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Sumitomo Wiring Systems (SWS), a subsidiary of Sumitomo Electric Industries (SEI) to manufacture automotive wiring harnesses and components, will start commercial production of aluminium-conductor wiring harness at Suzuka plant, Mie, Japan in autumn 2010 to supply Japanese major automaker. SWS changed layout of Suzuka plant partially and introduced productive facilities specialized to aluminium wiring harness in June. In future, SWS aims to increase aluminium wiring harness ratio to 20-30% of the total wiring harness production.

""We have developed several new solutions, which can provide clear weight and cost saving opportunities to manufacturers of such commercial vehicles as trucks, buses as well as agricultural, industrial and construction equipment", stated Dr Andreas Brand, member of Leoni AG's Management Board with responsibility for the Wiring Systems Division. "We are confident that we will grow our business with the CV industry by more than five per cent per year until 2025." Alternative conductors save weight and cost In terms of weight optimisation, Leoni can reduce the harnesses' weight by replacing conventional wires. Alongside copper wires with smaller cross-sections, the Company provides the CV market with a range of wires made of aluminium for the power segment, i.e. with a cross-section between 10 mm2 and 110 mm2 and even larger. Although the aluminium conductors have a larger cross-section in order to deliver the same electrical conductivity, aluminium technology results in a noticeable weight reduction. On its booth, Leoni will show its busbar, a solid aluminium conductor, which can be bent in three dimensions and weighs only about half as much as the conventional copper component. Leoni will also show various conductor solutions based on copper. These can be used where mechanical strength as well as electrical conductivity is required. For example, a copper wire with a cross-section of 0.75 mm² could potentially be replaced by a smaller wire cross section, such as a 0.50 mm² or a 0.35 mm². Thanks to the use of less conductor material, Leoni's customers can not just reduce the weight of their vehicles, but also benefit in terms of cost savings."

GP Autoparts Limited, a subsidiary of the Hong Kong-listed industrial group Gold Peak Industries, announced that it will sell its 50% stake in Shanghai Jinting Automobile Harness Limited to Etern Group for RMB320M (US$50.8M). Shanghai Jinting Automobile Harness Limited produces wiring harnesses for both Chinese and international autos companies. In a statement released by Gold Peak Industries, the company cited increasing competition in the wiring harness sector, as well as the pending expiry of key long term contracts as reasons for the divestment.

Furukawa Electric announced on 8th May that it has developed a new type of aluminium alloy wire harness that is strong enough to be used in car doors, engine compartments and other locations traditionally reserved for copper wiring harness. The newly announced product features are expected to enter commercial production in 2014.

Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd. said that it had recently started mass production of aluminium wire harnesses, which it promised can reduce weight by 40-50% from traditional copper harnesses aiding weight reduction in automobiles. It will supply wire rods from a factory in Indonesia to manufacture and assemble the electric wires in a subsidiary in Vietnam and it will manufacture harnesses used in the door section. The news follows Furukawa's early December announcement of an agreement to acquire the automotive connector business of Mitsubishi Cable Industries, Ltd. Furukawa said that it expected the acquisition to aid the development of new aluminium wire harness technologies and high voltage cables for electric and hybrid vehicles.

"Global automotive wiring harness sales were expected to increase to 41 billion $ in 2014. However this is not a true reflection of the industry: The two largest Japanese manufacturers account for 50% of the market, and with the Japanese Yen devaluating, the market experienced a significant decline when measured in US dollars. Also, due to the decline in copper prices and several lawsuits for."

Sumitomo Electric Industries, the Japan based wire and cable manufacturer, has announced plans to provide its newly-developed aluminium wire harnesses to Toyota, for use in the Yaris subcompact, from 2011. Although the new product in 20-25% larger than a conventional copper wire harness, it weighs roughly 40% less because aluminium is lighter, thus improving vehicle efficiency of vehicles. With the price of aluminium presently very low relative to copper, the new aluminium wire harness should also reduce costs.

"Six months into operations, company officials said, inmates were assembling wire harnesses at a rate comparable to that at the company's facility in Bawal, Haryana. To meet the company's quality standards, the harnesses are checked twice - in Tihar and Bawal."

HL Technology, a listed Chinese producer of wire and cables, announced on 20th November that it plans to sell its 55% stake in Tianjin Rituo Automotive Electronics to Wang Xiang, for RMB58.6M (US$9.3M), stating that the venture had not been as profitable as expected. The company also announced it is acquiring the entire equity in a separate company, Rituo High Technology, from Rituo Automotive Electronics for RMB15M (US$2.4M). Rituo High Technology researches, designs and manufactures wiring harness components such as the wires used for signal transmission. By purchasing Rituo High Technology, HL Technology said it hopes to develop its own wholly owned subsidiary in the wiring harness sector.

Five of the major Japanese electric wire makers, (Furukawa Electric, Hitachi Cable, Fujikura, SWCC Showa Holdings, Mitsubishi Cable Industries Ltd.) have all posted consolidated recurring losses in their business results for FY2008 ended March 2009. All except Sumitomo Electric Industries, which reported lower sales, posted losses due to the dramatic fall in copper price during H2 2008 as well as the downturn in the automotive industry. Their copper inventory valuation losses have reduced their profits significantly. Sluggish demand is reported across a range of automobile related products including copper strip for connectors, winding wire and wiring harness.

PKC Group Oyj, the Finnish wiring, cable and electronic manufacturer, signed an agreement to buy AEES, the North American wire harness manufacturer, for €109M in cash and €1.25M in newly-issued PKC shares. PKC principally produces wiring harnesses for the automotive industries in Europe and South America. The company cited the rebounding market environment and AEES' strong North American regional market share as a leading supplier to the heavy and medium truck production sectors as reasons for the takeover.

Leoni AG, a leading automotive wiring harness provider, reached an agreement to acquire the outstanding 50% of its joint venture partner, Daekyeung T&G, effective on 1st January 2012. Leoni acquired 50% of Daekyeung in June 2008 after an agreement one year earlier to cooperate on wiring harness development. Daekyeung produces wiring harnesses for the automotive industry in three facilities located in China. The South Korean company is expected to generate sales between €130M - €140M in 2012 and will help Leoni's objective to double sales revenue in South Korea by 2015.

"At MAN Trucks & Buses, a 6.8km wiring harness weighing around 160kg in a bus poses an important challenge for the designer."

TataAutoComp Ltd announced on 5th November that it is exiting its wire harness joint venture Tata Yazaki Autocomp. The Pune-based manufacturer of wiring harnesses, the second largest producer in the Indian market with a share of 16%, generates the largest portion of its revenue from sales to Tata motors. Japanese based Yazaki Corp, the joint venture partner, will now purchase the outstanding 50% of the company held by TataAutoComp.

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