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DoC initial finding: steel staples from China were dumped, margins are set at 301%

The Department of Commerce (DoC) announced on Jan. 3 that its preliminary determination in its antidumping duty (AD) investigation of imports of collated steel staples from China found that such suppliers had sold at less than fair value.

A press release said that DoC assigned a preliminary dumping rate of 301.64% for mandatory respondent Tianjin Hweschun Fasteners Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and Tianjin Jin Xin Sheng Long Metal Products Co., Ltd. as well as to “non-selected respondents eligible for a separate rate and the China-wide entity.”

The penalties had been sought by Kyocera Senco Industrial Tools, Inc., of Cincinnati, Ohio. In 2018, imports of collated steel staples from China were valued at an estimated $88.8 million.

If DoC makes an affirmative final determination and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) follows with a similar finding, the order will go into effect. The DoC is scheduled to vote on May 18 and the ITC on July 2. Per DoC, in 2018, China shipped 63,640,957 kg of such steel staples, up from 57,512,126 in 2017 and 52,507,421 in 2016.

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Last modified on January 27, 2020

LLFlex to open plant in North Carolina

LLFlex, a global supplied in packaging materials and industrial laminate solutions for sectors that include wire and cable, is set to open a new 73,500-sq-ft fully integrated manufacturing facility in High Point, North Carolina, that will provide products and services to customers in the U.S. and abroad. l

A press release said that the company will invest some $7.6 million in the project. The initiative will significantly expand LLFlex’s output capacity, and include equipment supporting both of its two main business segments: packing (consumer products) and industrial laminates. The latter business includes wire and cable, for which the company offers its Reyshield™ cable wrap. The investment will include a new laminator with multiple coating stations and a dedicated slitter that will be complemented by a new steel, copper and aluminum slitter with an annual capacity of 40 million lb. “The new facility is a culmination of our commitment to customer service, production excellence and market share growth,” said Victor Dixon, CEO of LLFlex.

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Last modified on January 27, 2020

Reel company expands capacity, mulls possible second U.S. production plant

Madem-Moorecraft, part of Brazilian-based Madem Reels Group reports that it has just completed the installation of a new, fully automatic production line for nailed wooden reels at its U.S. plant in Tarboro, North Carolina.

A press release said that the new line uses the latest technology for automated CNC machines and the company’s proprietary ink jet printing system. The investment is projected to increase annual sales capacity up to $35 million dollars. Madem-Moorecraft will potentially serve more than 25 cable manufacturers in the North American market.

“These new machines will support our sales growth and planned expansion of assembly and distribution centers throughout North America,” said Vice President of Sales Steve Redhage.
Leandro Mazzoccato, global sales director of Madem Reels Group, said that the investment confirms Madem Group’s intention to increase its U.S. market share. “We also plan to open five more distribution and assembly centers within the USA, during 2020. For 2021, we are starting studies for a second production plant in the U.S.”

The Madem Reels Group has manufacturing plants in Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, U.S., Spain and Bahrain. It projects 2020 revenues of $130 million dollars from supplying nailed wooden reels to some 150 cable manufacturers in 45 countries.

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Last modified on January 27, 2020

TRAXIT acquired by Kluber Lubrication

Germany’s Klüber Lubrication München SE & Co. KG, has acquired TRAXIT International GmbH, whose operations include TRAXIT North America.|

A press release said that with the acquisition, the TRAXIT Group now becomes part of the Klüber Lubrication Group. Based in Germany with manufacturing sites also in China and the U.S., TRAXIT provides the wire drawing industry with a complete range of lubricants for all wire applications. It has subsidiaries, agents or representatives present in over 150 countries.

TRAXIT will continue to be responsible for the operative management of its businesses. The company’s headquarters will remain in Schwelm.

Questions sent by WJI about whether any organizational changes were planned, led to the following rely: “There are strategic and operational synergies that are currently being examined, prioritized and then implemented.”

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Last modified on January 27, 2020

U.K. cable company supplies vessels

U.K.-based Elmeridge Cables Limited (ECL) reports that it recently delivered two contracts for the British Antarctic Survey (BAS).

A press release said that the company was asked by BAS to supply two lengths of double-armored CTD (conductivity, temperature and depth) cable for two Royal Research Survey vessels. The separate contracts were for a single 8,000-meter length for the RRS James Clark Ross and a single 10,000-meter length for the RRS Sir David Attenborough. Both vessels work in very sensitive and often extreme weather environments, so production had to be perfect.

“BAS stipulated that to avoid slippage on the winch during deployment and recovery, no grease or oil could be applied on or to the armor wires of Galvanized Improved Plow Steel (GIPS), an assurance we were happy to give,” said Des Smith, owner/managing director at Elmeridge Cables Ltd. He added that BAS strict specifications for the diameter and width of the cables drums, even down to hole size for the spindle, to allow direct loading and unloading of the drums to and from the winches on board both vessels.

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Last modified on January 27, 2020

Cortland Cable closes, certain assets to be liquidated by Commission Brokers

Cortland Cable Co. plans to close operations at its River Street plant in Cortland, New York.

Per a report in the Cortland Standard, a representative for the parent company, Actuant Corp., confirmed the closure. One cause, it said, was a decline in the oil and gas industry, which is a primary customer for the company’s cables. It also reported that production of ropes at the Cortland plant is moving to other company facilities in Texas and Washington. Another factor was that new technologies—such as new battery, communication and autonomous solutions—have led to remaining cable customers moving to different solutions.

Martin Kenner, president of Commission Brokers, Inc., reports that he has been engaged by Corltand Cable to liquidate manufacturing assets not being transferred from that facility. Kenner can be contacted at tel. 401-943-3777, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Last modified on December 29, 2019

Komax buys Exmore in deal that will bolster the range of its equipment

Komax reports that it has acquired Exmore, a Belgium specialist in equipment used for making sensor cables.

A press release said that Exmore, which was founded in 1993, has focused on equipment for processing sensor cables, which makes it a valuable addition for Komax. It offers equipment for cutting, stripping, crimping, marking, welding and testing cables as well as related electronics. “With the advent of autonomous vehicles, the number of sensor cables will continue to increase, thus driving the demand for solutions for automated processing.”

Exmore, based in Beerse, has approximately 60 employees. Its customers are active in a range of market segments including automotive industry, consumer electronics, industrial, aerospace and medical technology.

Komax, based in Switzerland, has production facilities in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa where it manufactures “series and customer-specific machinery, catering for every degree of automation and customization. It provides local sales and service support in more than 60 countries through subsidiaries and independent representatives.” The company has more than 40 companies that collectively employ more than 2,200 people.

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Last modified on December 29, 2019

Whitmor/Wirenetics sold to BJG

Whitmor/Wirenetics, a custom cable manufacturer based in California, has been acquired by BJG Electronics Group, Inc. (BJG).

In a brief announcement at the Whitmor/Wirenetics website, it states the following. “Long Island, New York based-electronics distributor and Rockwood portfolio company BJG Electronics, Inc. (BJG), along with its affiliates, announced today the acquisition of Whitmor/Wirenetics. Headquartered in Valencia, California, Whitmor/Wirenetics has been a leading provider of high-performance wire, cable and tubing to the military, aerospace and satellite industries for more than 50 years.”

Connector Tech LLC was described in a later announcement as “a Montana-based value-added distributor of high-reliability electronic interconnect products.”

“The combined BJG Electronics Group line card now offers a true ‘one-stop’ solution for OEMs, harness houses and box builders in the military, aerospace and related harsh environment markets,” said a statement from BJG Electronics Group President Rick Flora. The People section on p. 26 has more details on personnel.

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Last modified on December 29, 2019

Corning plans to build plant in Poland to increase fiber optic cable production

Corning Optical Communications (Corning) plans to build a new facility for producing fiber optic cable in Poland.

Per a report in Puls Biznesu, the new plant will be located in the town of Mszczonow, in the county of Zyrardow in the Mazowieckie region. The investment will amount to approximately US$93 million, and Corning expects to employ at least 240 people there, “including 85 with higher education.”

Corning, which owns more than a hundred plants and branches worldwide, established its first Polish plant in 2001 in Łódź. Production began in 2002, and in 2007 the plant was relocated to Stryków, where it opened an R&D department. Today, it has almost 3,000 employees in Poland. In 2017, Corning had more than 2,000 employees in Poland, and the next year it opened a second telecom equipment plant in Stryków. Corning now accounts for more than 82,200 sq m in two warehousing and production buildings.

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Last modified on December 11, 2019

IWC acquires Owl Wire & Cable

The International Wire Group (IWG) announced that it has acquired Owl Wire and Cable (Owl Wire), a manufacturer of bare and tinned wire with three plants, from Marmon Holdings, Inc.

A press release said that the acquisition of Owl Wire, a family company founded in 1954, includes its three New York plants in Canastota, Rome and Boonville. It said that the deal will benefit both companies, expanding IWG’s global manufacturing footprint while enabling Owl Wire to add to its existing copper capabilities as a high volume, heavy bare and tinned wire supplier.

“This new partnership is a ‘win-win’ for the loyal customers and workforces of both IWG and Owl, and for the communities we are privileged to serve,” said IWG President and CEO Greg Smith. “By integrating Owl’s manufacturing capabilities and superior customer service into our already market-leading company, we will create a unique platform to serve current and future customers. The new IWG will continue to deliver high-quality, precise wire and cable products for mission-critical applications that power our global economy. We know the Owl team well, and are thrilled to welcome them to IWG.”

“We are thrilled to join the IWG organization. In doing so, the combination of IWG and Owl will bring an unparalleled benefit to the industry, one with the broadest and deepest capabilities to better serve our customers’ needs,” said Bob Raiti, president of Owl Wire and Cable.

IWG, which was acquired in 2019 by Atlas Holdings, notes that it is the largest bare copper wire and copper wire products manufacturer in the U.S.

Per a spokesperson, Owl Wire has about 180 employees. The company’s management team will remain in place at this time, and any operational changes made would be focused “around improving service levels to IWG’s loyal customers.” 

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Last modified on December 17, 2019

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