Medium-Voltage Cable passes 60-year-life nuclear qualification.

Press Release Summary:




Supporting existing nuclear fleet and Gen III reactors, MV line of ULTROL® 60+ nuclear-qualified cable serves in such applications as safety system operation as well as linking nuclear plants to emergency power. Product meet AEIC qualifications for 60-year-life in rigorous inside containment applications, and third-party testing ensures conformance to all nuclear requirements under ASME NQA-1 and US NRC 10CFR50 Appendix B as well as regulatory guidelines of nuclear reactor manufacturers.



Original Press Release:



General Cable's ULTROL® Medium-Voltage Products Pass 60-Year-Life Nuclear Qualification Testing



HIGHLAND HEIGHTS, KENTUCKY – General Cable (NYSE: BGC), one of the world’s largest wire and cable manufacturers and leading supplier of medium-voltage (MV) cables to the utility industry, is proud to announce the introduction of its MV line of ULTROL® 60+ nuclear-qualified cable. This MV cable solution joins the ranks of low-voltage (LV) ULTROL® cables that recently passed 60-year-life testing. With nearly four decades of continued commitment to the nuclear power generation industry, and a dedicated nuclear team, General Cable’s ULTROL 60+ cables support both the existing nuclear fleet and Gen III reactors.



With MV cables critical to safety system operation, and linking nuclear plants to emergency power, the role of legacy suppliers like General Cable has never been more important than it is today. Backed by an established platform in LV nuclear-qualified cables, advanced material expertise, and renowned testing capabilities through its world-class Marshall Technology Center, General Cable began a five-year testing and certification program in 2008 to develop MV cables that meet AEIC qualifications for 60-year-life in the most rigorous inside containment applications.



General Cable’s extensive third-party testing ensures conformance of ULTROL 60+ to all nuclear requirements under ASME NQA-1 and US NRC 10CFR50 Appendix B, as well as regulatory guidelines of nuclear reactor manufacturers. Kinectrics (formerly Ontario Hydro Technologies) completed thermal aging, radiation exposure and Design Basis Events (DBE) testing to a total integrated dosage of up to 350 MRad gamma radiation, confirming that General Cable’s ULTROL 60+ MV products meet both prior industry standards and Gen III+ reactor profile requirements for a proven 60-year service life.



“Medium-voltage cables are a critical component to safe, ongoing nuclear power plant operation, and the required service life of 60 years for new plants extends to the cable,” said Robert W. Schuermann, Vice President and General Manager, Specialty Cables, General Cable North America. “As a leader in the development of medium-voltage cables for utility and industrial applications, our ULTROL 60+ medium-voltage cables are a natural extension of General Cable’s already strong product portfolio. After significant compound profiling, lengthy ageing profiling, and AEIC certifications, we are proud to deliver a proven 60-year-life cable for medium-voltage containment and balance-of-plant applications that meet evolving industry requirements. These recent test results confirm General Cable’s position as a major cable supplier for new builds in the nuclear generation market.”



With a 40-year track record as a leading supplier of nuclear grade cables, General Cable combines exceptional cable manufacturing capabilities and more than 100 years of experience in developing market-leading insulation and jacket materials to bring innovative cable solutions like ULTROL 60+ to the marketplace—reaching new levels of performance that ensure safe, reliable nuclear power plant operations for 60 years and beyond.



General Cable (NYSE: BGC), a Fortune 500 Company headquartered in Highland Heights, Kentucky, is a global leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of aluminum, copper and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, construction, industrial, specialty and communications markets. General Cable, with annual revenues approaching $6 billion, has 57 manufacturing facilities in 26 countries and offers competitive strengths in such areas as breadth of product line, brand recognition, distribution and logistics, sales and service and operating efficiency. For more information about General Cable products, please contact your local sales representative or visit our Web site at www.generalcable.com.

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