In the square of CERN in Geneva, amid the flags of Europe and the world’s leading research institutions, stands a striking image of the superconducting cable that powers the future of science — and at its heart is Tratos technology.
A delegation from Tratos, ENEA; ICAS, including Aldo Di Zenobio, Simonetta Tartu, Alessandro Chiarelli, Luigi Muzzi, Massimo Seri, Antonio Della Corte, and Albano Bragagni, joined partners ENEA and ICAS Srl to celebrate the public exhibition of the superconductor produced for CERN’s High-Luminosity Large Hadron Collider (HL-LHC).
This is not a concept or a prototype. It is real, operational technology — and a symbol of Italian excellence in science and industry.
Where others talk, we deliver.
In the picture, the Tratos President, Ing. Albano Bragagni and Massimo Seri, Tratos Product Development Manager and High Technology Division.
Powering the World’s Most Ambitious Scientific Project
The HL-LHC project — the next major upgrade to the world’s largest and most powerful particle accelerator — demands cables capable of carrying 20,000 amperes of current with zero energy loss.
To meet this challenge, Tratos, together with ENEA and its spin-off ICAS Srl, developed and produced Magnesium Diboride (MgB₂) superconducting cable assemblies. These cables will connect CERN’s new superconducting magnets to their power converters, transmitting massive currents over long distances through cryogenic links cooled to 20 Kelvin (−253 °C).
From Italian Industry to Global Science
Tratos contributed its expertise in high-performance cabling, mechanical protection, and precision insulation systems, ensuring each component could withstand the extreme electromagnetic, thermal, and mechanical stresses of CERN’s environment.
The project represents a perfect fusion of scientific innovation and industrial craftsmanship — where laboratory research becomes large-scale engineering reality.
Recognised Excellence
The European Commission, EUROfusion, and Fusion for Energy have jointly awarded ENEA’s spin-off ICAS Srl the 2024 Fusion Technology Transfer Award.
The award honours the company’s leadership in superconducting technologies developed for ITER, JT-60SA, DTT, and now the HL-LHC, with Tratos as a proud industrial partner bringing those breakthroughs to life.
This achievement demonstrates how Italian research and manufacturing can lead Europe’s clean-energy and high-technology future.
A Milestone Completed
On 14 October 2025, the successful Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) of the tenth and final MgB₂ cable assembly marked the full completion of production for CERN’s HL-LHC Superconducting Links Project.
Each cable assembly represents years of collaboration, design refinement, and precision manufacturing, ensuring that the new generation of superconducting links will perform flawlessly for decades to come.
A Legacy of Innovation
The exhibition in Geneva’s CERN square is more than a display — it is a public testament to what happens when science, engineering, and industry unite. It tells the world that Tratos, ENEA, and ICAS are not just part of the conversation on superconductors — they are writing its next chapter.
From fusion energy to particle physics, from industrial applications to medical innovation, this success underscores Tratos’ enduring commitment to innovation that delivers.
While others talk, Tratos delivers.
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Credits: Main image on top Copyrights © CERN 2025
