7
Prysmian Group Insight
Adding value through innovation
Innovation is essential for any high-tech large
corporation with a global reach, as Prysmian
Group is: how would you define the company
approach to research & development compared
to competitors and to best practices worldwide?
For us, innovation is the process of making and
implementing changes by means of multi-functional
and collective activities. It results in the introduction of
new products, processes, and services that add value
to customers and/or company and/or contributes to the
knowledge store of the organisation.
Prysmian Group boasts Centres of Excellence,
advanced proprietary technologies, more than
550 skilled professionals and over 5,600 patents
granted or filed: what is next to further improve
its already top-class R&D capabilities?
I think there are some key points that we need to
improve. The process of technology transfer is one
of them that will facilitate the product and compound
rationalisation. Another important point is to complete
the CA - Common Analysis implementation. The CA is
our tool that defines standard rules for design, material
and technology.
FOCUS ON
Sustainability and eco-efficiency are at the top of
the agendas of any R&D department across the
world: can you mention a few examples of unique
solutions created or being working at by Prysmian
Group in these vital fields?
Compounds based on renewable sources, along with
smart grids solutions for increasing the efficiency of
the system; the development of cables and systems
for renewable energy; the optimization of cables and
compound designs and the production technology; the
reduction of scrap, fluids and energy consumption;
these are some actions we are working on.
Interview with Marcelo de Arujo Andrade, Prysmian Group R&D Director
In 2012 Prysmian Group continued developing
cables with recyclable thermoplastic insulation using
technology, carried out at the Delft facility
in the Netherlands. Values for the production of
P-Laser cable and its end-of-life disposal, compared
with traditional XLPE cable, show an equivalent 30%
reduction in CO
2
, 40% less fossil consumption and
70/80% of water.
Prysmian also partnered with the European
E
2
PHEST
2
US project for developing a thermionic and
thermoelectric solar unit working at temperatures
far in excess of current ones with a thermal recovery
system, which delivers significant savings in terms of
fossil fuels.
In the Telecoms business, the Group launched
bend-resistant fibres, an innovative
solution that reduces the installation and maintenance
costs while lowering the environmental impact: for
example, the LT 2.0 BB-XS family launched in the
US as the next generation, large scale product. The
exclusive technologies of Prysmian allow optical fibres
to be protected by small tubes, resulting in reduced
diameter and lighter cables, marked by a lower
environmental impact.
Green Products
