wiredInUSA March 2018

HVDC technology choice

Bar distribution deal

Vattenfall is planning to deploy HVDC technology to connect Norfolk Vanguard and its sister project, Norfolk Boreas, to the UK’s national grid. The company believes it will be cost competitive, largely due to lower losses of transmitted electricity, fewer cables connecting the wind farms to the grid, and lower costs for substations and associated equipment. Compared to HVAC, HVDC will have less impact on the local environment where onshore infrastructure is located. Vattenfall’s 1.8GW Norfolk Vanguard is expected to receive a consent decision from the UK government at the end of 2019 and, if permitted, be in operation by the middle of the 2020s, followed by Norfolk Boreas.

Outokumpu, IMS group and Sidenor have reached an agreement where IMS will act as exclusive distributor of Prodec ® high machinability round bars in key European countries including Germany, Denmark, France, Spain, Portugal and Italy. The companies announced a similar contract last year for Belgium and the Netherlands. With the agreement Outokumpu and Sidenor provide Prodec round bars across the full dimension range from 6 to 230mm. Prodec grades offer high machining speeds. According to tests, Prodec can significantly improve machining speeds, resulting in a double tool life when compared with competing materials in the market. By using Outokumpu Prodec, customers are said to gain significant cost savings per component (up to 50 percent, depending on the application). The Prodec range is available in grades 304L/4307, 316L/4404, 303/4305 and 17- 4PH, suitable for a variety of machining applications such as fasteners, nuts, bolts and screws.

wiredInUSA - March 2018

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