Radix Wire & Cable has named John Roggenburk as its new vice president of sales and marketing for the company’s High Temperature Business Unit. He has 30 years of diverse commercial experience serving global aerospace, automotive and industrial markets. He most recently was vice president of global marketing for Howmet Aerospace, where he led the marketing and inside sales organization. He was cited for both his ability to lead sales as well as develop new business and recognize market trends. He holds a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Dayton and an MBA from DePaul University. 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.

FENN has named Hunter Lang as technical sales manager for Southern USA. He worked for about three years for Atlas Copco, where he gained experience working in capital equipment sales. He had started out as an intern and was most recently industrial air sales manager. He holds a B.S. degree in industrial distribution from Texas A&A University. Based in East Berlin, Connecticut, FENN is a global supplier of forming machinery for the wire and cable industry.
Ryan Cei was named general manager/vice president of Radcliffe Wire. He previously worked for more than a decade for Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc., most recently as general manager of the company’s Shaped Wire division. He holds bachelor’s degrees in economics and finance from the University of Delaware and a master’s degree in metallurgical engineering from Clemson University. His service as general manager will officially begin when Gary Majchrzak retires from that position in early 2024. Based in Bristol, Connecticut, Radcliff Wire, Inc., produces flat, square, and special shaped wire in over 60 different metals and alloys.

Holger Lieder, who joined Sikora AG as sales director in 2004, has joined the company’s Supervisory Board, and now is responsible for all areas of sales, marketing and service. As of last September, he had provisionally taken over the management of the marketing and service departments in addition to his position as sales director. He was cited for his objective and level-headed manner. He has more than 30 years of experience in sales and a comprehensive technical understanding of Sikora technologies and market requirements. Based in Bremen, Germany, Sikora AG is a global supplier of measuring equipment for the wire and cable industry.

Obituary
Joseph (Joe) Elzie Gibson, who worked in the wire and cable industry for 65 years—and was featured in a WJI January 2022 spread on his career with Encore Wire—died Sept. 27, 2023, at age 86. The WAI Life Member began his career with Texas Wire & Cable, where he met and married the love of his life, Imogene Vest Gibson. He retired from Encore Wire in June 2021 as assistant vice president, operations, leaving behind a legacy as a hard worker who never shirked responsibility, but also a dedicated family man. He is survived by his wife, Imogene, two daughters, Lisa and Sarah, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

The WAI reports that 102 floor spaces (units), representing more than 60% of the available booth space, was sold at the Points Meeting for Wire Expo 2024, which will be held at the Mohegan Sun Casino.
A total of 91 companies took part in the Points Meeting, held Oct. 11 at WAI’s headquarters. By comparison, a total of 78 companies took part in the Points Meeting for Wire Expo 2022, held in Dallas.
“We celebrate this achievement considering the challenges the industry still faces post pandemic,” said WAI Sales Director Shannon Timme. “The resilience and growth of our industry is remarkable, and we would like to thank our loyal partners for their trust and support.”
Timme said that following the Points Meeting, there has been considerable interest by other potential exhibitors for Wire Expo. “We are confident that the remaining 40% of space will be sold out soon as we continue to receive many inquiries and expressions of interest from potential customers, many who are new to exhibiting. We encourage exhibitors to book their space soon.”

Elizabeth Bonfield proved to be a most competent and congenial representative from the U.K. as she continued the Clockwinding Ceremony that was first held on Oct. 20, 1948. At that time, British representatives of their country’s wire industry—headed by John Rigby—presented the grandfather’s clock in thanks for support during World War II. Ever since, it has been a cherished piece of history kept at WAI’s headquarters.
WAI President Kurt Breischaft welcomed Elizabeth Bonfield, who was accompanied by her husband Steven, to the Association’s offices in Madison, Connecticut. “As an industry we appreciate the relationship between the U.S. and U.K., and this symbolic act for that, so thank you for coming.” The audience also included WAI BoD members Rebecca Cranford, David Fischer and Chris Tucker; WAI Past President Jim York; and Association staff, including WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll.
“It’s an absolute pleasure to be here,” Bonfield said. She has worked at the director level in the engineering, manufacturing and construction sectors for the past 20 years, most recently for Skills 4 UK, a Leeds-based consultancy firm. She observed that “we should pay our respects to John Rigby, and the forefathers who brought this clock here.”
Bonfield said she was familiar with many of the people in photos of past clockwinders on the wall in the lobby area. She pointed out John Rigby, and his son, Peter, who twice (1979 and 1998) served; Darrell Fox (1992), whose business is not far from where she lives; Peter Siddal, who came in 1999, “a wireman through and through,” who returned in 2010 with his wife, Kate, who worked in the industry and served as the Clockwinder; Steve Rutherford (2003) from Briden Wire, now retired; Lindsay Millington (2019), the Under Warden of The Worshipful Company of Tinplate Workers alias Wire Workers; followed by Martin Thacker, who served twice (2020-21) via zoom before doing it live in 2022. The tradition has continued over time, yet it too is part of the life cycle. “Sadly, we lost two clockwinders, Peter Rigby and Peter Siddal, since the last time the clock was wound,” Bonfield said.
The Clockwinding ceremony ties together many aspects of the industry. Bonfield said that the meaning is still felt in the U.K., and that it was an honor for her and Steven to be there. “Your friendship, commitment to continued collaboration is just a delight, so I feel very privileged to wind the clock.” She proceeded to do just that, checking several times to verify she was not over-tightening it. Assured that the Clock indeed was ready for the next year, she turned over the key, with a smile that reflected a look of relief that all had gone well.
While Bonfield talked a lot about the people who have been part of the Clockwinding ceremony, she also shared a historical tidbit about one practitioner in the U.S. wire industry. Paul Revere, who in addition to being a patriot that went on a well-known midnight ride, was for a period, during “lean times,” also a dentist. He would wire in false teeth made from walrus ivory or animal teeth, and became the first person to practice forensic dentistry in the U.S. “How brilliant the use of wire can be,” Bonfield said, adding that it makes one wonder “what will be going on 250 years from now.”
It was fitting that there was a twist to the tradition of giving the U.K. representative a Clockwinder tie. This year, the memento was a stylish scarf designed by WAI Director of Marketing & Corporate Communications Janice Swindells.
After the ceremony, the participants met for dinner at the Madison Beach Hotel, where there was further talk of tradition and cooperation. There was also a free flow of conversation that went into many directions, capturing the bond of those who are part of the field, and genuinely enjoy the company of their peers. It is that spirit that hopefully will enable the Clockwinding ceremony to continue for future generations as they face new challenges.

The return to Mohegan Sun Casino for the WAI should be a good one. A total of 102 floor spaces (units)— representing more than 60% of the available booth space—was sold at the Points Meeting for Wire Expo 2024, to be held June 10-12 at the Mohegan Sun Casino Resort. A total of 91 companies took part in the Points Meeting, held Oct. 11 at WAI’s headquarters.

The fees for registration are presented below, with the schedule shown on the next page. A key date is May 31, as that is when advance rate discounts expire, making now a very good time to act. The cost for an all-access registration is $720, and $620 for WAI members. A non-member who signs up for $720 gets a one-year membership. After May 31, the cost increases to $695 for non-members and $595 for members.

Registration for the Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing Course on Monday, June 10, costs $495, and $395 for WAI members. A non-member who signs up for $495 gets a one-year membership.

Other event options include access to exhibits and Product Solutions demonstrations. That cost is $125, increasing to $140 after May 31. A ticket for the Welcome Reception, always the best way to meet up with the industry, is $140.

The schedule, presented at www.wireexpo24.com, provides an overview of what attendees can expect. The March issue will include a “prequel” of the event that provides a close look at what will be offered, but a few notables will be the awarding of WAI’s 2024 Champions Award to Keynote Speaker H. Woltz, president/CEO of Insteel Industries; the Mordica Lecture by W.T. Bigbee, vice president operations of Encore Wire; and Keynote Speaker Paul Furtado, COO, Prysmian.

WAI previously staged Wire Expo in 2016 at the same site, where some 240 companies were represented on the show floor.