2017 Sustainability Overview | Prysmian Group

61 In 2017, Prysmian has strengthened exploratory studies to identify innovative materials for the new technologies employed by cables and accessories. The main results achieved include: an elastic sheath for aerial cable accessories, studies to eliminate lead from insulating compounds, development of semiconductive compounds and of a coating able to reduce the flame propagation, collaboration with the University of Padua on fire-resistant materials, study on substances that absorb water without subsequently releasing it, completion of tests in use of by-products absorbers in HVDC cables, development of a new traction element and of a method to study the electrical characteristics of mica glass tapes, collaboration with Politecnico di Milano on polymers resistant to oils, evaluation of materials suitable for the production of small-sized optical cables, studies on a polypropylene used to make the diameter joints in PLaser cables. Work on the approval of alternative materials, especially those of major technical or commercial importance, has continued in order to reduce the use of monopoly suppliers. The use of PrySpec, a new method of preparing supply specifications, was started in some key countries to evaluate all the problems deriving from the procurement in "single source". INNOVATIVE MATERIALS In linewith theprincipal developments of safe, reliable and sustainable technologies, Prysmian has once again confirmed its pioneering and innovative spirit by continuing to expand the range of Afumex Green cables. With regard to the new generation of Afumex LS0H cables, energy consumption during production has been reduced significantly, while better surface finishing has been achieved by the development and industrialisation of new formulas. In the Telecom business, in addition to the permanent objective of reducing waste and increasing the speed of production lines, work has been done to increase the number of fibres contained in a cable with the same cross-section as the cable, with a consequent decrease of the fibre protection materials and thus of the energy consumed to extrude them. The Group has also worked to extend and expand the "dry/dry" version of Flextube cables, which allows a considerable reduction in installation time and, therefore, in the total costs of the system, facilitating the recycling and separation of components. Prysmian has once again confirmed its pioneering and innovative spirit by continuing to expand the range of Afumex Green cables.