High tensile steel cores for overhead power lines

Ensure the availability and security of the power network by reinforcing your conductors with Bekaert Ultra, Mega and Giga high tensile strength steel cores. This range of three unique steel cores withstand different conditions, all while enhancing the capacity and efficiency of your overhead power lines.

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Innovation to power the future

The overhead line product market is facing significant challenges in today's competitive and rapidly evolving landscape. As the demand for electricity continues to rise, especially in emerging countries, the need for reliable and efficient transmission and distribution systems becomes increasingly critical.

Advanced conductor technologies

One of the industry's significant challenges is the urgent need for increased transmission capacity. Reconductoring, as the fastest solution, and the construction of new lines necessitate advancements in conductor technology.

Innovation of these technologies is crucial to ensure safe, reliable, and efficient electricity transmission.

Additionally, it must account for climatic changes in specific regions, such as ice loads, hurricanes, blackouts, and alternative routing requirements.

Why steel?

Trust in industry-proven technology and protect your investment

Steel has been utilized for decades in various markets, including the transmission market, due to its availability, strength, consistent performance, and recyclability. Our advanced steel cores capitalize on these properties, and the conductors made from them are designed to tackle numerous challenges directly.

By employing cutting-edge technology, we deliver solutions that improve the reliability and efficiency of overhead line conductors, ensuring they meet the stringent requirements of modern electricity transmission and distribution.

What's more, by using steel core, no special installation procedures and equipment are required.

The next generation steel cores for improved grid performance

Bekaert offers three types of high-tensile steel cores: Ultra, Mega and Giga. The wires in each strand feature outstanding tensile strength, allowing the strand to move with the environment without creating excessive sag. The combination of these features results in conductors with a much higher capacity, allowing a more efficient distribution of energy.

The International Electrotechnical Commission has released the new IEC 63248 Norm which also covers high tensile strength Mega and Giga steel cores ( S7A, S8A) for overhead power lines. The advantages of the high-tensile steel cores are described in CIGRE paper which you can find below in downloads.

Steel core solutions for conductors in special conditions

Adding a steel core increases the breaking strength of an aluminum conductor by a factor of 2 to 3. Conductors with a steel core are more resistant to thermal sag and sag caused by various load conditions such as heavy winds and ice loading. Moreover, the cores reduce horizontal blowout distances and, as a consequence, the probability of horizontal clearance violations.

First of its kind in Slovakia

We are proud to announce our successful supply of Ultra-High-Strength (UHS) strands for the reconductoring project of the Slovak Distribution System Operator, Západoslovenská distribučná, a.s.

This project marks a significant milestone in our ongoing collaboration with Nexans, our longstanding and valued customer.

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Applications

Advantages

Increased capacity
Reduced line losses
Reduced total project costs
Solutions for special conditions

Downloads