In an exclusive interaction with Wire & Cable India, Mr. Veikko Nieminen, Sales Director, Maillefer, says that India is a rapidly expanding market, supported by strong economic growth. The increased investments in electrification, power and renewable energy infrastructure, and onshore and subsea applications are driving investments in HV and EHV wire and cable segments. Maillefer is leveraging this strong demand by delivering advanced wire and cable machineries, complete production lines, and integrated solutions, while also maintaining strong capabilities in low-voltage (LV), telecommunications, and fibre-optic segments.
Wire & Cable India: Please briefly outline your company’s cable and wire industry product focus, including key technologies, product types, and principal end-use sectors.
Veikko Nieminen: Maillefer provides one of the most comprehensive portfolios in the wire and cable industry, delivering machinery, complete production lines, and integrated solutions across all major wire and cable segments. The company is widely recognized as a leading technology provider for high-end high-voltage (HV) and medium-voltage (MV) applications, while also maintaining strong capabilities in low-voltage (LV), telecommunications, and fibre-optic segments.
WCI: Within your core product segments, how would you characterize current demand conditions and order visibility?
VN: Demand in the HV and MV wire and cable segments have shown sustained growth and are expected to remain strong. This development is primarily driven by increased investments in renewable energy infrastructure and the continued expansion of electrification. As customers typically plan investments on a long-term basis, order visibility remains relatively strong.
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WCI: Within your manufacturing offerings, how do you currently assess investment sentiment among wire and cable producers, particularly in emerging markets such as India?
VN: India, now the world’s most populous country, continues to demonstrate robust economic growth. This is reflected in significantly increasing investment activity within the wire and cable industry, positioning India as one of the most important growth markets globally.
WCI: Which customer or application requirements are currently exerting the greatest pressure to improve productivity and quality within your product range?
VN: The most demanding requirements are currently observed in high-voltage (HV) and extra-high-voltage (EHV) solutions for both onshore and subsea applications. These projects involve substantial capital investments and require the highest levels of technical performance and quality assurance. As a recognised technology leader, Maillefer is frequently selected as a preferred supplier in this segment.
WCI: Which manufacturing disciplines, automation measures, or quality-assurance practices have delivered the most tangible improvements in yield or rework reduction?
VN: In response to significantly increased production volumes in recent years, Maillefer has strengthened its procurement and quality management functions. This approach ensures consistent quality across internal manufacturing operations and the supplier base, while supporting improved yield, reduced rework, and enhanced delivery performance. Our continuous improvements of our project execution process, engineering and planning processes have also delivered improved accuracy.
India, now the world’s most populous country, continues to demonstrate robust economic growth. This is reflected in significantly increasing investment activity within the wire and cable industry, positioning it as one of the most important growth markets globally.
WCI: How are sustainability and decarbonisation goals translating into practical changes at your company?
VN: Sustainability has long been a core principle of Maillefer’s product strategy, particularly through technologies that support renewable energy generation and transmission. In recent years, increased emphasis has been placed on reducing the carbon footprint of Maillefer’s own manufacturing operations, as well as that of customer cable production processes, in alignment with recognized sustainability frameworks such as EcoVadis.
WCI: How are cost pressures across raw materials, energy, or logistics being managed without compromising product reliability or compliance?
VN: The wire and cable manufacturing sector has experienced considerable cost pressure over the past five years. Maillefer has addressed these challenges through continued product development and closer collaboration with strategic suppliers to improve cost efficiency. Where necessary, part of the cost increases has been reflected in customer pricing, while maintaining full compliance and product reliability.
WCI: How has the wire and cable industry benefited, in practical terms, from automation or real-time digital control?
VN: Automation and real-time digital control have generated measurable benefits for wire and cable producers, particularly in the areas of process stability, quality assurance, scrap reduction, and production efficiency. Maillefer continues to advance digitalization through AI-based technologies, such as topography scanning, with the long-term objective of enabling smart factories with fully automated operation and quality control.
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WCI: Looking ahead three to five years, which wire and cable segments or applications are most likely to drive the next investment cycle?
VN: Current market dynamics are expected to continue over the medium term. The growing deployment of distributed renewable energy sources and the resulting need for long-distance power transmission are anticipated to sustain strong investment demand in HV and EHV cable production technologies. We also foresee near and long-term growth in optical fibre, and data center applications.
WCI: How do you see India as a market?
VN: India represents a rapidly expanding market, supported by strong economic growth and the world’s largest population. These factors are expected to drive substantial investments in power transmission infrastructure, thereby significantly increasing demand for Maillefer’s advanced wire and cable manufacturing solutions.
The growing deployment of distributed renewable energy sources and the resulting need for long-distance power transmission are anticipated to sustain strong investment demand in HV and EHV cable production technologies. We also foresee near and long-term growth in optical fibre, and data center applications.
