WCA January 2007

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Industry News
15
Wire & Cable ASIA – January/February 2007
Joining the fleet . . .
As part of its submarine energy cables
activities, Nexans has bought the
C/S Skagerrak – one of the world’s
most advanced cable-laying vessels.
Nexans, a global leader in the cable
industry, purchased the vessel from
Bourbon Cable AS, a Norwegian sub-
sidiary of French company Bourbon,
after operating her exclusively for a
number of years. And the ship is also
to be re-named the C/S Nexans
Skagerrak.
“This purchase confirms Nexans’
commitment to the submarine cable
and umbilical markets and underlines
our strategy to provide our customers
with a comprehensive turnkey service
from design, development and manu-
facture to installation”, said Yvon Raak,
Nexans’ Executive Vice President,
Europe Area.
Nexans has retained operational
control of the C/S Skagerrak on a long-
term charter basis for many years,
during which time she has been
involved in a variety of major submarine
cable projects such as: both power
links between Spain and Morocco
(1997 and 2005); the Gemini project in
the Gulf of Mexico (1999) and the Abu
Safah project in Saudi Arabia (2004).
C/S Skagerrak is currently involved in
the NorNed link between Norway and
the Netherlands which, at 580km, will
be the world’s longest high-voltage
submarine power link.
The C/S Skagerrak – one of only two
vessels of this kind in the world – was
the first purpose-built ship to be
designed specially for the transport
and installation of submarine high-
voltage power cables and umbilicals.
Nexans – Germany
Fax: +49 511 676 2480
Email :
Website:
Leoni’s strong sales
Leoni AG, Germany, has reported a rise
in sales of 35% in the first nine months
of 2006, compared with the same
period in 2005.
Part of the increase is due to new
large-scale orders for the company’s
wiring systems division from customers
in the automotive and commercial
vehicle industries – amounting to sales
of more than €400 million.
The company’s wire and cable division
also made strong gains. The division’s
sales grew by approximately 67%,
to €815 million in the first three
quarters.
Studer Draht- und Kabelwerk AG,
the Switzerland-based special cables
company acquired at the end of July
2006, also contributed to the division’s
success in the third quarter. With
Studer, Leoni AG will expand its
position in the market for industrial and
transport engineering cables. The
company also acquired NBG Fiber-
Optic GmbH, Austria, in October 2006,
which will strengthen its glass fibre
cable systems business.
Leoni AG – Germany
Fax: +49 911 2023 231
Email :
Website:
New deal for wire drawing
lubricant distribution for
India’s Ajex & Turner
Ajex & Turner, India, produces wire
drawing dies and cold heading dies, in
PCD, natural diamond, and tungsten
carbide from 10 micron to 150mm.
The company serves customers in
the die and mould industry, as well
as producers of fasteners, ceramics,
glass, and steel wire and cable.
The company also manufactures die
polishing products and equipment for
the in-house polishing and repairing
of various types of dies, includes
diamond lapping paste and needle
files.
Ajex & Turner has recently entered
into an agreement with Metalube UK,
for the distribution of wire drawing
lubricant for copper and aluminium in
India, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan.
Ajex & Turner Wire Dies Co – India
Fax: +91 11 2745 2640
Email:
C/S Skagerrak – soon to be renamed the C/S Nexans Skagerrak ▲