Taihan Cable & Solution has received an approval from KEM, a Dutch testing center, for its 525-kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission cable that it said represents the first such one to be certified for a South Korean company.
In a press release, Taihan CEO Song Jong-min announced that the company’s 525kV VSC (Voltage Source Converter) HVDC land cable system was granted certification from KEM. This took place about eight months after the company’s successful development of the first 500kV LCC (Line Commutated Converter) system.
The company said that by increasing the cross-sectional area of the 3,000 sq mm conductor, it was able to raise the allowable conductor temperature to over 90° (194° F). That enables the cable to carry a greater amount of current, a big plus for large-scale power transmission.
The release said that the 525-kV cable is currently the highest voltage among commercialized cables, and that only a few companies in the world have achieved this level of technology. “We have secured unrivaled technological competitiveness in 525kV VSC HVDC cables,” an official from Taihan said. “As investment in power infrastructure expands worldwide, especially in developed markets such as the United States and Europe, we will be able to secure business opportunities in various HVDC projects.”
Once the company completes its submarine cable plant now under construction in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, it will accelerate the development and certification of submarine HVDC cable systems. “As the HVDC market continues to expand in the medium to long term, we are committed to ensuring our technological and business competitiveness.”
Press Releases
Germany’s August Strecker GmbH & Co. KG (Strecker) this year celebrates its 90th anniversary, with the family-run company continuing its legacy of outstanding quality and innovative welding technology.
Per the company, the commitment to innovation stems back to 1933 when Strecker filed its first patent, laying the foundation for future success. In the following years, the production program was constantly expanded, and sales markets enlarged. Today, Stecker’s product range is the most diverse for welding applications in the wire and cable industry, including models for diameters as small as 0.04 mm for the electronics industry to solid wires up to 60 mm in diameter. Basically, the company can weld any metal which is considered to be weldable.
In this its anniversary year 2023, Strecker is again presenting new products: the soldering gun type LP10 addresses manufacturers of high-voltage transformers while producers of submarine cables can now connect conductor cables up to a cross-section of 3500 mm², i.e., 67 mm diameter, with type MK1200-FPC.
The company’s circle of customers includes well-known international groups such as tire manufacturer Michelin, cable producers such as Nexans and Prysmian, and car manufacturers such as BMW and Volkswagen.
Strecker exports to more than 110 countries, with all five continents equally represented, with around 60% of production remaining in Europe. The company takes part in national and international trade fairs, making the “Strecker” brand increasingly well known worldwide, bolstered by a network of more than 40 foreign representatives who support sales and ensure close customer contact.
Beyond welders, Strecker supplies technical consultancy prior and after purchase, commissioning and personnel training at worldwide locations, as well as support in solving complex tasks related to welding and process optimization. Many issues can be resolved via remote maintenance, and service packages are offered for customers with time-critical production to ensure fast and reliable support every day of the week.
Strecker produces in a climate-neutral and sustainable manner. The company vehicle fleet is gradually being converted to e-mobility and employees are being motivated and encouraged to make the switch.
For almost 60 years, Managing Director Rainer Stock shaped the development and growth of the company. Following his death in 2022, his son, Michael Stock, has managed the family business, supported by key staffers Sigrun Möbus, Uwe Hastrich and Kim Schmitt.
Stock praised the contribution of employees. “Together we can be proud of what we have achieved. We draw motivation from this for continuous progress in the future. Strecker connects!”
David Cavassa, who has worked for some 24 years for manufacturers that include Pirelli Telecom Systems and Prysmian Cable Systems SpA in the U.K. as well as suppliers PGI Geca Tapes and Polyone, has opened a consulting firm called Cables & Solutions.
A press release said that Cavassa most recently worked for seven years at UL as business development manager for Europe, then remote global strategy & portfolio innovation manager, wire & cable. He was involved with the 2022 acquisition of Cimteq. He said that his goal is to provide companies the strategic information they need as well as connections with individuals and organizations that can help you run your business, grow revenue and improve your operations and profitability.
Cavassa, whose company is based in France, will primarily work with principals located in Europe, although he said he would be able to help some of them look for customers and partners in other parts of the world. “I also anticipate some of my future clients will be based outside Europe. Finally, I have extensive experience in working with customers, suppliers and partners outside Europe, therefore ‘Europa and beyond’ would best describe the plan.”
Prior to joining UL in 2016, Cavassa worked for three years as an industry consultant. Based on his collective experiences, Cavassa said that he gained a firm knowledge of work materials supply, cable manufacturing, wire and cable testing and certification. He also developed industry cooperations and partnerships that enable him to offer services such as market intelligence, market studies; new technologies, digital solutions; strategy, advisory, M&A, due diligence; materials, products, sourcing, manufacturing; and wire and cable testing, inspection, certification, and compliance.
Cavassa can be contacted at tel. +33-666-013-192, www.cablesandsolutions.com.
The IWCS reports that attendees are encouraged to register now for the 72nd annual IWCS Cable & Connectivity Industry Forum (IWCS), to be held Sept. 18–20, 2023, at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando, Florida.
The exhibits will be larger this year, with an estimated turnout of 100 industry-leading suppliers. Organizers predict that the event will continue the momentum from last year’s successful event in Providence, USA, the first in-person IWCS Forum held since 2019 due to Covid.
For more details and to register or seek hotel accommodations, visit
www.iwcs.org or contact IWCS Director/CEO Dave Kiddoo at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Perfection Industrial Sales, in association with Martin Kenner of Commission Brokers Inc., will hold a live auction via webcast for the sale of assets from two wire manufacturers.
The first auction, to be held Sept. 12, at 10 am central time, is for equipment from a major wire and cable manufacturer in Waukegan, Illinois. The vast majority of the equipment was being used for production until the end of June and is in good condition. The items include extruders, take-ups and payoffs, accumulators/dancers, different types of cablers; spiral stripers, taping and binder heads, steel reels, dual wheel capstan assemblies, silos and much more. The equipment—which is offered as-is, where-is—needs to be out before the end of the month. Further details can be found online at: www.perfectionmachinery.com/auctions/listings/.
The second auction, which does not have a date set yet, is for the remaining assets of a thermocouple wire manufacturer. That includes a Royle Teflon extrusion line, Wardwell braiders, Davis Electric rewinders and ancillary equipment.
For more details call Martin Kenner at Commission Brokers, Inc., at tel. 401-943-3777, or by e-mail at
either This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., www.commissionbrokers.com.
(PAWCATUCK, CONN.) – As part of a company-wide commitment to customer service and environmental sustainability, Davis-Standard’s manufacturing facility in Fulton, N.Y., recently attained ISO 14001 certification. This certification validates processes across the board, internally and externally, and serves as a benchmark for Davis-Standard’s ongoing pursuit of operational excellence, sustainable practices and process improvement. This is the third Davis-Standard facility to become ISO 14001 certified in addition to facilities in Finland and Switzerland. All of Davis-Standard’s global facilities are slated to become ISO 14001 certified by 2025.
“ISO 14001 certification directly aligns with our sustainability efforts concerning safety, quality and productivity to address customer needs while also strengthening internal practices,” said Giovanni Spitale, Davis-Standard CEO. “Every aspect of our business at all Davis-Standard facilities must support industry-wide quality standards in order to fulfill the value proposition we offer customers. This includes focusing on equipment development and manufacturing efforts that reduce waste, improve energy efficiency and recyclability.”
At the core of ISO certification is the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. This is achieved by enhancing customer fulfillment through an effective quality management system (www.iso.org). All issues are addressed at the source to support best practices.
Davis-Standard, LLC (www.davis-standard.com), headquartered in Pawcatuck, Conn., is a global leader in the design, development and distribution of extrusion and converting technology.
Milwaukee, Wisconsin – IEWC is pleased to announce that it has become a member of Affiliated Distributors (AD). AD is an international organization with over 850 independent distributor members serving the US, Mexico, and Canada. AD recruits high-performing, independent distributors with a positive track record of ethical and financial stability, above-average growth, and a willingness to collaborate and share best practices with fellow members.
About IEWC - (www.iewc.com) IEWC is a global distributor of wire and cable products, a manufacturer of custom fiber assemblies, and a provider of value-add solutions that advance a connected world. With 23 locations in 11 countries, IEWC serves a wide range of OEM and infrastructure customers, including sub-assemblers, installers, and contract manufacturers in multiple industries, including electric vehicles, automotive, telecom, data centers, industrial automation, aerospace & defense, and building systems. |
Solvay, a global market leader in specialty materials -- which include products for making cables -- has officially opened another application development lab (ADL) in Shanghai to expand the global footprint of its research and innovation capabilities. The opening ceremony of the new lab on May 12th was attended by Solvay’s Chief Technology Officer Nicolas Cudré-Mauroux and Andrew Lau, Senior Executive Vice President of the company’s Materials global business unit, and Francesco Triulzi, Head of Application Development Labs, Solvay Materials.
“There is an enormously growing demand for new application development in various Chinese key industries, such as automotive, life sciences and electronics,” states Andrew Lau, and adds: “Our new ADL addresses this trend with a significant investment aimed at responding to local market needs faster and with greater proximity to customers than ever, providing tailored high-performance material solutions.”
With a team of some 30 highly qualified and experienced scientists, engineers and technicians, the Shanghai ADL will be fully equipped to advance custom-tailored application developments using state-of-the-art Solvay technologies. An Innovation Workshop will coordinate the resources to accte the implementation of local solutions through world class simulation, prototyping and performance evaluation services, complemented by various dedicated process equipment, such as for 3D printing, extrusion and noise-vibration-harshness (NHV) improvements.
“The new ADL will follow a triple strategy focusing on local-for-local, global-for-local and local-for-global innovation,” explains Nicolas Cudré-Mauroux. “Unique facilities to support these efforts include a semiconductors clean room environment enabling high-purity and high-temperature testing, separation capabilities for hemodialysis and water filtration applications, and a functional and industrial coatings facility.”
Major local and global end markets expected to benefit from Solvay’s Shanghai based Application Development Lab will be automotive, new energy, life solutions and pharmacy, smart devices and semiconductors.
WireCo©, a leading manufacturer of mission-critical wire rope, synthetic rope and netting, and electromechanical cable, has launched brand-new production of Made in the USA high-performance crane ropes.
A press release said that, for the first time, “customers can now purchase Casar and Oliveira brand ropes proudly made in America.” The launch culminates WireCo’s investment of some $30 million to deliver the same quality ropes that customers have acquired from facilities in Germany and Portugal that are now also produced in Sedalia, Missouri. The new ropes follow the exact same manufacturing and testing protocols, but local production means improved availability and quicker delivery for U.S. customers.
“Our Casar and Oliveira ropes have long enjoyed great recognition and loyalty to our U.S. customers, but production in Europe posed logistical challenges,” said WireCo CEO Keith White. “We strongly believe our ropes and our brands deserve to be made in America, and our investments back that up. We’ve never invested this much capital in one single project. That’s the power of Casar and Oliveira ropes.”
The $30 million investment completely transformed WireCo’s Sedalia facility into a high-performance crane rope center, but the company has also invested in other facilities across the United States to satisfy the growing demand for customers for domestically produced ropes. The company is looking to add more than 40 jobs to help support the initiative.
In March, WireCo showcased the new ropes and the scope of its Made-in-the-USA project at its booth at CONEXPO, which is America’s largest construction trade show, in Las Vegas.
United Wire Company (UWC) has partnered with OEM FENN LLC to enable it to manufacture small wire sizes with exacting tolerances, such as medical grade stainless steel wire.
A press release said that UWC, a manufacturer of flat, square, and custom-shaped wire based in North Haven, Connecticut, saw demand for small wire that holds tight tolerances as well as the need for another supplier. “We reached out to FENN, a metal-forming machinery manufacturer based in East Berlin, Connecticut, and after collaborating with their team, they put together a custom two-stand wire flattening mill line to meet our specifications,” said UWC President Bob Swanson, Jr.
The line includes a horizontal spool payoff, two rolling mills, three dancers, a high-precision Turks head with motorized adjustment, a double drum capstan, and a traversing spool take-up. It can produce wire sizes as small as .005 in. x .010 in. and can hold a +/- 0.0001 in. tolerance. “With this new machinery, we will be able to support the medical industry, as well as supply smaller wire to spring and wire form manufacturers,” Swanson said. “Soon, we will offer 304 V and 316 LVM medical grades of stainless-steel product and precision layer wound packaging.”
ETNA Products, Inc., has acquired the metalworking fluids line of JTM Products, which is based in Solon, Ohio.
A press release said that the deal will bolster ETNA’s business focus, which is based in organic growth and strategic acquisitions. “The JTM metalworking product line brings state of the art technology to ETNA as well as a world class distribution network,” said ETNA President Mike Washington. “We believe that these core competencies are a great fit with ETNA’s state of the art manufacturing and R&D center. We will continue to evaluate additional strategic acquisitions.”
The company fully intends to continue its expansion, ETNA CEO Catharine Golden noted that the company plans to break ground on phase two of its plant expansion this spring to accommodate future growth moves.
Established in 1943, ETNA Products, Inc., located in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, is a leading supplier of lubricants for nonferrous drawing and stamping.
Southwire’s 12 for Life® is pleased to partner with the Independent Electrical Contractor’s (IEC) Atlanta and Georgia Chapters to provide a Skills-Based Electrical Installer Program to its students.
12 for Life, a collaborative partnership that began between Southwire and Carroll County Schools in 2007, provides classroom instruction, on-the-job training, key work and life skills, mentoring and employment opportunities. Through the program, students are motivated to stay in school, graduate and move ahead to become successful, productive members of the communities in which they live. Due to its growth and success in the west Georgia area, a second site for 12 for Life was added at Southwire’s campus in Florence in 2010.
Students who participate in the IEC Installer program will receive 36 hours of in-person, hands-on training that will prepare them to qualify for employment in an electrical wiring occupation after graduating from high school.
“This partnership is a practical way for us to connect electrical contractors with a trained workforce. According to IEC, there’s a need for at least 10,000 electricians across the United States, and many of those electricians are needed here in west Georgia,” said Joel Grubbs, 12 for Life site supervisor for Carroll County Schools. “Jobs in manufacturing may not be readily available when they graduate, so this training will give them an additional opportunity for employment.”
The certification program consists of nine days of training that are focused on interactive learning and includes hands-on activities. At completion of the training, each student will receive a course completion certificate, an OSHA 10 certification and a first aid card. Students will also qualify for the IEC’s Electrical Apprenticeship Program.
“The IEC’s Atlanta and Georgia Chapters are proud to work with Southwire and the Georgia Industry Foundation for Training (GIFT) to implement our Basic Skills Installer Training in the 12 for Life program through the Carroll County School System,” said Niel Dawson, executive director of IEC Atlanta and Georgia Chapters. “The program will provide ongoing basic skills training in the electrical field and expose them to a high-paying skilled trade that has the potential for a meaningful career. We look forward to this program continuing for years to come and the expansion of it in other school systems.”
A leader in technology and innovation, Southwire Company, LLC is one of North America’s largest wire and cable producers and an emerging influence in the electrical industry. Southwire and its subsidiaries manufacture building wire and cable, utility products, metal-clad cable, portable and electronic cord products, OEM wire products and engineered products. In addition, Southwire supplies assembled products, components, contractor equipment and hand tools. For more on Southwire’s products, its community involvement and its vision of sustainability, visit www.southwire.com.