Nexans announced that it has signed two memorandums of understanding with the Moroccan government for a new cable plant in Morocco that would open in 2026.

A press release said that Nexans signed the agreements with the Moroccan Ministry of Industry and Trade, Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development, Ministry of Investment, Convergence and Evaluation of Public Policies, the National Office of Electricity and Drinking Water (ONEE) and the Moroccan Investment and Export Development Agency (AMDIE).

The project, which calls for a €100 million total investment plan, would be the company’s third plant for medium-voltage cable in Morocco, the others being in Casablanca and Mohammedia. The project is expected to create more than 200 direct jobs and will benefit from the backing of the Moroccan Ministries, the ONEE and the AMDIE. The project will meet the Group’s standards of excellence, in line with its Industry 4.0 digitalization and sustainability goals and will deliver cables to Africa.

“Once again, I commend Morocco’s outstanding leadership in bringing the benefits of sustainable electrification to all,” said Nexans CEO Christopher Guérin. The project is aligned with the desire of King Mohammed VI, the current leader in the region and across Africa, for deployment of renewable energy infrastructure.

The release said that Morocco aims to consolidate the entire industrial ecosystem in the years to come. The described transformative project will strengthen the development of the renewable energy industry value chain in the Kingdom and to promote technical advancement in the local industrial fabric.

Guérin said that he was pleased to see this latest step in the country, where Nexans has been operating for more than 75 years. “This project, bringing together public and private players, sets out to achieve, from the very start, ecological and human commitments, thereby unlocking significant economic potential for all of Africa.”

Kevin Boll has been promoted to technical director of Nextrom. He joined the company in 2006 as a lead mechanical engineer, in Finland, for the company’s optical fiber draw department. He progressed to product manager for specialty fiber, while simultaneously holding the position of sales manager for both Europe and Southeast Asia. Prior to joining Nextrom, he worked as a mechanical engineer for BAE Systems for four years. He holds a B.S. degree in engineering from Michigan Technological University. Based in Finland, and a business unit of Rosendahl Nextrom GmbH, Nextrom supplies technology for production of optical fiber and fiber optic cables.

Derek Olson has been promoted to sales director of Gem Gravure Co., Inc. He joined the company as a summer job in 1990, and it turned into a career position for him in sales. A reliable and effective representative, he has also been an active member in WAI, serving as president of the New England Chapter in 2017. He replaces the position that was long held by Mark Kristoff, who joined the company in 1994, working from the West Coast of the country. He will continue with Gem Gravure in other duties. Based in Hanover, Massachusetts, Gem Gravure Co. Inc. is a supplier of marking and coding equipment.

Omni Cable reported two hires. Keith Hopkins is vice president of strategic accounts for the Communications Business unit, responsible for leading growth strategies with the largest distributors and manufacturers in the communications enterprise market. He has more than 35 years of experience in the communications industry, with over 33 years of experience in distribution and two years in the data center space. Before OmniCable, he worked for Accu-Tech for 33 years, holding several positions. Carmel Cunningham was named director of business development for the company’s communications business unit, responsible for execution of growth strategies in the industrial automation connectivity end markets. She has 35 years of experience in the communications industry, the last 15 in the industrial sector. Previous employers include CommScope, where she worked for 10 years, and at Belden, where she worked for 15 years. Based in West Chester, Pennsylvania, with 18 regional distribution centers, OmniCable is a redistributor of wire and cable, electrical products and value-added services.

Obituary
Edward Planeta, the founder of Acme Wire Products Co., Inc., in Mystic, Connecticut, died Dec. 9, 2023, at age 87. He began his career with Associated Spring in Bristol, Connecticut, then worked as operations manager for the Planeta family business, Artistic Wire Products in Taftville, Connecticut. He founded Acme Wire in 1970 to produce custom fabricated steel and wire component parts for the emerging printer and desktop computer industries. He headed the business until his retirement in 2000. The company is now in its second generation of family ownership, run by Mary Planeta Fitzgerald, Edward Planeta, Jr., and Michael Planeta. Survivors from his two marriages include seven children; five stepchildren; 26 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.

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Starting the January 2024 issue, WAI will present profiles on members of different chapters, the goal being to give readers a sense of the chapter experience. The profile is similar to that of the one for new WAI members but meant to focus on the unique attractions of being part of a chapter.

The first one, on the opposite page, is of Derek Olson of Gem Gravure Co. Inc., a member of the New England Chapter. Members of other chapters will be presented in future issues. In addition to the New England Chapter, the Association’s largest one, the WAI has U.S. chapters in the Mid-South, Midwest and Ohio Valley, as well as chapters in Poland, Italy and India.

For more information on joining a chapter, contact Corey Flynn, Member Services Manager, at tel. 203-453-2777, ext. 128, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

One benefit offered by WAI chapters is that three of them—New England, Southeast and Midwest—each offer college scholarships for sons and daughters of chapter members.

In 2023, the New England Chapter issued six scholarships, each $2,500; the Southeast Chapter issued four scholarship winners, each $1,800; and the Midwest Chapter issued three scholarships, each $1,500.

What’s noteworthy about the collective scholarship programs is that they are very flexible. Also, each chapter funds the program through various events, and event sponsors and chapter members have been very generous in supporting the cause.

For more details, go to the individual chapter page at www.wirenet.org.