Wedoany.com Report on Feb 25th, Finnish composite profile manufacturer Exel Composites and Italian cable solutions company Tratos Cavi S.p.a. recently signed a four-year framework agreement. According to the agreement, the two parties will strengthen their cooperation in the field of carbon fiber composite core conductors to support grid upgrades and energy transition needs.
Paul Sohlberg, President and CEO of Exel Composites, stated: "Tratos is a leading company in the field of advanced cable solutions. We are very pleased to strengthen and further expand our cooperation in the area of composite conductor cores. The demand for grid investment is growing, and composite core conductors are perfectly aligned with our strategy to grow in energy transition applications through continuous manufacturing and reliable quality."
Albano Bragagni, President of Tratos, said: "Cooperating with Exel Composites helps us secure a supply of composite cores for our conductor projects up to 2029. This supports our customers' grid upgrade planning by enabling higher capacity and improved transmission efficiency—often without the need to change line routes or support structures."
The carbon fiber composite core is the core load-bearing component of overhead transmission conductors, an application area that is increasingly growing. Compared to traditional steel-reinforced designs, carbon fiber composite cores combine high tensile strength with low linear expansion characteristics, supporting operation at high temperatures and reducing sag. This helps operators increase line capacity using existing towers. Furthermore, the carbon fiber composite design offers advantages in corrosion resistance and non-magnetic properties.
Tratos offers overhead conductor products utilizing multi-strand carbon fiber composite core technology. Under the new agreement, Tratos will integrate Exel's composite solutions into its conductor product line. Exel will employ continuous pultrusion processes and quality control measures to manufacture the core materials, ensuring consistency in mechanical properties. Orders will be fulfilled by Exel's global manufacturing network according to project schedules agreed upon with Tratos.
Headquartered in Finland, Exel Composites employs over 600 professionals and is listed on Nasdaq Helsinki. The company is one of the leading manufacturers of composite profiles and tubes using pultrusion and pull-winding technologies. It is also a pioneer in pultrusion technology within the global composites market, providing forward-looking solutions for various industries through continuous manufacturing techniques.
Tratos Cavi S.p.a. was founded in 1966 in Pieve Santo Stefano, Arezzo, Italy, by engineer Egidio Capaccini. Initially focused on copper drawing, the company's product portfolio now includes power cables (up to 170KV), overhead conductors, communication cables, and specialty cables. Its operations cover Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom, with a sales network spanning the globe.
