Exel: Seo Kanghyeon will support global adoption of composite conductor cores

 Two months ago, Exel announced the appointment of Seo Kanghyeon as area sales manager for conductor core business. Since July 1, Seo has been responsible for forging new relationships with conductor manufacturers, transmission system operators (TSOs) and power utilities companies globally. He draws on his technical expertise and experience of power conductors to further advance carbon fibre conductor cores as a grid-enhancing technology (GET). 

Seo becomes the newer member of Exel’s conductor core-focused team, alongside product manager Heini Kloster and director for product management Antti Hassinen. Global electrical grids are struggling to keep up with the demands of electric vehicles (EVs), data centres and the integration of renewable energy sources. Reconductoring transmission networks with composite conductor cores offers double the capacity and reduced energy losses in half the time of building new infrastructure. “Carbon fibre conductor cores are typically divided into single-wire and multi-wire categories,” Heini Kloster explains on Excel website. “While single-wire cores are better known and still a slightly more economical option, TSOs are increasingly turning their interest towards the second-generation multi-wire cores for their safety and robustness.”

Seo’s experience as a design engineer and sales manager for overhead conductors and underground cables, both for LS Cable & System in his native South Korea, make him perfectly suited for the role. s composite conductors are an emerging topic, Seo will focus on educating and sharing his knowledge about their adoption rather than trying aggressive sales techniques.

A deep conviction about the role of conductor cores in the effective modernisation of electrical grids

Seo humorously explains why he sincerely believes in the importance of his role: “To me, this role is as much about customer support as it is about making sales,” explained Seo. “I took this role because I believe deeply that composite conductor cores represent the only viable way to modernise the world’s power grids quickly and cost-effectively. For that to happen, conductor manufacturers and TSOs need experienced, technical support on integration. Ultimately, I’m here to serve their best interests. If you like, I’m the resin binding Exel’s R&D and product teams with the power transmission community!”

Seo first discovered Exel in 2023 while working at LS Cable & System. During a visit to Exel’s factory in Mäntyharju, Finland, he was so impressed by the company’s pultrusion capabilities and testing laboratory, as well as the challenge of implementing composite conductor cores, that he did not hesitate to move to Finland to take up his new position.

“No question, customers will benefit from this match,” said Francesco Ierullo, Exel’s vice president of sales and marketing. “The world’s largest pultrusion company and an experienced design engineer with knowledge of conductor manufacturing? We can’t wait for Seo to work with our customers towards the future of power transmission.” 

Exel even produced a white paper explaining why they think composite conductor cores are the only way to upgrade electrical grids for the demands of the 2020s and beyond.