Japan’s NTT World Engineering Marine Corp. (NTT WE Marine), the submarine cable laying subsidiary of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corp. (NTT), has launched a new CLV that is registered under the Philippine flag and operated primarily by Filipino crew members.

A press release said that NTT WE Marine, marking its 25th year in the Philippines, launched the CS VEGA II, a state-of-the-art cable-laying vessel. NTT notes that it is the only cable provider that has a fully equipped, Philippine-flagged cable-laying vessel.

The new CLV, is primarily intended to be operated for the maintenance of domestic submarine telecommunications cables within the Philippines, as well as international submarine telecommunications cables in nearby waters. It joins a fleet that includes four other CVLs: Vega, Orion, Subaru and Kizuna. The vessels are used for a range of tasks including submarine cable installation, maintenance, ocean investigation, construction, repair work and marine surveys.

NTT WE Marine is a key participant in the Philippine Domestic Submarine Cable Network (PDSCN), a 2,500-km initiative led by Eastern Communications, Globe Telecom and InfiniVAN, aimed at improving connectivity in underserved regions. It also will be a maintenance supplier for PDSCN, which was said to be in its final project stages. The

network’s subsea (wet) segments were finished as scheduled in 2023, and about 90% of its 33 planned cable landing stations have been constructed. The remaining landing stations and some inland facility connections are expected to be completed within this year.

NTT WE Marine President & CEO Mamoru Watanabe said that the Philippines project has a pivotal telecom role. He also cited global security concerns and the need for stable communications infrastructure as key drivers for the expansion. “Economic development’s foundation is communication. There’s a lot of opportunity in the Philippines, especially now that global security is unstable,” he said.

Earlier this year, Adani Group, one of India’s largest and fastest-growing cement manufacturers, announced plans to enter the wires and cables industry through a newly formed joint venture.

On March 19, 2025, Adani Enterprises, via its wholly owned subsidiary Kutch Copper Limited, finalized the incorporation of Praneetha Ecocables Limited in partnership with Praneetha Ventures Private Limited. The joint venture will focus on the manufacturing,

marketing, and distribution of metal products, cables and wires, marking a significant diversification for the conglomerate.

A company statement said that the initiative is part of Adani’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence across the infrastructure and construction value chain. By leveraging the group’s extensive experience in large-scale manufacturing and its ongoing investment in India’s largest greenfield copper refinery in Gujarat, Adani aims to secure reliable raw material supply and competitive pricing for its cable business. The company expects this vertical integration to provide a unique advantage as it enters a market that has seen a compound annual growth rate of over 13% in recent years.

The new venture will target key sectors such as residential, commercial, infrastructure and industrial applications, reflecting the rising demand for high-quality cables and wires driven by India’s urbanization, smart city projects, and renewable energy expansion.

Adani Group’s leadership emphasized that this entry aligns with its long-term vision to be a leading provider of integrated solutions for India’s rapidly growing construction and infrastructure sectors. The company’s board has approved the plan, signaling its intention to diversify its portfolio and capitalize on synergies with its existing copper and infrastructure businesses.

M. Huber Corporation announced that it has acquired the alumina trihydrate (ATH), antimony-free flame retardant and molybdate-based smoke suppressant assets of The R.J. Marshall Company.

A press release said that the deal will see the acquired assets incorporated into the Huber Advanced Materials (HAM) strategic business unit of Huber Engineered Materials, an operating company of J.M. Huber Corporation. These assets will enhance HAM’s product portfolio and strengthen its position as a leader in the North American market of flame retardant and smoke suppressant technologies.

The acquisition includes R.J. Marshall’s alumina trihydrate and Marshall additive technologies product lines (excluding those containing antimony trioxide). HAM will integrate these products into its existing portfolio, providing customers with a seamless transition and continued access to the materials they rely on. “This acquisition underlines HAM’s strategic commitment to grow our halogen-free fire retardant and smoke suppressant portfolio and expand our product offering for our customers,” said HAM Global Vice President Sales & Marketing Martin Schulting.

HAM, known for its focus on sustainability and innovation in specialty additives, continues to invest in expanding its environmentally responsible product range. The company has recently achieved significant milestones in life cycle analysis and is recognized for advancing halogen-free solutions for industrial applications.

Earlier this year, UltraTech Cement, a significant India cement manufacturer, announced that it plans to venture into the wire and cable industry with an investment of approximately $216 million over the next two years.

A press release said that the decision, announced at the company’s Feb. 22 board meeting, calls for the initiative to begin production by December 2026 at a manufacturing facility set to be established in Bharuch, Gujarat. “UltraTech proposes to leverage its extensive manufacturing expertise coupled with its connection with the end-customers to deliver high-quality wires and cables thereby targeting a higher share of the customer’s wallet.”

The company will focus on making wire and cable for sectors such as residential, commercial, infrastructure and industrial applications. Per the release, India’s wire and cable industry has seen CAGR revenue of 13% from 2019 to 2022. “With the migration from the unorganized to the organized market, the outlook continues to remain robust which provides an attractive opportunity for a new trusted player in the sector.”

Company Chairman Kumar Mangalam Birla said that the plan will expand the company’s presence within the construction value chain. The foray into wire and cable “aligns with our vision of providing comprehensive solutions to our end customers in the construction sector.” He emphasized that this move supports UltraTech’s long-term growth strategy and market leadership ambitions.

UltraTech’s board has approved the plan, signaling the company’s intention to diversify its portfolio and strengthen its position as a leading provider of building solutions. The company will leverage its expertise in manufacturing and its strong customer connections to deliver high-quality wires and cables.

Per its website, UltraTech Cement Limited is the cement flagship company of the Aditya Birla Group. It is the largest manufacturer of grey cement and ready-mix concrete (RMC) and one of the largest manufacturers of white cement in India. It is the only cement company globally (outside of China) to have 175+ MTPA of cement manufacturing capacity in a single country. It operates in 40+ countries across six continents, and more than half its revenues come from operations outside India.

R&L Spring Company™, a manufacturer of springs, coils and wire forms, has opened its third facility in Wisconsin, this one in Elkhorn, that adds 50,000 q ft of capacity.

“R&L Spring has continued to expand and grow our business, and the opening of this 3rd facility allows us to support our growth in both the short term, as well as set the stage for planned growth initiatives over the coming years,” company President Julie Arenz said in a press release.

R&L Spring has two manufacturing facilities in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, with 220,000 sq ft of capacity that also supports its Medicoil™ division that began serving the medical device market in 1992. It was formed to address the unique requirements of the medical device market and evolved into a leader in manufacturing micro-precision coil and wired formed products for the medical device industry.

The family owned and operated company has 53 years of precision, winding, coiling and wire forming experience. R&L Spring Company custom manufactures springs, coils, and wire forms for a wide range of OEM’s in powersports, automotive, medical device, as well as other general industries markets.