Taiwan’s Walsin Lihwa plans to build what will be the first submarine power cable plant in Taiwan.

Per an exclusive report in Nikkei Asia, Walsin Lihwa is teaming up with Denmark’s NKT Group via a joint venture called Walsin Energy Cable System. “We think it’s extremely critical to have a local supply of cables for the offshore wind farms that Taiwan is building for its renewable energy transition,” Walsin Energy COO Justin Wong told Nikkei Asia. “The industry worldwide is seeing a shortage of cable supply as demand picks up so quickly for all the offshore wind farm construction driven by the global green energy push.”

The first plant, in the southern Taiwanese city of Kaohsiung, is scheduled to start test production in the second half of 2025, with full production planned for 2027.

Industry report: the global magnet wire market looks to be quite strong to 2030

An industry report from Market Business Insights, The Global Magnet Wire Market, projects to climb from $32.65 billion in 2022 to $48.65 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.11%.

Per the company, demand for magnet wire has been driven by the expanding automotive sector, particularly the rise of electric vehicles (EVs), which require extensive use of electromagnets and transformers. Other factors include the growing emphasis on renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power. The market faces volatility in raw material prices, particularly copper and aluminum, which are critical for magnet wire production. Technological advancements in insulation materials and the development of high-efficiency magnet wires are anticipated to offer new growth opportunities in the market. The magnet wire market has also seen intense rivalry among key players on innovation and strategic partnerships.

South Korea’s Taihan Cable & Solution (TC&S) announced that on July 24, they held a launching ceremony for the 6,200-ton submarine cable laying vessel “Palos” at the Godeok Pier in the Asan National Industrial Complex, Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, where their submarine cable factory is located.

Per a report in KoreaITtimes.com, the Palos is the only offshore wind power CLV (Cable Laying Vessel) in the country and can load up to 4,400 tons of submarine cable at once. Attendees at the event included representatives from the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy, Korea Electric Power Corporation, Korea Wind Energy Industry Association, as well as various power companies, clients, and partner companies also attended.

Palos is a CLV designed and built specifically for submarine cable laying from the start, offering superior performance compared to CLBs (Cable Laying Barges) that are repurposed cargo barges. Unlike general vessels, Palos has a flat bottom, allowing it to be deployed to various sites regardless of water depth. It is equipped with advanced features such as the Dynamic Positioning System (DP2), which ensures precise vessel positioning. It can travel at a speed of up to 9 knots, enabling it to manage submarine cable laying much more accurately and stably compared to CLBs, which are towed by tugboats and cannot respond as effectively to weather changes and tides.

“Today’s launching ceremony marks South Korea’s rise to one of the few countries globally equipped with a CLV, with only about 30 such vessels existing worldwide,” said CT&S Vice Chairman Song Jong-min. “Palos will ... serve as a critical strategic asset that protects Korea’s offshore wind power market from overseas influences.”

In other news, TC&S said the company has won a new U.S. power grid EHV cable order worth $137 million. The company will supply the cables to an unnamed customer for an underground project in the eastern part of the U.S.

TC&S noted that its net profit for 2023 (71.87 billion won) was triple that of the prior year (21.83 billion won), and that the company’s order backlog is now 1.94 trillion won as of the end of the first quarter.

Cemanco LLC reports that it will be the North American representation of PETIG AG of Germany, global leader in hydraulic cable shears and steel rod cutters.

A press release said that Petig AG entered the hydraulic cutting tool market in 1950, and today the company is exporting their products to more than 40 countries. Its products range from the HKS 9, a cutter that can cut cables with a diameter up to 350 mm and upset testing machine marked another milestone to multiple punch systems and state-of-the-art CNC driven tube and section punching systems. Petig AG is well-known for its deformation-free punching of sections.

Champlain Cable announced that it has entered into a distribution partnership with Cameron Connect to service the North American rail transit market.

A press release said that Cameron Connect is now a partner distributor stocking Champlain Cable’s EXRAD-Rail™ line of wire and cable products for the rail market. “This partnership provides OEMs and sub-suppliers with quick-turn access to Champlain’s rail transit approved wire and cable products for use on rail cars and locomotives,” noted Richard Trahan, vice president of business development at Champlain Cable.

Cameron Connect, founded in 2010, is a master supplier of leading brands of wire, cable and accessories for the renewable, steel and transit markets. Champlain Cable Corporation manufactures irradiation cross-linked wire and cable for harsh environments in the rail, automotive, commercial vehicle, UL/CSA, military shipboard and specialty data communication markets.

Champlain Cable has manufacturing plants in El Paso, Texas, and in Colchester, Vermont, its base.

Essex Furukawa reports that three of its North American facilities in Indiana have successfully completed The Copper Mark Assurance Process and meet its relevant standards.

A press release said the operations include plants in Fort Wayne and Franklin as well as the Metals Processing Center in Columbia City. The assurance process involved a comprehensive evaluation of each plant’s operations, including its social practices and governance with criteria that included environmental standards, community health and safety requirements, equality practices, and employee work conditions.

“I share in the excitement across our North American teams, at each of these locations, for achieving The Copper Mark,” said Essex Furukawa North America President Jared Rowntree. “It is a significant step for our entire organization as well as the industry.”

The Copper Mark is a globally recognized standard for responsible copper production. It demonstrates the company’s commitment to sustainable practices and responsible sourcing of copper. “By meeting the stringent requirements and successfully passing a third-party assessment at three of its facilities, Essex Furukawa reaffirms its dedication to environmental stewardship and social responsibility that was set in place by its Vision 2030 initiative.”

“Having worked closely with these teams for the better part of the last two years to meet The Copper Mark criteria—and now completing the Assurance Process—is very rewarding for everyone involved,” said Austin Robinson, global corporate sustainability manager at Superior Essex, who was singled out for his efforts with the teams.

Essex Furukawa notes that it started the process in June 2022 and was the first magnet wire manufacturer to participate and achieve the Assurance Process.