For today's automobile, which can be likened to a mass of electronics, wiring harnesses

are becoming increasingly important. At the same time, wires containing polyvinyl

chloride (PVC) as insulation are considered hazardous to the environment, and their

improvement is being called for. Facing the challenge of developing wires with reduced

environmental impact, AutoNetworks Technologies, Ltd., researching and developing

automotive wiring harnesses; Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., in charge of designing and manufacturing; and Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., handling business planning and sales, worked together as a team and, after five years of trial and error working on wire strength and flame retardancy enhancement, and

diameter and weight reduction using new materials, succeeded in developing a practically applicable super-fine

halogen-free electric wire with a conductor cross section of 0.35 mm2*.