NKT inaugurates newly built extrusion tower for high-voltage power cables

In 2020, NKT initiated an investment program in its high-voltage factories driven by a record high order backlog and a positive market outlook driven by the transition to renewable energy. A key part of the program was to add a new extrusion tower to the Swedish factory in Karlskrona. NKT has now completed the construction and is starting production in the tower during Q4, which marks an important milestone in the ongoing high-voltage business investments.

"The extrusion tower symbolizes our key position in the green transformation and our leading position within XLPE and HVDC technology. It plays a central role in the execution of our large order backlog and prepares us for the positive development, we expect in the high-voltage power cable market," says Claes Westerlind, Executive Vice President heading the Swedish part of the high-voltage business in NKT.

The official name of the tower is NKT Lighthouse and with a height of 150 meters it stands as a landmark for the city of Karlskrona and the global transition to renewable energy. It plays a key part in the process of adding insulation to the high-voltage power cables produced at the factory in Karlskrona.

"The growing focus on renewable energy and energy independency are key drivers in the increasing demand for power cables and it is a natural step for us to continue to develop our high-voltage power cable capacity, capabilities and technology. We are preparing both for future growth and for the execution of our large order backlog of offshore wind and interconnector projects" says Claes Westerlind.

The high-voltage investment program also includes a new high-voltage power cable test centre and a new extrusion line at the factory in Cologne, Germany as well as ongoing investments in new machinery and logistics.

NKT Lighthouse – a beacon of the green transition Second extrusion tower at Karlskrona factory

• Adds insulation to the power cables
• 150 meters over ground
• 17 floors
• 7,700 tons of concrete
• 985 tons of armouring
• Inaugurated 27 October 2022
• Construction period 2020-2022