EoW November 2011

CANDLES and cakes will be the order of the day in November as IWCS heads to Charlotte in North Carolina, USA, to celebrate its 60 th birthday. The show, from 6 th -9 th November, sees more than 100 companies head for the Charlotte Convention Center for its diamond anniversary exhibition. Having attended a number of the IWCS conferences I am under no illusion that this year’s will be planned down to the very last minor detail allowing all visitors to get the most from the four-day event. John Barteld, Pat Hudak, the directors and committee should be applauded for their sterling work over the years in making IWCS one of the conferences that is a must on the wire and cable calendars. Of additional interest, and to help the 60 th celebrations go with a bang, all registered attendees are invited to a cocktail reception on Monday, 7 th November from 6.30-8pm. The event is being hosted in the NASCAR Hall of Fame, immediately adjacent to the Charlotte Convention Center, where many famous NASCAR vehicles are on display, and there will be the chance, for a small fee, to take a ride in a race simulator. EuroWire’s sister publication, wiredInUSA has a preview of the conference and can be found at www.wiredinusa.com True diamonds worthy of a celebration

* US$33 purchase only Front cover: AlphaGary Corporation See page 91 for further details

E DITOR : ....................................... David Bell F EATURES E DITOR (USA) : .........Dorothy Fabian E DITORIAL ASSISTANT : .................Christian Bradley D ESIGN /P RODUCTION : ................Julie Tomlin P RODUCTION : ..............................Lisa Benjamin S ALES & M ARKETING : ................Jason Smith ( I NTERNATIONAL ) UK & ROW sales

Giuliana Benedetto Italian speaking sales Hendrike Morriss German speaking sales Linda Li Chinese speaking sales Jeroo Vandrevala Indian sales

A DVERTISEMENT C OORDINATOR : ............................Liz Hughes A CCOUNTS M ANAGER : ................Richard Babbedge S UBSCRIPTIONS : ..........................Liz Hughes P UBLISHER : ..................................Caroline Sullens F OUNDER : ....................................John C Hogg

INTRAS OFFICES

E UROPE :

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

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

Email : eurowire@intras.co.uk Website : www.intras.co.uk Website : www.read-eurowire.com Intras USA – Doug Zirkle Danbury Corporate Center, 107 Mill Plain Road, Danbury, CT 06811, USA Tel : +1 203 794 0444 Email : doug@intras.co.uk Jintras Ltd , Jeroo Vandrevala Subarna (Ground Floor) P21/N, Block A, New Alipore Kolkata 700 053, India Tel : +91 33 2407 07 01 Fax : +91 33 2407 07 00 Email : jeroo@intras.co.uk

USA :

I NDIA :

I

would

like

to our congratulations to everyone involved with IWCS and here’s to the next 60 years. offer

US copies only : EuroWire (ISSN No: 1463-2438) is published bi-monthly by INTRAS Ltd and distributed in the US by DSW, 75 Aberdeen Road, Emigsville, PA 17318-0437. Periodicals postage paid at Emigsville, PA. Postmaster : send address changes to EuroWire, PO Box 437, Emigsville PA 17318-0437 www.read-eurowire.com © 2011 Intras Ltd, UK ISSN 1463-2438

David Bell Editor

When you have finished with this magazine please recycle it

4

EuroWire – November 2011

contents

Technical Articles

56 Cables for

Photovoltaic Applications By Jorg Bor of Freidrich Lütze GmbH & Co KG, Stefan Grunwald of Lutze Inc, and Ilona Hirtz of Kabelwerke Villingen GmbH

Kabel für Photovoltaikanwendungen

62

Von Jorg Bor von Friedrich Lütze GmbH & Co KG, Stefan Grunwald von Lütze Inc und Ilona Hirtz von Kabelwerke Villingen GmbH

9

68

( «     & €» (Freidrich Lütze GmbH & Co KG)), ‚  ( «  .» (Lutze Inc)) ƒ  ( «€   » (Kabelwerke Villingen GmbH))

Câbles pour applications photovoltaïques

75

Par Jorg Bor de Friedrich Lütze GmbH & Co KG, Stefan Grunwald de Lütze Inc et Ilona Hirtz de Kabelwerke Villingen GmbH

Cavi per applicazioni fotovoltaiche

81

A cura di Jorg Bor di Friedrich Lütze GmbH & Co KG, Stefan Grunwald di Lütze Inc e Ilona Hirtz di Kabelwerke Villingen GmbH

34

Deutsch Inhalt 60 Neuigkeiten 91

Cables para aplicaciones fotovoltaicas

87

66 91

Ηο

Por Jorg Bor de Friedrich Lütze GmbH & Co KG, Stefan Grunwald de Lütze Inc e Ilona Hirtz de Kabelwerke Villingen GmbH

Inserentenverzeichnis

6

EuroWire – November 2011

Subscribe Now! Visit us online at: www.read-eurowire.com In The Next Issue Features On • Cleaning & descaling machinery & chemicals • Extruding machinery & equipment GettingTechnical High speed laser gauges for lay length measure- ment & FFT analysis for assessment of process stability

52

8

Diary of events

9

Corporate News

28

Transatlantic Cable

34

Technology N ews

48

Cable sheathing, armouring, printing & marking

52

Fastener & spring production

91

Editorial Index

91

Advertisers’ Index

Indice Español 85

Sommaire Français 73

Indice Italiano 79

Nouvelles du Marché Index des Annonceurs

Notizie del Mercato

Noticias de Mercado Indice de Anunciadores

91

91

91

Indice degli Inserzionisti

7

EuroWire – November 2011

date s for your diary . . .

2012

March 2012 26–30: wire/Tube Düsseldorf – trade exhibition – Düsseldorf, Germany Organisers : Messe Düsseldorf Fax : +49 211 45 60668 Email : wire@messe-duesseldorf.de Website : www.wire.de May 2012 22-23: Wire Expo – trade exhibition – Dallas, USA Organisers : Wire Association International Fax : +1 203 453 8384 Email : info@wirenet.org Website : www.wirenet.org June 2012 19-21: GuangzhouWire and Tube – trade exhibition – Guangzhou, China Organisers : September 2012 25–28: wire/Tube China – trade exhibition – Shanghai, China Organisers : Messe Düsseldorf China Ltd Fax : +86 216 169 8301 Email : www.shanghai@mdc.com.cn Website : www.mdc.com.cn October 2012 30–1 Nov: wire and Cable India/ Tube India – trade exhibition – Mumbai, India Organisers : Messe Düsseldorf India Fax : +91 112 697 1746 Email : info@md-india.com Website : www.md-india.com Julang Exhibition Co Ltd Fax : +86 203 862 0790 Email : meiwen@julang.com.cn Website : www.julang.com.cn

IWCS 2011

November 2011 6–9: IWCS 2011 – conference and symposium - Charlotte Convention Center, North Carolina, USA Organisers : IWCS Fax : +1 732 389 0991

Email : phudak@iwcs.org Website : www.iwcs.org

‘Sunset behind city skyline of Charlotte, North Carolina’ Photographer: Celso Diniz Photo credit: www.bigstockphoto.com

8

EuroWire – November 2011

corporatenews

With an eye on the future It bears a strong resemblance to a flying saucer, but the latest Nuna 6 solar powered vehicle, designed by a student team at Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands, was actually built right here on earth over the last 18 months – through sheer hard work, creativity and materials from Essen, Germany-based Evonik Industries. student teams, with Evonik’s support, rely on a tried-and-proven lightweight construction material for their racing models: a sandwich structure with carbon fibre-reinforced facings and a structural core of Rohacell® polymethacrylimide (PMI) rigid foam. University of Cranfield, and by Lotus Engineering, testify to the excellent crash properties of Rohacell®. So it is hardly surprising that a number of teams from, for instance, URE Eindhoven in the Netherlands, Sardar Patel College of Engineering in Mumbai, India, and Rennstall Esslingen with its Stallardo 11 racing car are using the structural foam for the crash part prescribed for the Formula Student international races. ▲ ▲ The aerodynamic bodywork of the Nuna 6 solar car from the Nuon Solar Team of Delft University in the Netherlands consists of a fibre composite sandwich using Rohacell® structural foam – Photo: Nuon Solar team

This design has been used with much success for many years in aircraft, helicopters, trains and ships, and is also rapidly gaining ground in automotive construction. Rohacell® structures allow weight savings of 60 per cent or more over conventional steel parts. The high rigidity of the foam also improves the inherent rigidity of the components. The high degree of design freedom allows for the realisation of the extraordinarily favourable aerodynamic properties of the bodywork of the Nuna 6 solar vehicle. Three-dimensional Rohacell® cores are easily and reliably produced by thermoforming with short cycle times. A wealth of ideas for using Rohacell® tests at KTH Aeronautical and Vehicle Engineering in Stockholm and the

Its bodywork consists entirely of a fibre composite sandwich containing Rohacell® structural foam, and its cockpit glazing of Plexiglas®. This makes the vehicle, weighing just 145kg, the lightest that the Dutch team has ever built, and about twice as light as the first Nuna model of 2001. Nuna 6 was due to participate in the 2011 World Solar Challenge in Australia in October, and the team hoped to be the first to cross the finish line of the 3,000km stretch, a feat it has already achieved four times. Every gram of weight saved in electric vehicles helps improve mileage and increase range. This is why many

This must be mounted in front of the chassis and should absorb energy in the event of an accident. At the Hochschule Ravensburg-Weingarten, on the other hand, Rohacell® is being used for the steering wheel, designed as a sandwich structure with integrated display. Weight saving is particularly effective in moving masses, which is why Munich’s TU fast racing team is using Rohacell®, even in their wheel-rim design. Evonik Industries – Germany

Fax : +49 201 177 3475 Email : info@evonik.com Website : www.evonik.com

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EuroWire – November 2011

corporate news

Change of name Leading supplier

Dow portfolio in an even wider capacity to bring new technology and products to market,” said Tim Laughlin, general manager. “Beyond this organic growth, we also are exploring several potential alliances with companies whose products and experience enhance or complement our own.” The Dow Chemical Company has an R&D and materials science heritage that is rich in solutions enabled by plastics, composites, additives and fluids. Combining these assets with Dow Electrical & Telecommunications knowledge and expertise, along with those of other strategic partners, creates a significant opportunity to bring even more value to the growing and dynamic power and telecommunications markets. Dow Electrical and Telecommunications – USA Email : info@dow.com Website : www.dow.com

With a growth strategy that moves beyond technology and materials for wire and cable jacketing, insulation, semi-conductive and speciality compounds for the power and telecommunications markets, Dow Wire & Cable has made the decision to change its business name to Dow Electrical & Telecommunications. This is an important step for a business already focused on power and telecommunications cable technology to further fortify its commitment to bring material science solutions to these industries and markets. Recent advances in bio-based chemistry have enabled the business unit to play a larger role in personal electronics, appliance, transportation and building and construction markets. “Electricity and electrical components are a common denominator across all power and telecommunications resources. After six decades serving these important markets, the time is right to leverage the

Established in 1979, MPI Machines Ltd, Gwalior, India, has supplied various types of wire and cable machines to all the leading wire and cable manufacturers in India, Sri Lanka, Middle East, Africa and Europe. The company has delivered five stranding machines to Sterlite Technologies Ltd and four to Apar Industries Ltd, and a drum twister line to a leading cable company in the Middle East. includes: wire drawing machines, rigid and planetary stranders, drum twister laying machines, sheathing lines, strip, wire/tape armouring machines, taping heads and cable rewinding machines. MPI Machines Ltd – India Fax : +91 751 401 5204 Email : sales@mpimachines.com Website : www.mpigwl.com The Product Range

10

EuroWire – November 2011

corporate news

Keynote presentations

developments and trends in automotive wires” Increased environmental and safety requirements combined with the customer preference for full comfort configuration and additional features will be a technical challenge for OEMs as well as suppliers. The next generation of EU specifications, which are still under discussion, will move the automotive industry into a new generation of extraordinary “clean” cars. The technological effort to fulfil these requirements is enormous. Both electromobility as well as engine improvement will be a key factor. Engine management will require strictly controlled exhaust gas emissions. The cable industry will support these technologies with special sensor cables for a wide range of exhaust gas sensors and onboard controls. Additionally, the miniaturisation of cables by conductor size reduction and cable downsizing will support the overall efficiency thanks to the weight reduction of wiring system components. The cable industry has significantly increased its efforts to develop weight

reduction designs and electromobility solutions. Features such as top view/area view, parking assist and driver assist systems are aimed at satisfying the customer’s growing desire for a higher level of comfort and safety. Leoni data cables define new standards for digital data transfers. Stuart Bullas, Tata Steel Europe, UK: “ Improvements in steel industry” This talk will cover improvements that the steel industry is seeking to provide its customers over the short term (two to three years) and the long term (five to ten years). These areas include cost control; defect reduction; general product improvements, such as drawability (without acid cleaning), higher tensiles, shorter lead times and innovation, among others. For more information visit www.cabwire -duesseldorf.com InternationalWire &Machinery Association – UK

Interest in CabWire continues to grow with more than 80 participants registered and only eight unsold table top exhibits for the conference in Düsseldorf from 7 th -8 th November. Apart from a high quality programme of technical papers and interesting plant tours to Leoni and Drahtwerk, Cologne, the conference features three keynote presentations: Philip Radbourne, Integer Research, UK: “An overview of the global cables market” This presentation, which will provide an overview of the current global market for cables, will focus on key trends, market drivers and technology demands and provide projections for future market direction. Topics covered will include the impact of renewables on smart grid investment, the recent developments of smart phone bandwidth demand on the cable sector, and the impact of high copper prices on the use of aluminium across the cable sector. Dr Klaus Probst, Leoni, Germany: “New

Fax : +44 1926 314755 Email : info@iwma.org Website : www.iwma.org

12

EuroWire – November 2011

corporatenews

New website goes live

After several months of work, Meltech’s newly updated websites have gone live. Following completion of the take over of Meltech-CRE (previously known as MeltechConfex) both organisations have gone through a first stage branding cycle to refresh the corporate appearance. Chairman Marcus Moir said: “This process has been about more than just generating an image for Meltech. “This is a continuing project aimed at standardising our internal and external communications to give our customers and partners the best and most effective experience possible.” Peter Drever, sales and marketing director, said: “We are proud that we employ highly skilled, motivated engineers who take a keen interest in industry developments. By also introducing a company blog we intend to talk regularly with our partners and the wider market place.”

▲ ▲ The newly updated website fromMeltech

Email : sales@meltech.co.uk Website : www.meltech.co.uk

Meltech Ltd – UK Fax : +44 1254 680 175

13

EuroWire – November 2011

corporate news

Saco’s AEI buy out unites the market leaders ▲ ▲ AEI’s UK headquarters at Sandwich, Kent

development platform in this industry to better serve its expanding customer base. In support of this aim, AEI Compounds has recently made significant investments in new production capacity for the manufacture of HFFR compounds as part of the relocation to its current facility in Sandwich. AEI Compounds Ltd will continue its current operations as a wholly owned subsidiary of Saco Polymers Inc. The entire senior leadership team of AEI Compounds will remain with the business. Saco expects that the combination of the respective product offerings and geographic strengths will greatly expand both businesses in the coming years. AEI Compounds Ltd – UK Fax : +44 1304 616 170 Email : info@aeicompounds.co.uk Website : www.aeicompounds.com

Saco Polymers Inc (formerly known as Padanaplast USA) has bought out AEI Compounds Ltd, headquartered in Sandwich, Kent, UK. This transaction represents a combination of the market leaders in the US and Europe/Middle East in the crosslinkable and polymer compounds manufacturing industry based on Sioplas technology. The companies share a market focus on the wire and cable and PEX plumbing pipe industries. In addition, AEI Compounds is one of the major suppliers worldwide of thermoplastic and silane crosslinkable halogen free flame retardant (HFFR) compounds to the wire and cable industry. The acquisition of AEI Compounds with principal markets in Europe, Middle East, Asia and Africa combined with Saco’s prominence in North America is a key step in Saco’s strategy to create the first truly global manufacturing and product

16

EuroWire – November 2011

corporatenews

Rolling drive is star of the You Tube show!

wire plating plants

candor

many other purposes apart from material traversing as shown in the video. For example, Uhing offer a paste mixer drive with counterforce-dependent switchover making complex electronics unnecessary. the Uhing online video is a benefit for all those who otherwise could inform themselves about the drive at fairs only. All interested persons can now get a picture of the rolling ring drive, its construction, motions and possible application. two clicks on www.uhing.com are sufficient to start the video: on the start page, choose your language. then click “Product video” under “Informations” in the menu bar to the left. Depending on your language choice, you can listen to the key statements of the video with background music in German or English, and you can play it as often as you like. Joachim Uhing KG GmbH & Co – Germany Fax : +49 434 790 640

tHE accuracy of its execution is what fascinates us in a motion – no matter whether it is slow or fast. to share this fascination with its most popular product, Joachim Uhing KG has published a web video showing its rolling ring drive. A video offers much more information than a thousand pictures: it shows the accurate motions the Uhing rolling ring drive ® is capable of. A brief practical video – some parts of which were produced in 3D for better understanding – introduces the viewer to the drive and its purely mechanic functional principle. Devoid of any artistic animation and gimmicks, the spectator sees how a rolling ring drive is manufactured and used. State-of-the-art CNC machines and systems are used to manufacture the drives. manufactured individually, it can be safely traced to one particular production operator. As every drive is

can do wire equipment

Electrolytic plating ◆ Candojet hot water cleaning ◆ Electrolytic & Ultrasonic ◆ degreasing Welding wire cleaning and ◆ copper coating Pickling & phosphating ◆

CANDOR Sweden AB Tel: +46 11 21 75 00 Email: info@candorsweden.com Fax: +46 11 12 63 12 Website: www.candorsweden.com

Email : sales@uhing.com Website : www.uhing.com

Of course, such a drive can be used for

The Uhing video on You Tube

▲

17

EuroWire – November 2011

corporate news

New senior vice president of operations

C&M Corporation, a vertically integrated manufacturer of bulk cable, coil cords and cable assemblies, has appointed Glenn Boswell as senior vice president of operations. Prior to joining C&M, Mr Boswell served as director of operations for Rexam. He has also held positions at LEGO Systems and The Wiremold Company and brings over 25 years of business acumen and a strong background in LEAN manufacturing. “Glenn’s previous success and career is built upon his strong underpinning of skills in continuous process improvement and a collaborative management style that is woven into his broad and global business acumen,” said John Laskowsky, C&M’s president and CEO. C&M Corporation, headquartered in Wauregan, Connecticut, is an integrated manufacturer of bulk cable, coil cords and cable assemblies (both moulded and mechanical). C&M offers manufacturing options in the US, Mexico and China and produces a wide range of cable interconnect solutions for the industrial, multi-media, Frigeco, Lecco, Italy, has appointed Piero Brunetti as area sales manager. Mr Brunetti will develop customer and business relationships with some of the main wire and cable industrial groups, as well as in some specific and strategic countries. He brings more than 25 years’ experience in the industry as he has held a variety of business unit, sales and after sales management positions with other wire and cable machinery companies.

▲ ▲ Glenn Boswell

renewable energy, military, medical, data collection, and datacom/telecom marketplaces.

C&M Corporation – USA Fax : +1 860 774 7330

Email : sales@cmcorporation.com Website : www.cmcorporation.com

Brunetti joins Frigeco

to expand its sales capabilities to bring the highest quality machinery products and services worldwide, as part of the company’s global strategy following the opening of its two additional Italian sites in Lainate and Ascoli Piceno. Frigeco is a global supplier of drawing, stranding and extrusion machinery to the wire and cable industry.

Mario Frigerio SpA – Italy Fax : +39 034 135 8156 Email : info@frigeco.com Website : www.mflgroup.com

He represents the latest in Frigeco’s efforts

18

EuroWire – November 2011

corporate news

Continually growing

A wide range of proprietary processing and shrink equipment, as well as equipment tooled precisely to the requirements of the customer, round off the portfolio. DSG-Canusa GmbH – Germany Fax : +49 222 588 9244

systems, eg for cabinets and braided cable sleeves for encasing and protecting wires, cables, pipes, hoses and foam to prevent mechanical damage. programme consists of partition casings, end caps, creepage-current–proof hoses, low- and medium voltage connection sleeves, connectors, terminals and repair sleeves. The energy provider

Since 2001 DSG-Canusa has been part of the Canadian ShawCor Ltd, an active energy services provider with over 5,000 employees in more than 20 countries. Since then DSG Canusa has recorded continuous growth. The steady increase in profits results from a comprehensive network of international clients who continually demand more new products. DSG-Canusa serves clients from military, space and aviation industries as well as from automotive, communications and electrical industries. Its expanding product portfolio inc- ludes thin-, medium- and thick-walled heat-shrink tubing made of polyolefins, fluoropolymers, elastomers and PVC, with or without adhesive coating. sealing systems, eg for longitudinal watertight sealing of cable harnesses, and marking DSG-Canusa also produces

Email : info-de@dsgcanusa.com Website : www.dsgcanusa.com

A new look for next chapter South West, UK-based renowned wire rope specialist, Tecni-Cable has announced a fresh new look for the next chapter in the Tecni ® story, launching its new logo to reflect the business’s evolving aspirations. The new Tecni ® brand image has been developed by Alder and Alder in Exeter to accommodate Tecni-Cable’s growing business and diversification into different sectors, such as sister company Tecni-Lift, which offers lifting equipment worldwide. Tecni-Cable – UK Fax : +44 845 519 0655 Email : sales@tecni-cable.com Website : www.tecni-cable.co.uk

20

EuroWire – November 2011

corporate news

Keighley Laboratories staff are approved as CAA weld specimen supervisors

▲ ▲ Keighley Labs’ CAA recognised test house

“This important CAA approval came about following a number of enquiries from customers, as to whether we could witness weld testing on behalf of the CAA,” said Matthew Mellor. “We spoke to the authority when they next visited our test house and the region’s assistant surveyor subsequently issued us with a letter of approval. “It’s quite a distinctive accolade, since I don’t know of any other technical laboratory that has the same status.” Keighley Laboratories Ltd – UK Fax : +44 1535 680 604 Email : info@keighleylabs.co.uk Website : www.keighleylabs.co.uk

metallic parts that are essential to the airworthiness of an aircraft, where the achievement of a sound metal-to-metal joint depends largely on the competency of the operator. For welders not employed by a CAA approved organisation, test samples must be prepared under the supervision of a person authorised as a signatory, then submitted to a CAA approved test house for examination. Keighley Labs’ newly-approved signatories can now undertake weld invigilations at the customer’s premises, then the samples can be examined and certificated at its CAA recognised test house, providing a critical one-stop service.

The Metallurgical and Laboratory Services division of West Yorkshire, UK-based Keighley Laboratories has achieved the unusual distinction of having three of its senior employees approved by the Civil Aviation Authority as Weld Specimen Supervisors. Keith Blower, Matthew Mellor and Peter Hanson have all been officially recognised as approved signatories for the purpose of witnessing and certifying aircraft-related welding of test specimens, as defined in the authoritative BCAR (British Civil Airworthiness Requirements) Chapter A8-10 on the approval of welders. The procedures outlined in Chapter A8-10 are applicable to those who weld

22

EuroWire – November 2011

By Hélène Latour

IT’S been four long years since Nexans launched their first sponsorship deal to help renovate one of the most visited monuments in the world, the Palace of Versailles. It would have been rude of me, EuroWire’s very own French import, not to pay a visit to my homeland and find out what the global cable giant has been doing during Phase One of the renovation of one of Europe’s most priceless attractions. This wasn’t just an opportunity for me to inform the readers of the major financial support offered by Nexans, but to witness first hand part of my heritage being brought back to life.

▲ ▲ Frédéric Vincent, chief executive officer of Nexans

A labour of love for the French heritage

Vincent, chief executive officer of Nexans, and Athem’s team (the project’s design and communication agency) as they went through each stage of the modernisation of the Chateau de Versailles. Nexans – it appears – felt compelled to undertake the works at their own expense, a generosity normally lacking and out of the ordinary in this day and age. The other reason we were there was to unveil the huge canvas, due to be draped over the main court of the castle while the work is being carried out. This huge structure now envelops the Versailles’ Royal Courtyard, covers some 1,000m 2 and welcomes visitors with an artistic and surprising sight that shows off the architecture and gardens.

A few hours on Eurostar and the Metro (Parisian tube network), trying to remember my French (I have lived in the UK for three years now) and I finally walked through the gold plated gate of the majestic baroque castle from the 17 th Century. I have, being French, been to the great Versailles before but in 2007 Nexans signed, for the first time in its history, an agreement of sponsorship to renovate the technical networks of the Château and Estate of Versailles. Because protecting the building also meant protecting the site and visitors, Nexans expect this year to renovate the electrical networks, meaning: • Upgrading the medium voltage installations • Attaining the highest safety standards • Modernising the electrical networks • Reorganising the Groves • Renovating the power system.

Sponsorship

n 2007: Great Versailles Palace Renovation of the power, data and communications network n 2011: Electriciens sans frontiers Mission to improve the living conditions of disadvantaged population providing electricity and water. Nexans will supply 50% of ESF’s annual cable needs for low and medium votage power cables n 2011: The Louvre-Lens Museum Nexans is providing the low and medium voltage cables and data cables for the museum’s new project

Continued on page 27

This we learned about from Jean-Jacques Aillagon, Versailles’ president, Frédéric

25

EuroWire – November 2011

▲ ▲ The air conditioning system at the Palace de Versailles

▲ ▲ Groundworks at the site, being sponsored by Nexans

26

EuroWire – November 2011

corporatenews

Additionally, the campaign is also to adopt trees, benches and statues in the grounds, something that Nexans has also agreed to underwrite financially. M Vincent said that Nexans was “glad that the company could again help the Etablissement public de Versailles modernise the palace and grounds, thereby contributing to its reputation worldwide. “What’s more, I am sure that associating our group’s name with an unprecedented, original work will be an additional source of pride for all our employees.”

The facts Figures Palace of Versailles phase 1

n 539km of cables (50% for electricity and 50% for communications) n 22% of Alsecure® cables n €670,000 worth of cables

I was then allowed underground, under the castle where visitors do not venture. There are small tunnels and secret passageways to be discovered – running alongside the new wire and cable installations, of course. The difference between the obsolete network present for years in the castle (my fingerprint on these dusty wires was proof of their old age) and what Nexans has provided since 2007 was undeniable. The company had donated a range of low and medium voltage power cables, telecommunications cables and fibre-optic cables manufactured at plants in Autun, Bourg-en-Bresse, Fumay and Lyon. Nearly a quarter of the networks have been replaced by Nexans’ Alsecure cable. This is part of a range of new fire-resistant cables developed to ensure the continued operation of building safety systems including fire detection, emergency lighting, voice alarm and public address, during the evacuation and fire-fighting period. In addition to meeting extreme fire conditions for extended periods, the Alsecure® cables are halogen-free and flame retardant, with minimal smoke emission. As for the future. Nexans is continuing with the sponsorship and is also contributing to other national heritage sites and global initiatives among disadvantaged communities.

Nexans – France 8 rue du Géréral Foy 75008 Paris, France Tel : +33 173 23 84 00 Fax : +33 173 23 86 38 Email : nexans.web@nexans.com Website : www.nexans.com

ss

The signing of the Palace of Versailles patronage agreement in 2007 Press conference at the estate of Versailles in 2011 with, from left, Frédéric Vincent, CEO Nexans, and Jean-Jacques Aillagon, president of the Château de Versailles and French politician

s

Allez for Nexans, and merci, merci…

27

EuroWire – November 2011

Transat lant ic Cable

❈ Another open question is whether or not ight envelope protection makes air travel safer. Advocates argue that it might have prevented the November 2001 crash of an American Airlines jet – Airbus equipment, but predating the automatic system – in the New York City borough of Queens. Opponents of the system point to the near-crash of China Airlines Flight 006 in 1985, in which the pilot managed to recover after an uncontrolled descent of nearly 30,000 feet. Mr Palmer observed: “The problem with ight envelope protection is that pilots occasionally have to take unorthodox actions in desperate situations.” He also noted the possibility that a ight protection system would have prevented the runaway descent. A recipe for US recovery: x the highways, bridges, tunnels, railways, airports, seaports, and transit and freight systems The elected heads of the states and cities of the US are as various as their jurisdictions, and nothing in the oath of o ce obliges them to take counsel with their opposite numbers around the country. Token collegiality is usually enough. Recently, however, a prominent mayor and two former governors – free of o cial duties after their terms in the state house – have made common cause and begun issuing what to some ears sound remarkably like proclamations. Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City and former governors Arnold Schwarzenegger, of California, and Ed Rendell, of Pennsylvania, have formed the Building America’s Future Educational Fund (BAF). The bipartisan coalition of state and local elected o cials has an ambitious mission: “bringing about a new era of US investment in infrastructure that enhances our nation’s prosperity and quality of life.” With US gross domestic product (GDP) languishing and job-creation rates well below what is needed for a ourishing economy, BAF asserts that recovery depends upon repair of the working parts of the national mechanism. In an 8 th August report the group noted that, in 2005, the World Economic Forum ranked the US number one worldwide in terms of economic competitiveness. Today, it is at number 15. BAF sees a clear connection between that regression and the fading health and sophistication of the nation’s infrastructure. (“Falling Apart and Falling Behind”may be read in full at www.bafuture.org/report) BAF poured on the troubling data. The US spends only about 1.7% of GDP on transportation infrastructure, compared with 4% in Canada and 9% in China. The Port of Shanghai moves more containers in a year than the seven largest American ports combined. Transportation in the US is still based largely on a highway system developed in the mid-1900s, while nations from France to Brazil to Korea are moving ahead with ambitious high-speed rail projects. The explicit warning from BAF is that, if this imbalance is not remedied promptly, the US is in imminent danger of The economy

Boeing vs Airbus

For a pair of long-time competitors, a pertinent question: Whose planes are preferred by the pilots who y them?

The rivalry between Boeing Co, of the US, and Europe’s Airbus presents a challenge to commentators. Boeing wins some (customers, contracts, court cases, appeals to the World Trade Organization), loses some. Airbus retreats and advances accordingly. The pitched battle of any two behemoths is important to the bystanders. It can also, after many decades, become tedious. Reviewing yet another episode in the saga – an Airbus bid to sell 260 planes to American Airlines (Fort Worth, Texas), which currently has an all-Boeing eet – Brian Palmer of the current a airs website Slate had a thought. Normally he would evaluate the potential deal in terms of what American Airlines stands to gain or lose as a corporation. But what about the pilots at the controls of the planes? Is there a di erence, for them, between Airbus and Boeing aircraft? Mr Palmer sought the answer from airline industry analyst and consultant Robert W Mann of R W Mann & Co Inc (Port Washington, New York). While the inquiry yielded no clear favourite overall, it did disclose that Airbus and Boeing have very di erent control systems and that most pilots strongly prefer one over the other. Here, abridged and lightly edited, are Mr Palmer’s ndings as presented in the site’s “Explainer” blog. (“Is It Purely About Money? Or Do the Pilots Care?”, 11 th July): ❈ Modern Airbus planes employ a “ y-by-wire” system. The pilot controls the plane by manipulating a joystick next to the main console, and a set of pedals. The movement of the joystick and pedals is translated into electrical signals, which switch on and o machines that move the plane’s aps, slats, ailerons and rudder ❈ Most Boeing jets do not have a joystick but a more traditional yoke. (The 777, introduced in 1994, is Boeing’s rst y-by-wire plane.) In yanking back on the yoke the pilot is actually pulling cables that move the plane’s control surfaces with the help of some hydraulic systems (Mr Palmer wrote: “In short, there is less electronic mediation between the pilot and the machinery in a Boeing aircraft. Some pilots think this gives them a better ‘feel’ in ying the plane, while others prefer the video game-like quality of the [Airbus] electronic interface.”) Airbus places more restrictions than Boeing on the exercise of pilot judgment. All aircraft must be own within certain limits. But Airbus planes are programmed to ignore the pilot’s instructions if the onboard computers think they know better. The pilot may not change the default settings of this “ ight envelope protection” by very much. The pilot of a Boeing jet has somewhat more freedom to push the envelope. (The term apparently originated in aviation circles around the time of World War II.) For the most part, the aps and rudder will obey the pilot’s commands, even if those commands could lead to mechanical failure. (Mr Palmer wrote: “It’s not easy to get to that point, though. A pilot would have to pull back with signi cant force to bring the plane into a potentially stall-inducing climb.”)

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Tom Donohue, president and CEO of the US Chamber of Commerce, said: “[The ASCE report] further reinforces that the US is missing a huge opportunity to ignite economic growth, improve our global competitiveness, and create jobs.” Richard Trumka, president of AFL-CIO, the largest federation of labour unions in the US, said: “With a modest increase in investment [as prescribed by ASCE], we can rebuild a strong economy where business can thrive.” In US manufacturing, the trend is still up. Is that enough to help the economy? On the day on which the contributors to the “Room for Debate” blog in the New York Times considered this question, US economic news was mixed. The manufacturing sector had been expanding slowly but steadily for 24 consecutive months; and with a gain of 117,000 jobs in July, the labour market also was improving – temporarily, as it turns out. But the congressional antics during the debate over extending the nation’s debt ceiling had jangled Wall Street, and Standard & Poor’s, citing “the gulf between the political parties,” had lowered by a half-notch the top credit rating that the US had enjoyed since 1941. (“Can Manufacturing Fuel a US Recovery?”, 5 th August).

losing its competitive edge. One of the group’s founders, the Pennsylvanian, Mr Rendell, called for congressional action on infrastructure issues, urging priority for high-speed rail projects in the Northeast corridor and along the California coastline. Mr Rendell, a fellow member of President Obama’s Democratic Party, told the Scranton (Pennsylvania) Times-Tribune (9 th August): “If we are going to maintain our economic dominance, we have to get on the stick and get on it fast.” It was a message he would repeat to the New York Times columnist Frank Bruni: “We should be talking about big things” (27 th August). BAF called upon policymakers to invest $200 billion a year in infrastructure over the next decade, an infusion that it says could create nearly ve million jobs. The money would be generated in part by raising the US gasoline tax, which BAF points out is one of the lowest among major Western economies. ❈ BAF is not alone in its concerns. Also in midsummer, the American Society of Civil Engineers released a report on the state of American transportation infrastructure. According to ASCE, if the US does not make an e ort to improve its roads and bridges, it will lose $3.1 trillion in GDP growth by 2020. The Hu ngton Post (27 th July) noted that the cogency of this call to action was underscored by the support it attracted from leaders who are not often in harmony.

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Transat lant ic Cable

rate of about 10% from 2002 through 2009, re ecting the importance of the mineral in the production of high-grade steel alloys. China is the world’s biggest importer of niobium. Baosteel’s partners in the stake, all Chinese, are CITIC Bank and the steel makers Anshan Iron & Steel, Shougang Corp, and Taiyuan Iron & Steel. The September news came after the purchase in March of another 15% stake in CBMM, also for $1.95 billion, by a group that includes South Korea’s Posco and the Japanese companies JFE Steel and Nippon Steel. As noted by Business News Americas (2 nd September), demand for niobium is expected to outpace the expansion in world crude steel production. Brazil has the largest proven niobium reserves anywhere, followed by Canada and Australia. According to the private mining association Instituto Brasileiro de Mineração (Ibram), in 2010 Brazil produced approximately 80,000 metric tons of niobium, or 96% of total global output. CBMM by itself commands an 80% share of the niobium market worldwide. Ever the maverick – even under barely post-recessionary conditions – Nucor Corp (Charlotte, North Carolina) posted second-quarter net earnings of $299.8 million, as compared with net earnings of $159.8 million in the rst quarter of 2011 and of $91 million in the second quarter of 2010. Doing the arithmetic, the largest mini-mill operator in the US said that these numbers indicate pro t increases of 88% and 229%, respectively. For the rst half of 2011 the company reported net earnings of $459.6 million, compared with net earnings of $122 million in the rst half of last year. Nucor pointed out that these results were achieved despite some signi cant dampening factors: the rebalancing by its customers of supply chain inventories, the impact on the manufacturing/automotive sector of the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, and lost production, sales and shipments from weather-related power outages and Mississippi River ooding. Acknowledging “the very real shock waves that shot through the [US steel] industry” in the aftermath of the Japanese tsunami in March, investment advisor Christopher Barker of Motley Fool pronounced Nucor’s “de ant” increase in net pro t over the prior-year period a truly remarkable achievement. But he also placed the extraordinary results in a broader context than that of a sharp downturn in domestic growth momentum. Mr Barker wrote (22 nd July) that an overdue surge in pricing strength may have spared the entire industry from feeling the full impact of rising input costs, supply-chain disruptions, reduced capacity utilisation, and other operational challenges. Nucor’s consolidated sales volume grew only 1% over the prior-year period, but the company’s realised sales price per ton surged by 21%. Accordingly, “Sales revenue expanded 22% to $5.1 billion, while net earnings skyrocketed 229% to nearly $300 million.” Nucor’s impressive second-quarter earnings performance was enhanced by a surge in pricing strength

Perhaps ttingly, the eight “debaters” on the manufacturing panel were likewise split; and their division was along professional lines. As noted by the Times , business people saw a bright spot in a sector long in decline. Economists did not. Is it possible that manufacturing might help the US economy recover and produce needed jobs? Or is domestic manufacturing – at least in the traditional sense – a relic of the past, incapable of rescuing the American labour market? Here, abridged and lightly edited, is a response from one of the optimists: “Productivity and Quality Are Up” is the title chosen by Lei Chen, a research fellow at the American Institute for Economic Research (Great Barrington, Massachusetts). In the main he sticks to those topics, noting that manufacturers are returning to America and hiring new workers. Last year, US manufacturers created 136,000 net new jobs, the rst increase since 1997. Mr Lei went on to make these points: ❈ US rms have good reasons to come home. One is economic. China, the primary destination of outsourced jobs, is becoming more expensive. America’s labour productivity – a key factor in determining pro t – is among the best in the world ❈ Small and mid-size American manufacturers, less able than their bigger counterparts to build factories overseas, have the advantage in quality control and on-time delivery. Moving production back to America also shortens the supply chain, enabling stateside manufacturers to adjust production when necessary, avoid delays, and get to market quickly Mr Lei noted that a container ship takes two weeks to travel the 6,000 miles from China to the US west coast. Clearing customs and reaching domestic outlets further slow a product’s journey. In his view, shortening the supply chain can make a critical competitive di erence. ❈ Some statistics round out the optimistic outlook. In 2010, manufacturing contributed 12% of the gross domestic product (GDP) of the US and 9% of total non-farm employment. US manufacturing output ranked rst in the world, accounting for more than 20% of total manufacturing output worldwide. “Made in America” is back, according to Mr Lei. He wrote: “While manufacturing might not be the ultimate force that fuels the economic recovery and puts the country back to work, it will certainly play a major role.”

Steel

The world’s largest producer of niobium (Brazil) and its largest importer (China) feature in a $1.95 billion deal

A group of ve Chinese companies led by the stainless steel producer Baosteel has acquired a 15% stake in the Brazilian rm Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração (CBMM), the world’s leading niobium producer, for $1.95 billion. Noting the “strategic value [of the deal] for all parties,” Baosteel said in a statement that world demand for niobium grew at an annual

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Elsewhere in steel . . . ❈ ArcelorMittal, the world’s largest steel producer, has said it is committing $2.1 billion to expanding its iron ore mining and processing facilities in Northern Quebec, an investment that will enable subsidiary ArcelorMittal Mines Canada to increase its annual production of iron ore concentrate from 14 million metric tons to 24 million by 2013. Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal, whose overseas operations include the Dofasco steel making complex in Hamilton, Ontario, plans to expand its mine at Mont-Wright and is evaluating boosting production of iron ore pellets at its plant in Port-Cartier, both in Quebec. As noted by Bertrand Marotte, the Quebec business correspondent of the Toronto Globe and Mail (27 th July), interest in Canada’s iron ore reserves has been growing over the past few years, with several Chinese investments in new development projects in the Labrador Trough.

The number of customers leaving AT&T rose and new subscriber signups fell in the quarter ending in June, re ecting inroads by Verizon Wireless since February when that rival also began selling the popular iPhone. The number of customers leaving AT&T (“churning,” in industry jargon), rose to 1.43% in the quarter, compared to 1.29% in the equivalent period of 2010. New subscriber signups also fell, to 1.1 million from 1.6 million during the year-before quarter. Even so, AT&T – which is relying on growth from its wireless voice and data business to o set declines in xed-line revenue – has managed to enrol a record 98.6 million wireless subscribers.

Information technology

An American fan of cloud computing has a suggestion for global economic recovery: stop wasting billions on ‘the IT cartel’ “Governments, businesses and consumers all have a lot to gain, but not everyone will have an equal say at the table.

Telecom

❈ AT&T commenced rather quickly to feel the e ects of its lost exclusive on the Apple iPhone in the United States.

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is likely to reach $20.1 billion by 2015, and the country is implementing a cloud initiative as a key tenet of national economic strategy. Similar growth is predicted for India, where the cloud market is projected to grow to $3 billion by 2015 and create 100,000 jobs. Mr Kundra wrote: “As foreign governments prioritise investment in the cloud, the United States cannot hesitate because of hypothetical security threats that serve the entrenched interests of the IT cartel.” ❈ Practical as well as visionary, the New Delhi-born Mr Kundra pointed out that a critical issue of cloud computing is whether cloud data can and should ow between nations, and what restrictions should be placed upon that movement. In his view the next step is the creation of a global Cloud First policy that compels nations to work together on solutions. He noted that the US, together with the leading nations of Europe and Asia, has an opportunity to announce such an initiative at the World Economic Forum 2012 meeting set for 25 th -29 th January in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland. Compelled or otherwise, the international unity of purpose outlined in the previous item faces some hurdles, to judge from recent ndings by the leading Canadian public policy think tank. Relations along the 3,987-mile border between Canada and “the lower 48" of the United States are not a worry to either neighbour. (Canada and the state of Alaska coexist, also peacefully, along a 1,538-mile border of their own.) But the Vancouver-based Fraser Institute did discern a rather jaundiced American view on Canada’s attentiveness to those interfaces. The results of a study published 10 th May by Fraser indicate that members of the US Congress see Canada as a stable and reliable source of energy, but they show little support for Canada-US trade and are concerned about what they perceive as lax border security. In its analysis of US congressional debates between 2001 and 2010 where the focus of discussion was Canada or Canadian policy, the institute found that, while Canadian policy on energy and the environment drew positive responses from American legislators, the same cannot be said for border security. In What Congress Thinks of Canada , Fraser noted persistent and repeated allegations by American senators and members of the House of Representatives that Canada was a way-station for some of the 9/11 plane hijackers and is still insu ciently rigorous about illicit narcotics and terrorism. “When discussing border security, American politicians tend most often to speak of the Canadian and Mexican borders in roughly the same manner,” wrote Alexander Moens, a co-author of the report. “Their concern about the threat of terrorists staging attacks from Canada remains high.” Dorothy Fabian – USA Editor Canada and the US A somewhat limp handshake across the world’s longest international border

“Public and private organisations that preserve the status quo of wasteful spending will be punished, while those that embrace the cloud will be rewarded with substantial savings and 21 st Century jobs.” An unabashed proponent of cloud computing, Vivek Kundra, the Obama administration’s chief information o cer from 2009 until this past August, was summing up a conviction that he was able to implement during his relatively brief time in government service. Mr Kundra laid out the “Cloud First” policy which requires US agencies to give priority to cloud computing services. Now, in an op-ed piece in the New York Times , he was urging his views on a broader constituency. (“Tight Budget? Look to the Cloud,” 30 th August). On his arrival in Washington Mr Kundra quickly perceived what he considered vast ine ciencies in the $80 billion federal IT budget. He also saw an opportunity to increase productivity and save money by embracing a shift from the hardware and software that IT users buy and maintain, to low-cost, maintenance-free services based on the Internet and run by private companies. In one “particularly egregious example of waste” cited by Mr Kundra, the US Defense Department last year pulled the plug on a personnel system devised by Northrop Grumman after spending approximately $850 million on it over 10 years. Another Washington newcomer, the keen amateur techie President Barack Obama, needed very little persuading to inaugurate “Cloud First,” which mandates the transition to the cloud of at least three projects for every federal agency by the summer of 2012. Some agencies, like the General Services Administration, which supplies products and communications to government o ces, quickly adopted cloud computing. The GSA has cut IT costs on things as simple as its email system by over 50%. But other agencies have baulked. The State Department, for instance, has raised concerns about whether the cloud approach introduces security risks, since data is stored o -site by private contractors. ❈ Mr Kundra, who has moved to Harvard University as a fellow at the Berkman Center for Internet and Society, Politics and Public Policy, refutes this objection. Cloud computing, he says, is often far more secure than traditional computing because companies like Google and Amazon can attract and retain cyber-security personnel of a higher quality than many governmental agencies. He noted that federal employees are so accustomed to using cloud services like Dropbox and Gmail in their personal lives that, even if their agencies do not formally permit cloud computing, they use it for work purposes anyway. This can create a “shadow IT” that leads to a more vulnerable organisation than would a properly overseen cloud computing system. ❈ Mr Kundra blames “the IT cartel” – a powerful group of private contractors that encourages reliance on ine cient software and hardware expensive to acquire and to maintain – for the waste by governments of billions of dollars on unnecessary information technology. Warning that the US cannot a ord to be left behind in the cloud computing revolution, he cited some pertinent Japanese and Indian statistics. The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan estimates that the Japanese cloud computing market

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