 |
|
|
 |
| News |
Abbeville, SC
Oct 21, 2009
|
Prysmian Debuts First Extra High Voltage Power Cable Plant in North America
|
 |
|
 |
Prysmian Cables & Systems, a worldwide leader in power and telecommunication cable industry,
marks the launch of the first extra high voltage, vertical continuous vulcanization (VCV) power
cable factory in North America. The 16-story, $46 million (32 million Euro) plant in Abbeville,
S.C., reduces the need for North American imports of extruded extra high voltage technology, paper
oil impregnated cable types and overhead power lines – critical goals of both U.S. and Canadian
energy policy.
“The Prysmian investment will address the expected overhaul of the nation’s grid after 30
years of underinvestment in the electrical grid reliability and efficiency, and meets the
challenges represented by the advance of renewable energy and the emergence of smart grid enabling
technologies,” said Martin Hanchard, President and CEO of Prysmian’s North American operations.
“This breakthrough incorporates over 130 years of leading-edge technology and manufacturing
know-how developed and deployed globally by Prysmian. Now, that very same technology and know how
is available in North America,” he said.
The 373-ft. tower incorporating the VCV process extends the existing Prysmian medium and low
voltage cable manufacturing facility in Abbeville by 140,000 sq. ft. The investment also includes a
state of the art 460kv extra high voltage testing capability. The official inauguration of the new
Extra High Voltage facility will take place on Oct. 22.
In North America, Prysmian operates four production plants: two in the U.S. (Abbeville and
Lexington, S.C.) and two in Canada (St. Jean, Quebec, and Prescott, Ontario). Prysmian’s High
Voltage Systems design and Installation business activities are located in South Plainfield, N.J.
Prysmian collectively employs more than 500 South Carolina residents and over 800 associates in
North America. In 2008, North America represented 11.8 percent of the total Prysmian group’s sales,
amounting to over $896 million (603 million euro).
Prysmian’s North American high voltage customers include major public utilities, utility
contractors and private development groups.
As a global player, Prysmian operates 14 plants dedicated to high and extra high voltage
power cables in the US, Canada, France, Finland, Brazil, Argentina, Italy, Spain, Turkey, UK,
Indonesia, Malaysia and China.
For more information on Prysmian Cables and Systems USA, visit www.prysmian.com.
Prysmian
A leading player in the industry of high-technology cables and systems for energy and
telecommunication, the Prysmian Group is a truly global company with sales exceeding Euro 5 billion
in 2008 and a strong position in higher value-added market segments. With its two businesses,
Energy Cables & Systems (submarine and underground cables for power transmission and
distribution, for industrial applications and for the distribution of electricity to residential
and commercial buildings) and Telecom Cables & Systems (optical cables and fibers and copper
cables for video, data and voice transmission), Prysmian boasts a global presence with subsidiaries
in 38 countries, 53 plants in 21 countries, 7 Research & Development Centers in Europe, USA and
South America, and over 12,000 employees. Specializing in the development of products and services
designed to meet customers’ specific requirements, Prysmian's key strengths include: a focus on
Research & Development, the capacity to innovate products and production processes, and the use
of advanced proprietary technologies. Prysmian is listed at the Milan Stock Exchange in the Blue
Chip index.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
| Scott Adams, Prysmian Cables & Systems
|
Melissa Speir, The Adams Group
|
| (803) 951-4800
|
(888) 765-1223 |
| scott.adams@prysmian.com
|
mspeir@adamsgroup.com
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
