wiredinUSA October 2011

INDEX

Draka’s Swiss partner Drahtex AG has completed the initial phase of a rural community fiber network combining Fiber To The Home (FTTH) with environmental control for the village of Hünenberg in Zug, Switzerland. As part of a showcase renewable energy project, Draka fiber connectivity will secure high speed broadband services to community residents, and form the backbone to supply and control a substantial proportion of the energy demands of Hünenberg. The village biogas plant, one of the biggest plants in Europe, provides 15% of energy requirements. “This is an entirely self-financed renewable energy project in which fiber interconnectivity plays a key role,” explains Roland Kurmann, chairman of Drahtex. “A cooperative venture which brings community stakeholders together to invest in a future-oriented energy approach for the citizens of Hünenberg.” With 9,000 inhabitants spread over an area of 18.5km 2 , Hünenberg has a high proportion of agricultural activity. Draka JetNetXS blowing technology helped deploy the underground fiber infrastructure running alongside the biogas distribution network over a total network length of 4.5km. Despite the challenge of jetting fiber over distances up to 5km, the fiber optic network has been installed rapidly using the JetNetXS technique. Fiber network combines FTTH with environmental control

Leoni acquires further 50% of Daekyeung Leoni is set to acquire the remaining 50 per cent of the South Korean wiring systems manufacturer Daekyeung from 1 st January 2012, ahead of schedule. This complete takeover of the joint venture partner is taking place a year earlier than planned. “Our aim with the help of this brought-for- ward acquisition is to expand our activity in South Korea more rapidly,” said Uwe H Lamann, member of Leoni AG’s management board in charge of the wiring systems division. “Our objective is by 2015 to virtually double our [automotive] sales in South Korea by broadening our business with existing customers and gaining new customer projects.” To date, the principal buyers of Leoni cable harnesses and wiring systems in the country include General Motors, SsangYong and Volvo.

EUROPE NEWS

EUROPE NEWS

22

wiredInUSA - October 2011

wiredInUSA - October 2011

23