97
Prysmian Group has always given key strategic importance to
Research & Development to maintain its market leadership,
with the aim of differentiating itself and of providing its
customers with technologically innovative solutions at
increasingly competitive costs. The Group currently has
17 Centres of Excellence, with headquarters in Milan, and
over 500 skilled professionals. With around 5,700 patents
The main achievements of the year in the
Energy business
included:
• In the area of Submarine cables, internal qualification
testing was completed of the 2400 mm² Cu 600 kVDC
MIND (mass impregnated-non drain) cable for the
WesternLink project, including the official type test;
a prototype 1900 mm² Al 500 kVDC MIND cable was
produced for the Montenegro-Italy project, and its internal
qualification completed, as was the new composite armour
system for 150 kVAC three-core cables, which substantially
reduces cable weight and consequently allows cables to be
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
With 17 Centres of Excellence, over 500 professionals, about 5,700 patents and partnerships
with universities and research centres in many countries, the Prysmian Group intends to be an
innovation leader.
granted or filed and partnerships with major universities and
research centres in many countries where it is present, the
Prysmian Group intends to be industry leader in R&D. The
Group’s spending on Research, Development and Innovation
amounted to approximately Euro 68 million in 2013, broadly
in line with the previous year and confirming its steadfast
commitment to and focus on long-term sustainable growth.
laid at depths well beyond current limits; the SZ stranding
line (energy conductors twisted in alternating directions as
indicated by the letters S and Z) entered full operation at
the Arco Felice plant for all three-core high voltage cables.
• In the High Voltage cables area, a new insulating
package for applications up to 400 kV was identified and
implemented internally in order to reduce the dependence
on the current supplier; a 150 kV WAS (welded aluminium
screen) design was qualified and went into production at
the Pignataro plant, allowing a reduction in average variable
cost of 150 kV cable production compared with the previous
design; a 110 kV WAS design with integrated optical
R&D Headquarters
R&D Centres
17
R&D Centres
Over
500
professionals
Over
5,000
patents
R&D Headquarters
