Prysmian Group's Abbeville Facility: 10 Years of Vulcanization

This week marks the 10th anniversary of the addition of the vertical continuous vulcanization line at Prysmian Group’s Abbeville, S.C., facility. The addition was part of a $46 million investment into the facility to add the production of high-voltage power cables. When it was built, the vertical continuous vulcanization line was the first of its kind in North America and the tallest building in South Carolina at 373 feet.

The addition of high voltage (HV) and extra high voltage (EHV) through the vertical continuous vulcanization line brought state-of-the-art EHV production technology and know-how to the United States, giving customers world-class products produced domestically. The initial investment spurred other companies to invest in the Carolinas, resulting in a North American center of excellence for HV and EHV cable manufacturing.

Since opening in 2009, the vertical continuous vulcanization line has supplied power cables to major utilities and industrial customers around the world to support over 300 projects. That’s approximately six million feet of high-voltage cable. That is equivalent to the distance between New York City and Tampa, Florida.

Throughout the last 10 years, there have been many firsts. It was the first plant in the United States to introduce very low loss conductor technology, saving up to 30% of the power lost with conventional cable, and the first to be qualified for production up to 400kV. The facility is a leading supplier for the construction of renewable power facilities throughout North America and make a significant amount of cable for local wind farms.

In addition to the HV and EHV, the Abbeville facility, which opened in 1964, produces low and medium voltage power cables and is one of the largest and most diverse power cable plants in North America. A leader in producing power cables for power transmission and distribution, commercial and industrial infrastructure, renewable power projects, government and institutional infrastructure and high voltage transmission, the 420,000 square foot facility employs 370 people. Prysmian Group has shown commitment to the Abbeville facility with significant investments in the last 10 years that brought 35 additional jobs to the area.

Check out the anniversary video at https://youtu.be/dRbX2FJEUjk