wiredinUSA September 2012

INDEX

Call for cost cuts

A subsidiary of General Cable Corporation, Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke GmbH (NSW), has won the contract to supply 82km of medium-voltage submarine array cables to E.ON’s Humber Gateway offshore wind farm. Delivery of the cables is scheduled for 2013. Thorsten Schwarz, NSW’s MD, commented: “We’re proud of having been chosen by E.ON as the cable supplier for this project. In the last months we’ve continued to expand our subsea cable production facilities based on the expectations that offshore wind will take on the expected importance in the future European electricity generation mix. It is good to see that investors like E.ON continue to prove their commitment to offshore wind by investing in projects here in UK, as well as Sweden and Germany.” The 73 turbine Humber Gateway offshore wind farm, located 8km off the East Yorkshire coast, is expected to generate up to 219MW– enough electricity to power up to 170,000 homes. Cables to the Gateway

Tipperary wind farm

Komax acquisition

Belgian steel wire manufacturer Bekaert plans to make widespread cost reductions after seeing its operating profit plummet by around 65% in the first half of 2012. The collapse in earnings is believed to be due, in part, to a collapse in the solar panel market last year, when profitability for sawing wire products was wiped out by overcapacity. Bekaert, whose wire is also used to reinforce a quarter of the world’s tires, said that the automotive sector also faced slower demand, particularly in Europe. The company, which announced job cuts in February, said it was seeking additional annual savings of $123 million. Bekaert shares have lost three-quarters of their value since an early 2011 peak.

Komax has confirmed an agreement with Hamburg-based investor BPE regarding the acquisition of all interests in TSK Prüfsysteme GmbH of Porta Westfalica, Germany. TSK is a supplier of products and services for electrical and electronic assemblies and components, particularly wire harnesses, with a workforce of around 350. The acquisition will strengthen Komax’s wire business sector. TSK Prüfsysteme GmbH was established in 1983, and wire harness testing systems comprising test modules, measurement systems, test benches and software are its biggest business unit. TSK currently has six production sites worldwide and generates annual sales of around $31 million.

Element Power, owned by Hudson Clean Energy Partners of the US, is planning to build a 36MW wind farm at Monaincha in Tipperary, Ireland. The Irish Times reported that the project will utilize 15 turbines, generating 2.4MW each, and is estimated to cost over €70m. Turbines forma largepart of the investment involved and they are expected to cost at least €30m. Element Power has reportedly chosen Nordex as the preferred turbine supplier. Element Power Ireland chief development officer, Kevin O’Donovan said the turbines selected for Monaincha are designed to operate at lower wind speeds than those generally in use in the country. He added that the company hopes to have the turbines on-site in Tipperary in about 12 months’ time. The Monaincha wind farm will supply electricity to the Irish national grid.

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wiredInUSA - September 2012

wiredInUSA - September 2012

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