EoW July 2007

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EuroWire – July 2007 21
english corporate news
Done deal over J A Kraft
Gauder Group and the Continuus-Properzi
Company have reached agreement on the
transfer of the J A Kraft.
Gauder Group takes over the J A Kraft
product line from Continuus-Properzi,
Wire Machinery Division (WMD), giving
Pourtier and SETIC a logical extension of
expertise in rotating machines.
While Continuus-Properzi Wire Machinery
Division will concentrate and focus on
high carbon steel wire drawing and
stranding lines. The J A Kraft product
line consists of skip stranders, tubular
stranders and concentric stranders for
copper, aluminium and aluminium alloys.
This agreement has been made
in a continuous aim to promote
quality, innovative equipment over a
comprehensive product and service range.
Gauder Group – Belgium
Email:
Website:
Continuus Properzi SpA – Italy
Fax: +39 02 58 310482
Email:
Website:
Test success
for Nexans
The American Superconductor Corpora-
tion, a leading energy technologies
company, and Nexans, have successfully
tested the world’s first power
transmission cable made with second
generation (2G) high temperature
superconductor (HTS) wire. The cable
was produced by Nexans using AMSC’s
proprietary 2G HTS wire known as
‘344 superconductors.’
The 30m long transmission voltage
cable was tested at Nexans’ high-
voltage facility in Hannover, Germany.
Operated at 138 kV, the cable contained
only 33 hair-thin 344 superconductors,
yet it demonstrated the capability to
transmit 435 MVA of power – enough
electricity to power more than 250,000
homes. This rating is approximately
50% higher than conventional cables at
the same voltage level.
“The demonstration of a power trans-
mission cable that utilises AMSC’s
proprietary 344 superconductors is an
important milestone and paves the
way for large-scale, commercial utility
projects,” said Greg Yurek, founder and
CEO of AMSC.
“We have achieved commercial-grade
electrical performance with our 344
superconductors, and have proved that
our manufacturing methodologies are
on the way to achieving cost targets.”
This demonstration confirms that
344 superconductors are a drop-in
replacement for the first generation
HTS wire that has been utilised to
manufacture all prototype HTS power
cables worldwide over the past 10
years.
AMSC expects to initiate volume
production of 344 superconductors in
December 2007 to meet the expected
demand for HTS wire for power cables
and other applications. High-capacity
superconductor power cables are
expected to be used first in cities and
metropolitan areas, where demand
for electricity continues to grow and is
putting pressure on existing power grids.
Nexans – France
Fax: +33 15669 8484
Email:
Website: