Gemcell Australia

The acquisition in December 2006 of Olex by Nexans, the world wide leader in the cable industry, is great news for the Australian market. With annual sales in excess of A$12.5 billion in 2006, and an industrial presence in over 30 countries, Nexans' capabilities are second to none.

For Olex, this acquisition will enable the company to access vast resources including new products, R&D and testing facilities and technical knowledge and experience.

In addition to the already extensive range of high quality cables Olex manufactures here in Australia and New Zealand, Australian customers can now also access the Nexans world wide range of cables.

Over the past year, many customers have already realised the benefits of the new ownership structure, with increased cable solutions, technical support and cutting edge global product leadership to name a few.

Olex Company History

Olex is Australia's largest cable manufacturer and has a proud history dating back to 1939 – the year when the Australian cable industry was first established in Melbourne's western suburbs. Back then, there were two companies - Olympic Consolidated Industries and Nylex Corporation Limited. A merger between these two companies in 1973 saw the newly formed company called Olex.

Over the years, Olex has experienced substantial growth and expansion and has acquired a number of companies, including Spinaway Cables, Burton Cables and Canzac Cables New Zealand (which is now known as Olex New Zealand).

In 1999, an Olex Management Buyout and AMP Ltd Consortium took over as major shareholders, before the consortium then sold its shares to Nexans in 2006.

About Nexans

Nexans' first venture into the cable industry began 110 years ago in 1897, with the creation of Societe Francaise des Cables Electriques. Over the decades, the company has continued to grow through investments and acquisitions, and has also undergone a number of name changes. The company changed its name to what it is now known as – Nexans, from what it was previously known as – Alcatel Cables, in 2000.

With energy as the basis of its development, Nexans is the worldwide leader in the cable industry, and offers an extensive range of cables and cabling systems. The Group is a global player in the infrastructure, industry and building markets and addresses a series of market segments from energy, transport and telecom networks to shipbuilding, oil and gas, nuclear, automotive, electronics, aeronautics, handling and automation.

Increased product range

Olex's strength throughout the decades has been largely based on a number of key values. Olex prides itself on providing exceptional service, innovative and future equipped solutions and in being a trusted, solid and consistent supplier of power cables. In addition, the Olex name is synonymous with offering the market a comprehensive range of power cables. This, combined with expert technical knowledge and a local and international presence makes Olex a valuable partner for any customer, be they wholesaler, contractor or end user.

With the acquisition of Olex by Nexans in late 2006, Olex is now positioned to be able to service sectors which were not previously catered for, with specialised products for each market.

With the additional resources of Nexans, Olex can offer a comprehensive range of cables and cabling systems across the infrastructure, industry and building sectors. Olex can draw upon the vast capabilities of Nexans, including its international research centre in France and eight competence centres to develop leading edge products. In addition to being able to provide complete, innovative and reliable products, Nexans is also able to customise solutions to customer needs. All Nexans products comply with the most stringent national and international standards and integrate state of the art technologies.

The extensive range of cables and cabling solutions from Nexans is now available in Australia and is locally supported by the team that made Olex the number one cable manufacturer in Australia.

Local manufacturing still a key

While Olex is able to source products from any of Nexans' 30 plants across the globe, it will continue to manufacture the high quality products for which it has developed its reputation, here in Australia from two manufacturing sites in Tottenham and Lilydale in Victoria, as well as from its manufacturing facility in New Plymouth, New Zealand. Recent and future planned investments in the plants will ensure that Olex continues to manufacture quality locally produced cables for the Australasian market.

Olex has consistently led the market in the development and supply of cables for the electrical supply industry. With extensive experience and expertise in High Voltage and Extra High Voltage Cable and Systems, Olex has a proven track record of supply, management and installation, with more than 13000km of EHV cable installed. Olex has manufacturing and testing capabilities up to 275kV and can offer customers added supply chain value from generation through to transmission with customised solutions, logistical support and supply chain management to name a few.

New products for 2008

Olex is introducing a number of new Nexans products into the market in 2008. Olex can now provide the eading range of Intelligent Enterprise Solutions in cable and connectivity, via the comprehensive range of LANmark-7, LANmark-6 and essential products. With three levels of performance, the Nexans Infrastructure Cabling Solutions provides unsurpassed experience in high quality data solutions for customers of all sizes.

A range of new Industrial products will also be available via Olex in 2008. Titanex single and multicore cables will join the Olex suite of industrial rubber flexible cables, providing customers with a high quality, harmonised standards solution. A number of new flexible rubber and specialist application cables will also be available, particularly in the demanding materials handling market. They include Rheyhalon, Buflex X'Prem, Boitalyon, screened and unscreened Rheyflat, and screened and unscreened PVC flat cables. This increased breadth of products will allow customers greater choice than ever before in industrial cables.

Product range

Data / Communications

Australia's information and communications technology sector is one of the most highly developed in the Asia Pacific Region. Olex supplies the electrical and data communication industries with a wide range of quality communications cables, including Security, Coaxial, LAN, Optical Fibre and Telephone.

Every length of cable produced is subject to rigid testing to the relevant standards at every stage of manufacture. It is this commitment to cable making excellence, coupled with a dedication to customer support, which has made Olex Australia's communication specialist.

New products for 2008 (continued...)

Flexibles

Olex locally manufactures and stocks a wide range of flexible power cords and cables, including both heavy and ordinary duty cords and cables, screened and unscreened, in PVC and various rubber compounds. Olex also manufactures and stocks a full range of single core welding cables in PVC and CPE Rubber.

The launch of the multi application Versolex product in 2003 also added further support for industrial engineers, electricians and consultants when selecting cables. Versolex fills the gap between PVC general purpose flexibles and high-end Titanex and Flexolex products. It is an excellent performer in many types of industrial and commercial applications.

Fire Performance

Pyrolex® is a complete range of halogen free fire performance cables. The fire rated range, including the Ceramifiable® product, is fully tested to the rigorous fire and mechanical performance requirements of Australian Standard AS/NZ3013. The range is flame retardant and halogen free, and features low acidity and low smoke generation under fire. Importantly Pyrolex® is as easy to install as conventional PVC or XLPE power cables.

Instrumentation

Olex has been manufacturing instrumentation cable in Australia for more than 40 years. The Olex range of instrumentation cables - Instrolex® - represents state of the art cables in quality, design and performance. Instrolex® protects signals by rejecting noise, be it common mode, crosstalk, electromagnetic or electrostatic. All screened Instrolex® cables are screened with a tape of aluminium coated polyester film, either overall or individually screened pairs and triples. A direct burial version of Instrolex® is also available where hostile environment can affect standard cable performance.

High Voltage

Olex is Australia's only manufacturer of high voltage and extra high voltage cables rated for 110kV and above. The XLPE cable is produced utilising vertical extrusion technology to latest world standards. The Olex extra high voltage testing facility at their Tottenham plant is the only one of its type in Australia and South Asia, and can test 400kV transmission systems in lengths longer than the Sydney Harbour Bridge.

Rubber (Mining)

Olex manufactures a range of flexible reeling and trailing cables and mine feeder cables suitable for the demands of the worldwide mining industry. Olex reeling and trailing cables are manufactured to AS1802 (Type 200 series), AS2802 (Type 400 series) and AS3007 where applicable.

So it really is Global Products, Local Solutions...

This custom designed automated product packaging machine was introduced to the Lillydale factory in 2005.

Experience, quality and innovation have made Nexans a leader in the global cable industry, and a shaper of tomorrow's cabling solutions. For almost seven decades, Olex has stood for the highest quality and the most innovative technology, from design, through manufacture to installation and service.

Combined, Olex and Nexans now make a formidable team, able to provide Australian customers with the best of both worlds - the widest range of cable with local service and advice, supported by global expertise, experience and know-how.

Whether it's wiring for your home, the new shopping centre down the street, a simple industrial assignment, or a complex oil and gas project, Olex and Nexans have the solution.