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JDR wins Middle East service contract

JDR, a global subsea cable supplier and service provider that is part of the TFKable Group, has been awarded a service contract that calls for it to test 14 umbilical cables for offshore platforms in the Middle East.

A press release said that the contract was awarded by Larsen & Toubro (L&T), an Indian multinational engaged in EPC projects, high-tech manufacturing and services. The project will be managed from JDR’s U.K. service center in Newcastle, with technicians rotating offshore for multiple mobilizations to test the 14 umbilicals. The specialist team will provide on-site support throughout the process. The project will include two major work scopes across multiple offshore platforms.

JDR will support the safe and efficient operation of the umbilical cables. This includes pre-deployment testing, monitoring during lay operations, and integration testing. Offshore technicians, equipment, and technical support will be provided throughout the project to ensure the umbilicals are properly monitored during installation and integration phases.

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Marmon Aerospace & Defense rebrands; company’s new name is Marmon Defense

Marmon Aerospace & Defense has unveiled a new identity and will now operate as Marmon Defense. The company, known for its specialty wire, cable, and connectivity solutions tailored for aerospace and military customers, says the updated branding underscores its evolving role in the marketplace and aligns more closely with the needs of modern defense and national security sectors.

A company announcement explained that the transition to “Marmon Defense” reflects both the expanding breadth of its products and its commitment to the U.S. Department of Defense and allied clients. Under the new name, it will continue to focus on high-performance, mission-critical applications, drawing on deep experience and resources from its parent Marmon Holdings, part of Berkshire Hathaway.

Recent investments in advanced manufacturing and quality systems are part of the relaunch, aiming to consolidate the company’s position as a leading supplier of defense cable, harnessing, and connectivity solutions. Customers and partners are being notified, with no disruptions expected to current contracts or delivery timelines.

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LS Eco Energy lands $33 million UHV cable order for Vietnam grid project

LS-VINA, a subsidiary of LS Eco Energy, will supply $33 million in ultra-high voltage cables for a grid construction project led by Vietnam Electricity (EVN).

Per a report at Businesskorea.co.kr, the grid project in Hanoi will target both the city center and its suburban districts. The project involves construction of a 220 kV national power transmission network, part of Vietnam’s broader effort to support rapidly rising electricity demand in urban areas. EVN’s long-range plan calls for increasing the installed generation capacity from 69 GW to over 150 GW by 2030 and laying more than 16,000 km of new 220 kV lines nationwide.

LS Eco Energy’s Haiphong facility is described as producing up to 100,000 tons of cable material annually, making it the largest cable plant in Vietnam. The company says that capacity meets a substantial share of national demand—estimated at approximately 200,000 tons per year—with LS-VINA supplying nearly half the market’s volume. The company also holds an 80% market share in the 220 kV segment and remains the only manufacturer in Vietnam capable of producing cables at that voltage level.

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June was an ‘award winning’ green month for Brazilian-based Madem Reels Group

Both Prysmian and Nexans presented a sustainability award in June to the Madem Reels Group in separate ceremonies that honored the Brazilian-based reel maker for its global efforts to improve the environment.

On June 16, 2025, at the Prysmian Group’s Global Suppliers Conference held in Milan, Italy, the world’s largest wire and cable maker, presented the Madem Reels Group with a “Sustainability” award that was accepted by Roger Santasusana, general manager for EuroMadem Spain.

On June 25, 2025, Madem Reels Group was recognized by the Nexans Group—among the world’s top five wire and cable manufacturers—at an event held in Paris, France, where it received the “CSR & Environment E3” award, which was presented to Global Sales Director Leandro Mazzoccato.

Both Prysmian and Nexans cited Madem Reels Group’s comprehensive efforts to improve environmental performance worldwide. Those include adherence to leading green certifications from the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification), compliance with ISO 14000 environmental management standards, and the expansion of wood reel recycling programs.

Of note, Madem Reels recently achieved CO2 Neutral Certification, which it said was a first for a wood reel manufacturer. Madem also complies with ISO 14000 for environmental management systems (EMS) and uses FSC or PEFC-certified renewable pine wood in all its reels.

Mazzoccato said that special thanks go “to our 1,000 employees, working within our manufacturing plants, distribution warehouses, and recycling centers,” as they helped make these results possible. 

The Madem Reels Group also expanded its PEFC green certifications to include its Madem-Moorecraft USA operations in North Carolina and Texas, joining other certified sites in Brazil, Bahrain, and Spain. That ensures a chain of custody that tracks certified forest products from source to final customer.

The company, with manufacturing plants in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, U.S., Spain and Bahrain, supplies more than 200 cable manufacturers in 45 countries.

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Prysmian reports completion of expansion of its plant in Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Prysmian has completed a 51,000-sq-ft expansion of its Williamsport, Pennsylvania, facility, adding 27 permanent jobs as part of a broad supply and manufacturing agreement with Invenergy, a leading independent power producer.

A press release said that the expansion, representing a $22.5 million investment, will directly support Invenergy’s Grain Belt Express transmission line—currently the largest private-sector-led transmission project in the U.S.—using domestically sourced steel and aluminum for advanced power conductors. The Grain Belt Express will span from Kansas to Indiana, delivering renewable energy to millions and reinforcing grid reliability.

With the expansion, Prysmian doubles its U.S. manufacturing capacity for key advanced transmission conductors, including those that utilize its E3X® technology. The company’s Williamsport site is now positioned as a critical hub in both Prysmian’s and Invenergy’s investments in U.S. energy infrastructure, jobs and supply chains. The plant supports over 270 jobs locally and more than 430 across Pennsylvania.

“We are proud to have a part in this transformative project supplying our most innovative technology for overhead power transmission in the market, E3X®,” said Andrea Pirondini, Prysmian North America President and CEO. “Our expanded Williamsport facility enhances our manufacturing capacity and is another step to strengthening the grid and granting energy independence throughout the United States.”

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Last modified on August 4, 2025

Service Wire holds groundbreaking for expansion of its West Virginia site

Service Wire Company recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new facility at its location in Culloden, West Virginia, that will enable the company to significantly increase its manufacturing capacity.

A press release did not go into details about the size of the project, but in it company President Louis Weisberg said the project is a result of the “dedication and Appalachian Grit” of the company’s workforce. “It would not be possible without the dedication of our hard-working people. We are investing in the future and deepening our American roots.”

Service Wire, founded in West Virginia in 1968, manufactures more than 1,800 products for industrial, commercial, utility, renewable energy, pump, irrigation, and transit markets. The Culloden headquarters is one of three nationwide locations, each with manufacturing, distribution and sales operations. The company’s Houston, Texas, facility opened in 1980 and was later upgraded, while the Phoenix, Arizona, facility—acquired in 1999—doubled distribution capacity for the Southwest.

 “Our company is growing rapidly,” said Mark Gatewood, vice president of sales and marketing. “This expansion will enable us to continue supporting our customers with the highest quality copper wire and cable and industry-leading service.”

Upon completion, the expansion is expected to create approximately 60 new jobs for the local workforce, supporting a range of roles within manufacturing and operations.  Per the company’s website, Service Wire’s products, which are manufactured entirely in the United States, have been installed in all 50 states and more than 30 countries. Notable projects include the Freedom Tower in New York, the Bayonne Bridge in New Jersey, Chicago’s Wrigley Field, wind and solar farms, and light rail systems.

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Google and CTC Global announce initiative that will boost U.S. transmission capacity

Google has announced a collaborative effort with CTC Global to help accelerate grid upgrades across the United States by funding deployment of advanced transmission conductors.

A press release said that the joint move seeks to expand power capacity in regions where Google’s growth in data centers is heightening electricity requirements, aiming to improve reliability and support renewable integration. CTC Global’s ACCC conductors have been used in more than 1,350 projects spanning 65 countries to upgrade transmission lines in strategic U.S. markets.

“Expanding transmission capacity presents a significant opportunity for the power system today,” said Amanda Peterson Corio, Google’s global head of data center energy. She noted that by accelerating reconductoring, the project could “dramatically cut the time and cost of adding and moving electricity to reliably power American homes and businesses.”

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LS C&S quadruples HVDC cable capacity through addition of cable production plant

South Korea’s LS Cable & System (LS C&S) announced that it has completed construction of its fifth submarine cable plant in Donghae-si, Gangwon-do, expanding its HVDC (high-voltage direct current) submarine cable production capacity by more than four times.

A press release said that with the expansion, LS Cable & System has the largest HVDC cable production facility in Asia and has greatly enhanced its competitiveness in large-scale global projects. “Combined with the recent decision by affiliate LS Marine Solution to build a dedicated HVDC cable laying vessel, the completion of this facility is expected to be an opportunity for LS Cable & System to fully establish its turnkey performance capabilities, which encompass everything from production to construction.”

The addition of a vertical continuous vulcanization (VCV) line to the fifth submarine cable plant has significantly improved production competitiveness and supply stability for submarine cables. The HVDC cable market is growing, “but due to the high level of technical difficulty and the need for large-scale infrastructure, other than LS Cable & System, there are only a few manufacturers in Europe and Japan that can supply these cables.” For long-distance HVDC construction, a dedicated cable laying vessel of 10,000 tons or more is essential, so only companies with both production and construction capabilities can meet global demand, it said.

Of note, LS C&S’s affiliate, LS Marine Solution, recently announced the construction of a dedicated HVDC cable laying vessel with a displacement of more than 10,000 tons. This vessel will allow the company not only to manufacture long-length cable in-house but also to transport and install it worldwide, a critical advantage in the global HVDC market.

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JDR Cable Systems to test umbilical cables for use in Middle East offshore platforms

JDR Cable Systems (JDR), part of the TFKable Group, has secured a service contract from Indian multinational Larsen & Toubro (L&T) to test umbilical cables for offshore operations in the Middle East.

A press release said that the contract, which starts in the second quarter of this year, covers testing of 14 umbilical cables across multiple platforms under two major scopes of work. The project will involve critical pre-deployment and integration testing, as well as monitoring during lay operations.

JDR will provide offshore equipment, experienced technicians, and technical support, with the work managed from its U.K. service center in Newcastle. Multiple staff rotations offshore are planned to support the testing and installation phases.

“This contract reflects the strength of our service offering and the ability of our team to deliver technically complex work in the Middle East,” said Alan Combe, EMEA service sales manager for JDR. “It’s a region full of opportunity and an important part of our long-term focus.”

JDR Chief Sales Officer Carl Pilmer added that the company sees continued opportunity in the Middle East. “As we consolidate our presence, this project is a good example of how we’re supporting customers with reliable and high-quality service delivery.

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ArcelorMittal to sell Bosnia steel mill that had set a record for wire rod production

ArcelorMittal will divest its Bosnia-Herzegovina operations—including the Zenica steelworks and Prijedor iron ore mine—to the locally based Pavgord Group.

A press release said that the company cited ongoing global steel market volatility and years of investment as key reasons behind the sale. The company has operated in Bosnia for 21 years and has invested significantly in the facilities. A Reuters report said that the Bosnian operations have faced challenges, including losses in 2023 and 2024 due to declining steel demand in Europe. The company closed its coke plant in Zenica in 2024, citing rising production costs and lower demand.

The transaction will see roughly 2,700 employees, across both facilities, retained by Pavgord. The agreement is scheduled to close in the third quarter of 2025.

ArcelorMittal Zenica operates with an annual production capacity close to 1 million tons and employs over 2,000 people. The factory is an integrated facility with steelmaking and finishing operations, supplying billets, wire rods, and wires, among other products

Of note, Zenica was described as the largest producer of long products in the Balkans. It set a wire rod production record in January 2023 when it produced 43,200 tons, topping the prior record in March 2022 of 41,700 tons.

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Last modified on August 4, 2025

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