WCA May 2007

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Industry News
13 Wire & Cable ASIA – May/June 2007
Opportunities for all
The 2007 China International Wire
and Cable Industry Conference and
Exhibition (Wireshow 2007) will
highlight the opportunities on offer
for the wire and cable companies in
China’s coal mining industry.
Wireshow visitors, between 5th and
7th September, will hear that a total
of 70% of energy output in China
depends on coal – making the industry
highly profitable and lucrative.
However, along with such huge profits,
the coal mining industry also faces huge
potential risks. Throughout many of the
country’s mines, a lack of equipment,
ageing rails and cables need replacing
to ensure safe production.
Since June 2006 the State
Administration of Work Safety has
been ensuring that 8,648 mines have
been brought up to standard. Many
mines were forced to suspend their
operations until they conducted safety
improvements to a national standard.
According to the experts from Shanghai
Electrical Cable Research Institute
(SECRI), the safety rectification of
China’s coal mine industry in a big way
will undoubtedly create a great market
for the wire and cable industry.
Small and medium-sized coal mines
must employ wind finding meters, self-
self device and gas detectors when
conducting cabling in the tunnels and
connecting dual blowers, dual loop
(dual power system) and independent
ventilation and drainage systems, and
large-sized coal mines need to replace
old rails and cables.
With an eye on the future, the Notice of
Cabling in Mining Areas, issued by the
State Administration of Work Safety in
January, 2007, the cabling system
selected must ensure the adequate
allowance for transmission to ensure
network upgrade in the next three to
five years.
At present, Category 5e and Category 6
cabling systems should be selected.
The coal mines that have over-standard
cabling distance between work area
and machine room should use optical
fibres as a backbone and enable switch
cascade by means of internal optical
fibre modules.
The enforced rectification of the mining
industry by the Chinese government
not only ensures work safety, but
provides great business opportunities
for the wire and cable industry.
Shanghai Electrical Cable Research
Institute (SECRI) – China
Email:
Website:
What’s in a name?
Techint Technologies has changed its
name to Tenova.
The new name keeps, through the
prefix ‘Te’, a strong link with the Techint
Group and with Technology, and
through the word ‘nova’, a clear
commitment to innovation. Tenova is
a network of companies providing
innovative integrated solutions for
complete process areas.
Orders have gone beyond the $1bn
mark and are expected to increase.
Tenova – Italy
Fax: +39 0246 93026
Email:
Website:
Record year for DSM – but 2007 warning
Despite announcing record sales and operating profits from
2006, DSM has warned that operating profit in 2007 is
likely to be lower.
The Dutch company saw an operating profit of €835m –
6% higher than in 2005. Net profit also rose 4% to €547m.
At €186m, the operating profit from continuing operations
for the fourth quarter of 2006 was €6m, 3% higher than in
the same quarter in 2005. Net profit amounted to €89m,
down 21% from the fourth quarter of 2005.
Peter Elverding, Chairman of the DSM Managing Board,
said: “In 2006 we launched more than 25 new products
and applications. We also started several investment
projects, especially in performance materials, which will
contribute to sales growth in the near future.
“We increased our presence in emerging economies; our
sales, investments and workforces in these regions grew
strongly, especially in China. We made important additional
steps towards operational excellence and fixed costs
increased only slightly.
“All this happened in a business context that was not
unambiguously positive. Economic growth developed very
satisfactorily, but raw-material and energy prices reached
unprecedented levels and were highly volatile, while the
US dollar remained weak. Nevertheless, we succeeded
in posting a record operating profit for the second year
in a row.”
Royal DSM NV – Netherlands Fax: +31 45 571 97 53
Email: Website: