Gauder Group, Inc., has changed its official name to Setic-Pourtier of America, Inc.

A press release said that the new name was chosen to reinforce brand recognition for Setic-Pourtier and create consistency across all Setic-Pourtier subdivisions. The rebranding will create cross selling and support opportunities, operational efficiency as well as generating growth and expansion.

Setic designs and manufactures high-speed rotating machines to produce special & LAN cables as well as double-twist bunchers/stranders for the power cable and automotive industry. Pourtier develops heavy-duty rotating machines to produce power cables, specializing in high voltage and extra-high voltage cable.

Southwire Company, LLC, announced that it has made a strategic investment in Ndustrial.Io, Inc., an AI-powered energy intensity platform for industry.

A press release said that Ndustrial is the largest deployment of energy management and digitization solutions in food logistics and cold chain, processing 100 million data points daily. In the last 12 months, the company has deployed its technology in 122 facilities across 17 countries. As the first and only platform to integrate with over 60 different industrial data systems, Ndustrial empowers customers to access critical analytics and proactive suggestions to reduce energy consumption and emissions.

“Our investment in Ndustrial reflects our commitment to advancing solutions that drive both operational efficiency and sustainability,” said Se Oh, Southwire’s vice president, Operational Sustainability. “Their energy management platform empowers industrial facilities to optimize production processes, significantly reducing energy consumption and carbon emissions. We are excited to support Ndustrial as they unlock new opportunities for businesses to enhance performance while contributing to a more sustainable future.”

Using a combination of AI, machine learning, automated devices and IoT technology, Ndustrial is helping more than 400 facilities across more than 10% of the food supply chain do everything from shift production timeframes to minimize costs to optimizing distribution center energy use. The company installed 304 meters, 388 sensors, 47 gateways and 11 edge devices for customers in the past 12 months, empowering companies to make data-driven decisions that optimize energy efficiency and reduce costs.

As a part of its investment, Southwire plans to deploy Ndustrial’s technology at several of its own manufacturing facilities to support its Growing Green initiative to optimize production and reduce carbon emissions. Southwire will also serve as a wire and cable solutions supplier to Ndustrial’s electric transport refrigeration units (eTRU) power infrastructure customers.

MetOx International Inc., a manufacturer of high-temperature superconducting (HTS) wire, announced that it will build a major production facility in Chatham County, North Carolina.

In a Dec. 20 report in the Chatham Journal, the company discussed its plans for the nearly $194 million project that is expected to create more than 330 jobs. The company’s project in the Research Triangle region of North Carolina will build a major manufacturing center to produce the company’s Xeus™ HTS wire.

Per the company’s website, Xeus wire can make transmission cables up to 10 times more efficient than traditional copper cables. It is designed to operate at much higher temperatures and can produce much stronger magnetic fields than low temperature superconducting wire. MetOx proprietary manufacturing process is the most advanced in the world for large scale HTS wire production.

“Establishing our new large-scale manufacturing facility in Chatham County is a pivotal step toward securing a reliable, domestic supply of HTS wire for the development of critical infrastructure in the United States,” said Bud Vos, CEO of MetOx.

Last October, MetOx reported that it had been selected to negotiate $80 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to establish an advanced manufacturing facility in the southeastern U.S. “The groundbreaking initiative—Project Arch—will be the first large-scale HTS wire production facility of its kind in the country.”

Emtelle USA, which just named a new president for its USA division, is poised to provide fiber optic infrastructure that meets the stringent Build America, Buy America compliance standards.

At its website, the company, a division of Scotland’s Emtelle Group, notes that its pre-connectorized blown fiber cable and ducted network solutions are produced at its 300,000-sq-ft manufacturing facility in Fletcher, North Carolina. That includes microduct tube bundles and pre-connectorized fiber solutions.

In September 2024, Emtelle USA enhanced its testing capabilities by adding an advanced test track to the Fletcher facility. This addition allows for rigorous testing of microduct and cable solutions under real-world installation conditions.

The Fletcher facility is positioned to capitalize on the estimated multi-billion dollar investments in fiber rollouts across the U.S. in the coming years. Emtelle’s expansion in North America complements its established global manufacturing network, which includes facilities in the U.K., Denmark, Germany and Dubai.

Prysmian announced the names of the two vessels that will join the company’s fleet: the Prysmian Alessandro Volta and the Prysmian Marco Polo.

A press release said that the new additions will expand Prysmian’s fleet to a total of eight operational vessels, further strengthening the company’s leadership in the global submarine cable market. Both vessels will boast outstanding green credentials, including high-voltage shore connection systems for clean energy during loading operations, diesel generators suitable for biodiesel blends, and battery hybrid systems for the deep-water vessel.

The Prysmian Alessandro Volta pays tribute to the esteemed Italian physicist and chemist (1745-1827). The vessel is about 193 meters long and 34 meters wide. It will feature advanced cable installation solutions, including three carousels with a total capacity of 19,500 metric tons. It will be operational in 2027. The name choice marks the strong link with Prysmian core business, which is producing and installing power cable to provide electrical connection among countries.

The Prysmian Marco Polo, named after the famed explorer/merchant (1254-1324), is about 167 meters long and 40 meters wide. It will have two carousels, one split into two concentric sections, with a total cable loading capacity of at least 8,000 metric tons. The vessel will be equipped with state-of-the-art DP3 positioning and seakeeping systems. It will be operational in 2025.

Sweden’s Elcowire reports that a groundbreaking 15-year agreement it signed late last year will enable its plant in Helsingborg to be the world’s greenest cable manufacturer.

A press release said that Meva Energy AB will supply 9 MW of renewable biogas to its Helsingborg facility. Meva Energy will design, own and operate an on-site energy plant at the facility. “This deal makes Elcowire the first copper wire producer globally to fully replace fossil gas with fossil-free energy in its production process, setting a new standard for sustainable metallurgy.”

“Elcowire aims to be a strategic and sustainable partner for companies that are key to the ongoing electrification transition in society,” the release said. “The message is clear: we offer a copper product with much lower footprint than others, which will help companies meet their climate targets. Supplying wire-rod based copper solutions, essential for the electrical and infrastructure industries. This is our true focus.”

Elcowire has five business units—rod, rail, high-voltage, specials and wire and cable—at operations in Sweden and Germany. In 2022, it acquired the copper wire, rod and strands business of Germany’s KME. With an annual production of 300,000 metric tons, it is one of the largest European manufacturers of copper wire rod, wires, stranded conductors, profiles and overhead catenary systems made from copper, copper alloys and aluminum. It also makes aluminum conductors, rectangular wire and profiles for electrical purposes.

The company, which employs some 400 people, is based in Helsingborg. It is one of seven businesses that are part of the family-owned Liljedahl Group.

Sequel Wire and Cable reports that it has received an investment from Cuprum Holdings, LLC, and is launching a new company called Sequel Wire and Cable Holdings, LLC (SWCH).

A press release from Sequel Wire, based in Argos, Indiana, said that the transaction will provide enhanced access to financing, which will speed up planned expansions and create additional capacity to broaden the product offerings. Sequel’s current operating structure remains intact and is now renamed Sequel OEM Group, LLC, under SWCH. Rich Carr will serve as president and CEO of the Sequel OEM Group. Mike Frigo and Denise Feece will remain in their current roles.

Jim Coleman is the president and CEO of SWCH, and Gary Yetman is the executive chairman. Each man has more than 35 years of industry experience, including leadership positions at Coleman Cable, which acquired Copperfield, LLC, in 2007 from Carr, who was its president. The new entity, called Sequel Low Voltage Group, LLC, will also be under SWCH.

“For employees and the Argos area, this new partnership is great news,” the release said. It noted that more skilled employees will eventually be needed to meet the expanded manufacturing capacity as new product lines are introduced. The Argos area continues to be a great place for the expansion of facilities and will remain as the Sequel OEM Group headquarters.

NKT has been awarded two turnkey projects in Germany under the existing multi-year framework agreement with TenneT, a Dutch-German transmission system operator.

A press release said that the projects are part of TenneT’s 2GW Program, which is considered a very ambitious infrastructure initiative in the energy transition of Europe. It calls for NKT to provide TennetT with 525 kV XLPE high-voltage direct current (HVDC) on- and offshore power cable systems for the two projects: LanWin7 and a part of the NordOstLink.

The two projects, expected to be completed in 2026-27, have a total value topping €1 billion. That price includes engineering, procurement, construction, and installation (EPCI). A total of five projects have now been awarded to NKT under the framework agreement, which runs until 2028 with possible extension until 2031.

“We are thrilled to once again be selected as a key partner for TenneT’s ambitious 2GW Program,” said NKT CEO Claes Westerlind. “We look forward to applying our advanced power cable technology to these two additional projects in Germany, which will enable the energy transition in Europe by facilitating the efficient transport of wind power from the North Sea to the onshore grid.”

The LanWin7 route project, which includes an on- and offshore 525 kV XLPE HVDC power cable system, is 320 km. It is one of the offshore grid connection systems planned to connect to the multi-terminal hub in the area of Pöschendorf, Schleswig-Holstein. This so-called NordHub will integrate multiple direct current (DC) and AC connections, facilitating the efficient transport of wind power from the North Sea to the onshore grid.

The NordOstLink (partial) project involves laying additional cables to enhance the capacity and flexibility of the grid. The onshore 525 kV HVDC power cable system length is 65 km. The contract calls for work to be activated in 2026-27, with commissioning completed in 2033-34.

South Korea’s Taihan Cable & Solution Co. (Taihan Cable), has received a $68.6 million order for extra high-voltage cable for use in Britain.

Per a Yonhap News Agency report, Taihan Cable was awarded the deal from Balfour Beatty plc, a London-based infrastructure construction contractor, to supply 400 kV high-voltage cables and cable accessories for a cable replacement project in the eastern part of Britain. The amount of cable was not specified, but the report said that it will help the company win additional cable orders in Europe where countries are expected to increase their investments in the power grid infrastructure to achieve their carbon neutrality targets.

In November 2023, Taihan Cable signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the British firm for partnership in the power transmission and distribution business. The deal is part of their initial agreement. Under the MoU, the two companies agreed to jointly participate in $270 million worth of cable installation and replacement projects scheduled through 2030 in Britain, the release said.

Since the MOU was entered, Taihan Cable has been chosen for other projects with Balfour Beatty. Those include a $75 million 420kV high-voltage power grid project in Sweden in December 2022 and an additional $27 million 400 kV high-voltage power grid project in the U.K.

Taihan, which was established as the first electric wire company in South Korea, is a member of the Hoban Group

The previously reported sale by Nokia of Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) was finalized on Dec. 31, 2024, with the business now officially owned by the French state.

Per multiple reports, the Nokia sale was to the French State, represented by the Agence des participations de l’État. Nokia has a 20% shareholding and board representation during the transition, with plans for the French State to acquire the remaining interest.

A subsidiary of Alcatel and later Alcatel/Lucent before its 2016 acquisition by Nokia in 2015, ASN notes at its website that the business has supplied 750,000 km of optical submarine systems globally