wiredinUSA January 2013

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wiredIn USA Digital . Networking . Monthly .

January 2013 issue - No 19

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wiredIn USA Ski resort's 20,000ft long cable p10

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#19 EDITOR

Just in time, it seems, skiers on the slopes of Vail, Colorado, will be able to hitch a lift up the slopes of the ski resort on a new ten-person gondola, using a 20,000-foot steel rope cable built by ArcelorMittal. The new rope has to meet demanding conditions and be able to survive extreme weather conditions, some 8,500 feet off the floor. Built near Lyon, France, the cable – weighing in at some 172,000lb –made its journey wrapped around a reel 12 feet in diameter and 10 feet wide. Full story is on page 10. Charity coffers at the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the American Cancer Society and the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were boosted in December – thanks to the generosity of Allied Wire and Cable. The company made a donation when a percentage of sales throughout themonth was donated to the three charities. They say charity begins at home and it's great to see these worthwhile associations being supported. Get the full details on page 12. TheBigApplejustgotalittlegreener–thankstoanew solar electric power generation system covering the size of two football pitches in New York. Once operational early this year, the plant will provide enough energy for a 24-acre technology, office and industrial complex. You can read about this on page 14. David Bell Editor

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Picture: www.sxc.hu Photographer: Mike Gieson

CONTENT CONTENT CONTENT CONTENT

06 Show Diary From the USA

28 Europe News The latest news from Europe 09 Making the News Industry news from the USA

34 Industry Trade Association Spotlight on awards, education and events 36 Asia & Africa News The latest news from Asia & Africa 42 Products, Machines and Technology The latest news from machine industries

News Editor David Bell

Advertisement Coordinator Liz Hughes

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

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wiredIn USA Digital . Networking . Monthly .

david@wiredinusa.com Features Editor (USA) Dorothy Fabian Features Editor (Europe) Gill Watson Editorial assistant Christian Bradley

Accounts Manager Richard Babbedge Publisher Caroline Sullens - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - INTRAS OFFICES Europe:

January 2013 issue -No 19

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wiredIn USA Ski resort's 20,000ft long cable p10

Design/Production/ Free Subscription Hélène Phillips

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

#19

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

helene@wiredinusa.com - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sales & Marketing (International ) Jason Smith jason@wiredinusa.com +44 1926 834 684

Email: read@wiredinusa.com Website: www.wiredinusa.com

PRODUCTS - MACHINES & TECHNOLOGY

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wiredInUSA - January 2013

DIARY SHOW EVENTS

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2013 MARCH 7 March: AMI Cables Conference Cologne, Germany Conference www.amiplastics.com

SEPTEMBER 17-19 September: wire SE Asia 2013 Bangkok, Thailand Exhibition www.wire-southeastasia.com OCTOBER 1-3 October: wire South America São Paulo, Brazil Exhibition www.tubotech-online.de

APRIL 23-25 April: Interwire 2013 Atlanta, Georgia, USA Exhibition www.wirenet.org

NOVEMBER 10 - 13 November: IWCS Charlotte, NC, USA Conference www.iwcs.org

JUNE 16-18 June: Guangzhou Wire and Tube Guangzhou, China Exhibition www.julang.com.cn

25-28 June: wire Russia 2013 Moscow, Russia Exhibition www.wire-russia.com

wiredInUSA - January 2013

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MAKING THENEWS

Carlisle’s $265m deal for Thermax-Raydex

Carlisle Companies Inc is to acquire Thermax–Raydex, a supplier of high performance hook-up, data, and coaxial wire and cable for commercial aerospace anddefenseapplications. Thermax-Raydex achieves annual sales of approximately $112 million, and boasts manufacturing facilities in Nogales, Mexico; Littleborough, UK; and Fountain Valley, California.

Thermax-Raydex designs, manufactures, and sells customized, high reliability wire and cable for transmission of data and power on aircraft and defense platforms, as well as in high-end industrial equipment. The business will operate as part of Carlisle Interconnect Technologies, a provider of wire and cable and interconnect components for commercial and military aircraft, avionics, in-flight entertainment, and communications systems. David A Roberts, Carlisle’s chairman, president, andCEO, said: “Thermax-Raydex adds capabilities and technology to strengthen our interconnect products business in very attractive aerospace and industrial sectors. [The] acquisition is consistent with our focus on higher margin, highly engineered products, and is an excellent fit with Carlisle.”

Carlisle will purchase the assets of Thermax and the stock of Raydex/CDT Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Belden, for $265 million.

wiredInUSA - January 2013

World’s fastest single cable gondola

Skiers on the slopes of Vail, Colorado, will ride the world’s fastest single cable, ten-person gondola. Developers chose ArcelorMittal to help build a new ski lift with a steel rope capable of withstanding extreme weather conditions at 8,500 feet. “ArcelorMittal has sold cables in North America for 20 years with an outstanding reputation among our customers for quality,” said Marco Desmarais, sales manager, ArcelorMittal long carbon, North America. “Our steel cables are known for offering the lowest stretch in the industry and best return on investments. We have also proved year after year that we can deliver huge ropes on time, anywhere in North America.” The steel cable supporting the new ski lift began its journey near Lyon, France, at ArcelorMittal Bourg-en-Bresse. Only premium high-tensile strengthwires were selected tobuild the 20,000 foot cable according to the customer’s (Leitnerpoma) specifications. The technical name for the ArcelorMittal cable is: 6*36WSR, compacted-strand, low-stretch, solid-plastic core design. The minimum breaking load is 550,782 pound-force. The exact dimensions are 19,782 feet long by 2.2 inches diameter. The finished cable is one of the heaviest stranded ropes ever produced for such an application in North America. The rope was wrapped around a specially constructed reel for its transatlantic journey. This reel was 12 feet in diameter by 10 feet wide, weighing around 172,000lb.

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AWC Charity Week 2012 Allied Wire & Cable’s 7 th Annual Charity Week celebrated family. A percentage of all sales between December 17 th and December 21 st were donated to the American Cancer Society, the Make-A- Wish Foundation, and the ASPCA.

donation from Charity Week will go to the American Cancer Society. In keeping with the celebration of family, two additional charities will join the American Cancer Society as beneficiaries of Charity Week 2012. On behalf of all the younger family members, $1,000 will go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. Also planned is a $1,000 donation to the Amer- ican Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA).

In past years, Allied has asked its customers to help choose the charities, but this year the company is doing it a little differently. In honor of all the brave people currently battling cancer, including one of Allied’s own familymembers, Nikki Lucas, themain

wiredInUSA - January 2013

New York's solar skyline

The multi-million dollar installation, covering roughly the area of two professional football fields, is one of the largest in the state of New York and, when operational in early 2013, will generate energy for the 24-acre technology, office and industrial complex in the heart of Yonkers. "We are thrilled to bring this cutting-edge solar energy system to i.Park Hudson in Yonkers at no cost to the State, County, City or landlord," said Michael Hastings, CEO of Half Moon Ventures. In the case of i.Park Hudson, where tenants include heavy consumers of electricity such as Kawasaki Rail Cars, the solar energy system will provide as much as 15 percent of the power to the complex, dramatically reducing its reliance on Con Edison's system, especially during peak summer hours. "The City of Yonkers is proud to be home to Westchester County's largest commercial rooftop solar power system," said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano who, as a member of the State Assembly, co-sponsored the New York Solar Industry Development and Jobs Act.

On 5 th December 2012, Half Moon Ventures, LLC (HMV), a Chicago- based developer of solar and wind energy projects, unveiled its first solar electric power generation system in New York at a ceremony on the roof of i.Park Hudson.

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Hurricane Sandy prompts upgrade

Power line through Alberta

Copper slides on fiscal cliff

Fiber meets solar

Verizon Communications Inc is replacing copper wire damaged by Hurricane (later Superstorm) Sandy with fiber optic cable, a move that will allow the company to sell more services to its customers. The accelerated installation of fiber cable in stormdamaged areas lowers the maintenance costs for the company while providing an almost instant increase in revenue from customers, Verizon chief executive Lowell McAdam revealed at a UBS conference in New York. As a result, the company expects to exceed its target of 200,000 customers converted to fiber from copper in 2012 with conversion being "substantially more" in 2013, Mr Mc- Adam said. Verizon is aiming to transfer as many services as possible away from the older, slower copper lines and onto its faster FiOS network.

The Alberta Utilities Commission (AUC) has approved a $1.5 billion high voltage power line project through the Edmonton–Calgary corridor. The 500kV direct current Western Alberta Transmission Line will be built by Canadian transmission firm AltaLink. Over 60 percent of the route parallels existing power lines to minimize the visual and environmental impact of the project. AltaLink CEO Scott Thon commented: "This project is absolutely 100 percent for Albertans and it is about reliability in our system and making our generation sector more competitive." The AUC, a quasi-judicial agency of the province of Alberta, regulates the utilities sector, natural gas and electricity markets.

On 7 th December, thewebsiteCopper Investing News reported that copper prices had dipped, due to concern that US lawmakers will be unable to agree a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff – spending cuts and tax increases that are set to automatically come into effect in 2013. Copper had been boosted earlier in December by hopes that a deal could be reached, and by signs that demand for copper is improving in China, the world’s largest consumer of the metal. ThomasKeller,CEOofChile’sCodelco, the world’s largest copper producer, said that China’s commitment to urbanization and industrialization should give the copper market a “healthy boost” in the coming years. Keller also said that even if China’s economy only grows by a single digit, “there’s still a lot of tonnage adding to the demand globally.”

An international team of engineers, physicists, and chemists has created a fiber optic solar cell. The cells are thinner than human hair yet produce electricity, and theUSmilitary is already interested in the possibility of weaving the threads into clothing that could provide a wearable power source for soldiers. The optical fibers are made from glass. Using high-pressure chemical vapor deposition, n-, i-, and p-type silicon is injected into the fiber, turning it into a solar cell. These silicon injected fiber optic threads are identical to conventional solar cells, and generate electricity using the photovoltaic effect. Unlike other solar cells, these fiber optic solar cells have a 3D cross-section and retain the glass fiber’s intrinsic flexibility.

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wiredInUSA - January 2013

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3D material for energy storage

The seamless bond is created by the sharing of the electrons of the adjacent carbon atoms in the two materials. This essentially fuses them into one material. “Many people have tried to attach nanotubes to a metal electrode and it’s never gone very well because they get a little electronic barrier right at the interface,” explained James Tour, Rice University chemist, and lead researcher on the study. “By growing graphene on metal (in this case copper) and then growing nanotubes from the graphene, the electrical contact between the nanotubes and the metal electrode is ohmic. That means electrons see no difference, because it’s all one seamless material.”

Researchers from Rice University have developed a graphene and nanotube hybrid that they believe could prove to be the best electrode interface material possible for energy storage uses. In appearance, the material is described as, “forests of carbon nanotubes that rise quickly from sheets of graphene to astounding lengths of up to 120 microns. A house on an average plot with the same as- pect ratio would rise into space.” The vast surface area that this provides (over 2,000m 2 per gram of material) is the primary factor in creating energy- storing supercapacitors. The hybrid is a combination of a two-dimensional sheet of graphene with nanotubes, into a seamless three-dimensional structure.

wiredInUSA - January 2013 wire In - Ja ary 2013

wiredInUSA - January 2013

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Trouble Glowing plastic light bulbs

General Cable acquisition

new

The new lights use as little electricity as LED bulbs — half as much as fluorescent lamps — while emitting a comfortable white light. "People often complain that fluorescent lights bother their eyes and the hum from the fluorescent tubes irritates anyone sitting at a desk underneath them," said David Carroll, the light's lead researcher. “The new lights we have created can cure both of those problems and more,” he added. The bulbs are made with a plastic material that gives off light when an electric current runs through it. Carroll and his team added carbon nanotubes to the plastic, which enabled it to give off five times more light. Their ideas build on a technology called field-induced polymer electro- luminescence that researchers have been working on for over a decade.

General Cable Corporation has completed the acquisition of Alcan Cable China. Alcan Cable China represents a little over 10 percent of Alcan Cable revenues. “Alcan Cable China has a vertically integrated manufacturing plant in Tianjin, China and ten regional sales offices. Since its start-up in 2007, the business has matured in a relatively short amount of time building a sales infrastructure and a premium brand with a strong reputation in the Chinese market, which represents nearly one-third of global wire and cable demand. “We believe the synergies of this acquisition coupled with an established platform from which to introduce and grow other General Cable product lines, further enhances the value proposition to our customers. We are honored and proud to become part of General Cable,” said Alex Tham, MD of Alcan Cable China. Gregory B Kenny, president and CEO of General Cable, said: “We are pleased to have completed the second and final step of the acquisition of Alcan Cable. We have brought together two companies with more than 200 years of combined experience in the wire and cable industry serving important markets in North America and now China.” General Cable estimates that the overall Alcan Cable business will contribute between $650 million and $700 million in annual revenues at current aluminum prices.

TechNewsDaily that researchers have created a glowing plastic material that can be formed into bright white, energy-efficient light bulbs in various shapes – from domestic bulbs to glowing 24 inch x 48 inch flat sheets. Wake Forest University in North Carolina, where many of the light's creators are based, is working with a company to develop commercial versions of the bulbs that could be on sale in 2013. reports

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Texas grid sets record

Changes on the board The Fiber to the Home (FTTH) Council Americas, a non-profit organization of nearly 300 companies and organizations dedicated to ex- panding the availability of ultra high speed broadband, has elected three industry executives to its board of directors for 2013. In recent voting, thecouncil elected Walt Donovan, vice-president of telecom business development for Quanta Services, and Scott Jackson, business development manager of Smart Grid for Graybar Electric Company, to three-year terms on the nine-member board. Re-elected to a three-year term on the board was Kevin Morgan, director of marketing for ADTRAN. Serving as chairman of the board in 2013 will be Kevin Bourg, senior director of global market develop- ment for Aurora Networks. He has been active in the FTTH Council over the years serving on the tech- nology and planning committees as well as chairperson for the 2012 FTTH Conference & Expo in Dallas.

Texas set anewrecord inNovember, for the percentage of electricity generated by wind power – 26% of total supply across the state’s main grid system. On 10 th November, wind turbines generated 8,521MW of electricity. This total was enough to power 4.3 million average Texas homes and represented 85 % of the state’s optimal wind generation output, according to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT). ERCOT manages the grid for 85% of the state’s total electric load, matching supply and demand for 23 million customers across 40,500 miles of transmission lines. Texas already has the most installed wind capacity of any state in America with a total of 10,929MW and 10,000MW within the ERCOT system. Roughly 21,000MW of new wind turbines are currently under review by ERCOT, and the state is nearing the completion of several massive transmission projects designed to move wind power from West Texas to eastern metropolitan areas where demand is highest.

Expanding wire harnesses

The Sentral Group has acquired TennesseeWire Technologies in a move to extend its manufactur- ing capabilities and locations. Tennessee Wire Technologies is among leading suppliers of wire harnesses, wire leads and control panels into the industrial and HVAC markets. “Regional manufacturing is an initiative we started over a year ago to expand our capacity while dramatically enhancing our ability to respond quickly our customers' changing demands,” said Sentral president David Ritland. “The industrial and environmental markets serviced so well by Tennessee Wire are a perfect complement to our core competencies and diversified customer base,” he continued.

As part of the Tennessee Wire acquisition, Sentral also forms a joint venture with Sinbon Electronics, based in Taipei, Taiwan. The venture enhances Sentral’s ability to provide competitive pricing on high-volume repetitive products augmented with local warehousing support. The Sentral Group now has over 165,000ft 2 of manufacturing space in the United States, and over 300 full-time employees. Sentral Assemblies, founded in 1990, is a manufacturer of custom wire harnesses, cable assemblies, tubing assemblies and electro-mechanical assemblies and is among the largest privately-owned cable assembly companies in the US.

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wiredInUSA - January 2013 wiredIn - January 2013

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get browsing

The 2013 Northwire-NWI Lab360 United States product and service catalog is now available fromNorthwire. Available in print or downloadable formats, the catalog presents complex technical information in a way that customers can use to source standard and custom-built wire and cable products. NWI remains committed to providing customers with technical specifications in an easy to use format. Northwire-NWI Lab360 designs, manufactures and provides contract engineering services of custom technical products including custom wire and cable, retractiles, assemblies, connectors, harnesses, injection and over-molded products. NWI's 2013 catalog uses what the company terms “infographics”. Created by NWI, these largely universal illustrations help customers to source wire and cable products. At a glance, Northwire's infographics illustrate extreme engineering specifications for wire and cable products such as hazardous area, oil resistant, flame resistant, cut resistant, extreme temperature and more, including torsional, rolling, variable, bending and continuous flex capabilities. The catalog is shortly to become available in Spanish.

Special cash dividend announced The board of directors of Insteel Industries Inc has declared a special cash dividend of $0.25 per share on the company's common stock. This is in addition to the company’s regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.03 per share.

“We believe the special dividend is an effective vehicle for delivering value to our shareholders without compromising our strong balance sheet and financial flexibility,” said HO Woltz III, Insteel’s president and CEO. “We elected to make this payment before the end of the year in view of the ongoing uncertainty surrounding future dividend tax rates.” While the company intends to pay regular quarterly cash dividends for the foreseeable future, the declaration and payment of future dividends, if any, are discretionary and will be subject to determination by the board of directors each quarter after taking into account various factors, including future changes in dividend tax rates, general business conditions and the company’s financial position, operating results, cash requirements and growth opportunities. Headquartered in Mount Airy, North Carolina, Insteel operates nine manufacturing facilities located in the United States, producing steel wire reinforcing products, prestressed concrete strand and welded wire reinforcement, structural mesh and standard welded wire reinforcement.

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Growth for telecom cables until 2017

Lucintel, a management consulting and market research firm, has analyzed the global telecom cable industry and offers its findings in its latest research report, "Global telecom cable industry 2012-2017: trend, profit, and forecast analysis." According to the report, the industry experienced good growth during 2006–2011 and is expected to retain the same growth momentum over 2012–2017. The forecast is to reach an estimated $25.4 billion by 2017 at a compound annual growth rate of 6.7 percent over the next five years. Lucintel has identified that technologi- cal challenges, supply and demand market, government regulations, tight liquidity positions, and scarcity of skilled workforce are the major

industry growth challengers. Increasing budget allocation, positive trend in telecom sector, new technological advancements, supportive GDP growth, and high investments made by private companies are the drivers providing the industry with a competitive advantage. The research report provides an understanding of recent industry scope and overview, global macro- economic overview, relative market attractiveness by region, annual industry trend, emerging trends, industry forecasts, Porter's five forces analysis, product launches and merger and acquisitions that determine the regional and segmentary opportunities, competitive landscape, and profitability trend and analysis of the major industry players.

New research reveals that a well-designed combination of wind and solar power with energy stored in fuel cells and batteries could power the grid 99.9 percent ofthetimeby2030.Anarticle by scientists at the University of Delaware and Delaware Technical Community College, published in the Journal of Power Sources, estimates that the combi- nation would nearly always Renewables potential to power the grid 99.9 percent of the time

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exceed electricity demand and keep costs low. “These results break the conventional wisdom that renewable energy is too unreliable and expensive,” says co-author Willett Kempton, professor in the School of Marine Science and Policy at the University of Delaware. The researchers designed a computer model to consider 28 billion different combinations of renewable power sources and energy storage options, tested over four years of historical weather data and electricity demand. The calculations show, for example, that a large electric system

capable meeting demand of 72GW could be run 99.9 percent of the time on 17GW of solar power, 68GW of offshore wind and 115GW of onshore wind with hydrogen energy storage. When renewable energy fails to meet demand, additional energy is drawn from storage and, in the rare event of this not meeting demand, fossil fuel power would be called in. The researchers say that moving to such a heavy dependence on renewables could also reduce costs, compared to continued use of fossil fuels. of

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Expocentre fairground - Moscow

North America takes group stand in Russia

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

exhibitors from more than 30 nations will participate. The event will again be jointly organized by Messe Düsseldorf and its subsidiary Messe Düsseldorf Moscow – with the support of leading Russian and interna- tional industry associations: All Russian CableScientificResearchandDevelop- ment Institute (VNIIKP), the International Wire & Machinery Association (IWMA), the International Wire and Cable Exhibitors Association (IWCEA), the German Wire and Cable Machine Manufacturers Association (VDKM), the Austrian Wire and Cable Machinery Manufacturers Association (VDKM- AWCMA), the International Wire and Cable Exhibitors Association-France (IWCEA-France) as well as the Italian Wire Machinery Manufacturers Asso- ciation (ACIMAF) and the Wire and Cable Industry Suppliers Association (WCISA).

The next staging of wire Russia will take place from 25 th to 28 th June at the ZAO Expocentre inMoscow. A special feature at the event will be the North American group stand, organized by Messe Düsseldorf North America and supported by the Wire and Cable Industry Suppliers Association (WCISA). This group stand provides a cost effective means for companies to enter into or to expand their business in the Russian market- place. Exhibit space on the stand can be reserved now by contacting Messe Düsseldorf North America. The Russian Market has been very strong and continues to provide business opportunities for international companies producing, processing or trading wires and cables. In addition to the North American group stand, exhibitors from Austria, China, France, Germany and Italy will be represented within official country pavilions. Overall, over 200

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EUROPE NEWS

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A manufacturer of recycling equipment, Eldan Recycling, has deliveredacomplete cable recycling plant to Austria. The recycling equipment is already up and running at full production capacity. The recycling plant processes mixed cables, hard and fine wire as well as power cable, at approximately 2.5 ton per production hour depending on the type of cable. “We have through the experience during the many years we have designed, developed and manufactured different kinds of machines and production lines incorporated the possibility to make tailor-made as well as standard solutions. This order shows our capability to make a mid-size cable recycling plant in the middle of Europe with equipment made in Europe,” said Dr Toni Reftman, MD at Eldan Recycling. Eldan Recycling is a leading manufacturer of equipment for recycling of tires, cables, electronic waste and refrigerators. The company’s track record shows over 830 complete plants and 7,100 single machines installed in more than 60 countries. Cable recycling plant to Austria

According to state-owned energy agency Dena, Germany’s power lines may require investments of US$55 billion by 2030 to cope with renewable energy generators feeding electricity into the network. Citing a study it compiled with regional grid operators, Dena said that distribution grids will need to expand by 193,000km (120,000 miles), while 25,000km of current lines will need upgrades if the share of renewables in Germany’s energy mix rises from 26 percent to 82 percent by 2030. Merkel announced the intended move to replace nuclear reactors with more fossil- fired plants and a growing share of clean energy sources, power supply has moved to the center of the political agenda in Germany. Germany must stabilize its grids as it adds wind farms and solar parks, which are subject to irregular output as the weather changes. Dena said that Germany must also adapt the regulation of returns for grid operators because current levels fail to account for the high investments needed in the future. German grid demands investment Since chancellor Angela

Norway to Germany construction

Marine maintenance renewed

KfW IPEX-Bank, Norwegian power grid operator Statnett, and TenneT TSO GmbH, have concluded a cooperation agreement to develop and construct a subsea cable between Germany and Norway. The high-voltage DV interconnector will enable energy to pass between Germany and Norway and help improve the distribution of renewable energy sources between the two countries. The integration of the Norwegian and German electricity markets, which thus far are not connected directly, is expected to ensure greater grid stability in both countries, increase market efficiency, and stabilize prices between seasons. The three-party agreement provides for a 50:50 partnership between Norway and Germany. Norway's state-owned Statnett will own 50 percent of the project. On the German side, KfW and TenneT will jointly own 50 percent of the project via a newly established project company. The target is for operation of the cable to commence in late 2018.

Alcatel-Lucent and Main One Cable Company Ltd have renewed their marine maintenance contract for Main One’s 7,000km submarine cable system connecting Portugal to Nigeria. Delivering high-speed bandwidth of 1.92Tbit/s, the cable gives access to global information, data and markets in Western Africa. As a member of the Atlantic Private Maintenance Agreement (APMA), Main One will continue tomanage andmaintain the network. Under the service level agreement, Alcatel-Lucent will make available its maintenance vessels, as well as specialist personnel for cable repairs. Philippe Dumont, head of Alcatel-Lucent’s submarine network activity, said: “Com- bined with the recent redistribution of our maintenance vessels in the Atlantic, our Cape Verde-based cable ship will offer the shortest possible mobilization time for any repair operations off West Africa.” Alcatel-Lucent currently maintains over 300,000km of critical submarine cable infrastructure worldwide.

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Schleuniger Inc, a member of the Wire Harness Manufacturer’s Association (WHMA),will presentandexhibitat the2013 WHMA Annual Wire Harness Conference at the Renaissance Hotel in Las Vegas in February, 2013. Theconferencewill include presentations on issues facing the industry and include a small trade show of leading suppliers. During the trade show, Schleuniger will demonstrate wire-stripping machines. At WHMA 2013, attendees will have the opportunity to meet with Schleuniger’s wire processing experts and experience hands-on demonstrations of the UniStrip 2300, RotaryStrip 2400 and UniStrip 2550. These programmable wire stripping machines feature an intuitive touch screen user interface, are able to strip different wire sizes without requiring mechanical adjustments and have a highly responsive trigger sensor. In addition to exhibiting in the trade show, Schleuniger will provide a short presentation during the “What’s New in the Industry” session, highlighting the company’s latest products and solutions. Schleuniger at WHMA wire harness conference

Distribution partner

London Gateway sent reeling

Subsea 7 has awarded a contract to ABB to provide a power link for the Martin Linge (formerly known as Hild) field. The project is a joint development between Total E&P Norge AS in the North Sea and the Norwegian power grid and production is expected to begin in 2016. The Martin Linge field will receive its electricity feedthrough (what isbelievedto be) the world's longest subsea alternating current link – a 162km high-voltage submarine power cable, 370m below sea level at its deepest point. "This electricity cable connection will help reduce environmental impact," explained Brice Koch, head of ABB's power system division. The 145kV three-core polymeric insulated (XLPE) submarine cable will be capable of supplying up to 55MW AC power from the mainland grid to the new field. The cable will include fiber optic links to allow the facilities to be controlled from shore. ABB's XLPEsubmarinecablesaredesignedfor low electrical losses, high tensile strength and resistance to solvents, oil and abrasives. ABB's project scope extends from the technical pre-studies to installation of the cable system. The loneliness of the long distance power link

Brand-Rex has appointed Intec Systems & Solutions as a distribution partner for Sri Lanka. The company will offer the full range of Brand-Rex copper and optical cabling systems in the region. Regional manager at Brand-Rex, Andrew Gomez, said: “I’m delighted to announce the appointment of Intec Systems & Solutions to become one of our distribution partners. Brand-Rex has placed technology, innovation and customer service at the heart of its business strategy in recent years and we believe that this new relationship will allow us to thrive in the Sri Lankan market.” Gomez added that with this new appointment, Brand-Rex will now be able to offer a service in Sri Lanka that he believes to be unmatched in the industry. Intec Systems & Solutions MD, Janaka Somananda, said: “We are delighted with the appointment and are looking forward to a successful relationship together. We are committed to ensuring that we provide our customers with leading edge products and systems to exceed their needs. The new appointment will ensure we continue to do so.”

Tratos has received an order to provide Tratosflex ESDB reeling cables for the London Gateway, the UK’s first major deep-sea container port. Situated 25 miles east of central London and due to open in late 2013, the port is among the most extensive developments in the UK and will provide entry into London for the world’s largest container ships. Tratosflex ESDB cables have been used extensively for similar applications world- wide, including the Jebel Ali Port in Dubai and the Busan Port terminal in Korea. The Tratosflex ESDB range is described as being different from other reeling cables available as Tratos engineers have modified the internal cable design, tightening the structure against the internal relative movement to accom- modate high-speed applications. This prevents the common problem of twisting that affects cables reeling at high speed. Tratosflex-ESDB cables can operate in temperatures from –20ºC to +60ºC.

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IWMA delighted to support the new wire South America 2013

The IWMA is delighted to announce its support of Messe Düsseldorf GmbH for the new wire South America 2013 in São Paulo, Brazil, from 1 st to 3 rd October. A fantastic exhibitor package is available to ensure that members have the opportunitity to be part of this landmark event. Brazil is one of the world markets with emerging growth and is now the sixth largest economy in the world. The country has long been the second largest global producer of iron ore and the eighth largest manufacturer of steel. It is the third largest aircraft manufacturer and the fourth largest automobile maker. It also has some two million kilometers of highway, 70 airports and by far some of the largest deposits of oil and gas in the world. Brazil is also widely seen as having considerable economic potential, due to, among other reasons, its rapid pace of industrialization, its political stability and its considerable reserves of raw materials and resources. Brazil belongs to the states emerging from the BRICS – Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Stand size 12 m² (4 x 3m) • Shell scheme stand in prime location • Grey carpet floor covering • White stand partition walls – 250 cm high • Fascia with black lettering • Transfer between airport and hotel • 1 x information desk including lockable cupboard • Brazilian Portuguese/English interpreter • Daily booth cleaning • Free hospitality services on IWMA stand • Free office and internet service on IWMA stand • Practical advise during build-up from IWMA office …..only €4,900.00 Management fee for non-members = €245.00 (includes 1 year’s membership) • 1 x square table with 3 chairs • 3 x spotlight • 1 x power socket • 1 x waste paper basket OPTIONAL EXTRAS • Additional stand fittings/furniture available RECOMMENDED TRAVEL AGENT Nextur Agência de Viagens e Turismo Ltda Web: www.nextur.tur.br - Email: viagem1@nextur.tur.br - Tel: +55 (11) 5585-4355

IWMA

Visit us at Interwire 2013 The IWMA will be heading to the Americas' largest wire and cable exhibition this year – Interwire in Atlanta, Georgia, from 23 rd to 25 th April. Introduced in 1981 and organized by the Wire Association International (WAI), the show crosses dozens of vertical industries including automotive, construction, aerospace, transportation, and communications, among others. Comevisit us at Booth 902 at theGeorgiaWorldCongressCenter. Free registration on WireFirst directory website All IWMA member companies are entitled to a free 12-month premium registration package on www.wirefirst.com , the world's number one online directory for the wire and cable industry. Some 100,000 visitors click on www.wirefirst.com each month to search in the region of 2,500 suppliers and manufacturers of wire and cable products and machinery. Visitors also keep up to date with the latest industry and technology news, as well as view up-coming exhibitions and other events so do not miss out on this valuable free promotional tool – check that your company is registered today by typing www.wirefirst.com/iwmamember.php into your internet browser and follow the instructions.

wiredInUSA - January 2013 www.iwma.org If you require further information on your www.wirefirst.com registration benefits or anything in connection with your company’s IWMA membership then please do not hesitate to contact the office. 34

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INDEX

Picture : Alessandro Paiva

Power generation from water pipelines?

ASIA & AFRICA NEWS

The novel device consists of an external hydroelectric generator and highly efficient spherical water turbine that dips into flowing water and reclaims residual pressure. When water passes through, the turbine drives a central rotating shaft and a micro generator to produce electricity. Turbineblades arecarefully sized to intersect the largest possible area of water flow and minimize water bypassing. To achieve maximum power output, the central rotating shaft is hollow on the inside to minimize energy losses when driving the generator and utilize the harvested energy in full. The team has also made the water more energetic, producing a stronger current to compress and accelerate the water flow. The turbine has no moving parts and does not need any lubricant.

PolyU's Department of Building Services Engineering, and the water supplies department (WSD) of the Hong Kong government have been working together to turn water mains into a source of power, reports the PhysOrg website. Hong Kong has a 7,800km water mains network, comprehensively monitored by WSD. The monitoring devices use power, so small turbines are to be placed within the pipelines to produce electricity from drinking water. The pipes are just a meter wide and hold far less water volume than a conventional dam, so the research team has created a highly efficient small turbine. The turbine will fit into a pipe, and uses just a small amount of hydroenergy to generate about 80 volts, enough to power four compact fluorescent light bulbs.

ASIA / AFRICA NEWS

wiredInUSA - January 2013

INDEX

Solar Project of the Year

Joint venture secures supplies

Toshiba unit in cable deal

Shanghai Fastener Industry Association

Shams 1, the 100MW concentrated solar power plant in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region, has won the Project of the Year award from the Emirates Solar Industry Association (ESIA). The Masdar project, developed in collaboration by Abengoa and Total, is the largest solar power plant in the MENA region. Locatied in Madinat Zayed, 120km south- west of Abu Dhabi, the plant extends over anareaof 2.5km²,withasolar fieldconsisting of 258,048 parabolic mirrors. “We are delighted that Shams 1 has received such a prestigious award,” said Yousif Al Ali, general manager of Shams Power Company. “This demonstrates the leading role that Masdar plays in the region’s renewable energy sector and a realization of the vision that our wise leadership has for renewable energy in the UAE.” When it begins feeding power to the Abu Dhabi grid in early 2013 the plant will generate enough electricity to power 20,000 homes, andwill offset 175,000 tonnes of C0 2 .

The Italian unit of Japan’s Toshiba Corporation has won a $243 million engineering, procurement and construction contract for part of an undersea power link between Italy and Montenegro. The deal includes the supply to Italy’s transmission operator, Terna, of high- voltage and direct current (HVDC) power conversion for 415km of 1,000MW underseacablebetweenthetwocountries. The new link to connect the Italian peninsula with the Balkans is set to cost $909 million and is expected to take four years to complete. Montenegro is a mountainous country with hydroelectric potential which Italian investors are keen to exploit. “Parts of Europe suffer energy shortages and long-distance transmission systems allow them to import electricity from neighboring countries,” Toshiba said in a statement, adding the project will contribute to the integration of southeastern Europe and European Union power grids. Equipment construction will begin in September 2013 for delivery in April 2015; the conversion stations along the route are expected to be on stream in September 2017.

On 29 th November 2012, the Shanghai Fastener Industry Association (SFIA) was founded at a conference held in Huating Hotel & Towers, Shanghai, China. Twenty- six companies were elected executive members of SFIA and Mr Xue Kangsheng, general manager of Shanghai Nanshi Screw Co Ltd, was elected to be president. Mr Feng Jinyao, president of China Fastener Industry Association, was invited to be the honorary president. Over 100 representatives of Shanghai fastener companies and about 200 guests from other regions’ fastener industry associations participated in the conference.

General Steel Holdings Inc, one of China's leading non-state-owned producers of steel products and aggregators of domestic steel companies, has announced that its Longmen Joint Venture has signed a one-year supply agreement with Tianjin Product and Energy Resources Development Co Ltd (Tianwu), through which Tianwu will provide Longmen JV with a minimum of 3 million tonnes of iron ore. "This agreement with Tianwu is another example of our successful efforts to enhance our raw materials procurement capabilities by establishing relationships with key suppliers," saidHenry Yu, chairman and CEO of General Steel. "The current pricing pressure facing the construction steel market reinforces the importance of access to high quality raw materials and maximizing production efficiency. The minimum quantities guaran- teed under this agreement coupled with the favorable purchasing terms will give us the resources needed to utilize more of our available production capacity. This increased access to iron ore and the recent efficiency improvements we have made at Longmen JVwill allow us to better meet thegrowingdemandforourproducts in Western China."

ASIA / AFRICA NEWS

wiredInUSA - January 2013

INDEX

Lear Corporation has announced that its new automotive wiring plant in Morocco's Amer Safliaarea is scheduled to open in 2013. The plant will create around 700 jobs, and is expected to increase significantly in the future based on the projected growth in Lear's Electrical Power Management Systems business. Lear currently operates three plants in Morocco – two in Tangier for electrical wiring systems and automotive seating, and one in Rabat, supplying electronics such as battery chargers to European car makers including BMW, Renault and Volkswagen. "Lear is proud to plan the opening of another world-class automotive electrical wiring plant as we focus on our customers' needs," said Mariano de Torres, Lear vice-president, Europe/Africa - electrical and electronics. "We also are pleased to be working with Morocco's MEDZ Atlantic Free Zone Investment and Fonciere Chella." Lear launches new facility

Solar collaboration

South Sudan steel

The UAE’s Shams 1 solar project will be the first large-scale solar project in the country when it is completed at the end of the year, and the largest of its kind in the Middle East. At full capacity, the 100MW concentrated solar project will power 20,000 homes. "We truly believe solar will be a major con- tributor to meeting our own requirements," said Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber, the UAE's spe- cial envoy for energy and climate change, and the CEO of government-funded Masdar, the majority investor in the project. "We are not like many other countries today that are in desperate need for complementary sources of power," Jaber said. "We are looking at it from a strategic point of view...we want to become a technology player, rather than an energy player." The Middle East region has largely avoided solar power on the grounds of cost, but technological advances have reduced costs and many oil-gas rich countries are reconsidering renewables amid growing demands for power. There are also fears, especially in Saudi Arabia, that their once seemingly limitless oil resources may have peaked and they could, in time, become net oil importers. Solar taking shape in UAE

Suntech Power Holdings Co Ltd is to supply approximately 100MW of solar panels for two projects being developed, built and operated by a consortium led by Main- stream Renewable Power in South Africa. The projects, at two separate sites in the Northern Cape of South Africa, will be designed and constructed by Siemens and operational by mid-2014. The solar systems are expected to gener- ate 180GW hours of electricity, enough to power approximately 15,000 households and displace approximately 180,000 tons of carbon emissions per year. "We are all proud to participate in the South African government's first round of tenders and be awarded as suppliers for these two photovoltaic plants. The combination of Suntech's technology and Siemens' execution strength as well as our strong local team set-up will form a perfect partnership that will set the highest standard for our partner Mainstream Renewable Power Ltd," stated Ted Scheidegger, CEO of Siemens solar and hydro division. The 100MW solar plants are among the first projects to be granted licenses under South Africa's first renewable energy independent power producer program (REIPPP).

The construction industry in Africa's newest nation, South Sudan, will receive a boost when a steel manufacturing facility begins operations in Juba early next year. Edward International Company Ltd started operations in January 2012 and has now established a factory to produce steel products including iron sheets and bars, electric cables and water pipes. "We will be producing all types of different building materials locally here. Since we will be producing locally, we [can offer a] competitive price," said general manager Kirolos Edward Assad. South Sudan is witnessing a rapid devel- opment drive after decades of civil war, but using chiefly imported construction materials. Starting with paint production in February 2013, the factory expects to employ over three thousand South Sudanese in the plant. Meanwhile, the under-secretary of commerce, industry and investment, Mr Simon Nyany Anei, has appealed for more investors to come to the Republic of South Sudan, explaining: "We need more industries for the development of South Sudan."

ASIA / AFRICA NEWS

wiredInUSA - January 2013

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