The WAI online training platform officially launched in late January 2025, marking a major step forward in the Wire Association International’s (WAI) commitment to industry education and workforce development. Learn more at https://www.wirenet.org/.
Course Offerings and Training Content
At launch, WAI introduced three in-house courses:
- Introduction to Ferrous Metallurgy
- Single Layer Extrusion Overview
- Extrusion Applications
In addition, the platform includes 12 manufacturing safety courses from a third-party provider. Together, these offerings create a diverse and practical training library for industry professionals.
WAI Online Training Platform Demonstration and Industry Response
WAI kicked off the launch with a January 29 Open House webinar, where attendees explored the platform through a live demonstration and Q&A session.
John Markowski, WAI’s Education Manager, emphasized strong demand for flexible, high-quality training resources. Early feedback confirms growing interest from companies seeking scalable training solutions.
Expanding Course Development and Industry Partnerships
WAI continues to expand the platform’s capabilities. Later in 2025, the organization plans to launch an online version of the Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing Course, a long-standing cornerstone of WAI training.
Several companies have already begun integrating the platform into their employee onboarding programs.
In addition, WAI has partnered with the Spring Manufacturers Institute (SMI) (https://www.smihq.org/). This collaboration allows SMI to incorporate ferrous metallurgy content into its courses while providing access to WAI training resources.
Showcasing Training at Interwire 2025
WAI will highlight the online training platform at Interwire 2025. During the event, John Markowski will lead a session in the WAI Theater, focusing on the importance of structured workforce training.
Attendees will see a live platform demonstration and learn how the system supports employee development, onboarding, and upskilling across the wire and cable industry.
