Since 1975, Novacavi has built its reputation designing and manufacturing bespoke undersea cables for some of the world’s most demanding civil and military environments. Their work is defined by precision: tailoring electrical, optical, and mechanical performance to the strict requirements of monitoring systems, surveillance networks, submarine instruments, ROVs, UUVs, and a wide range of underwater equipment.

Novacavi joined UDT for the first time in 2025 - recognising UDT as the ‘ideal platform’ - “a truly global arena where they could connect with key players in the international underwater defence technology community.”

As defence programmes demand greater resilience, longer endurance, and improved data integrity under extreme conditions, the need for bespoke cable solutions has never been greater. Novacavi saw UDT as an opportunity to connect with the engineers, operators, and integrators shaping the next generation of undersea systems.

First-Time Exhibitor, Decades of Expertise

Novacavi joined UDT as a first-time exhibitor, bringing with them nearly five decades of engineering experience. Their capabilities span umbilicals, tethers, tow cables, and fully customised designs, including their Aquancable® range developed specifically for undersea monitoring, surveillance, and instrumentation applications.

While their expertise is well established, the company recognised a familiar challenge: undersea cable engineering is deeply technical, often misunderstood, and highly contextual. Each cable configuration is built around a specific mission requirement. To communicate this effectively, they needed direct access to an audience that understands complexity, values innovation, and is willing to discuss real-world operational needs.

UDT’s reputation for technical depth, cross-disciplinary collaboration, and engagement with naval decision-makers made the decision to exhibit straightforward. Novacavi did not see UDT as a platform to introduce themselves to the market, but as a venue to deepen technical dialogue and demonstrate the value of their bespoke approach.

As the team explained in a recent discussion, “UDT gave us the opportunity to showcase our long-standing experience in developing innovative cable solutions. We combine engineering expertise, deep material knowledge, and high manufacturing standards - all of which we were eager to share with the highly engaged, professional community attending the event.”

A Platform for Specialist Dialogue

Many defence events attract large visitor numbers, but only a small portion hold meaningful relevance for subsea cable manufacturers. This is where UDT stands apart. Its audience is highly focused: programme managers, naval engineers, system integrators, procurement teams, researchers, operators, and OEMs working exclusively in underwater technology.

For Novacavi, this created a notably efficient exhibiting experience. They were able to “attract significant interest in their range of custom-designed cables for underwater technologies and harsh environments, leading to new connections and potential collaborations.” These outcomes reinforced the strong value for money of exhibiting at a niche, technically intensive event.

Beyond the obvious tangible ROI, showcasing at UDT also delivered strategically important benefits, opening the door for Novacavi to return in 2026. They gained:

• insight into future subsea capability needs
• understanding of emerging challenges across multiple navies
• visibility into new autonomous and networked underwater systems
• alignment with integrators exploring next-generation design approaches

For a company whose work depends on anticipating customer requirements years in advance, these insights were invaluable.

Building Global Connections Through Strategic Networking

It is a fact well-known in the defence community that networking at UDT extends well beyond exchanging business cards. The event is designed to support structured meetings, informal discussions, and spontaneous opportunities for collaboration.

As a first-time exhibitor, this dynamic proved highly valuable, and Novacavi benefited from both technical and strategic interactions with navies seeking greater reliability for seabed and surveillance applications. In a recent discussion with the UDT team, they noted that “UDT is a dedicated and focused event, reflecting the community’s commitment to continuous learning, innovation, and collaboration.” This collaborative spirit mirrors Novacavi’s own engineering philosophy that durable, high-performing underwater systems are built through shared expertise.

A Successful Showing

Novacavi’s debut at UDT marked an important step in sharing their expertise with the global undersea community. Their success reaffirmed UDT’s role as a convening point for a sector defined by innovation and technical excellence. The event allowed them to demonstrate their capabilities, strengthen relationships, and engage with specialists shaping the future of underwater defence.

For innovators and legacy suppliers looking to mimic their success, the advice is simple: “Take part.” UDT offers a unique opportunity to engage directly with industry leaders, respond to current challenges, and contribute actively to the evolution of underwater defence technology.

But woven into this advice is a practical reminder: come prepared for technical discussion. UDT is not a passive, surface-level exhibition; it is a platform for knowledge exchange. Exhibitors who succeed are those who arrive ready to talk in engineering terms, address real operator challenges, and collaborate on next-generation solutions.

With its focused audience, technical depth, and collaborative environment, UDT proved the ideal venue for Novacavi to showcase their innovation and help shape the future of underwater defence.