Members of the International Cablemakers Federation (ICF) elected Norman Adkins, COO of Southwire, as their new president. He succeeds Pascal Portevin of Nexans, who has served as president of the Austrian-based association since 2019.

“It’s an exciting time to be stepping into the role of ICF president,” said Adkins. “ICF is working to advance our future by unifying the efforts and power of connection among worldwide cable makers. We are all committed to innovation and the collaborations needed to address the huge opportunities and challenges of this time in history, and I look forward to the progress we will make together.”

Belden Inc, a global supplier of network infrastructure and digitization solutions, announced that the company has created a new award program designed to foster the next generation of innovative technologies.

A press release said that the newly created Joseph C. Belden Innovation Award “will shine the spotlight on the innovations that are powering the future in industries such as healthcare, manufacturing and telecommunications.” Entries are now accepted, with finalists announced next May, with the winner announced the following month.

The award is named for the innovator Joseph C. Belden, who in 1902 founded Belden Manufacturing to serve an unmet need he saw in the burgeoning telecommunications industry. “Joe Belden’s innovative spirit drove his company to become a trusted supplier for the radio broadcasting, TV and computer networking industries throughout the 20th century,” said Belden President and CEO Ashish Chand. “Today, Belden’s network infrastructure and digitization solutions are just the latest evolution in our 120-year legacy of innovation.”

The Joseph C. Belden Innovation Award will raise the profile of innovative companies through promotion and marketing as well as the opportunity to make invaluable industry connections. The competition will be open to small and medium-sized companies with revenues of $500 million or less, and eligible products must have been made available for sale on or after July 1, 2022. Award entries will be judged by a panel of industry experts and be evaluated for ingenuity and the value and benefit they deliver.

Winners and finalists will receive benefits such as networking opportunities with fellow innovators and industry experts, attendance at a June 2024 Belden innovation event where the winner will be announced, and a campaign promoting their winning product or solution.

More details can be found at www.belden.com. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Belden has manufacturing capabilities in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

India’s STL (Sterlite Technologies Ltd.) announced the official launch of its new manufacturing facility in Lugoff, South Carolina, a $56 million investment that will serve the growing demand for optical fiber cable.

A press release said that the 168,000-sq-ft factory—referred to as the “Palmetto Plant,” after the state tree— represents STL’s commitment to “Made in America.” It is the company’s first such manufacturing plant in the U.S., employing more than 150 people. The site was inaugurated by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, and lauded by STL Managing Director and Whole Time Director Ankit Agarwal.

Paul Atkinson, CEO of STL’s Optical Business Division, told WJI that the project—which had not been previously announced—is STL’s first such production site in the U.S. The company, he noted, has been serving the U.S. market for many years through its global production facilities, with some local value add in the years past.

“This facility mirrors our ethos and STL’s larger purpose: Transforming Billions of Lives by Connecting the World,” Atkinson said. “I am excited to see its impact on America’s rural connectivity and digital landscape.”

The plant will serve the market demand generated by 5G, FTTx, and the push for rural broadband, specializing in future-ready optical solutions, including high fiber count cables with smaller diameters. The focus will extend to pioneering designs, notably high-capacity ribbonized cables and ruggedized designs for rural deployments. Listed on Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India, STL is active in more than 150 countries and holds many patents.

Of note, STL has partnered with TruVista, also based in South Carolina, manufacturing and building fiber networks “for South Carolina from South Carolina.” Since 2021, STL has provided optical fiber cables to TruVista, a 125-year-old provider of broadband services and applications—that has been active expanding fiber optic connectivity across rural South Carolina. Fittingly, “TruVista even provides fiber connectivity to STL’s Optical Fiber Cable facility in South Carolina, highlighting the collaborative nature of this partnership. Looking ahead, STL is working toward growing this partnership further to continue rural FTTH deployment in South Carolina and beyond.”

Outside the U.S., STL operates manufacturing facilities in six different locations in India. That includes one plant that was the first optical fiber cable plant in India to receive zero waste to landfill certification.

Prysmian wins €630 million contract from Terna for Adriatic submarine cable project

The Prysmian Group has been awarded a contract worth approximately €630 million from a subsidiary of Terna SpA, an Italian power grid operator (TSO), that will connect the Italian regions of Abruzzo and Marche.

A press release said that the Adriatic Link project route runs for approximately 250 km. It will be made up of two submarine cables accounting for some 210 km across the Adriatic Sea. The project also includes some 40 km of two underground cables connecting each landing point to the regional substation. Prysmian will also be responsible for the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of the High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) submarine interconnection.

The submarine cables with XLPE insulation will be made in Arco Felice, Italy, while the underground cables with P-laser insulation will be made in Gron, France. The HVDC bipolar cable line will allow transmission capacity up to 1,000 M, increasing the exchange of energy between Italy’s central-southern and central-northern areas.

The Group has made major investments in Arco Felice to strengthen its production capacity, transforming the plant as a technology hub for submarine power transmission cables in Europe. Installation will be carried out by two Prysmian Group’s cable-laying vessels: the Leonardo da Vinci and the Monna Lisa. The cable laying should be completed within the first half of 2028.

“This award confirms the mutual trust and long-standing relationship between Terna and Prysmian Group, as this is the latest of several projects we are working on with the Italian TSO,” H. Ozmen, EVP Projects BU, said in a statement. He noted that the project furthers development of strategic infrastructure by making available the best “Made in Italy” submarine cable technology, contributing to the enhancement of power transmission in the center of mainland Italy, “in line with the goals set out in the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), to further support Italy’s role as an electricity hub for Europe and the whole Mediterranean region.”

Including this contract, Prysmian Group’s Projects BU order intake exceeds €10 billion year to date, including preferred bidder agreements. The project will contribute to de-carbonzation of Italy’s energy system, reinforcing Italy’s role as the Mediterranean energy hub.

B.V. Twentsche Kabelfabriek (TKF), part of TKH Group N.V., officially opened its new production facility for fiber optic cables on Sept. 6 in Rawicz, Poland, an initiative described as an important company milestone.

A press release said that, with the new facility, TKF has doubled its fiber optic cable production capacity in Europe, which allows it to partially replace production capacity in China. The Rawicz location will bolster TKH’s ability “to supply Europe with innovative fibre optic cable solutions.”

The new plant, at full capacity, will have more than 75 full-time jobs at the site. It has some 10,000 sq m of space dedicated to fiber optic cable production. Construction began last March, “and now, just one and a half years later, the factory is already operational.”

The new facility is in line with TKF’s commitment towards a sustainable future. It was designed to meet ESG goals that include, among others, the use of a state-of-the-art UV LED, LED lighting and solar power.

“There is a great sense of pride among the workers here and the community,” said TKF Telecom Director Wim Bank. “Our expansion is an exciting move for TKF. By significantly increasing capacity in the European Union, we enhance our ability to meet the needs of our customers and strengthen our European competitiveness.”

The new cable factory is at the same location as E&E Cable Solutions. Both are part of the TKH Group. TKF, founded in 1930, has developed from a cable manufacturer to a technologically leading supplier of connectivity solutions. In June it announced that it had been awarded a cable supply contract by Ørsted, the global leader in offshore wind power. That project calls for it to supply and terminate close to 200 km of inter-array cables and other cables including accessories and connectors, all operating 66 kV for the 920 MW Greater Changhua 2b and 4 offshore wind farms in Taiwan.