Elsewedy Electric KSA will be a supplier to a very ambitious project, providing low-voltage and medium-voltage cables for two 28 km tunnels that will make up part of “The Line,” part of Saudi Vision 2030.

A press release said that the setting will be Neom Mega City (NEOM), a 170-km belt will become a massive green space, offering unique hyper-connected communities that are free from cars and roads, which contributes to the reduction in carbon emissions. Located in the temperate northwest of Saudi Arabia, NEOM’s diverse climate offers both sun-soaked beaches and snow-capped mountains. Its unique location—a footprint of nearly the size of Belgium—will provide residents with enhanced livability while protecting 95% of the surrounding natural landscape.

NEOM is to be a revolutionary city, designed to inspire an alternative way of living and respond to some of the most critical global challenges urban areas face. It is committed to providing 100% renewable energy, with solar, wind, and hydrogen-based power generation ensuring that the city will be completely carbon-positive, with zero emissions.

The Line will be the world’s first zero-gravity vertical city. There will be a hyper rail line running through the city to boost travel, and these tunnels will be powered through a renewable-powered electric system making transportation far more efficient and reliable. With no roads, cars or emissions, it will run on 100% renewable energy and 95% of land will be preserved for nature. People’s health and wellbeing will be prioritized over transportation and infrastructure, unlike traditional cities.

Only 200 meters wide, but 170 km long and 500 m above sea level, The Line will eventually accommodate nine million people on a yet-to-be built footprint of just 34 sq km. Of note, that population in that space would equal an average population density of 260,000 people per sq km, whereas Manila, the world’s most densely populated city in 2020, had a density of 44,000/sq km.

“This will mean a reduced infrastructure footprint, creating never-before-seen efficiencies in city functions. The ideal (year-round climate) will ensure that residents can enjoy the surrounding nature. Residents will have access to all facilities within a five-minute walk, in addition to high-speed rail, with an end-to-end transit of 20 minutes.”

The concept is fueled by $500 billion from the Public Investment Fund of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and local and international investors. NEOM will become a community powered by talent and diversity across 14 sectors.

Leoni, a global provider of energy and data management solutions in the automotive sector, plans to extend its production capacities in Morocco.

A press release said that the German company will build an additional plant for wiring systems, in Agadir, that will focus on the commercial vehicles segment. The plant should provide 3,000 new jobs. The company recently signed agreements for several investment projects with Moroccan representatives.

In Agadir, Head of Government Aziz Akhannouch presided over the signing ceremony of two memoranda of understanding and a framework agreement for the implementation of six investment projects. Leoni will enlarge its existing nine plants in the Casablanca-Settat region as well as establish a new facility in Agadir, thus creating more than 7,000 new jobs by 2027. The additional wiring systems plant in the Agadir industrial acceleration zone will provide 3,000 jobs in administration, engineering and production.

“I am very pleased about the agreement between our company and the Moroccan government,” said Ingo Spengler, Leoni’s COO and a member of the Executive Board. “Leoni will seize the opportunity to expand its footprint in the county, which provides favorable conditions in terms of availability of skilled workers, competitiveness and logistics. The state of Morocco, in return, is developing the industrial sector being the main pillar of the national economy.”

The new plant will specialize in producing wiring systems for the Commercial Vehicles segment, one of the growth fields of the company’s Wiring Systems Division. Leoni is supplying a growing number of truck and engine manufacturers with harnesses and associated components as well as off-road sector including agricultural, construction and industrial vehicles.

Germany’s Kocks Group reports that Yantai Walsin Stainless Steel Co., Ltd., has begun manufacturing with its new RSB® 370++/4 mill whose capacity will be used for multiple products and applications and as a feeder for a wire rod line.

A press release said that the new sizing block represents the latest advancement in long product production technology and is designed to deliver superior surface quality and dimensional accuracy while reducing operating costs over the entire mill line.

Production has begun at Yantai Walsin, which is a subsidiary of Walsin Lihwa, a Taiwanese manufacturer of specialty steel. The corporation has a long customer history, having installed the very first Kocks Reducing & Sizing Block in 1991, as well as a RSB 500 Intermediate Block and a recently installed RB 500++/4 at the company’s rolling mill in Tainan, Taiwan.

The new Kocks RSB 370++/4 sizing block for Yantai Walsin has four 3-roll stand positions for optimal deformation behavior and yield strength and is part of a newly built rolling mill for SBQ products in Yantai, Shandong province. It is positioned after 20 stands in H/V arrangement. The sizing block from Kocks finishes round dimensions from 18 to 100 mm, hexagonal dimensions from 18 to 80 mm and feeders for the wire rod line.

In addition to the machine, Kocks supplied the roll-shop equipment and its proprietary software solutions. The advanced block enables a new level of efficient production at Walsin Yantai. The RSB is equipped with the measuring gauge 4D Eagle® and connected to Kocks’ Size Control System (SCS®) which allows real-time adjustments of the operating parameters of the rolling block. This ensures transparent process monitoring and the quickest possible adjustments whenever necessary.

Nexans announced an expansion of its presence in the offshore wind and interconnection market by adding a third cable laying vessel to its fleet in 2026.

A press release said the new ship will build on the cutting-edge technology of Nexans’ flagship vessel, the Nexans Aurora. The new ship will have an improved design, comfort and capabilities. Equipped with three turntables, it will have 13,500-metric ton loading capacity, and host subsea tooling such as jetting and ploughing tools.

The vessel will be capable of laying up to four cables simultaneously to meet specific customer requirements, especially on large-scale projects. It will have an advanced hybrid power system and be capable of running on a biodiesel mix.

“This new vessel will be the most technologically advanced cable layer ever deployed” said Nexans COO and Senior Vice President Vincent Dessale. “Fitted with a range of high-tech cable installation and burial equipment, it will enhance the capabilities of our subsea cable operations to tackle projects on an unprecedented scale. This new strategic asset will support the Group’s long-term growth, consolidating its leadership in the interconnection and offshore markets. It perfectly embodies Nexans’ strategy to electrify the future, and its innovative features illustrate our ever-increasing commitment to meeting our partners’ needs.”

The IWCS reports that attendees are encouraged to register now for the 72nd annual IWCS Cable & Connectivity Industry Forum (IWCS), to be held Sept. 18–20, 2023, at the Gaylord Palms in Orlando, Florida.

The exhibits will be larger this year, with an estimated turnout of 100 industry-leading suppliers. Organizers predict that the event will continue the momentum from last year’s successful event in Providence, USA, the first in-person IWCS Forum held since 2019 due to Covid.

For more details and to register or seek hotel accommodations, visit

www.iwcs.org or contact IWCS Director/CEO Dave Kiddoo at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..