EoW March 2009

english corporate news

Nexans opens its first plant in Russia

UK and Spanish companies in casting merger

At the opening, Gérard Hauser, chairman and CEO of Nexans, said: “We strongly believe that Russia offers great potential for growth. For Nexans especially, it offers a promising long-term market. The rhythm of development of this country and its requirements for energy infrastructures offers huge opportunities for a worldwide industrial group like Nexans.” Nexans has operated in the Russian market for more than a decade, with involvement in large-scale national projects. Nexans cables have been installed at Zhiguli hydropower plant, on the offshore oil platform of Prirazlomnoe, as well as at the Baikonur space launch pad. The first important high voltage underground cable projects rated up to 500 kV in Moscow and St Petersburg were accomplished due to the major contribution made by Nexans cables and cable laying technology. Nexans – France Fax : +33 15669 8484 Email : nexans.web@nexans.com Website : www.nexans.com

Nexans held a grand opening ceremony on 20 th November 2008 to mark the official launch of production at its Ouglich plant in Yaroslavl Oblast, Russian Federation. The new plant is Nexans’ first manufacturing facility in Russia, and represents the first major investment by a non-Russian cable manufacturer in the country. 180 jobs have been created in the Yaroslav region with the opening of the plant, with many of the operators attending training courses in other factories of the Nexans group. The plant addresses building and infrastructure markets in Russia and other CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States) countries. Initially, Nexans in Ouglich will primarily manufacture low and medium voltage power cables for underground and aerial applications. However, the new plant will also offer advanced halogen-free and security cable solutions to take advantage of the rapid expansion of the Russian building and infrastructure market.

The Spanish company Hormesa, based in Madrid, has merged with Conticast of the UK. The Hormesa–Conticast group will produce continuous casting plants, including continuous horizontal casting and vertical upwards continuous casting (VUCC) machines in three versions: gas, induction and graphite technology, with capacities in production ranging from 1,000 to 10,000 tons per year. The VUCC systems are used to produce oxygen-free copper rod as well as many different alloys, such as brass, bronze and CuMg. The group can also supply accessories for casting plants and further processes. Hormesa Group – Spain Fax : +34 91 884 4382 Email : hormesa@hormesa.com Website : www.hormesa.com Conticast – UK Website : www.conticast.com

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EuroWire – March 2009