NKT’s new extrusion tower reaches 200 meters and becomes the second tallest tower in the Nordics

With a height of 200 meters, NKT's new tower has become the second tallest in the Nordics. The tower will not only facilitate the production of power cables to meet the increasing global demand but also serve as a symbolic landmark for the green transition.

Press release
4 November 2024

The new extrusion tower, equivalent in height to the length of two football fields, has been built to meet the growing global demand for high-voltage power cables essential for the transition to renewable energy. Located at NKT's Swedish facility in Karlskrona the tower will be capable of producing power cables of up to 640 kV. A single pair of these can transmit enough electricity to supply three million households. 

- During construction, we received a delivery of concrete every hour, enabling the tower to grow by approximately 2.6 meters per day. This is the third tower at our facility, and the expansion results from the record-high order backlog we have received to strengthen and expand the global power grids. Our site in Karlskrona will become the world's largest manufacturing site for offshore cables, and NKT plays a crucial role in electrifying large parts of the world. We hope the tower will become a symbol of this important transition, says Darren Fennell, Executive Vice President and Head of HV Solutions Karlskrona at NKT.

The construction of the tower is part of NKT's extensive investment plan, which also includes a new cable-laying vessel. As a result, NKT plans to hire around 500 new employees in Karlskrona by 2027.

- NKT is not only a major employer in Karlskrona but also a key player in the global energy transition. Through our investments, we contribute to building a sustainable and robust power grid for both Sweden and Europe. As one of the few companies worldwide capable of producing advanced power cables for electrification and offshore wind farms, our presence in Karlskrona will play a vital role in building Europe's future energy infrastructure, says Darren Fennell.

Facts: The tower

• The tower will be used as part of the production process for power cables with voltage levels of up to 640 kV.
• The tower’s total height is 200 meters, equivalent to approximately 20 stories.
• It is taller than many well-known European landmarks, including Big Ben in London (96 meters) and the Leaning Tower of Pisa (56 meters). The NKT Tower ranks 57th among Europe’s tallest structures.
• The tower has a base of 23x23 meters.
• The height of the tower is crucial for the cooling of cable insulation, as the cables need to hang vertically for proper cooling during production.

NKT’s new extrusion tower reaches 200 meters and becomes the second tallest tower in the Nordics. The height of the tower is crucial for the cooling of cable insulation, as the cables need to hang vertically for proper cooling during production.
 

Contact

Pelle Fischer-Nielsen, External Communications Lead
+45 2223 5870 / pelle.fischer-nielsen@nkt.com

About NKT
NKT connects a greener world with high-quality power cable technology and takes centre stage as the world moves towards green energy. NKT designs, manufactures and installs low-, medium- and high-voltage power cable solutions enabling sustainable energy transmission. Since 1891, NKT has innovated the power cable technology building the infrastructure for the first light bulbs to the megawatts created by renewable energy today. NKT is headquartered in Denmark and employs 6,000 people. NKT is listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen and realised a revenue of EUR 2.6 billion in 2023.
NKT - We connect a greener world. www.NKT.com.