Southwire Heflin Medium‑Voltage Expansion Supports Growth and Innovation
Southwire has completed a major upgrade at its Heflin, Alabama manufacturing plant through the Southwire Heflin medium‑voltage expansion project. The company added new production technology to boost efficiency, flexibility, and manufacturing speed across its medium‑voltage product portfolio.
The Heflin Plant, established in 1996, initially expanded Southwire’s capability in medium‑ and high‑voltage cable manufacturing. Until the 2015 acquisition of the Huntersville, North Carolina facility from ABB, Heflin served as Southwire’s only high‑voltage production site. Now, following this latest expansion, the facility focuses on leaner operations, higher output, and a world‑class level of precision.
Continuous Vulcanization Enhancements Advance the Southwire Heflin Medium‑Voltage Expansion
At the core of the modernization effort is an upgraded Continuous Vulcanization (CV) tower, a critical element in medium‑voltage cable production. The project introduced four CV lines, a jacket line, and a test system, enhancing the plant’s capacity and versatility.
These improvements also enable engineers to extrude both cross‑linked polyethylene (XLPE) and ethylene propylene rubber (EPR) insulation. As a result, the Heflin Plant can deliver more customized, high‑quality cable solutions with greater efficiency and speed.
Leadership Leads Modernization and Employee Engagement
“In 2018, funding was approved to modernize and streamline this site for medium‑voltage production,” said Scott Roulaine, Southwire’s Director of Modernization. “This optimization improves material flow, reduces handling, and upgrades older systems to modern standards.”
Roulaine worked closely with David McLendon, Plant Manager, and Emory Barber, Vice President of Engineering, to ensure the project’s successful completion. Together, they laid the foundation for long‑term manufacturing excellence.
“Our people are our greatest resource,” McLendon said. “They’ve excelled since the day this facility opened. With these upgrades, our team now has the advanced tools needed to reach world‑class medium‑voltage manufacturing standards.”
Celebrating the People Behind the Project
To commemorate the achievement, Heflin employees participated in a special signing ceremony, adding their names to the final structural beam of the tower addition. The event celebrated teamwork and commitment to Southwire’s future success.
Now fully modernized, the Heflin facility stands ready to deliver faster production cycles, improved quality, and increased flexibility — setting a new benchmark for medium‑voltage cable manufacturing in North America.
