EW January 2011

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EuroWire – January 2011 41
technology news
344 super-
conductor has
a new name
American Superconductor Corporation
(AMSC) has introduced Amperium wire,
the new brand name for the company’s
proprietary second generation (2G) high
temperature superconductor (HTS) wire.
Previously called “344 superconductors,”
the new name reflects the product’s
ability to conduct more than 100 times the
electrical current (amperage) of copper
wire of the same dimensions.
In high-voltage power transmission
systems just one of these ultra-thinwires is
believed to be capable of carrying enough
power to serve the needs of approximately
10,000 homes.
The high power density of Amperium
wire dramatically reduces the footprint
and cost of large-scale electrical equip-
ment, such as power cables and wind
generators.
In the USA, Amperium wire is utilised by
Nexans to produce an extension of the
superconductor power transmission cable
system that has been running in Long
Island Power Authority’s (LIPA) primary
power corridor since April 2008.
Additional cableprojects that areexpected
to utilise Amperium wire include the Tres
Amigas™ SuperStation, which aims to
connect America’s three power grids to
unlock the country’s renewable energy
resources.
American Superconductor
Corporation – USA
Website:
Laser micrometer
LaserLinc has released a new laser scan micrometer, the Triton331™.
Like the Triton330, the Triton331 has a 30mm measurement window but is said to be
much faster at up to 12,000 measurements per second (4,000 per axis). The higher scan
rate enables detection of shorter-length flaws and accurate measurement of hexagonal
or other product shapes that incur oscillation, and measurement of non-constant
diameter products, such as corrugated tubing.
The standard measurement rate
is 4,800 per second, with 12,000
as an option.
The gauge is also suitable for
use with LaserLinc's new Lobex™
system for in-process lobing
measurement on centreless
ground products, including
centreless ground wire.
Like all LaserLinc scanners,
the Triton331 links, via the
TLAser400™ micrometer inter-
face card, to a PC running Total
Vu™ software.
Total Vu software is LaserLinc’s
measurement/data processing package, which runs on any Windows-based PC to
provide in-process tolerance checking, trending, SPC, feedback control, data logging,
recipes and other features.
LaserLinc Inc – USA Fax: +1 937 318 2445
Email: Website:
Green alternative for
cable packaging
A new environmentally friendly RF60 paper fibre tube is now available from Reelex.
This new payout tube allows all cabling packages using Reelex coiling technology
to be 100% recyclable, 100% compostable, and be manufactured entirely from
post-consumer recycled materials. End users can discard both box and tube into the
corrugated recycling stream – eliminating plastic waste from the cabling package,
and greatly simplifying disposal.
The RF60 tube is said to offer improved
payout performance and increased flexi-
bility without an increase in pricing.
The RF60 is offered at the same price as
existing MP60-TWR plastic tubes and is
shipped 5,000 per pallet.
Reelex Packaging Solutions Inc – USA
Email:
Website:
Triton331 high-speed, three-axis laser micrometer ▲ ▲
RF60 paper fibre tube from Reelex ▲ ▲