It has been 110 years since the first underground power cable, 2.7km rubber-insulated lead-covered lighting cable, was imported and put into operation in Shanghai (China) in March of 1897 (the 22nd year of Guangxu Emperor of the Qing Dynasty). The application of Chinese cables started in Shanghai. Since the 1990s, China’s wire and cable manufacturing industry has entered a period of rapid development. In 2000, the output value of the cable manufacturing industry was 4.8 times and the sales volume was 5.2 times that of 1990 . The increase in the output value of the wire and cable manufacturing industry in China has been synchronized with the GDP growth, indicating that the wire and cable manufacturing industry is still a developing industry in China. In 2002, the output value of China’s wire and cable industry accounted for about 1.5% of the national economic output value. The amount of copper reached 3.1 million tons, and replaced the United States as the world's largest copper consumer. In 2005, global copper demand will exceed production by 172,000 tons, while China's copper demand in the same year will increase by 8% over the previous year. It is expected that in the next decade, the wire and cable industry will grow at a rate slightly higher than the national economic output.
Nowadays, the criss-crossing cable network has spread all over our cities. In many cities the underground power cables transmit electric energy every second, sending cables to factories, enterprises, streets, and residences, filling modern cities with vigor, vitality and light. In recent years, the government has decided to accelerate the development of the central and western regions, especially the development of infrastructure construction, transportation, energy, communications, and the development of real estate, automobiles, home appliances and other industries. It has brought new opportunities to the wire and cable manufacturing industry.
(1954) Successful trial production of China's first copper tram line
In 1954, the Shanghai Municipal People's Government Heavy Industry Administration was established to manage the factories of the city's heavy industry system. On January 5 of that year, the first domestic copper tram line was successfully trial-produced, ending the history of relying on imports for tram lines, creating benefits for the country and saving costs.
(1957) China's first-generation marine cable
In the 1950s, China set off a trend of learning from the Soviet Union, and imitated the Soviet Union's advanced technology to improve industry level. In March 1957, China imitated the CPM type marine cable in accordance with the Soviet standard and used it in the construction of the "Ocean" rectangular ship that year. On May 1,1957, the first marine cable was successfully trial-produced in accordance with Soviet technology. With the deterioration of Sino-Soviet relations in the 1960s, China began to stride forward the steps of independent research, development and entrepreneurship in 1962. In 1966, the production of marine cables adopted core structures, new materials, new processes, and the products reached the standards issued by the ministry. In 1975, the CPM series of marine cables were successfully developed, with a total of 16 models, as the artery of marine equipment, providing signal transmission, power transmission, and lighting for boats and ship.
(1959) Successful trial production of coaxial cable in China's first long-distan
On September 12, 1959, China’s first long-distance trunk line coaxial cable was successfully trial-produced, and it was erected along the coast from Shanghai to Guangdong, opening up a new field of coaxial cable.
(1960) China's first 700,000 volt ultra-high voltage air core overhead line
On April 25, 1960, Marshal Nie Rongyuan visited Shanghai, which coincided with the final stage of the trial production of 700,000 volt ultra-high voltage air core overhead line project by Shanghai Cable Factory. After understanding the situation of the industry, Marshal Nie Rongyuan inquired about the production process of the trial-produced products being conducted by Shanghai Cable Factory, and put forward some constructive opinions on the future development of Shanghai Cable Factory. Two days later, the first domestically produced 700,000 volt ultra-high voltage air-core overhead line was successfully trial-produced and put into production in Shanghai.
(1971) The national standard of 70℃—90℃ 600V overhead insulation was officially
The United States had formulated a national standard for overhead insulated cables with a temperature of 70°C-90°C 600V; after the fast development of overhead insulated cables in the 1960s, the development level of overhead insulated cables in various countries was uneven situation and the lack of a unified view on the identification of technical standards once caused chaos in the industry. In order to coordinate various conflicts, on May 23, 1971, developed countries such as the United States, Sweden, Germany, and France gathered in Detroit to discuss the formulation of national standards for overhead insulated cables. On October 3 of that year, a draft national standard for 600V overhead insulated cables at 70°C-90°C recognized by the United States, Sweden, Germany, France and other developed countries was promulgated, and it was officially approved on December 19. So far, countries have strictly complied with national standards to produce overhead insulated cables and standardize industry operation rules.
(1971) China's first foam polyethylene insulated cable
Foamed polyethylene insulated communication cable produced in 1971: polyethylene appeared in the 1960s with physical foamed polyethylene as the insulating material has the advantages of low attenuation and fast propagation speed. The emergence of new materials has brought new opportunities for the development of the industry. On September 9, 1971, the foamed polyethylene insulated communication cable was successfully produced. This special cable was widely used in Delta's mobile communication and radar systems, and became an indispensable part of the long-distance communication trunk at that time.
