SMD partners with Prysmian to revolutionise power cable installation
Opening its third North East facility, Subsea technology and services company SMD has consolidated a £3m investment in the region, delivering a strategically important innovative asset for Prysmian.
The investment builds on SMD’s strong heritage in the North East, where it has operated for over 50 years. With over 300 staff, SMD remains a key regional employer and major contributor to the area’s thriving subsea engineering economy.
Large scale technical innovation developed and deliveredbby SMD for Prysmian Image: SMD
Mike Jones, chairman at SMD, said:
“SMD Tech Works is a milestone investment for us and the region. This facility reflects our continued growth as we surpass a headcount of 300 and pursue our target of £150m turnover by 2030.
“Over the years, we have brought 12 world-first technologies to market, and this new space will ensure we remain at the forefront of subsea innovation.
“Importantly, it also strengthens our connection to the North East community, helping us create valuable career opportunities for local people, support skills development, and contribute to the clean energy supply chain.”
The new facility will house SMD’s dedicated innovation division, including a state-of-the-art test tank and development laboratories specially designed to accelerate research and development efforts and power future technological advances.
SMD Tech Works, based at Neptune Energy Park on the River Tyne, is dedicated to underwater technology development and innovation. It provides 1,800sqm of space for a growing order book and enables SMD to continue efficiently delivering pioneering subsea solutions to clients globally.
Mayor Kim McGuinness (left) with Mike Jones (far right) Image: SMD
The facility, opened by North East Mayor Kim McGuinness who said:
“The North East will be the home of the green energy revolution, creating thousands of highly skilled jobs for our communities.
“Investments like this from SMD show the potential within the green energy sector in the North East”.
The investment is already paying dividends.
Prysmian, the global leader in power cable solutions, has taken delivery of a unique, heavy-duty power cable plough from SMD. The plough is the first of two systems with the second to be delivered later this year.
Image: Prysmian
The vehicles will be mobilised on Prysmian’s new-generation cable-laying vessels, the Alessandro Volta and Mona Lisa.
The ploughs have been designed to bury a conventional multi-core power cable, a bundled 2-pole power cable, and a quad bundle up to a maximum of 5m beneath the mean seabed level. The handling of a quad bundle in twin carousels, through the back deck, over the stern, into the plough, and into the trench has been a true example of an innovative partnership.
By combining Prysmian’s extensive expertise in power cable design and offshore installation processes with SMD’s advanced cable handling and plough design capabilities, the two companies are addressing a unique opportunity within the industry.
Paul Davison (left) and Peter Watson
Paul Davison, Deputy CEO at SMD, explains: “We are proud to have delivered this innovative plough to our partner Prysmian. This partnership in innovation demonstrates to grid operators that the next generation of power cables can be designed, built, installed, and protected with the highest level of assurance.
“This technology is ready to support 2GW offshore grid connections that are crucial for linking energy generation to security of supply, and their capacity positions them as a national strategic priority. The quad bundles will provide grid connections from the next-generation offshore wind farms to key industrial hubs deep in the heart of industrial Europe. They will also link renewable energy resources to high-density demand by an offshore green link, offsetting the need for land cables, pylons and disruption to the local population.”
“We’ve had a long and successful partnership with Prysmian as they’ve expanded their offshore installation services, with these being their 4th and 5th SMD plough assets. They have been expert plough operators, quietly and effectively laying and burying thousands of kilometres of power cables around the world, and we look forward to continuing our partnership in equipment and being a dependable OEM service provider.”
Including SMD jetting and hard ground trenching tools, Prysmian has the full complement of burial assets for any power cable type or seabed challenge.
Peter Watson, UK Marine Marine Base and VOO Manager responsible for Prysmian’s Subsea Assets, added: “Prysmian is proud to have partnered with SMD on the development of a state-of-the-art subsea plough. This innovative machine combines Prysmian’s extensive operational expertise with SMD know-how to tackle the most demanding submarine projects.”