New plant at the Bushy Park Industrial Complex in Charleston, South Carolina will reinforce Nexans’ current position in the fast growing high voltage cable market as well as extending its presence in North America
Paris, June 14, 2012 – Nexans, a worldwide leading expert in the cable industry, has started the construction of its first high voltage power cable manufacturing plant in North America. Guests at the official ground-breaking ceremony held at the site on 13 June in Berkeley County, located in Charleston, South Carolina included the Honorable Nikki Haley, Governor of South Carolina, Fréderic Michelland, Nexans Senior Corporate Executive Vice President responsible for the global High Voltage and Submarine cables business as well as North and South America, and Steve Hall, Executive Vice President Nexans North and South America areas.
With an initial investment of $85 million, the first phase of the facility will focus on the manufacture of underground power cables up to extra high voltage (EHV) levels of 500 kV. The plant will begin operation in 2014.
“The establishment of our first high voltage cable manufacturing plant in North America is a key strategic development for Nexans. It will enable us to capitalize on the ever growing demand for high quality high voltage cables designed and manufactured to meet the specific needs of the major power transmission infrastructure projects planned in North America and worldwide in the coming years,” said Fréderic Michelland.
“It’s exciting to see another international company choose to locate new operations in South Carolina. We celebrate the company’s $85 million investment and the creation of 200 new jobs. More and more companies around the globe are learning that South Carolina is the place to do business,” said Gov. Nikki Haley.
Steve Hall: “We identified the Charleston region as the ideal location on the East Coast because it provides easy access to a population of 110 million and offers ready access to navigable waters. We were attracted to South Carolina by its pro-business reputation and competitive Enterprise package. Additionally, the Bushy Park Industrial Complex in Berkeley County provides the perfect and large Greenfield site. Finally, we have the added advantage of excellent technical schools, South Carolina’s training program, and a skilled local labor pool.”
This new plant will reinforce Nexans’ current product range in North America, adding to the existing medium voltage, low voltage, overhead transmission, industrial, building wire, electrical wire and LAN portfolios. In 2011, North America represented more than 11 percent of the Group’s total sales with 1,785 people employed in seven production facilities: four in the U.S. and three in Canada.
About Nexans
With energy at the basis of its development, Nexans, worldwide expert in the cable industry, offers an extensive range of cables and cabling solutions. The Group is a global player in the energy transmission and distribution, industry and building markets. Nexans addresses a wide series of market segments: from energy and telecom networks to energy resources (wind turbines, photovoltaic, oil and gas or mining…) to transportation (shipbuilding, aerospace, automotive and automation, railways…). Nexans is a responsible industrial company that regards sustainable development as integral to its global and operational strategy. Continuous innovation in products, solutions and services, employee development and commitment, customer orientation and the introduction of safe industrial processes with limited environmental impact are among the key initiatives that place Nexans at the core of a sustainable future.
With an industrial presence in 40 countries and commercial activities worldwide, Nexans employs 25,000 people and had sales in 2011 of 7 billion euros. Nexans is listed on NYSE Euronext Paris, compartment A. For more information, please consult: www.nexans.com or www.nexans.mobi
