DRAKA INVESTS IN EXPANDING WIND ENERGY MARKET

Wind energy has played an important part in the search for alternative energy. From the outset, Draka has been particularly successful in this segment and 2009 saw these efforts increase even further. Most noticeable is the shift from a component to systems provider.

Dan Larsen, Vice President of Draka Renewable Energy, explains recent initiatives launched by Draka. Dan: “Market analysis reveals that many customers are looking for a simplified supplier structure. At present, up to 50 suppliers are needed to supply different components for a wind turbine, and that is a logistic challenge”.

TOWER INTERNALS PROVIDER
This is why Draka not only supplies copper, aluminum and fiber optical cables, but also a whole range of other components. The range includes LED lighting, service cages, platforms, guardrails, doors as well as cable clamps, connectors and cable managements systems for fastening cables.

Dan: “ A wind tower can be up to 150 meters high and usually consists of four parts. Typically, the cables are put in place in advance and welded together on the building site. Our plug & play cable-sets are much faster and safer to install, thanks to a mechanical coding and color marking, errors are ruled out.

DRAKA IS INSIDE CONCEPT
The expansion of Draka’s portfolio was a strategic choice, made concrete in the Draka is Inside project back in 2008, to show customers our ability to become a partner for the tower as a whole. In the course of two years 13 new products and services related to wind turbines are being brought to the market. These innovations are now on track for a successful introduction to our customers, bringing them added value and cost effective solutions.

Global leader
Draka is a global leader in the development, design, production and sale of cables and cable solutions for a wide range of industries, customers and applications. Our products are used in elevators and wind turbines, in homes and offices, aircraft, trains cars, ships, and offshore rigs to name but a few.

Always close by
Established in 1920, we presently have over 68 factories, sales and support offices in 31 countries, and some 9,500 people working for us in Europe, the Americas, Australia and Asia Pacific. We pride ourselves on being close to our customers - whatever they need, and wherever they need it, we are always close by.

Renewable energy
In the renewable energy field, Draka is development partner and cable supplier to the leading manufacturers of wind turbines. Electrical wholesalers and original equipment manufacturers appreciate Draka’s reliable quality, on-time delivery and efficient logistics, too.

Total supplier
From the outset, Draka has been particularly successful in the wind turbine industry and 2009 saw these efforts increase even further. Most noticeable with the shift from being an exclusive component supplier to becoming a systems provider for the tower as a whole.

Tower internals
Draka Renewable Energy not only supplies a wide range of specialty cables and customized cable-sets for wind turbine application, but also a range of products and services such as:

-          Components for cable management systems
-          Installation, maintenance, service and inspection of towers
-          Cable systems or lighting analysis
-          Service cages
-          LED lamps
-          Platforms
-          Clamps