Electrical powerhouse Eland Cables is ramping up expansion as global demand surges with data centres, artificial intelligence systems and critical infrastructure decarbonisation projects leading the charge. The independent UK producer, which has hit a record £273m turnover this year, operates a site in Doncaster with an office in London and supplies thousands of the low and medium voltage connections that are a mainstay of today’s power distribution landscape and the electricity-hungry, green energy transition.

The 30 per turnover rise reflects its key role in decarbonisation projects and recently it secured a £70m funding package from HSBC to expand its sustainability projects work spanning sectors including renewable energy, automation and manufacturing. Clients, both contractors and end users, are in over 100 countries and include Network Rail, Tesla and US multinational General Electric.

Sales have rapidly increased post-pandemic for the business which, after almost 50 years of trading and a key management buy-out in 2006, employs 237 with 88 per cent staff retention rate. Now seeing a 50 per cent year-on-year increase in orders, a turnover of £300 million plus is the aim for 2026. The cables, composed of rubber and metals - predominantly copper and aluminium, are designed in house with manufacturing carried out in Europe and Turkey. After that the products are returned for distribution and storage.

The cables, composed of rubber and metals - predominantly copper and aluminium, are designed in house with manufacturing carried out in Europe and Turkey. After that the products are returned for distribution and storage.

Innovations such as its cable testing laboratory, a centre of excellence, with gold-standard accreditations and a cable recycling operation, both in Doncaster, are giving Eland (www.elandcables.com) the edge over competitors while investment in a fleet of more than 50 HGVs running on HVO biofuel underline its commitments to reliable delivery and sustainability.  

Yet despite being the arteries of the modern world keeping it running, electrical cables are unsung heroes and “never thought of as an industry,” reflects Eland’s executive director Jean-Sebastien Pelland.“Yet Eland is central to this once-in-a-generation upgrade to critical infrastructure and one of the fastest growing suppliers. We’re increasing our stockholding and orders are at a record high. There are nuances to every inquiry so the exact product is delivered as requested. We also understand our customer knows his industry but is not necessarily a cable expert so our technical advice really counts. There’s never a one-size-fits-all solution for industry.”

Medium voltage cables, chunky ones running from local substations into transformers in long runs and often buried underground, are strong sellers with Saudi Arabia and Africa opening up some of the biggest opportunities. 

“There are always variants depending on performance demands, installation design and environmental challenges,” adds Pelland. “They are installed at the early-stages of any project build so have the advantage of us being involved from the get-go.” 

And in a marketplace where sub-standard cables circulate with the potential to cause horrendous disruption, Eland’s testing lab “gives customers peace of mind so they can install with confidence,” he explains. Its zero waste landfill operations ensure non-recyclable materials are turned into biofuel pellets, and the others recycled such as the rubber for playgrounds and lead for plumbing supplies with even the wooden drum cable holders shredded for animal bedding or biomass.

 On the investment front funding has come from profits and Eland’s bank HSBC playing a key role in providing trade finance. “This supports us especially as we trade in many different currencies so we stay competitive and withstand supply chain challenges,” says Pelland who with the latest growth investment plans to open more plants. “Cables are much more than they look and replacing cables is too expensive now so we match longevity with application for our customers. Our cables make it to site on time and in optimum condition. A decade ago it was all about switchgear and airport expansions, now it is data centres.”