Friesland Kabel has the maritime expertise to do this

What - the reader may ask - is so exciting about cables? A triviality, you might think, because we have several transmission products for signals and energy in our hands every day. You get what you need from the DIY store. Or do you?

You guessed it, technically sophisticated systems require a reliable solution for every purpose. Not only electrical engineers will understand that "one-fits-all" does not meet the demands of the shipyard industry in specialised shipbuilding or offshore requirements. And it has to be flexible and just-in-time; no manufacturer can afford a comprehensive cable warehouse. There are specialists for this, too, who are all too easily overlooked in the shadow of the big projects. Time to visit Friesland Kabel.

The name is a distraction, as the company, which is headquartered in Norderstedt near Hamburg, was founded in 2007 and employs up to 50 people at its two sites. The company is part of the Faber Group, one of the largest cable distributors in Europe, and specialises in the supply of electrotechnical cables and wires for maritime applications. These include both civil and military shipbuilding, the offshore wind industry and industrial onshore installations. Friesland Kabel does not act as a manufacturer, but as a specialised distributor. By processing customer-specific orders, including cutting to length, assembling and labelling, a precise supply is guaranteed. Key features are fast response times, flexibility with special requests and close coordination with project partners. And now, when asked where the cable warehouse is, the next surprise follows: in Wismar! It is one of the largest ship cable warehouses in Germany, covering an area of over 10,000 m². Up to 5,000 different types of cable are stored here on 2,500 storage spaces in the high-bay warehouse. The combination of storage capacity and technology enables short transport routes to shipyards and offshore facilities just-in-time. Friesland Kabel sees itself as part of a resilient supply infrastructure, both for short-term requirements and long-term projects. The self-image is to guarantee short-term delivery capability. This includes, in particular, supporting the German Navy in providing complex deliveries even under time pressure. In conversation with Managing Director Malte Witowski, the word 'war capability' actually comes up. The company deliberately positions itself as a partner in a sensitive market environment - without military pathos, but with a clear understanding of operational requirements. It is not without good reason that the company does not like the term 'cable warehouse'; it sees itself as a logistics centre. The word "wholesale" is also not appropriate; products are not just waved through here. The company talks to customers itself, attends trade fairs such as the DWT Marine Workshop, SMM Hamburg and Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami and provides advice. Anyone who thinks that cable reels are moved here with forklift trucks is mistaken. A typical working day involves picking and packing cable harnesses according to project-specific requirements - supported by digital systems. Whether military cables according to the VG standard for submarine construction at TKMS, luxury yachts such as the Artefact from the Nobiskrug shipyard with civilian ship cables or major projects in the offshore sector - Friesland Kabel supplies the connecting elements. So the next time we go to the DIY store and think that cables are always so trivial - they certainly are not.

Daniel Angres