CableDataSheet, Cable and Wire Technical Consulting Service

Compounding world January 2023 ISSN 2053-7174

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Prysmian Group partners with National Grid to upgrade UK's electricity grid


Framework agreement awarded for 3 years

Milan, Italy   -   02/06/2023 - 10:55 AM

Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, confirms its support to the upgrading process of UK's electricity grid and announces it has been awarded, through its subsidiary in the UK, a Medium Voltage cable framework agreement with National Grid Electricity Distribution for a minimum of 3 years.

To access cleaner, greener energy, more expansive and more intelligent grids and infrastructures are required, able at spanning further distances and facilitating two-way energy traffic to and from where the energy is produced and consumed, so to cope with the increased capacity demands of global electrification. Having grid hardening at the core of Prysmian's R&D strategy, the company has developed solutions that support the growing need for grid stability and innovation, including asset monitoring systems and grid enhancement solutions.

With this agreement Prysmian will support UK's electricity grid in becoming capable of distributing more electricity in the future, as a key enabler for the energy transition. Medium voltage cables will be supplied primarily from the Group's manufacturing plant in Wrexham, North Wales, and will assist National Grid to expand and modernize the network supporting the increase in demand.

"The development of more reliable and smarter grid infrastructures for power transmission and distribution is key for the integration of renewables", states Juan Mogollon, Energy Division Executive Vice President at Prysmian Group. "The ambition of Prysmian is to act as an enabler for accelerating the energy transition by supporting the development of greener and smarter power grids with innovative cable technologies, ensuring higher performances, reliability and sustainability."

"This ambition is translated in our everyday business activities by providing clean energy where it is needed, and in our innovation to help our customers in solving their challenges and supporting the grid hardening process.", added Marcello Del Brenna, CEO Prysmian UK.

Prysmian were considered the strongest supplier for the manufacture and logistics management of medium voltage cables for the new framework agreement with National Grid. The two Companies have built a strategic relationship over many years across all voltage levels for supply into the UK market, including the North Sea Link, the world's longest submarine electricity interconnector, enabling the sharing of renewable energy between the UK and Norway; the Viking Link, the first submarine cable connection between the UK and Denmark; IFA2, the turn-key design, manufacture and installation of a submarine and land power cable link to connect Tourbe in France to Chilling in Hampshire, UK; and Western HVDC Link, a new submarine High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) interconnector between Scotland and England.

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Ibiza-Formentera submarine cable interconnection


Cable laying operations successfully completed

The Group supports the EU and Spain's energy transition
and decarbonisation targets

Milan, Italy   -   01/31/2023 - 11:57 AM

Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, announces the successful completion of the cable laying and burial operations for the submarine power interconnection between Ibiza and Formentera.

The announcement, confirming that those operations had been completed, was released during the visit onboard Prysmian Group's cable-lying vessel Cable Enterprise of the representatives of the Spanish TSO Red Eléctrica in the presence of Teresa Ribera, Third Vice-President of the Government of Spain and Minister for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, and Francina Armengol, President of the Government of the Balearic Islands.

"We are delighted to welcomed the representatives of the Spanish institutions and of Red Eléctrica on board our vessel Cable Enterprise on the occasion of the successful completion of the laying and burial operations. This important milestone further confirms our commitment to supporting the energy transition by making available the best cable technology for the upgrade and development of power grids, ensuring a stable and reliable flow of energy between the islands," said Hakan Ozmen, EVP Projects BU, Prysmian Group.

In 2021, Red Eléctrica had awarded Prysmian Group a project to design, supply, install, and commission two HVAC (High Voltage Alternating Current) 132 kV three-core export submarine power cables with XLPE insulation and single-wire armouring. The system comprises around 27 km of submarine cables and 10 km of land cables, both manufactured at Prysmian's plant in Arco Felice (Naples), one of the Group's centre of technological and manufacturing excellence.

Marine installation operations were performed by Cable Enterprise, one of the Group's state-of-the-art cable-laying vessels that has the capability to undertake simultaneous laying and burial operations with any type of plough and is suitable for operating in mid-shallow water. Burial activities were performed by the Group's technologically advanced Heavy-Duty Plough, able to ensure the protection of the seabed environment.

Prysmian Group has a long-standing track record in the development of submarine interconnections in Spain: Spain-Morocco, Iberian Peninsula-Mallorca, Ibiza-Mallorca and Lanzarote-Fuerteventura.


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Prysmian Group breaks its own record and extends Sirocco HD cable range for fttx and 5g networks


Sirocco HD cables provide the smallest diameters and the highest fibre densities for microduct cables

Milan, Italy   -   01/16/2023 - 12:25 PM

Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, extends its Sirocco HD range of microduct cables to include an 864f cable. Sirocco HD cables provide world record diameters and fibre densities for blown microduct cables. The new cable boasts 864 fibres in a diameter of 11.0mm, providing a fibre density of 9.1 fibres per mm2, and is installable into a 13mm duct.

Sirocco HD microduct cables utilize Prysmian's BendBright-A2 200µm single-mode (ITU-T G.657.D, G.657.A2) bend insensitive fibre, providing a solution that is ready for evolved systems, totally compatible with any already-installed legacy G652 fibre, and truly future-proof. "Bend-insensitive fibre optic cables will be crucial for the building of full fibre networks" said Ian Griffiths, Global R&D VP, Telecom Business at Prysmian Group. "The extreme fibre count and reduced diameter of the Sirocco HD microduct cables make installation faster and more cost effective. The cables are also sustainable as they are designed for installation into microducts, making them easily deployable in future-fit solutions such as high-density access, FTTx and 5G networks."

Available in fibre counts from 96 to 864 and conforming to international standards for optical and mechanical performance, the Sirocco HD cables also benefit from the use of Prysmian's PicoTube technology making them up to 20% smaller than previously available microduct cables. This makes it possible to install more fibres into congested duct space and enables the use of smaller ducts for new installations, resulting in lower installation costs and the use of less raw materials. The reduced diameters and increased fibre densities not only provide cost savings to telecom networks owners and builders but allow them to reduce carbon and environmental footprints to meet sustainability goals and requirements.

With these cables, Prysmian Group continues to prove that it truly is a global manufacturer that leverages on its worldwide knowledge and capabilities to respond to the always growing technological challenges that its customers are facing. Sirocco HD product enhancements show the Group's commitment to respond to the evolving needs of the market and to offer a scalable solution that's high-density, physically compact, and easily deployable for a future-fit solution.

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Prysmian Group and Avalanche Andretti formula e join forces


The cable industry WW leader to sponsor the team in the 2022/2023 ABB FIA Formula e World Championship

Milan, Italy   -   01/11/2023 - 12:51 PM
Valerio Battista (Ceo Prysmian Group): "We aim at remarking our role as an enabler of electrification processes by leading innovation also in electrical mobility"
Doug Bresnahan (CCO Andretti Autosport): "We are thrilled to welcome Prysmian Group, a global leader in electrification and a true innovator, to the team.

Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry and Avalanche Andretti Formula E announce their official partnership for the 2022/2023 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. Within the agreement the Group will also provide solutions to support transmission of power and information across all of the Team's sustainable electrification efforts.

"Cable and optical fibre technologies are key enablers of energy transition, electrification and digitalization processes. In particular, in the e-mobility industry they are essential for cars, charging infrastructures and related grid integration" stated Prysmian Group CEO Valerio Battista. "We are the first cable maker to partner with a Formula E team as major sponsor, with the goal of strengthening our value proposition by promoting innovation also in the strategic sector of e-mobility", Battista added.

"We are thrilled to welcome Prysmian Group to the team. Staying one corner ahead of our competitors has always been a key element of Andretti's business success making partnerships with true innovators like Prysmian Group, a global leader in electrification with their cable products, a huge win for our organization. We're looking forward to starting our partnership this weekend at the season opener in Mexico City." said Doug Bresnahan, Chief Commercial Officer, Andretti Autosport.

Prysmian Group is a true international player and a worldwide leader, serving markets around the world and continuing to pursue new challenges also across sustainability initiatives. With the Avalanche Andretti Formula E partnership, Prysmian Group - already partner with the Italian solo sailor Giancarlo Pedote - is now linked to another sport, sharing values of challenge, drive, sustainability and innovation.

Andretti is a mainstay of Formula E, as an entrant since the inaugural season and have been a successful team claiming many podiums and wins throughout the nine seasons at racetracks around the world.

Created in 2011, the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship is a single-seater motorsport championship for electric cars. Since the 2020–21 season, Formula E is a FIA World Championship, making it the first single-seater racing series outside of Formula One to be given world championship status.

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CALENDAR OF CORPORATE EVENTS YEAR 2023

Milan, Italy  -  01/11/2023 - 12:16 PM

Prysmian S.p.A. announces its financial calendar for the year 2023, indicating when the Company's and/or Group's accounts will be examined by the Board of Directors and disclosed to the public:

Mandatory periodic financial reporting

    March 9th, 2023: consolidated financial statements of Prysmian Group and proposed statutory financial statements of Prysmian S.p.A. for the year ended December 31st, 2022.
    July 27th, 2023: Half-yearly Financial Report as of June 30th, 2023.

Additional periodic financial reporting

    May 11th, 2023: Interim Management Statements as of March 31st, 2023.
    November 9th, 2023: Interim Management Statements as of September 30th, 2023.

It is reminded that Prysmian has decided to approve and publish periodic financial reports, in addition to annual and half-yearly financial reports. Such additional information will be referred to the end of each year first (March 31st) and third (September 30th) quarter, and it will be disclosed to the public consistently, in terms of content and availability, with its practice to date, before the deletion of the requirement for issuers to publish interim management statements. More precisely, the approval and publication of additional periodic financial reports, will occur within 45 days from the end of each relevant quarter.

In conjunction with the above Board of Directors meetings, the Company has planned specific conference calls with the financial community, during which the Company's and/or Group's accounts will be presented.

The Shareholders' Meeting for the approval of the statutory financial statements of Prysmian S.p.A. for the year ended December 31st, 2022, will be held on April 19th, 2023 (sole call) and the dividend detachment, if any, will be on the month of April.

The market will be in due time notified of changes to the above arrangements, if any.

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Prysmian Group launches the Global Sustainability Academy


The initiative involves all the 29,000 employees in over 50 countries
Sustainability, energy transition and digitalzation among the Prysmian's priorities

Milan, Italy   -   01/10/2023 - 12:12 PM

Prysmian Group, world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, launches the Global Sustainability Academy involving 29,000 employees in over 50 countries. The initiative aims to spread the culture of sustainability within the entire corporate population worldwide and further strengthen the Group's commitment to the implementation of its Climate & Social Ambitions, with reference to the parameters related to employees' engagement and their up-skilling. Energy and fiber optic cable technology is a key aspect in energy, digital and electrification transition processes and the Sustainability Academy will enable the Group to strengthen the culture and skills of sustainability that represent a strategic driver of business competitiveness for Prysmian. The Sustainability Academy training programme will also involve the most influential business schools at international level.

The inauguration of the Global Sustainability Academy is planned for today in Muscat in Oman, headquarter of Oman Cables and of the MEAT Region, in the presence of Federica Favi, the Italian Ambassador in Oman, Cinzia Farisè CEO of Oman Cables and CEO of Prysmian MEAT Region and Maria Cristina Bifulco Prysmian Chief Sustainability Officer and Group IR VP.

The course structure, which will include lessons throughout all the 2023, is divided into five modules - Awareness, Knowledge, Impact, Leadership and KPIs - differentiated according to the target audience. The first module, IMPACT, starts today in Oman and will involve for three days 30 managers from all over the world on the following topic: "How to innovate and spread sustainability in organizations". The modules will have an hybrid formula: some of them will be in presence (like those currently taking place in Oman), while others will be available online or via podcasts, reaching the entire company population.

Maria Cristina Bifulco, Chief Sustainability Officer and Group IR VP, commented: "As a market leader in an industry that is key in the energy transition process, we feel it is our duty to convey this sustainable culture to all our colleagues even more effectively and directly, and we need to invest in training and up-skilling our people."

"With an Academy of Sustainability in Oman we want to contribute to the development of distinctive skills, creating value through positive business models based on the growth and empowerment of our human capital, to promote a diversified and inclusive system open to new perspectives and to promote the capacity to innovate by training the sustainable leaders of the future." said Cinzia Farisè CEO of Oman Cables and CEO of Prysmian MEAT Region.

In 2021 Prysmian launched two strategic ambitions that will guide the Group's actions in the medium-long term: the Climate Change Ambition and the Social Ambition. The Climate Change Ambition is a climate strategy that adopts Science Based targets aligned with the requirements of the Paris Agreement: reduction to zero of emissions of Scope 1, 2 and 3 or at least to a residual level consistent achieving the Paris Agreement targets (1.5 °C). This means reducing the emissions produced by 90% compared to 2019 and the subsequent neutralisation of any residual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions released into the atmosphere. The Group's Social Ambition focuses primarily on efforts to improve diversity, equality and inclusion (DE&I), digital inclusion, community empowerment, employees' engagement and their upskilling. For each of these topics, different targets to 2030 have been identified to further align the Group with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

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What are the AUDIT, ASSESSMENT, INSPECTION, VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION

AUDIT, ASSESSMENT, INSPECTION, VERIFICATION AND VALIDATION

February 14, 2019 James Sullivan

I know that terminology can drive people crazy. We standards and certification types tend to use lots of it, and it can seem like a secret club if you don't know what it all means. Good thing that I am here to pull back the curtain...

I have written in the past about audits, but I have not really said what an audit is. To do it justice, we should look at several terms that are used and often get confused. To do this I will take a run at the terms: audit, assessment, inspection, verification and validation. I know that there may be other terms, but usually they are usually a different term that refers substantially to one or a combination of these processes.

I should be clear that I am talking about business processes or management systems and only tangentially about products. There are other terms that are used for the work of testing laboratories - these are the folks that conduct physical tests of products to determine if a physical thing meets specific performance standards. For example, if a helmet is strong enough or if a lamp won't catch fire. Some of the terms we will discuss in this post are used in similar ways for product testing as for management systems.

All of the four terms are important, and many organizations use some or all of them. That is to say that all these processes play a slightly different role. Just like an internal audit and a management review - maybe I should do a post about these also, but that will have to wait for now.

AUDIT

Audits are normally full evaluations that are conducted by an independent person (or team) and produce findings and a decision (sometimes call a determination). Strictly speaking, an audit evaluates performance against specific measures and thresholds. Findings are the results against each of the requirements, it could be a finding of conformity or non-conformity supported by a record of the evidence found. The decision or determination answers the question: Does the system or process that was audited conform to the requirements or does it not?

ASSESSMENT

Assessments are evaluations that determine the capacity of an organization (or a part of one) to perform a specific function. These are similar to the strict definition of an audit, but it the findings are based to a much larger degree on the experience and training of the assessor. Assessments also produce a finding but rather than being based on a numerical set of requirements it is largely based on the judgment of the assessor.

NOTE: Management system audits include many elements that fit the description of an audit and others that fit the description of an assessment.

INSPECTION

Inspections are evaluations that are conducted by either an independent inspector or by an internal inspector. Inspectors will normally identify weakness or failings to meet a set of requirements but will not produce a decision about overall conformity with a standard.

VERIFICATION

Verifications are evaluations that look a single process or service to determine if it meets its design specification. These can be done by an independent verifier or an internal verifier. Often verifications are undertaken with new processes or products to make sure that what was intended was achieved. Verifications are often done at the design stage to test if all factors have been fully considered. For example, a verification may be undertaken to determine if a batch of a product or an input can be fully traced through all the steps in production.

VALIDATION

Validations are evaluations that look at a single product or service to determine that it meets the need of the user. These can be done by an independent validator or an internal validator. Validations are often conducted once a process or product is up and running to make sure that the result is what was intended. To some degree these are related to quality control, but can extend to cover how the product or service is used in the real world.

As I mentioned above, these terms are used differently in some industries, so the important part is not the term itself, but the concept of what is being done.

For example, audit and assessment are interchangeable for some people as are verification and validation for others.

In the case of third-party certification, the key definition is that of audit. It includes a decision about whether or not there is conformity with a standard backed up by the evidence gathered.

All of these evaluations may be based on a standard, but the need for a formal decision of conformity is less important than in an audit and may not carry as much formal weight since there is no certificate being issued.

Finally, I will note that in some cases, some standard systems will hire an inspector to conduct a full inspection of a client and the decision of conformity is made by the standard system based on the findings of the inspector. In these cases, the certification decision is taken by the standard system, not by the inspector.

If we were to map these terms in a Venn diagram, they would all overlap to some degree or other. The point is that they all have a slightly different use and are all used to some degree or other in a whole range of businesses.

There, now it is clear as mud...right?

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What is the difference between normative with informative?


Normative vs. Informative
November 3, 2015 James Sullivan

Certification documentation schemes can contain two types of information; normative and informative.

Normative elements are those that are prescriptive, that is they are to be followed in order to comply with scheme requirements.

Informative elements are those that are descriptive, that is they are designed to help the reader understand the concepts presented in the normative elements.
Normative elements

Normative elements apply to the organization, or individual to whom they are addressed. For example, normative elements in the standard apply to the certificate holder or applicant for certification. Other normative elements may apply to the certification body, accreditation body or scheme owner.

Normative elements are normally phrased using one of the three terms: shall, should or may.

    Shall:  indicates a requirement
    Should: indicated as recommendation
    May: indicates a permission

All normative elements that are requirements (shall) are to be followed in all cases in order to be in conformity. Elements that are recommended (should) are ones that any organization that wants to be in conformity are encouraged to follow. Finally, elements that grant permission (may) have the option of following if they choose to and if they do then they must follow the requirements as described.

Each of these elements can be a single requirement (i.e. ...all letters shall be written on pink paper) or an entire document (i.e. ...the factory shall conform to ISO 19001).

For the sake of clarity, it is best when all scheme documents use these three keywords. When you mean it as a requirement; say 'shall' and not use other terms such as 'will', 'must' or 'need'. Using these terms consistently means that the reader is not left to figure out what you mean when you say 'the certificate holder will...' --- is that a requirement, an option or a recommendation?
Informative Elements

Informative elements are illustrations, examples or suggestions that explain the meaning and implications of the requirements as well as giving suggestions, examples and case studies on the application of the requirements.

Nothing in the informative elements is or can be mandatory; that includes the accreditation body, the certification body, the certificate holder or the applicant for certification. If guidance is mandatory, that is if it includes a shall, should or may statement, it is not informative, it is normative.
What this means for a scheme

The best certification schemes are clearly written and are easily understood by each user and each type of user. An applicant for certification should be able to understand what is required of them, and by implication what is not required for them to be certified.

One of the best ways to make sure your scheme is easily understood is to use the discipline of writing your requirements as clearly as possible. All users should know what is required and should never be surprised to find that a requirement was not clearly presented to them.

Whenever possible guidance should be provided to help the user understand the implications of your scheme requirements. Informative material should only help the user to understand the thinking behind a requirement or maybe how or why a requirement was set.

This sounds simple until you try to do it. Clear documentation is only possible when you and everyone involved in designing and writing up the scheme clearly understand and agree on the implications of the requirements.


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