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Wire Journal News

Madison, Connecticut, USA – November 16, 2023 – The Wire Association International (WAI), Inc. reports it completed another popular educational program and Suppliers Market in Monterrey, Mexico, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, November 13-15, 2023, which marks the fourth staging of the event in Monterrey.

Commenting on the occasion, 2009 WAI Past President Antonio Ayala said “The conference had first-class presentations that were informative for all personnel levels. The table top exhibits in the Suppliers Market were of high quality and staffed with technical people. All enjoyed the meal and music at the welcome dinner. And the visit to the Viakable plant was both well planned and well received. Overall the conference was a success.”

HIGHLIGHTS
NOVEMBER 13 and 14

Seven presentations were held throughout the day Monday beginning with a panel discussion among wire and cable executives about the challenges and opportunities that will define the industry over the coming years. Panelists included Felipe Martinez, CEO, Kobrex, S.A. de C.V.; Andres Guerra Siller, Commercial director of mesh and wire, DeAcero S.A.P.I. de C.V.; and Wesley Rios, Commercial director of Viakon México, Viakable. The session was moderated by 2023 WAI President, and President of SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS, Kurt Breischaft.

Nine presentations were given Tuesday. Both days featured activity in the adjacent Suppliers Market, where representatives from 34 exhibiting companies met with attendees.

NOVEMBER 15
Visitors toured both the Viakable plant to see the company’s continuous casting operations and its Technical Center.

SPONSORS: Calmec, Cemanco, Fort Wayne Wire Die, FRIGECO USA, SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS, Setic/ Pourtier, Thermoplastics Engineering Corp., Troester GmbH & Co. KG, and Viakon/Viakable

CONFERENCE COMMITTEE
2009 WAI Past President Antonio Ayala of AA Enterprise; Raύl Garcia director of technology and engineering, Viakable; and Eugenio Urbina, director business development, Troester.

WAI, founded in 1930, is a not-for-profit association with more than 2,200 individual members in 50 countries. The association serves the educational needs of the wire and cable manufacturing industry through a variety of products and services. WAI manages the Interwire Trade Exhibition and Wire Expo and publishes the Wire Journal International and the Wire Journal International Reference Guide.

Media Contacts: Janice E. Swindells, Director Marketing & Corporate Communications, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 001-203-453-2777, x. 117; Steven J. Fetteroll, Executive Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 001-203-453-1777.

Madison, Connecticut, USA. The Wire Association International (WAI), Inc. announces the appointment of Kurt F. Breischaft as the 70th president of the association for a one-year term that commences on Jan. 1, 2023. Breischaft will chair the Board of Directors of the 93-year-old association, which is headquartered in Madison, Connecticut, USA.
Breischaft has more than 30 years’ experience in the copper industry. He is president of SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS, a copper rod and wire mill in New Haven, Indiana, a post he has held since November 2013. Prior to that Breischaft held roles of increasing importance including vice president and general manager of Cerro Plumbing, a Marmon Group/Berkshire Hathaway Company; plant manager for Belden Americas - Nogales, Mexico and Belden/Thermax; and positions as process engineer, engineering manager, plant manager, and manufacturing manager at the Essex Group, Inc./Superior Essex.

An active WAI member since 2000, Breischaft received its 2006 Wire Link Scholarship. His valuable contributions through volunteer leadership within the association include serving two terms on WAI’s Board of Directors; participation on WAI’s Executive and Oversight Committees; chair of its Member Relations Committee; and Executive Committee Liaisonship to its Finance, Memorial Awards, and Education Committees. In addition to his role as 2023 WAI president, Breischaft will serve as Co-Chair of its Conference Programming Committee, Chair of its Oversight Committee, and Executive Committee Liaison to its Education Committee.

Commenting on this new appointment, Breischaft said, “I look forward to advancing the latest WAI education initiative, developing multimedia training modules, and building on WAI’s legacy products such as handbooks. This will be a crucial step for the next generation of industry engineers and operators.”

Breischaft holds a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Terre Haute, Indiana, USA, and an M.B.A. degree from Indiana Wesleyan University, Marion, Indiana, USA.

The Wire Association International, Inc. is governed by a network of volunteers from around the globe. Joining Breischaft for the 2023 term are members of the association’s 2023 Executive Committee: First Vice President Daniel Blais, Prysmian Group; Second Vice President Eric Bieberich, Fort Wayne Wire Die; David Fisher,
James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp.; and Immediate Past President James R. York, Insteel Industries, Inc.

SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS is a joint venture between Steel Dynamics, Inc. and the La Farga Group. The company is driven by a team of just over 120 employees and utilizes a patented advanced refining process that melts environmentally friendly material as well as established shaft furnace technology. Both processes yield a high purity cast and rolled 8 mm copper rod product. Steel Dynamics Inc., headquartered in Fort Wayne, IN, is a member of the S&P 500 and is one of the largest metals recyclers and metals producers in North America. La Farga Group, headquartered in Barcelona, Spain., has been has providing copper recycling solutions since 1808.

WAI, founded in 1930, is a not-for-profit association with more than 2000 individual members in 50 countries. The association serves the educational needs of the wire and cable manufacturing industry through a variety of products and services. WAI manages the Interwire Trade Exhibition and the WAI Operations Summit & Wire Expo and publishes the Wire Journal International and the Wire Journal International Reference Guide.

Media Contacts: Janice E. Swindells, Director Marketing & Corporate Communications, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 001-203-453-2777, x. 117; Steven J. Fetteroll, Executive Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 001-203-453-1777.

1/31/2022 – SAMP USA reported two key positions. Sandy Scroggs, who has been with the company for more than 30 years, has been promoted to general manager. He will keep his current position as service manager. He started with SAMP in 1988 as a service technician, and was named service manager in 2000. Brett Hamner has been named senior sales manager. He started his career in 1982 with Belden, working in different engineering roles, before transitioning in 1988 to Harbour Industries, where he was an R&D engineer. He joined General Cable in 1989, working in engineering, then moved into a corporate engineering role at their headquarters in Kentucky. In 1995, he became a project manager for Nokia Maillefer in Norcross, Georgia, and soon after added sales responsibilities. In 1997, he moved to Ontario, Canada, working with Ceeco during a period that saw the creation of Nextrom, before starting his own company—Cable and Tubing Solutions—in 2003. Based in Williamsport, Maryland, SAMP USA is part of Italy’s SAMP Srl, a global supplier of wire and cable drawing, extruding and bunching technology.

Ricardo (Rico) Dostal has joined Proton Products as a U.S. regional manager, based in Texas. A U.S. Navy veteran, he cultivated an interest in industrial technology while serving as an avionics electronic technician on board the USS Kitty Hawk. He then moved to Japan and served as an instructor and development team leader for three years, before working for Verizon Wireless for eight years, then five years for Rotalec USA, a distributor of industrial automation products. He started as a technician and was later promoted to application specialist for exclusive, non-contact sensor lines for the U.S. His primary focus was custom measurement and control projects, some of which featured Proton Products technology. Based in the U.K., Proton Products supplies instrumentation and control equipment for wire and cable production.

Cable Consultants Corporation has named Mason McClaugherty as vice president of sales and technical services. He has experience from three prior engineering positions with Cleveland-Cliffs, AK Steel Corporation and Service Wire Company. He holds a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering for Marshall University. He replaces Fred Hardy, an industry veteran who in 1993 was offered the position of director of technical services by company founder and owner Dr. Dimitri Stein. Based in Larchmont, New York, Cable Consultants Corporation supplies North American manufacturers with access to technology from European companies

Greg Gitto has been promoted from market development manager-PVC to director of sales & marketing-PVC for Chroma Color Corporation (CCC). He joined CCC last June though its acquisition of Color Resource, where he had worked as executive vice president since 2009. He has 20 years of extensive experience in PVC compounding and developing new PVC and olefinic products during a period that saw the inception of low-smoke PVC into plenum cable compounds. At Color Resource, he helped develop hybrid constructions with FEP, and Color Resource’s Quasar technology, now branded as ChromaQuasar, to serve the emerging XLPE wire and cable market. He holds a degree in economics from Clark University. Based in Delaware, Ohio, Chroma Color Corporation is a leading supplier of specialty color and additive concentrates for markets that include wire and cable.

1/31/2022 – The New England Chapter is ready for the Feb. 24 return to the Mohegan Sun in Connecticut, where more than a hundred people are expected to attend its annual meeting.

The annual dinner will be held for the first time at the casino’s Cabaret Theater. The event format will be the same, starting with a reception at 5:30 pm, where chapter members and others can mingle, an opportunity that has been all too rare the last two years. The new officers for 2022 will be introduced, as well as an update on the chapter’s college scholarship program."

“It will be great seeing everyone again at Mohegan Sun,” said 2021 WAI Chapter President John Accorsi, M. Holland, whose term will have ended. “It is always a fun venue for the meeting.” He said that it was unfortunate it could not be held in 2021, but the chapter was still able to remain active, holding its annual golf tournament as well as a successful webinar.

The chapter meeting will also include the traditional raffle, which along with the annual golf tournament are the key sources for funding the scholarship program. The chapter hopes to see the same level of prior year company donations for the raffle as well as sponsorships, of which there are three levels: gold, $500; silver, $250; and bronze, $150.

The cost for the event is $120 for New England Chapter members, $130 for WAI members and $140 for non-WAI members. There also is a new WAI member package of $145 for dues and the dinner, and for $15, an existing WAI member can become a New England Chapter member.

For more details on this, contact WAI’s John Markowski at 203-453-2777, ext. 121, or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Markowski, who began working as an intern for WAI in 2018 and became a full-employee last May, is the main contact for all of the Association’s chapters.

8/9/21 – The Wire Association International (WAI), Inc. announces two keynote speakers to open each day of Interwire 2021 at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Both presenters focus on a desire for change to make every day a rewarding experience—one emphasizing leadership, the other through operational improvements and technology.


Tuesday, Oct. 26. Award-winning documentary filmmaker Brett Culp, founder of The Rising Heroes Project, will address the audience with his presentation titled: “Superhero Leadership: How everyday people can have an extraordinary impact,” at 10:00 a.m.

Through his groundbreaking non-profit documentary work, Culp has pioneered the art of creating “mini-movements” that inspire the super-human spirit in all of us. His approach to community-building and relationship-driven engagement invite people to connect with a noble vision and make a difference together. Passionate, energetic, and engaging, he encourages audiences to find the superhero within and their own path to “everyday leadership.” His insights on connecting individuals to an organization’s mission and goals resonate, help us realize our greatest personal and business potential, and renew our collective sense of hope for the future.

Culp is known for the films, Legends of the Knight, and Look to the Sky, both of which explore the power of heroic stories and heroic individuals to inspire us to believe in a better tomorrow. His newest film, A Voice That Carries, premiered in early June 2021. His films are featured on Netflix, iTunes, Hulu, and other top digital platforms.


Wednesday, Oct. 27. Kathleen Edge, Executive Vice President of Operations at Southwire Company, LLC, will discuss “Southwire’s connected flexible operating system” at 10:00 a.m.

The Industrial Revolution 4.0 has been a decade in the making. The wire and cable industry is delivering power to this revolution with solutions and services. Southwire is on a mission to revolutionize operations and make the lives of its operators easier and more rewarding by equipping experienced employees with tools to realize the true benefits of technology.
Edge has led a group of 34 manufacturing locations, as well as ten distribution centers, and many worldwide support areas with a method that emphasizes lean operational toolkits; modernization; and safety improvements.

Industry 4.0 – the theme of the Interwire show – is evident in the activities and aspects taking place on the show floor including: the Industry 4.0 Pavilion, exhibits, mini briefings, and conference sessions. See the full program at www.interwire21.com.

REGISTRATION:
Interwire 2021 registration is open at www.interwire21.com. Since all activities will be held on the exhibit floor, registration includes the Industry 4.0 sessions, exhibits, keynotes, production solution demonstrations, and the welcome reception. Advance registration pricing is as follows: WAI member: $75 USD; New WAI member: $140 USD; Nonmember: $175. Registration for the hybrid Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing course is separate with advance rates as follows: WAI member: $295 USD; New WAI member: $395 USD; Nonmember: $445.

The Wire Association International is a not-for-profit association with 1,800 individual members in 50 countries. The association serves the educational needs of the wire and cable manufacturing industry through a variety of products and services. WAI manages the Interwire Trade Exposition and the WAI Operations Summit & Wire Expo and publishes the Wire Journal International and the Wire Journal International Reference Guide.


  

Madison, Connecticut, USA – May 5, 2021 – WAI completed its second virtual presentation of the Association’s Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing (Fundamentals) course, with the courses presented over seven consecutive Wednesdays from March 17 to April 28 drawing a collective 165 attendees.

“The continued strong participation shows the industry need for sound, basic information,” said WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll, who observed that the virtual format has also proven to be a good fit for the industry. “While in-person programs presented at Wire Expo or Interwire are ideal, staging them on-line has allowed more companies to allow their employees to participate for a very affordable cost. We will continue to offer Fundamentals at our trade shows, including Interwire 2021, but the virtual version has evolved from an emergency replacement to a full-fledged program that we are proud to offer.”

The presentations included: mechanics of wiredrawing, Matt Reinoehl, SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS; drawing dies, Tom Maxwell, Jr., Die Quip; wiredrawing lubricant properties, David Gzesh, Blachford Corporation; wire breaks and surface damage, Dr. Horace Pops, Horace Pops Consulting; fundamentals of ferrous metallurgy, Anand Bhagwat, Minova USA Inc.; stranding and cabling, Kevin Dancy, Roteq Machinery Inc.; extrusion, Erik Macs, Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp.; cleaning and coating of rod and wire, Zach McAfee and Chris Porada, Chemetall North America; ferrous testing and properties, Richard Gordon, C. Richard Gordon Consulting LLC; fundamentals of electrical testing, Casey Spradlin and Erika Akins, Southwire Company, LLC; marking and printing, Mark Spencer, W. Gillies Technologies LLC; ferrous heat treatment, Richard Gordon; manufacturing problem solving, Stacy Martin, Prysmian Group; and an Operations Panel, Jan Sørige, Enkotec; Tom Heberling, Southwire; and Jim York, Insteel Industries, Inc.

The first virtual Fundamentals program, which replaced the program that could not be held when Wire Expo was canceled due to Covid-19, was held over seven consecutive Wednesdays from Sept. 16 to Oct. 28, 2020. The program, which saw two sessions each week that were each 70 minutes long (up from 45 minutes), drew a total of 199 attendees from 28 countries. The format received very positive reviews.

Virtual formatting quickly became a WAI focus due to Covid-19. WAI presented Streamcast on July 15, 2020.The online presentation of 12 industry speakers saw more than 250 individual attendees take part, setting a record for any WAI online event. On Nov. 11, 2020, WAI held a trifecta virtual event that included the Association’s annual clockwinding ceremony, its annual meeting and the 2020 Mordica Lecture by Dr. Gil Baker. A separate three-part webinar series by Dr. Horace Pops in January/February saw all 500 available slots filled before the first one was held.

 

Madison, Connecticut, USA – May 5, 2021 – The Wire Association International (WAI), Inc. announces the participation of 20 company sponsors that support Interwire 2021 and the Wire Association International’s 91st Annual Convention which will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC), Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The new show dates are: October 26-27, 2021. Guests will be able to explore the technologies associated with Industry 4.0—the theme for the event—by visiting the Industry 4.0 pavilion, various exhibits, presentations and briefings on the topic.

INTERWIRE SPONSORS INCLUDE: 
Platinum level: Encore Wire Corp.; Gem Gravure Co. Inc.; Insteel Wire Products; James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp.; SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS; Sonoco Reels & Spools; Southwire Co. LLC; and Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp.

Gold level: Carris Reels Inc.; and Continuus-Properzi SpA

Silver level: The MGS Group; Niehoff Endex North America; RichardsApex Inc.; and SIKORA International Corp.

Bronze level: Baum’s Castorine; Champlain Cable Corp.; Enkotec Co. Inc.; Fort Wayne Wire Die; Lloyd& Bouvier Inc.; and Precision Payoff.

The Wire and Cable Industry Suppliers Association (WCISA) is an industry partner with WAI.

REGISTRATION:
Interwire 2021 registration is now open at: www.interwire21.com. Since all activities will be held on the exhibit floor, registration includes the Industry 4.0 sessions, exhibits, keynote, production solutions, and welcome reception. Advance registration pricing is as follows: WAI member: $75 USD; New WAI member: $140 USD; Nonmember: $175. Registration for the hybrid Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing course is separate with advance rates as follows: WAI member: $295 USD; New WAI member: $395 USD; Nonmember: $445.

The 2021 staging of Interwire will mark 40 years since its inception. Hosted biennially, Interwire is an international trade event that includes exhibiting companies, speakers, and visitors from more than 50 countries. See developing details at www.interwire21.com.

The Wire Association International is a not-for-profit association with 1,700 individual members in 50 countries. The association serves the educational needs of the wire and cable manufacturing industry through a variety of products and services. WAI manages the Interwire Trade Exposition and the WAI Operations Summit & Wire Expo and publishes the Wire Journal International and the Wire Journal International Reference Guide.

Media Contacts: Janice E. Swindells, Director Marketing & Corporate Communications, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 001-203-453-2777 x. 117; Steven J. Fetteroll, Executive Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 001-203-453-1777.

 

4/8/2021: The ongoing seven-week virtual staging of the Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing Course (Fundamentals) continues to reflect the demand that exists in the industry for basic information.

Of note, the program will be repeated in a hybrid form at Interwire 2021. The current program—seven consecutive sessions (two presentations each) started on consecutive Wednesdays that began March 17 and concludes April 28—presents a comprehensive education. Topics covered include: mechanics of wiredrawing/drawing dies and lubricants; wire breaks and surface damage; stranding cable; cleaning and coating of rod and wire; ferrous heat treatment and metallurgy; extrusion; testing; marking/printing; and manufacturing problem solving. Each course is presented by industry veterans, and provides 30 more minutes than the traditional in-person program.

Attendance during the Covid-19 period has been quite good. Registration for a three-part WAI webinar program by Dr. Horace Pops—also a Fundamentals presenter—closed out at 500 before the first one (annealing) was held on Jan. 27, followed by fines on Feb. 3 and wire breaks on Feb. 10.
In terms of the ongoing Fundamentals series, registration reflects a continuing trend of more companies signing up multiple staffers. Mexico’s Viakable had 31 participants: 11 from Colombia, four from Brazil, three from the U.S. and 13 from Mexico.

“I believe this is a great opportunity for expanding the benefit of this course to a much broader base considering the value proposition in terms of money and time invested for this high-quality content,” said Raúl Garcia, Viakable’s director of technology and development.

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