Wire & Cable India Emagazine May-Jun Issue 2021 by Tulip 3P Media Private Limited

May-Jun, 2021 | Vol. 10 No. 04 | Annual Subscription ` 1000/-

Vedanta Ltd. Catering to Raw Material Needs of Power Sector With Superior Quality Wire Rods... 08

Wires and Cables

The Unsung Heroes of Healthcare Sector...16

Welding Wires Industry

Exhibiting Signs of Promising Growth...28

(An ISO 9001 : 2015 Company)

An Experience of Three Decades in Designing and Rigid Stranding Machines Construction of Rotating Machinery. Spearheaded by a team of highly qualified engineers and technocrats, We have two manufacturing units at premium locations in Delhi-NCR equipped with the state-of-the-art machinery to manufacture machines for Conductor/Cable(HT/LT) & rope industry. We have successfully delivered our machineries to more than 100 satisfied clients across the globe in our two decades of operation.

Rigid Stranding Machines

Drum Twister Machines

Taping Machines and Equipment

Rigid Armouring Machines

High Speed Semi Automatic Core Rewinding Line

Rigid Armouring Machines

Heavy Duty Take up & Pay off stands

Rigid Armouring Machines

Office & Works-1: Plot No.744, Sector-69, IMT, Faridabad (NCR), Distt.: Faridabad, PIN-121004, State: Haryana (India) Landline: 0129-2977999, Mobile: +91- 9811010197, +91-8586969099, +91-8586969100 E-mail: info@cabletechindia.com, cabletechmachines@gmail.com, ctm97@rediffmail.com, Works-2: Plot No.143 & 150, NangIa - Gajipur Road, Gajipur, PO: Pali, Distt.: Faridabad, PIN-121004, State: Haryana (India) Phone: +91- 9811010197, +91-8586969099

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CONTENTS May-June, 2021, Wire & Cable India

Vedanta Ltd.: Catering to Raw Material Needs of Power Sector With Superior Quality Wire Rods

“Aluminium is indispensable for the wire and cable industry owing to its high structural strength, light-weight, high conductivity, high ductility, non-corrosiveness, and non-magnetic properties.”

Wires and Cables The Unsung Heroes of Healthcare Sector

50 Welding Wires Industry: Exhibiting Signs of Promising Growth

Abrol Engineering: State-of-the-art Bunched Conductors Bare & Tinned Manufacturing Facility

“Our prime focus is to excel at copper conductor manufacturing and to ensure an ever-growing clientele due to our product quality and commitment to 100 percent customer satisfaction.”

SIKORA AG: Bringing Futuristic Technologies for Product Optimization

“We see India as a growth market with huge potential, specifically in the area of infrastructure, which will generate a high demand for wires and cables…”

Victory Plant and Machinery: We Exercise Utmost Care and Prudence in Each Level of Production

“We have developed a 4000 mm drum twister line, for laying-up of cable of 3 core x 630 sq mm, having lead-up diameter of up to 125 mm… it is the biggest drum twister in India. Also, we have successfully commissioned a 3600 mm Milliken drum twister for the production of a 2500 sq mm conductor.”

Government Schemes to Reform Power Transmission Sector

AEI Machines: We Are Continually Refining and Evolving Our Production Processes & Capabilities

As we are ushering into a new era of growing power transmission infrastructure, it is going to be an affirmative influence for the further growth of the wire & cable sector.

“As a company spearheading the adoption of the latest technological trends… our machines have been Industry 4.0 ready for the last few years and include features such as fully networked architecture, remote access and monitoring, data collection and transmission features.”

NEWS

INTERVIEW

Vedanta Ltd.: Catering to Raw Material Needs of Power Sector With Superior Quality Wire Rods “Aluminium is indispensable for the wire and cable industry owing to its high structural strength, light-weight, high conductivity, high ductility, non-corrosiveness, and non-magnetic properties.” Wire & Cable India: Could you discuss the impact of aluminium in today’s wire and cable industry? Rahul Sharma: Aluminium is already the second most used metal in the world today and has the potential to become the most important commercial metal. Aluminium, today, is indispensable for the wire and cable industry owing to its high structural strength, light-weight, high conductivity, high ductility, non-corrosiveness, and non-magnetic properties. The major areas of application for aluminium include cables, busbars, overhead transmission lines, motors, foil windings, electrolytic capacitors, heating elements, heat sinks, and many more. India is the world’s third-largest energy-consuming country, due to its rising population, rising incomes, and improving standards of living. It is currently the largest consumer of aluminium-based wires and cables, excluding China, with an annual consumption of 1.2 million tonnes of aluminium wire rods. India’s per capita consumption of aluminium in the electrical sector is at 0.9 kgs, while the world average is about 1.3 kgs, which stands testimony to the fact that aluminium usage in the domestic industry is poised for significant growth. Access to affordable, reliable, and clean energy will be a key enabler in realisation of India’s vision of a USD 5 trillion economy. From sustainably leveraging large-scale coal reserves for power generation, to ensuring energy access to all corners of the country, institutionalising quality controls for energy-efficient machines and consumer goods, and investing in and harnessing substantial solar/other forms of renewable energy, India’s post-COVID recovery phase is going to be a very dynamic period in its energy development. And Vedanta’s Aluminium Business, as the world’s largest producer of aluminium wire rods, ex-China, is poised to cater to all current and emerging needs of the electrical and its ancillary industries.

Mr. Rahul Sharma, CEO – Aluminium Business, Vedanta Ltd.

Vedanta Ltd. is India’s largest producer of aluminium. One of the largest producers of power in the country — Vedanta Ltd. is also one of the largest manufacturers of wire rods globally with state-of-the-art technologies committed to meeting world-class quality standards. Wire & Cable India recently interviewed Mr. Rahul Sharma, CEO – Aluminium Business, Vedanta Ltd. wherein he dives into the product range and R&D facilities of the company and reveals the opportunities and challenges of aluminium as a raw material in the wire and cable sector.

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May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW

WCI: What are the key properties and USPs of aluminium over other conventional metals?

The growth in the industry will be fundamentally driven by the recent developmental push in power and infrastructure segments, through government policies. The renewable energy push and government projects for electrification, housing development, and smart cities will further propel the industry’s growth. Consequently, the aluminium wire rod market is growing at a fast pace with substantial growth rates over the last few years. It is estimated that the market will grow significantly in the 2020-27 period. Rapid urbanization with exponential growth in the building and construction sector, electrical transmission, and distribution networks are driving demand for the aluminum wire rod market.

RS: Aluminium is versatile, by virtue of its exceptional design flexibility as well as superb conductivity. Among base metals, only copper has a higher conductivity than aluminium. An aluminium wire will need ~1.5 times larger cross-section to pass the same current, but it is two times lighter and non-corrosive in the face of weather elements, which is why only aluminium wire rods are used for transmission lines. The light weight of aluminium wire rods lends itself very well to non-sagging of transmission lines, which is of vital importance while ensuring power distribution over long distances. Vedanta produces High Strength Low Sag special grade wire rods from primary aluminium, with purity levels as high as 99.99 percent and a significant lifetime. This enables us to deliver high-quality products with superior conductivity over conventional electric grade conductors, for various applications in the power industry.

WCI: Considering the aspect of 100 percent electricity transmission across India, how do you see the opportunities for aluminium? RS: The four pillars of economy, population, urbanization, and industrialization shall keep India at the heart of the global energy system. Key factors which shall drive the electrical sector, and consequently scale up the consumption of aluminium in the sector, are:

WCI: How do you view the rate of aluminium adoption by the wire and cable industry over the past few years and where is it headed in the future? RS: The wires and cables sector is a direct beneficiary of the power generation and distribution infrastructure, as the market comprises nearly 40 percent of the electrical industry in India. Market research says, in volume terms, the domestic wires and cables industry registered a CAGR of 22 percent over the previous five fiscals to reach about 17 million km in FY 2018-19. The wire and cable industry is poised to register significant growth in the next five years. The global wire and cable market is expected to rise to an estimated USD 332.65 billion by 2026, registering a CAGR of 6.45 percent in the period of 2019-26. In India, the wire and cable market comprises nearly 40 percent of the electrical industry. It is growing at a CAGR of 15 percent owing to the growth in power and infrastructure sectors in the country. Moreover, global investors now consider India as a potential market for high voltage (HV) and extra high voltage (EHV) cables.

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Increased migration into cities and urbanization, which will require increased construction and infrastructure to ensure the availability of essential utilities to people.

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Procurement of electrical appliances, air conditioning units and other white goods, as necessities of modern life.

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Between 2021-26, the Indian government has planned an investment of USD 2.15 billion to electrify rural households, bolstering the country’s power transmission network.

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The Government also plans to double the share of installed electricity generation capacity of renewable energy to 40 percent by 2030.

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The Electric Vehicle (EV) segment is to significantly drive demand for electricity (and consequently,

May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW The mining of bauxite, the ore of aluminium, is still not viable in India, despite us having the world’s 5th largest bauxite reserves. It is a matter of great concern that despite aluminium’s relevance and recognition as one of the 12 Champion Industries, no Metallurgical Grade Bauxite Mine has been successfully auctioned in the last 6 years since the inception of MMDR Act 2015. This is largely linked to the unviable and arbitrary determination of Average Sale Price (ASP) of Metallurgical Grade of Bauxite. The price determined from the current ASP system is artificially increased up to 300 percent to 400 percent by including expenditures incurred beyond the mining lease, rendering the production of aluminium unviable in India. The Indian Aluminium Industry has to meet their bauxite requirement from imports rendering them economically unviable and globally uncompetitive.

electrical infrastructure) in the next 5-10 years, with the declining cost of EV technology, tightening emission norms and the central government’s push for EV adoption. •

Upcoming large-scale industrial projects, like Vedanta’s proposed aluminium park at Jharsuguda in Odisha, and the government’s visionary projects like 100 percent electrification of Indian Railways and Smart Cities are also expected to boost the demand for electricity.

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With an opportunity to sell surplus power, international projects like Cross Border Grid Interconnection to link the national grids of neighbouring countries can also drive electricity demand.

Secondly, despite a production capacity of 4.1 MTPA, 60 percent of the domestic demand of 3.7 MTPA is being met through imports, majorly in the form of scrap. Since FY11, aluminium consumption increased by 68 percent, total aluminium imports increased by 145 percent and aluminium scrap imports increased by 187 percent. The absence of any quality standards and regulations for scrap has serious implications on the domestic industry, from the manufacturing of sub-standard products (which bring with them serious safety and health concerns) to India becoming the world’s dumping ground in an industry sector where it has all of the natural advantages – from rich coal and bauxite reserves to skilled manpower, a strong primary and downstream processing capability and an evolved manufacturing base. The power industry should ensure that it uses only high-quality primary aluminium for all kinds of cables and conductors to ensure the highest levels of quality and eliminate any electricity and conductivity losses that cost the nation’s economy very dearly when sub-standard materials are used.

WCI: What do you think are the challenges of aluminium as a raw material in the wire and cable sector? RS: Aluminium wire conductors and cables can be produced to offer the same capabilities as currently used materials, with negligible cost implications. As India’s largest producer of aluminium, Vedanta has been catering to the raw material needs of the power sector with its superior quality wire rods, produced using global best technologies. In this regard, we are also a key enabler and proponent of indigenously developed products, domestic manufacturing, value-addition, and supply of quality products to the downstream industries. Also, companies such as Vedanta Aluminium, are focused on the development of customized variants for niche applications. With our engineering prowess, deep R&D capabilities, a vibrant Innovation Cell, Centre of Quality Excellence, and Customer Technical Service (CTS) function, we are well resourced to meet the current and evolving needs of domestic and global customers.

WCI: What has been the impact of the pandemic on your business?

The challenges, therefore, are not so much on the technical aspects, as they are pertaining to regulatory frameworks. A few examples are:

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RS: The pandemic’s unprecedented and rapidly evolving nature forced industries to change and adopt digital solutions quickly. At Vedanta Aluminium, we took this as an opportunity to retool our business. Aluminium production is a continuous process industry. We accelerated the adoption of our digital and intelligent automation solutions to sustain the production of this crucial and strategic raw material for the country. This ensured real-time decision-making that in turn, allowed us to respond to fluid market conditions, changing customer needs, disrupted supply chains and employee safety with agility and accuracy. Our tech and automation initiatives enabled us to unlock value across our entire value chain in ways that provided a positive step-change in productivity as well as design and quality. So, despite the constraint of manpower and resources, our aluminium smelters have not powered down even for an hour.

May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW WCI: What policies do you want the government to implement in the near future?

imports to 10 percent from 7.5 percent and 2.5 percent respectively at par with primary metal to proposed 10 percent, as in line with other non-ferrous metals like copper, zinc, lead, nickel, tin etc.

RS: Aluminium is critical to sectors of national importance like space exploration, electrification, transportation, aviation, power, defence, building & construction, and sustainable packaging. The demand for aluminium demand is directly linked with economic activity in the country with sectors such as electrical, automobile, building & construction consuming a major chunk of aluminium in India. However, to truly unlock the potential of the Indian Aluminium Industry and make India the manufacturing and value-addition hub of the world, there are four key levers that the government must act upon: •

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First, promotion of aluminium usage in government projects should be a priority area. With the aim to make India a USD 5 trillion economy, the government is rolling out numerous high-impact projects, which have ample opportunities for aluminium.

Correction of the anomaly of inverted duty structure on critical raw materials imported for the industry, which results in high cost of production. It also needs to reduce basic customs duty on critical raw materials for the aluminium industry value chain. Resolving this will effectively help in lending support to the industry as the cost of production of aluminium metal in India has substantially increased (~25-30 percent for the overall industry) in the last 3-5 years due to the rising cost of critical raw materials, inverted duty structure on import of raw materials, increase in various taxes/ cess like coal cess, electricity duty, and logistics costs etc.

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Second, the focus should be given to build domestic capability for critical application development for such sectors under Make in India. Aluminium has potential for myriad uses, majority of which are yet to be explored by the domestic downstream sectors.

The government also needs to safeguard the interests of the downstream industry by raising the duty rate on two grades of downstream aluminium products to 10 percent and 12.5 percent respectively from 7.5 percent and 10 percent.

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As aluminium is a 100 percent recyclable metal, it would be prudent for India to facilitate a domestic eco-system for scrap recycling to encourage efficient utilization and recycling of indigenous scrap and promote the circular economy. Further, there should be complete clarity with regard to which applications can use the recycled aluminium products through an established BIS Standard at par with global practices.

Third, the potential of aluminium industry should be acknowledged and recognised as a core sector with a National Aluminium Policy that will encourage, protect, and boost the domestic aluminium industry. The primary aluminium industry, with its multifold value chain, is playing a major role in the nation’s development by eradicating poverty in the interior regions where we are operating, by providing sufficient local employment and doing various quality CSR programmes to elevate these regions to multi-fold. Such industry has to be protected by the nation and supported through structured policies.

WCI: What is the current installed capacity at Vedanta being allocated to the wire and cable sector? Also, what is the future roadmap? RS: Vedanta Aluminium has a wire rod production capacity of 580 kilometric tonnes, delivering high-quality products with superior conductivity over conventional electric grade conductors, for various applications in the power industry. Vedanta produces High Strength Low Sag special grade wire rods from primary aluminium, with purity levels as high as 99.99 percent and an appreciable lifecycle.

And finally, domestic capability needs to be promoted for these critical sectors. Besides enhancing domestic capacity and reducing import dependency and subsequently trade deficit, it will also generate huge employment opportunities in our country. We are definitely on the right path, but there is still a long way to go.

Our R&D facility continually explores newer applications of aluminium through new alloys and innovations in valueadded products. With our engineering prowess, deep R&D

In this regard, the policy loopholes that need to be addressed include: •

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There is an urgent need for a strong anti-dumping policy for Aluminium. India has currently overtaken China as the world’s largest aluminium scrap importer and is slowly emerging as the global dump yard of scrap aluminium in the absence of any quality/BIS standards for scrap recycling/ usage and imports in the country.

Vedanta Aluminium has a wire rod production capacity of 580 kilometric tonnes, delivering high-quality products with superior conductivity over conventional electric grade conductors, for various applications in the power industry.

Discourage low-quality aluminium imports, by raising the customs duty on primary aluminium and scrap

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May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW

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Our R&D facility continually explores newer applications of aluminium through new alloys and innovations in value-added products.

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capabilities, a vibrant Innovation Cell, Centre of Quality Excellence and Customer Technical Service (CTS) function, we are well resourced to meet the current and evolving needs of the domestic and global customers. We are also working with global technology experts in aluminium and aluminium alloys for stepping up our competitive edge across the entire bouquet of product offerings. We are working with new-age startups and research institutes to explore emerging applications of aluminium, to cater to the evolving needs of the industry. We are working on application-centric customizations of our wire rods portfolio for the power industry, like power transmission in coastal belts, which have specific requirements due to their climatic conditions. Apart from conventional EC Wire Rods, we have added other grades like Alloy Rods with M, O, T4 tempers and AL59 to our portfolio. In view of the development of new power transmission and distribution grids by global power incumbents, AL-59 alloy conductors would have a special significance while designing transmission line networks, as the properties of these conductors enable superior power evacuation while optimising the cost of the entire grid. Further, we are exploring special grade conductors like HTLS (High-Temperature Low Sag Conductors) or STAL (Heat Resistant Aluminium Zirconium Alloy). Zirconium doped aluminium alloys maintain their electrical and mechanical properties at elevated temperatures as well, thus making these conductors cost and energy-effective with enhanced capacity. WCI: Elaborate on the technology initiatives that are driving the company ahead.

RS: Vedanta Aluminium has always been a digital-first and pro-technology company. We have led innovation from the front in the Indian Aluminium industry, COVID has only accelerated the process for us. Technology and digitalization of our processes have played a major role in ensuring business continuity especially in times where the industry has been battered by the onset of the global public health crisis, while also helping us monitor and operate our plants with safety, precision, and efficiency. Some of our key innovations, which aided in business continuity are: •

We have deployed first-in-the-industry Deep Learning algorithms and other cutting-edge technologies for Advanced Asset Performance Management at our power plants.

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Manufacturing Execution System (MES) implemented across our plants ensured visibility of all critical plant operations and allowed for decision making remotely through mobile applications, thus ensuring seamless sustainability of operations while employees can maintain social distancing and yet fulfil their activities on the plant floor.

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We have developed Digital Logistics Control Towers for coal, alumina and bauxite which use classical Machine Learning and OR (Operations Research) based mathematical modelling to reduce commodity costs, pilferages, and process ineffectiveness from mines through plants to ports.

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Vedanta Aluminium and Power is the first metal and mining company in India to implement full-fledged S4HANA, automating and integrating all functional processes.

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The complex and diverse procurement of commodities, materials and services are fully automated unlocking substantial cost reduction, faster O2C cycle and business realizations.

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Robotics Process Automation is also used for shared services processes, in commercial, finance, HR and supply chain to optimise repetitive activities.

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Our plants also use vision analytics and contextual analytics in multiple plant sites like identification of hot spots in ICTs (information and communication technology) for improving asset reliability.

WCI: Vedanta Aluminium recently launched ‘#GreenHearts’ campaign. Tell us more about this campaign. RS: The #GreenHearts campaign launched by Vedanta during the Van Mahotsav Week is a plantation drive that encourages all to plant a sapling in solidarity with COVID warriors and all who have been affected by the pandemic. The initiative rolled out under the Vedanta Cares Green Cover project, has a two-pronged objective – to unite people with the hope of a better future as the pandemic has affected one and all and to encourage people to plant saplings in solidarity with COVID warriors and in the memory of those who lost the fight to COVID.

Vedanta’s smelter at Jharsuguda is India’s first, and the world’s third smelter to deploy Digital Smelter Solution using digital twin technology, which allows for remote monitoring and control of potline operations, enhances energy efficiency, and arrests wastage of material.

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May-Jun, 2021

POWERING HEALTHCARE

Wires and Cables The Unsung Heroes of Healthcare Sector

The healthcare sector is currently under huge pressure due to COVID- 19. In the last year, the central and state governments walked hand-in-hand and undertook robust response plans to tackle the pandemic. Hospitals and isolation centres dedicated to coronavirus patients were set up within days. Fully equipped control rooms with facilities like 24/7 control and command centre, tech-enabled mapping of cases, virtual training and video conferencing, daily media bulletins, and data management of contact tracing quarantine were constructed for crisis management. As digital connectivity and networking technologies played a pivotal role in every step; all of these would not have been possible without cables. The role of wire and cable in the healthcare sector is rarely talked about. While the importance of cables in hospitals is obvious, it may not always be visible. However, upon further reflection, we realize that everything in a hospital, from basic operations to critical care, is possible only through reliable and secure cable networks. Ventilator, dialysis machine, pacemaker, cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), almost everything runs on wires and cables and at times, a patient’s life depends on it.

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May-Jun, 2021

POWERING HEALTHCARE

Power availability and reliability A hospital is a place that needs an uninterrupted power supply. As there is a higher concentration of oxygen in operation theatres, and Intensive Care Units, extra measures should be taken during the wiring of hospitals. Talking about the types of wires that should be used in hospitals, Mr. Shreegopal Kabra, Managing Director & Group President, RR Global said, “Given the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in the country, the hospitals are overworked and they should focus on electrical safety in these circumstances. A lot of hospitals still use PVC wires, instead, they should be using Low Smoke Zero Halogen (LS0H) wires. In case of a fire accident, PVC wires emit toxic smoke whereas LS0H wires do not emit toxic smoke. Switching from PVC to LS0H wires will ensure safety in the long run as well.” Mr. Deepak Chhabria, Executive Chairman, Finolex Cables Ltd.

Mr. Deepak Chhabria, Executive Chairman, Finolex Cables Ltd. mentions his company’s product portfolio to meet such specific demands of the medical industry. “The critical nature of care being provided at healthcare facilities demands reliable electrical distribution systems. Finolex Cables manufactures Flame retardant low smoke (FRLS) and halogen-free wires (HFFR) that are supplied to the medical industry to help curb the spread of fire instantly and not release any potentially harmful toxic fumes,” he informed. “The medical devices industry is one of the most highly regulated sectors with effective quality systems and product requirements. Hence, the cables and other electrical products must also be reliable and meet the highest safety standards and requirements. As the different competencies of diagnostic, therapeutic, and monitoring devices begin to merge, Finolex has risen to the challenge by engaging in increasingly complex and differentiated supply chains while remaining compliant with diverse Governmental and Industry Standards. Our organization and all our Plants across the Country are ISO 9001 certified, meeting the highest quality standards required in the medical field. With sophisticated ERP like SAP, we ensure traceability right from stages of procurement of raw materials, manufacturing, finished products and sale to customers as per FDA requirements. We use only the highest-grade virgin raw materials and state-of-the-art manufacturing technology to ensure our products meet all the safety parameters, thereby ensuring the safety of patients and healthcare staff,” he added.

Mr. Shreegopal Kabra, Managing Director & Group President, RR Global

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May-Jun, 2021

POWERING HEALTHCARE Mr. Arvind Agrawal, Vice President, Havells India also sheds light on the importance of using the right kind of wires in the healthcare industry. “Healthcare industry has been tirelessly operating in the pandemic and focusing only on the treatment of patients. Owing to the current circumstances, it is apparent that there is an additional electrical load in hospitals with minimum to no attention paid to the underlying quality of electrical systems. It is imperative to note that any electrical short circuits in ICUs, operation theatres with high oxygen concentrators could lead to life-threatening accidents. Due to lack of attention or awareness, if hospital authorities use low-grade wires, which results in overheating, and to add to this PVC used in cables creates a lot of smoke in case of a fire incident. In most cases of electrical fires, if polyvinyl chloride had not been present, the fires either would not have started, would not have emitted life-threatening gases and chemicals, or would not have spread at such a rapid rate,” he indicated.

Mr. Shashi Amin, Executive President & Chief Business Officer – HDC, Polycab India Ltd.

Mr. Shashi Amin, Executive President & Chief Business Officer – HDC, Polycab India Ltd. shares that fire burns are not the primary cause of deaths during hospital fires as against the common belief. It is excessive smoke inhalation and asphyxiation that lead up to fatality. “It becomes extremely important that safe wiring and cabling practices are adhered to. Use of safe and quality approved cables, wires, and accessories will help us steer clear of fire accidents. As an electrical solutions manufacturer, we consider it our responsibility to drive attention to this issue and also work in the direction of coming up with solutions to counter concerns arising around the topic of fire safety. We, as a brand, have made significant progress in utilizing cutting-edge technology to develop fire-resistant products. One such product in our portfolio is the Fire Survival Cable. These cables are packed with capabilities against a fire breakout and are one of the very few ones in the country to be LPCB certified which is the most reputed international certification for fire safety. Our FS Cables maintain circuit integrity of emergency systems up to 3 hours even at 950 degree C, which gives a pretty wide window for evacuation. The oxygen index is 34-36 percent as compared to 29-32 percent in the case of FR/FRLS cables, which goes to show that these cables don’t catch fire easily. Additionally, the toxicity index is 0.5 percent compared to less than 20 percent in the case of FR/FRLS cables. Smoke causes the visibility to reduce but our FS Cables exhibit high visibility index of 95 percent or above,” he said.

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Mr. Arvind Agrawal, Vice President, Havells India

“Cognizant of the fact that wire and cables are the ‘veins and arteries’ of buildings, architects and real estate builders need to take note of the safer and sustainable option like halogen-free flame retardant (HFFR) cables. HFFR insulated wires, also approved by the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), do not emit hazardous gases and emit clear smoke. The low-smoke HFFR is more effective during fire outbreaks since it reduces the amount and density of the smoke, which makes exiting a space easier for occupants as well as increases the safety of fire fighting operations. Poor quality cables could lead to a serious fire incident at a hospital. All the hard work, sacrifice, and care in saving the lives of COVID patients cannot be at stake of an increased risk of electrical fire from underlying electrical causes that are fully preventable,” he added.

May-Jun, 2021

POWERING HEALTHCARE Powering the healthcare industry

segment is estimated to be 3.4 percent CAGR for the next 7-year period.

The role of wires and cables in the healthcare sector is more than just the transmission of electricity. X-ray, MRI, CT scan, ultrasound, PET, EEG, ECG – all these play significant roles in the diagnosis process and treatment of patients. It is due to reliable wiring and connections, that the image/ information is transmitted by these machines accurately. While explaining the role of the wire and cable industry in aiding the medical devices, Mr. Gautam Seth, Joint Managing Director, HPL Electric and Power Ltd. said, “In the present time of the pandemic, the wire and cable sector is playing a vital role in serving the healthcare sector. As we know that in the medical sector there is no place for failure, medical devices must operate correctly at all times. In these Covid-19 times, the healthcare sector is playing a major role, hence, the wire and cable industry has to work efficiently too. For that, cables must be functional and accurate in the frantic environments like the emergency

Mentioning the pacemaker segment, the report stated that the United States, Canada, Japan, China, and Europe will drive the 2.5 percent CAGR. These regional markets accounting for a combined market size of USD 641.2 million in the year 2020 will reach a projected size of USD 760.8 million. China will remain among the fastest-growing in this cluster of regional markets. Led by countries such as Australia, India, and South Korea, the market in AsiaPacific is forecast to reach USD 848.5 million by the year 2027. According to a report released by Niti Aayog, the size of the Indian medical devices market is estimated at USD 11 billion and is expected to grow to USD 50 billion by 2025. The medical devices sector has been growing steadily at a CAGR of 15 percent over the last 3 years. India’s diagnostics market is currently valued at USD 4 billion. The share of the organized sector in this segment is almost 25 percent (15 percent in labs and 10 percent in radiology) and the diagnostics market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 20.4 percent to reach USD 32 billion by 2022. Talking about the various applications of wires and cables in the healthcare sector, Mr. Seth added, “There are various products which wire and cable industry is developingthat includes medical diagnostic and imaging equipment, laboratory equipment, treatment units, surgical lights, surgical robots, electronically adjustable hospital beds, etc. The wire and cable industry is playing an essential role in this difficult time when the healthcare sector is in major demand. So typically in the healthcare sector, the ideal cabling framework is needed which should be of superior quality and robust. With growing concerns on transmission and infection control, medical centers are choosing to utilize disposable medical equipment which is increasing the demand for wire and cable industry in the healthcare sector.” COVID 19 has witnessed the growing demand for singlepatient-use ECG leads. Before the pandemic, the sales of disposable ECG leads were expected to grow at a CAGR of 25 percent and exceed USD 1 billion by 2024. However, as coronavirus is contagious, and single-patient-use ECG leads can be a simple way to help reduce cross-contamination, the market is now expected to reach USD 2 billion. Various companies such as Covidien’s Kendall-LTP Division, 3M, Cardinal Health, Cables and Sensors, Philips Healthcare, Curbell Medical, Uni-Med, and Vyaire Medical are into the manufacturing of single-patient-use cables and lead wires. While these cables and lead wires might currently

Mr. Gautam Seth, Joint Managing Director, HPL Electric and Power Ltd.

rooms where somehow the malfunctioning of cable can impact the ability of medical professionals to conduct proper treatment.” According to a report published by Market Research.com, global cables and leads for the medical equipment market are predicted to reach USD 6 billion by 2027. Meanwhile, the growth in the ECG segment is projected to reach USD 2.7 billion recording a 4.7 percent CAGR and the EEG

www.wirecable.in

May-Jun, 2021

POWERING HEALTHCARE not be very popular in India, the possibility of adopting this technology in the near future cannot be ruled out as the world gears up to reduce the transmission of the virus.

in control and better prepared before major surgery and procedure. The increasing advancement and transformation in technology is a key factor boosting the virtual reality in the healthcare market, says Fortune Business Insights in a report. The global virtual reality in the healthcare market size stood at USD 1.56 billion in 2018 is expected to reach USD 30.40 billion by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 42.4 percent.

Cables are used in surgical lasers, LASIK equipment, and medical infusion pumps. The operation tables and hospital beds are equipped with wire and cable arrays to ensure the right positioning of the patient during procedures. These cables are flexible so that they can operate when bent by the bed’s movement. Besides table and bed orientation, surgical lights also require durable wire and cable assemblies that can withstand temperature fluctuations and high power levels. With its application in CCTV and fire alarms, the cable is crucial in hospital security and fire safety systems as well.

Surgical robots are also taking over the healthcare industry. The global surgical robots market is projected to reach USD 14.4 billion by 2026 from USD 6.4 billion in 2021, at a CAGR of 17.6 percent. The rising demand for surgical robots will pave the way for small and flexible medical cables in the years ahead.

Wires and cables play silent but significant roles in equipment monitoring, communications networks, and patient information systems. They are used in nursing stations, call systems, intercom systems, food services, admissions procedures, and coordination-of-care databases.

With such innovations and massive amounts of data leveraging such technologies, high-capacity, and lowlatency networks will be required in the near future. The cable industry aims for 10G and DOCSIS 4.0 technology would be the cornerstone. All this may entirely change the face of the healthcare sector by improving the quality of care and reducing costs. Hence, it won’t be wrong to say that cable is the heartbeat of any healthcare facility.

New ideas, new solutions, and a better tomorrow... As the healthcare sector moves towards new innovations, the wire and cable segment is set to play an interesting role in the near future. Thanks to broadband connectivity, telehealth, and telemedicine services have already become the new normal amid the pandemic. It has reduced the risk of virus transmission as the doctors are able to give consultations and treat patients without the need for an in-person visit. “Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, virtual medicine has already gained momentum. With 5G knocking on our doors, the medical industry is poised to churn a huge amount of data that our Fibre optic cables can handle. The Healthcare industry will be using 5G and Optical Fibre cables for preventive care, telemedicine, and robotic surgeries in the near future,” said Mr. Chhabria, adding “Our LAN and category cables provide the highest speed for data transmission and bandwidth, ensuring that hospital networks are running without any downtime and allow real-time data flow, i.e., voice, images, and other data, between various machines and computer networks without any interruptions. We continue to grow, develop, and innovate to create technologically advanced products that will help in saving lives in the future.” Virtual Reality (VR) has already been introduced in the healthcare segment to allow physicians and surgeons to take a ‘tour’ of patient’s anatomy in 3D and simulate surgery. This technology has helped doctors to feel more

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May-Jun, 2021

POWERING HEALTHCARE

LAPP India: Tapping New Opportunities “The cable market is approximately 20 percent of the medical equipment industry, and we see ‘healthcare & medical equipment’ as one of the fastest emerging market segments for the coming months” Gary Bateman: LAPP is one of the earliest cable manufacturing companies that identified India’s potential in the sector and set up operations close to 23 years ago. Today, LAPP is the largest company in the APAC region and second largest in the LAPP Group, with two manufacturing facilities (one in Bangalore and one in Bhopal) servicing over 9000 customers. LAPP India is catering to cable and connection technology requirements across infrastructure, renewable energy, metro, ports, railways, metals and mining, automotive, and automation power plants (nuclear and thermal). In the last year due to the pandemic, the healthcare industry has grown and there is a lot of focus on improving the health infrastructure. Cables used for medical applications have to be reliable and extremely safe to use. Medical devices are used in different environments due to which the cables must be of high-quality standards, adaptable, and meet the high requirements of efficacy and quality standards. Fiber optic cables and advanced network Ethernet cables are crucial to all operations at a medical facility - from record-keeping to medical devices. These cables also need to carry larger data because medical procedures like x-rays and radiology imaging collect complex information. They need to ensure high speed and real-time data transfer.

Mr. Gary Bateman, Managing Director - LAPP India

LAPP India is a one-stop solution provider for cable and connection technology. The company designs and manufactures wires, cables, connectors, and glands. It started its operations in 1996 by setting up a state-of-theart manufacturing unit at Jigani, Bangalore, and has pan India presence. Wire & Cable India recently interviewed Mr. Gary Bateman, Managing Director - LAPP India, wherein he dives into the product portfolio catering to the medical technology and discusses the importance of cables in telehealth and remote patient monitoring facilities in the advent of COVID-19.

Hence, cables used at medical labs and hospitals need high bandwidth and the ability to transfer data within seconds. Most importantly, because healthcare operates 24x7, the cables need to be reliable and dependable. WCI: Tell us about the product portfolio specific to the healthcare system. Also outline the key strengths. GB: LAPP is a leading supplier of integrated solutions and branded products in the field of cable and connection technology. Our products range from power and control cables, industrial connectors, and high-speed data transmission cables to conduits, glands, and cable markers.

Wire & Cable India: LAPP India makes cables suitable for medical technology. Please shed some light on the cables used the healthcare segment. How are they different from normal cables?

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In the healthcare segment, we mostly see LAPP power and control cables and high-speed data transmission cables

May-Jun, 2021

POWERING HEALTHCARE being used. ÖLFLEX UNIPLUS , LiYY, LiYCY, UNITRONIC LiHCH (TP) UL MTW Single & Multi-Cores, OLFLEX CLASSIC 110, OLFLEX CLASSIC 110 CY,OLFLEX CLASSIC FD 810 CY are some of the commonly used cables along with ring lugs glands, conduits, spiral cables. The cables are used in ventilators, x-ray machines, patient monitoring systems (PMS), respiratory units, oxygen concentrators, bio kilns, bioreactors, dental equipment, robotic surgery equipment, cath lab, and radiotherapy for cancer treatment. All our cables are quick to assemble, flame retardant, and ensure safe and precise data transmission. They are tough and resistant to hot and cold temperatures, corrosion, and acids. They have a wide clamping range, are halogen-free, have optimum strain relief, and are torsion-resistant. They are also reliable, robust and include copper screening that complies with EMC requirements and protects against electromagnetic interference.

an increased focus on developing telehealth and remote patient monitoring facilities. With the third wave of COVID-19 to peak in October-November, we are seeing an increased thrust to new and improved medical devices, for both on-site and remote patient care and diagnosis.

WCI: Are you planning any new addition to your product range in the near future?

Currently, the cable market is approximately 20 percent of the medical equipment industry; and for the coming months, we see ‘healthcare & medical equipment’ as one of the fastest emerging market segments.

GB: LAPP India is constantly innovating to meet industry challenges and customer requirements. Innovation is a key guiding principle at LAPP.

WCI: What has been the impact of the pandemic on your business?

While right now, we are providing cables as a component to medical devices, we are also exploring opportunities to provide complex harness solutions for the medical ecosystem.

“

LAPP India is constantly innovating to meet industry challenges and customer requirements

GB: With the lockdowns and curfews, we faced a slowdown in 2020, but have bounced back this year. New business opportunities have emerged for us to explore as a cable & connection technology manufacturer. Apart from growing our footprint in healthcare, we have expansion plans in building wire and solar products as well. Post lockdowns, India’s investments in infrastructure have increased, especially with the ‘Make in India’ boom. India is the 3rd largest construction industry in the world and presents a huge untapped market.

”

WCI: Could you please define the global presence of LAPP’s medical cables?

WCI: Elaborate on your future plans and the technology initiatives that are driving the company ahead.

GB: LAPP has been catering to the medical segment globally. In India, one of the largest healthcare equipment manufacturers purchases 90 percent of their cable requirement from LAPP India. We also cater to the maintenance market as and when required.

GB: India’s insulated wire and cable market is forecast to grow at a CAGR of 10.3 percent through 2023, predominantly on account of growing government investments towards infrastructure development projects. Industries including transportation, food & beverage, oil and gas, and industrial communication will be some of the biggest business drivers for the wire and cable industry.

As this segment grows, LAPP presence in this segment will also grow.

We are also focusing on new initiatives across territories including e-mobility, medical equipment and the pharmaceutical industry.

WCI: What is the market potential of medical cables in India? GB: With the COVID-19 pandemic, the medical industry has undergone a transformation. There are a lot of opportunities for the Indian health care system especially with the growing demand for improved infrastructure and better healthcare delivery. In the past year, there has been

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We also see immense potential in solar power. Lapp has been innovating and developing cabling and connectivity solutions for photovoltaic systems for over a decade and our growth strategy continues to focus on localizing solar products for India with price advantage for the customer.

May-Jun, 2021

POWERING HEALTHCARE

Deltacab: Developing Differentiated Products “Our products are globally accredited among our clients for their longevity, accurate performance, reliable and durable nature.” performance, reliable and durable nature. The company has CE – ISI – RoHS – ISO – ISO certifications for designing. Some of the products manufactured by us include nose bridge wires for N-95 masks and surgical masks (RoHS), spiral coiled cords for hospital beds (RoHS) (CE), spiral coiled cords for medical instruments. (RoHS) (CE), spiral coil cords for static energy ( Safety cords) (RoHS) (CE), copper screened cable for medical Instrument (RoHS) (CE), flat travelling cables for hospital elevators (RoHS) (CE), cable for CCTV for surveillance purpose (RoHS), 2-pin & 3-pin moulded cords for power supply of medical instruments(ISI) (RoHS) (CE), instrumentation wires & cables for penal board used for hospital (ISI) (RoHS) (CE), special designed cable as per customer specification (tailormade) WCI: Are you planning any new addition to your product range in the near future? AK: We are adding new products as per the demands and requirements. The demand for N95 masks has gone up after COVID-19 pandemic. We have entered into the manufacturing of nose clip wire for nose masks. We are planning to get UL Certifications for our products and harness cables for medical and surgical instruments (hospital grade) in near future. We will also introduce electrosurgical pencil soon.

Mr. Aakarsh Khandhar, CEO, Deltacab

WCI: Could you please define the global presence of Deltacab medical cables?

Delta Electronics (India) started with a small setup in 1991. Since then, it has been flourishing and booming in the domain of manufacturing and supplying supreme quality of electrical & electronics wires, cables, molded cords, and spiral cords under the brand of Deltacab. Wire & Cable India recently interviewed, Mr. Aakarsh Khandhar, CEO, Deltacab, wherein he dives into the product portfolio catering to the healthcare segment and reveals his future plans.

AK: We specialize in designing and provide solutions for all types of flexible cables, cords, spiral cords and flat travelling cables. Currently, we have a well-planned production unit and PAN India coverage, and deep-rooted customer base. Our complete product range is manufactured from quality tested raw materials and is made in conformity with the international standards set up for these products. This ensures their strength to deliver long-lasting high level of performance. Hence, our products are in great demand

Wire & Cable India: Please shed some light on the cables made by Delta Electronics (India) for the healthcare segment.

“

Our complete product range is manufactured from quality tested raw materials and is made in conformity with the international standards set up for these products.

Aakarsh Khandhar: Delta Electronics (India) was established in 1991. Since then, we design, manufacture and supply wires, cables and molded cords based on government standards. These products are globally accredited among our clients for their longevity, accurate

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”

May-Jun, 2021

POWERING HEALTHCARE elevator industry, healthcare industry, electrical and electronic projects, medical equipment, testing equipment, construction areas. With the aid of a specialized and highly experienced workforce we put forward our earnest efforts to produce products that meet the needs of our clients suitably. We also offer our customers sampling schemes. We are planning to acquire at least 20 – 25 percent by 2025. WCI: What has been the impact of the pandemic on your business? AK: The impact, subject to profit was negative, but in the pandemic, we became a major manufacturer of N-95 masks and surgical masks. It opened a new opportunity for us. We manufacture nose bridge wire of 200000 metres (for twenty lakh masks approximately) per day to mainly support to mask manufacturers, who have to supply against the demands. We are proud to have done something for our country at the time of COVID pandemic.

internationally. Since 2016, we have been exporting to UAE and Africa.

“

WCI: What other industries do you cater to? How much market share are you aiming for developing such cables in India?

We manufacture nose bridge wire of 200000 metres (for twenty lakh masks approximately) per day to mainly support to mask manufacturers, who have to supply against the demands.

AK: Delta Electronics (India) derives its strengths from its customers. Our Customer satisfaction is its prime objective. The cables, wires and cords that we offer have numerous applications in the telecommunication industry,

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”

May-Jun, 2021

Welding Wires Industry: Exhibiting Signs of Promising Growth

added, “India is expected to grow at a significant CAGR of 7.7 percent due to an increase in construction activities and growth in the automotive and transportation sector. In addition, the rise in demand for semi-automatic and automatic welding production systems increases the demand for welding consumables”.

he global welding equipment, accessories, and consumables market is projected to grow from USD 25.9 billion in 2021 to USD 32.5 billion by 2026, at a CAGR of 4.6 percent, as per a comprehensive report by Research and Markets. With the presence of almost all major manufacturers and end-user companies, Asia Pacific (APAC) is not only the largest producer and consumer of welding equipment, accessories, and consumables across the globe but also the fastest-growing market for this segment.

Defining Trends in the Segment Advancements in the welding wire and consumables segment are a testament that the worldwide utilization of welding technology is on a rise and its use is expected to grow further due to its various advantages. The future growth of the segment is determined by the adoption of advanced welding processes and the developments in the materials used.

Moderate growth is being witnessed in the Indian welding consumables market. Industrialization, urbanization, and technological advancements in every sector have paved a way for welding consumables across the country. This along with favourable investment policies and government initiatives directed at promoting infrastructure, electronics, and automobile industries has created a positive outlook for the welding wire market. Talking about the growth drivers of the Indian welding wire market segment, Mr. Shunji Oki, Managing Director, Kobelco Welding India Pvt. Ltd., said, “India is a highly competitive market with price concerns; having said that, it is difficult to increase welding materials alone for successful growth. The combination of welding robots, welding equipment, and unique welding power sources is equally vital for better growth.”

There will be a growing inclination towards higher levels of reliability and higher-quality requirements and thus, the trend towards automatic welding and automation in the welding segment is projected to accelerate. In addition, the methods such as laser welding, laser-arc hybrid welding, and friction stir welding will become more prominent. In this Editorial Feature on welding wires, Team Wire & Cable India interacted with the key industry players engaged in the production of welding wires, to gain key insights on the role of welding wires, new product developments, challenges, and opportunities in the welding wires segment.

Elaborating India’s growth rate, Mr. Ashok T. Sanghvi, Managing Director, Raajratna Electrodes Pvt. Ltd.,

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May-Jun, 2021

WELDING WIRES

Raajratna Electrodes: Bringing Trends and Innovations in the Welding Industry ‘’Rapid industrialization and urbanization, leading to increasing demand for improved infrastructural facilities across India, are the key factors driving the growth of the welding wire market.’’

aajratna Electrodes Pvt. Ltd. is a governmentrecognized manufacturer and exporter of stateof-the-art welding consumables. Equipped with all necessary machines and facilities to meet production, inspection, testing and storage needs, the company manufactures welding electrodes and wire for various industrial applications mainly aerospace, automotive & engineering industry, construction & infrastructure, manufacturing, railroads, and shipping industries. Wire and Cable India recently interviewed Mr. Ashok T. Sanghvi, Managing Director, Raajratna Electrodes Pvt. Ltd., wherein he dives into various mechanical characteristics and typical applications of the diverse range of welding wires and discusses the recent innovations and developments at the Company. Wire & Cable India: The year 2021 marks the 30-year anniversary of Raajratna Electrodes Pvt. Ltd. which is certainly an important milestone in the business journey of the company. Kindly present a run-through on the overview of the Company and highlight the major accomplishments so far.

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Mr. Ashok T. Sanghvi, Managing Director, Raajratna Electrodes Pvt. Ltd.

May-Jun, 2021

WELDING WIRES Ashok T. Sanghvi: Raajratna Electrodes Pvt. Ltd., founded in 1991 is ranked today among the largest exporters in the country and devoted to the development of quality welding consumables. It is an ISO 9001:2015 certified company and it also wears the badge of a government accredited One Star Export House, a title conferred on companies that meet international standards of quality and excellence in export sales. A part of ‘Raajratna Group’ – it is involved in stainless steel wires, bright bars, stainless steel fasteners, tubes, threaded bars, and wire nails having their state-of-the-art manufacturing units on Ahmedabad - Mehsana Highway, Gujarat - India. Raajratna Electrodes is also registered as part of Dun & Bradstreet Global database and has been assigned the D&B D-U-N-S® number 91-735-0233 and its product range can be therefore accessed across the globe by various consumers. Welding consumables manufactured by the company are meeting international quality standards i.e. AWS, DIN, BS, JIS, etc.

We adopt the latest and innovative technology and our products are approved by International and National agencies like ABS, BV, DNV, D&B, LR, BAXCOUNSEL, BHEL, BIS, ESSAR, GWSSB, IBR, IRS, L&T, NPCIL & RDSO. We have established export business in more than 60 countries around the globe from 2007 to 2021 for welding consumables viz. various types of welding electrodes, welding wire & fluxes, and developed various new products according to customers’

“

Raajratna Electrodes wears the badge of a government accredited One Star Export House, a title conferred on companies that meet international standards of quality and excellence in export sales.

”

requirements. We have also achieved and sustained the status of ‘One Star Export House’ from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade since 2010. Our company has been awarded trophy & certificate by EEPC-INDIA and WELDFAB TECH for excellence in export performance. WCI: As the Company’s business is strongly predicated and structured on a strong focus on producing a range of welding consumables, could you please share details about the product offerings of the Company and describe the major strong points of the welding wires segment? ATS: Some of the products manufactured by Raajratna include stick welding electrodes (MS/ SS/ Nickel/ repair & maintenance), stainless steel wire (TIG/ MIG/ SAW), copper coated wire (TIG/ MIG/ SAW), flux cored arc welding wire, submerged arc welding flux, dry mixed welding flux, and aluminium wire (TIG/ MIG). The market research analysis categorizes the global welding wires market into three major types of segments, i.e., solid wires, flux cored wires, and saw wires and fluxes. Solid wires are generally used in metal inert gas welding which requires a shielding gas delivered from a pressurized gas bottle. The shielding gas protects the molten weld pool

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May-Jun, 2021

WELDING WIRES most difficult welding techniques to learn. Raajratna TIG/ MIG welders are skilled individuals. In TIG welding, a person needs to feed the rod with one hand and hold a TIG torch with the other. This torch creates the heat and arc, which are used to weld most conventional metals, including aluminium, steel, nickel alloys, copper alloys, cobalt and titanium. TIG welders can be used to weld steel, stainless steel, chromoly, aluminium, nickel alloys, magnesium, copper, brass, bronze, and even gold. TIG is a useful welding process for bike frames, lawn mowers, door handles, fenders, and more.

from atmospheric contaminants. Solid wires are generally made of mild steel and plated with copper in order to prevent oxidation and aid in electrical conductivity. The copper plating helps in enhancing the life of the weld. These wires are ideally suited for outdoor applications. The advantages of solid wires are that they are cost-effective, durable, highly resistant, and simple to make. Flux cored wires are generally of two types which are gas-shielded and self-shielded. The gas-shielded flux cored wire requires an external shielding gas. On the other hand, the self-shielded variety does not require an external shielding gas. The flux coating on gas shielded flux cored wires helps in improving the quality of the molten weld material. Gasshielded flux wires work well when welding thicker metals. Saw wires and fluxes are most commonly used in submerged arc welding in different compositions. The combined effect of wire and flux on the tensile strength, chemical composition, and toughness of weld metals are noted and interpreted in terms of element transfer between the slag and the weld metal. The advantages of submerged arc welding

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include deep weld penetration, minimal arc light emissions, and minimal edge preparation. They are suitable for both indoor and outdoor applications and are applicable to thick materials. WCI: Please talk about the various mechanical characteristics and typical applications of the diverse range of welding wires produced by Raajratna Electrodes. ATS: MIG welding wire is one of the easier types of welding for beginners to learn. MIG welding is actually two different types of welding - the first uses bare wire and the second uses flux core. Bare wire MIG welding can be used to join thin pieces of metal together. Flux core MIG welding can be used outdoors because it does not require a flow meter or gas supply. MIG welding is usually the welding of choice for DIY enthusiasts and hobby welders who don’t have the money to spend on expensive equipment. Stick welding, also known as Arc welding, is doing it the traditional way. Stick welding is a bit harder to master than MIG welding - a stick electrode welding rod is used in this. TIG welding wire is extremely versatile, but it is also one of the

Gas welding wire is rarely used and has been largely superseded by TIG welding. Gas welding kits require oxygen and acetylene and are very portable. They are still sometimes used to weld bits of car exhaust back together. There is currently a huge shortage of skilled welders in the US and the rest of the world, so for young people who decide to take up a career as a welding technician, the job prospects are good. WCI: Could you please touch upon the market reach of the company – both domestically as well as globally? Are there any immediate plans to tap into newer markets that are as of yet unexplored for the Company? ATS: Global marketing is more than simply selling a product internationally. Rather, it includes the whole process of planning, producing, placing, and promoting a company’s products in a worldwide market. Large businesses often have offices in the foreign countries they market to; but with the expansion of the Internet, even small companies can reach customers throughout the world. Even if a company chooses not to expand globally, it may well face domestic competition from foreign companies which do. This competition has made it nearly a

May-Jun, 2021

WELDING WIRES necessity for most businesses to establish an international presence. While marketing products globally, a company must recognize that a marketing mix that works in the domestic market may not have the same success in another market. Differences in local competition may require a different pricing strategy. Local infrastructure may affect how products are produced and/ or shipped. In some cases, it may be more profitable to produce things locally; in others, it may be cheaper to ship them in from across the globe. Currently, Raajratna has PAN-India presence and our products are seen in 60 countries around the globe marketing with Raajratna brand and various OEM brands manufactured by Raajratna. We have already made future plans and projects that can be helpful in spreading our welding consumables business in more than 100 countries. WCI: What are the quality assurance measures followed at the Company to ensure the production and the execution of superior quality finished products? Also, kindly divulge details on the various specifications and

standards considered and complied with at the production level which testifies the consistency in quality. ATS: Quality assurance measures followed at the Company to ensure the production and the execution of superior quality finished products: •

We have integrated quality inspection activities in the product development process, stock handling process, be it inbound, in process raw materials or outbound finished stock.

•

We use inspection plans for quality inspections.

•

We executed quality tasks to mitigate or resolve defects during production.

•

We maintain a record of nonconformities at the right point in time to avoid costintensive reprocessing or unnecessary waste of raw and packaging materials.

•

We have assigned a person responsible to each quality action and track action statuses and outcomes.

Classification of testing methods:

Mechanical tests

Destructive tests

Testing methods

Nondestructive tests

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Tension test Bend test Hardness test Impact test Fatigue test Creep test

Chemical tests

Chemical analysis Corrosion test Diffusible hydrogen test

Structure tests

Macro-structure test Micro-structure test Fracture surface test

Visual test Radiographic test Ultrasonic test Magnetic particle test Penetrant test Eddy current test Pressure test Leak test Acoustics emission test Sound test

WCI: Since Raajratna Electrodes offer a range of welding wires including arc welding wires; could you please talk about these segments with respect to their level of productivity and applications? ATS: Gas metal arc welding (GMAW), also known as metal inert gas (MIG) welding, uses a continuous solid wire electrode that travels through the welding gun, which is accompanied by a shielding gas to protect it from contaminants. GMAW is one of the most common welding processes and can be used indoors to weld materials for industries like construction, vehicle production, manufacturing and aerospace. It’s not recommended to use GMAW outdoors, since the wind can blow away the gas and damage the process. GMAW welding produces minimal waste and isn’t prone to chipping. The process can be semi-automatic or fully automatic, which makes it simpler for welders because they don’t have to worry about defects on stops and starts. Shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) is a welding technique that can be used on all ferrous materials in all welding positions. Another name for SMAW is stick welding. A flux-coated electrode (which is a metal stick in an electrode holder) is connected to a power source and touches the base metal to produce the weld. The flux shields the electric arc to prevent contamination. SMAW can be used to weld low- and high-alloy steels, carbon steel, cast iron, and nickel alloys for industries like construction, shipbuilding, and manufacturing. It can be done indoors and outdoors. SMAW produces slag, which is a layer of by-product welders chip off after they weld for a clean look. Flux-cored arc welding (FCAW) uses a continuous hollow wire electrode with a flux compound that protects the weld pool by forming a gas. FCAW is ideal for outdoor welding and for welding on dirty or contaminated materials since it doesn’t require an external shielding gas to protect the weld from atmospheric elements.

May-Jun, 2021

WELDING WIRES Much like the SMAW process, FCAW also produces slag that is chipped off after the weld to give it a clean look. FCAW is often used for thick materials because the flux-core wire can penetrate thick weld joints. FCAW isn’t appropriate for materials that are thinner than 20 gauge. FCAW can be used on cast iron, stainless steel, carbon steel, high-nickel alloys, and low-alloy steel. This welding technique is used in industries like construction and shipbuilding. Gas tungsten arc welding (GTAW) is also known as TIG welding, which stands for tungsten inert gas. Just like in GMAW welding, an inert shielding gas is used. But unlike GMAW, which uses a wire that also acts as filler material, GTAW heats up objects by utilizing a tungsten electrode that delivers current to the welding arc. This welding arc melts the metal and creates a liquid pool. A filler rod can then be added if necessary to enhance the strength of the weld. GTAW requires great precision since the tungsten needs to avoid touching the workpiece and materials cannot be overheated, otherwise, cracks and other issues can occur. The benefits of GTAW include greater weld control and improved strength and quality of welds. GTAW also results in chipfree welds for a clean look. It is most commonly used to weld thin material and can be used for ferrous or nonferrous metals like stainless steel, aluminum, copper, magnesium and titanium. WCI: As the manufacturer of copper coated welding wire and stainless steel welding wire, what is your outlook on the growth prospects and potential of these segments in the Indian welding wire industry? ATS: The Indian welding consumables market is currently witnessing moderate growth. Welding consumables refer to various flux and filler metals used in the process of welding. The flux acts as a deoxidizer that prevents the

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oxidation of metals, whereas the filler metals assist in fixing the joints in the object. Some of the commonly used welding consumables include stick electrodes, solid wires, fluxcored wires, fluxes, and submerged arc welding (SAW) wires. The raw materials used in the production of these consumables include nickel and low alloy steel, copper, rutile, ilmenite and aluminium. They find extensive applications across the automotive, construction, and manufacturing industries. Rapid industrialization and urbanization, leading to increasing demand for improved infrastructural facilities across India, are the key factors driving the growth of the market. Furthermore, significant growth in the manufacturing industries is creating a positive outlook for the market. In line with this, the increasing demand for welding consumables in the energy sector is also contributing to market growth. Welding consumables are used in power plants for conducting plant maintenance activities and the manufacturing of on-site storage tanks for storing liquefied gasses. Other factors, including extensive growth in the automotive industry, coupled with various technological advancements, such as the utilization of dissimilar metal welding through fibre lasers in the production of electric cars, are anticipated to drive the market further in the country. India is expected to grow at a significant CAGR of 7.7 percent during the forecast period due to an increase in construction activities and growth in the automotive and transportation sector. In addition, the rise in demand for semi-automatic and automatic welding production systems increases the demand for welding consumables. South Korea’s welding consumables market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 4.7 percent during the forecast period. Additionally, the remarkable success of welding-intensive industries such

as shipbuilding and automotive and transportation has boosted the South Korean welding consumables market. Korean vehicle manufacturers utilize various strategies to increase their share in the global automotive space and the region is projected to witness growth in welding consumables revenue due to the large number of orders placed for the shipbuilding industry in the next couple of years. The global welding consumables market was valued at USD 12,405 million in 2016 and is expected to reach at USD 18,286 million by 2023, registering a CAGR of 5.7 percent from 2017 to 2023. Welding is a reliable, precise, high-tech, and cost-effective method for joining materials, such as metals and alloys, efficiently in various manufacturing industries. These consumables are flux & filler materials used in the welding industry and are generally used in arc welding processes. These consumables liquify while joining metals and assist in producing a firm joint. They also shield molten weld from atmospheric contaminants. Steel, aluminium, copper, ilmenite, nickel, and rutile are some of the raw materials utilized in the production of welding consumables. The rise in the consumption of steel coupled with the revival of construction industry in the U.S. is expected to boost the demand for welding consumables during the forecast period. The key players have adopted strategies, such as mergers and acquisitions, to meet large demand from emerging economies. The global welding consumables market is driven by rapid growth in the automotive & transportation and construction sector, an increase in the number of applications across various end-user industries utilizing different types of welding techniques, a rise in global energy infrastructure investment, and a surge in the use of welding consumables for maintenance and repair purposes. Asia-Pacific is expected to show the highest growth

May-Jun, 2021

WELDING WIRES rate from 2017 to 2023, owing to rapid urbanization and industrialization, especially in emerging economies such as China and India. In addition, government investments in the energy industry and foreign direct investments (FDI) in thermal and wind sectors are expected to boost market growth. However, sluggish adoption of advanced welding technologies in emerging economies, the environmental impact of welding consumables, slow growth of aerospace & defence and shipbuilding industries, and customer price sensitivity hinder the market growth. Conversely, growth in requirement for welding automation technology in fabrication is anticipated to boost the growth of the welding consumables market in the near future. In the developed countries, the need for welding automation technology utilized in fabrication is increasing due to the dearth of skilled labor and high labor cost. In addition, India, China, and the Middle East are projected to be the key growth regions for the welding consumables market. The global welding consumables market is segmented based on type, end-user industry, welding technique, and geography. Based on type, it is classified into stick electrodes, solid wires, flux cored wires, and SAW wires & fluxes. On the basis of enduser industry, it is categorized into aerospace & defence, automotive & transportation, construction, energy, heavy machinery, shipbuilding, and process and others. Based on welding technique, it is divided into arc welding, resistance welding, oxy-fuel welding, laser-beam welding, and others. Geographically, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, AsiaPacific, and LAMEA. The flux cored wires segment is the most significant by type segment in the global market and is expected to be the first preference for new entrants due to their high deposition rate, efficiency in delivering work, and production of clean and strong welds.

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In addition, growth in preference for flux cored wires in the construction and shipbuilding industry is anticipated to boost the demand for these wires globally. WCI: Could you please present an overview of the recent innovations and developments at the Company? ATS: Raajratna is among India’s best producers and exporters of stainless steel and copper coated welding wire. We are the foremost experts in the production of stainless steel and copper coated welding wire and consistently bring innovations to the application engineering side of the business. Our service is unparalleled and we provide the only single source for all of the stainless steel alloys currently registered for welding applications and the only source for the development and introduction of new welding alloys. State-of-the-art drawing and spooling machinery has been combined with newly developed equipment and processes unique to Raajratna, providing the best dimensional, mechanical, and metallurgical control in the industry. Metal is rigorously cleaned of all manufacturing lubricants to prevent flaws in the welding process.

with customers in all areas of welding and proper metal selection. In addition, strategically located field representatives have been technically trained to solve production problems and to personally serve each customer. In order to further fulfill Raajratna’s commitment to customer service, spooled and straight length rod products are presently available in over twenty steel alloys and in a variety of diameters and packages. This extensive product line of ‘standard items’ is maintained in inventory at Raajratna. WCI: What will be your major goals for the next decade for Raajratna Electrodes? ATS: We are aiming at increasing our market share, cross-selling to long term customers, maintaining profits, investing in quality management, creating reliable products, calculating and creating the best value of the product for cost, reducing energy, decreasing tools necessary for operation, increasing the sales percentage of new products and customizing product features. Our focus would be on leadership skills for team members, team building/ diversity training goals, and best customer service.

Our packaging is intended not only to provide an eye-pleasing product to its customers but also to ensure that the superior quality of the material is retained from the time the package leaves the production facility until the product is retrieved from the customer’s shelf to be put to use. We are able to provide complete traceability of our finished products. Each lot of electrode and wire is certified to meet American Welding Society Specifications. Overhead welds are tested in Raajratna’s Quality Control Laboratory for tensile strength and ductility and are x-rayed to ensure freedom from interior flaws. Our metallurgical engineers consult

May-Jun, 2021

WELDING WIRES

Nevatia Steel & Alloys: Envisioning Fast-Track Growth in the Steel Wire Industry “Our manufacturing facilities, equipped with comprehensive and modern technologies, have a manufacturing capacity of 12,000 MTPA and are strategically located at Tarapur, which is close to the port of Mumbai.”

evatia Steel & Alloys Pvt. Ltd. was incorporated in 1988 to manufacture stainless steel wires for the international market. The wires, manufactured in compliance with International Standards of Quality, are used diversely in automotive, agriculture, marine, petrochemical, and paper industries. Wire & Cable India interviewed Mr. Nikhil Nevatia, Director, Nevatia Steel & Alloys Pvt. Ltd., wherein he shares an overview of the company, the product portfolio, details about their manufacturing setup, their market presence, and his outlook on the Indian steel wire industry. Wire & Cable India: Kindly give us a glimpse into the business journey of Nevatia Steel & Alloys Pvt. Ltd. Also, describe the significant accomplishments of the company. Nikhil Nevatia: Nevatia Steel started its operations more than thirty years ago and has a strong presence in Europe and the United States. The stainless steel wires produced at our plants in Tarapur are exported to more than forty countries across the globe. Nevatia Steel is one of the oldest stainless steel wire manufacturing companies in the country and it is the first

www.wirecable.in

Mr. Nikhil Nevatia, Director, Nevatia Steel Alloys Pvt. Ltd.

May-Jun, 2021

WELDING WIRES company to obtain the quadruple certifications of – IATF 16949, ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and ISO 45001. WCI: Could you please enlighten us about the product portfolio of the Company? Further, how would you describe the key strengths of these products? NN: Nevatia steel wires are produced in a variety of grades with a wide size ranging from 0.08 mm to 12.00 mm diameter, and used in various fields having demanding applications such as braiding, knitting, weaving, cold heading, machining, making springs, screens, filters, electro-polish, spokes, and welding. Nevinox® brand MIG (GMAW) and TIG (GTAW) stainless steel filler welding wires are accredited with Deutsche Bahn (DB)-approval in addition to prestigious approvals from Bureau Veritas for marine applications, TUV for pressure vessels

www.wirecable.in

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Nevinox® brand MIG (GMAW) and TIG (GTAW) stainless steel filler welding wires are accredited with Deutsche Bahn (DB)-approval in addition to prestigious approvals from Bureau Veritas for marine applications, TUV for pressure vessels and equipment, as well as the CE-mark.

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May-Jun, 2021

WELDING WIRES describe the major trends which are catalyzing the growth of the industry. How do you think the Indian steel wire industry is positioned in the global marketplace to cater to meet the ever-growing demands of this dynamic industry? NN: Indian stainless steel wire segment is a bright spark in the engineering sector in India. Thanks to exports, the industry has witnessed a double-digit growth rate for the last several years. With the recent policy level developments in China, Indian stainless steel long product segment is poised for accelerated growth in the coming years. and equipment, as well as the CEmark. The MIG wires are also being supplied in drum-packs for robotic and automotive applications. WCI: Please shed some light on the company with respect to the infrastructural set-up, and manufacturing capabilities. Has there been any capacity expansion or technology upgradation at your facility in the recent past?

NN: Over the years, our products have been exported to a large part of the international community. Major destination countries include – Australia, Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Russia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey, UK, and the United States among others. In fact, the exports constitute about 85 percent of our business and the Indian market occupies 15 percent. WCI: Please share your views on the Indian steel wire industry and

WCI: Would you touch upon the Company’s performance and growth registered in recent years? Also, what will be your expectations regarding growth in the coming future? NN: Nevatia Steel has been growing consistently in line with the markets. We expect the FY 2021-22 to be amongst the greatest years in the history in terms of growth of this sector which is projected to register an upward growth of 20 percent over the last year.

NN: Our manufacturing facilities, equipped with comprehensive and modern technologies, have a manufacturing capacity of 12,000 MTPA and are strategically located at Tarapur, which is close to the port of Mumbai. The state-of-the-art wire drawing equipment and annealing lines are procured from well-known and established manufacturers from countries like Germany, Italy, South Korea, and China. Nevatia Steel has invested in solar systems for electricity generation and uses natural gas as a fuel for furnaces in a bid to take care of the environment. Very soon, we aim to be a ZLD (zero liquid discharge) company. WCI: Could you please define the market presence of Nevatia Steel & Alloys - both domestically and internationally? What is your outlook on expanding the market reach of the Company?

www.wirecable.in

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Over the years, our products have been exported to a large part of the international community. In fact, the exports constitute about 85 percent of our business and the Indian market occupies 15 percent.

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May-Jun, 2021

WELDING WIRES

Stanvac-Superon Group: Aiming to be One-Stop Welding Company of India “The group was founded on our management’s vision of making world class products available to Indian customers at a reasonable rate.”

tanvac-Superon Group is one of the largest manufacturers and exporters of high-quality welding consumables, protective coatings, and stainless steel wires. Superon was incorporated in 1994 with the commissioning of its first welding electrode production unit. The group aims to make worldclass products available to the customers at a reasonable rate. Wire & Cable India recently interviewed Mr. Sharad Mehra, Commercial Director, Stanvac-Superon Group, wherein he dives into the product portfolio and recent developments of the company. Wire & Cable India: As one of the largest manufacturers, exporters, and suppliers of industrial repair and maintenance solutions, Superon Group has diversified into various industries with time, could you please enlighten us on the business journey of the Company while charting out the key achievements? Sharad Mehra: Superon Group, established in 1994, is one of India’s largest manufacturers and exporters of industrial repair and maintenance solutions. The group was founded on our management’s vision of making world class products available to Indian customers at a reasonable rate. Following this principle, Superon Group has made a mark

www.wirecable.in

Mr. Sharad Mehra, Commercial Director, Stanvac-Superon Group

May-Jun, 2021

WELDING WIRES

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We are intending to establish the manufacturing unit of stainless steel flux core wire by 2023.

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in India. It has also been successfully exporting its products to over 70 countries. WCI: Kindly outline the product portfolio of the company, with particular emphasis on the welding wires and stainless-steel wires segment. Also, highlight the key features of the product range. SM: Our welding products range includes:

• MS Stick Electrodes & Wires (E6013/E7018/E7018-1/E7016/ E7016-1/ER70S6) • SS Stick Electrodes & MIG/TIG Wires (S308L/309L/31 6L/310/347/318//385/312/2209/2594 etc. • Low Alloy & Nickel Based Electrodes (E7018G/7018A1/801 8G/9018G/8018B2/9018B3/9018M/10018G/10018D2/11018M/ NiFe/NiCrMo3 etc.) • Hard facing stick electrodes • Maintenance and repair grade welding consumables • Stainless steel pickling products/flaw check DPT kits/ welding anti-spatter sprays Our stainless steel wire segment includes the following range of products: • Stainless steel wire for general application • Fine wire in size ranging from 0.10 mm up to 0.79 mm • Thick wire with size ranging from 0.80 mm up to 10.00 mm • Spring wire • Electro polish quality wire Most common grades are AISI 304/302, 316, 309, 321, 314 and many more. WCI: Could you please talk about the core capabilities of the company – with regard to manufacturing capacity and also the infrastructure of the manufacturing units? Has there been any upgradation of the manufacturing plant in the recent past or do you plan to do so in the future? SM: We have three plants with an installed capacity of 1400 MT for stainless steel non-welding wire, stainless MIG/TIG/SAW wire, fine wire, and 2000 MT for coated electrodes (stainless steel and mild steel electrode) and 800 MT installed capacity of copper-coated wire. Our new division is industrial aerosol products, like DPT, anti-spatter, multi-purpose spray, multipurpose spray, zinc spray, etc.

www.wirecable.in

May-Jun, 2021

WELDING WIRES WCI: With a vast product portfolio, Superon has distinct expertise in manufacturing welding consumables, innovative repair and reclamation welding alloys and non-welding wires, could you please take us through the product development process for the welding wire segment?

domestic and international market, we are intending to establish the manufacturing unit of stainless steel flux core wire by 2023. WCI: What kind of advancements has been brought about in the welding technology segment at your company? Also, how do you ensure the maintenance of quality in your welding wire range of products? SM: Surface conditions play key roles in filler materials, in view of that, we have installed the ultrasonic cleaning system in our process which has given better surface cleaning. It delivers better weldability.

Product Development Process

SM: Above is the flow chart of our product development process. WCI: Could you please shed some light on the various approvals and certifications the company has attained for its product range? SM: Our company has acquired certification and approvals from TÜV Rheinland, Bureau Veritas, CE Approval, ABS Approvals, Lloyds (LRS

Approval Certificate), DB Certificate, CWB (Canadian welding Bureau), NAKS Approval and Kuwait Oil Corporation Approval. Some of the most common grades offered under above listed approvals are ER 308L/Lsi, 309L/Lsi, 316L/Lsi, ER 347Lsi, E 308L-16, E 6013, E 7018, ER 70S-6, E309L-16, E 316L-16, 6010 and many more. WCI: As one of the largest manufacturers of stainless-steel welding consumables, and a prominent manufacturer of flux cored wires, do you think the Indian welding wire industry is on par with the international countries? Also, what is the current market size of the industry and your projections for its growth in the coming times? SM: In view of the current market demand of flux cored wire in the

WCI: Could you please shed some light on the cable coating range offered by the company and also delve on the features of the products? SM: We have developed an innovative and unique product to prevent the fire from electrical cables — FIREX EC-43, a water immersion/weather resistant intumescent fire protection coating for combustible electrical & communication cables. WCI: Has there been any recent development at Superon Group that you wish to highlight? Going ahead, what are the plans of the company to achieve further growth in the market? SM: Yes, we keep adding new products in our welding manufacturing range. In recent times, we have added ER 70S-6 copper coated wire. Moving ahead, the company is looking to add few more products in welding basket to be recognized as the only company from India with full range of welding consumables or to be called as onestop welding company of India.

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Superon Group is looking to add few more products in welding basket to be recognized as the only company from India with full range of welding consumables.

www.wirecable.in

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May-Jun, 2021

WELDING WIRES

Kobelco Welding India Pvt. Ltd.: Providing Products and Services That Win the Trust of Customers “The key is the introduction of ICT. It is important to optimize the accuracy of monthly demand forecasts and how to hold each product in stock.”

obelco Welding India Pvt. Ltd. works on marketing welding consumables made by Japanese steel manufacturer Kobe Steel, Ltd. Founded in 1905, Kobe Steel, Ltd. is one of the leading steelmakers as well as a major supplier of aluminium and copper products. The welding business, one of the business units managed by Kobe Steel, Ltd., offers total welding solutions that combine welding materials, robotic welding systems, welding technology and more. Wire & Cable India recently interviewed Mr. Shunji Oki, Managing Director, Kobelco Welding India Pvt. Ltd. wherein he dives into the product range of the company and reveals the plans of expanding the market reach. The company has set up three warehouses and was able to achieve more than double the amount ever since it was established. Wire & Cable India: A decade ago, Kobelco Welding India Pvt. Ltd. was established in Gurgaon, Haryana; could you please reflect upon the business journey along with some of the significant accomplishments the company has attained in the decade of its business? Mr. Shunji Oki, Managing Director, Kobelco Welding India Pvt. Ltd.

www.wirecable.in

May-Jun, 2021

WELDING WIRES Shunji Oki: Kobelco Welding India was strongly established to serve various industries in India including marine, oil & gas, building and construction, among others. In addition, with our strong sales team, we always keep up with the moving market trend. In 2014, we expanded our entire business by setting up three warehouses where we were able to achieve more than double the amount ever since it was established. WCI: Kindly elaborate on the range of welding consumables offered by the company. Also, highlight the key features of the product range. SO: In Kobelco, we provide a wide range of welding consumables that cater to various industries; primarily items are high-grade flux cored wire for CS, high tensile strength, and lowtemperature steel and stainless steel.

www.wirecable.in

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In 2014, we expanded our entire business by setting up three warehouses where we were able to achieve more than double the amount ever since it was established.

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May-Jun, 2021

WELDING WIRES

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In Kobelco, we provide a wide range of welding consumables that cater to various Industries; primarily items are high-grade Flux cored wire for CS, High tensile strength, and low-temperature steel and Stainless steel.

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WCI: As a supplier of a range of welding wires, what do you think are the growth drivers of the welding wire market segment? What is the current worth of the Indian welding wire market, and the projected growth of the segment? SO: India is a highly competitive market with price concerns, having said that it is difficult to increase the quantity of welding materials alone for successful growth. The combination of welding robots, welding equipment, and unique welding power sources is equally vital for better growth. WCI: How is Kobelco Welding India envisaging building its presence in the Indian market to carve its position as the key supplier of welding consumables in the country? SO: We target the supply of high value-added products to our customers that focus on quality and performance. At present, we are not keen on expanding our business in general-purpose products. WCI: Could you please touch upon the market presence of the Company? Also, please outline your plans with respect to expanding your reach to newer markets! SO: Generally expanding our company is important, but we, at Kobelco aim towards increasing our value & brand by supplying high-end products and providing technical services. In addition, India is geographically situated in the center of the world. The country’s strategic

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location makes it a connecting point to travel anywhere. We hope to expand our export business to markets like the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, and South Africa with India’s geographical location. WCI: As the supply chain is dependent on a number of factors such as variable consumer demands, regulations, and more routes to market; what are the means through which you improve the internal processes to provide excellent service seamlessly? SO: Pertaining to this question, seamless information sharing becomes important between managers, staff, warehouses, and distributors. Currently, we use information-sharing applications internally. However, nearing the future, I’m considering establishing a highly effective system where our agents can communicate with us. WCI: What are your strategies which help you to achieve supply chain optimization and be agile in the everevolving and dynamic welding wire market? SO: The key is the introduction of ICT. It is important to optimize the accuracy of monthly demand forecasts and how to hold each product in stock. This is a common issue for sales offices around the world and will be promoted in cooperation with the head office. WCI: Has there been any recent

development at Kobelco Welding India that you wish to highlight? Going forward, what are the plans of the company to achieve further growth in the market? SO: In India, many manufacturers are struggling to secure highlyskilled welders. As a result, the need for automatic welding is expected to increase dramatically. In particular, Kobelco is good at combining welding robots and wires for medium thickness plates. We intend to propose some solution to the industry. WCI: What is the vision and mission of the company? SO: We provide technologies, products, and services that win the trust and confidence of the customers and the society we serve. We value each employee and support his/ her growth on an individual basis while creating a cooperative and harmonious working environment. Through continuous and innovative changes, we create new values for the society of which we are a member. Kobelco is a global company that handles not only welding materials but also iron and steel, machinery, construction machinery, and power generation. The Group as a whole places the highest priority not only on pursuing profits but also on living in harmony with society and the environment. The development of new products is also particularly focused on being environmentally conscious.

May-Jun, 2021

WELDING WIRES

Varun Electrodes: Only Strategy is to Deliver Quality “Our Quality Assurance Plan (QAP) has been designed in a manner that covers all the parameters of quality and enables us to maintain almost zero rejection levels”

arun Electrodes Pvt. Ltd. (VEPL) is one of the leading manufacturers of welding electrodes and MIG wires with global standards under the brand name ‘PRIMA’. Since its establishment in 1991, the company has been focusing on core engineering sectors around the world. Wire & Cable India recently interviewed Mr. Varun Kapoor, Director, Varun Electrodes Pvt. Ltd. wherein he dives into the product range of the company and sheds light on the infrastructure of the manufacturing facility. Wire & Cable India: Kindly present an overview of Varun Electrodes and the key highlights in the business journey so far? Varun Kapoor: Varun Electrodes Pvt. Ltd. (VEPL) is a family-owned professionally managed organization established in 1991, with a very small infrastructure catering to the domestic requirements of fabricators. With time, VEPL has grown up and catered to the complex requirements of various industries such as railways, coal mines, power plants, heavy fabrication, refineries, etc. We are not only catering to domestic industries but are exporting our products under our own registered brand name PRIMA. www.wirecable.in

Mr. Varun Kapoor, Director, Varun Electrodes Pvt. Ltd.

May-Jun, 2021

WELDING WIRES

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VEPL is catering to all major OEMs in India such as BHEL, NTPC, ICF, RCF, MCF, Coal India, ONGC, SAIL, Tata, and automobile giants, among others.

WCI: What is the product portfolio offered by the Company for the welding wire segment? Please shed light on the unique features and key strengths of these wires? VK: VEPL has its own registered brand name PRIMA and we offer a complete range of welding consumables such as mild steel, stainless steel, low hydrogen, hard facing, & cast iron welding electrodes, cutting & gouging electrodes, MIG/ TIG welding wires and saw wires & fluxes. All the batches produced in VEPL are being completely tested in our fully developed and modernized laboratory comprising of the spectrometer, UTM, impact tester, metallurgical microscope, hardness tester, etc. Random samples are also sent to NABL approved laboratories for further quality confirmation. This vigorous testing helps us to maintain our quality and consistency in all batches. WCI: Could you please talk about the market presence of Varun Electrodes? Are there any plans of expanding the market reach in the near future? VK: Currently, VEPL is catering to all major OEMs in India such as BHEL, NTPC, ICF, RCF, MCF, Coal India, ONGC, SAIL, Tata, and automobile giants, among others. Apart from domestic supplies, we are also exporting our goods to a few of the countries in Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. We are looking to enhance our retail market in domestic as well as export market.

www.wirecable.in

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WCI: Tell us about the quality management system which enables the company in to ensure consistency in the product quality. Also, elaborate on the certifications the company has attained for its product range and manufacturing operations? VK: VEPL is ISO 9001:2015 certified company. Our quality assurance plan (QAP) has been designed in such a manner that it covers all the parameters of quality and enables us to maintain almost zero rejection levels. Our products are accredited by authorities such as BIS, IBR, IRS, RDSO, EIL, TPL, and many others. WCI: As a manufacturer of GMAW wires, what is your outlook on the growth potential and prospects of this wire segment? Tell us about the various applications of these wires and the industries which are the users of these wires? VK: With each passing day, industries are evolving in automatization. GMAW wires play a vital role in the same; hence, the industry is in a major technology shift from MMAW to GMAW specifically, in the areas where continuous production is required. Also, with the development of casting units, the

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availability of various alloys in wire rods is becoming easy which helps the welding industries to shift from MMAW to GMAW. Hence, we can feel the industry shift at a high rate. WCI: Please touch upon the capabilities of the company – with regard to manufacturing capacity and also outline the infrastructure of the manufacturing facility? VK: VEPL has two manufacturing plants - both are located in Panipat, Haryana, and equipped to produce 8000 metric tonnes of welding consumables annually. With time, we have developed our pattern of manufacturing GMAW wires. Gradually, we are also enhancing the production with each passing year. From cleaning of wire rod surfaces to the winding and packing of wire, all the processes are done in-house. WCI: Has there been any recent development at the Company with respect to expansion in the product range or any up-gradation at your manufacturing facility that you wish to talk about? VK: Currently, the company is focusing on developing methods to reduce manpower involvement in the production cycle. WCI: What are the future plans of Varun Electrodes going forward? Also, what are your growth strategies for the coming years? VK: Soon, VEPL will be coming up with flux-cored wire production and promoting the same under its registered brand name PRIMA. The only strategy VEPL has been focusing upon for years is to deliver quality.

VEPL will be coming up with flux-cored wire production and promoting the same under its registered brand name PRIMA.

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May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW

Abrol Engineering: State-of-the-art Bunched Conductors Bare & Tinned Manufacturing Facility “Our prime focus is to excel at copper conductor manufacturing and to ensure an ever-growing clientele due to our product quality and commitment to 100 percent customer satisfaction.” wherein he dives into the product range of the company and shares the sector’s expectations from the government. Wire & Cable India: Abrol Engineering Co. Pvt. Ltd. (AECO) has been in business for more than 63 years which is an incredible feat in itself; to start with, could you please give us a glance at the key areas of focus for the company? Also, how would you describe the significant achievements for the company in its more than six decades of business? Vivek Abrol: Yes, I agree, it’s an incredible feat! This has been accomplished with a great and persistent focus on our core values. We remained focused on engineering and stayed on the path by manufacturing electrical products during our entire journey. We started our journey with the manufacturing of motor starters and miniature circuit breakers. Our greatest achievement has been the fact that by the year 2000, we had become one of the preferred vendors for the Indian Railways. Today, we are Part 1 suppliers for many integral electrical & mechanical rolling stock items for the Indian Railways. In addition, we have set up another vertical, in partnership, manufacturing high-end E-beam cables for specialized applications. Backward integration is another key area where we have invested our resources in achieving overall control on the product in terms of quality, price, delivery, and overall customer satisfaction.

Mr. Vivek Abrol, Managing Director, Abrol Engineering Co. Pvt. Ltd.

Abrol Engineering Co. Pvt. Ltd. is a leading manufacturer and supplier of railway electrical products. Founded in the year of 1958, the company started with the manufacturing of motor starters and gradually moved to the manufacturing of low tension switchgear, miniature circuit breakers (MCBs), and distribution equipment. The products supplied by Abrol Engineering Co. Pvt. Ltd. to Indian Railways have become synonymous with top quality and performance under all stringent conditions. Wire & Cable India recently interviewed Mr. Vivek Abrol, Managing Director, Abrol Engineering Co. Pvt. Ltd.

www.wirecable.in

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Our product portfolio consists of conductors in two major variants — one is annealed bare copper (ABC) and the other is pure tin-plated annealed copper (ATC). In both variants; we offer stranded, bunched, unilay construction and concentric designs.

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May-Jun, 2021

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ISO 14001

Ÿ General Purpose Insulation and Sheathing (Power / Flexible / Flat cables) Low Temperature PVC Compounds (-550) Heat Resistant Insulation / Sheathing (850 - 1250) Insulation for Building Wires Control Cables: RDSO REACH & RoHS Compliant Compounds

FR & FRLS Compounds NBR PVC Compounds UV & Oil Resistant & UL Grade PVC Data Cable Compounds Anti Rodent & Anti Termite Compounds Moulding Grade

PVC Masterbatches

SYSTEM CE

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info@ﬁneproducts.co.in www.ﬁneproducts.co.in

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ISO 9001 = ISO 14001

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New Milestone

INTERVIEW

WCI: Please take us through the product portfolio of the Company in the wire and cable segment. Also, divulge some details about the various applications of the product range offered?

considered it the most appropriate segment to venture into conductor manufacturing. Our objective is to remain focused on conductors for high-end engineering applications and special conductors used in industrial cable applications. We have the distinct advantage of a state-ofthe-art plant with a large production capacity. Additionally, we have a large area available for capacity expansion as we grow.

VA: Our product portfolio consists of conductors in two major variants — one is annealed bare copper (ABC) and the other is pure tin-plated annealed copper (ATC). In both variants; we offer stranded, bunched, unilay construction and concentric designs.

WCI: Could you please give us a glimpse into the manufacturing capabilities of AECO and describe the infrastructure of your facility? How do you find ways to remove production bottlenecks, ensure efficient use of resources and save energy in production operations?

We also work with the design teams of various customers for special constructions. The applications for our product portfolio are very broad. However, we want to primarily position our products for railways, defence applications, and aerospace applications, speciality cables, special purpose connecting leads segment, and industrial cable applications.

VA: Our entire manufacturing facility is equipped with machines and equipment with German and other European technologies. The plant is ergonomically laid out and the production flow is unidirectional and hence very efficient. We have an installed infrastructure capacity for manufacturing copper conductors beyond 6000 MTPA. We have in place a predetermined plan to remove production bottlenecks and ensure a seamless manufacturing capability.

WCI: Since the company has recently ventured into the copper conductors segment, would you please touch upon this development and the plans in this regard? VA: We have been in the electrical manufacturing segment for three generations since the year 1958. Hence, we

Our entire plant is equipped with the highest efficiency motors and drives. We plan to harvest solar energy in the very near future and we will actively contribute to the reduction of carbon emissions. All effluents are properly treated and/or delivered to government-approved contractors for proper disposal in line with environmental regulations.

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Our objective is to remain focused on conductors for high-end engineering applications and special conductors used in industrial cable applications

www.wirecable.in

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May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW WCI: How would you describe the major and critical design considerations, innovations, and trends impacting the wire and cable harness production? What is your perspective on the importance of integrating automation in production operations?

expectations from the government in the kind of ways they could help in bolstering up the future growth of the Indian cable harness market? VA: Yes, we are actively participating in the new rail projects. The new opportunities in the railways always drive us towards new product development and capacity expansion.

VA: We have an experienced design team that can design conductors for any application. We also have a very wellequipped laboratory with the very best test equipment and talent. Harness wires always demand better designs and we are always ready to work with customers who demand innovative products. Our present infrastructure already uses the best automation in the industry. As the need arises, we will opt for automation in material handling as well.

We expect the government to support us in establishing the best infrastructure, create a platform for international and domestic manufacturers to meet and arrange symposiums and exhibitions in this segment. There must be at least one exhibition exclusively for railway products. WCI: Are there any new developments at AECO that you wish to talk about? What are the future plans of the company going forward?

WCI: As a supplier of components such as power & control panels, cable harnesses to the Indian Railways, kindly describe the technical capabilities of the company which enables the company to produce and continually expand the range of components to supply to the railways. Also, kindly elaborate on the standards, certifications, and specifications of the components.

VA: We always align with market demands and needs. Our prime focus is to excel at copper conductor manufacturing and to ensure an ever-growing clientele due to our product quality and commitment to 100% customer satisfaction. We will strive to upgrade our plant and use cuttingedge technology to cater to the specialized needs of our customers in the copper conductor segment.

VA: The Company’s strengths that have enabled us to continually expand our range of products are enumerated below: •

Investment in state-of-the-art machinery and equipment

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A team of experienced and dedicated persons

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An innovative approach to manufacturing and the ability to adapt to the changing needs of the customers

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A focused quality control regime

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High-end in-house testing facilities

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ISO certification and Type test certification meeting customers’ specifications

WCI: Could you please give us a glimpse into the market presence of the company — both domestic and international? Also, please outline the plans for expanding your market reach? VA: In the wire harness business, we have a stronghold in India. We are yet to venture into international markets due to the present pandemic situation. Having recently started our copper conductor unit, we have a limited market reach at present. Our plan is to increase our market reach and market share by aggressively advertising through relevant industry magazines like yours. Also, we will participate in industry shows and product exhibitions in the coming months. We need your support in bringing us to the market. WCI: Since the government has initiated new rail projects and is expanding the existing rail infrastructure, how do you relate these developments of the government’s investments to the overall growth of the cable harness market segment of the country? Also, what are the sector’s

www.wirecable.in

May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW

SIKORA AG: Bringing Futuristic Technologies for Product Optimization “We see India as a growth market with huge potential, specifically in the area of infrastructure, which will generate a high demand for wires and cables…” the Board for almost one and a half years now. Thus, I had some time to get to know the company and employees as well as the innovative products and technologies that we offer. From the very beginning, I have experienced a global high-tech company with an extremely modern and open work culture, which gave me a very good start. It was also beneficial to have a time of familiarization together with Mr. Harry Prunk, who some time ago retired from the SIKORA Board after 45 successful years. Now, I am responsible for the areas such as – Sales, Marketing and Service that Mr. Prunk held before. These areas are quite familiar to me. Coming from a background of sales and marketing, I have gained international experiences in Europe, USA, Canada, Russia and Asia. Before SIKORA, I was the General Manager of several medium-sized businesses. Now, I am very happy to be a part of the SIKORA team. WCI: Since you will preside over the company as being a key decision maker, how do you plan to shape and drive the further development and success of the company? JW: This year we have implemented a new sales structure, which focuses more than before on our business units — wire & cable, hose & tube as well as plastics. In all units, we see high potential to offer our customers future-oriented technologies to improve quality and processes. We started in 1973 with products for our core market - wire & cable, followed by hose & tube in 2004 and plastics in 2013. Our aim is to further grow in the traditional and new markets. In detail, this means that by concentrating on the single business units in a more targeted approach, we can address our customers more individually and support them according to their needs.

Dr. Jörg Wissdorf, Member of the Executive Board, SIKORA AG

In an exclusive interview with Wire & Cable India, Dr. Jörg Wissdorf, Member of the Executive Board, SIKORA AG, speaks about his key roles as a member in the Executive Board, his plans to encourage development, the value proposition of the company, his outlook on the Indian wire and cable industry, and views regarding integrating automation in manufacturing.

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Wire & Cable India: To begin with, could you please shed light on your appointment as a new member in the Executive Board at SIKORA – what will be the core roles and responsibilities?

This year we have implemented a new sales structure, which focuses more than before on our business units — wire & cable, hose & tube as well as plastics.

Jörg Wissdorf: I have been with SIKORA as a member of

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May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW

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global support of our customers. Thus, we are able to support our customers in their cultures, time zones, and language areas directly and promptly with sales and service. For example, we just founded a new subsidiary in Poland to meet the demand for measuring technology specifically in this country. In sum, it is the interplay between long-term experience, innovation leadership, and a professional team all over the world that makes SIKORA so successful.

Another important goal is to extend digitization in the company in order to increase the speed of processes and workflows.

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Another important goal is to extend digitization in the company in order to increase the speed of processes and workflows. I like optimizing things – with the focus on increasing efficiency. This is beneficial for both our customers and our company.

WCI: How important is the environment and sustainability at SIKORA? JW: The environmental aspect is inherent in our systems because we succeed in saving plastics for cables, tubes and pipes. This is achieved by producing to specified dimensions and avoiding over-wall thicknesses, but also by the reduction of scrap. For example, optimal centering of the extrusion tools by the X-RAY 6000 PRO measuring system, based on the X-ray technology, leads to a potential material saving of about 5 percent, which also protects the environment.

WCI: With a vast portfolio of products and services for the wire and cable industry, could you please take us through the key value proposition which makes the company one of the leading players in the sector and also as the key enabler of path-breaking technologies? JW: The development of SIKORA is unique and convinced me immediately when I was asked if I would be interested in joining. In times when nobody knew the term “startup”, SIKORA’s success story began in the private rooms of founder – Mr. Harald Sikora. He took an entrepreneurial risk with an idea that still proves to be ingenious today and has revolutionized the entire spectrum of industries: the non-contact real-time measurement of cables using inductive, optical and X-ray technologies during ongoing production. The beginning of quality control with continuous online optimization of the manufacturing processes in the wire and cable business. Since then, SIKORA has further developed and transferred the initial idea to new systems, technologies and application areas such as tubes, hoses, plastics and further applications.

In the plastics sector, for which we offer systems for inspecting and sorting plastic pellets, contaminated pellets are sorted out so that only pure material will be further processed. This ensures an optimum material cycle and protects the environment. Up to 5 million tonnes of carbon dioxide is saved annually by using SIKORA measuring devices. WCI: How do you view your prospects in the Indian wire and cable industry and the overview of the potential and opportunities? What are your plans of further expansion in the Indian market? JW: The COVID-19 situation is a big challenge, and we hope that we all overcome this crisis soon. We see India as a growth market with huge potential, specifically in the area of infrastructure, which will generate a high demand for wires and cables, but also hoses and tubes as well as plastic material. Moreover, there is the trend, also in India, to achieve high-quality, optimized processes and cost saving during the production of wires, cables and optical fibers. Today, the cable manufacturers look for comprehensive

This development is, amongst other reasons, the result of the outstanding efforts of our R&D department, which consists of more than 50 people in Bremen, Germany. With a strong and highly qualified R&D department as well as good relationships with our customers, we are able to develop new solutions that cover the market-needs. Thereby, our 15 subsidiaries play an essential role for the

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May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW Besides, the information is used for preventive maintenance. All this leads to a highly efficient extrusion for our customers.

technological solutions that improve efficiency of their production lines. We see ourselves as a partner of our customers helping them to run their lines with constant, excellent performances all over the world. Our subsidiary in India with two locations, one based in Delhi and the other in Mumbai, is available for any support.

WCI: What can we hope to see from SIKORA in the future ahead? JW: Now and in the future, our customers can expect innovative measuring, control and sorting technologies from SIKORA for highest product quality, optimized processes and cost saving. We are continually working on new products about which we cannot share the details at the moment. What I can say right now is that at the given time, we will introduce future-oriented solutions to our customers that support them even stronger in their daily operations. For that, we hope to see you at the next year’s wire 2022 exhibition.

WCI: As a company which is strongly positioned in the global wire and cable market, what are your views regarding investments in finding solutions to production bottlenecks, and integrating automation in manufacturing? JW: SIKORA is an enabler regarding automation in manufacturing cables and wires. Today’s cable production processes are characterized by an increasing level of automation. Intelligent measuring devices continuously measure and transmit measuring values as well as information on the device status via Industry 4.0 interfaces like, e.g. OPC UA, to control units and to the plant control center without the need for personnel support. There, the data is processed automatically for immediate production control and process optimization.

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Our customers can expect innovative measuring, control and sorting technologies from SIKORA for highest product quality, optimized processes and cost saving.

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In addition, several plants all over the world can be compared and controlled from a central line control.

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May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW

AEI Machines:

We Are Continually Refining and Evolving Our Production Processes & Capabilities “As a company spearheading the adoption of the latest technological trends… our machines have been Industry 4.0 ready for the last few years and include features such as fully networked architecture, remote access and monitoring, data collection and transmission features.”

I Mr. Alok Jain, Executive Director, Associated Engineers & Industrials Private Limited

n an interview with Wire & Cable India, Mr. Alok Jain, Executive Director, Associated Engineers & Industrials Private Limited presents a rundown of the business story of the Company along with some notable accomplishments, the details about the manufacturing capabilities, the product portfolio, and the market presence of AEI Machines. Further, he also spoke on the key factors that have enabled the business to be more efficient, the expertise in developing and commissioning highend machinery for the wire and cable industry, the outlook on the role of automation and the growth strategies for the future years. Wire & Cable India: The year 2021 marks the 50-year anniversary of AEI Machines serving the wire and cable industry; could you please shed light on some of the noteworthy accomplishments of the company in these 50-years? Alok Jain: AEI Machines started its operations in 1971, under the leadership of our Chairman – Mr. L S Jain, with the manufacturing of cable machines. Over the years, our journey has been one of super-specialization. In the eighties, we moved towards the manufacture of rotating cable

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machines only and we were the pioneers to manufacture 1+3 Core Laying-Up Machines. Subsequently, in the nineties, we decided to concentrate on stranding machines wherein we made some of the largest planetary stranders of the time. About 25 years ago, considering the importance of stranding efficiently in the process of cable making and its effect on the quality of the final product, we took the strategic decisions and a fundamental choice towards innovation and perfection of – Rigid Strander. This decision brought a plethora of opportunities for the company, from making some of the largest Rigid Stranders to the fastest ones. Over the years, AEI has introduced many firsts for Rigid Stranders in the Indian market such as the first machine with batch loading system, electronic shaft, first machine for EHV cable manufacture, first machine for new generation HTLS conductor, etc. Today, AEI is ranked amongst the top names in the field worldwide, as a Rigid Strander Specialist. WCI: Please shed some light on the manufacturing capabilities of the company along with the product portfolio?

May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW

AJ: We are an innovation-led company with strong focus on technical advancements in the stranding process. Our deep understanding of stranding nuances, technological prowess and machinebuilding experience translates to limitless adaptability of the machines to evolving customer and product requirements.

facility to meet market-demands. Expanding our capacity is always within our plans to ensure competitiveness with the focus remaining on innovation, adaptability and sustainability. High-performance machine building is as much an art as science and therefore, investment in human capital development is equally important, if not more.

Some of the applications include machines for manufacture of:

We continuously explore, develop and create prototypes for new concepts that we can implement on our machine, enhancing their performance. Our recent design developments in terms of engineering and automation are featured in our latest models. One of the recent examples is the development of machines for screening high voltage cables up to 3000 mm2 and diameter up to 150 mm with 96 wires and inline taping.

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Highly compact round conductor up to 2500 mm2 in single pass for EHV cables

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Milliken segments for conductor up to 3000 mm2/500 kV

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High-speed manufacture of conductor for low voltage cables

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New generation HTLS conductor TW/ACCC

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High-speed manufacture of various overhead conductor ACSR/AAAC

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Copper wire screening of high voltage cables

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Steel wire/strip armouring

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Laying up of control cables

Upgrades on floor and machines are a continuous process that reinforces AEI’s approach to lead the future machinery industry as a strong solution provider.

WCI: Are there any aspirations to expand your capacity in the near future? Also, kindly outline the recent product developments at your end and the upgradations you have introduced in the recent past at your production unit.

WCI: What is the present market reach of the company – both globally and domestically? What are your plans with regard to extending your reach to newer markets? Further, please highlight the presence the company has made in the international markets through exports.

AJ: We have recently completed the addition of a modern fabrication

AJ: Over the years, due to their build quality and technology, AEI

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Machines have come to be known for their performance and resilience. Eight out of every ten renowned low, medium and EHV cable manufacturers and large overhead conductor manufacturers in India use AEI Stranders. We are thankful to our customers for entrusting us with the most prestigious projects and challenging applications and we are grateful that the majority of our production is for repeat orders of existing customers. Exposure to international markets is something we had started working early on with initial supplies within South Asia. Today, our machines have been selected for projects in varied regions such as Europe, North America, Africa and the Middle East. We are competing in the global arena amongst the top manufacturers, with our machines satisfying various safety and conformity certifications such as CE, CSA, etc. and we take pride in representing machines engineered and made in India to the world. WCI: What are the key factors that have enabled the business to be more efficient and responsive to market-needs? Also, how do you strive to make your operations more efficient and productive to derive even more value and enhance your competitiveness? AJ: It takes a lot of effort and discipline to remain focused on creating value through performance and excellence while the world around is driven by cost reductions at

May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW

the expense of quality. Increasingly, customers are looking at capital investment as a onetime exercise considering total cost of ownership rather than the initial cost only which provides benefits for several years to come in terms of the cost of energy cost, manpower cost, material savings and product quality. We are continually refining and evolving our production processes and capabilities. I would say that a multifaceted-approach with a great team, continuous product development, focus on quality, customer service and work ethos have placed us as the company of choice for most cable and conductor manufacturers. WCI: Having expertise in developing and commissioning high-end machinery and solutions for the wire and cable industry including the largest stranders in the world, with meticulous focus and regard to productivity; how does the company bring sophisticated machines that require minimal maintenance and deliver decades of trouble-free operation? AJ: Manufacturing excellence has

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always been a vital part of AEI Machines’ offering to its customers. The performance and durability of AEI Machines depend on the high standard materials, precise engineering and accurate assembly. Every machine carries our deep knowledge and process understanding of the field, starting with several hours of design development for the smallest of the functionalities. By employing best engineering practices and using the latest machinery at our works, by incorporating brought out materials from the best in the industry, we ensure that the machines are ready to withstand years of trouble-free operation without fail. Almost all machined components are manufactured in-house for total control on the processes at all stages. Latest developments in automation and control technology are incorporated to achieve higher production rates, more efficient use of materials, better product quality and safety. Our experience of 50 years in the field ensures that the machines designed and manufactured deliver full commercial production from the day they are commissioned.

WCI: As we are in the midst of Industry 4.0, the level of automation has been increasing consistently owing to its positive impact on productivity and efficiency. What is AEI Machines’ outlook on the role of automation and the ways in which you integrate technological innovations as part of your business model? AJ: We widely started incorporating automation systems in our machines for the last 25-years and it has become an integral part of all functionalities of our machines. This has helped in achieving very high levels of safety and efficiency while improving quality, and consistency as well as reducing the need of manpower. The way we have looked at automation is that it should not just make the machine more sophisticated but also fool-proof to use. While we ensure complete safety and safeguarding through complexity on the software back-end, the user interface is designed to be simple with intuitive controls on the operator side. As a company spearheading the adoption of the latest technological trends, we are happy to inform you that our machines have been

May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW Industry 4.0 ready for the last few years and include features such as fully networked architecture, remote access and monitoring, data collection and transmission features. As this ecosystem develops further in the coming years, with support from the end-user adoption of digitization of big data, we foresee most machine-innovation in this space and look forward to exciting times and possibilities through machine learning. WCI: As the company is now at a significant milestone, how would you describe your core values of the company and the impact they have made in the past 50-years? How do you think the future years will pan out for the company? What will be your growth strategies for the future years?

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Our growth strategies will be supported by continuing investment in the skills and infrastructure… to stay on the path to the global markets, while we continue to do service and expand our customer base in India.

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AJ: From the early days of our organization, our founder Mr. L.S. Jain followed strong work ethics,

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integrity, and quality as the core values that set the foundation for the company to grow strong. Over the years, these guiding principles have become a part of our DNA and our relentless focus on innovation and customer experience has led AEI to be trusted as a top-performance machinery manufacturer. Rapidly evolving manufacturing technologies are poised to reshape the global manufacturing landscape. Our company, being focused on technological advancements, has gained a distinguished reputation as the Rigid Strander specialist, in the domestic and international markets. Our growth strategies will be supported by continuing investment in the skills and infrastructure as we strongly believe that this is the only way to stay on the path to the global markets, while we continue to do service and expand our customer base in India.

May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW

Victory Plant and Machinery:

We Exercise Utmost Care and Prudence in Each Level of Production “We have developed a 4000 mm drum twister line, for layingup of cable of 3 core x 630 sq mm, having lead-up diameter of up to 125 mm… it is the biggest drum twister in India. Also, we have successfully commissioned a 3600 mm Milliken drum twister for the production of a 2500 sq mm conductor.”

n an exclusive conversation with Wire & Cable India, Mr. P.G. Sabu, CEO, Victory Plant and Machinery Pvt. Ltd., presents a runthrough about the company, details about their manufacturing facility, the quality assurance strategies, the market-presence of the company and the future outlook on the wire and cable industry.

Mr. P.G. Sabu, CEO, Victory Plant and Machinery Pvt. Ltd.

Wire & Cable India: Could you tell us a little bit about Victory Plant and Machinery Pvt. Ltd. and its business journey so far? P.G. Sabu: Victory Plant and Machinery Pvt. Ltd. is recognized as a leading machine manufacturer for the wire and cable industry with a history of more than 28 years. Our manufacturing unit is located in Thane, Mumbai. We are renowned to provide excellence in all the aspects such as – product quality, delivery and customer support. Our continual development and unmatched customer service makes us one of the preferred suppliers for all the major cable manufacturers. WCI: Tell us about your company’s product range, infrastructure and manufacturing capabilities. Do you have plans for expansion, technology up-gradation or investment in a new product line? PGS: We are a specialist in rotating cable machinery, and our major products are – drum twister, rigid

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stranding machines, armoring machines, skip stranders, bow type laying-up machines, tubular stranders, planetary stranders, and high-speed taping machines. Our factory area is 40000 sq ft with total in-house manufacturing units with the supporting infrastructure, machine tools, and equipment required for machine-building activities. Also, we are going to start a new production unit very soon. We have been continuously upgrading

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We are going to start a new production unit very soon…The development of new designs for multiple special cable lines is also underway.

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our facilities to improve the process quality, and to assist in faster machine building. The development of new designs for multiple special cable lines is also underway. WCI: What new developments have taken place in your company? PGS: A lot of enhancements in all the machines are continuously being carried out for improved production. Taping in the laying-up process has

May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW

Stranding Machine

always been a bottleneck, and thus, we have developed high-speed taping machines to resolve the challenge. We have developed planetary stranding machines for special-

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purpose cables with precision tension control mechanism and timer belt transmission instead of conventional gear systems. With this, the wear and tear can be avoided and drastic reductions in noise levels have

been achieved. The machines with individual driven pay-off for stranding of 0.12 sq mm insulated cores have been developed. WCI: What quality factors and

May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW

R&D practices do you take into account before going for product development? How do you ensure that the precision of your products meets the global quality standards?

Our vast industry-experience, proper product knowledge, and stringent quality control measures ensure that our products meet the global quality standards.

PGS: We take utmost care in each level of production – right from the sourcing of the material up to the machine-building process. Further, the testing of material before the usage, fit and tolerance of machine’s parts before assembly in addition to proper heat treatment, stress relieving procedures, checks, and quality testing is done at every stage of production. For new developments and critical applications, a prototype of critical components is first developed and tested and once it is found to be okay, the actual production is started.

WCI: Tell us about the regions and markets you supply your products to. Does your market footprint extend to places outside India?

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PGS: Victory has been a leading machine manufacturer in the country and we have also established our presence in the international markets. Our machines are supplied across India and are also exported to countries such as – UAE, South Africa, Nepal, Congo, Zambia, Mali and Bangladesh. WCI: Victory has manufactured India’s biggest drum twister line and also the first Milliken conductor Drum Twister to be manufactured in India. Could you elaborate more about these projects?

imported lines and our clients have developed a high level of trust and confidence in our capabilities. WCI: Could you tell us more about the automation division of your company and the services you provide to the wire and cable industry? PGS: We have an in-house automation division wherein all the panels for our machines are built and tested. This assists us in delivering perfect products to our clients, within the stipulated time frame. On-site support for any of our machines can be easily provided online. Besides, we can provide upgradation and new panels for any of the existing as well as the new machines. WCI: Considering the current scenario, what trends do you foresee in the wire and cable business across the world, especially in India, in the next 3-5 years?

PGS: We have developed a 4000 mm drum twister line, for laying-up of cable of 3 core x 630 sq mm, having lead-up diameter of up to 125 mm. It has a 26 cylinder caterpillar. We are proud to state that it is the biggest drum twister in India.

PGS: The requirement for quality machines with high production capability is on the rise and highly automated machines are replacing the conventional machines. Thus, the solutions which are technologically advanced as well as reliable are the need of the hour.

Also, we have successfully commissioned a 3600 mm Milliken drum twister for the production of 2500 sq mm conductor. The machine stands at par with its European counterparts. With us providing multiple lines, the quality and performance are at par with the

While it is true that the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly dealt a major setback to the wire and cable industry, however, with progressive policies and initiatives launched by the government, it is on a strong recovery path.

May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW

Tirupati Group: Reinventing With Rebranding “Our board has already approved for capacity expansion of more than 50 percent which will take our installed capacity to 35000 drums per month.” Pratik Jajodia: The existing brand of the company was created almost 10 years back. The Group has since then undergone immense changes in both ideas and ideologies. It is a step forward towards internationalization and to make it stand out in the market. The main reason to consider rebranding was to have a look that is aesthetically pleasing and blends perfectly with the modern thinking of Tirupati Group.

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The main reason to consider rebranding was to have a look that is aesthetically pleasing and blends perfectly with the modern thinking of Tirupati Group.

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WCI: As the company has recently started exporting to the Middle East – could you please touch upon this new development? Also, kindly elaborate on the current market reach of the company – both in the international and the domestic market? PJ: We had been in discussions with customers in several countries in the said region just before Covid-19 hit the world in which all discussions were put on hold by the customers because they were not sure if we would be able to deliver as none of the Indian manufacturers have been able to gain customer confidence regarding pinewood drums in international markets. Nevertheless, not only have we delivered but also carrying out regular business with some companies in the region and already discussing the future possibilities with many others. We are able to give the right product at the right price and at the right time.

Mr. Pratik Jajodia, Director, Tirupati Group

Tirupati Group is a recognized timber importer and a leading manufacturer of various value addition products like cable reel and pallets. Wire & Cable India interviewed Mr. Pratik Jajodia, Director, Tirupati Group, wherein he delves into the motive behind the rebranding & brand identity of the company, new developments, current market scenario & opportunities, and the future aspirations of the Company.

Similarly in India, we are catering to almost every cable and wire rope manufacturing exporter who needs a high-quality packaging for their finished product. A buyer of cable or wire rope gets to examine the drum before the product delivery. Our esteemed clients have gained trust and confidence in their respective markets by using packaging from Tirupati.

Wire & Cable India: Firstly, could you please enlighten us about the rebranding of Tirupati Group and the motive behind this undertaking? In what ways do you think this step will influence the company’s marketability as well as market differentiation, brand identity, and relevance in the market?

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May-Jun, 2021

INTERVIEW

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WCI: Could you please take us through the key strengths of Tirupati Group which have played a significant role in presenting the company with the competitive advantages in the wooden reels segment?

Our USP in the wooden reels segment is QQD (QualityQuantity-Delivery). This means our customers will get the high-quality product in desired quantities big or small and at the right time.

PJ: Our USP in the wooden reels segment is QQD (QualityQuantity-Delivery). This means our customers will get the high-quality product in desired quantities big or small and at the right time. Since we have the most advanced facility for manufacturing the reels in the entire Southeast Asia region which we are continuously upgrading; the big brands which need wooden reels in large numbers can rest assured of their supplies from us. This “Mantra” is helping us grow at a CAGR of 45 percent since starting this facility.

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WCI: Has there been any development or innovation with respect to the product offerings and any technological upgradation at your production facility in the recent past?

PJ: We help customers design their drums in cases where they don’t have their own specifications with our R&D team. Our machines are sourced from prominent manufacturers and we are continuously making investments in the automation of the existing machines for enhancing production capabilities. Our board has already approved for capacity expansion of more than 50 percent which will take our installed capacity to 35000 drums per month. The management is bullish on increasing product range for cable and wire rope manufacturing companies in other forms of packaging products as well. We are equipped to cater to requirements from our overseas clients of any complexity or quantities.

WCI: What is your outlook on the current market scenario and the opportunities ahead for the wooden drums/reels market? Kindly share some insights on the key trends and product-related innovations in the market? PJ: The global cable drum market is expected to reach USD 767.5 million by 2026. Growing at a CAGR of 4.1 percent, wooden reels have the largest share of more than 70 percent share in the product range. Rapid urbanization leads to an increase in infrastructure investments, change in lifestyle, and improvement in economic conditions. This, in turn, results in large-scale government investments that subsequently boost the demand for cable drums across various sectors. Hence, there is a very bright future for the product.

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May-Jun, 2021

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES

Government Schemes to Reform Power Transmission Sector As we are ushering into a new era of growing power transmission infrastructure, it is going to be an affirmative influence for the further growth of the wire & cable sector.

It goes without saying that the growth of the power sector is contingent on the development of a robust power transmission network. Over the past decades, the total power capacity has witnessed commendable growth both in the installed capacity and transmission & distribution (T&D) system. As per a report by IBEF – ‘Power Sector in India’, the power consumption is estimated to reach 1894.7 TW in 2022 and the total FDI inflow in the sector has reached USD 15.36 billion between April 2000 and December 2020.

Strengthening the Power Infrastructure 1.41 lakh circuit km of transmission lines have been added in the past six years.

Scheme approved for Power Discoms

Since India gained independence in 1947, the central and state governments have launched a number of schemes and initiatives aimed at improving the operations and financial condition of power distribution companies (discoms). The power sector has seen multiple interventions by the government in – financial restructuring, operations, infrastructure, and technology improvements (APDRP 2001, R-APDRP/IPDS 2008, DDUGJY 2014 & SAUBHAGYA 2017, Smart Grid Pilot project 2012 & NSGM 2015), and structural reform (Electricity Act 2003). UDAY (Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojana) scheme, launched in November 2015, is an attempt to address the severe financial stress due to the accumulation of debt by the discoms, with a focus on improving the overall efficiency and financial turnaround.

The Cabinet has approved a reform-based, resultlinked power discom scheme worth INR 3.03 lakh crore.

Key Facts about Power Generation in India:

Recently, the Union Cabinet Committee of Economic Affairs has given its approval to a new scheme worth INR 3.03 lakh crore started with the aim to revive the power distribution sector in India. This is the second reform scheme for power discoms announced by the BJP-led government, a year after the UDAY scheme has concluded.

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India is the world’s third largest producer and third largest consumer of electricity.

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The national electric grid in India has an installed capacity of 383.37 GW as of 31 May

May-Jun, 2021

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES Power Generation in India: The total electricity generation including generation from renewable sources in the country during the year 2020-21 (Upto December) was 1017.835 BU as against the generation of 1055.806 BU during the corresponding period last year, showing negative growth of 3.60 percent, mainly due to COVID pandemic.

The scheme has been started with the objective of improving the quality and reliability of power supply to consumers through a financially sustainable and operationally efficient distribution sector. The goal is to reduce the AT&C losses across India to 12-15 percent and eliminate the gap between the average cost of supply and the aggregate revenue requirement by 2024-25.

UDAY or Ujwal Discom Assurance Yojna was launched in November 2015 to help loss-making discoms turn around financially, with support from their state governments. Within the UDAY scheme, the states were advised to clear their government department dues and ensure monthly clearance of the same; put in place a strict system of energy accounting; ensure timely payment of subsidy every month; begin a campaign to reduce AT&C losses; and conversion of all consumer meters into smart prepaid meters/prepaid meters in a period of three years.

The state discoms will be able to access funds allocated for this scheme for addressing the infrastructure constraints in the power distribution system and for its further augmentation.

Issues in the Power Distribution Sector

Key Features of the Scheme:

Inadequate last mile connectivity: The country has adequate generation and transmission capacity to meet consumer demand. However, there is a discrepancy in the last-mile connectivity between all electricity consumers and a reliable power supply. One of the major reasons for this situation is the inadequate transmission capacity, not matching the generation capacities and load requirements.

The Scheme has two parts: Part ‘A’ – financial support for upgradation of the distribution infrastructure and prepaid smart metering and system metering and Part ‘B’ – training and capacity building and other enabling and supporting activities. All state-owned distribution companies and state/UT power departments excluding private sector companies will be eligible for financial assistance under the revamped scheme.

Reasons for financial losses of discoms: The discoms suffer Aggregate Technical and Commercial (AT&C) Losses.

In June this year, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had announced the ‘Economic Relief from Pandemic’ package including INR 3.03 trillion (~USD 40.82 billion) outlays for reform-based result-linked power distribution program.

Technical Loss: It is due to the flow of power in the transmission and distribution system. Almost 25 percent of the power is lost, and never gets billed.

The program would include the Integrated Power Development Scheme (IPDS), Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana (DDUGJY), and the Prime Minister’s Development Package (PMDP)- 2015 for Jammu & Kashmir, and the savings of the gross budgetary support of roughly INR 170 billion (~USD 2.28 billion).

Commercial Loss: It is due to the theft of electricity, deficiencies in metering, etc.

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The remaining 75 percent is sold at prices that are much lower than the discoms’ procurement costs.

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Due to this, there has been a gap between ACS and ARR.

Power Minister R.K. Singh had chaired a review meeting with CMDs/MDs of discoms of all States/UTs. In the meeting, he asserted, while speaking on a major technological push by the discoms, that the Scheme envisages extensive use of Artificial Intelligence and information technology for the modernization of the

The UDAY scheme resulted in some positives:

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Instead of just focusing on distribution, the scheme focused on interventions in coal, generation and transmission sectors as well.

He said the funds would be given to power distribution companies (discoms) to strengthen their system. The Reform-Based Result-Linked Power Distribution Scheme was announced in Budget earlier this year.

Uday Scheme

The gap between the average per-unit cost of supply (ACS) and average revenue realised (ARR).

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Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved a five-year-long reform-based result-linked power distribution scheme worth INR 3.03 lakh crore. Speaking about the scheme, Power Minister R.K. Singh said, “We have done a lot for power distribution reforms. It needs to be strengthened. Today, the Cabinet has approved the new scheme worth INR 3.03 lakh crore, including INR 97,000 crore central outlay.”

As per a report by the credit rating agency ICRA, the domestic power transmission segment is expected to attract investments worth INR 1.8 lakh crore in the next five years. It said that the evacuation infrastructure for renewable energy (RE) projects will drive investments in the power transmission segment.

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Out of the 28 states that implemented UDAY, 10 states have shown either reduced losses or profits in 2019.

The New Scheme Approved for Power Discoms

An extensive network of transmission lines has been developed over the years for evacuating power produced by different electricity generating stations and distributing the same to the consumers.

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May-Jun, 2021

GOVERNMENT INITIATIVES Progress made under the ‘Deendayal Upadhyaya Gram Jyoti Yojana’ and the ‘Integrated Power Development Scheme’:

power distribution infrastructure for loss reduction and for improvement in quality and reliability of power supply. In a report titled ‘Turning Around the Power Distribution Sector’, co-authored by NITI Aayog, RMI and RMI India, Amitabh Kant, CEO, NITI Aayog said, “We will not be able to achieve a high-growth, low-carbon economy unless the distribution sector achieves profitability. The solution to this problem will include smart meters and smart grids, but the most important solutions might lie in institutional smartness - whether in power procurement, in ensuring high-quality regulation, or in encouraging private participation in distribution”. Future Ahead for the Wire & Cable Industry The push for the development of the power transmission and distribution system in the country has led and will continue to lead to the adoption and installation of superior quality equipment and systems. The demanding environments these systems are exposed to necessitate the use of sophisticated wires and cables. As we are ushering into a new era of growing power transmission infrastructure, it is going to be an affirmative influence for the further growth of the wire & cable sector. Presently, there are a number of initiatives and projects announced by the government to boost the power sector in the country.

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2,798 new substations have been set up

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3,930 substations have been upgraded

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7.5 lakh kms of HT and LT lines had been added

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6.7 lakh new transformers have been provided

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60,897 kms of AB cables and ~2.5 crore meters had been provided.

In view of the extensive applications of wires and cables in the power sector and the growing focus of the government to enhance its investment in the same, the overall environment is conducive for the cable and wire industry.

BBNL Issues Global Tender for the BharatNet Project The government will provide a maximum grant of INR 19,041 crore as Viability Gap Funding (VGF) July 30, 2021 Bharat Broadband Network (BBNL), on behalf of the Department of Telecommunications, has released a global tender for the development work of BharatNet through a Public-Private Partnership model across 16 states in the country. The global tender is for the creation, upgradation, operation and maintenance and utilization of BharatNet. Under this project, the government will provide a maximum grant of INR 19,041 crore as Viability Gap Funding (VGF), the Ministry of Communications said in a statement.

The scope of BharatNet PPP project includes connecting the remaining unconnected gram panchayats and all the inhabited villages.

existing as well as the newly deployed network.

The project with a 30-year concession period will cover an estimated 3.61 lakh villages (including Gram Panchayats) across these states – Kerala, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh.

The existing BharatNet network across these 16 States will become part of this project. The existing BharatNet was connecting all the GPs by laying OFC (primarily) between Block and GPs. The scope of the program has now been enhanced to connect all the inhabited villages. “The idea is to harness private sector’s capability, capacity, and efficiency for O&M, utilization and revenue generation to make BharatNet more effective and accessible. This would also serve the objective of BharatNet to have social inclusion, through effective delivery of government schemes and citizen centric services using broadband, and also to strengthen e-governance, e-education, telemedicine and e-banking,” the Ministry of Communications said. 

The scope of work under the BharatNet PPP project includes connecting the remaining unconnected gram panchayats under the BharatNet project (Phase 1 and Phase 2) and all the inhabited villages beyond the GPs; the upgradation of the existing BharatNet Network; and operation and maintenance (O&M) and utilization of the www.wirecable.in

May-Jun, 2021

TECHNICAL ARTICLE

Boosting Underground Cable Performance With Borstar® PE

Mr. Xander Pierik, Application Marketing Manager, Borouge Asia South

apid urbanisation worldwide has led to a growing demand for high quality medium voltage (MV) and low voltage (LV) underground cable systems that provide power to industries and households. Thus, power utilities are continuously working to improve cable system design to deliver longterm reliability.

Mr. Suresh Kumar Daga, Senior Manager Market Development, Borouge India Sub-continent

Thus, to mitigate the risks of cable failure, power utilities should pay close attention to the following areas that can lead to degradation of the semi conductive screens and XLPE: •

High thermal stresses

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High electrical stresses per mm of insulation material

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Impurities or non-compatibility in the semi conductive screens or XLPE

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Excavation and cable installation work

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Water ingression creating water trees in the XLPE

Raw material selection and correct material handling can control the impurities or non-compatibility of the semi conductive screens and XLPE. For jacketing materials, the IEC60502-2 identifies designations of power cable jacketing materials in “ST” classes for PVC, PE and flame retardant uses. ST7 in particular allows the use of PE in jacketing, and Borouge offers Borstar® ME6052 and HE6062 to support this. Different climates and environments require dedicated specifications, for example, cable installation in buildings and highly populated areas may require flame retardant properties while underground cable systems may require water retardant cable jacketing materials.

Cable jacketing is the first line of defence against moisture and chemical or physical abrasion, a shield for the insulation screens and conductors within and also a protection layer against installation damages. As such, it is critical that a cable’s jacketing material enables the cable to retain its mechanical properties despite physical changes in its environment.

The Risk of Power Cable System Failures Underground power cable systems are designed for an operational lifetime of 30 to 40 years. To achieve this, the most critical element is monitoring the rate of degradation of the semi conductive screens and cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) insulation material.

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Figure 1: HDPE has higher moisture barring properties than other PE materials and other type of jacketing materials

May-Jun, 2021

TECHNICAL ARTICLE High density and medium density polyethylene power cable jacketing materials 1. Moisture barring properties of polyethylene Amongst the different types of polyethylene jacketing materials, high density polyethylene (HDPE) and medium density polyethylene (MDPE) are the most well-known ones. For power cable systems it is important that the XLPE and semi conductive layers have limited exposure to moisture and water. Figure 1 shows that the moisture barring properties of MDPE and HDPE are almost 6 times as effective as other jacketing materials. Hence, MDPE and HDPE will significantly reduce moisture and water to ingress to the core of the power cable system. According to a research study from H. Orton & R. Hertlin, moisture migration in power cable systems has a large effect on the electrical breakdown strength. Moisture ingression can reduce the electrical breakdown strength by 50% over a period of 10 years. 2. Polyethylene enables lightweight cables The density of a jacketing material determines the weight of it required to reach a certain jacketing thickness. If the material density is lower, a lower weight is required to reach a certain thickness. Figure 2 shows that compounded solutions can have a high material density while HDPE is lighter.

Figure 2: Density comparison for different jacketing materials

designed, used, and recycled to extend their lifespan is key to driving a circular economy. The focus on circularity in the power cable industry is also increasing, with cable producers becoming more conscious on recycling due to environmental constraints. Therefore, cable manufacturers are looking for alternative solutions which enable them to use similar type of polymers which do not require separation and can be used conveniently in recycling. Such methods of re-using PE can thus be a viable option to lower carbon footprint and ensure a sustainable lifecycle of power cables.

Lower consumption of material enables lower costs. Assuming a scenario where the price levels of different jacketing materials are on par, the significantly lower density delivered by HDPE and MDPE can result in 30-40% cost savings

It is important to select the right cable jacketing specifications according to its installation environment. Polyethylene jacketing materials are an appropriate choice for underground MV and LV cable applications where no flame retardant requirements are in place.

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Less material used makes the cable more energy efficient to transport and easier to install

The lifetime of MV and LV power cable systems can be extended with the excellent moisture barring properties of polyethylene. Furthermore, the lower density of polyethylene can deliver significant savings in material costs and

Improving the way plastics are

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As a reliable partner to the cable industry, Borouge and Borealis aim to provide outstanding value and create competitive advantages for our customers. We continue to invest in research and development to continuously expand our portfolio of tailored solutions that enable high quality power supply systems that deliver long-term reliability and cost savings. 

Conclusion

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3. Circularity of polyethylene cable jackets

enable lighter cables for ease of transportation and installation.

May-Jun, 2021

TECHNICAL ARTICLE

SIKORA’s CENTERVIEW 8000 Ensures Cable Quality in Automotive Extrusion Lines Online measurement of diameter, eccentricity and ovality For more than four decades, manufacturers in automotive cable lines worldwide have relied on SIKORA’s measuring devices to ensure the quality and dimensional accuracy of the core while reducing material consumption to a minimum. The CENTERVIEW 8000 is particularly convincing due to its versatile application possibilities. Whether thin signal cables, standard data cables or thicker battery cables, – the CENTERVIEW 8000 is a true allrounder. SIKORA offers two models for different cable dimensions. The CENTERVIEW 8010 is mainly suitable for the measurement of small coaxial, data or automotive cables with a diameter from 0.25 to 10 mm (.01 to .39 inch). Optionally, for example for micro coaxial cables, the system is also available for diameters from 0.1 mm(.004 inch).The CENTERVIEW 8025 measures larger products with diameters from 0.5 to 25 mm(.02 to 1 inch). Thus, the system can also measure thick battery cables, which are increasingly installed in electric cars. The CENTERVIEW 8000 is also flexible in terms of its position in the production line. As an alternative to the classic cold measurement at the end of the line, the gauge head can also be installed directly after the extruder and thus before the cooling section. This allows fast measurement and control for maximum production efficiency with equally highest quality demands.

Intelligent operating principle The system combines an optical with an inductive measuring method. The inductive measuring circuit measures

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the exact position of the conductor, while the optical system measures the outer position of the core. The optical part is based on the principle of diffraction analysis combined with pulsedriven laser diodes, whose light beam projects an image of the cable on the respective CCD line in each measuring axis. Two optical systems measure the position and width of the shadows over 4 axes at 8 points. From the position of the shadows in relation to the inductively measured position of the conductor, the eccentricity is calculated within microseconds directly in the gauge head. From the width of the four shadows, the optical systems also precisely determine the respective outer diameters and ovality.

Automatic height adjustment of the measuring head The inductive measuring circuit automatically positions the gauge head so that the conductor always passes through the center of the gauge head – that is where the measuring accuracy is highest. The system also independently detects and automatically compensates for slanted positions of the conductor. This eliminates the need for guide rollers, manual presetting, or readjustment of the system. This avoids deformation of the product and relieves the operator considerably in his daily work.

Wide range of display options The CENTERVIEW 8000 is available

on demand with an integrated 7-inch TFT touch screen monitor on which the production data is displayed. Alternatively, the system can be connected to a SIKORA ECOCONTROL processor system via common interfaces. By means of a sectional view of the core, the operator receives a standard display of the eccentricity, enabling him, for example, to center the crosshead. Due to the extremely low exposure time of 0.25 μs, the CENTERVIEW 8000 captures oscillating eccentricity values with high single value accuracy. These are displayed in the form of a scatter plot which is an alternative display mode of the ongoing measurement on the ECOCONTROL. The scatter plot, which consists of a total of 5,000 points, graphically shows the distribution of short-term

May-Jun, 2021

TECHNICAL ARTICLE when controlling the diameter.

fluctuations in eccentricity. Each point corresponds to a single value of the eccentricity with respect to magnitude and direction. The extent of the scatter plot thus characterizes the standard deviation of the eccentricity. This unique visualization enables the operator to recognize which eccentricity values persist even after optimal centering and which fluctuation range is present. Based on this, the operator can initiate appropriate measures to minimize it.

In addition, the CENTERVIEW 8000 provides information about eccentricity values and cold diameters, which can be used in combination with the ECOCONTROL 6000, the LASER Series 2000/6000 (hot diameter) and the CAPACITANCE 2000 (capacitance values) for FFT analysis and calculation of return loss.

Continuous precision without calibration

Hot/cold control and FFT analysis

The CENTERVIEW 8000 is factory calibrated prior to shipment. After on-site installation, a onetime concentricity adjustment is performed. No further calibration, maintenance or adjustments to different product dimensions are required.

The CENTERVIEW 8000 can optionally be combined with the hot/cold control module of the ECOCONTROL 6000 or 1000. The module continuously calculates the material shrinkage and automatically takes it into account

NTPC to Build India’s Largest Solar Power Park of 4.75 GW in Gujarat July 14, 2021 NTPC Renewable Energy Ltd., a 100 percent subsidiary of NTPC, has received the go-ahead from the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) to set up a 4.75 GW solar power park at Rann of Kutch in Khavada, Gujarat. This will be India’s largest solar park to be built by the largest power producer in the country. As reported in leading daily — NTPC REL has been given the go-ahead by MNRE under Mode 8 (Ultra Mega Renewable Energy Power Park) of Solar Park Scheme. NTPC REL has plans to generate green hydrogen on a commercial scale from this park. The new PV capacity will be part of a massive 30 GW hybrid renewable energy park coming up in Kutch, with an investment of about USD 20 billion. Upon completion, the 30 GW site will be the world’s largest hybrid renewable energy park. It will stretch across more than 72,600 hectares in Kutch.

Solar Power Park

Recently, NTPC has also commissioned India’s largest Floating Solar of 10 MW (ac) on the reservoir of Simhadri Thermal Power Plant, Andhra Pradesh. An additional 15 MW (ac) would be commissioned by August 2021. Further, a 100 MW Floating Solar Project on the reservoir of Ramagundam Thermal Power Plant, Telangana is in the advanced stage of implementation. 

As a part of its green energy portfolio augmentation, NTPC Ltd. aims to build 60 GW Renewable Energy Capacity by 2032. Currently, it has an installed capacity of 66 GW across 70 power projects with an additional 18 GW under construction.

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May-Jun, 2021

NEWS

Japanese Firm Yazaki Proposes to Set up Wire Harnessing Manufacturing Plant in Manipur Yazaki is world’s largest wire harnessing company with a reported turnover of USD 17 billion last year despite COVID-19 pandemic. July 31, 2021 Yazaki India Private Limited — a subsidiary of Yazaki Corporation Japan, has proposed to set up a wire harnessing manufacturing plant in the state of Manipur. As reported in a leading daily — during a video conference with Mr. Thongam Biswajit, Textiles, Commerce & Industries Minister, Yazaki India Private Limited’s Managing Director, Mr. Prashanth Nayak has proposed to set up a full-fledged wire harnessing manufacturing unit in Manipur. Mr. Nayak further asserted the company ensures zero pollution and zero hazards and with new project, it would generate employment opportunities to the youths of the State with special focus on women. The project will not only enhance trade with South East Asian countries but also help in improving State’s economy.

Wire Harnessing

all possible cooperation and support from the Government in the endeavor. Yazaki India has been taking up a joint venture with Tata group of companies in India since 1997. The company has 11 manufacturing plants in eight states namely Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Karnataka, Uttarakhand, Jharkhand and Delhi and provides jobs to more than 12,000 people in these states. 

Mr. Biswajit welcomed the proposal and said that he would place the proposal before the Cabinet. He also highlighted the industrial and investment policy of Manipur during the conference. Reiterating the need to place the proposal before the State Cabinet, Biswajit also assured

Mikrotek Forms Strategic Alliance with Conoptica to Serve India and Other Countries The Karnataka-based wire drawing dies manufacturer — Mikrotek has collaborated with Conoptica AS to market and distribute the latter’s instruments in India and adjoining countries. July 15, 2021 Mr. B. Kamal Babu, Managing Director, Mikrotek Machines Limited, and Mr. Kjell E. Johnsen, Sales & Marketing Manager, Conoptica AS, have agreed to form strategic cooperation. Mikrotek will do marketing and sales of Conoptica instruments in India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Sri Lanka. It will also take care of basic maintenance and servicing of Conoptica equipment. After working together in an informal manner for several years, the Bengaluru-based and one of the leading Indian manufacturers of drawing dies and die production equipment, Mikrotek is entering into a formal distributor agreement with Norwegian manufacturer of drawing die measurement systems Conoptica AS.

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(L-R) Mr. B. Kamal Babu, Managing Director, Mikrotek Machines Limited and Mr. Kjell E. Johnsen, Sales & Marketing Manager, Conoptica AS

May-Jun, 2021

NEWS “If you have to be ahead in the race, you need to be the best in every parameter that your customer values. Quality is surely one of the most important of them. Making sure that a defective product does not smuggle itself into the customer’s package is a must. Precision in inspection is what achieves that. This is where Conoptica comes in,” added Mr. Johnsen.

With the new partnership, Conoptica seeks to increase its presence and market-share in the region. Through this new agreement, Mikrotek will be responsible for marketing and sales activities. It will also provide first-line support and some service and maintenance activities for new and existing companies. An important part of the customer experience for Conoptica is the service and support they provide. The products are designed and manufactured to be operational for 15-20 years and providing good and consistent service and support has been an important factor in their success. Joining forces with Mikrotek for service and maintenance will also ensure faster response and easier access for customers in the covered territories.

Some of the very popular products in constant demand are: The CU Series

Highlighting the advantages of Conoptica, Mr. Kjell E. Johnsen said, “Conoptica provides perfect Die Geometry & accurate values of the die profile. With 25 years of experience in optical measurement of drawing dies, it is a global market leader in contactless optical instrumentation. The company is the first choice for several industries –wire & cable, machine tool, die & mould, automotive, medical devices and implants, watches and jewelry and has dependable Service and customer support. Other benefits include selected special options for customized usage, policy of investment in R&D and innovation for continuous improvement, trade-in offers and upgradation offers.”

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The CU4 Series: Quality control of small objects

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The CU6 Series: The affordable alternative for profile measurements

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The CU 11 Series: Our most advanced systems for full bearing asymmetry measurements

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The CU20 Series: The only measurement tool for large casings and diameters

ADFS Automatically feed, mark, and sort Drawing and Enameling Dies Software Applications

Mikrotek is one of the market leaders for drawing dies and die repolishing equipment in wire and cable industries. It is an authorized distributor for India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Myanmar and Sri Lanka. Known for professionalism, dependability and ethics, it is reachable 24/7 and has Hands-on experience with the products. It has the ability and willingness to train the customers’ team on instrument usage and Quick support and troubleshooting. The company is known for its efficient coordination to execute its client’s orders on time. With more than 35 years of experience in the wire and cable industry. Mikrotek has in-depth product knowledge of dies and Conoptica instruments. The strategy of Mikrotek is ‘precision with economy’ – to give its customers the precision technology at an affordable cost and is known for the most friendly service

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Drawing Die Application

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Shaped Die Application

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Other Software Applications

The software applications for special needs: Enameling Die; Wire, Pin & Needle; X-Cut Section Conoptica has been providing high-tech camera-based measurement solutions for the metalworking industry since 1993. They make sure that the metalworking industry has access to key quantitative data about their products and tools. Conoptica is the market leader for measurement equipment in the wire & cable industry. It is working to create a generation shift for inline measurement equipment in the machine tool industry. 

Kemtree Joins Hands With Electric Cable Compound to Widen its Reach Mumbai-based lubricant manufacturer Kemtree collaborates with ECC to market their cable compounds in India. compounds. With this agreement, Kemtree would be able to provide high-quality cable compounds to Indian cable manufacturers. Additionally, it will enable the company to achieve the UL certification which is required for exports to the American market.

August 9, 2021 India-based lubricant manufacturing company Kemtree Enterprises Pvt. Ltd. has joined hands with Electric Cable Compounds Inc (ECC), a US-based producer of reliable, high-performance, colorable, and pelletized

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May-Jun, 2021

NEWS Kemtree is engaged in the manufacturing and supplying of a variety of petroleum oil-based products used in the metalworking industry. Since its establishment, the company has been growing steadily, and foraying into new markets, with the constant acquisition of newer clients. Established in 1988, Electric Cable Compounds is a global producer of innovative polymeric solutions that exceed rigorous industry standards. The company offers its proprietary product line as well as custom mixing services. The partnership would help both the companies to grow and expand their global footprints. 

Image Source: Electric Cable Compound

Rajratan Global Wire Plans Capacity Expansion with Investment of INR 250 Crore in Next 3 Years The company is setting up a plant in Chennai to serve local and overseas customers and is increasing capacity in Thailand by 50 percent. June 29, 2021 Rajratan Global Wire Limited, one of the leading three bead wire and steel wire manufacturers for automotive tyres in India, is investing INR 250 crore for capacity expansion in the next three years. The company has two manufacturing facilities, one each at Pithampur (Madhya Pradesh) and at Ratchaburi in Thailand. It is setting up a new plant in Chennai and expanding the capacity of the plant in Thailand. As reported in a leading daily — the company will be acquiring land for its third plant in Chennai with a capacity of 60,000 tonnes, where it aims to invest about INR 250 crore. Mr. Sunil Chordia, CMD, Rajratan Global Wire Limited stated that the investment will be made from internal accruals. The company produces about 60,000 tonnes at the Pithampur plant and 40,000 tonnes in Thailand, where it is expanding the capacity to 60,000 tonnes to beef up the international supplies.

Image Source: Rajratan Global Wire Limited

Chennai is a major automotive hub and has leading tyre makers like MRF and Apollo Tyres. The new plant there will help in saving logistics costs. The company has to import from its Thailand plant to serve Indian customers and since Chennai has ports, it will open the opportunity for further exports.

division) and Aarti Steels. Rajratan is the second-largest bead wire manufacturer in Asia (excluding China) and claims to be the largest manufacturer in India. The company which claims to have 20 percent market share in Thailand has widened its customer base in the USA, Europe and Sri Lanka.

Since two decades, the Indore-based company has been manufacturing tyre bead wire and high carbon steel wire. It wants to remain a focused player and has no diversification plans.

The leading wire manufacturer reported the third consecutive quarter of highest-ever revenue, EBITDA and net profit. It reported revenue growth of about 13 percent year on year in FY21 at INR 548 crore and its net profit margin jumped by 60 percent to INR 53 crore. 

In India the company competes with Tata Steel (wire

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May-Jun, 2021

NEWS

Motherson Sumi Systems Gets Shareholders’ Nod for Proposed Group Restructuring April 30, 2021 Auto components major Motherson Sumi Systems Ltd (MSSL) has announced that its public shareholders have voted in favour of its proposed group restructuring under which it will demerge its domestic wiring harness (DWH) business into a new company that will eventually be listed. As part of the restructuring which was announced in July last year, after the demerger of DWH, group firm Samvardhana Motherson International Ltd (SAMIL) is to be merged into MSSL to consolidate 100 percent shareholding in Samvardhana Motherson Automotive Systems Group BV (SMRP BV) as well as to bring all auto component and allied businesses in SAMIL under MSSL.

Motherson Sumi

the exciting new business verticals, makes us confident of achieving our Vision 2025 targets.”

In a statement, the company said for the NCLT convened meeting regarding the scheme of reorganization, the voting results showed that 99.44 percent of the non-promoter shareholders who voted, were in favour of the proposed restructuring.

MSSL said it will approach NCLT to approve the scheme. Post the approval from the NCLT, the company will work with the stock exchanges for listing of the securities. ‘Listing is estimated to be completed by Q2FY21 subject to the receipt of the necessary approvals,’ it added.

Also, the requirement of obtaining creditors approval has been waived off by the NCLT for the scheme. The public shareholders also approved the resolution on Related Party Transaction (RPT) through a separate EGM held on the same day, MSSL said.

MSSL said once the proposed reorganization is completed, ‘two growth focused listed companies will emerge’. Under its Vision 2025, the company had set a target of achieving revenues of USD 36 billion by FY25, with 40 percent Return on capital employed (ROCE) consolidated, from USD 8.9 billion in FY20. It had also said that no country, customer or component should contribute more than 10 percent to its revenues by FY25. 

Commenting on the development, MSSL Chairman Mr. Vivek Chaand Sehgal said “This is an important step for us to achieve the next phase of growth for our group. The existing automotive business along with the addition of

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May-Jun, 2021

NEWS

HVD Partners to Acquire Assets of Sampsistemi HVD Partners is to acquire the assets of Sampsistemi (SAMP) and Sampsistemi Extrusion as part of a scheme of arrangement administered by the Court of Bologna. July 23, 2021 HVD Partners has reached an agreement with creditors and has won competitive bid by the Court of Bologna to acquire the assets of Sampsistemi S.r.l. and Sampsistemi Extrusion S.r.l. as part of its restructuring plan. Founded in 1936 as Societá Anonima Meccanica di Precisione (SAMP), the company prides itself in delivering high performance wire & cable production equipment, spare parts and services, with thousands of machines operating around the globe. HVD will invest in the revitalization of the company’s international operations and brand in the US, China and Brazil from its headquarters in Bentivoglio, Italy. HVD Partners today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the assets of Sampsistemi S.r.l. (“SAMP” or “the Company”) and Sampsistemi Extrusion S.r.l. as part of a scheme of arrangement administered by the Court of Bologna.

The HVD and Sampsistemi team after signing

Jouni Heinonen, Managing Partner of HVD Partners, adds: “Sampsistemi is a globally recognized Italian champion. We look forward to working with the management to restore the company on a path of profitable growth, serving customers from existing locations in all major expansion markets.”

SAMP supplies precision machines, spare parts and services to leading wire and cable manufacturers around the globe from locations in Italy, China, Brazil and the United States. Consistent with its long history of superior engineering and Italian craftsmanship, the company designs and manufactures the most innovative and highperformance machines in the industry.

Bär & Karrer Zurich and BonelliErede Milano acted as legal advisors, and Humatica as an organisational due diligence advisor to HVD Partners. 

Mukand Limited to Increase Stainless Steel Production to 150000 TPA The production and sales of specialized stainless steel long products at the Thane plant was affected due to the diversion of oxygen for medical purposes. July 16, 2021 Special steel maker Mukand Limited will shortly be enhancing its production and sales of stainless steel at the Thane facility from 100000 tonnes annually to 150000 tonnes per annum. As reported in a leading daily — the production and sales expansion will be without any significant capital expenditure resulting in an increase of turnover by approximately INR 700 crore per annum.

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Mukand Limited

May-Jun, 2021

NEWS This will be possible as the alloy steel rolling, normally done at the Thane plant, is now being gradually transferred to the newly commissioned bar and wire rod mill at the MSSSL Hospet plant, freeing up greater capacity for stainless steel products at the Thane facility.

before May 31, 2021. The supply of oxygen to the plant was resumed on June 1, 2021, as per government directives, and production of stainless steel has regained normalcy. Mukand Limited is an integrated alloy and stainless steel producer from India. Mukand has a steel making and rolling capacity of 500,000 tonnes per year. Mukand produces over 400 grades of specially engineered steel to stringent requirements for customers across the globe. 

The production and sales of specialized stainless steel long products at the Thane plant was affected due to the diversion of oxygen for medical purposes for six weeks

Essar Steel to Set up 3 Million TPA Steel Plant in Andhra Pradesh The State Cabinet considered the proposal and accepted SBICAP’s recommendation to select Essar as the JV partner. The project capex of the project is INR 11,606 crore. June 18, 2021 The Andhra Pradesh government has selected Essar Steel Limited as the joint venture partner for setting up a 3 million TPA capacity steel plant in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh. According to the media reports — the state Cabinet cancelled its previous resolution, made on February 23, selecting Liberty Steel India Limited as the JV partner for construction and development of the YSR Steel Plant. With Liberty stuck in financial woes, the SBICAP asked the YSR Steel Corporation Limited, the Special Purpose Vehicle of the state government, that its earlier recommendation be reviewed and proceed with the next qualifying applicant Essar. The Cabinet considered the proposal and accepted SBICAP’s recommendation to select Essar as the JV partner, according to Information Minister Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani). The AP government established the YSR Steel Corporation Limited for development and operation of a new steel plant in Kadapa district and invited proposals in November last from renowned companies for inducting as a joint venture partner.

Essar Steel

million tonnes of iron ore every year for the proposed steel plant. According to the government claim, the plant would provide direct and indirect employment to about 25,000 people. The state government pooled 3,148.68 acres of land spread over two villages for the integrated steel plant, which would now be alienated to the YSR Steel Corporation for INR 1.65 lakh an acre. 

The proposed steel plant will have a capacity of up to 3 million tonnes per annum for producing high grade steel products. The state government already signed a memorandum of understanding with NMDC for supplying the required 4.5

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May-Jun, 2021

NEWS

Success Story: Sikora’s Purity Scanner Advanced Well-known Chinese cable manufacturer uses Sikora’s Purity Scanner Advanced to ensure the highest purity of XLPE pellets. June 10, 2021 A large and very successful Chinese manufacturer and global supplier of XLPE HV and EHV power cables, has been using the PURITY SCANNER ADVANCED from SIKORA for quality assurance of high voltage cables in their production lines, since 2017. The Chinese company has been ranking among the top 10 competitive enterprises in the cable industry for many years. For some years, the company has also been active in the business of manufacturing subsea cables, and integrated among others, the PURITY SCANNER ADVANCED from the German based SIKORA AG for quality control in its production lines. Reliability is the most important aspect, when selling subsea cable. Typically, the company offers certain years of warranty for this type of cable. “We cannot take any chances at the production of subsea cables”, explains the plant manager. “Each production step needs to be safe. It starts with the compound that we use for the cable insulation. Accordingly, we have implemented an online quality control of the XLPE material”, he concludes, whereby the company relies on the PURITY SCANNER ADVANCED for inspection and sorting from SIKORA. By means of X-ray technology and optical cameras, the system reliably detects contamination inside XLPE pellets as well as on their surface. Contaminated pellets are automatically sorted out.

Sikora’s Purity Scanner Advanced

SIKORA is proud to be a partner of the Chinese global player in this important project. Both companies have already been cooperating for more than twenty years in the area of online diameter, wall thickness and eccentricity measurement. “We are all presently recognizing an interesting evolution, whether regarding the new capabilities with the 5G network, the electrification of cars or the careful use of natural resources for a healthy environment, which includes the substitution of coal and nuclear driven power plants by wind energy. The company is in this respect a pioneer and SIKORA the matching partner”, a statement that is underlined by both the Chinese cable manufacturer and Mr. Wanbin Chen, President of SIKORA CHINA. 

The Chinese cable manufacturer installed the PURITY SCANNER ADVANCED in the submarine cable production line and equipped the system also in another production line at the beginning of 2021 to ensure the highest XLPE purity, a high-quality final cable and the highest customer satisfaction.

Sterlite Technologies Reports Sustained Growth for FY2021, Plans INR 400 Crore Capex for FY22 Sterlite Technologies reported 27.15 percent YoY growth in consolidated sales revenues for the Mar-21 quarter at INR 1475 crore — and shares details on margins, current order book and capex of INR 400 crore for FY22. May 24, 2021

— marking a 27.15 percent YoY growth.

Sterlite Technologies (STL) has reported a satisfactory performance for Q4FY21 with revenue of INR 1475 crore

With continued investments in 5G wireless, ORAN and optical solutions, it has achieved an order book position of

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May-Jun, 2021

NEWS INR 10,700 crore. The optical fibre cable or OFC business grew by 35 percent in FY21. The company closed the year with 27 percent YoY growth with exports at 42 percent. The consolidated Profit after tax (PAT) for the Mar-21 quarter was up 65.19 percent at INR 121.93 crore. The profit growth was sharper due to a growth in top line as well as efficient working capital management reducing the funds locked in the working capital cycle. Net profit margins or NPM improved from 6.36 percent to 8.27 percent on a YoY basis. NPM was higher sequentially too. As reported in a leading daily — Sterlite Technologies has planned INR 400 crore capex for FY22. Moreover, the company plans to ramp up optical fibre cable volumes and its key optical interconnect business in the next few years. The company’s Group Chief Financial Officer, Mr. Mihir Modi states that STL intends to achieve that by building a portfolio of communication systems known as opensource access solutions. It also plans to take its systems integration unit global, while scaling up in India. Sterlite Technologies’ order book, Mr. Modi said, is now spread across FY22 and FY23 evenly, with the first half of the ongoing fiscal looking better. Some of these deals are valued in millions, including a three-year strategic collaboration with U.K.’s Openreach to provide millions of kilometres of the cable used in telecommunications for a

Mr. Mihir Modi, Group Chief Financial Officer

full-fibre network in the country. It has also signed USD 100 million deals in the Middle East to build future-ready digital networks. 

Apar Industries’ Cable Division Reports Resilient Performance With INR 1270 Crores Revenue for FY21 With 19 percent of the total revenue for FY21 contributing to cable business, Apar Industries maintained a good growth trajectory— specifically with a 21.2 percent YoY revenue gain from OFC/telecom cables and exports. June 3, 2021 Apar Industries has reported a consolidated revenue of INR 6405 crores during the 12-months period ending on March 31, 2021. The Cable Segment of the company contributed 19 percent of the total revenue at INR 1270 crores (down 20.7 percent YoY) for FY21. Apar Industries’ cable division export contributed 20 percent to revenue in FY21, up from 17.2 percent in FY20. Notably, during this period, the OFC/telecom cables revenue rose to 21.2 percent YoY. Apar Industries’ consolidated PAT rose to 18.8 percent YoY at INR 161 crores — while EBITDA stood at INR 422 crores for FY2021. With consolidated revenue of INR 6405 crores —Apar contributed 41 percent of export of total revenue for FY2021. Apar Industries posts revenue of INR 1270 crores for cable division

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May-Jun, 2021

NEWS plans to focus on increased exports and new business (MVCC, automotive cable, harnesses, pressure tight cable, 66kV cables etc.) for FY22.

The power cable segment continues to be highly competitive for the industry. Also, the elasto/ebeam cable business was also affected due to reduced off-take in the solar, wind, railways and defence sector. However, with a strong PAT, Apar Industries has been able to deliver resilient performance despite multiple waves of COVID-19 hitting plant operations, logistics and both domestic and global demand.

Apar is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of specialized cables and is a top-ranked cable provider for domestic renewables with a 60 percent share in the wind sector. It is also the first Indian player to create guidance OFC for torpedoes & tether cables for surveillance systems. The Company has also set up India’s most advanced E-beam facility and is known for manufacturing CATV/broadband fibre optic cables etc. 

Shifting its focus towards development — the company also installed a 2.5 MeV machine, which was commissioned by an in-house team. Apar Industries

LAPP Launches New Products as Part of Their Portfolio Expansion As part of its new launches — LAPP has introduced cables for industrial communication, mechanical & plant engineering and rail industry. July 15, 2021 LAPP, a leader in cable and connection technology has announced the launch of new products to meet industry challenges and customer requirements. These new products also help LAPP expand its already diverse portfolio of over 40,000 products. Industrial Communication: As part of its new launches, LAPP will be introducing the new ETHERLINE® T1 Y Flex 1x2x22/7 AWG, single pair ethernet cables that are a part of the ETHERLINE® T1 product family used in industrial machinery /systems and needs only one pair of cores to transmit data. This is an UL-certified 2-core data cable for high-speed information exchange that maintains the same high data rates while significantly reducing the setup required. Its small bending radii and small outer diameter makes it exceptionally lightweight, space-saving, easy to install and is indispensable for connection at the field level.

New products launched for various segments

PVC outer sheath is resistant to acids and alkalis and is partially oil-resistant. UL/CSA certification enables the product to be used in North America. In addition, there are highly flexible ETHERLINE® FD Cat.6 patch cables for continuous movement applications in cable chains. They are assembled with M12X connectors and enable fast data exchange at up to 10 Gbit/s over 60 m thanks to Cat.6 Ethernet. A laminated aluminium foil and copper braiding provide optimum protection against electromagnetic interference. A cross separator is used to protect the core pairs, allowing maximum mechanical stress. The connector has integrated vibration protection.

The new Power-Over-Data-Line compatible cable complies with IEEE 802.3bu and was specially designed for transmitting digital signals in the frequency range up to 600 MHz over distances of up to 40 m. It enables a simultaneous power and data supply to SPE terminals with low energy consumption (up to 50 W). The design of the SPE cable guarantees ideal protection against electromagnetic interference: It is double shielded with an aluminium-laminated foil and copper braid shield, along with a high degree of coverage (SF/UTP). In addition, the

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Another new feature is the ETHERLINE® CABINET CAT.6A.for the control cabinet in PROFINET® networks. Owing to its small bending radii, Cat.6A patch cables can prove especially useful in confined spaces. They enable information to be exchanged quickly at up to 10 Gbit/s over 60 m. The connecting cables are assembled on both

May-Jun, 2021

NEWS and can be optimally supplemented with the established protective conduits SILVYN® FPAS and SILVYN® HCC.

sides, saving time and eliminating the potential for errors when assembling them on site. The RJ45 connector is exceptionally narrow, meaning that the patch cables are ideally suited for devices with a very high port density. They are also approved for the North American market with UL/CSA certification.

LAPP’s portfolio includes the SKINTOP® MS-M 40x1.5 PLUS for the optimum assembly of a cable with a rectangular connector housing. Thanks to the M40 external thread, it can be screwed onto a proven M40 standard hood. Due to the extended M50 clamping range (27-35 mm), cables with larger diameters (>28 mm) can now also be fed through. Expensive special housings are no longer required. This is particularly advantageous for applications with limited space. The new cable gland enables sealing in accordance with protection class IP 68 and IP 69, withstands high mechanical and chemical loads, and is even suitable for outdoor use.

Mechanical and plant engineering: Another new feature is the launch of ÖLFLEX® PLUG 540 P. This is a connection assembly with the proven ÖLFLEX® 540 P cable for appliance and cabinet construction. The readyto-use connection assembly saves time during installation and impresses with its multi-strength cable, compatibility with various connector systems and the third-party certification. It is suitable for different applications depending on the number of cores, conductor crosssection and connector type. The 3-core versions with protection rating IP 44 are even suitable for outdoor use in Europe and can be exposed to rain.

Rail Industry: LAPP is also expanding its portfolio for the rail industry. The single-core cable ÖLFLEX® TRAIN 331 600 V for rail vehicles is now also available in further dimensions (0.5 + 0.75 mm²) as well as in additional colours (BN, GN, YE, WH, GY, OG, VT). All articles are classified in accordance with DIN EN 45545-2 and are perfectly suited for wiring circuits and lights inside machinery, wiring inside control cabinets and even for internal electrical installations due to their high-quality electron beam cross-linked insulation materials. 

The cable strain relief is already integrated into the metric, liquid-tight SILVYN® FPAD-M conduit gland. It remains reliably sealed with a lock protection. The robust polyamide makes it more oil-resistant and mechanically resistant. The SILVYN® FPAD-M is available in various metric sizes and two protection classes (IP 66 or IP 68)

Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Floats Export Tender for 12000 MT Wire Rod The delivery to the successful bidder will be completed by September 20, 2021, through loading at Gangavaram port in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. July 20, 2021 The State-run steel producer — Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL) has floated an export offer sale for 12000 MT wire rod (5.5-6.5mm) through tendering route. The ocean export e-tender will submission of bids was closed on 21 July, 2021. The delivery to the successful bidder will be completed by September 20, 2021, through loading at Gangavaram port in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, also known as Vizag Steel, is a government owned steel producer based in Visakhapatnam, India.  Steel Wire Rod

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May-Jun, 2021

NEWS

STL Declares Global Capacity and Capability Enhancements to Drive the Next Phase of Growth STL is expanding footprint in the US, UK, and Europe and is gearing to achieve revenue run rate of INR 10,000 crore by end of FY’23. Further, the company is also augmenting optical fibre cable capacity from 33 to 42 million fibre kilometers. July 2, 2021 STL has conducted its second Annual Investor meet, STLescope 2021 on 1st July, that brought global analysts and investors together. The event saw STL showcasing its plans for reaching the annual revenue run rate of INR 10,000 crore by Q4 of FY’23.

STL-Tech

Speaking about the full-fibre network planned in the UK, Kevin Murphy, MD for Fibre and Network Delivery at Openreach, said “ Full Fibre will be absolutely critical to the UK. Our Full Fibre network holds the potential for enabling significant socio-economic growth for the United Kingdom. Partners like STL will help us build this network in a fast and efficient manner. Their compact and efficient designs will be extremely useful for us as we look to build the most comprehensive and green networks in the world.”

STL announced a 3-pronged strategy to enhance its market share to capture an addressable market across Optical and Wireless solutions and System Integration: •

Growing the Optical Solutions market globally

•

Globalizing its System Integration solutions across UK and Europe, and

•

Building new disruptive technologies for its Access Solutions business

Research and development takes centre stage

In line with this growth strategy, STL has made investments to build capacities and capabilities across its focus markets. To grow its end-to-end optical solution Opticonn, the company plans to expand its optical fibre manufacturing capabilities from 33 to 42 mn. fkm, including new facilities in the US and UK with a total additional investment of about INR 200 Cr.

STL plans to continue to invest about 3 percent of its annual revenue in industry-leading research on areas of optical solutions and wireless solutions including 5G. With the company recently receiving its first 5G patent in the US and with its ongoing product trials at customer premises in U.S. and APAC, STL is all set to be a global leader in open-source 5G and FTTx implementations.

Lauding STL’s investment in South Carolina, US, the South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster said “South Carolina continues to lead the way in innovation, and STL’s investment in Kershaw County is further proof of that. Our state is a place where companies can find success, and we’re excited to see what the future holds for STL.”

Excited about STL’s future plans, Dr. Anand Agarwal, Group CEO, STL, commented: “The last year paved the way for a decade of network creation. STL has worked towards capacity and capability enhancements through strategic investments in manufacturing, research and global talent. Our sustained investments along with deep customer engagement will definitely drive the next phase of growth that will propel us towards the annual revenue run rate of INR 10,000 crore by the end of FY23.” 

These capacity enhancements will enable the extensive fibre build-outs planned across the US, Europe, and the UK to boost rural broadband and 5G programs.

Maillefer: High Speed Curing With Round Value Package Premium Maillefer Extrusion offers solutions for groundbreaking curing technology, Round Value Package Premium. voltage VCV lines to date. These lines are equipped with a groundbreaking curing technology, Round Value Package Premium, which enables high-speed curing without the problems normally found with increased line speed.

June 16, 2021 Recently, Maillefer has successfully commissioned several of the fastest and technologically most advanced high-

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May-Jun, 2021

NEWS Challenges to overcome The insulation process for high-voltage submarine cables is, in many ways, a very complicated process. It requires balancing between many limiting factors such as, production length, production time and production speed. Higher speeds are of course beneficial to achieve longer lengths in shorter time. Production speed, on the other hand, is limited by cable core geometry, curing power and extruder performance. With typical technology, cable core ovality starts to increase dramatically when increasing speed and the related curing power. Technological innovations designed into Round curing remove these challenges. Thanks to a special heat impulse, the curing process begins by forming a crosslinked layer on the outside of the core in a very efficient manner. This outer crosslinked layer maintains a very round cable core during heat expansion and shrinking, specifically at the curing and cooling sections of the CV line. Thanks to Round technology, it is now possible to also increase the curing power of the CV tube without any issues. In other words, we can now start the curing very efficiently, while increasing the total curing power without any negative side effects. More curing power naturally leads to higher production speed. Typical speeds for a standard VCV line and a VCV line with Round are shown in the graph below. Our CV lines are now producing multiple submarine cable campaigns at a record-breaking speed of 1.55 m/min for a 220 kV 400 mm2 copper conductor cable core.

Premium Curing Tube

layers with small conductor are demanding constructions when trying for perfection. The Round technology enables production of cores with 0.995 roundness and at record speeds. Continuous improvement on the extrusion screw design and crossheads are also pivotal to success. Our screw development aims towards higher extrusion outputs without any areas of low flow or stagnation points. Streamlined designs are very successful in realizing long production campaigns necessary for submarine cable production.

Curing and extrusion go hand in hand High-speed alone is nothing without exceptional quality as well. Round technology provides the best results in terms of cable core ovality. Typically, thick insulation

The addition of Round technology has also made it possible to utilize the full output available from our insulation extruder. Now that constrains based on curing power and cable core roundness have been lifted, we are able use higher screw speed and further reduce the residence time of insulation material inside the extruder and crosshead. Long deliveries, even longer in the horizon Thanks to the speed increase of Round technology, long campaigns can be realized in shorter time. Projects consisting of 120 tons of insulation material are realized in less than 12 days. Examination of breaker plate and fine mesh filters after such long campaign has shown absolutely no signs of XLPE material stagnation or scorch. Several very successful production campaigns confirm that we are nowhere near to reaching the maximum lengths possible with this technology. The new VCV lines are unique chances to showcase how all of our recent developments and innovations have come together and enabled us to push the boundaries of cable insulation technology one step further, together. 

Typical production speed for HV cables on a VCV line with Round technology in comparison to a standard VCV line of the same length. Cable constructions are based on Chinese standards. Actual speeds will vary depending on the actual VCV line lay

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May-Jun, 2021

NEWS

Motherson Sumi FY22 Capex Steady at INR 2000 Crore; Scaling Up of EV Business Group company Samvardhana Motherson Automotive Systems Group BV (SMRPBV) saw its order book increase to EUR 15.6 billion as of March 31, 2021 from EUR 13.1 billion as of September 30, 2020. The share of pure electric vehicle programs in the order book jumped to 25 percent by the end of FY21. June 4, 2021 Motherson Sumi Systems has lined up a capital expenditure of INR 2,000 crore for FY22 which will be used to service the large order book it currently has. The capex guidance for FY22 is largely similar to the capex of FY21. As reported in a leading daily — Mr. G N Gauba, Chief Financial Officer, Motherson Sumi System said, “We have been guiding a capex of INR 2,000 crore and depending on the exchange rate it can fluctuate but it should be in that range for FY22 also. Our FY20 capex was just below Rs 2000 crore to around Rs 1970-1980 crore.” The robust order book growth at EUR 15.6 billion with increasing BEV content is likely to support content per vehicle increase thesis. The current plants would be adequate to execute this expanding orderbook, thus would in-turn lead to faster asset-sweating and RoCE improvement,” as per the report from ICICI Securities.

Mr. Vivek Chaand Sehgal, Chairman, Motherson Group

Nearly 90 percent of MSSL’s revenues emerge from outside of India. Half of its revenues came from Germany, France, Spain and the US, as per disclosures made by MSSL for FY20. Daimler Group, Audi and Volkswagen are the company’s biggest customers, accounting for 35 percent of the revenues.

“Realizations for EV components are higher in comparison to ICE (internal combustion engine) components. For EV components, engineered plastics are used, which are lighter, stronger and more expensive,” as per Emkay Global report. 

Polycab Reports Encouraging Performance for Q1FY22, Wires and Cables Business Grew to INR 1586.2 Crore YoY Wires and cables business doubled on YoY basis to INR 1586.2 crore (INR 15,862 mn) in Q1FY22 from INR 793.5 crore (INR 7,935 mn) in Q1FY21. July 22, 2021

Despite challenges posed by lockdowns in many states, we were able to record much better business compared to last year. We remain diligent in managing costs and navigating the volatile demand environment. More importantly, we are progressing well on our strategic agenda and achieving new milestones which will drive transformation over mid to long term. We continue to serve the communities and fulfill our purpose in meaningful ways.”

Polycab India Limited has announced its consolidated results for the first quarter ended June 30, 2021 — with its revenue increased to 93 percent YoY to INR 1880.5 crore (INR 18,805 mn) despite challenging business environment. Commenting on the performance, Mr. Inder T. Jaisinghani, Chairman and Managing Director, Polycab India Limited, said: “First quarter performance has been encouraging.

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Wires and cables business doubled on YoY basis to INR 15,862 mn in Q1FY22 from INR 7,935 mn in Q1FY21. In

May-Jun, 2021

NEWS domestic business, cables outperformed wires in Q1 partly on account of relatively favourable base. Distribution as well as Institutional business was >2x of last year. Exports contribution to overall revenue stood at 6 percent in Q1FY22 vs 4.5 percent in Q4FY21. FMEG business grew 39 percent YoY to INR 1,919 mn in Q1FY22 from INR 1,378 mn in Q1FY21 despite closure of retail shops across many large states. Distribution expansion continued with greater thrust on digital marketing campaigns. Innovation driven product development remains a key focus area. PBT grew 151 percent YoY to INR 982 mn in Q1FY22 from INR 391 mn in Q1FY21 reflecting improved profitability. PAT declined 36 percent YoY to INR 753 mn in Q1FY22 from INR 1,176 mn in Q1FY21 on account one off gains in base quarter. PAT margin stood at 4.0 percent in Q1FY22. As of 30 June 2021, net cash position at Rs 6,716 mn was 3.3x of same period last year. 

Mr. Inder T. Jaisinghani, Chairman and Managing Director, Polycab India Limited

LS Cable & System Invests USD 161 Million in Submarine Cable Business Construction will begin in October 2021, and end in April 2023. LS Cable & System’s submarine cable production capacity will increase more than 1.5 times. July 27, 2021 LS Cable & System has announced that it would expand its submarine cable business by investing an additional USD 161 million (KRW 185.9 billion) in its plant in Donghae City, Gangwon-do. South Korea’s leading cable maker will build an additional submarine cable plant in Building No, 2 of Donghae Plant. It will have the latest facilities, e.g., the tallest power cable production tower in Korea (VCV tower: vertical continuous extraction system). Also, the erection of the 172 m super-tall VCV Tower is expected to improve cable insulation quality and increase productivity. “As countries around the world are increasing investments in renewable energy to become carbon neutral, the submarine cable market is also growing,” said Mr. Myung Roe-Hyun, President & CEO of LS Cable & System. “We will contribute to the national economy by expanding domestic investments.” The company is also expecting to give a boost to the local community, e.g., invigoration of the local economy and employment promotion. A company official said, “We considered overseas business sites such as Vietnam and

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LS Cable & System

May-Jun, 2021

NEWS China for additional investment, but we ended up picking Donghae City in view of the active corporate support policies of Gangwon-do and Donghae City.”

as a plant specializing in submarine cables. The existing plant has a total floor area of 84,000 m² on a site of 216,000 m², and the total floor area of the new plant is 31,000m². In particular, the VCV Tower is as tall as a 63-story apartment, and will be the tallest structure in Donghae City. It will become a local landmark. 

LS Cable & System built Korea’s first submarine cable plant in Donghae City in 2008, and has invested about USD 294 million (KRW 340 billion) until now, developing it

FM Nirmala Sitharaman Announces INR 19,000 crore Additional Outlay for BharatNet When all the gram panchayats have been connected by the dedicated optical fibre network, last-mile connectivity to all villages will be provided by the commercial telecom operators. June 29, 2021 With the aim to provide a boost to the Digital India initiative, Finance Minister Smt Nirmala Sitharaman has announced more than INR 19,000 crore additional outlay for the BharatNet project which is aimed at providing broadband reach to each village through the PPP model. On Independence Day last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced broadband connectivity to all inhabited villages in 1,000 days. Out of 2.5 lakh Gram Panchayats, 1.56 lakh Gram Panchayats have been made service ready by May 31, 2021. Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman

“1,56,223 gram panchayats are now service-ready. The rest have to be extended to the same facility so an additional INR 19,041 crore is being provided so as to meet the 1,000 days target. This is a totally new amount I am announcing, taking the BharatNet project total cost to INR 61,109 crore. We should be able to complete the work with this amount,” said FM Sitharaman.

The total outlay will now be INR 61,109 crore including the already approved amount of INR 42,068 crore in 2017. The expansion and upgradation of BharatNet will cover Gram Panchayats and inhabited villages. The second and final phase of the BharatNet project was launched in 2017. Under the project, the government aims to connect 1.5 lakh panchayats through 10 lakh kilometres of additional optical fibre and give bandwidth to telecom players at a nearly 75 percent cheaper price for broadband and wifi services in rural areas. 

Under the project, implementation of BharatNet in the PPP model in 16 states (bundled into nine packages) is to be done on a viability gap funding basis. An additional INR 19,041 crore is being provided for the project.

HFCL’s Market Capitalization Crosses INR 10000 Crore Mark 5G technology is the next big upgrade for telecommunication networks and HFCL is gearing up to offer various products, solutions and services for this segment. July 12, 2021

As reported in a leading daily — shares of HFCL Ltd. (formerly known as Himachal Futuristic Communications Limited) continued their northward movement as they surged 18 percent to INR 85.90 on the BSE in intra-day session on the back of heavy volumes.

A sharp rally in the stock price has seen the market capitalization of HFCL vault past the INR 10000 crore mark. Currently, HFCL’s market capitalization stood at INR 10969 crore on the BSE, the exchange data shows.

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May-Jun, 2021

NEWS In the past month, the stock of HFCL has zoomed 86 percent as compared to a 1.4 percent rise in the S&P BSE Sensex. The scrip was trading at its highest level since February 2002. HFCL is one of the largest telecom project service providers for Reliance Jio and is currently engaged in rolling out of 4G OFC Network services across Northern India. Apart from deploying networks in Punjab and Jharkhand, HFCL is also supplying fibre optic cables in Maharashtra, Telangana and Chhattisgarh under Bharat Net projects. 5G technology is the next big upgrade for telecommunication networks and HFCL is gearing up to offer various products, solutions and services for this segment. The capex required for 5G deployments on Pan India basis are likely to entail massive investments of around Rs 3,650 billion in the next 5-6 years, the company said in an investor presentation.

HFCL Ltd.

Under Bharat Net Phase II Project, Wi-Fi, infrastructure, electronics and optic networks bring out a INR 40,000 crore opportunity. “The disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic have increased the demand for home and industrial IoT devices and applications. The Production Linked Incentive (PLI Scheme) by the Government to incentivize the indigenous telecom product manufacturers increases the profitability and competitiveness,” the company said. 

Open Radio Access Network (OpenRAN) architecture enable network operators to design and implement 4G and 5G networks by different equipment from different vendors leading to huge opportunities for the manufacturers.

Tata Wiron’s New Campaign is a Tribute to India’s Resilience in Pandemic The ad film is a humble ode to the indomitable spirit of businesses during the pandemic. July 12, 2021 Tata Wiron, the steel wire manufacturer, has launched #RozaanaKiDhun, a brand-new digital film that acclaims the strong spirit and resilience of the everyday Indian who has been the force behind keeping India’s economy up and running when everything else seemed uncertain and difficult. #RozaanaKiDhun is a celebration of a stronger tomorrow, a tomorrow that is fueled by every Indian every day. It captures the spirit of small businesses and individuals who have continued to sing their daily songs and feed their families during these trying times and keep the wheels of the economy turning.

Tata Wiron

The film, released on Tata Wiron’s Facebook and YouTube channels, has been conceptualized by the company’s digital agency YellowBulbs.

strength in structures & ecosystems. Tata Wiron reaffirms its commitment to help strengthen, resolve and celebrate the hope of a brighter tomorrow.”

Mr. Vivek Chauhan, chief of marketing and sales, Global Wires India, said, “Through #RozaanaKiDhun, we are celebrating the spirit of humans who continue to exude positivity and spirit despite challenges, even seemingly insurmountable ones like the pandemic. We see this reflected in our products as well - they enable resilience &

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“#RozaanaKiDhun represents the soft yet strong voices of India’s small businesses and entrepreneurs who continue to hum the tune of life with unwavering enthusiasm and awe-inspiring positivity to keep the country going stronger and brighter on the path to progress,” said Mr. Vivek Modi, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, YellowBulbs. 

May-Jun, 2021

NEWS

Sterlite Technologies Partners with Vocus Group to Expand Fibre Network Vocus Australia has selected Sterlite Technologies’ Opticonn solutions deploy high capacity nationwide networks faster. June 9, 2021 Sterlite Technologies has announced a partnership with Vocus Group, a specialist fibre and network solutions provider in Australia. This deal strengthens STL’s presence in the Australian market, helping network creators deploy high capacity nationwide networks faster. Vocus Group Limited (ASX: VOC) is Australia’s specialist fibre and network solutions provider, connecting all mainland capitals with Asia and the USA. Regionally, Vocus has backhaul fibre connecting most regional centres in Australia. Vocus also operates an extensive and modern network in New Zealand, connecting the country’s capitals and most regional centres. In total, the Vocus terrestrial network is c.30,000 routekm of high performance, high availability fibre-optic cable, including 4,600km of submarine cable connecting Singapore, Indonesia and Australia and 2,100km of submarine cable between Port Hedland and Darwin and connecting offshore oil and gas facilities in the Timor Sea. Vocus owns a portfolio of well-recognized brands catering to enterprise, government, wholesale, small business and residential customers across Australia and New Zealand.

Mr. Ankit Agarwal, CEO - Connectivity Solutions Business, STL-Tech

Speaking on the agreement, Mr. Ankit Agarwal, CEO - Connectivity Solutions Business, STL, said, “We are excited to partner with Vocus for the expansion of their fibre network that will connect millions across Australia. Our end-to-end capabilities for global digital networks form a strategic fit with Vocus’s long-term goals and we look forward to delivering innovative solutions that can help drive these outcomes.” 

Vocus will leverage STL’s Opticonn solution, which offers a range of optical fibre and cable products, optical interconnect offerings and pre-connectorised kits.

India Plans Cyclone Resilient Power Infrastructure in Coastal Regions A meeting was recently held by the union power ministry on the issue that was also attended by the officials of the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), India’s apex power sector planning body, the cyclone affected states and state-run power sector firms. May 31, 2021

According to media reports — the aim is to build cycloneresistant infrastructure in the coastal area up to 20 kilometres from the coast, and then gradually up to 60 kilometres, as part of this masterplan. Ensuring uninterrupted electricity supply holds the key to running emergency services such as hospitals, medical oxygen plants and test labs.

The Indian government is working on a strategy to construct cyclone-resistant power distribution and transmission infrastructure, given the frequency with which cyclones affect India’s eastern and western coasts. People familiar with the situation say that this will ensure that the coastal states have power during these major weather occurrences.

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The development assumes significance given that power and communication poles were uprooted during cyclones

May-Jun, 2021

NEWS Tauktae and Yaas the affected regions. Some of these measures to be taken by the state-run electricity distribution companies (discoms) involve, using insulated aerial bunched cables for 11 kV and low-tension power links, setting up flood protection walls and using epoxy-based paint coating for protecting steel structures such as electricity poles from corrosion. With high tidal waves causing flooding, the plan also calls for converting air-insulated substations to gas-insulated substations, installing fibre-optic interconnections in the transmission system, mounting distribution transformers on plinths, and using rail poles and double pole structures. 

Coastal Region

Polycab to Acquire Silvan Innovation Labs Private Limited Silvan is a technology company focused on providing cutting edge automation offerings for homes, offices, banks, retail outlets, hotels and other spaces. Polycab’s latest acquisition has pioneered the concept of home automation in the Indian residential building market and has a proven track record with many prominent real estate developers. June 18, 2021 Polycab India Limited (PIL) has signed an agreement to acquire 100 percent stake in Silvan Innovation Labs Private Limited (Silvan). Silvan has successfully installed over 100,000 devices in more than 8,000 homes and offices. It was founded in 2008 by four electronics and embedded systems domain veterans possessing a cumulative experience of 120 years in reputed companies like Texas Instruments and Lucent Technologies. The founders hold advanced degrees from the premier engineering institutions in India and three of them, namely Dr. Giridhar Krishna, Mohan Gopalakrishna and Ajay Gupta will be continuing with PIL post acquisition. The company has 17 patents, including filed and provisional, and is based out of Bangalore.

Polycab to Acquire Silvan

space. Acquisition of Silvan adds new dimensions to R&D and innovation capabilities. Its wireless retrofit system technology enables rapid upgradation of conventional FMEG into smart products. Furthermore, PIL’s vast distribution presence and strong manufacturing capabilities will be leveraged to scale up Silvan’s highly functional IoT based solutions. The company clocked over INR 90 mn in sales in FY19 and has a sizeable order pipeline of over INR 1 bn however the pandemic has significantly constrained the business from achieving its true potential. The cost of acquisition is around INR 102 mn for shares and around INR 80 mn as additional funds infusion to discharge certain outstanding liabilities. Silvan will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of PIL. The transaction is subject to fulfilment of certain conditions by both parties.

Silvan’s IoT based automation products and solutions portfolio includes lighting management system, room automation, temperature control devices, contactless controls, curtain control, security devices amongst others. This is complemented by its application and cloud platform (IPSM) for value-added services and has integrated capabilities on various third-party cloud platforms such as AWS, Google Cloud, Samsung Smart things, and IBM Watson. ‘Smart’ IoT Solutions with wireless connected devices are witnessing disruptive penetration on the back of technological advancements, rising connectivity, and changing consumer preferences, making it one of the fastest growing segments within consumer electrical

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NEWS Inder T. Jaisinghani, Chairman & Managing Director of Polycab said, “Our ambition is to become a forefront consumer centric company. The domain strength of Silvan coupled with our robust Go-To-Market capabilities presents a great synergic combination. It is a fantastic

addition to our IoT portfolio and aligns with our strategy to address evolving consumer needs with new age innovative solutions. I believe Silvan will also play a vital part in achieving our FMEG aspirations under Project Leap.” 

Power Grid Reports 8 percent Rise in PAT to INR 12036 Crore for FY2021 Profit before tax jumped 38.86 percent to INR 4662.18 crore in Q4 FY21 as against INR 3357.41 crore in Q4 FY20. June 18, 2021 Power Grid Corporation of India’s consolidated net profit advanced 8.83 percent to Rs 12036.46 crore on 5.02 percent rise in revenue from operations to Rs 39639.79 crore in FY 2021 over FY 2020. As reported in a leading business daily — the Maharatna Public Sector Undertaking has reported over 6.42 percent rise in its consolidated net profit to INR 3526 crore for March 2021 quarter compared to Q4 2020. Its total income during Q4 March 2021 increased to 3.57 percent from operations at INR 10816.33 crore, from Rs 10507.65 crore in the year-ago period. Power Grid Corporation of India was established by the Government of India (GoI) as the central transmission utility of India. As of 31 March 2021, the Government of India held 51.34 percent in the electric utility manufacturing company. 

Power Grid Corporation of India

Indian Railways to Invest INR 55000 Crore on Modernization of Signalling and Telecommunication Indian Railways plan to use the spectrum allocation to provide long-term evolution (LTE) based mobile train radio communication for seamless communication between its running staff, the traffic controller, and maintenance personnel to enhance safety and security. June 16, 2021 Indian Railways has envisaged an investment of about INR 55000 crore over next five years on multiple signaling technologies to enhance safety and security of passengers during train travel. Expanding the railway network capacity through signalling modernization will do away with the need to lay new tracks by acquiring land. www.wirecable.in

Indian Railways

May-Jun, 2021

NEWS The modernization will be in the areas of Long Term Evolution (LTE), Optical Fibre System, Train Collision Avoidance System (TCAS), Automatic Block Signalling (ABS), Electronic Interlocking (EI) and Centralized Traffic Control.

The Cabinet had also approved the TCAS to make rail travel safer and faster, envisaging an investment of INR 25,000 crore for these two projects. With an expanded modernization plan, the cost of the projects is estimated to be INR 56,955 crore.

Earlier, the Union Cabinet had allocated 5 MHz spectrum in 700 MHz band for the Railways which will be used for providing LTE based mobile train radio communication and advanced radio network on its route.

A switch to 4G is expected to enable real-time and faster operation of communication systems of the carrier. It will boost bandwidth and other technical parameters such as peak capacity. 

Rajratan Global Wire Reports Multifold Jump in Net Profit to INR 21.92 Crore for Q1 FY2021-22 The company has taken up capacity expansion in Thailand from 40,000 TPA to 60,000 TPA owing to increased traction in the region as well as increasing market share. July 21, 2021 Rajratan Global Wire has reported a multifold jump of 1228.48 percent in its consolidated net profit to INR 21.92 crore for the first quarter ended June 30, 2021 as against INR 1.65 crore during the previous quarter ended June 2020 — as reported in a leading daily. Rajratan Global Wire (RGWL) is one of the leading manufacturers of high carbon steel wire in India specializing in automotive tyre bead wire, high quality spring & rope wire. Company’s consolidated revenue from operations however declined marginally during April-June 2021 to INR 182.29 crore, against INR 183.65 crore in the year-ago period. According to Mr. Sunil Chordia, CMD, Rajratan Global Wire, despite FY22 starting off on a challenging note led by an impact from the second wave of Covid-19, the company delivered strong performance and growth.

Rajratan Global Wire

of meeting the requirements of its customers, which has led to some of our key customers according Rajratan the prestigious Vendor Managed responsibility for some of their plants,” Mr. Chordia added.

“This was primarily driven by strong demand from domestic tyre manufacturers as well as exports. Our timely expansion in India in FY20 (to 72,000 TPA) has started bearing fruits for us as we are aiming to increase the capacity utilization levels over the current year and next year for the expanded capacity at Pithampur, Madhya Pradesh,” he said.

At present, the company has a production capacity of 72,000 TPA of wire (largest bead wire manufacturer) at a single location in India and 40,000 TPA at a single location in Thailand. The Board Of Directors have also approved its plans to evaluate an additional 60,000 TPA plant in Southern India to target domestic as well as export markets. This will be over and above the existing 72,000 TPA in India. 

“After this expansion (expected by end FY22), Rajratan will become the second largest bead wire manufacturer in Asia outside China with a combined capacity of 120,000 TPA (for bead wire). Rajratan continues to be on the forefront

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NEWS

Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant Built Using 2100 Kilometers Cables The total cabling work that has gone into the ship is now over around 2100 kilometers, which is just short of half of the entire coastline of India — as per the Navy. June 29, 2021 India’s biggest ship —an indigenous aircraft carrier (IAC) that will be christened INS Vikrant, after its decommissioned sibling, has about 2100 kilometers of cables running across its 2300 compartments. Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant has been made in India for an estimated price tag of INR 20,000 crore. The ship has an overall length of 263m and breadth of 63m and can carry a total of 30 aircraft (fighters and helicopters). Indigenous Aircraft Carrier INS Vikrant

The towering vessel has 15 decks and displacement (weight) of 40000 tonnes. Propelled by four gas turbines, it is expected to touch up to a speed of 30 knots (approximately 55 km/h). Its endurance is 7500 nautical miles at a speed of 18 knots (32 km/h). The vessel can carry up to 1,500 personnel and has 2300 compartments (in its hull), while the length of cables running across compartments is about 2100 kilometers.

As per the previous reports on INS Vikrant — the major part that led to time delay was the replacement of cables. India’s first indigenous carrier (IAC) is expected to have its maiden entry into the sea for a series of trials before September this year, and delivery to the Navy is slated for early 2022. 

Punjab State Transmission Completes First ACCC® Conductor Installations in Punjab The reconductoring project enabled the use of existing lattice structures that included crossings of the Delhi-Amritsar National highway and two electrified railway crossings. June 29, 2021 CTC Global has announced that Punjab State Transmission Corporation Limited has completed their first two ACCC® Conductor installations earlier this year. The project included reconductoring their 12.8 ckm 132 kV line from the 220 kV Verpal Substation to the 132 kV Mall Mandi Substation and their 5 ckm double circuit 220 kV line from the 400 kV Ludhiana (PGCIL) substation to the 220 kV Lalton Kalan substation. The Verpal – Mandi line is one of the alternate supply lines to the famous Golden Temple of Amritsar and its nearby region. PSTCL selected Casablanca size ACCC® Conductor for their 132 kV line and Drake size ACCC® Conductor for the 220 kV lines. Gupta Power Infrastructure

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ACCC® Conductor Installation

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NEWS Limited manufactured the ACCC® Conductor and also provided engineering and installation services. ACCC Master Installer Bapi Ghosh was onsite to provide training and support. The crews used ZECK, TESMEC and OMAC stringing equipment. TAG provided ACCC Hardware.

temperatures approaching 0 degrees Celsius. Infrared Thermography Inspections were conducted after both lines were energized, both of which confirmed excellent results. The ACCC® Conductor has been installed and energized in nearly 150 Projects in 21 out of 28 states in India. 

The project was completed during the winter with

Birla Furukawa: Ultra High-Density Fibre Solutions and 400G is Future of Data Centre Birla Furukawa offers solutions for the ultra high fibre count high-density cables along with end to end 400G connectivity solutions in India for the data centre to data center interconnectivity made by Furukawa Electric Corporation, Japan. Furukawa Electric Corporation Achieves World’s First Installation of World’s Highest Density 6912 Fibre Optic Cable into 1.25 inch Diameter Conduit. July 3, 2021 Birla Furukawa Fibre Optics Private Limited is the Joint Venture Company formed between Universal Cables Limited, India and Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd. The continuing rapid increase in bandwidth demand has created an urgent need for data centres to increase the capacity of optical fibre networks. Within and between existing data centre buildings, it has become necessary to maximize the fibre count in the existing conduit to avoid the expensive and time-consuming creation of new installations. Based on experience in this area and long-term commitment to the market, Birla-Furukawa offers solutions for the Ultra High Fibre Count High-Density Cables manufactured by Furukawa Electric Corporation, Japan along with End to End 400G Connectivity solutions for the Data Center to Data Center Interconnectivity. Mr. Nitin Nayak, Business Head at Birla Furukawa said “Ultra High-Density Fibre and 400G is the Future of Data Center”.

Image source: Birla Furukawa

manufactured by Furukawa Electric Corporation, Japan. Cables with Rollable ribbons are smaller and lighter weight than conventional flat ribbon cables. These cable designs allow installers to double the density of existing pathways. The completely gel-free design also helps to reduce the time required for preparation for splicing. With its ability to maximize duct utilization, the AccuTube+ RR Cable is an ideal choice for connecting data centres.

Recently, the data traffic in the world is experiencing a swift increase due to the spread of internet services and cloud applications and further capacity enlargement of the optical fibre network is required. Demands of the ultra-high fibre count cable with over 3000 fibres is growing at the data centres and it is required to install as many fibres as possible in the existing ducts explains Mr. Nitin Nayak, Data Center-Business Head at Birla Furukawa.

To further complement this UHFC High-Density Cables, we also offer High Capacity Splice closures, OCEF for Mass Fusion Splicing, High-Density Trunk Cables, HighDensity Fibre termination Shelf, HD Patch panels, Break out Cables, MPO Cassettes, Ultra Low Loss Patch cords etc. Fusion splicer and tools for user-friendly splicing solutions optimized for Rollable Ribbon mass fusion splice allows for high-speed operation, he adds.

BFL offers solutions in 6912F, 3456F, 1728F etc totally dry cables in less than 30mm outer diameter to easily fit into 1.5inch conduits. This is supported by patented AccuTube + Rollable Ribbon Fibre, created specifically to maximize duct utilization for ultra-high fibre count applications

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NEWS This is, according to Mr. Nitin Nayak, one of the main differentials of Birla-Furukawa. In addition to Data Center to Data Center Interconnectivity solutions, the company also have 400G-ready data centre solutions and offers a suite of services such as blueprint, installation support, with inspection tracking, training, streamlined logistics, and an extended 25-year warranty (per program). “It is the

combination of these factors that will ensure the success of the project and make the data centre 400G ready,” he says. Mr. Nayak also emphasizes that, while promoting this solution, Birla-Furukawa offers all solutions manufactured by Furukawa Electric Corporation, Japan. 

STL Launches 5G & WiFi6 Ready, Cloud-Native Software Portfolio to Enable Telco’s Shift to XaaS Models With this next-gen portfolio now in place, CSPs can gain the ability to scale with reduced CapEx and faster time-to-market. It will also accelerate their transition to open and cloud-native platforms and make the digital renaissance simpler and faster. June 30, 2021 STL-Sterlite Technologies has launched an all-new Network Software portfolio — NSW 2.0. This new generation of software solution offers a multi-tenant, cloud-native, microservices-based architecture and hyperscaler certified approach that will enable telcos to leapfrog towards the Everything-as-a-Service (XaaS) economy. This innovation is enabled by STL’s deep telco tribal knowledge both in software development capability and mission-critical deployments. STL’s NSW2.0 portfolio supports multi-vendor plug-and-play components using a standardized TM-Forum compliant API suite. This comprises Digital+, API-first, Cloud-Native and Pro-Edge to help digital service providers monetize 5G, WiFi 6, platformification, along with seamless Business As Usual functions.

5G Technology

NSW 2.0 portfolio. With this portfolio, I am confident that CSPs would be able to leverage our enhanced portfolio that is using state-of-the-art technology and architecture. Accelerating 5G monetization for CSPs requires an evolution of BSS/OSS, and we are already 5G ready!” 

Talking about the latest portfolio, Mr. Saikat Mitra, COO - Network Software, said, “For communication and digital service providers, we have designed everything stack for Anything-as-a-Service (XaaS) economy with our new STL

PGCIL’s Rajasthan Subsidiary Secures Transmission License for 8.1 GW of Solar Projects Power Grid Corporation of India has won the project of INR 1.4 billion per annum to establish a transmission system for the evacuation of solar power in Rajasthan. July 17, 2021

has granted a transmission license to Bikaner-II Bhiwadi Transco, a special purpose vehicle of Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL), to establish a transmission

The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC)

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NEWS system strengthening program. This is designed for the evacuation of power from solar energy zones in Rajasthan (8.1 GW) under Phase II-Part F, on a build, own, operate, and maintain basis. In May 2020, Power Finance Corporation had incorporated five SPVs as wholly-owned subsidiaries of PFC Consulting. The five SPVs included Bhadla Sikar Transmission, SikarII Aligarh Transmission, Khetri-Narela Transmission, Bikaner-II Bhiwadi Transco, and Ananthapuram Kurnool Transmission. Power Finance Corporation Consulting had conducted competitive bidding in which PGCIL emerged as the successful bidder.

In fact, the first four mentioned were initially started for strengthening transmission systems for the evacuation of power from solar energy zones in Rajasthan (8.1 GW each) under the second phase (Parts E, G, D, and F) of their respective transmission programs. The Ananthapuram Kurnool Transmission Limited was established for developing transmission systems at Ananthapur (2.5 GW), and Kurnool (1 GW), in Andhra Pradesh.

In June 2021, PGCIL had acquired two transmission projects – Fatehgarh Bhadla Transco Limited and Sikar New Transmission Limited – under Phase II, Part-B, and C of the ‘transmission strengthening program’. Each of the projects is started with the objective to evacuate 8.1 GW of power from solar energy zones in Rajasthan.

The bid process coordinator, Power Finance Corporation Consulting, had conducted competitive bidding and PGCIL emerged as the successful bidder with the lowest levelized transmission charges of INR 1.4 billion (USD 18.70 million) per annum.

In March 2020, CERC gave transmission license to Powergrid Bhuj Transmission Limited, a subsidiary of PGCIL, to build transmission systems for 2 GW of renewable energy projects in Gujarat. 

MSEDCL Completes Installation of 4364 Kilometers Underground Cables in Maharashtra The new installation of underground cables and strengthening power infra will benefit around 1.2 crore electricity consumers in urban areas. The project involved carrying out works worth INR 2300 crore. June 7, 2021 The state power utility firm, MSEDCL, has completed installation of 4364km underground cables as part of Integrated Power Development Scheme for expansion and strengthening of energy distribution networks in 254 cities/towns across Maharashtra. “Compared to other states, more work of underground cabling has been done in Maharashtra which is the main highlight of the scheme,” said MSEDCL Chairman & Managing Director Mr. Vijay Singhal. Underground cables are better than overground wires which get damaged in case of gusty winds, downpour or cyclone. Recently, there was large-scale devastation in parts of MMR, Palghar, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg due to Cyclone Tauktae and the primary reason was the damage to the overground cabling network/poles.  Underground cables

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NIP Envisages Investment in Indian Railways Worth INR 11.43 Lakh Crore Till 2024-25 The envisaged investment of INR 11.43 lakh crore till 2024-25 is expected to generate huge opportunities for the wire and cable industry. June 9, 2021 Infrastructure Development forms the bedrock of the economic growth of a nation. The exponential increase in population puts pressure on the existing provision for civic amenities necessitating scaling up of infrastructural investment to the tune of INR 50 trillion to achieve sustainable development by 2022, as per a recent report. The Government of India has laid an ambitious target to allocate USD 1.4 trillion between 2019 and 2023, including investment to the tune of USD 750 billion on the railway infrastructure by 2030. Other initiatives to incentivize infrastructure development include the INR 102 trillionworth National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) encompassing sectors such as roads, railways, ports, airports, urban, power, telecom, etc.

Indian Railways

Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA) is spearheading the redevelopment of 60 railway stations across India on a PPP Model. The Indian Railways is just an example of realizing the benefits of PPP to accelerate infrastructural development. Fostering innovation and incorporating learning from across the world will be the key to unlocking its plethora of benefits and realizing the dream of the 5 trillion dollar economy by 2024. 

Indian Railways is an integral component of infrastructural development in the country. India boasts among the largest rail systems under single management in the world. Taking cognizance of its significance in overall infrastructural development, the NIP envisages the investment in Indian Railways worth INR 11.43 lakh crore till 2024-25.

Jindal to Invest INR 7500 Crore to Set Up 2.25 Million Tonnes Capacity Steel Plant in Nellore Jindal Steel Andhra Limited has proposed to set up the plant for manufacturing of TMT bars and wire rods. July 16, 2021 Jindal Steel Andhra Limited, part of OP Jindal Group, has been allotted 860 acres of land in Thamminapatnam of SPSR Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh to set up an INR 7500 crore integrated steel plant with an annual production capacity of 2.25 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). The Industries and Commerce Department in a government order allotted the land to Jindal Steel & Power Ltd., Gurgaon. The Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC) was directed to cancel the land allotment made in favour of Kinneta Power Private Limited and allot the land for the proposed steel plant. The land was cancelled as Kinneta Power could not implement coal-based thermal power project at the APIIC allocated land.

Image Source: Jindal Steel & Power

to 2,500 directly and 15,000 people indirectly over a period of four years. The Group has dominant presence in steel, power, mining and infrastructure sectors with a total steel production of 11.6 MTPA and having expertise in running Integrated Steel plants in Odisha, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. 

Jindal Steel proposes to set up the plant for manufacturing of TMT bars and wire rods. It expects to provide employment

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New Factory in Poland to Expand Habia Cable Production The decision follows a period of growth for Habia’s harnessing factory in Poland in recent years. July 13, 2021 With building permits in place, Habia Cable has announced the pending construction of a new production facility in Poland, in a move that will see the current 2,900 sqm production area expand to almost 5,000 sqm, and open up possibilities for further expansion in the future. With the factory’s production scaling up and space in the current (rented) building limited, parent company Beijer Alma decided to purchase the land in Poland for the construction of Habia’s first self-built factory in the country. Habia Cable

The new factory will be in Doluje, close to the existing location outside of Szczecin in southwest Poland. Construction of the facility, which will include a production and warehouse hall, office and an administrative building, has been contracted to PTB Nickel Consortium as general contractor and KREFT Engineering as project supervisor.

sustainability in mind, with solar panels to harness renewable energy, as well as direct free-cooling to be utilized in the production hall ventilation to maintain optimal production conditions. Preparation works are already underway, with the work expected to be completed in summer 2022. 

The facility has been designed with efficiency and

AEI Cables Secures Multi-Million-Dollar Sky City Contract at Hong Kong Airport AEI Cables will work in partnership with its long term Hong Kong distributor Fordex Electric Company Limited for the project located at Chek Lap Kok No.3. May 26, 2021 AEI Cables has been awarded a multi-million-dollar contract to supply low voltage power and fire performance cables to the prestigious Sky City project at Hong Kong International Airport. The supply of the cables for power, control and fire performance for the commercial and retail sector of the site starts in September and will continue until early next year. Stuart Dover of AEI Cables, said, “The need for cables which offer the highest levels of fire performance for an international airport of this kind cannot be underestimated with large numbers of people moving about. We are proud to be chosen to supply the cables for such an iconic worldclass project.” A major integrated commercial development, Sky City forms a core part of the strategy to expand and transform HKIA into a major aviation hub.

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Sky City Project

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NEWS The complex will feature retail units, entertainment facilities, dining space, hotels and office towers across approximately 25 hectares of land at the north of the airport island.

buildings, shopping malls, airports and protected buildings ensuring that fire alarms, sprinkler systems, building monitoring and security systems can continue to operate in a fire.

Using the very latest in technology and science, AEI Cables’ Firetec Total Fire Solutions range offers enhanced fire performance cabling, accessories and technical support from its distribution facility at Washington, Tyne and Wear.

All AEI Cables’ products are supplied with approvals from independent bodies including BASEC and LPCB covering design, manufacture and supply. It also holds approvals from organizations including Lloyds, the MoD, Network Rail and LUL and works to international standards around the world. 

Applications for Firetec include residential and commercial

Corning Introduces Revolutionary Corning SMF-28® Contour Optical Fibre Corning SMF-28® Contour optical fibre offers a first-of-its-kind combination of bend resilience, compatibility and industry-leading low loss. June 14, 2021 Corning Incorporated has introduced its latest innovation, Corning SMF-28® Contour optical fibre, to help telecommunications operators address the everexpanding number of connected devices, build out of 5G networks, and advances in cloud computing. Networks perform at their best when errors are minimized during fibre installation and when existing infrastructure is used efficiently during upgrades. Corning engineered SMF28 Contour fibre to meet those needs. This groundbreaking product will allow customers to seamlessly upgrade their optical infrastructure, enabling the cost-effective deployment of future-ready networks. The fibre offers: •

•

Corning SMF-28® Contour Optical Fibre

Superior bendability designed to reduce the impact of errors during installation and optimize reach in densely cabled environments where 5G networks are being deployed.SMF-28 Contour fibre is an ITU-T G.657. A2 fibre that has 10 times the macrobend resilience of G.652.D fibres and seven times the macrobend resilience of G.657.A1 fibres. The associated increase in microbend resilience enables dense, high-fibrecount cables needed to meet the demands of future high-capacity networks.

•

Exceptional compatibility with legacy networks while providing superior bend protection, which can mean up to 50 percent faster installation by minimizing corrective splice loss work. Other G.657.A2 fibres also provide bend protection but with a compromised, lower mode field diameter. SMF-28 Contour fibre does not compromise, providing both G.657.A2 bend protection and a matched 9.2-micron mode field diameter in the same product.

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Wide spectrum and industry-leading low-loss transmission across all the wavelengths constitute the communication systems of today and tomorrow. First, SMF-28 Contour fibre’s industry-leading low attenuation delivers 10 percent longer reach in all networks and up to 20 percent wider access-network coverage. Second, SMF-28 Contour fibre’s bend loss protection enables up to twice the network reach in new long-wavelength fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) systems. Together, these features enable larger FTTH subscriber areas and greater revenue potential.

SMF-28 Contour fibre is available in a standard 242-micron configuration and a smaller 190-micron configuration. Smaller-diameter designs are increasingly important because while bandwidth demands have grown, the space available for network infrastructure has not. The 190-micron version of SMF-28 Contour fibre enables smaller cables with higher fibre counts – maximizing the use of existing infrastructure. 

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WOYWOD Equips PLASTICOLOR 1500 Dosing Unit with Automatic Cleaning Device WOYWOD’s dosing unit PC 1500 Series has been added with automatic cleaning functions. June 14, 2021 In daily operation a lot of time is often lost for material changes. This time that can be used otherwise. The robust and sophisticated dosing device PLASTICOLOR 1500 from WOYWOD now comes with a very useful and valuable additional function: the automatic cleaning device. The automatic cleaning device represents the highest level of automation in the area of dosing technology. On command, the dosing unit is emptied via pneumatic slides and the use of compressed air. Then all components of the dosing unit are cleaned using a sophisticated control algorithm. After that, the dosing unit only has to be refilled. Advantages include:

WOYWOD Automatic Cleaning

Fastest Possible Material Change •

With PDC Controller

Fully automatic discharging and cleaning of the dosing unit saves valuable time that would be required for a complex material change

•

Service Optimized •

By using quick couplings for compressed air you are able to disconnect the same very quickly and safely from your dosing unit. With a double release, you are safe from sudden drops in pressure due to open hose ends

The newest generation (PC 90-04) is optimal configured for single volumetric dosing devices. The controller is available for different motors. Various operation modes can be set based in your requirements

With Compact Venturi Conveyor •

The conveyor is maintenance-free except for the filter and is particularly economic at smaller outputs (output: up to 130 kg/h) 

9GW Renewable Energy Contracts to be Auctioned While 6.68GW is being tendered by SECI, 1.5GW is being tendered by RUMSL at its solar parks at Agar, Shajapur and Neemuch. MSEDCL is offering a 1 GW capacity. June 14, 2021 In one of the largest tranches of Indian clean energy contracts on offer, developers are eyeing projects of at least 9 GW that will be bid out over the next three weeks — as per the media reports. These contracts that require an investment of over USD 4 billion are being offered after a long lull, and are for setting up solar, hybrid and wind energy projects. They are being tendered by state-run Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution

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NEWS Company Ltd (MSEDCL) and Rewa Ultra Mega Solar Ltd. (RUMSL), a joint venture between SECI and Madhya Pradesh UrjaVikas Nigam Ltd.

MSEDCL’s solar contracts for 550MW (megawatts) and 500MW respectively. There is also a 2,500MW contract from SECI for round the clock (RTC) power combining thermal and renewable energy sources. 

As reported, among the first off the block is RUMSL and

China to Release Copper, Aluminum and Zinc Reserves to Stabilize Prices China has announced plans to release industrial metals from its national reserves to curb commodity prices in what some analysts said could be the first such move in a decade by the world’s top consumer of metals. June 16, 2021 China’s National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration has announced on its website that it would release copper, aluminum and zinc in batches to nonferrous processing and manufacturing firms “in the near future” via public auction. As per the leading daily — the notice came as Beijing struggles to cool a surge in metal prices this year fuelled by a post-pandemic economic recovery, ample global liquidity and speculative buying that has dented manufacturers’ margins.

China to release copper, aluminum and zinc in batches

As speculation swirled about such a move before it was confirmed by the government, reports from media suggest that it could be part of “efforts to crack down on commodity price hikes by managing market expectations and deterring speculators, more than resolving any material physical shortages.”

Benchmark London copper hit a record high of USD 10,747.50 a tonne in May, having risen more than 60 percent since March last year when the coronavirus destroyed demand. Shanghai aluminum touched its highest since 2010 in May, while zinc jumped to its highest since 2007.

According to the reprots, the last reported strategic stocks release in China - which did not include copper — was in November 2010. State research house Antaike made parallels between the announcement and the release in 2010.

It is estimated that China’s state reserves currently stand at 2 million tonnes for copper, 800,000 tonnes for aluminum and 350,000 tonnes for zinc, based on past purchase and sales records. 

Openreach and Nokia Test Next Generation of Full Fibre Broadband Technology Leveraging 25G PON technology, developed by Nokia, Full Fibre can deliver download speeds of 25Gbps over a single optical fibre and can deployed on existing underlying infrastructure that Openreach is rolling out across the UK. July 16, 2021

ultra-reliable broadband services that are ten times faster than today’s UK standard deployments.

Openreach and Nokia have conducted the UK’s first ever tests of a new ‘Full Fibre’ technology, which could deliver

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The cutting edge ‘25G PON’ technology, pioneered by

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NEWS Nokia, can deliver download speeds of 25 gigabits per second over a single optical fibre, and it can run on the same underlying infrastructure that Openreach is already building across the UK. This means that, with further field trials to test compatibility with existing technologies*, the companies could develop an even wider range of services and speeds for the UK’s Communications Providers to offer consumers and businesses in the future – allowing them to upgrade customers quickly, smoothly and without any disruption. Having already tested the 25G PON technology at Openreach’s Adastral Park lab in Ipswich, UK, the two companies plan to launch a field trial by the end of 2021. The trial will put the technology through its paces using a range of bandwidth-hungry applications.

Openreach to launch field trial in December 2021

be deployed in areas of dense traffic.

Nokia expects 25G speeds to be used by operators to extend their Full Fibre networks beyond residential use into enterprises. The technology can even be used by operators for 5G backhaul which becomes important as 5G networks become pervasive and require small cells to

Openreach is building ultrafast, ultra-reliable Full Fibre broadband to 43K premises every week and continues to accelerate to reach 25 million premises all over the UK by end of December 2026. 

TROESTER to Exhibit at Interwire 2021 At Interwire 2021, TROESTER will present a variety of information and new developments. July 23, 2021 TROESTER GmbH & Co. KG is a worldwide leading manufacturer of complete extrusion systems for the cable industry. The excellent results produced by its extrusion technology makes TROESTER a competent and reliable partner in the cable industry. Introduced in 1981, Interwire is the largest and longestrunning wire and cable marketplace in the United State. Hosted biennially, Interwire is an international trade event that includes exhibiting companies, speakers, and visitors from around the globes. Interwire 2021 will held from October 26 to 27 in Atlanta/Georgia, USA. At Interwire 2021, TROESTER will present a variety of information and new developments in the field of: •

X-Compound Continuous Kneader

Medium, high and extra-high voltage CCV and VCV lines for XLPE land and submarine cables

•

Rubber CV and CCV-lines up to 35 kV

•

Silane lines for LV and MV cable applications

•

High-speed insulation and sheathing lines, including NM, building wire, automotive and flexible cord applications

There will be a leading Variable Cable Seal TRENDSEAL for CV lines, advances of Industry 4.0, Triple Crosshead TQU and a functional Continuous Kneader exhibited at the booth no. 1451. X-Compound, member of the TROESTER Group, specializes in complete systems for the compounding of plastics with the process steps conveying, melting, dispersing, mixing and degassing. X-Compound will present Kneader technology for the continuous compounding of HFFR (LSOH), PVC, XLPE, semi-conductive materials and EPR/EPDM. 

In addition, TROESTER will participate on the WAI Industry 4.0 Pavilion and introduce its recent developments in Industry 4.0, and augmented reality maintenance tools.

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Maillefer to Roll out Exciting New Technology at Interwire 2021 Counting 30-strong, the Maillefer team will meet the wire and cable professionals at Interwire 2021 in Atlanta on stand 1241 from October 26 to 27, 2021. July 26, 2021 The wire & cable sector would benefit from the combined presence of Maillefer, Davis-Standard and exclusive partners at this key North American venue dedicated to the industry. There is much to catch-up on, from innovative components to the most recent developments in smart manufacturing, which mixes both the virtual and the physical world. On the component side, there is an MXC 120 mm extruder for Low-voltage applications, an ECH 12/20 crosshead, Round and Topography Scanner technologies for Catenary and Vertical Continuous Vulcanization, and the new compact fibre pay-off PM 265 to mention a few exhibits visible on the stand.

Image Source: Maillefer

they get out of hand. Since the last edition of Interwire, much has transpired in our business. The manufacturing environment has changed. New tools are available. The expectations for modern infrastructure, environmentally friendly solutions, and manufacturing efficiency are driving us towards uncharted territories that hold much promise. Join us this fall at Interwire 2021 on stand 1241. We look forward to welcoming you, in-person, at this key wire & cable event. 

Meanwhile, Smart Monitoring, Smart Buffering, Industry 4.0 bring forth a working mix of hardware, virtual reality and artificial intelligence into a progressive manufacturing environment. We will be providing a VR experience into a fibre cable factory with a secondary coating line that features Smart technology. Its AI augmented package is designed to identify and predict process anomalies before

STL Acquires Clearcomm, a UK-based Network Integration Company Globalizing STL’s Network Integration Business, with local strength in UK and Europe July 22, 2021 Sterlite Technologies Limited (STL) has announced the acquisition of Clearcomm Group Ltd, a UK based network Integration Company. As network creators across the world deploy large scale networks for 5G, FTTx and Rural use cases, STL has been enhancing its end-to-end network and system integration solutions across the globe. As a part of this global strategy, STL is acquiring UK-based Clearcomm Group, to enhance the presence of its Network Integration solutions across UK and Europe. Dr. Anand Agarwal, Group CEO, STL

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NEWS The balance 20 percent shareholding will be acquired in 2023.

Clearcomm is a privately held company that provides end-to-end network integration solutions and capabilities in the UK. Clearcomm has long standing relationships with marquee customers in the UK, with over a decade of experience. It has been generating profitable growth with revenues in the range of GBP 20 million and growth rates of over 25 percent over the past 3 years. Clearcomm has achieved this by developing an excellent delivery model for large scale FTTx network integration projects. These specializations complement STL’s existing leadership in Optical Connectivity and Data centre integration solutions, to create a differentiated value proposition for building national-scale, cloud enabled, next-generation digital networks.

Commenting on this development Stuart Evans and Richard Breffitt, Managing Directors, Clearcomm Group remarked, “STL has a global vision for enabling digital transformation, and has set off on an exciting growth journey. We, at Clearcomm, are looking forward to adding value with our network integration specialisation and being an integral part of this growth story.” Welcoming Clearcomm on board, Dr. Anand Agarwal, Group CEO, STL said “As digital infrastructure investments are increasing across the globe, STL is globalising its System Integration solutions to help build these advanced networks. With the addition of Clearcomm’s network integration expertise to STL’s Optical Connectivity and Data Centre integration capabilities, we are uniquely positioned to help our customers deliver the most advanced, deepfibreised digital networks.” 

The transaction is structured to acquire 100 percent of the share capital in 2 tranches. Tranche 1 entails acquisition of 80 percent of the share capital which will happen immediately (subject to customary preclosing conditions), and is based on an Enterprise Value of GBP 15.5 million.

Japan Breaks World’s Internet Speed by Transferring Data at 319 Tbps over 3001 Kilometres The feat was made possible using optical fibres that carry data using light as opposed to normal copper cables. July 18, 2021 Researchers in Japan have demonstrated an internet speed of 319 terabits per second, setting a world record. A team of researchers at Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) used advanced fibre optic technology with a 4-core optical fibre of standard outer diameter of 0.125 mm to perform the speed test, breaking the previous record of 178 Tb/s set by engineers in Japan and Britain a year ago. To achieve the record speed, the researchers constructed a recirculating transmission loop experimental set-up by combining two kinds of rare-earth-doped fibre amplifiers. The combination of erbium and thulium doped-fibre amplifiers and distributed Raman amplification enabled a long-distance transmission over 3,001 km. “The 4-core MCF with standard cladding diameter is attractive for early adoption of SDM fibres in highthroughput, long-distance links, since it is compatible with conventional cable infrastructure and expected to have mechanical reliability comparable to single-mode fibres,” the Japanese research institute said in a paper published earlier this month.

The optics and electronics used to establish a new data transmission speed record. (Image source: NICT)

NICT stressed that it was crucial to demonstrate how new fibres can meet the demand of apparent “explosive increase” from new data services. The research institute further noted that the result from the latest internet speed test will help the realisation of new communication systems that can support the new “bandwidth hungry services,” adding that they will continue to explore ways to further increase the transmission capacity of “low-core-count multi-core fibres and other novel SDM fibres.” 

The research paper was published at the International Conference on Optical Fibre Communication which was held virtually from June 6-11.

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Nexans Strengthens Its Worldwide Production Capacity The new facility has 3,000 sq m of production and storage space and will manufacture a wide range of wind cable products and solutions. July 8, 2021 Nexans strengthens its global wind network and increases its production capacities to meet the growing demand for clean energy and electricity in the world. Nine months after the company opened a similar facility in Poland, Nexans extends its presence in China and unveils a new cable harness production facility in the city of Tianjin. The opening has been marked by an official ceremony on June 30. The facility will increase Nexans’ production capacity in the country and help bolster China’s clean energy supply chain during a time of unprecedented market growth. The facility has 3,000 sq m of production and storage space and will manufacture a wide range of wind cable products and solutions. Each product will go through six stages of control from raw material to finished goods, ensuring all products are made to the highest standard. Solutions produced at the facility will include M12 sensor cables, valve connectors, and customized solutions specific to OEM needs.

Image source: Nexans

“It’s an exciting time for wind power in China. The country’s wind sector is currently the same size as the rest of the world combined – and it continues to grow as the country commits to reducing its CO2 emissions. Furthermore, the falling cost of wind power, efficiency increases, and attractive policies are expected to boost growth even further. One of Nexans’ top priorities is to electrify the future by connecting the world’s renewable energy sources to ensure electricity supplies are secure, reliable, and efficient. Our new facility means Nexans is perfectly positioned to help local original equipment manufacturers drive China’s wind power revolution as more wind turbines are built in the country,” said Julien Hueber, Executive Vice President Industry Solutions & Projects. 

The three facilities in China, Denmark, and Poland are part of Nexans’ extensive offering in the Industry and Solutions business, supporting a wide range of clients with customized cabling and connectivity solutions. Nexans now has a total production capacity of one million harnesses every year. It also has over 15,000 sq m of global production and storage facilities and a wind power team of over 150.

LAPP Introduces Two New Ölflex® Products with High Fire Protection The new ÖLFLEX® products offer high electrical safety and the new single core cable can be used universally for wiring control circuits, and is suitable for fixed installation and occasional movement without tensile strain. The ÖLFLEX® CLASSIC 128 H BK SC is a halogen-free single core cable, made especially for building cabling. The power current sheathed cable has a CPR Cca classification according to EU Directive 305/2011 (BauPVO/CPR). Compared to typical installation cables such as N2XH, its flexible design makes it easy to handle and install. Halogen-free and highly flame-retardant materials reduce the risk of flame propagation, high smoke density and toxic flue gases in the event of a fire.

July 29, 2021 In order to protect people and particularly sensitive systems, cabling is subject to stringent fire protection requirements. LAPP offers a comprehensive portfolio of cables and wires with a halogen-free plastic composition. The portfolio is now being extended by two new ÖLFLEX® products, which offer customers a host of new advantages thanks to their high-quality choice of materials.

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NEWS In addition, the ÖLFLEX® CLASSIC 128 H BK SC offers high electrical safety thanks to its 4,000V test voltage. With its smart yet high-quality material selection, the single-core is particularly cost-effective. The areas of application in building cabling are very diverse. The new single core can be used universally for wiring control circuits inside machinery and across plants, is suitable for fixed installation and occasional movement without tensile strain and can be used in both dry and damp interiors. LAPP now also has the ÖLFLEX® CLASSIC 115 CH in its portfolio for building cabling to meet special fire protection requirements – a true all-rounder! It has halogen-free core insulation and sheath compound and combines many properties that are crucial when using a halogenfree cable. The materials used are characterized by high electrical safety, high flame retardance, (cold) flexibility, and increased oil resistance. Another special feature is that the cable comes without an inner sheath and is thus particularly compact.

Image Source: LAPP

also provides high electrical safety thanks to 4,000 V test voltage. The UL certification also allows the product to be used in North America. The application ranges for the new ÖLFLEX® CLASSIC 115 CH are very diverse. It can be used universally for wiring control circuits inside machinery and across systems, for example in baggage systems at airports. The product is suitable for fixed installation and occasional movement without tensile strain and is ideally suited for dry, damp and particularly oily environments. Thanks to the HFFR outer sheath made of special compounds, the cable is largely resistant to acids and alkalis and can even be temporarily used outdoors. Flexible use is possible at temperatures down to 30 ºC. 

This cable also has particularly high fire behaviour in accordance with the EU Directive 305/2011 (BauPVO/ CPR). The new cable also has higher oil resistance in accordance with DIN EN 50363-4-1 (TM5) as well as UL OIL RES I and OIL RES II and, thanks to a copper braiding screening with a high degree of coverage, it guarantees ideal protection against electromagnetic interference. It

Sterlite Technologies Launches NetXs, New-Age Structured Cabling Solutions STL has over 15 years of experience in delivering state-of-the-art structured cabling solutions. Now, with the launch of NetXs, a speciality cable solution, STL is set to deliver high speed and high volume data transmission and superior performance in the most challenging environments. July 28, 2021 Sterlite Technologies, an industry-leading integrator of digital networks, has launched NetXs, a new-age suite of structured cabling solutions. With NetXs, STL continues to deliver superior performance in data transmission for advanced networks across the globe. While moving away from legacy network architecture, data centres and enterprises are looking for structured cabling solutions that can bring them greater bandwidth, scale, connectivity and security. With the ever-growing demand for applications, it has become very critical to select the right cable design for meeting current and future requirements. These new-age cabling solutions must be designed for high data transmission (supporting ~10X data growth), high agility and flexibility to enable service

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Image Source: STL

providers and enterprises to adopt digital and move to the cloud seamlessly. This comprehensive range of data cables includes

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NEWS customized cable designs in UTP (Unshielded Twisted Pair), STP (Shielded Twisted Pair), indoor and outdoor categories.

•

Commenting on the launch of NetXs, Venkatesh Murthy, Chief Operating Officer, Communication Cabling Solutions, STL, said, ‘’NetXs has a simplified architecture that results in reduced network complexity and increased overall deployment rate, resulting in seamless user experience. Its unique solution design offers robust and scalable cabling infrastructure for service providers, data centres and enterprises. This suite of cables will enable high-speed networks to support emerging use cases like automation, smart homes, IP-based video surveillance, intelligent transportation and more.’’ 

NetXs offers high reliability and comes with superior noise immunity that offers high headroom at both low and high frequencies. Other features include: •

Superior performance with reduced Alien CrossTalk (AXT), up to 100m horizontal link test compliance

•

Adherence with global standards like ANSI/TIA 568.2D, IEC 61156-5, ISO/IEC 11801

•

Thermal stability upto 90W for PoE/ PoE+ applications

•

Small cable diameter

High scalability and flexibility for future network deployments

Power Grid Corporation Approves Investments Worth INR 2202 Crore for Power Transmission Projects The Board of Directors and Committee of Directors on Investment on Projects, in their respective meetings held on May 21, have accorded approvals to the investments. May 22, 2021 Power Grid Corporation of India Ltd (PGCIL) has approved investments worth INR 2202 crore for various power transmission projects. The Board of Directors approved investment approval for “Transmission System Strengthening Scheme for evacuation of Power from Solar Energy Zones in Rajasthan (8.1 GW) under Phase-II – Part-B1” at an estimated cost of INR 1,184.88 crore. The project will be commissioned phased-wise from December 2021 to September 2022. The board has also approved investment for “North Eastern Region Strengthening Scheme-XII (NERSS-XII)” at an estimated cost of INR 576.42 crore. The project will be commissioned progressively by March 2023. The Committee of Directors on Investment on Projects approved capital expenditure for procurement of telecom equipment for building an exclusive dedicated telecom network for National Transmission Asset Management Centre (NTAMC) with an estimated cost of INR 117.29 crore. Transmission Power Line

The panel also approved investment for “Transmission System for Power Evacuation from Arun-3 (900 MW) HEP, Nepal of M/s. SAPDC-Indian Portion”, at an estimated cost of INR 179.29 crore. It is scheduled to be commissioned progressively by April 2023.

Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh and expenditure towards procurement of T&Ps and Spares for 220 kV Srinagar-Leh Transmission System” at an estimated cost of INR 144.42 crore. The project has a completion schedule of 18 months progressively from the date of investment approval. 

Besides, the committee approved “Equity Investment to pay off the State contribution of 5 percent project cost to UTs of

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Ladakh Gets Centre’s Nod for Transmission Lines at Revised Cost of INR 1310 Crore The project on completion would also provide the army and the far-flung villages with clean power round the clock. May 29, 2021 The central government has approved intra-state transmission works at a revised cost of INR 1309.71 crore to link far-flung villages of Ladakh to the grid and phase out DG sets towards achieving carbon neutrality in the Union Territory. Congratulating the people of Ladakh on the approval of the project, Lt. Governor RK Mathur said the intra-state transmission works have been sanctioned by the Union Ministry of Power and include 220 KV S/C transmission lines of D/C tower (total 307 km), including Kargil-Padum (Zanskar) (207 km) and Phyang to Diskit (Nubra) (100 km) and two 220/33 KV Grid substation - one each at Diskit, Nubra (50 MVA) and Padum, Zanskar (50 MVA) with an outlay of INR 1309.71 crore. The REC Transmission Projects Company Limited (RECTPCL) is the project implementing agency for executing the transmission works in Ladakh, while Power Grid Corporation India Limited (PGCIL) is the project management agency. 

Transmission line

Joe Biden Calls for USD 100 Billion to Expand US Broadband Access The White House stated that President Biden’s plan would build “future proof” broadband infrastructure in unserved areas and focus support on networks owned, operated by, or affiliated with local governments, non-profits, and cooperatives” and noted they have “less pressure to turn profits. May 31, 2021 President Joe Biden called on Congress to spend USD 100 billion over eight years to expand high-speed broadband access to the entire United States and said his plan aims to lower prices and steers funding away from companies providing internet. ‘’Americans pay too much for internet service. We’re going to drive down the price for families who have service now,’’ Biden said in a speech in Pittsburgh after the release of his USD 2 trillion-plus proposal for federal government investment.

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United States of America President, Joe Biden

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NEWS private networks, including the unfounded assertion that the government should be managing prices.”

As reported in a leading daily, the White House said Biden’s plan would build “future proof” broadband infrastructure in unserved areas and focus support on networks “owned, operated by, or affiliated with local governments, nonprofits, and co-operatives” and noted they have “less pressure to turn profits.”

The Federal Communications Commission said in January that the number of people without access to internet of speeds at least 25/3 Mbps had fallen to around 14.5 million at the end of 2019.

Michael Powell, who heads the industry trade group NCTA – The Internet & Television Association, said the White House “risks taking a serious wrong turn in discarding decades of successful policy by suggesting that the government is better suited than private-sector technologists to build and operate the internet.”

A group of U.S. senators earlier this month said in a letter to the White House that the current high-speed standard of 25 megabits per second and upload speeds of up to 3 megabits is insufficient, urging support for a goal of 100 megabits per second.

Powell said that while government does have a role in getting networks to under-served areas and to help low-income families afford them, it was wrong “either to prioritize government-owned networks or micromanage

Advocacy group Public Knowledge praised the Biden plan for recognizing “high-speed, affordable broadband is an essential service that people need to thrive in modern society.” 

Prysmian Group Awarded USD 900 Million SOO Green HVDC Link Project The new partnership will be a key milestone in building US Clean Energy Grid, and bring in new HVDC transmission cable manufacturing capacity and jobs to the United States. June 21, 2021 SOO Green HVDC Link has announced the selection of Prysmian Group – the worldwide leader in the energy and telecom cable system industry – as its preferred supplier of high-voltage direct current cable systems for this first-of-its-kind transmission project to be installed underground along existing railroad rights of way. The 2,100-megawatt interregional project, considered the first link in a national clean energy grid, will connect two of the largest energy markets in the US. By linking the Midwest Independent System Operator (MISO) serving the central US, to the eastern PJM Interconnection, SOO Green will deliver abundant, low-cost renewable energy to population centers from Chicago to the mid-Atlantic region. With a value of approximately USD 900 million, Prysmian Group will provide state-of-the-art ±525 kV class HVDC cable to reliably and efficiently transmit enough renewable energy to power more than 1.2 million homes. Award is subject to the finalization of contract. The construction part of the project, currently under finalization, will be performed by Jingoli Power and will be added to the overall contract value. Prysmian will be responsible for the full turnkey contract. The 350-mile-long project will require 700 miles of paired ±525 kV cross-linked polyethylene class cables installed underground primarily along existing railroad rights-of-way connecting SOO Green’s converter station in northern Iowa to its Illinois converter station just west of Chicago. Cable production for the project is expected to start in 2023.

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SOO Green HVDC Link Project

Cables will be manufactured in Prysmian’s Abbeville, South Carolina facility, which will be upgraded to supply the high voltage cable needed to help achieve President Biden’s goal of a zero-carbon power grid by 2035. 

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