1 Sept 2010

POWER TO THE PEOPLE – DYNEEMA® HIGH PERFORMANCE PULLING LINES IMPROVE EFFICIENCY OF CHINESE CROSS-WATER POWER CABLE INSTALLATION PROJECT

URMOND (NL), 1 September 2010 - Power lines connecting the large Chinese island of Zhoushan across an important shipping lane are being constructed quickly and safely thanks to the use of pulling lines made from lightweight, high-strength Dyneema® ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene fiber.

The cables cross several channels separating the mainland from Zhoushan, close to the mouth of the Yangtze river and dozens kilometers out to sea. Pulling lines made with Dyneema® are being used to pull the cables across a total distance of over 6 km. The longest single span in the channel crossing is 2756 meters, between two towers each 370 m high – the highest power line towers in the world.

The project, which is still underway, involves the use of messenger lines to span the crossing and second-stage pulling lines, both made in Dyneema® fiber, with minimum breaking loads of 7 and 30 tonnes respectively. Use of the pulling lines made with Dyneema® is considerably improving the efficiency of the installation project and minimizing the interference to domestic and international shipping.

Engineers working on the project, which is being carried out by the Zhejiang Electric Transmission and Transformation Company (ZETT), said that the high strength of the pulling lines made with Dyneema®, combined with their low weight, high buoyancy, ease of handling and low elongation are all critical advantages over alternative products made from steel or other synthetic fibers. An equally strong steel wire line would be more than seven times heavier than a lines made with Dyneema®.

In this project, messenger lines are used for crossing the channels by tugboat. Because of the class-leading properties of Dyneema® fiber, the process of shooting and positioning the messenger lines is easier, safer and faster than with alternative products. Once the messenger lines are in place, they are used to pull the second-stage pulling lines, which in turn are used to pull SWR pulling lines and finally the power cable itself.

The project plan called for the shipping lane in the main channel to be blocked for no more than two days. This timetable could not have been met using much heavier and harder-to-handle steel pulling lines instead of lines made with Dyneema®.

The successful use of Dyneema® in this important project is just the latest demonstration of how the ultra-high performance fiber excels, not only in traditional infrastructure projects, but also in projects with extreme operating conditions, such as big river and mountain valley crossings.

“Lines made with Dyneema® have over 10 years’ successful history in the cable pulling industry in China,” says Steven Chu, Vice President, Yarn Applications, for DSM Dyneema in the APAC region. “The technical knowledge and support of our local teams, combined with our advanced technology and experience, continues to enable our partners to successfully meet major challenges in large-span projects like this one on Zhoushan island.”

“I’m very proud of this success, as well as the team. It further demonstrates that pulling lines made with Dyneema® are the best choice for the toughest situations.”

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Notes for editors

About DSM Dyneema

DSM Dyneema is the inventor and manufacturer of Dyneema®, the world’s strongest fiber™. Dyneema® is an ultra strong polyethylene fiber that offers maximum strength combined with minimum weight. It is up to 15 times stronger than quality steel and up to 40% stronger than aramid fibers, both on weight for weight basis. Dyneema® floats on water and is extremely durable and resistant to moisture, UV light and chemicals. The applications are therefore more or less unlimited. Dyneema® is an important component in ropes, cables and nets in the fishing, shipping and offshore industries. Dyneema® is also used in safety gloves for the metalworking industry and in fine yarns for applications in sporting goods and the medical sector. In addition, Dyneema® is also used in bullet resistant armor and clothing for police and military personnel. Dyneema® is produced in Heerlen (The Netherlands), Flaach (Switzerland) and in Greenville, North Carolina (U.S.A.). DSM Dyneema is also a partner in a high modulus polyethylene (HMPE) manufacturing joint venture in Japan. Further information on DSM Dyneema is available at www.dyneema.com.

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