General Cable Named in Canterbury Export Awards

Media Release
17 May 2007

General Cable Named in Canterbury Export Awards

Nomination Reflects Agility and Focus on Quality

General Cable New Zealand’s selection as a finalist in the ANZ Canterbury Export Awards reflects the company’s recent strong performance in Australian and Pacific markets, the company says.

The Christchurch-based cable manufacturer, nominated in the Skellerup Canterbury Exporter of the Year category, has seen substantial export growth over the past three years, particularly in the Australian market.

GCNZ General Manager Andy Lester says that success has come from targeting niche markets across the Asia-Pacific region, and from the flexibility of its manufacturing operation.

“At a time when many local manufacturers are closing doors, we’re opening up into new markets,” Mr Lester says. “A major factor in that success has been our ability to meet customers’ requirements for reliability, quality and product specialisation.”

Supplying cable products into diverse situations, from large-scale electricity transmission and distribution to highly specialised telecommunications and data projects, requires immense flexibility to meet our customers’ demands for short lead times, low volumes and a wide product range, Mr Lester says.

“Across the world, most cable plants are set up to produce large volumes of a narrow range of products. Here, we’re a lot more agile – we can produce a huge range. We probably manufacture the largest range of cable on a single site anywhere in the world.”

The bulk of export production goes to Australia, where sales have grown substantially in the past three years, partly as a result of the company establishing a new distribution arm, General Cable Australia. During the same period sales into the Pacific have remained consistent despite difficult trading conditions, Mr Lester says.

“It’s also about having a great team. Our setup means we have a multi-skilled workforce, and our people bring a huge amount of experience, as well as a passion for excellence and getting it right.”

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GCNZ has a turnover of more than $200 million annually and employs some 420 people, 300 of them in the five Christchurch production facilities manufacturing energy, electrical, telecommunications and data cables. and flexible cabling products.

“This award nomination is a welcome recognition for our people and our systems,” Mr Lester says. “One of the reasons we’re achieving these export results is the uncompromising focus we place on the highest possible quality standards.

“Trading conditions are not easy for exporters right now – so the quality of our products and our business are helping ensure we stand out from the competition and remain a preferred partner for our customers.”

The company has recently developed a new $2 million warehouse centre on the site, which will consolidate transport and logistics for its manufacturing and export operations.

The export award nomination adds to the recognition GCNZ achieved in 2002 when it won a Target Zero special award for business efficiency, in the Canterbury Resource Management Awards.

About General Cable
General Cable (NYSE: BGC), headquartered in Highland Heights, Kentucky, is a leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminium and fibre optic wire and cable products for the communications, energy and specialty markets. The Company offers competitive strengths in such areas as breadth of product line, brand recognition, distribution and logistics, sales and service and operating efficiency. Communications wire and cable products transmit low-voltage signals for voice, data, video and control applications. Energy cables include low-, medium- and high-voltage power distribution and power transmission products. The Specialty segment is comprised of application-specific cables for uses such as electrical power generation (traditional fuels, alternative and renewable sources, and distributed generation), the oil, gas and petrochemical industries, mining, industrial automation, automotive, marine, military and aerospace applications, power applications in the telecommunications industry, and other key industrial segments. Visit our website at www.GeneralCable.com.

ENDS

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