wiredinUSA October 2011

INDEX

Tratos investing in UK

Brazilian wind project

Wire rod mill goes part-time

Nexans is to sponsor the 130 th class to graduate from the Paris-based ESPCI (Industrial Physics and Chemistry Higher Educational Institution). A three-year sponsorship agreement is designed to foster a high level of interaction between engineering students and Nexans’ R&D department. The projects to be carried out by ESPCI ParisTech’s students under Nexans’ sponsorship will be specified in annual action plans, to be drawn up at the start of each academic year. These plans will be defined during meetings between engineering students responsible for the sponsored activities and Nexans’ representatives. They will include various activities designed to reinforce 130 th class of ESPCI ParisTech gets sponsorship

Cable manufacturer, Tratos, is making a £1m investment in a new £450,000 drum twister and two extrusion lines for its Merseyside facility. Determined to remain a potent force in the UK’s cable-manufacturing market, the investment is part of a plan for international growth and increasing output. Dr Maurzio Bragagni, export director of Tratos, commented on the state of manufacturing in Europe: “There are many black clouds hanging over Europe, but if we don’t invest, Europe as a manufacturer is finished.” He added: “As a company with €150 million turnover, we have invested €10 million on new equipment in the last year alone to modernize our factories. We have a desire to continually increase our competitiveness and profitability: hence we have new, faster machines that allow us to compete with China.”

The Lecco-based wire rod mill of Italian steelmaker Lucchini is imposing part-time hours on its 90 employees, for one year beginning at the end of September. The mill is currently assured of orders amounting to 12,000mt, enough for two weeks of full-time work but low compared to the average normal monthly output of 30,000mt. Labor unions said of the company’s decision: “We are pleased that Lucchini has accepted to face this critical situation through this job-security agreement, as it guarantees the workers the payment of 80 per cent of their salaries and the conservation of their workplace.”

ABB has secured an order from Galvao Energia to supply a new transformer substation and lay cables for the transmission of power from a wind energy project currently under construction in the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Norte. The contract is said to be worth around $14m. The company will deliver a turnkey 34.5/138kV substation and lay 60km of 34.5kV cables to connect four new wind plants with a total generating capacity of 94MW to the national grid. Galvao Energia is a Brazilian power company specializing in the development, installation and operation of plants that generate electricity from renewable sources.

the mutual understanding and interaction between the school and the company.

Conferences or roundtables regarding Nexans’ strategy and business, as well as site visits, will be arranged during the next three years, and work assignments and training periods will be offered within Nexans’ Corporate Technical Department.

EUROPE NEWS

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wiredInUSA - October 2011

wiredInUSA - October 2011

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