Telecom Networks

Nexans GRHL Ultimate™ – Love at First Blow

Jul 1, 2024

Nexans GRHL Ultimate™ – Love at First Blow

Kenth Wennerstam, project manager at Savman, stands along a country road between Vrigstad and Sävsjö with his son Kenny Wennerstam, fiber project manager at Savman. They are in high spirits, discussing yesterday's achievement when they both experienced love at first blow. Despite many years in the industry, this is the first time they have chosen Nexans fiber cable, specifically Nexans GRHL Ultimate™ 144. It was love at first sight. Nexans' Gustav Nädele, product manager for infrastructure, and Per-Magnus Johansson, infrastructure sales representative, are always close to their customers and meet up at the roadside to hear more.

Kenth started with fiber in Sävsjö as a contractor during the Swedish fiber rush in 2004 and has been employed by the municipal company Savman since 2007, delivering technical solutions and services via the fiber network in Sävsjö municipality. This time, it's time to future-proof and replace one of the fiber cables that were buried in 2004. Over the years, Savman has found an efficient working method within the company in close collaboration with local contractors.

Personal Best

On-site, we also find fiber blower Per Carlsson from Tranås Energi and excavator operator Alexander Elofsson from Slageryds Entreprenad - two of the long-standing partners. Alexander knows exactly where all the wells are and appreciates the ease of knowing everyone involved. Per is also experienced and has blown many miles of fiber over the years, but together with Nexans Ultimate, he has set his personal best this time with a distance of 3555 meters without stopping: "If it wasn't the end station, we could have blown even further." To further understand everyone's joy, one must consider that the cable was blown into an existing conduit buried 20 years ago. The conduit runs both in the road and in the roadside and has withstood Nordic weather changes and strains with frost and the like for two decades.

People, Laser Marking, and a Fiber-rich Breakfast

It’s getting crowded on the roadside as Savman's CEO Johan Thomélius joins along with Angelica Magnusson, customer support, and Christian Aspås, technician. They talk about technical advancements and today's seasoned veterans perform the nail test to see how Nexans' laser marking holds up during handling. It gets top marks: "It was impossible to even scratch off a small bit." Substantial breakfast sandwiches with coffee are enjoyed, perhaps having something to do with Kenth's experience - a full crew is a happy crew. Experience is a subject that constantly recurs, and despite technical advances with slimmer cables and laser marking, experience carries significant weight. Knowing where cables and wells are, being able to handle a blow machine in all weather, knowing small simple tricks when you need to sling a cable in an eight shape, etc., are invaluable. Johan, who is new to the CEO position, can calmly rely on today's crew.

Blowing Cold Winds

Johan talks about how Sweden is at the forefront of fiber expansion and that the major expansion is completed in most places, including Sävsjö Municipality, which covers 100% of urban areas and 98% of rural areas. Much of today's fiber is used to replace and strengthen the existing network. He agrees with the company's focus on experience, people, and successful collaborations. In recent years, there has also been a great focus on security, a focus area shared with colleagues across the country. Being able to offer a secure connection point in company-owned premises with self-monitoring to operators is a feather in Savman's cap, as troubled times in the world demand preparedness, resilience, and endurance. The same security thinking applies when choosing cables, so having the opportunity to get high-quality fiber cable developed and produced in Grimsås a few miles away is highly valued.

Nexans fiber cable appears in the well 1970 meters away, and the team moves on to the next well where it will be double-blown, meaning blowing in a new cable in a conduit where there is already a cable. The north wind kicks up seriously, and the rain pours down over the field where the well is located, but this does not stop the work.

A round-cut sponge is attached to the end of the fiber cable, one of Per's many experience tricks to avoid problems. When the coiled cable needs to be turned, this is done without any words being exchanged. It looks like a coordinated dance in the field, and it doesn't take many minutes before the fiber appears in the next well on the other side of the stream.

Does the Ultimate Cable Already Exist?

The team warms up in the hot air from the compressor, and when asked what they want from a fiber cable in the future, everyone is silent until Per says: "Nexans GRHL Ultimate 144 is small and neat yet stable. It slides easily and is not too thick, while the blow machine has no problem getting a grip on it. The cable is stable and hasn’t caused any issues; everything has gone great." The rest of the team agrees, so Per's words become their declaration of love for the fiber cable of the future – which already exists.

A huge thank you for the hospitality from everyone involved.