Lake Cable, a fourth-generation U.S. wire and cable manufacturer, celebrated the official opening on Oct. 16 of the company’s newest expansion: an existing 180,000-sq-ft building formerly owned by bearings manufacturer Regal Beloit that is located adjacent to its plant on Evans Avenue in Valparaiso, Indiana.

“Lake Cable is very proud to be a member of the great Valparaiso community,” said Lake Cable CEO Bill Runzel, who was joined by Valparaiso, state and other leaders in celebrating the opening of the company’s newest facility. “This new facility allows Lake Cable to continue to expand our successful industrial power insulated cable business.”

Runzel noted that since Lake Cable started its plant in Valparaiso in 2013, the operation has grown to 368,000 square feet under roof and nearly 200 employees. In the last two years, the company has invested more than $7.5 million in new equipment, and it will be installing new production lines and hiring more people from the Valparaiso community in the next few years.

The company had long been interested in the Regal Beloit building, which was closed, but it had only become available a while ago. It was in good shape, and the extra capacity it will offer Lake Cable makes it a sound addition.
Established in 1995, Lake Cable has more than 620 employees throughout its five locations in Indiana and Illinois. Lake Cable manufactures UL listed low voltage electronic, industrial, utility, custom OEM and broadcast quality cable.

Lake Cable also believes in giving back to charities such as MS and pediatric cancer, by actively supporting a wide range of fund-raising events over the years. Some of those include the Veterans Airlift Command, the Runzel Brothers Spring Shoot and MuckFest MS Chicago.

Cabopol Polymer Compounds (Cabopol), a Portuguese supplier of thermoplastic and crosslinked compounds, announced that it is expanding its global presence with a new production unit in Monterrey, Mexico.

A company spokesman said that the new plant, which will cover some 10,000 sq m, is located in the heart of Monterrey’s industrial zone. It is expected to be operational by year’s end, at which time it will represent the company’s first compounding production in the Americas.

A press release said that the plant will use the latest technology and equipment to produce high-quality polymer compounds at a competitive cost. It will start with two production lines with annual capacity of 25,000 tons and be able to expand that to meet its commitment to growth and innovation in the polymer industry.

The new production unit will initially focus on supplying compounds for the wire and cable industry, with a specific emphasis on serving the automotive sector. The new capacity will improve supply chain efficiency and reduce lead times for customers in the Mexican and American markets. Future plans include expanding offerings to provide solutions for a broader range of industries. “In the first stage, we will supply Mexican clients, but we are looking forward to develop the market all along South and Northern American potential customers.”

The press release said that this initiative “will pave the way for our expansion in this region.” It notes that it follows the successful operations of company production units in Serbia, Morocco and Portugal. Cabopol Sales Director Anselmo Mendes said that the Monterrey plant “marks a pivotal moment for (us). ... We are excited to better serve our customers and contribute to the growth of the local economy.”

Madem-Moorecraft Reels USA recently opened its second manufacturing plant in Denton, Texas, USA, with an opening ceremony attended by a range of elected officials as well as customers, suppliers and shareholders.

A press release said that the completed first phase of the new Denton plant increases Madem-Moorecraft total current production capacity by 50% (150 truckloads of kits/month). Next year, phase two will be completed, providing an additional 50% capacity increase. The total investment will top $14 million and create more than 100 jobs. Madem-Moorecraft currently supplies wood and plywood reels to 42 cable manufacturing plants in the U.S.

Marcos Conde Ramalho, president of Madem-Moorecraft Reels USA, said that the new plant represents the company’s most advanced industrial engineering project. “This manufacturing system is made up of innovative machinery, and brings pride to the Madem-Moorecraft team and Madem Group worldwide. It all has been designed to deliver unparalleled wooden and plywood reel experience to the North American cable industry.”

“The Denton team is very excited for the future of this facility. We could not have done this without the support from the Tarboro North Carolina team and the Madem Group team in Brazil!” said Josh McCoy, general manager of Madem-Moorecraft Reels USA.

Expanding the assembly and distribution network is a key to the company’s future, said Stephen J. Redhage, vice president and general manager. “Having two manufacturing plants provides that foundation.”

The Madem Group is a world leader in wooden reel manufacturing, supplying more than 200 cable manufacturers in some 45 countries. It has manufacturing and distribution facilities in Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, USA, Spain and Bahrain.

Jan De Nul reports that it has ordered what it described as the world’s largest cable-laying vessel (CVL) from China Merchants Heavy Industry Jiangsu (CMHI Haimen), which will build a vessel that has a cable-carrying capacity of 28,000 metric tons.

A press release said that Jan De Nul—a sixth-generation Belgian family business that provides services relating to the construction and maintenance of maritime infrastructure—has placed an order for the extra-large CLV. The vessel is designed to install cables into waters as deep as 3,000 m, will be equipped with a highly advanced dual exhaust filter system that removes up to 99% of nanoparticles from emissions using a diesel particulate filter (DPF) and a selective catalytic reduction system (SCR) for NOx removal.

The vessel, to be called the Fleeming Jenkin, will be equipped with three cable carousels, two mounted on deck and a third below deck. There will be a large hold for fiber optic cables, with the vessel capable of laying up to four cables simultaneously. It is scheduled for completion in 2026, at which time it will join the Jan De Nul fleet, which currently consists of two jack-up installation vessels, three floating crane installation vessels, five rock installation vessels and two multipurpose vessels.

The vessel will be powered by engines that can run on biofuel and green methanol and the hybrid power plant on board contributes to the reduction of CO2 emissions and optimal fuel usage. It will combine the generators with a 2.5 MWh battery and drive technology, designed for peak shaving, load smoothening, spinning reserve and optimized engine loading. It will be built with GTT’s Mark III Flex membrane-type containment system.

“We stand firm in our belief in the energy transition. Following our previous investments in the jack-up vessel Voltaire and crane vessel Les Alizés for the installation of the next-gen wind turbines and their foundations, we now proceed with this magnificent cable-laying vessel,” said Philippe Hutse, director of the offshore energy division of the Jan De Nul Group. “Thanks to her unprecedented capabilities, the new CLV will be a perfect fit for the interconnector and export cable markets.”

A joint venture between NKT HV Cables AB—part of the NKT Group—and Walsin Lihwa recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for a submarine cable plant in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. The factory will produce high- and medium-voltage AC offshore power cables, mainly for the Taiwanese offshore wind market.

A press release said that the JV, to be called Walsin Energy Cable System Co., Ltd., is expected to be completed in 2025, and fully operational in 2027, at which time it will be Taiwan’s first such cable plant. Located in the Phase One area of the Kaohsiung Intercontinental Container Terminal, the submarine cable plant will have a site area of 233,888 sq m and 59,828 sq m of building area. The plant will produce high-voltage export and inter array cables for offshore wind turbine power generation.

The partnership pairs the resources of the NKT Group, which has advanced submarine cable technologies, with Walsin Lihwa, an industrial conglomerate whose production includes a wide range of power cables and wire. Established in 1966, Walsin Lihwa Corporation has more than 10,000 employees across Taiwan, China, USA, Italy, Malaysia and Indonesia. It is based in Taipei, Taiwan.
“Local production ensures a steady supply of submarine cables, a critical component for the development of offshore wind power generation industry, and of strategic importance to Taiwan’s grid resilience,” said Walsin Lihwa Chairman Yu-Lon Chiao, who observed that the collaboration “marks a significant milestone in the development of Walsin Lihwa’s power cable business. Together, we intend to establish close relationships with our key customers, Taiwan wind power developers, as a preferred supplier of high quality and price competitive submarine cables.”

Will Hendrikx, COO and Deputy CEO of NKT, said that the company is honored to be a partner in the project. “With Walsin being a reputable and strong cable maker, combined with NKT’s experience in submarine cables, we see a great opportunity to establish a local champion for submarine cable production.”

Iowa Spring acquires Northeast SpringIowa Spring has acquired Northeast Spring of Reading, Pennsylvania, a family owned-and-operated business that has supplied custom-made springs for more than 25 years.

A press release said that the acquisition, which closed Sept. 15, expands Iowa Spring’s growing presence as the premier supplier of precision-made springs for the overhead door, construction, agriculture, and recreational equipment industries across the globe.

“I am so proud to be able to offer a place for Northeast Spring’s legacy to continue,” said Iowa Spring CEO Tim Bianco. Northeast Spring primarily serves the overhead door industry, with operations at its headquarters in Reading, Pennsylvania, and its facility in Villa Rica, Georgia. The company name and management team will remain intact with founder John O’Leary remaining onboard for the next three years.
Northeast Spring makes custom springs from .080 to .625 wire range including 302/304 stainless steel, music wire, chrome silicon, oil tempered wire and hard drawn wire.

“With so many spring companies being acquired by large private equity groups, it was essential to me to find a like-minded buyer that could be trusted to keep our team intact and who could uphold our company’s legacy and reputation,” O’Leary said. “Our team has worked tirelessly for more than two decades to build a highly respected company that is focused on family values, quality and integrity. Iowa Spring is a perfect match.”

Iowa Spring President & CEO Tim Bianco will oversee operations of Northeast Spring in addition to its three existing facilities: the original Iowa Spring facility, its recent 55,000-sq-ft nearby expansion facility, and its sister company, Southern Atlantic Spring, in Granite Quarry, North Carolina. The companies’ combined capabilities will position the Iowa Spring group to provide a wide depth and breadth of high quality, custom manufactured springs while maintaining a “customer-centric” focus, he said.

Members of the International Cablemakers Federation (ICF) elected Norman Adkins, COO of Southwire, as their new president. He succeeds Pascal Portevin of Nexans, who has served as president of the Austrian-based association since 2019.

“It’s an exciting time to be stepping into the role of ICF president,” said Adkins. “ICF is working to advance our future by unifying the efforts and power of connection among worldwide cable makers. We are all committed to innovation and the collaborations needed to address the huge opportunities and challenges of this time in history, and I look forward to the progress we will make together.”