High tech cables specialist Prysmian Group (Milan / Italy; www.prysmian.com), formerly part of Italian tyre manufacturer Pirelli, is expanding two of its European plants over the coming months. The total investment of EUR 43m will make the production units at Slatina / Romania and Presvov / Slovakia the largest in their respective category when they reach full run at the beginning of 2017, the group said.

At Slatina, Prysmian has produced optical fibre cables for backbone and access networks since 2009, expanding output to nearly 4,500,000 fkm in 2013-2014. With the fresh investment of EUR 22m, capacity at the site is due to reach 8,000,000 fkm. The EUR 21m expansion at Presov will add optical fibre cables to the portfolio. One of the largest cable manufacturers in eastern Europe, the Milan-based group has six production units in four countries. In addition to Romanian and Slovakia, it produces in Hungary and the Czech Republic. At the site in Kistelek in southern Hungary, a new rubber cable production facility was opened in late April – see Plasteurope.com of 18.05.2016.

The two most recent expansions form part of a EUR 12m strategic investment plan for the period 2014-2016. Francesco Fanciulli, CEO Prysmian Group Central Eastern Europe, said it is “extremely significant” that the two centres of excellence for the production of telecommunication cables are located in eastern Europe, which he said is one of the “most competitive areas in Europe.”