wiredinUSA August 2015

INDEX

Download the app. It is FREE!

wiredIn USA Digital . Networking . Monthly .

READ, WATCH, SHARE IT

www.wiredinUSA.com

August 2015 issue - No 50

Wind farm will power 30,000 homes

wiredIn USA

Picture: Nexans

wiredInUSA - August 2015

2

INDEX

Canada is about to get a shot in its wind farm arm, with a 2,428-hectare project that will provide 100MW of total generation capacity - enough to power 30,000 homes. TheGrandBendwind farm is expected tobe fully operational next year, and Nexans will provide 105km of extra-high voltage power cable to connect the new wind farm to Canada's power grid. The full story can be found on page 9. There is also a new 100MW solar plant for the Ontario region, with the completion of the Grand Renewable solar project. Construction began in 2013 and was completed on schedule by a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Solar. Turn to page 14 for the full details. Southwire's growth continues apace with the acquisition of a high voltage and extra-high voltage underground transmission cable manufacturing plant in Huntersville, North Carolina, USA. Purchased from ABB, this will allow Southwire to add extra-high voltage cable products to its range, and extend its high voltage manufacturing capacity. Turn to page 12 for the full story. David Bell Editor #50 EDITOR

3

wiredInUSA - August 2015

06 PAGE

CONTENT

09 PAGE

Show Diary / 2015 and 2016

22 PAGE

Making the News / Industry news from the USA

Europe News / The latest news from Europe

28 PAGE

Industry Trade Association / Spotlight on awards, educatio

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

30 PAGE

Products, Machines and Technology / The latest news fro

News Editor David Bell

INTRAS OFFICES Europe:

Accounts Manager Julie Case juliecase@intras.co.uk Sales & Marketing (International) Sales Manager Jason Smith jason@wiredinusa.com +44 1926 834 684 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

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

36 PAGE

david@wiredinusa.com Features Editor (USA) Dorothy Fabian Features Editor (Europe) Gill Watson Publisher Caroline Sullens

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 - August 2015

4

INDEX

39

AUGUST 2015 issue

35

#50

37

and events

machine industries

23

© 2015 Intras Limited UK ISSN 2046 - 9497 Publishers of Eurowire and Wire & Cable ASIA magazines INTRAS INTRAS LIMITED

34

29

wiredInUSA - August 2015

5

DIARY SHOW EVENTS

2015

2016

april

september

4-8 April 2016 wire Düsseldorf Düsseldorf, Germany Exhibition www.wire.de

16-18 September 2015 wire Southeast Asia Bangkok, Thailand Exhibition www.wire-southeastasia.com

september

october

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

5-8 October 2015 IWCS Atlanta, Georgia, USA Conference and exhibition www.iwcs.org

october

october

6-8 October 2015 wire South America São Paulo, Brazil Exhibition www.wire-south-america.com

5-7 October 2016 Wire & Cable India Mumbai, India Exhibition www.wire-india.com

wiredInUSA - August 2015

6

INDEX

INDEX

wiredInUSA - August 2015

7

wiredInUSA - August 2015 ir InUS - October 4 wiredInUSA - July 2015

8

INDEX

THENEWS Power plans for Canada

Canada’s Northland Power is constructing the 2,428-hectare Grand Bend wind farm, to provide 100MW of total generation capacity. The facility is expected to be operational in 2016.

manufacture 105kmof extra-high voltage power cable to connect the new wind farm to Canada’s power grid. The XLPE cable, rated at 230kV, will provide the connection between the wind farm substation and the local utility (Hydro One) substation. “This is a major win for our newest high voltage manufacturing facility in South Carolina. This project demonstrates our ability to provide the highest quality product needed in today’s growing energy market,” said Safiq Virani, Nexans director sales and marketing, land high voltage, North America. Not only will the Grand Bend project provide power to over 30,000 homes, it is also a commitment to sustainability as a joint project between Northland Power, the Aamjiwannang First Nation of Sarnia, and the Bkejwanong First Nation at Walpole.

The Grand Bend project has been awarded a contract by the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) under its feed-in tariff program, in which the OPA agrees to buy renewable energy generated by eligible projects at fixed prices under long-term contracts.

Nexans’ specialized facility in South Carolina will design, develop and

wiredInUSA - August 2015

9

JV takes a new line A joint venture between Abengoa and Starwood Energy has been selected by the California independent system operator (CAISO) as the approved sponsor to finance, construct, own, operate and maintain the Delaney to Colorado River 500kV transmission line project.

the electrical interconnection between California and Arizona. Abengoa will be responsible for construction, operation and maintenance of the transmission line. The project is expected to commence commercial operation in 2020. Himanshu Saxena, managing director of Starwood Energy, said: “We are looking forward to making this project a success for all stakeholders and to helping California meet its ambitious energy objectives.”

Abengoa and Starwood Energy will undertake joint development of a 114-mile transmission line between Delaney and Colorado River substations, reinforcing

wiredInUSA - August 2015

10

wiredInUSA - August 2015

11

Facilities purchase

Southwire Company has agreed to purchase a high voltage and extra-high voltage underground transmission cable manufacturing plant in Huntersville, North Carolina. Through the acquisition, from manufacturer ABB, Southwire will add extra-high voltage cable products to its range, and will extend its high voltage manufacturing capacity. “We are committed to growing in the global wire and cable market. Today, we take another step toward that goal as we

further expand our manufacturing capacity and expand our line up of products,” said Southwire president and CEO Stu Thorn. “In addition, today's agreement paves the way for us to develop a strategic relationship with a global company like ABB, a recognized leader in power and automation technologies.” The plant features the latest technology for producing high voltage and extra-high voltage underground transmission cables, ranging from 230kV to 400kV.

wiredInUSA - August 2015

12

INDEX

The solution: ActiveScan effectively and reliably measures the height and width of sector-shaped cables, such as straight and Measurement System Measuring Sector-Shaped Power Cables. BETA LaserMike ActiveScan™ >> Here’s a great solution for:

pre-spiraled cables, at the hot or cold end of the extrusion line with the highest precision regardless of product alignment or angular rotation.

Why it’s great:  Measures product height and width up to 40 mm  Measures at any line speed with ±0.001 accuracy 1  Precisely determines minimum and maximum dimensions  Completely pneumatic system for reliable, long-lasting operation  Interfaces with Profibus, Profinet, Ethernet IP, and RS-232  Conforms to CE standards

 Faster product changeovers  Complete process control  Higher productivity  Greater manufacturing savings

1 ±0.02% of product size

Discover how ActiveScan can help you achieve greater profits. Download the application note today!

(Go to Resources/Literature/ Application Notes)

www.betalasermike.com/wi2

Europe Tel: +44 1628 401510 Fax: +44 1628 401511

Americas Tel: +1 937 233 9935 Fax: +1 937 233 7284

Asia Tel: +86 21 6113 3688 Fax: +86 21 6113 3616

Germany Tel: +49 231 758 930 Fax: +49 231 758 9333

wiredInUSA - August 2015 Visit us at IWCS, November 9-12, Booth 106

13

Major solar project for Canada

Samsung Renewable Energy Inc; Connor, Clark & Lunn Infrastructure; and Six Nations of the Grand River, have announced the completion of the 100MW Grand Renewable solar project (GRS), the largest operating solar energy project of its kind in Canada. Construction of the project began in September 2013 and was completed on schedule by a wholly owned subsidiary of Canadian Solar. The project incorporates solar panels and inverters manufactured in Ontario by Canadian Solar and SMA, and has employed hundreds of people from across the province in every aspect of the project. An average of 240 workers and a peak of 450 were on site during construction, including local subcontractors. “Samsung and our partners are proud to complete this fourth project under our Green Energy Investment agreement with

the government of Ontario,” said Shin Kim, CEO of Samsung C&T. “We are delighted to have completed construction of this significant project,” added Matt O'Brien, president of Ontario-based Connor, Clark & Lunn Infrastructure. “I'd like to extend my thanks to our investment partners, Samsung and Six Nations, our construction partner, Canadian Solar, and our development partner, CarbonFree Technology, for their leadership and support in achieving this important milestone.” “This day represents a historic day, achieved only after investing four years of hard work with our partners Samsung and Connor, Clark and Lunn,” said Ava Hill, chief of Six Nations elected council. “What we have achieved is a template for many more green energy projects in the Haldimand Tract.”

wiredInUSA - August 2015

14

INDEX

it ’ s time ... ...to book your advertising in our Düsseldorf show issues These issues will be freely distributed from our stands

wire ®

4 - 8 April 2016

Ad space is filling up fast!

Be seen at the show in the leading magazines for the wire industries www.read-eurowire.com / www.read-wca.com

Contact our international advertising office: Tel: +44 (0)1926 334137 - Emails: eurowire@intras.co.uk / wca@intras.co.uk

wiredInUSA - August 2015

15

Extending its web

Image Credit: D.Begley/Flickr

to increase their renewable energy quotient, and we’ll continue to strongly encourage our partners in government to extend the tax incentives that make it more viable for renewable projects to get off the ground.” Located in Perquimans and Pasquotank counties, the project is expected to become operational in December 2016 withanannual power generationcapacity of around 670,000MW. Energy generated at the wind farm will power the electrical grid that supplies both current and future AWS Cloud data centers.

Amazon Web Services (AWS) will build and operate a 208MWwind farm in the US state of North Carolina, under a partnership with Iberdrola Renewables. The proposed wind farm is in line with AWS’s commitment to achieve 100 percent renewable energy usage for its infrastructure across the globe. AWS infrastructure vice president Jerry Hunter said: “This agreement, and those previously in place, puts AWS on track to surpass our goal of 40 percent renewable energy globally by the end of 2016. “We’ll continue pursuing projects that deliver clean energy to the various energy grids that serve AWS data centers, we’ll continue working with our power providers

wiredInUSA - August 2015

16

INDEX

Zero Waste to Landfill certification has been attained by very few manufacturers of any type, and this is believed to be the first achieved by a communications cable manufacturer. The certification was awarded by GreenCircle Certified LLC, a third-party certifier of environmental claims. Landfill waste diversion, defined as the prevention and reduction of generated waste through source reduction, recycling, reuse, or composting, has been characterized as one of the best ways manufacturing companies can demonstrate genuine environmental responsibility. The announcement by Superior Essex marks an improvement from the 91 percent landfill waste diversion rateachievedby thecompany in 2014. Tim Waldner, president of Superior Essex - communications division, said: “Zero waste certification of our Kansas data cable production facility is just the latest among several environmental firsts for Superior Essex. It is our goal to be the industry leader in environmental sustainability, which gives us a responsibility to achieve performance levels that are not merely incremental, but are groundbreaking. I hope that our actions inspire the rest of the cabling industry to make sustainability improvements which are significant in terms of both scope and materiality.”

Landfill landmark Superior Essex has achieved Zero Waste to Landfill certification for its copper data cable manufacturing facility in Kansas, USA.

wiredInUSA - August 2015 i I

17

No go for 3D

No go for 3D

of our customers run their own business or are self-employed, with 40 percent of purchases coming from DIY enthusiasts. “Our results are a pretty definite “No” from all our customers. Fasteners have got to be strong – they’ve got to be robust enough to not fail under stress. Is plastic that strong and robust? Until we can see genuine strength from a fastener produced from a 3D printer, the trust will not be there to go ahead and mass produce. “Our suppliers are the best in the business – trusted and quality assured. We think 3D printing is innovative and has immense potential in the medical and engineering fields, but with something as intricate as a fastener, the 3D printing market still has work to do.”

According to a business survey from FMW Fasteners, customers do not believe 3D printers are a viable option to produce future supplies. Nearly 60 percent of those surveyed said they were unlikely or very unlikely to turn to 3D printing as an alternative to purchasing fasteners from specialists. With 30 percent unsure, only 10 percent were likely or very likely to see 3D printing as a viable option. “These results surprised us,” said Steve Baker, marketing director, FMW Fasteners. “There's a lot of noise around 3D printers, so we thought it was prudent to gauge what our customers thought about them – whether they could foresee a future where they could create their own fasteners with their 3D printer. About 60 percent

wiredInUSA - August 2015

18

INDEX

John E Welsh III, chairman of the board, said: “This agreement to sell our Asia Pacific operations represents another significant step to simplifying our geographic portfolio and reducing organizational complexity. We remain focused on the divestiture process for our businesses in Africa, which are advancing according to plan. We are also optimizing our business, reducing costs and driving efficiencies in our core markets in North America, Latin America and Europe as we continue to execute our restructuring program.” Brian J Robinson, executive vice president and chief financial officer, said: “We previously completed the sale of our interests in Phelps Dodge International Philippines Inc, Keystone Electric Wire and Cable (China), and Dominion Wire and Cables (Fiji) which together represented approximately $88 million of cash proceeds. “Upon completion of the sale of our operations in Thailand, China, New Zealand and Australia the company will have generated approximately $293 million of cash proceeds from its divestiture program, which is consistent with our previously communicated expectations.”

Divestiture program continues General Cable Corporation has reached a definitive agreement to sell its Asia Pacific operations, in Thailand, China, New Zealand and Australia, to MM Logistics Co Ltd.

wiredInUSA - August 2015 i I

19

Brazil’s steel slow down

MORE NEWS

A senior company executive has suggested that ArcelorMittal SA could idle the long steel mills it recently installed at its João Monlevade plant in Brazil. Jefferson de Paula, ArcelorMittal’s South American head of long steel, said at an industry event that there is excess capacity in the sector and stagnating demand for long steel products including rebar, wire rod, rails and drawn wire. De Paula’s comments echo those of Benjamin Baptista, the company’s chief executive in Brazil, who had earlier warned that the outlook for demand in Brazil’s domestic steel market “remains gloomy”.

wiredInUSA - August 2015

20

INDEX

New president appointment

Rewarding distribution

Southwire Company has appointed Rich Stinson as its president. Mr Stinson has more than 30 years of experience in industrial manufacturing, and is currently group president of electrical systems and services for Eaton Corporation. He will join Southwire on 15 th October, initially serving under president and CEO Stu Thorn through a leadership transition period. Mr Thorn has made the decision to retire after over 14 years of leading Southwire, guiding the company through a successful period of new products and diversified growth. “As a member of the electrical industry, I have observed Southwire for much of my career. It’s a great company,” Mr Stinson said. “I work with many of the same customers and channel partners every day. I’m privileged to join the Southwire team and I look forward to working together as we build an ever stronger, more sustainable company.”

Metro Wire and Cable has been named among the Top 200 electrical distributors for 2015. Theaward, bestowedby industry publication Electrical Wholesaling, marks Metro Wire’s fourth consecutive year in the Top 200. “This distinction is a tremendous honor and one of the best in our 39 years in business,” said Donald D Ezop, Metro Wire and Cable president/CEO. “Growing our business in several key market segments in 2014, along with several internal enhancements, poised us for this accomplishment,” stated Nate Tallman, director of corporate development. “We have great people and customers, and we are honored to be recognized again.” With locations inMichigan,Georgia, and Iowa, MWC specializes in working with public utilities, electrical contractors, wind farm developers, airport lighting contractors, and OEMs.

i

I

wiredInUSA - August 2015

21

EUROPE NEWS

26

wiredInUSA - August 2015 wiredInUSA - April 3 e n S June wire I U - J n 3 iredIn SA - ug st 2 4

22 6

8

INDEX

First booking for new vessel

protection systems. The company will also be responsible for the installation and trenching of a coupling cable between the Nobelwind and Belwind I offshore substations. Ottar Maeland, DeepOcean’s executive vice president, greater North Sea, said: “ This award of array cables installation for Nobelwind is the first commitment for DeepOcean’s new chartered cable lay vessel, currently being constructed by Damen Yard for delivery early 2016.” DeepOcean will use its own fleet of vessels, including Deep Helder and Volantis , to carry out the trenching and cable laying.

DeepOcean Group's subsidiary, DeepOcean 1 UK, is to install inter-array cables for the 165MW Bligh Bank Phase II offshore wind farm. The 50-turbine project, 45km off the North Sea coast of Belgium, is under development by Nobelwind. The turbines will be connected in strings with 33kV inter-array cables, linked back to the Nobelwind offshore high voltage substation which, in turn, will be linked to the existing 220kV Northwind offshore substation by an export cable. DeepOcean will be responsible for pre-lay surveys, pre-lay grapnel runs, installation and trenching of 50 array cables, as well as design and supply of the cable

EUROPE NEWS

wiredInUSA - August 2015

23

Refinery contract

French connection

Nexans SA has been chosen to supply low voltage cables to Iraq’s Karbala refinery project. The contract was awarded by HDGSK, a joint venture of four Korean EPCs: Hyundai Engineering & Construction, Hyundai Engineering, GS Engineering & Construction, and SK Engineering & Construction. The contract calls for 3,500km of LV cables. In-Koo Kang, CEO at Nexans Korea, said: “We are pleased to be a part of a major overseas project with HDGSK. A long-standing relationship with our customer, and our solution to optimize the total cost of ownership of the installation, were key to winning this contract.” Nexans’ low voltage cable system will be equipped with PVC hydrocarbon resistance. Thecableswill bemanufactured in Nexans’ plants in South Korea and Turkey and supplied to the refinery between January 2016 and March 2017. The Karbala refinery project, from Iraq’s state company for oil projects (SCOP) is to date the largest contract won by Korean EPCs, worth over $6 billion. The plant is expected to be completed by 2020.

Europe’s largest solar farm will be connected with Nexans’ Energyflex ® photovoltaic cables after Eiffage Energie awarded Nexans the contract to supply 90 percent of the necessary cables. Nexans will manufacture and supply approximately 5,000km of medium and low voltage photovoltaic cables and data cables to the Cestas solar farm in France. The solar farm, located near Bordeaux, will generate over 350GWh per year with a peak capacity of 300MW. Eiffage Energie operates on behalf of Clemessy, which pilots a consortium of several investors including Neoen, formed to build, operate and maintain the farm. Approximately one million solar panels will cover 250 hectares of land divided into 25 solar plants. The farm is expected to be connected to the grid in October 2015. Nexans’ Energyflex cables will provide durable, high-performance in-field connections between the PV panels and the inverters that will transform the solar energy into usable AC electricity. The cables were developed specifically to meet the demand for reliable, efficient cables in the specialized photovoltaic market.

wiredInUSA - August 2015

24

INDEX

John Gibson

Industry charter

Software upgrade

Hitachi Cable America Inc (HCA), performance cable systems and materials division, is to migrate its product data into the cable design software, CableBuilder. It is expected that, with CableBuilder, the product data will be more efficient to access and maintain. After a thorough analysis, the HCA team concluded that CableBuilder covers all its requirements in engineering, quoting and product data management processes. John Gibson, executive vice president at Hitachi Cable America, said: “With CableBuilder we invest in a sustainable solution that helps us to capture and leverage our experience and expertise in our engineering team. The project contributes to our objectives to become even more agile and innovative. Most importantly, we are striving to better serve our customers with our new quotation and specification capabilities. “The InnoVites team complements the CableBuilder solution with their consulting services. Their vast experience in our industry makes sure that we implement the best practices in the shortest possible time.” InnoVites is a partner of Cimteq, the owner of the CableBuilder software.

Europacable members have endorsed the Europacable industry charter, a document that expresses a collective commitment to the shared principles and objectives of ethical, sustainable and high quality cable development and manufacturing. The charter is a formal expression of Europacablemembers: acknowledgement of the need to meet the demands of business stakeholders, while at the same time defending the interests of employees, customers, the wider community and the environment, with a strong commitment not only to meeting the basic requirements of the law, but also taking a proactive role in monitoring and evaluating emerging issues and finding solutions that exceed the minimum requirements. The charter was presented to Europacable members for signing on the occasion of the Europacable General Assembly in late April and now that members have signed it and committed to fulfill the principles contained in the charter, Europacable has launched it publicly. Europacable gathers approximately 85 percent of the European wire and cable industry, covering the full range of insulated wires and cables, and metallic and optical fiber data and telecommunications wires and cables.

EUROPE NEWS

wiredInUSA - August 2015

25

Ulrich Spiesshofer

Germany’s growing green power

ABB will link the power grids of the United Kingdom and Norway, increasing security of power supply for both countries and supporting the integration of more renewable wind and hydroelectric power into their networks. The order was placed by Norway’s Statnett and the UK’s National Grid. ABB will supply HVDC converter stations at both ends of the North Sea network (NSN) link between Norway and the UK. “We are very pleased to be working with Statnett and National Grid to support the integration of the European energy market,” said ABB CEO Ulrich Spiesshofer. “HVDC is a core technology pioneered by ABB and a key business focus in our next level strategy.” When wind power generation is high and electricity demand low in the UK, power will flow via the link to Norway, allowing it to conserve water in its reservoirs. When demand is high in theUK, but with insufficient wind, electricity fromNorway’s hydroelectric plants will flow to the UK. The NSN link will have the capacity to transmit 1,400MWof power, passing through Norwegian and British waters. The 730km link will be the world’s longest subsea power interconnection, and is expected to enter commercial operation in 2021. Give and take power link

In the first half of 2015, Germany added over three times the amount of offshore wind capacity than in the same period of 2014. Data from VDMA, the engineering association, showed that 1,765MW of new offshore capacity was installed in the first six months of 2015, compared with 492MW in January–June 2014. With regulatory hurdles and questions over onshore connections resolved, investors are attracted to the technology and are helping Germany achieve its ambitious plan to use more renewable power. Current permissions and construction activity mean capacity additions for the whole of 2015 are likely to reach 2,250MW, taking overall installed capacity to 3,300MW. Legislation planned by the government for 2016 will change the fixed-price schemes of the past to auction-based models. This will bring green energy into the wholesale power market, and away from the subsidies that allowed operators to overcome initial problems, stand the costs of new technology and exploit the advantages of big turbines and steady winds far out at sea.

wiredInUSA - August 2015

26

INDEX

Normandie 1 contract

Cable laying offer

Fugro is expanding its range of services with the addition of a cable-lay spread onboard the Fugro Saltire. The spread comprises a reel drive system to store the cables, a tensioner to lay them, twin winches and a quadrant deployment system on rails. In operation the cables are initially pulled into the base of the wind turbine generators and then laid along the seabed using a dynamic positioning system to line themupaccurately with the destination WTG. They are pulled in using the quadrant system to manage the cable during over-boarding and pull-in. The initial concept for the new cable-lay capability was developed during trenching operations at the Humber Gateway offshore wind farm, when E.ON asked Fugro to investigate laying cables from the Saltire . Fugro’s engineers fitted the cable-lay equipment in six weeks, and cable-laying was completed by February 2015. “As well as trenching 77 array cables, we installed eight array cables along with second end pull-ins of cables already laid by other contractors,” said Mike Daniel, trenching business line manager, Fugro Subsea Services.

Prysmian Group has been awarded a contract by Jersey Electricity plc for the Channel Islands’ Normandie 1 project. The project involves the turnkey supply and installation of a high voltage alternate current cable connection from France (Surville) to Jersey. The single-length 90kV 3-core cable will stretch for 28km. Prysmian will provide design, supply and commissioning of the submarine and land cable connections as part of a larger contract awarded to the consortium between Prysmian and VBMS. VBMS will perform the marine cable laying operations, including protection and landfall activities. The submarine cable will replace an existing, but obsolete, Normandie 1 interconnector, and its 100MW capacity will be shared by Jersey and Guernsey islands under the CIEG (Channel Islands electricity grid) partnership agreement. The submarine cables for the Normandie 1 linkwill beproduced in theArcoFeliceplant (Italy), the group's center of technological and manufacturing excellence. Project completion is scheduled for October 2016.

EUROPE NEWS

wiredInUSA - August 2015

27

CabWire World Conference 2015 DRAFT PROGRAM

NON-FERROUS Leoni A.G.

KEYNOTE SPEAKER - Success factors for sustainable international growth

Wire joining of non-ferrous metals by dual force technology

IDEAL-Werk

SICME Italia Impianti

Revolutionising the wire manufacturing process

Application of new technologies in the drawing of coated wire and subsequent insulation with high-temperature materials

Samp SpA

Maschinenfabrik Niehoff GmbH & Co KG Ceeco Bartell Products

Manufacturing solutions for alternative materials to copper for automotive wires

Manufacturing of compact conductors, highlighting the benefits and potential costs reductions in the whole stranding process

Highly pure XLPE material is essential for high-quality EHV and subsea cables

Sikora AG

Rodents - not just a nuisance but a threat to the wire and cable industry

C Tech Corporation

De Montfort Leicester University

Comparative study of two scheduling approaches to resolve scheduling problem for a wire and cable manufacturing process

Continuus Properzi SpA Properzi adds continuous rotary extrusion to its range of equipment to provide an integrated solution for the production of ACSR/AS conductors FERROUS NV Bekaert SA Heat-resistant colour coatings for a new generation of spring wires

Data M Sheet Metal Solutions FMS Force Measuring Systems AG

Design and simulation of rolled profile wires with modern CAE tools

Improved transmission of critical signals in bunchers, twisters and stranders through use of wireless systems Technological progress in the drawing of zinc-coated wire by a new type of tungsten carbide dies The use of steel strip, shaped wire and round wire in the production of umbilical cable and submarine cable

Koner Srl

Ceeco Bartell Products

National Institute of Standards and Technology /Colorado School of Mines

The evolution of vanadium in high-carbon steel during wire drawing

Traxit International

New efficiency coatings and dry drawing lubricants

wiredInUSA - August 2015

28

INDEX

CabWire Wor ld Conference 2015 3 N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 5 Congress Center Düsseldorf, Germany 7 th biennial cable and wire technical conference

Ferrous plant tour

A table top exhibition complements the conference sessions. It is an excellent showcase for your business and a great opportunity for Table top exhibit opportunities

ArcelorMittal is the world’s leading steel and mining company.

one-to-one discussions with suppliers. Sponsorship opportunities

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to promote your company by becoming a sponsor at CabWire 2015.

Included in the conference registration fee is an invitation to the CabWire 2015 evening function which will be held at the Zum Schlüssel, a venue with a long and rich tradition, located in the heart of Düsseldorf old town. This function will be a great opportunity to meet up with fellow delegates and conference speakers, as well as enjoying dinner and refreshments. For more information www. cabwi re . com The billet mill produces high quality billets and SBQ for the forging industry. The new wire rod mill is serving the automotive market with cold heading, spring grades, bearing and other special wire rod grades. Guided by a philosophy to produce safe, sustainable steel, it is the leading supplier of quality steel products in all major markets including automotive, construction, household appliances and packaging. ArcelorMittal is present in 60 countries and has an industrial footprint in 19 countries. The plant of ArcelorMittal Duisburg is located in the Ruhr region in north-west Germany. ArcelorMittal Duisburg works to develop new applications and new products for the automotive, energy and mechanical industries. Evening Networking Event

Contributing sponsors will receive:

• Printed signage at the event • Acknowledgement in pre-conference materials, brochure and conference website • Company logo on conference website with link • Acknowledgement in conference materials • Full page advert in conference proceedings for exclusive sponsors • Free table top exhibit (includes one conference registration) for sponsorship of €2,500 or more Sponsorship

To book your table top or sponsorship, please visit: www.cabwire.com

There will also be the opportunity for a tour of the on-site brewery and of course to enjoy the award- winning original key-ALT brew.

wiredInUSA - August 2015

29

ASIA AFRICA NEWS &

wiredInUSA - August 2015

30

INDEX

Internet for the islands

not only provide faster and better Internet, but will also significantly enhance the security of our data connection to the globe and, ultimately, improve the everyday life of our communities.” Sir Eion continued: “In order to be a center of education excellence, New Zealand must have access to secure and competitively priced data. We are excited to be part of Hawaiki and make a positive contribution to the development of New Zealand and our region.” Rémi Galasso, chief executive officer of Hawaiki Cable, said: “We consider Hawaiki as an important strategic asset for New Zealand and its future generations. We demonstrate once again our commitment and ability to provide New Zealand with state-of-the-art infrastructure.”

Hawaiki Cable and SIL Long Term Holdings Ltd (SIL) have signed an equity partnership agreement to build the Hawaiki submarine cable system, a new trans-Pacific cable based on coherent fiber technology. Designed with capacity of over 25Tbp/s, the cable will link Australia and New Zealand to the US and connect to a number of South Pacific Islands and Hawaii by the end of 2017. Under the multi-million dollar agreement, Hawaiki Cable and SIL acknowledge their common interest to enter a long-term partnership to develop and implement the $300m cable system. Sir Eion Edgar of SIL said: “We are delighted to invest in the Hawaiki project, which represents major progress for the connectivity of New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. This cable will

ASIA / AFRICA NEWS

wiredInUSA - August 2015

31

Desert energy

Solar demo

Negev Energy, a consortium of Israel's Shikun & Binui and Spain's Abengoa, has signed an agreement with the Israeli government to construct a 121MW thermo-solar power plant in the Negev desert at an anticipated cost of around $1.05 billion. The project involves the construction of two solar-thermal power stations under a build, operate and transfer program. Thermo-solar plants use the sun to produce heat that will pass through water to generate steam. The steam is used to generate electricity, unlike photovoltaic plants which convert sunlight directly into electricity. Upon completion, scheduled for the first half of 2018, the project is expected to complement a similar 121MW power plant currently under construction at Ashalim by MegalimSolar Power.MegalimSolar Power is a joint venture between Bright-Source Energy, Alstom and the Noy Fund. Power generated from the new project and the power plant now under construction is expected to account for 2 percent of the country's electricity generation capacity.

Yingli Energy(China)CoLtd,awhollyowned subsidiary of Yingli Green Energy Holding Co Ltd, has been chosen to develop and construct a 50MW solar power plant in Datong City, Shanxi Province, China. The plant will be a key demonstration project at the national advanced PV technology demonstration center, sited on reclaimed mining land in Datong City. Recently approved by the national energy administration as part of its Top Runner program, the new demonstration center plans to become China's foremost national hub for PV technology research and development. Datong City's local government has tasked the demonstration center with installing 1,000MW of solar PV across seven 100MW projects, five 50MW projects, and several smaller PV facilities during the next 12 months. Over 35 companies applied for the rights to develop and construct the 100MW projects, and over 20 companies applied for the rights to develop and construct the 50MW projects. Yingli was selected to develop and construct one of the 50MW projects.

wiredInUSA - August 2015

32

INDEX

ACE of cables

Solar contract

The Africa coast to Europe (ACE) submarine cable has added landing stations in Benin and the Canary Islands. The new construction sees the submarine cable land in Cotonou, Benin and Tenerife. The new connections are part of the second phase of the submarine network’s construction. The undersea cable now serves 18 countries, including France, Portugal, the Canary Islands (Spain), Mauritania, Senegal, Gambia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Benin, Equatorial Guinea, and Gabon. Mali and Niger connect via a terrestrial fiber optic network extension. ACE is the first international submarine cable to land in Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Mauritania, Sao Tome and Principe, and Sierra Leone. Operational since 2012, the ACE fiber optic cable system will eventually cover 17,000km and by the end of this second phase will extend to South Africa. Additional branches will connect Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of theCongo, Angola, andNamibia. Overall network capacity will reach 12.8Tbps using 100Gbps optical transmission technology. Transmission equipment is supplied by Alcatel-Lucent.

ReneSola Ltd has agreed to provide 20MW of solar modules for use in utility-scale projects in Germany. Under the terms of the agreement, ReneSola's contracted OEMs will deliver the Virtus II solar modules to the projects during July and August. “We are delighted to provide our high quality modules for these projects in Germany, a developed market that has long been a leading source of demand and a destination for renewable energy alternatives,” said Mr Xianshou Li, ReneSola’s chief executive officer.

ASIA / AFRICA NEWS

wiredInUSA - August 2015

33

Aberdare Cables has launched a new production line, specifically designed to manufacture locomotive cables for the Passenger Rail Agency of South Africa (PRASA) and Transnet. Supported by the South African department of trade and industry (DTI), the line has been launched within Aberdare’s existing plant in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal. Currently, South Africa has one of the largest wholesale renewal and general overhaul rail programs in Africa, and serves as a strong manufacturing hub for rolling stock. Aberdare Cables has expanded its plants in Pietermaritzburg and Gauteng to enhance production, create additional jobs and drive skills development within the crucial economic sector. “We are committed to partnering with all stakeholders, public and private, to ensure that South Africa remains self-sufficient in the manufacturing of electrical cables." Cable production right on track

Share shift for cable manufacturer

Jasco has sold its share of the under- performing South African cable company M-TEC. The company announced to shareholders that it had sold its 51.1 percent stake in the unit to a CIH subsidiary. CIH is a major shareholder in Jasco, holding 17.6 percent of the company. CIH is an investment holding company, established in 1995 by Dr Anna Mokgokong and Joe Madungandaba, with significant interests in the healthcare, ICT, logistics, mining, infrastructure, power and energy sectors. Jasco has endeavored to sell the unit since 2013, when it was placed under review because of poor performance, and initially entered into talks with Taihan Electric Wire, owner of the remaining 48.9 percent interest in M-TEC. The discussions failed to reach an agreement after Taihan went through management changes.

wiredInUSA - August 2015

34

INDEX

Move to Morocco

Brazilian grid growth

China’s State Grid has won the concession to build and operate the second power transmission line to connect the massive Belo Monte hydropower plant to the national Brazilian grid. Belo Monte's second line will be Brazil’s longest, stretching 2,500km from the hydroelectric complex in northern Para state, in the Amazon jungle, to southeastern Rio de Janeiro. The Chinese state-owned company, which won the concession for the first line in 2013, bid against Spain's Abengoa in the auction for the project estimated to cost $2.21 billion. According to the auction's rules, the company that offered to collect the smallest annual amount on tariffs would win. StateGrid’s bidwas for acharge 19percent below the maximum allowed. The project is expected to be operational by 2019.

Furukawa Electric is to establish a new manufacturing facility in Tangier, northern Morocco– its first factory inAfrica. Furukawa is to invest $8 million in developing the unit, to satisfy the growing demand for communications infrastructure in Africa. Furukawa projects demand for fiber optic cables in the African continent and the Middle East to grow to 32 million kilometers in 2018, an increase of 80 percent from 18 million kilometers in 2014. The facility will assemble optic fibers, made at the company’s US and Japanese plants, into end products. With the opening of its Morocco factory, Furukawa is thought to be the first major company to produce the cables in Africa. Furukawa is said to control around 10 percent of the global fiber optic market, behind Corning of the US and Prysmian of Italy. The company said that its choice of Morocco was due to the country’s easy access to the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, as well as its high security level and political stability.

ASIA / AFRICA NEWS

wiredInUSA - August 2015

35

PRODUCTS MACHINES TECHNOLOGY &

wiredInUSA - August 2015

36

INDEX

Category 6A cable gets out and about

Ruggedized Z-Max 6A shielded outlets and Tera ® 7A outlets and plugs.

Network infrastructure specialist Siemon has expanded its copper cable range with category 6A F/UTP shielded outside plant (OSP) cable. Meeting TIA and ISO performance requirements for shielded class EA/category 6A, this robustly shielded cable will extend network access to outdoor satellite facilities or support a wide range of outdoor devices. “Shielded category 6A's stable transmission is better able to support the latest high speed applications such as 10GBASE-T and HDBaseT, while also offering improved heat dissipation properties and insertion loss performance to handle increased operating temperatures,” said Candace Achenbach, global product manager for Siemon. Suitable for harsh and wet environments where fiber optic cable is not appropriate, the category 6A shielded OSP cable's four pairs are divided by a separator, filled with non-conductive water-blocking gel to prevent moisture ingress, and then surrounded by an inner polyolefin jacket. A rugged UV-resistant outer jacket is applied over a layer of water-blocking aramid yarns withanabsorbent polymer andanaluminum foil shield for RFI and EMI protection. Siemon's category 6A F/UTP OSP cable can be used in direct burial, lashed aerial, duct and underground conduit installations, including beneath concrete slabs and in other wet locations. Sequential measurement markings on the cable jacket and an integrated rip cord offer easy installation, and termination is compatible with Siemon's Z-Max ® 6A shielded outlets,

Small packages

ODU, a manufacturer of high performance connector solutions and cable assemblies, has launched high-speed miniature connectors as part of its AMC ® High-Density range for the US market.

S S Miniature connectors for the US market. Photograph courtesy of odu-usa.com

ODU AMC High-Density is an advanced miniature connector designed for harsh environment applications. It is used extensively in defense communications and systems that require significant weight and space reduction, such as in field radios, portable computers, UAVs and airborne vehicles. The ODU AMC High-Density connector series is designed for high performance data transmission, high reliability and easy handling. In shell diameters as small as 10mm up to 18.5mm and providing as many as 40 contacts, the ODU AMC High-Density

wiredInUSA - August 2015

37

Models in the DSP Series include the DSP1 and DSP2. These pots can hold one pound of the Dip Strip chemical. The DSP1 has a standardvariable temperaturecontrol, while the DSP2 features an advanced feedback temperature control. The DSP1 stripping pot is designed for use with very fine wire from 40 to 48 gauge and uses the Ultrafine Stripper chemical. This chemical starts as a liquid and has a lower surface tension than Dip Strip. Corning Incorporated has introduced a new optical cabling development for data centers and storage area networks. Edge8 is believed to be the industry’s first modular, tip-to-tip optical cabling system to feature an eight fiber (base-8) cabling design that maximizes per-rack-unit density and offers cost-effective migration to transmission speeds up to 400 gigabits per second. “Corning’s Edge8 solutions help data center operators deliver an optimal end-user experience, while mitigating the uncertainty associated with ever-increasing transmissionspeedsandcontinuallyevolving standards,” said Stuart Hoiness, senior vice president of enterprise networks, Corning Optical Communications. “Installing a base-8 cabling system like Edge8 today provides the simplest, most flexible path to 40, 100, and 400 gigabits per second in the future.” Edge8 solutions, with eight-fiber MTP ® connectors, make it easy to match the fiber count in the backbone of data Cables save space, heat and money

includes numerous high density signal configurations and tailored versions for power (up to 15A) and data transfer (USB 3.0 with 5A power). The shells are keyed and color-coded for reliable and simple handling. Other product features include watertight protection class IP 68; 5,000 mating cycles durability; a break-away function for maximum safety; rugged, non-reflective surfaces; and an operating temperature range of -51°C to +125°C ( -60°F to +257°F).

Safer stripping

The Eraser Company’s DSP series chemical wire strippers are designed to remove insulation from magnet and enamel wire, including litz wire, without damaging the wire itself.

DSP pots are designed specifically for use with Dip Strip. Dip Strip starts as a solid crystal form and melts to a liquid when heated. Wires are immersed in the chemical, which will bubble slightly as the insulation is removed. The stripped wires are then rinsed in water and Dip Clean 2 metal cleaner to remove oxides and residue, and then again in water. Dip Strip does not corrode conductors, and the chemicals do not fume. S S DSP8 stripping pot. Photograph courtesy of Eraser Company

wiredInUSA - August 2015

38

INDEX

center networks and SANs with today’s base-8 quad small form factor plugable transceivers. This capability results in 100 percent fiber utilization, streamlined 1:1 port mapping, and up to 50 percent reduction in link attenuation by eliminating the need for conversion modules. Edge8 modules also offer a 30 percent improvement in insertion loss, resulting in longer duplex link distances.

S S New optical cabling development for data centers and storage area networks

S S Photograph courtesy of Bartell Machinery Systems

“Shapes and pre-forms wire during the manufacturing process and significantly improves theelectrical transmissionproperty of the cable, thereby reducing the overall material required for the finished product.” The new stranding machine is digitally monitored and controlled via a programmable logic controller and a menu-driven touch screen that guides the operator at each stage of operation. Mr Morocco said in a statement: “Our ability to design, engineer, and manufacture advanced industrial machinery that competes in a worldwide market is a testament to our skilled workforce, and to the strong technical and manufacturing base we have right here in central New York.”

Corning’s Edge solutions help operators maximize available space, with optical cables so light and compact that just one cable can replace as many as 72 copper cables, and they consume about 25 percent of the power per port of copper, saving money and reducing heat.

Single twist strander

Bartell Machinery Systems is set to ship the first of a new single twist strander machine. The machine, capable of producing large industrial electrical transmission cable for the power utility industry, is scheduled to leave for China in August. Company president Patrick Morocco explained that Bartell technology

wiredInUSA - August 2015

39