NKT Builds Landmark Extrusion Tower in Karlskrona
NKT started construction on a new cable extrusion tower at its Karlskrona facility in Sweden. The company aims to create the world’s largest factory for high‑voltage offshore power cables and support rapid grid expansion.
For more on NKT and its high‑voltage solutions, visit https://www.nkt.com.
Slipform Concrete Construction Reaches New Heights
On July 31, NKT began slipform concrete casting for its third extrusion tower in Karlskrona. The structure will reach about 200 meters and become Sweden’s second‑tallest tower.
Over the next months, trucks will deliver concrete about once per hour, so the tower rises quickly and efficiently. Darren Fennell, executive vice president and head of HV Solutions Karlskrona, called this phase a major milestone for the expansion.
Role of the Tower in High-Voltage Cable Production
The new extrusion tower plays a crucial role in adding insulation to the high‑voltage power cables that NKT produces in Karlskrona. Because of its height and controlled processing environment, the tower helps NKT manufacture longer, higher‑quality offshore and interconnector cables.
In turn, these enhanced capabilities support major grid, interconnector, and offshore wind projects that rely on reliable long‑length high‑voltage cable systems.
Broader Investment Program and New Jobs
The extrusion tower forms part of a wider investment program in NKT’s high‑voltage power cable business. The plan also includes a second cable‑laying vessel, which will start operating in 2027 and work alongside the expanded Karlskrona factory.
As part of this growth strategy, NKT plans to hire more than 500 new employees by 2027 and reports that recruitment in Karlskrona already moves ahead on schedule.