WCA January 2011

Industry news

The opening ceremony of wire and Tube China 2010 m m

China’s wire showcase voted a success wire and Tube China 2010 was described as a resounding success, despite being held in a post-financial-crisis era. Already the largest of the industry’s Asia exhibitions, wire and Tube China managed to break its own records for trade visitors (26,035 over the four days) and exhibition space (74,500m 2 , 30% higher than the 2008 show). The concurrent conferences and events, such as the China International Tube & Pipe Conference, China Wire & Cable Industry Conference, Wire & Cable Raw & Auxiliary Materials Technical Exchange Conference and the Wire & Cable Equipment Technology Seminar, also attracted attention from visitors. wire China is jointly organised by Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute (SECRI) and Messe Düsseldorf China Ltd. wire China 2012 will be held at Shanghai New International Expo Center from 25 th to 28 th September, providing an ideal platform to make contact with the developing Chinese and Asian markets.

Sumitomo to produce fibre optic cables in China

In September 2010, Japan’s Sumitomo Electric Industries began fully integrated production of fibre optic cables in China to capitalise on the increasing demand in the country. Sumitomo Electric has established a new factory in Hangzhou, for mass production of the base materials, to be run by a joint venture with Futong Group, a major Chinese optical cable maker. The Japanese business daily, Nikkei , suggests that major Japanese and US makers have been reluctant to produce glass base materials, a key fibre optic material, in China to prevent technology drain, but that the attitude appears to be changing. China accounts for approximately 50 per cent of global demand for fibre optic cables and the share is expected to expand. In 2009, Sumitomo Electric controlled 14 per cent of the global market, the second-largest share. The planned production increase will bring its market share close to 20 per cent, Nikkei said. The annual production of glass base materials will amount to six million kilometres when calculated in terms of fibre optics. Sumitomo Electric’s fibre optic output is expected to increase 20 per cent to between 35 and 40 million kilometres. Dutch firm Draka is presumed to be the only major maker currently producing base materials in China.

Messe Düsseldorf China Ltd – China Fax : +86 23 6232 8001

Sumitomo Electric Industries – Japan Website : http://global-sei.com

Email : press@mdc.com.cn Website : www.wirechina.net

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Wire & Cable ASIA – January/February 2011