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Belden recently marked a significant milestone in its operations in India with the groundbreaking ceremony of expansion of the company’s manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune.

A press release said that the expansion, which will add 19,000 sq m to the existing footprint, represents an investment of approximately $40 million. The expansion will result in a substantial increase in Belden’s production capabilities, allowing the company to meet the rising demands for network and data solutions. With this investment, Belden aims to strengthen its foothold in both domestic and foreign markets. Phase II of the Chakan plant will serve as a hub for delivering high-quality products for network infrastructure solutions worldwide.

Belden’s expanded facility will be equipped to manufacture state-of-the-art specialized Ethernet switches and firewalls designed for industrial and building automation, connectivity solutions and assemblies of patch cords and connectors tailored for diverse industrial applications, reinforcing Belden’s global impact.

“In India, where industrial, broadcast and enterprise markets are experiencing remarkable growth, our expansion is strategically positioned to cater to this unique opportunity,” said Nexans President and CEO Ashish Chand. “With the expansion of our facility, we are emphasizing our dedication to sourcing raw materials locally. This underscores our unwavering commitment to ‘Made in India for the World.’ With the strategic establishment of this facility, we not only strengthen our domestic roots but also envision it as a pivotal export hub.”

Dr. Chand, who joined Belden in 2002 and was named president and CEO in 2023, played a pivotal role in developing and executing Belden’s long-term growth agenda, solutions and product strategy, and go-to-market efforts. He made key contributions towards establishing and growing Belden throughout the Asia Pacific region, including setting up manufacturing in China and India.

Last modified on March 7, 2024

Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., has established Judd Wire Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (JMEX), a subsidiary focused on the manufacturing of tab leads for automotive lithium-ion batteries, as well as high-functionality and high heat-resistant electric wires.

A press release said that an investment project announcement ceremony was held last September by the Economic Development Bureau of the state government of Aguascalientes, Mexico, at the building of the state government, where Sumitomo Electric announced the establishment of JMEX and its business plans. At the ceremony, the governor of the state, María Teresa Jiménez Esquivel, said “I am very pleased that 300 jobs will be created. Our state was selected for its good public safety, and we will continue to make further improvements in the future.”

The establishment of JMEX, which is scheduled to be operational in 2025, is attributed to “the significant demand for high-functionality electric wires and wiring materials expected in North America due to the advancement of CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electric) in the automotive and mobility fields. We aim to contribute to the advancement of CASE and increase our presence in the North American market.”

Last modified on March 7, 2024

Belgium’s Herbosch-Kiere and the U.K.’s Enshore Subsea have teamed up to buy a shallow-draft cable layer called the Topaz Installer.

Per multiple reports, the 88-m long vessel, built in 1999, is owned by the two companies in a newly created partnership entity called the Combined Marine Offshore Services (CMOS). The vessel will be renamed the CMOS Installer.

Previously owned by P&O Maritime Logistics, the vessel is currently in Singapore and after a scheduled dry dock and upgrade will make its way to South Korea to collect a cable consignment, before heading to Senegal for its first contract under new ownership. The vessel had most recently been used for development support of three offshore wind farms.

Last modified on March 7, 2024

Italy’s EK Group, through its subsidiary MB Technology, announced that it has acquired ATB Srl, also based in Italy, as part of its expansion plans.

A press release said that ATB, located in Pieve Vergonte, in the province of Verbano-Cusio-Ossola, is involved in manufacturing and assembling electrical and electronic wiring, as well as creating control panels for industrial automation. It specializes in manufacturing spiral cables and molding high- and low-pressure connections.

Roberto Gallingani, president & CEO of Elettrotek Kabel SpA), believes that the acquisition of ATB will allow EK Group to expand the activities of the wiring harness division. He noted that this has become an increasingly important part of the EK Group, which has some 320 employees divided into three divisions (production of electrical cables, distribution of electrical cables and wiring).

Last modified on March 7, 2024

Intertranscom Impex, a Romanian producer of welded mesh based in Buhuși, was the top bidder at €7.5 million at a public auction for the assets of Dan Steel Group Beclean, which has been in bankruptcy since early 2023.

Per an article in romaina-insider.com, the Dan Steel Group Beclean (Dan Steel) was involved in the production of ferrous metals in primary forms and ferroalloys (nails, galvanized wire, braided wire, welded mesh, panels) sold on both the domestic market as well as in Hungary, Poland, Serbia, Czech Republic, and Slovakia. The business was founded in 1991 and expanded rapidly but faced liquidity problems in 2017. In 2018, measures imposed by the European Commission for imports of some steel industry forced Dan Steel to pay more for raw materials.

Per another online report, Intertranscom Impex plans to resume production soon and turn the company into one of the main employers in the region. Dan Steel had annual capacity of some 100,000 tons of steel products per year. The assets include some 40 hectares of land, buildings with a total usable area of 75,500 sq m and related equipment.

Last modified on March 7, 2024

Prima, a telecom/data infrastructure firm, in collaboration with Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN), has signed a contract for the establishment of what would be the first “smart” deployment of a subsea cable system: the Science Monitoring And Reliable Telecommunications (SMART) Subsea Cables initiative that seeks to revolutionize deep ocean observing by equipping transoceanic telecommunications cables with sensors to provide novel and persistent insights into the state of the ocean.

A press release said that the SMART cable will connect Vanuatu and New Caledonia, extending to Australia and Fiji. It will provide not just digital connectivity, but also vital environmental/seismic monitoring in the Pacific region. Prima is responsible for maintenance and operations of the ICN1 subsea cable system, which connects Vanuatu to Suva, Fiji, and has been operational since 2014. It is 100% owned and operated by the people of Vanuatu, a South Pacific Ocean nation made up of roughly 80 islands.

Last modified on March 7, 2024

Anand Bhagwat, a past WAI president (2005) and a long-time steel industry veteran, recently retired from Minova USA Inc., and has started a consulting service.

Per Bhagwat, he plans to serve small- and medium-sized companies on either retainer or project-based engagements for quality management, steel and wire technology, and new product development. He can be reached at tel. 740-229-0033, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Bhagwat’s career in metallurgical engineering spanned more than 35 years, including 12 years at Minova USA Inc., a mining ground support manufacturer. His career started in 1990 at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co., where he developed wire technology for tire reinforcement for 10 years. Subsequent positions include the Seneca Wire Group, where he was vice president of quality and technology for seven years, three years as managing director of Wire & Cable Services, a WAI subsidiary., and as plant manager at FENIX, LLC.

Anand received the WAI’s Donnellan Memorial Award in 2009 and Mordica Memorial Award in 2022. He was an ASM/IIM Visiting Lecturer in 2001, and in 2015 he won the Stefanko Best Paper Award from Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration.

Last modified on March 7, 2024

Dave Troy has joined REELEX Packaging Solutions as vice president of sales & service, a newly created position that will see him focus on the company’s sales and service structure. He previously served for nine years as director of marketing and business development for Emerson Discrete Automation’s Branson Welding and Assembly division, and prior to that he worked for 10 years for Fujifilm Holdings America Corporation, as director of marketing. He holds a BBA degree in marketing/business from Western Connecticut State University and an MBA from the University of Connecticut School of Business. The new position allows Tim Copp, vice president of business development, to spend more time on marketing and product development. Based in Patterson, New York, REELEX Packaging Solutions, is the creator/licensor of REELEX® packaging and a manufacturer of take-ups, dancers, accumulators and payoffs.

American Wire Group (AWG) has named Scott Taylor as vice president of regional sales for its renewable energy division. He will be responsible for AWG customers for new construction, repower, operations and maintenance capacities in the wind, solar and battery energy storage industries. He has more than 20 years of experience in engineering, sales management and business development in wire and cable manufacturing and distribution sectors. He holds a degree in electrical engineering from Tennessee State University and an MBA from Kennesaw State University. Based in Miami, Florida, the American Wire Group supplies wire and cable, hardware, equipment, and accessory solutions.

Brad Johnson has been promoted to Chief Operating Officer (COO) of both Superior Essex Communications and Essex Brownell. As COO, he will collaborate with the presidents of both business units to achieve their 2024 objectives as well as develop new growth strategies for each division. He joined the company in 1997 as vice president of sales, and became senior vice president of sales in 2003, then was named president of Superior Essex International LP in 2016. He will continue to serve in that position in the interim. He holds a degree in business administration from the Indiana State University Scott College of Business. Along with Essex Furukawa Magnet Wire, Superior Essex Communications and Essex Brownell are part of Superior Essex, a global leader in cable and wire technology based in Atlanta, Georgia.

Derek Nicholson has been named a regional manager for OmniCable, responsible for leading the St Louis commercial team. He has more than 15 years of electrical experience, having previously worked for LEDvance and Grainger. He holds a business degree from the University of Kansas and an MBA from Baker University. Based in West Chester, Pennsylvania, OmniCable is a distributor of wire and cable, electrical products, and value-added services.

Rob Cook has been promoted to director of new business development for Xaloy LLC, responsible for new business development initiatives from acquiring new customers to expanding product sales. Melissa Greenway was named OEM account manager. She joined the company in 2021 as an inside sales specialist. She previously worked for three years as a government sales specialist for Robeck Fluid Power. Based in Paluski, Virginia, Xaloy manufactures screws, barrels, and front-end components to sectors that include wire and cable.

Veronica Braker has joined Southwire as its new executive vice president of operational excellence. She has three decades of experience in leading teams focused on operations, environmental, health and safety (EHS), reliability and maintenance, capital expenditure and more. She is a Lean Six Sigma certified Master Black Belt and practices Lean as a discipline in how she approaches strategy and operational planning. She most recently was senior vice president of global operations at Archer Daniels Midland Company, where she led a global operations team, as well as the centers of excellence that included EHS, Quality, Maintenance, Capital and Process Optimization. She previously held leadership roles at Clorox, General Electric, BASF Corporation, Flint Hills Resources, and Milliken & Company, among others. She currently serves as the Board Chair for the Women in Manufacturing Education Foundation. She previously served on the National Board of Directors for Women in Manufacturing, the advisory board for Women in Food and Agriculture and National Association of Manufacturer’s Board of Directors and Executive Council. She holds a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from Christian Brothers University. Based in Carrolton, Georgia, Southwire is one of the world’s largest producers of wire and cable.

Dr. Peter Schmidt, managing partner at TROESTER for many years, has handed over the position of CEO to Thomas Holzer as part of the corporate strategy to maintain continuity in the management of the company and stimulate future development. Schmidt will continue to serve as managing partner and CFO. Holzer, who has been with the company since 2021, previously was managing director at Voith in Heidenheim and in the Asia region before joining TROESTER. Bernd Pielsticker will continue to manage the operational business as Chief Operating Officer. Based in Germany, TROESTER supplies complete cable production lines as well as individual cable machines, such as winders, accumulators, caterpillars, capstans in various sizes and designs. 

Last modified on March 7, 2024

The WAI has rescheduled the date for the Points Meeting for Interwire 2025 to allow for greater participation. The date has been shifted from March 21 to April 4, which will provide more time for exhibitors to be able to take part.

Exhibitor representatives get to pick first in order of their accumulated points from past participation. The booths will be assigned by WAI staff. Later, other companies wanting to exhibit can seek a booth by either going directly to the event website, interwire25.com, or contacting WAI Sales Director Shannon Timme.

Last modified on March 7, 2024

Avery Caraker, a process engineering technician at the Du Quoin, Illinois, plant of the Prysmian Group, is the 2024 Wire Link Traveling Scholarship winner. Caraker, who joined Prysmian as an intern in 2021, accepted his current job in 2022 and has completed his degree in electrical engineering. He also is a member of the Illinois Army National Guard. The two-week award program will see him attend wire Düsseldorf and provide a report for WJI’s June issue.

Last modified on March 7, 2024

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