WCA January 2011

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Technology news
Wire & Cable ASIA – January/February 2011 40
High density coiling
The new Live Bloc Coiler from Lämneå Bruk is designed for coiling large size
flux-core welding and hard surfacing wire into drums, but can also be used for
other types of wires. The machine can act as a take-up directly after the
production line or as part of a rewinding operation.
The machine has advanced features including cast adjustment during coiling,
fully controlled by the machine’s PLC, to produce a coil with an extremely high
density. The machine is said to solve the problem of filling drums with the
required weight while maintaining a safe operation, fully enclosed and with
electrically interlocked guards. The high quality coiling allows increased drum
weights, giving longer runs and saving transport and packaging costs.
Lämneå Bruk AB – Sweden Fax: +46 122 232 99
Email: Website:
Highest level of length
measurement
The new length measuring device Length 6000 is a high performer in extrusion
lines. The system, which is based on an optical measuring principle, offers a
non-contact online length measurement of cables. Length measuring devices are
used in order to ensure that the required product length is produced, as short- or
over-lengths inevitably lead to a loss in profit.
Mechanical systems provide limited precision, due to the slip on the product
surface. The technology of the Length 6000, which defines the length through
comparison of image patterns, is reliable for round products and for products
with reflective surfaces.
The Length 6000 precisely calculates the length at high line speeds, independent
of whether the product is moving forwards or backwards. Moreover, the
measurements start from zero line speed. All these features make the Length
6000 a suitable measuring system for extrusion lines. Product diameters from
0.5mm up to 180mm can be measured.
Sikora AG – Germany Fax: +49 421 48900 90
Email: Website:
Contracts with North
Sea wind farms
ABB is reporting orders worth over
$50 million from the German trans-
mission system operator, TenneT TSO
(formerly transpower), to provide
maintenance services for the grid
connections of offshore wind farms
located in the North Sea off the coast
of Germany.
“Offshore wind power is becoming a
key source of large-scale renewable
energy, and makes a significant
contribution to reducing emissions and
lowering environmental impact,” said
Peter Leupp, head of ABB’s Power
Systems division. “Growth of our
service business is a key focus area
for ABB, and we are in a good position
to support TenneT in maintaining the
efficiency and reliability of these
transmission links.”
ABB will be responsible for maintaining
the HVDC Light (high-voltage direct
current) connections of TenneT’s
BorWin1 and DolWin1 wind projects to
the German grid on the mainland.
ABB will maintain the land- and
sea-based HVDC converter stations
connecting the wind farms as well as
the offshore platforms.
BorWin1 connects the world’s most
remote offshore wind farm to the
German grid over a 200km long
underwater and underground cable
route. DolWin1 will connect the 400MW
Borkum West II wind farm and other
wind farms to be built near to the
German grid. The 800MW ABB-built
link will include onshore and offshore
HVDC converter stations and 165km
of underwater and underground DC
cables with a rated voltage of 320kV,
believed to be the highest voltage level
of extruded cable ever used for HVDC
transmission.
ABB – Switzerland
Website:
Lämneå Bruk’s Live Bloc Coiler m m
Cable loaded onto a turntable, onboard m m
a cable-laying vessel