Madison, Connecticut, USA – October 20, 2023 – The Wire Association International (WAI), Inc. reports that 275 wire and cable industry delegates met at Milan’s historic Palazzo Giureconsulti on October 16, 2023, for a one-day wire and cable technical conference of collaboration innovation. The event was jointly organized by WAI and ACIMAF, the Association of Italian Wire Machine Manufacturers.

Industry experts covered ferrous and nonferrous topics during concurrent tracks, with notable speakers from 24 companies providing the best practices in wire drawing technology and timely information on industry 4.0 and market conditions.

Throughgout the day representatives from 27 companies discussed business at their tabletop exhibits in the supplier forum.
Ferruccio Bellina, an organizer and ACIMAF president, said, “A great commitment and a winning collaboration between ACIMAF and WAI led to an unprecedented success of the Wire & Cable conference ... A success that we wish to share with all the participants and sponsors who joined this important event, which saw the presence of delegates coming to Milan from over 30 countries.”

WAI’s 2023 President Kurt Breischaft, who served as a moderator for the nonferrous track, said “I think the nonferrous session fit together extremely well. The first speaker from Prysmian explained how cables need to become more sustainable, with the second and third speakers (La Farga and Continuus-Properzi) explaining how copper and aluminum can be processed to meet these requirements.”"

The Gala Dinner at Milan’s grand Palazzo Serbelloni provided a chance for additional networking at the close of the conference.

Sponsors and support
The organizers wish to thank the following organizations:

• Continuus-Properzi ; SAMP; SAS Engineering and Planning; TKT Group
• The International Wire & Machinery Association (IWMA); Messe Düsseldorf North America; MFL Group; DRT Impianti
• The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation / gov.it; and The Italian Trade Agency (ITA).
• Official Media partners: Expometals; Wire Journal International, Inc.; and Tecnologie del Filo.

 ORGANIZERS:

ACIMAF was founded in Brescia, Italy, in 1987 for the purpose of promoting the image of Italian technology in the field of machines and products for the wire and cable manufacturing industry. It is a non-profit voluntary association and plays an important International role of cooperation in improving the location and organisation of the major wire and cable trade fairs.

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.

Belden Inc, a global supplier of network infrastructure and digitization solutions, announced that the company has created a new award program designed to foster the next generation of innovative technologies.

A press release said that the newly created Joseph C. Belden Innovation Award “will shine the spotlight on the innovations that are powering the future in industries such as healthcare, manufacturing and telecommunications.” Entries are now accepted, with finalists announced next May, with the winner announced the following month.

The award is named for the innovator Joseph C. Belden, who in 1902 founded Belden Manufacturing to serve an unmet need he saw in the burgeoning telecommunications industry. “Joe Belden’s innovative spirit drove his company to become a trusted supplier for the radio broadcasting, TV and computer networking industries throughout the 20th century,” said Belden President and CEO Ashish Chand. “Today, Belden’s network infrastructure and digitization solutions are just the latest evolution in our 120-year legacy of innovation.”

The Joseph C. Belden Innovation Award will raise the profile of innovative companies through promotion and marketing as well as the opportunity to make invaluable industry connections. The competition will be open to small and medium-sized companies with revenues of $500 million or less, and eligible products must have been made available for sale on or after July 1, 2022. Award entries will be judged by a panel of industry experts and be evaluated for ingenuity and the value and benefit they deliver.

Winners and finalists will receive benefits such as networking opportunities with fellow innovators and industry experts, attendance at a June 2024 Belden innovation event where the winner will be announced, and a campaign promoting their winning product or solution.

More details can be found at www.belden.com. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Belden has manufacturing capabilities in North America, Europe, Asia and Africa.

India’s STL (Sterlite Technologies Ltd.) announced the official launch of its new manufacturing facility in Lugoff, South Carolina, a $56 million investment that will serve the growing demand for optical fiber cable.

A press release said that the 168,000-sq-ft factory—referred to as the “Palmetto Plant,” after the state tree— represents STL’s commitment to “Made in America.” It is the company’s first such manufacturing plant in the U.S., employing more than 150 people. The site was inaugurated by South Carolina Governor Henry McMaster, and lauded by STL Managing Director and Whole Time Director Ankit Agarwal.

Paul Atkinson, CEO of STL’s Optical Business Division, told WJI that the project—which had not been previously announced—is STL’s first such production site in the U.S. The company, he noted, has been serving the U.S. market for many years through its global production facilities, with some local value add in the years past.

“This facility mirrors our ethos and STL’s larger purpose: Transforming Billions of Lives by Connecting the World,” Atkinson said. “I am excited to see its impact on America’s rural connectivity and digital landscape.”

The plant will serve the market demand generated by 5G, FTTx, and the push for rural broadband, specializing in future-ready optical solutions, including high fiber count cables with smaller diameters. The focus will extend to pioneering designs, notably high-capacity ribbonized cables and ruggedized designs for rural deployments. Listed on Bombay Stock Exchange and National Stock Exchange of India, STL is active in more than 150 countries and holds many patents.

Of note, STL has partnered with TruVista, also based in South Carolina, manufacturing and building fiber networks “for South Carolina from South Carolina.” Since 2021, STL has provided optical fiber cables to TruVista, a 125-year-old provider of broadband services and applications—that has been active expanding fiber optic connectivity across rural South Carolina. Fittingly, “TruVista even provides fiber connectivity to STL’s Optical Fiber Cable facility in South Carolina, highlighting the collaborative nature of this partnership. Looking ahead, STL is working toward growing this partnership further to continue rural FTTH deployment in South Carolina and beyond.”

Outside the U.S., STL operates manufacturing facilities in six different locations in India. That includes one plant that was the first optical fiber cable plant in India to receive zero waste to landfill certification.

Golfers participating in the New England Chapter’s annual golf tournament largely shrugged off what was an ugly morning, described by one player as “a white-knuckle” drive to the Tunxis Country Club in Farmington, Connecticut. The weather gods, however, were in a giving mood, and the skies cleared, not reverting to a hard rain till almost all of the 135 golfers had finished their rounds, joined by another 15 non-golfers.

It was an especially good day for the Fluorogistx-sponsored team of Jim Elliott and Rick Larson from New England Wire Technologies, and Jim Bliss, Marmon IEI, who won with a score of 60, 12 under par. Three teams followed at seven under. For all those who played, however, it was a memorable day, perhaps even that much better because of how uncertain it had been.

“The New England Chapter produced another great event with the full support of their Board of Directors and WAI’s staff,” said WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll. “This is a special event that brings the industry together for fun networking, and I credit that to Chapter Chairperson Jess Foss and Golf Chairman Jim Evans, who are both roll-up-your-sleeves leaders who made sure the event delivers.”

“Despite a rainy morning leading up to registration, it turned out to be a beautiful day for golf,” said Foss, market development manager, Electric Cable Compounds Inc. She noted that the tournament continues to serve multiple goals. “As always, it was an excellent opportunity to network with industry colleagues, with the added benefit of being able to do so and enjoy the outdoors. We are fortunate to have many generous sponsors and attendees who make the event possible and support the NEC scholarship fund through our raffle and charity holes. I am already looking forward to what’s in store for next year, which will be our 30th anniversary!”

Foss and Evans both thanked all the companies that sponsored the event, which is also a significant contributor to the chapter’s scholarship program. Skills and special sponsors included: Amacoil Inc., Carris Reels Inc. (3), Chase Wire & Cable Materials, Commission Brokers Inc., Electric Cable Compounds Inc., Electronic Drives & Controls, Fenn LLC, Fluorogistx, Gem Gravure Co. Inc. (3), James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp. (2), Joe Tools, Lloyd & Bouvier Inc. (4), M. Holland, Mathiasen Machinery Inc., The MGS Group, Multi/Cable Corp. (2), Rainbow Rubber, RichardsApex Inc., Summit Plating, Teknikor, Teknor Apex Co., W Gillies Technologies LLC, Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp. (2), Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp. and Zumbach Electronics Corp.

Hole sponsors included: Amaral Automation, Amacoil Inc., Carris Reels Inc., Fenton Group, Fluoropolymer Resources Inc., Gem Gravure Co. Inc., Geon Performance Solutions. James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp. (3), Joe Snee Associates, Inc., Lloyd & Bouvier Inc., M. Holland, Owl Wire and Cable LLC, Quabbin Wire & Cable Co. Inc. (2), REELEX Packaging Solutions Inc., RichardsApex Inc., Sikora, Teknikor, WCMA, Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp. and Zumbach Electronics Corp.

The New England Chapter’s Scholarship Committee has reported the names of its six scholarship winners, each of which will get $2,500.

 Kyle Albrinck is the son of Alice Albrinck, vinyl technical services associate, Teknor Apex. He will attend Thomas More University, where he will major in biology.

Amarra Cruz is the daughter of Luis Cruz, cable engineering manager, Times Microwave Systems. She will attend UMass Boston, where she will major in sports journalism and communications.

Katherine Fritz is the daughter of James Fritz, supply chain manager, Marmon Industrial Energy & Infrastructure Group. She will attend Quinnipiac University, where she will major in radiologic sciences.

William Goyette is the son of Richard Goyette, continuous improvement project manager, MassME. He will attend Rochester Institute of Technology, where he will major in environmental science.

Roma Kale is the daughter of Rina Patel, Vice president of operations, RSCC Wire & Cable LLC. She will attend the University of Connecticut, where she will major in biology and public health.

John Stecker is the grandson of WAI Life Member and Past President (1989-90) WAI David Stecker. He will attend Virginia Tech University, where he will major in data analytics.

Success, albeit on the golf course or in a wire and cable plant, depends on planning and execution, and the organizers of Southeast Chapter’s 22nd annual golf tournament did a commendable job to ensure that its 22nd annual tournament (the date had to be changed) was a success.

A total of 83 players took part at the Sept. 12 event, held at the Rock Barn Golf & Spa in Conover, North Carolina. The tournament—called the Vannais Outing in memory of the late Stephen Vannais, who was a founding member and president of the chapter—saw a tie between two teams.

The 2023 Vannais Outing winning team was Travis Card, William Godwin, Andrew Godwin and Paul Godwin, all of Technical Development Corp., who finished 14 under par. Coming in second, with the same score, was the team of CommScope’s Eric Ellwanger, Jimmy Lail and Trev Raymond, and Sikora’s Todd Hudson. The course golf pro determined the winner by comparing the scorecards consistent with PGA rules.

Those same rules were applied in determining the third-place winners of Tim McElhany of Process Controls and CommScope’s Jason Marrow, David Cabe and Ricky Rudisill.

One skills test winner who deserves singling out was the winner of the Most Accurate Drive, sponsored by Sikora on Hole 7 on the Jackson Course. Chapter President John Dognazzi said that Kendal Deep of Sonoco Reels will go down in WAI Chapter lore for achieving what is believed to be the first ever hole-in-one at a Southeast Chapter golf tourney. There was no doubt that Deep’s mighty swing would not soon be forgotten.

“Kendal was low key about his hole-in-one, but his foursome and the field knew it was something special in that it was a par four,” Dognazzi said. “Yes, a par four hole 7 on the Jackson Course, that was playing at 262 yards. It put an exclamation point on the fun day and a new standard for the long-standing Sikora most accurate drive contest.”

Fetteroll praised the Southeast Chapter’s Board of Directors for their commitment to the event. He also thanked Tim McElhany (now retired from Process Controls), who he said has been a guiding force for the Chapter since its formation.

Dognazzi and McElhaney both thanked all the sponsors who helped make the event possible. Those include Carris Reels Inc., Charter Steel, Commission Brokers Inc., Gateway Recovery Inc., Gem Gravure Co. Inc., GEON, Henderson Sales & Service Inc., LS Cable & System, M. Holland, Magnum Mfg. LLC, The MGS Group, Sikora, Sonoco Reels, Sonoco Plastics, Specialty Cable Corp, Teknikor, Traxit North America LLC, Windak Group and Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp.

The sponsorships are a key contributor to the chapter’s scholarship program.

The Southeast Chapter has reported the names of its four scholarship winners, each of which will get $1,800.

 Speros Grapsas is the son of Constantine Grapsas, president of Aim Inc. He will attend graduate school at Tufts University, where he will pursue a master of business administration or international business degree.

Meredith Hammontree is the daughter of Joe Hammontree, vice president, Temple Terrace Industries. She will attend Florida College, where she will major in ecology.

Matthew Tucker is the son of Amy Tucker, finance manager, Sonoco. He will attend the University of Alabama, where he will study biology.

Brian (Trung) Vo is the son of Loc Vo, senior electrical engineer, Honeywell. He will attend the University of Missouri-Kansas, where he will major in electrical engineering.

Teknor Apex announced that the new CEO of the company is Donald Wiseman, who has a robust history within the plastics industry and a deep expertise in masterbatches and compounding. He most recently was CEO at Star Plastics, and prior to that he was president for Performance Products and Solutions at PolyOne, managing director and general manager in Taiwan for Cabot Microelectronics and a holder of various leadership roles at Americhem. He holds an ME degree in chemical engineering from the University of South Carolina and an MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke University. He replaces Jonathan Fain, who for the past 51 years has led the organization. During his tenure, company revenue grew by more than 650%, and it expanded beyond North America to a global footprint, completing 11 acquisitions and having 13 manufacturing locations. He decided to step down as CEO and will remain a major stakeholder and continue serving as Chairman of the Board, a position he assumed from his father. Based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Teknor Apex is a private family-owned company that was founded by Jonathan’s grandfather, Alfred A. Fain, in 1924 as Apex Tire and Rubber Company. The company provides a range of compounds for multiple sectors, including wire and cable.

 Radix Wire & Cable has promoted Jeremy Tuttle to CEO. He joined the company as vice president of sales and marketing three years ago, and was instrumental in growing the product line as well as increasing revenue. Prior to Radix, he spent 14 years with ITW Powertrain Fastening, where he last served as the director of global sales and engineering, leading sales and engineering teams in the U.S., Europe and China. He holds a B.S. degree in Materials Science & Engineering and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He replaces retiring CEO Jeff Leone, who joined the company three years ago after the business was sold by High Road Capital Partners to Windjammer Capital. He will continue to serve on the company’s Board of Directors and provide guidance during the transition. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Radix is a leading manufacturer of high-performance electrical and communications wire and cable for extreme temperature, fire resistance and other harsh environment applications.

 Anjel Otto has joined Sequel Wire & Cable as director of sales and marketing. She has more than 30 years of experience in sales and new business development roles, working with global customers at all levels of the supply chain including direct to Tier 1, 2, and 3-level accounts as well as supporting distribution partners across the globe. She most recently served as the North American Sales Manager at the Prysmian Group, and prior to that she worked for more than 12 years for Leoni. Based in Argos, Indiana, Sequel Wire & Cable manufactures a range of electrical wire products.

 Friedrich Roithner has been named CFO of Leoni AG. He has served in management at the Austrian Pierer Group for more than 15 years. He has a degree in business administration, and broad expertise in the field of financial management in an industrial environment, especially in times of transformation. He succeeds Dr. Ulla Reisch, who is leaving the board. Roithner will be on the company’s Supervisory Board, joined by Josef Blazicek, Michaela Friepeß, Wolfgang Plasser and Rudolf Wiesbeck as well as Günther Apfalter and all six previous employee representatives. Based in Germany, the Leoni Group produces wire and cable, primarily for the automotive industry.

Plans are continuing to be finalized for the XI International WAI Poland Chapter Seminar, which is scheduled to be held Nov. 23-24, 2023.

Chapter President Jan Pilarczyk said that the seminar, to be held at the METALURGIA Hotel in Radomsko, is attracting more attention. Notices have gone out to private industry and academic institutions about the event, which will see presentations and a discussion panel and dinner the first day, and paper presentations the second day.

The event begins Thursday, Nov. 23, with lunch, followed by the opening of the seminar that includes a welcome by a city official. Scheduled presenters at this point include: Robert J. Glodowski, The Evolving Technology of Steel Rod Manufacturing- A Personal Perspective, from 1:30 pm to 1:55 pm; Tom Moran, Development of a high-carbon wire that could be drawn to ultra-high tensile strength 285, (a joint effort project by National Standard and Southwire), 1:55 pm to 2:20 pm; a presentation by Jan Krnac, Analysis of possibilities to improve the quality of drawn steel wires intended for the production of needles, 2:20 pm to 2:45 pm; then a session on coaching (business topic: leasing, business financing), from 3:15 pm to 3:45 pm.

A discussion panel—The condition of the steel industry in the era of political and economic destabilization in the post-Covid period and in the face of war in Ukraine—will be held from 3:45 pm to 6:30 pm. Subjects will include steel, raw materials, delivery, prices, media, photovoltaics, other RES, development prospects, creating new products, innovative economy, corporate social responsibility, industry 4.0, digitization /automation. Moderators will include Piotr Milewski, Adam Świerczyński and Piotr Pawlak (proposal of further moderators).

Dinner will follow at 7 pm, with awards presented to Krnac and Głodowski. On Friday, papers will be presented from 10 am to noon, followed by lunch. See the latest details at www.msc.wip.pcz.pl. Send questions to chapter secretary Agnieszka Gwiazdowicz at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Prysmian wins €630 million contract from Terna for Adriatic submarine cable project

The Prysmian Group has been awarded a contract worth approximately €630 million from a subsidiary of Terna SpA, an Italian power grid operator (TSO), that will connect the Italian regions of Abruzzo and Marche.

A press release said that the Adriatic Link project route runs for approximately 250 km. It will be made up of two submarine cables accounting for some 210 km across the Adriatic Sea. The project also includes some 40 km of two underground cables connecting each landing point to the regional substation. Prysmian will also be responsible for the design, supply, installation, and commissioning of the High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) submarine interconnection.

The submarine cables with XLPE insulation will be made in Arco Felice, Italy, while the underground cables with P-laser insulation will be made in Gron, France. The HVDC bipolar cable line will allow transmission capacity up to 1,000 M, increasing the exchange of energy between Italy’s central-southern and central-northern areas.

The Group has made major investments in Arco Felice to strengthen its production capacity, transforming the plant as a technology hub for submarine power transmission cables in Europe. Installation will be carried out by two Prysmian Group’s cable-laying vessels: the Leonardo da Vinci and the Monna Lisa. The cable laying should be completed within the first half of 2028.

“This award confirms the mutual trust and long-standing relationship between Terna and Prysmian Group, as this is the latest of several projects we are working on with the Italian TSO,” H. Ozmen, EVP Projects BU, said in a statement. He noted that the project furthers development of strategic infrastructure by making available the best “Made in Italy” submarine cable technology, contributing to the enhancement of power transmission in the center of mainland Italy, “in line with the goals set out in the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), to further support Italy’s role as an electricity hub for Europe and the whole Mediterranean region.”

Including this contract, Prysmian Group’s Projects BU order intake exceeds €10 billion year to date, including preferred bidder agreements. The project will contribute to de-carbonzation of Italy’s energy system, reinforcing Italy’s role as the Mediterranean energy hub.