The WAI’s New England Chapter announced the six 2025 winners of its scholarship program, which includes one candidate who qualified as a sponsored intern. Each scholarship was for $2,500.

Jack Bienvenue is the stepson of Walter Parsell, facility engineering manager, Prysmian Group. He is attending the University of Connecticut, where he is seeking a degree in statistical data science.

John Hartline is the son of Christopher Hartline, vice president of operations, RichardsApex. He is attending Pennsylvania State University, where he is seeking a degree in computer science.

Luke McComiskey is the son of Thomas McComiskey, vice president, The MGS Group. He is attending the University of Rhode Island, where he is seeking a degree in nursing.

Erin Mulligan is the daughter of Alan Mulligan, sales representative, Vandor Corporation. She is attending at High Point University, where she is seeking a degree in business administration. She also won a scholarship from the Southeast Chapter.

Michael Russo is the son of James Russo, electrical engineer, MGS Manufacturing. He is attending Salve Regina University, where he is seeking a degree in biochemistry.
Ryan Delage, the recipient of the Intern Scholarship, was sponsored by Gary Collette and Michael Renner of Sjogren Industries Inc.

The New England Chapter returned to the Tunxis Country Club in Farmington, Connecticut, for its 31st annual golf outing on what proved to be an utterly gorgeous day for the 143 golfers.

Coming out on top was the Lloyd & Bouvier team (pictured with trophy) of Michael Tucker, Darren Tucker, Joe Yabba and Gibson Yabba that shot a very respectable score of 15 under par. In second place, at 12 under, was the Web Industries team of James Evans, Trevor Lucas, Dave Morgan and Jordan Pihl. Third place went to the Little Falls Alloys team of Jeff Lawrence, Mike Sarni, Jake Pelletier and Sean Donnelly, 11 under.

The day had begun with the tee-off breakfast sponsored by James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp., and during play players could stop at designated lunch shacks—sponsored by Teknikor and Carris Reels—scattered throughout the course. Though golfers took their game seriously and the competition was fierce, players had a great time. Multiple golfers commented on how much they appreciated the brisk pace of play.

Following the tournament, players gathered at the pavilion for the dinner and awards ceremony, where the coveted New England Golf Tournament trophy was presented. The victorious team will keep it until the competition returns next year.

Event participants could also win an array of raffle prizes donated by a slew of generous sponsors. The winner of the grand prize—a set of TaylorMade Irons valued at $800—was Chris McCormick of Lightera, although the biggest winner was the chapter’s scholarship fund. Players dug deep for raffle tickets, adding nearly $4,000 to the chapter’s scholarship fund. See the six winners who won scholarships.

Event sponsors included: Amaral Automation Associates, Carris Reels Inc.; Electronic Drives & Controls, Inc.; Fluorogistx; Gem Gravure; Gendon Polymer Services Inc.; GEON Performance Solutions; James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp.; Joe Snee Associates, Inc.; Lake Cable, Lake Copper; Lenze Americas; Little Falls Alloys; Lloyd & Bouvier; M.Holland; Mathiasen Machinery; Quabbin Wire & Cable Co. Inc.; REELEX Packaging Solutions; RichardsApex; SIKORA; Teknikor; The MGS Group; W. Gillies Technologies LLC; Web Industries; Wire & Cable Consulting, LLC; Wire & Cable Manufacturers’

Alliance, Inc. (WCMA); and Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp.

Jim Evans, who led the tournament organization, offered special thanks to all the dedicated committee volunteers who participated. “Without them, the event would be nowhere near as enjoyable.”

Tee time is rapidly approaching for the WAI Southeast Chapter’s 23rd annual golf tournament, to be held Oct. 16 at the Rock Barn Country Club and Spa in Conover, North Carolina.

Last year, 96 golfers played at the site, which is host to the Tom Jackson course, recognized by Golf Digest on its list of “Best Places to Play.” That backdrop was matched by the performance of the winning team of Harrison Cummings and Mark Finch, IWG-HPC; Darin Nicol, Wayne Wire Die Company; and Kelly Grigg, I.T. Consultant (SRHS), who shot an unworldly 16-under-par to claim top honors in a very competitive field.

Both the second and third place teams shot a 13 under, which triggered the matching of cards to determine the official finishes. The official second-place winners were Jay Sweetenburg, Austin Duncan, Taylor Lane, and Steve Malott, all of Sonoco. Third-place winners were Brooke Stonesifer of Sonoco, Tom Heberling, Dylan Shepard and Gerald Galazin of Southwire.

WAI’s Steve Fetteroll and the Southeast Chapter Board cited outstanding support from three Southwire Company volunteers: Denise Siathone, Lauren Bozeman and Jasmine Monet.

The cost for playing and the awards dinner is $225 a player. Participants can register at the WAI Chapter’s page for either the tournament or dinner-only participation.

The WAI Education Center’s recent two-part webinar on distinguishing high-quality wire dies from substandard ones featured expert insights from Hyperion Materials & Technologies.

The first session, “Differentiating High-Quality PCD Wire Dies,” explored carbide and PCD (polycrystalline diamond) fundamentals, highlighting issues like EDM cutting problems and cracks. See p. 50.

The second one, “Key Differentiators in Carbide Wire Dies,” focused on carbide materials with an interactive segment covering issues such as casing problems, breakage, cavities, and scratches.

The recorded webinars are now available on-demand through WAI’s learning platform. The educational resource is free to WAI members, a valuable member benefit. Registration for WAI webinars is $75 for non-members, making membership ($150/year) an attractive option for those interested in both sessions and seeking further discounts on training and events.

The good news is that the vast majority of the August preview for Wire & Cable Kraków is still accurate. Below are some of the key elements of the international conference to be held Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Holiday Inn Kraków City Centre in Kraków, Poland.

The 28 presentations will be presented in concurrent ferrous and nonferrous sessions. They will explore and cover topics such as production efficiency, product development and sustainability. A tabletop exhibition will accompany the conference. See p. 38 for the list of companies/organizations that have reserved a spot.

Scheduled speakers come from companies/universities that include Aeroel Marposs, AGH University, Astarte Stategies Srl, Bekaert, Caleotto SpA, Celanese, CRU, Czestochowa University of Technology, Eder Engineering, Hyperion, InnoVites, Łukasiewicz–GIT, Maschinenfabrik NIEHOFF GmbH & Co. KG, Metalube, the MFL Group, the Pittini Group, SAMP Group, Tata Steel, Taymer Europe, TKT Group, Tokai University, University of Milano-Bicocca, Windak Group and WiTechs.

Registration for all event elements can now be done at www.wirecable25.com. The four event organizers include WAI, ACIMAF, the AGH University of Kraków and the International Wire & Machinery Association (IWMA). The International Wire and Cable Machine Exhibitors Association (IWCEA) is also an event sponsor. WAI’s Poland Chapter is graciously providing administrative services. The event is backed by media partner Expometals.net and supported by WJI. Other sponsorship opportunities are still available.

The experience includes a gala dinner on the day of the conference at the historic Stara Zajezdnia Kraków by DeSilva in the heart of Kazimierz.

On Wednesday, Nov. 5 at 11 am EST, WAI will host a live extrusion webinar led by industry expert Rick Chamberlin of Hawkins Consulting, LLC. The fast-paced, 30-minute session will provide practical takeaways while offering a sneak peek of WAI’s four online extrusion training courses.

Participants will get a teaser of the key concepts and techniques covered in the full courses, enough to spark interest and provide immediate value without getting too deep. The webinar will also feature an interactive knowledge check and a live Q&A, giving attendees a chance to engage directly with the instructor.

Registration is available at the Association’s website at wirenet.org via the calendar of upcoming events. Don’t miss this opportunity to get a firsthand look at WAI’s extrusion training content.

NEC, a leading Asian undersea cable manufacturer and installer, may receive hundreds of millions of dollars in subsidies from the Japanese government to acquire specialized cable-laying vessels for digital infrastructure projects.

A government statement said that Japan is considering helping cover up to half the cost—potentially $500 million—for two ships, with each vessel estimated at $300 million. It said that the action was necessary because nearly all of Japan’s communications depend on subsea cables, yet domestic firms currently lack sovereign cable-laying capacity. NEC has relied on leasing a Norwegian vessel and other short-term charters, which officials say has exposed Japan to supply chain vulnerabilities and security risks. With foreign competitors in the U.S., France and China owning dedicated fleets, Japan’s government called its lack of owned ships “very serious.”

If approved, NEC’s first ship could be operational by 2027, strengthening the country’s ability to quickly deploy and repair digital networks. The news was posted by Tech Space 2.0 and reported by the Financial Times.

The final approval for Japan’s planned subsidies to NEC for cable-laying vessels would come from the Japanese Cabinet, specifically through the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), which oversees telecommunications and digital infrastructure policy.

The initiative comes after years of deliberation. In 2023, Tokyo designated subsea cables as “vital infrastructure” and required operators to report suspicious activities but stopped short of deeper support. NEC’s CEO warned earlier this year that the company was “the only one fighting with no support” as rivals benefited from direct government backing. France’s Alcatel unit was nationalized, while China provides heavy subsidies to its telecom firms.

NEC’s cable manufacturing and installation businesses operate as a unified enterprise under the NEC Group umbrella, with the entire group engaged in the submarine cable system business and no separate brand names distinguishing manufacturing from installation.

Manufacturing is conducted primarily through OCC Corporation, a subsidiary of NEC, while installation and systems integration are supported by other NEC divisions such as NEC Networks & System Integration Corporation and NEC Platforms, but all activities are marketed collectively as NEC submarine cable solutions.

The current investigation marks one of the most extensive probes into cartel activity in Slovakia’s cable sector to date, signaling heightened competition enforcement in this critical infrastructure market. 

NKT A/S, via its Czech subsidiary, NKT s.r.o., is part of an ongoing probe by the Antimonopoly Office (AMO) of the Slovak Republic.

In a formal announcement on August 27, NKT confirmed it is part of the investigation into alleged collusion among cable industry players in Slovakia, which the company denies. The AMO’s “Request Before the Issuing of a Decision” alleges possible infringements of Slovak and EU competition law involving a local cable association and 11 cable makers, including NKT s.r.o. Proposed fines are outlined but not finalized, and NKT has contested both the findings and the suggested infringement, stating it will present a reasoned defense.

A final decision from the Slovak authorities is expected within six to 12 months. If upheld, NKT plans to consider all available legal remedies, including appeals in Slovak courts. Meanwhile, NKT s.r.o. is also under investigation by Czech competition authorities, along with five other cable manufacturers, with that review still pending.

Case Recruiting recently took over Wire Resources, Inc., a Connecticut-based specialized wire and cable recruiting firm, owned by Peter Carino, a well-known industry recruiter.

The new owner, Ryan Case, was led by a third party to Carino, who had recently retired. Wire Resources, Inc. was founded in 1967 and Carino bought it in 1982.  The two men met, and the end result was Case transitioning Carino’s business into his: Case Recruiting (www.caserecruiting.com). “I wanted to leave my personal legacy in good hands and Ryan is filling that role,” Carino said.

Carino had participated in multiple WJI features over the years. Fittingly, Case is in the October feature (see p. 52) where he shares his background and his thoughts on the current hiring market.

Kanthal, a global resistance materials producer, announced that it has inaugurated a new wire manufacturing facility at its Hosur campus in India that features advanced automated processes, advanced die maintenance, fully automated spooling operations and state-of-the-art quality control and material handling systems.

A press release said that with the new 1,980-sq-m facility, Kanthal will more than triple its production capacity at the Hosur plant. The initiative was taken to optimize production capacity globally and to offer shorter lead times across Asia.

Kanthal established the Hosur plant in 1988. Since then, the company’s activities in the country have expanded and today, with India as one of Kanthal’s key geographical areas, the Hosur manufacturing facility has grown in importance. The expansion will enable the unit to cater to local markets in India as well as Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Korea, Japan, China, and selected parts of Europe. “This strategic investment enables us to meet the growing demand for fine dimension wire with fast lead times in Asia,” said Kanthal President Robert Stål.