community,” Ayers said in a release. “The harsh reality is the global oil, gas, and crane rope markets are facing economic challenges, and every company in these industries is being affected. This sale and consolidation of our production facilities enable us to continue to service our customers at the highest quality level despite an increasingly challenging market for WireCo and our customers.” WireCo will continue to operate its fabricated products facility in St Joseph at its existing site.

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President steps down development of processes and products that benefit both the company and the end user. “I was fortunate to know of Jack prior to joining the team at Southwire and have had the great opportunity to personally work closely with him as I’ve begun my career with the organization,” said Rich Stinson, Southwire president and CEO. “His focus on meeting the needs of the customer, his innovative spirit and his impact on the market have been key influences that will continue, both inside and outside the walls of Southwire, long after his retirement.”

Southwire’s president of North America, Jack Carlson, has decided to retire, although he will serve in an advisory role to Southwire’s leadership team until 31 st May 2016. Carlson joined Southwire as president of the Electrical Division in 2001, and was later promoted to president of North America. Carlson said: “It has been a remarkable experience to work with Southwire, and I am extremely proud of the accomplishments we’ve been able to share over the last 15 years. We’ve built incredibly strong relationships with our distributors, agents and contractors, and innovated safe and productive solutions that have positively changed the way our end users do business for the long term.” He served as a leader in all areas of the business including sales, marketing, product development, divisional growth and research, and his experience in the wire and cable industry sparked the

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INDEX

Bekaert has announced a major expansion program for its manufacturing plant in Rogers, Arkansas. The Rogers plant opened in 1989 and produces steel cord for the tire industry. Bekaert predicts continued strong and growing demand from US tire manufacturers, as a result of theexpansion programs of the tire manufacturers in the country and the preference to source domestically produced tire cord. Bekaert will add 50 percent production capacity to the Rogers plant. The expansion will be implemented gradually and will add over 100 new jobs. Matthew Taylor, Bekaert CEO, stated: “Our expansion plans fit within Bekaert’s strategy to drive growth in this very important sector. We are committed and dedicated to creating value for our customers and we are expanding the Rogers plant to contribute to the growth of the North American based tire makers.”

Cord facility growth

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Rebar price hikes will be high enough to achieve the full $20 or $30 increase. “Everybody would like for prices to go up, but you want to see demand drive that, rather than iron ore and scrap,” he said. “Demand is key, and that has been so sporadic that an increase may not stick.” One midwest distributor said he would be surprised if anything over $20 would take effect in the current market conditions. Rebar demand should increase as the US heads into construction season, but demand in February and March was less robust, according to a mill source. In addition, although Turkish import offers for rebar have increased, the domestic market still remains under pressure, he said.

In mid-March, several US mills officially announced price increases for rebar products, but market sources were cautious as to whether the result would be a general price increase. Both Gerdau Long Steel North America and Commercial Metals Co independently announced increases on rebar products. Gerdau’s increase, raising transaction prices by $30/st, took effect 21 st March, while CMC’s price increase of $20/st took effect on 1 st April. Buyers said they had already anticipated higher prices for April following scrap’s increase in March and early indications it could increase again in April. One southeast fabricator commented that, while higher raw material costs could provide some upward mobility for rebar prices, it remains to be seen if demand

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Single-moded design

OFS,adesigner,manufacturer andsupplier of fiber optic products, has launched its new TrueLase 10/130 active and passive LMA double-clad optical fibers. Based on existing OFS technology, the TrueLase family of ytterbium-doped gain and matching passive fibers enable designers to produce reliable and consistent high performance lasers and amplifiers utilizing true single-mode fiber designs. Dr David Douglass, OFS product manager, stated: “OFS has demonstrated the advantage of true single-mode optical fiber designs in both low and high power applications.

We have experienced tremendous market demand for OFS technology, and we are pleased to provide new options for customers who prefer less integration than found in our flagship TrueMode™ fiber laser cavities.” Dr Douglass continued: “As the first of our TrueLase active and passive optical fibers reach the market, OFS will continue to develop and provide solutions for the demanding applications our customers are addressing.”

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USEI (US Electrodynamics Inc) deployed a 10GB fiber network to connect its Brewster, Washington, and Vernon Valley, New Jersey, teleports to strategic point of presence (POP) locations across the US. The network builds in resiliency and redundancy to eliminate any single point of failure and incorporates redundant equipment at each node with diversely routed circuits. Jim Veeder, CEO and owner of USEI, commented: “Through this network enhancement, we can deliver seamless connectivity to customers in the USA as well as interconnectivity to international undersea fiber carriers at our Seattle, Los Angeles, New York City and Ashburn, Virginia, POPs.” The fiber network allows USEI to transport diverse routed SONET (DS1, DS1E, DS3, OCn), carrier ethernet (FastE and GigE handoffs), and MPLS traffic between all network nodes and direct Internet access (DIA) from any node, providing redundant or dual Internet access. The network design will support future growth beyond the initial 10GB capability.

Network gets tough

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wiredInUSA - April 2016

Image: www.lightbrigade.com

Skills training

Light Brigade, a training division of AFL, and NeST institute of fiber optic technology (NIFOT) continue to work together to train skilled fiber optic technicians in India. NIFOT is collaborating with Amal Jyothi college of engineering to introduce the ANFOT fiber optics training program. The curriculum was developed by Light Brigade and approved by the Electronic Technicians Association International (ETA). Students who complete the training receive an ETA fiber optic installer (FOI) certification, and are given job placement assistance across India and the Middle East. The college recently opened a new training center designed specifically for fiber optic training. Larry Johnson, founder and director of Light Brigade, was at the inauguration event.

“Light Brigade is excited to be a part of the expansion plans for providing more fiber optic training opportunities in India,” Johnson commented. “Being here for the official inauguration for ANFOT, another facility for our training partner NiFOT, was gratifying. “This collaboration with the engineering college will provide more opportunities for people to be trained, and ultimately employed, as fiber optic field technicians.”

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QED Wire Lines has been awarded the contract to supply an oil tempering heat treatment line to Baosteel Group Nantong Wire Products Co Ltd under the recent Shanghai Baohua International Tendering Co Ltd specification. This line is designed to produce top quality automotive valve spring wire. Key to the contract was QED’s environmentally friendly fluid bed tempering furnace, said to be a “major improvement” over lead furnaces. Combining robust construction with advanced control, QED engineers have developed a special pulse-fired combustion system to provide excellent temperature uniformity to its muffle tube austinitizing furnace.

Spring wire line

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Happy neighbors

Three new studies indicate that submarine electricity cables are not detrimental to sea life. The work alleviates concerns that offshore wind and tidal power production will disrupt marine habitats. By tracking the movements of fish and crabs around underwater power cables, the new studies reveal that marine animals do not avoid the magnetic fields around the cables. One study found that the thick cables can serve as artificial habitats and host undersea communities, while another showed crabs freely crossing power cables to reach baited traps. “There’s much less of a concern now,” said Ann Bull, amarine biologist at the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management in California, who presented two of the studies at the American Geophysical Union’s ocean sciences meeting.

In another study, scientists monitored the marine life around three parts of the seafloor over three years. One area had a powered cable; another, an unpowered cable; and the third area had no cables at all. The areas attracted similar kinds and numbers of anemones and other sea life, and twice as many fish and four times as many invertebrates favored the cabled areas over the uncabled section. Genevra Harker-Klimes, a marine scientist at the Pacific Northwest national laboratory, commented that it was very positive news for the offshore energy industry.

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New allies Allied Wire & Cable has added Eric Schmidtke and Julie Preiss to its team of sales representatives. Both Schmidtke and Preiss are current employees who have held other roles within the company. Allied believes in promoting from within because the employees are already familiar with the products and the Allied way of doing business, and they bring a solid foundation from their previous roles.

Julie, who works out of the Tampa branch, began her career with AWC in April 2015 as a sales assistant. Prior to joining the company she worked in telecommunications sales for several years. Julie is eager to use her previous sales experience, as well as her work at Allied as an assistant, to work closely with the customer base. Allied is confident that both Eric and Julie will use their previous AWC expertise to benefit customers, and provide excellent service.

Eric started his wire and cable career in 2000, becoming Allied’s Wisconsin warehouse manager in 2008. Since then, hehasmovedaroundwithin thecompany and is currently one of Wisconsin’s branch managers. Bringing several years of experience in awide range of areas to the forefront, Eric says: “I love the emphasis that we put on customer service here and am looking forward to being a more direct part of that equation.”

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EUROPE NEWS

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wiredInUSA - April 2016 wiredInUSA - August 2014

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Image: marine.orange.com

Cable landing

24Tbps design capacity of 3 pairs of fibers. This high capacity intercontinental highway will provide route diversity and resilience to the existing, heavily loaded submarine cables between Europe and Asia. The SEA-ME-WE 5 introduces end-to-end connection to open and neutral points of presence (POPs) in Europe and Asia. In France, the SEA-ME-WE 5 will be connected to the Interxion data center in Marseille (MRS1) by terrestrial cable established from the Toulon station. The arrival at Toulon, and the terrestrial extension to MRS1, will strengthen the role of the region for international trade to the Middle East, Asia and Africa.

The South East Asia-Middle East-Western Europe 5 (SEA-ME-WE 5) submarine cable has landed at La Seyne-sur-Mer, in the south of France. The new 20,000km fiber optic cable, due for completion in late 2016, will connect France to Singapore, and serve 17 countries: Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, France, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Myanmar, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Republic of Djibouti , Singapore, Sri Lanka, Turkey and Yemen. Orange Marine, a 100 percent subsidiary of Orange Group, is managing the installation in the Mediterranean, with four shore ends: France, Egypt, Italy and Turkey. The cable design is based on the latest 100Gbps technology, combined with wavelength division multiplexing, offering a

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FITNESS test?

Software solution

ABB is among partners selected to participate in the FITNESS (Future Intelligent Transmission Network SubStation) project of SP Energy Networks, a UK-based electricity transmission and distribution network operator. ABB will contribute its grid automation technology to the project to enable a digital substation scheme to protect, monitor and control the transmission network in parts of Scotland. A digital substation is a key component for a smarter grid. Digital communications via fiber optic cables will replace traditional copper connections using analog signals, increasing safety, flexibility and availability, while reducing cost, risk and environmental impact. Digital substations also incorporate intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) with integrated information and communication technology. An IED is a microprocessor-based protection and control device for power equipment, such as circuit breakers, transformers and capacitor banks. The FITNESS project will equip two bays of the existing Wishaw 275kV substation with new, fully integrated, digital protection and control systems, which will also enable improved system visibility, diagnostics and operation. This area is of special interest as large quantities of wind power could be integrated into the grid.

KC Industrie Srl (KCI) will implement CableBuilder from InnoVites BV to modernize and streamline its engineering and production operations. KCI is member of the TKHGroup and specializes in the production of low voltage flexible cables for industrial applications. CableBuilder will be used to create complete designs and product data, and to generate professional customer data sheets and production data sheets. InnoVites is partner of Cimteq, the owner of the CableBuilder software. InnoVites also offers ERP software for wire and cable manufacturers and distributors. The InnoVites CableERP solution is based on Microsoft Dynamics AX software and tailored to suit the needs of wire and cable distributors and manufacturers. The InnoVites CableERP software is fully integrated with CableBuilder.

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INDEX

Accurate Wire’s 60,000ft 2 Branford facility

HVDC project

Accurate acquisition

Siemens is to supply eight converter transformers for the Nemo Link project, a 1,000MW HVDC transmission system connecting Belgium and the UK. The customer is Nemo Link, a joint venture between National Grid Nemo Link Ltd, a subsidiary company of the UK’s National Grid Plc, and the Belgian Elia Group. Commercial operation of the link is scheduled to begin in 2019. The scope of supply comprises eight transformers, each with a power rating of 365MVA. Fully assembledand installed, each transformer weighs 448 tons, and measures 17m x 4.1m x 10.6m - not including the cooling systems. The rated voltage of these large transformers is 400/470/20.2kV with a transmission voltage of ±400kV DC via the HVDC system. The transformers will first be transported from the Nuremberg transformer plant to Nuremberg’s inland harbor, then by inland waterway barge through the Europa Canal system to Antwerp and Bruges. Four of the power transformers will be brought by heavy-lift transport totheprojectconstruction site in Herdersburg, near Bruges. The other four transformers will be loaded onto a roll-on roll-off vessel, shipped to Ramsgate in England and then transported by heavy-lift trailer to the project site in Richborough, 20kmwest of Canterbury.

Luvata has purchased Accurate Wire Inc. Luvata will assume the long term lease on Accurate Wire’s 60,000ft 2 Branford facility, along with ownership of all rolling, wire drawing, annealing and in-line eddy current and laser inspection equipment. Jussi Helavirta, president of Luvata special productsdivision, commented: “Combined with the manufacturing know-how and capacityof our long-termpartner Accurate Wire, Luvata is well prepared in meeting the expanding needs of our combined wire customers worldwide.” “This is good news for Accurate Wire, Luvata, and our customers,” said Douglas Milheim, co-founder and president of Accurate Wire. “We have had a good, long-standing relationship with Luvata for ten years. Nowas part of the LuvataGroup, a more vertically integrated business with a much larger global footprint, we will thrive.”

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Image: www.prysmiangroup.com

Prysmian Group has won an SPIE Sud-Est environmental impact category award, for its new PV1100 AR-cable. ThePV1100AR-cable isa lowvoltagecable designed for connections in photovoltaic fields. Its double-insulated and reinforced sheath, while ensuring the cable’s safety, also allows for the cable’s direct burial without additional mechanical protection. As a result, the adoption of this cable ensures a shorter and easier installation phase, with a reduced environmental impact due to lower material consumption and transportation. PrysmianGroup received theawardduring the first Innovation Challenge ceremony. For the first edition, 85 companies competed, 150 innovations were submitted, and ten awards were given in five categories: safety, environmental impact, ease of implementation, technological breakthrough innovation, and economic impact. In each category, a distinction was made between SMEs and large groups. Prysmian was selected as the best large group in the environmental impact category. Cable receives environmental recognition

Supply is on track

nkt cables will supply overhead contact lines for Banedanmark’s railway electrification program. nkt will supply the cables to the Aarsleff-Siemens consortium, the main contractor on the project. The first 57km of contact lines for the Esbjerg-Lunderskov line will be delivered in spring 2016. nkt cables CEO Michael Hedegaard Lyng said: “We are proud that we, as a Danish company with proud references, are selected as a supplier of contact lines to the Banedanmark project and first delivery is for the Esbjerg-Lunderskov line. nkt cables is primarily known as a supplier of power cables for offshore wind farms, national grids and the construction branch, amongst others, but we are also a…recognized player in contact lines to the railway segment.” nkt cables has supplied contact lines to a number of electrification programs in Spain, Germany and Switzerland, as well as in Asia and the Americas. Sales to the railway segment account for around six percent of company revenue.

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Belgian steel wire maker Bekaert reports that it anticipates strong demand from the automotive sector in 2016, adding that lower steel prices would reduce revenues but that margins should improve. Bekaert, a producer of steel wire for 25 percent of global tire production, added that it has increased profits by selling more higher-priced products and exiting unprofitable business lines. Operating profit in 2015 rose 36 percent to $246.5 million, representing a profit margin of 6.1 percent. The group believes it could expand this margin further towards its medium-term target of seven percent in 2016. Predicting growth in the automotive sector

Transmission contract

Abengoa has been awarded a contract to construct two new electric substations and the associated transmission lines in northeast Oman. The company will be responsible for the construction, supply, assembly and commissioning of 132/33kV substations, one located in Samad and the other in Sinaw, for theOman Electricity Transmission Company (OETC). The construction project is expected to last for two years. Abengoa is already developing OETC’s Al Dreez substation.

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ASIA AFRICA NEWS &

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Cambodian minister of posts and telecommunications Prak Sokhonn (L) exchanges documents with Huang Xinglong, chairman of the Cambodia Fiber Optic Communication Network (CFOCN), during a signing ceremony in Phnom Penh

Submarine “bridge” to Cambodia

Cambodia has granted a concessional contract to the Cambodia Fiber Optic Communication Network (CFOCN), a subsidiary of Shenzhen-based HyalRoute Group, to invest $69.7million in constructing and operating submarine cables and a landing station in southwestern Preah Sihanouk province. The contract was signed by Cambodian minister of posts and telecommunications Prak Sokhonn, and chairman of CFOCN Huang Xinglong. Kan Channmeta, secretary of state of the Cambodian ministry of posts and telecommunications, said the contract is in the form of BOOT (build-own-operate- transfer) with a period of 25 years before the company transfers the submarine cables and landing station to the government. “This project will contribute to increasing the percentage of Internet users in Cambodia from the current 45 percent, or 6.5 million people, to about 80 percent in 2020,” he

said in a press conference. “I’m confident that the project will significantly contribute to the development of information and communication technology inCambodia,” he continued. Channmeta said the submarine cables will have 1.8Tb per second capacity. HyalRoute Group said that the contract will move its on-going project of Asia- Africa-Europe-1 (AAE-1) submarine cable Cambodia branch to the next stage of construction. The AAE-1 submarine cable, is expected to be the largest (25,000km) and newest cable to link major Asian, African, middle eastern and European nations via the lowest latency subsea route for over 15 years, a statement said. “Thus it is expected to significantly bridge the digital divide between Cambodia and developed areas in the world.”

ASIA / AFRICA NEWS

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Shared power project

Samsung C&T has awarded a contract to Nexans to supply 575km of power cables for the Umm Al Houl water and power project in Qatar. The facility will increase power generation in Qatar to 11GW (an increase of 23 percent) when it begins operation in June 2018. The Umm Al Houl integrated power and desalination plant will have a capacity of 2.5GW and will produce 136.5 million imperial gallons per day (MIGD) of potable water, enough to supply 2.5 million homes in the region. Nexans QICC (Qatar International Cables Company) will supply medium and low voltage cables. The plant, located 20km south of Doha, will be the largest integrated power and water plant ever constructed in Qatar. Power and water plant

Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB) has awarded a joint contract to Mitsubishi Corporation (MC), J-Power Systems Corporation (JPS), and LTL Projects (LTL) of Sri Lanka, for the installation of underground transmission and distribution cables in the Greater Colombo region of Sri Lanka. MC and JPS will supply the transmission cables, with LTL responsible for ancillary equipment and installation. Electricity demand in Sri Lanka is expected to see an annual increase of around 7 percent in line with the country’s 7 percent per annum GDP growth rate. The Greater Colombo area, the island’s financial center and capital region, is in a particularly critical situation where an already insufficient power supply is combined with a high rate of electricity loss during transmission due to the aged infrastructure. The project is scheduled for completion in May 2018.

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INDEX

Jonathan Kriegel

Japan’s Nippon Steel and Sumitomo Metal Corporation has established a new company in China to expand the capabilities of its operations in the country. A press release said that a new company, Nippon Steel and Sumikin Cold Heading Wire (Suzhou) Co Ltd (NSCh), has been formed to expand the capacity and processing system of Nippon Steel Bar and CH Wire (Suzhou) Co Ltd, a production and sales company for cold heading wire in China. Construction of the new plant began in July 2014, and operations have begun. The new plant supports the work of Nippon Steel Bar and CH Wire (Suzhou) Co Ltd, which was established in 2006 and began operations in 2007. Supported by the growth of automobile production in China, it is now in full operation at a stable pace exceeding 1,000 tons per month. The release said that the new company will help respond to growing demand for cold heading wire in China, and will further enhance competitiveness in terms of quality, cost and delivery. Chinese wire expansion

Island infrastructure

Docomo Pacific Inc, a whollyowned subsidiary of NTT Docomo Inc and NEC Corporation, has signed the contract to build ATISA, a submarine cable system connecting Guam with the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). ATISA, a six-fiber pair optical fiber submarine cable system of around 280km, will connect the islands of Guam, Saipan, Rota and Tinian on its completion in early 2017. Jonathan Kriegel, president and CEO of Docomo Pacific, commented: “Today marks the beginning of a new era in communications connectivity between Guam and the CNMI. Project ATISA was born out of the collective desire of elected leaders, business owners and, most especially, our customers, to bring transformative change to our islands’ infrastructure.” “Once completed, ATISA will have a significant and measurable impact on the ways the Northern Mariana Islands and Guam interact and communicate with the rest of the world,” added Mr Naoki Yoshida, general manager, submarine network division, NEC Corporation.

ASIA / AFRICA NEWS

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Maldives project underway

Dominion Cables, Fiji’s only manufacturer of electrical energy cables, has made a $50,000 donation to the prime minister’s relief and rehabilitation fund for victims of tropical cyclone Winston. A statement released by the government stated that while attorney general and minister of financeMr Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum thanked Dominion Cables for its timely assistance, healsourged local businesses to donate to devastated Fijian communities. The attorney general added that some retailers had unethically increased the prices of goods following the cyclone, and that they have been referred to the commerce commission for investigation. “At a timeof suchurgent need, it is shameful that some businesses are exploiting people facing dire circumstances. Instead of actinggreedily, I urgeall businesses to lower your margins to increase volume, boost our economy, and give people the goods and services they need at affordable prices,” he said. Cables aid in cyclone recovery

Ooredoo Maldives has begun its offshore marine survey in preparation for its nationwide fiber optic submarine cable project. Working with Huawei Marine Networks, the 100G transmission network will extend to 1,200km. Ooredoo plans to significantly boost Internet services in the Maldives and provide high speed fiber internet connectivity to all the islands across the nation. The marine surveys are being carried out by the exploration survey vessel MV Duke , which features a specialist survey laboratory for onboard data processing and interpretation. The survey will collect the data required for Huawei Marine to design a submarine cable system customized for the Maldives’ marine environment. CEO Vikram Sinha added that Ooredoo’s priority in the Maldives has always been the establishment of a modern network to provide the best telecommunication and Internet services to its islands and resorts. The operation to lay the submarine network across the archipelago should be underway by mid-2016.

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INDEX

Three-strand continuous billet caster from Primetals Technologies at the Bolzano plant site of Italian steel producer Acciaierie Valbruna Spa

Late March saw the start of work on the Tasman Global Access (TGA) undersea cable, expected to be ready for service by the end of 2016. Telecommunications companies Spark, Vodafone and Telstra are investing approximately $70 million to build the TGA cable, beginning at Raglan, to significantly improve New Zealand’s international broadband connectivity. Other benefits will include strengthened links into Asian markets, improved redundancy and resilience, and better connection with the five main international cable systems that currently serve Australia. Alcatel-Lucent Submarine Networks (ASN) will lay the first cable between Ngarunui Beach at Raglan and Narrabeen Beach in Australia. Spark’s general manager wholesale and international, Lindsay Cowley, and Vodafone’s wholesale director, Steve Rieger, commented on behalf of the consortium: “The work in Raglan marks an exciting and important milestone on the journey to having the TGA cable ready to start carrying data across the Tasman towards the end of 2016.” Cable strengthens New Zealand’s links

Plant upgrade

Primetals Technologies has received an order from Italian steel producer Acciaierie Valbruna to modernize the three-strand continuous billet caster at its Bolzano site. On completion the plant will produce larger stainless steel and special alloy bars with cross-sections up to 180mm. The machine radius of the plant will also be increased from 7m to 9m, in preparation for even larger cross-sections after further modernization at a later date. Acciaierie Valbruna produces over 170,000 tonnes of special steels every year. The Bolzano production site specializes in stainless steel and special alloy rods with round and hexagonal cross-sections.

ASIA / AFRICA NEWS

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wire 2016 The Fairgrounds, Düsseldorf, Germany Monday 4 th to Friday 8 th April Opening times: Monday to Thursday: 9.00am to 6.00pm Friday: 9.00am to 4.30pm Organisers: Messe Düsseldorf GmbH Website: www.wire.de

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images: Messe Düsseldorf

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Exhibitor Hall/Booth 3View.Com Inc ..................................................15 G48 A Appiani Srl .......................................................11 G32 A Schulman GmbH Thermoplastische Kunststoffe ....................................................... 16 F33 Aachener Maschinenbau GmbH ....................15 C36 AB Elektrokoppar / Liljedahl Bare Wire ............ 12 A43 Acciai Speciali Zorzetto Srl ................................ 12 D59 Acciaierie Bertoli Safau SpA .............................17 C04 Acciaierie Valbruna SpA ..................................12 C60 Acciaierie Venete SpA .....................................12 C40 Acenta Steel Ltd .................................................12 E43 ACIMAF Italian Wire Machinery Manufacturers Association ........................... 11 A52 ACM A/B .............................................................. 09 F40 ADC SARL . ..........................................................09 C02 Adelys EURL ........................................................ 16 H04 Advaris Informationssysteme GmbH ................ 09 B54 Aeroel Srl ..............................................................09 B53 Aesa SA Aesa Cortaillod ................................... 10 A38 Aferpi Acciaierie e Ferriere di Piombino SpA .. 11 J33 AFH-Antriebstechnik GmbH . ............................ 12 A50 AGC Chemicals Europe Ltd .............................. 17 B11 Agibi Progetti Srl ...................................................6 G21 Agir Technologies SAS (Mouto – Rivom) .........10 G56 Agro Steel Wire GmbH ...................................... 10 C31 AGST Draht- & Biegetechnik GmbH ................ 10 A32 Aichelin Holding GmbH ..................................... 15 F56 AIM Inc ................................................................ 11 A21 Ajex & Turner Wire Dies Co ............................... 11 C03 Akcelik Demir Celik Sanayi ve Ticaret AS ......... 17 B09 Akdeniz Civi Tel Nakliyat San ve Tic Ltd Sti ....... 15 J36 Aksh Optifibre Limited ........................................ 09 E55 Alecosa Aleados del Cobre SA ....................... 09 A11 Alfred Wertli AG .................................................. 11 J60 Alloy Wire International Ltd ................................ 11 E26 Almetha GmbH ................................................... 11 J68 ALMT Corp ........................................................... 15 J12 Alok Ingots (Mumbai) Pvt Ltd ............................ 17 E10 Alpha Converting Equipment Ltd .................... 12 D23 Alroc SAS ............................................................. 12 A51 Altec Srl ................................................................11 B25 Altman Technologies Inc ............................... 09 D16-5 Altrimex Packaging Equipment BV ................... 15 F14 Ambica Stainless Steel Limited .......................... 17 E37 Ambica Steels Limited ........................................ 17 E27 Ambrell BV (Ambrell Group) ..............................11 H31 Amic SARL ............................................................10 H22 AMPAC International Inc .................................. 11 A02 Ampere Deutschland GmbH ............................ 11 J49 Analyticon Instruments GmbH .........................06 G34 Anand Arc Ltd .................................................... 11 D49 Anbao Qinhuangdao International Corp ....... 16 E48 Anglia Metal Limited ......................................... 12 A37 Ann-Chain Enterprise Co Ltd ............................16 G68 Anordica AB ........................................................ 12 E25 Anu Extrusions Pvt Ltd......................................... 15 D39 Aperam Alloys Imphy SAS.................................. 12 A32

Exhibitor

Hall/Booth

Ara Makina Imalat Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi ................................................... 11 D74 ArcelorMittal Commercial Bars and Rods SA . 12 D34 ArcelorMittal WireSolutions SA .......................... 12 D34 Area Sistemi Srl ................................................... 11 D30 Arma-Plus SAS . ................................................... 16 A09 Artofil BV ...............................................................11 B02 ASA-RT Srl ............................................................. 09 F74 Asahi Intecc Co Ltd ............................................ 17 B58 Asahi Sunac Corporation ................................. 15 C51 Ascometal GmbH ............................................... 15 J32 Ascotex Limited . .................................................11 B60 AseA Wire & Cable Machineries Spare Parts Pvt Ltd ........................................... 09 B60 ASEL – Spring Machine Production.................... 16 F13 Asil Celik San ve Tic AS ....................................... 12 E56 Aslanli Tel Sanayi.................................................. 16 F40 ASPE SAS .............................................................. 15 E31 Assembling Srl....................................................... 16 E68 Associated Engineers & Industrials Ltd ............ 11 D06 Assomac Machines Ltd ..................................... 11 D16 Asteq Srl .............................................................. 16 D42 AstroPlast Kunststofftechnik GmbH & Co KG .. 11 J74 AT Wire GmbH & Co KG . ................................... 09 F56 ATE Applicazioni Termo Elettroniche Srl . ......... 11 C77 ATR Srl .................................................................. 17 C22 Atomat SpA a soio unico Steel and Tungsten Carbide Rolls. ..................................05 G19 August Herzog Maschinenfabrik GmbH & Co KG ..................................................09 B70 August Hildebrandt GmbH ................................ 12 E71 Aumann GmbH . ................................................ 10 A63 Aurubis AG . ........................................................ 12 C34 Avtar Steel Ltd .................................................... 17 A12 AW Machinery LLC ..........................................09 E10-2 AWM SpA Reinforcing Business ........................ 16 C22 Aymak Makine Mühendislik Hiz San ve Tic Ltd Sti . .............................................11 H78 AZ Steel Srl ........................................................... 17 C30 Aztech Lubricants LLC ..................................... 09 F06-2 B + B Eisen- und Stahlhandel GmbH ................ 12 C04 B S Shakti Steel Pvt Ltd ........................................ 17 B03 B2K Co Ltd ........................................................... 16 F78 Baicheng Fujia Technology Co Ltd .................. 11 J64 Balloffet SAS ........................................................ 10 A12 Bansal Alloys & Metals Pvt Ltd ........................... 17 E65 Bansal Wire Industries Ltd .................................. 17 A49 BAR Products & Services Ltd .............................. 11 F05 Baremo GmbH Revisionen Montagen ............11 G16 BASF Polyurethanes GmbH ............................... 09 C22 Bass GmbH & Co KG Technik für Gewinde .....15 H15 Bavaria Schweisstechnik GmbH ....................... 16 F67 BB Spring Technology Srl .................................... 16 E14 Bedea Berkenhoff & Drebes GmbH ................ 12 A16 Beekay Steel Industries Ltd ................................ 17 B77 Begra Granulate GmbH & Co KG.................... 12 A60 Beijing Holland Trading Co Ltd ......................... 16 C77

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