APAR Industries Partners with AssetCool to Launch Advanced Coated Conductors
APAR Industries Limited has entered into a commercial licensing arrangement with UK-based AssetCool to manufacture and market photonic-coated conductors for overhead power transmission applications.
APAR Industries Limited, a global manufacturer of aluminium and alloy conductors, has entered into a strategic arrangement with AssetCool (Cable Coatings Limited), headquartered in England, UK, to commercialise advanced coated conductor technologies.
Under the agreement, AssetCool has granted APAR a commercial licence to procure and apply its proprietary SE01 (Surface Enhanced) photonic coating, along with the associated application equipment. This will enable APAR to manufacture coated conductors and offer them in India and international markets.
The companies have also agreed in principle to collaborate on the deployment of AssetCool’s robotic in-field coating technology, which is designed to increase the capacity of existing overhead transmission lines.
Five Years of Technology Development
APAR and AssetCool have been collaborating on R&D and innovation for the past five years to develop SE01-coated aluminium conductors for overhead transmission applications.
The collaboration combines AssetCool’s photonic coating technology with APAR’s conductor manufacturing capabilities. The companies have undertaken technology development, process optimisation, trials, testing, simulations and field evaluations, supported by third-party laboratory validation.
The technology has now progressed from the development stage to a validated and scalable solution for commercial deployment in advanced overhead transmission applications.
Higher Ampacity and Lower Losses
AssetCool’s SE01 coating is designed to improve the thermal performance of overhead conductors by reducing solar heat absorption and increasing thermal emissivity. According to the companies, the coating can lower conductor operating temperatures by up to 25% under comparable power transfer conditions.
The technology can enable up to a 30% increase in ampacity or approximately a 10% reduction in power losses, while supporting improved performance of overhead transmission and distribution conductors, including High Temperature Low Sag (HTLS) conductors.
The coated conductors can be used in both new transmission projects and existing-line uprating applications. For greenfield projects, factory-applied coatings can provide higher ampacity and improved thermal efficiency while allowing utilities to use existing installation tools and procedures.
For existing infrastructure, coated HTLS conductors can further enhance the capacity achieved through reconductoring, enabling higher power transfer within existing transmission corridors.
Future Focus on Robotic In-Field Coating
The broader collaboration will also explore the deployment of AssetCool’s robotic coating technology for suitable existing transmission lines. The system is designed to apply coatings to conductors while the lines remain energised, potentially enabling capacity upgrades without shutdowns or extensive infrastructure modifications.
Commenting on the partnership, Chaitanya N. Desai, Managing Director, APAR Industries Limited, said: “As utilities worldwide seek faster and more cost-effective ways to optimise and modernise their grids, advanced coated conductors represent a compelling opportunity to unlock additional capacity. Our collaboration positions us at the forefront of this emerging market, enabling us to deliver differentiated solutions that support the evolving energy landscape, reduce carbon emissions, and create long-term value for customers and stakeholders.”
Manish Agrawal, CEO – Conductor and Telecom Businesses, APAR Industries Limited, said: “By incorporating advanced surface engineering into our manufacturing platform, we are creating a new category of high-performance coated conductors that will help utilities optimise grid efficiency, enhance system reliability, extend asset life, reduce lifecycle losses and strengthen the resilience of transmission infrastructure, helping create a future-ready grid.”
Niall Coogan, CEO of AssetCool, said APAR’s advanced conductor capabilities and AssetCool’s photonic coating technology offer strong synergies, adding that the companies look forward to commercialising the technology globally and advancing robotic in-field uprating solutions.
