EoW July 2012

News Technology

Borealis and Borouge, a leading provider of innovative, value-creating solutions for the wire and cable industry, have launched Borlink™, a technology platform offering a complete global package of power materials, experience, knowledge and support. Borlink™ is a wire and cable industry-wide platform cross-linking the technology, products and expertise to connect networks and grids as well as people and their access to energy. The establishment of Borlink represents another step change innovation, specifically for the wire and cable power industry. It underlines Borealis and Borouge’s commitment to the industry as it provides an outstanding resource to help meet the challenges the industry faces in the future. By establishing Borlink, Borealis and Borouge have elevated their total network of support to a new level by helping to facilitate the linking of different grids and energy sources together both regionally and globally. Key innovations of Borlink include a tailor-made high pressure (HP) process for the production of high purity and super clean low density polyethylene (LDPE) base polymers with superior electrical properties and the introduction of a closed loop (from monomer to final packaging) which avoids contamination and ensures homogeneous and high quality clean compounds. Applying these technologies enables Borealis and Borouge to deliver a wide range of material solutions such as their unique Supercure™ cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) for high productivity, as well as the first globally available solutions for high voltage direct current (HVDC) cable applications. The value of these innovations was underlined by Frost & Sullivan, who awarded their 2011 Europe Product Leadership Award in the HVDC Insulation Market to Borealis. By successfully applying their well-known proprietary Borstar® and their new Borlink technologies, Borealis and Borouge have delivered a step change innovation for the plastics industry. Moreover, in 2010, Borealis completed a major investment of nearly €400 million at its plant in Stenungsund, Sweden, to enhance its capability to provide advanced Borlink materials for the entire wire and cable market. Benefiting from Borlink technology, cables in use for more than 30 years still perform to today’s exacting standards and prove the reliability of Borealis and Borouge’s solutions. Additionally, at the end of their useful life these cables can be fully recycled in combination with standard polyethylene (PE) for a fully sustainable multi-generation life cycle. “Borlink will ensure the credentials we have built as a reputable and innovative partner to the industry are properly positioned to continue to deliver results in the future,” said Marc Hubert, Borealis’vice president wire and cable. “We are anticipating the step changes that will take place in the power and communications grid world. Borlink encompasses all aspects of our business, expertise and service capabilities into one central and coordinated technology powerhouse that will connect with the emerging wire and cable value chain.” Borealis and Borouge launch Borlink™ and set new standards

Teijin Aramid has a new and improved way of protecting optical fibre cables: Twaron Tape. Optical fibre cables play an increasing, essential role in today’s telecommunications, and their fragile cores need protection from various hazards and strains. Optical fibre cables are getting smaller and smaller – and at the same time it becomes more difficult to protect the core. Twaron Tape is an aramid fibre matrix construction that enables the production of optical fibre cables with a diameter as small as 1.2mm. Simultaneously, it provides three to five times better crush resistance compared to currently used aramid fibre protection. The production of thinner cables using Twaron Tape results in several more advantages compared to current solutions. Teijin Aramid – Netherlands Website : www.teijinaramid.com Teijin has it taped!

Borealis AG – Austria Borouge – Abu Dhabi

Website : www.borealisgroup.com Website : www.borouge.com

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EuroWire – July 2012