NKT starts construction of new cable extrusion tower for the world’s largest high-voltage offshore cable factory

The construction of the world’s largest factory for offshore power cables continues in Karlskrona, Sweden, and NKT has now started the slipform casting of concrete for the site’s third extrusion tower, which will become the second tallest tower in Sweden.

Press Release

31 July 2024

A constant flow of trucks is now delivering concrete to the construction site in Karlskrona, Sweden, where NKT is building the world’s largest high-voltage offshore power cable factory. NKT has now started the slipforming casting of concrete for a third extrusion tower at the Swedish factory. Over the coming months, a truck per hour will supply concrete to the tower, ensuring its rapid ascent to 200 meters to stand as a landmark of NKT’s ongoing investments in production capacity and capabilities. The expansion with the new tower is driven by a record high order backlog and increased demand for power cables supporting the transition to renewable energy.

- The beginning of the slipforming is a major milestone in the expansion of the factory in Karlskrona. The tower will significantly strengthen our ability to meet the growing demand for larger and longer high-voltage offshore cables essential for the green transition. The ongoing investments is central to the execution of our large order backlog and prepares us for the positive development, we expect in the high-voltage power cable market. With the capacity expansion, we continue to be a leading power cable provider for the global energy infrastructure, says Darren Fennell, Executive Vice President and Head of HV Solutions Karlskrona in NKT.

The extrusion tower is crucial in adding insulation to the high-voltage power cables produced at the Swedish facility. The construction of the tower is part of a larger investment program in NKT’s high-voltage power cable business, which also includes a second cable-laying vessel set to be operational from 2027 alongside the factory expansion. As part of this growth, NKT plans to recruit over 500 new employees by 2027 and is on track with the hiring process in Karlskrona.

Facts: Slipform casting

• Slipform casting is a Swedish innovation in construction techniques for concrete, which involves a formwork that smoothly and continuously ascends vertically with the aid of hydraulic jacks.
• NKT will receive concrete for the tower in a constant pace of more than one truck per hour.
• The tower is expected to grow approximately 2.6 meter a day until it reaches its 200 meters above ground.
• NKT expects the slipform casting to be finalized during Q4 2024.

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

Darren Fennell, EVP and Head of HV Solutions Karlskrona in front of one of the trucks delivering concrete for the construction of the third extrusion at the Swedish factory in Karlskrona.

Illustration of the factory in Karlskrona, Sweden, with the three extrusion towers.
When completed the factory will be the largest offshore cable factory in the world.

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 5,000 people. NKT is listed on Nasdaq Copenhagen and realised a revenue of EUR 2.6 billion in 2022.
NKT - We connect a greener world. www.NKT.com.