Prysmian Communications Cables & Systems USA LLC history

1904 NSW, a General Cable Company based in Nordenham, Germany, produced and installed a trans-Atlantic submarine telecommunications cable line connecting Borkum, Germany, via the Azores to New York – 4,967 conductor miles.

1910 At the same time as the rapid development of the future Prysmian, the company was founded that would later take the name of Draka.

1927 After officially incorporating in New Jersey, United StatesA., the Company designed a distinctive identity by which it would be known to its many customers, suppliers, investors and associates.

1935 Supplied 100% of the cable for the power transmission line from the Hoover Dam to Los Angeles, California, United StatesA. – 1,626 conductor miles.

1964 Adopted a new logo to reinforce and promote the letters “GCC” as the accepted abbreviation for General Cable Corporation.

1970 That year was one of the milestones in the history of Draka: the company was acquired by the Dutch multinational Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V., known as Philips, and became part of its Wires and Cables division.

1971 Supplied hundreds of miles of power and communications cable to link the control facilities with the launch platforms at Cape Canaveral, Florida, United StatesA.

1977 Designed, developed and manufactured a 5.6-mile optical fibre cable that GTE installed in California, United StatesA., as the world’s first light wave communications system to provide regular telephone service to the public.

Through a buyout financed by Parcom and Flint Beheer, Draka became independent in 1986 at which point the name Draka was born.

1990 The 1990s saw Prysmian and Draka running at a faster and faster rate.

In 2009, Italian cable manufacturer Prysmian made a takeover offer for Draka, but doubts began to emerge in August.

In October 2010, French cable maker Nexans made a €15/share offer to buy the 43.9% of the company held by Flint Beheer, an investment fund owned by the wealthy Fentener van Vlissingen family.

The offer was launched on 5 January 2011 and concluded successfully on 8 February 2011.