Amokabel, a Swedish specialist cable producer, has acquired Euro-Tech Cables, a Sydney manufacturer of signal and communication cables.

The move was made to establish local production of new generation covered conductor that provides resilience and bushfire protection on overhead electrical lines.

The covered conductor is the most cost-effective technology that enables distribution network operators (DNOs) to increase their network resilience and vastly reduce the risk of bushfires starting when electrical lines come into contact with dry vegetation.

Covered conductor reduces the risk of ignition by 98% according to CSIRO. It can be easily retrofitted to existing poles and infrastructure with minimal changes.

As a lightweight technology, covered conductor virtually eliminates ‘interpoling’, which is the practice of adding additional poles to support the weight of older styles of covered conductors. It also brings many other benefits, such as increased public and wildlife safety.

Having established its Australian subsidiary in 2021, Amokabel has been supplying DNOs with covered conductor and accessories from Sweden via a warehouse in Australia.

“As manufacturers, Amokabel and Euro-Tech are a good natural fit as we share a philosophy of having flexible production lines and a fast response so that our customers can have exactly the cable they want when they want it,” Amokabel Australian managing director Stephen Rutland says.

“Our immediate plan is to invest in the facility in Sydney and grow Euro-Tech’s existing market but looking further into the future, we’d like to develop the business further by producing covered conductor.”

Amokabel will continue to serve Euro-Tech’s customers with control and instrumentation cables for mining, electronics, signalling and other industries. The Sydney production line features purpose-built machines that produce cables for specialist applications. For example, it is the only supplier in Australia that can apply nylon sheathing to cables for protection against termite attacks.