9/8/21 – The Association’s New England Chapter has chosen the five below students to each receive a 2021 scholarship of $2,500.
Ana Aguilar, the daughter of Alberto Aguilar, president of Carris Reels, will be attending Clemson. She plans to study business marketing.
Connor Hartline, the son of Christopher Hartline, vice president of operations at RichardsApex, will be attending Pennsylvania State University. He plans to study engineering.
Robert Mancinelli, the son of John Mancinelli, national sales manager at Conneaut Industries, Inc., will be attending Lehigh University IBE Honors Program. He plans to study mechanical engineering and finance.
Erik Person, the son of Kimberly Person, corporate accountant at Insulated Wire, Inc., will be attending SUNY Genesco. He plans to study adolescent education.
Indigo Zachow, the daughter of John Zachow, vice president of Davis-Standard, will be attending Northeast Wisconsin Technical College. She plans to study graphic design.
WAI News
9/8/21 – Companies can now either enter or update their company profiles for the 2022 edition of the Wire Journal International Reference Guide and WAI’s online Industry Search.
The new and updated entries, free, will be accepted until Nov. 30, 2021, for the printed publication. An instructional video on submitting a free listing is at
wirenet.org: (www.wirenet.org/industry-search-instructional-video)
June 4, 2021
The Wire Association International is pleased to announce that on May, 17, 2021, John Markowski officially became the manager for membership and social media.
It’s a familiar role for Markowski as he has been a member of the WAI staff since he joined as an intern in April 2018. He served in that function while attending Albertus Magnus College, where he earned a marketing degree.
“We knew instantly that John would be a great addition to the team, and we had hoped that he would stay with us upon his graduation,” said WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll. “His strong skills in social media have been on display for the past three years, and we recognize the critical importance of continuing to evolve and expand our voice. WAI’s already ‘well qualified’ yet lean staff just got stronger.”
In addition to his social media responsibilities, Markowski, an Eagle Scout, will manage the comprehensive membership activities as well as a range of support for the Association’s chapters. Over the past six months, he has been gradually performing more of the responsibilities of the position in anticipation of the planned appointment.
June 4, 2021
Interwire returns in October as 1st-ever Industry 4.0 pavilion gathers momentum
The show goes on for the Interwire Trade Exposition—the longest running and largest wire and cable industry trade show in the Americas—October 26-27, 2021 at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia. Following the event postponement from May to October, positive signs have emerged for the WAI’s biennial event.
The news is that the event, which will remain an in-person event, will showcase the potential of Industry 4.0. That theme will be supported by a full-fledged presentation of how this transformation in manufacturing has arrived and—more importantly—how it works. It will be represented by 12 companies, including four that have never exhibited at Interwire.
Industry 4.0 can be described as a collection of technologies and procedures that combine to support the smart factory concept. The inaugural Industry 4.0 Pavilion at Interwire—a collaboration between the WAI and Messe Düsseldorf North America—will feature displays and educational briefings from ADVARIS, Cimteq, Davis-Standard, 40Factory Srl, InnoVites, MFL Group, MindSphere World Italia, Oden Technologies, Parsable, Rockwell Automation, SIKORA and TROESTER. See following pages for company descriptions.
A key to assembling the exhibitors that will collectively present Industry 4.0 in a unique and comprehensive forum was Willem Sundblad, a WAI board member and the CEO of Oden Technologies.
Interwire will illustrate how machine learning, automation, artificial intelligence, big data, analytics, IoT, predictive maintenance, and other factory and machine enhancements can positively affect the way wire is made and how well manufacturers compete on the world stage.
“This year we are going to have an Industry 4.0 Pavilion and lots of technical presentations that will showcase the latest technologies of the 4th Industrial Revolution at Interwire,” said WAI Board member Richard Baker, vice president of engineering, Prysmian Group North America. “Companies will demonstrate how Industry 4.0 technologies are applicable to wire and cable manufacturing and how the efficiency of equipment and processes can be significantly enhanced through their use.”
Used to best advantage, this innovative technology can transform data collected from machine sensors into information that can ultimately help improve processes and product quality; reduce scrap; increase productivity; and introduce more flexibility and profitability into the manufacturing plant.
In such an environment the combination of software platforms, time-tested wire making methods, and digital communication allows manufacturers to streamline processes and to conserve resources. Equipment is monitored; machine performance is tracked. The flow of material is followed. Causes of downtime are identified and examined. Changes are detected and adjustments made in real-time. As more data is collected and analyzed, machine learning can take place to improve production.
Below are descriptions from the pavilion participants.
ADVARIS. The company offers a comprehensive ERP and MES industry solution for the wire and cable industry. As a worldwide supplier, ADVARIS Cable takes the “all-in-one” approach instead of “best-of-breed.” Its comprehensive software platform ensures a complete, seamlessly integrated solution from a single source. The ERP system is designed to help in metal billing, shipping, rewinding and cutting orders, drum and tool management and cable design.
Cimteq. The company’s CableBuilder Enterprise and CableBuilder Go software solutions were designed to provide the flexibility needed to meet specific industry and company requirements. CableMES integrates seamlessly into CableBuilder Enterprise and a company’s ERP system, with real-time data transfers in both directions, keeping the business in sync with the shop floor at all times.
Davis-Standard. The company will show both a VR experience into a fiber optic cable factory, and a secondary coating extrusion line that will feature SMART BUFFERING—its AI augmented line control package—designed to find and predict process problems before they lead to out of specification production and present the operator with recommended course corrections.
40Factory Srl. The company specializes in the end-to-end development and delivery of Industrial AIoT (Artificial Intelligence of Things) solutions that range from edge computing applications (data acquisition, pre-processing, on-the-edge storage and data visualization) to cloud web applications for machine efficiency analysis, production traceability, process telemetry, energy consumption and predictive analytics (maintenance and quality).
InnoVites. The company’s display will feature CableERP, which is based on the innovative and cloud-based Microsoft Dynamics 365 business software. CableERP has been created to solve the unique problems wire and cable manufacturers face, but which are not addressed by standard ERP packages. In addition to CableERP, InnoVites resells and implements CableBuilder Enterprise and CableMES across the wire and cable industry.
MFL Group. The company will demonstrate its proprietary, fully responsive MFL X Industrial IoT App running on MindSphere®, the cloud-based open IIoT (Industrial Internet of Things) operating system from Siemens. Now available for steel drawing lines, copper and aluminum rod breakdown lines, multiwire drawing lines and extrusion lines, the MFL X AI Cable Analyzer captures cable images during production and analyzes cable surface roughness and color in real time. The data analyzed by its proprietary Artificial Intelligence (AI) agent completely eliminate the subjective evaluation of the operator.
MindSphere World Italia. The company helps accelerate the adoption of Industrial IoT and drive digital transformation of manufacturing. Its mission is to create an environment in which thought leaders, developers, research institutes and manufacturers can network, develop standards and explore best practices.
Oden Technologies. The company helps manufacturers make different, better and faster decisions through Machine Learning and Applied Analytics. The company’s technology platform is pioneering the use of real-time predictive and prescriptive analytic tools that uncover untapped value to make more, waste less and innovate faster. The company is working to transform the manufacturing industry by digitizing, analyzing and perfecting peak factory performance through automated insights, interactive dashboards and real-time alerts.
Parsable. The company offers Connected Worker®, which consists of modern digital tools that empower frontline workers and improve productivity, safety, and quality. Manufacturers are digitizing SOPs, checklists, and workflows with its Connected Worker solution. The results include reduced unplanned stoppages, waste and paper; increased OEE, throughput and compliance with digital traceability; and faster operator onboarding and certification.
Rockwell Automation. The company offers The Connected Enterprise®, which makes it possible to converge plant-level and enterprise networks, and securely connect people, processes and technologies.
SIKORA. The company will show a laser gauge head which generates measured values of a cable and provides this data via an interface. The data processing will be visualized schematically as a number matrix. Additionally, the company will show an animated cable production line with its measuring technology and a control center where, besides general production data, the measured value of its LASER gauge is displayed.
TROESTER. The company will showcase its Industry 4.0 solutions with an emphasis on their proven Maintenance Advisor with Augmented Reality features. Attendees will see first-hand the value of the product relative to data acquisition and analysis as well as preventive maintenance and machine control. The main benefits are generated in reduced downtimes, production transparence, increased flexibility and quality control. TROESTER is well known for its cable production technology that includes CV-, silane-, jacketing- and insulation lines.
Details are available at www.interwire21.com.
May 17, 2021.–A May 6 webinar by WAI’s New England Chapter featured labor attorney Katherine Witherspoon Fry, who discussed a number of legal issues stemming from Covid-19.
Fry discussed topics from the importance of a company enforcing its Covid-19 rules and allowing sales visits in a plant to use of tax credits for employee sick days and what to do about an employee who that tests positive more than once. She also responded to attendee questions, one of which would likely be of interest to any manufacturer or OEM: can a company require an employee to be vaccinated? Fry explained that while all the available vaccines are classified as for emergency authorization only, “you can mandate those for people who don’t have disabilities or religious objections.”
“I thought the presentation was extremely useful not only for wire and cable business owners, but for WAI members in management positions,” said New England Chapter President John Accorsi, who served as moderator for the webinar. "Katherine discussed a number of real-world examples of situations you want to avoid.”
Editor’s note: After the May 13th announcement by the CDC that fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a face mask or stay six feet away from others in most settings, whether outdoors or indoors, Fry said in an e-mail that the news is very encouraging. and may incentivize many employees to become vaccinated. “However, if the state in which your employees are working mandates masks, don’t allow vaccinated people to unmask yet in office, at company events, or when meeting with people in public for business purposes. Continue to follow state guidance for health reasons and to demonstrate that your business isn’t negligent.”
Fry will provide more thoughts on Covid-19 and employers in the June issue of WJI.
Madison, Connecticut, USA – May 10, 2021 – WAI completed its second virtual presentation of the Association’s Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing (Fundamentals) course, with the courses presented over seven consecutive Wednesdays from March 17 to April 28 drawing a collective 165 attendees.
“The continued strong participation shows the industry need for sound, basic information,” said WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll, who observed that the virtual format has also proven to be a good fit for the industry. “While in-person programs presented at Wire Expo or Interwire are ideal, staging them on-line has allowed more companies to allow their employees to participate for a very affordable cost. We will continue to offer Fundamentals at our trade shows, including Interwire 2021, but the virtual version has evolved from an emergency replacement to a full-fledged program that we are proud to offer.”
The presentations included: mechanics of wiredrawing, Matt Reinoehl, SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS; drawing dies, Tom Maxwell, Jr., Die Quip; wiredrawing lubricant properties, David Gzesh, Blachford Corporation; wire breaks and surface damage, Dr. Horace Pops, Horace Pops Consulting; fundamentals of ferrous metallurgy, Anand Bhagwat, Minova USA Inc.; stranding and cabling, Kevin Dancy, Roteq Machinery Inc.; extrusion, Erik Macs, Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp.; cleaning and coating of rod and wire, Zach McAfee and Chris Porada, Chemetall North America; ferrous testing and properties, Richard Gordon, C. Richard Gordon Consulting LLC; fundamentals of electrical testing, Casey Spradlin and Erika Akins, Southwire Company, LLC; marking and printing, Mark Spencer, W. Gillies Technologies LLC; ferrous heat treatment, Richard Gordon; manufacturing problem solving, Stacy Martin, Prysmian Group; and an Operations Panel, Jan Sørige, Enkotec; Tom Heberling, Southwire; and Jim York, Insteel Industries, Inc.
The first virtual Fundamentals program, which replaced the program that could not be held when Wire Expo was canceled due to Covid-19, was held over seven consecutive Wednesdays from Sept. 16 to Oct. 28, 2020. The program, which saw two sessions each week that were each 70 minutes long (up from 45 minutes), drew a total of 199 attendees from 28 countries. The format received very positive reviews.
Virtual formatting quickly became a WAI focus due to Covid-19. WAI presented Streamcast on July 15, 2020.The online presentation of 12 industry speakers saw more than 250 individual attendees take part, setting a record for any WAI online event. On Nov. 11, 2020, WAI held a trifecta virtual event that included the Association’s annual clockwinding ceremony, its annual meeting and the 2020 Mordica Lecture by Dr. Gil Baker. A separate three-part webinar series by Dr. Horace Pops in January/February saw all 500 available slots filled before the first one was held.
Madison, Connecticut, USA – May 10, 2021 – Interwire 2021: registration is open
It is with great pleasure that WAI announces that registration—at www.interwire21.com—is now officially open for Interwire 2021, which returns to the Georgia World Congress Center at the rescheduled dates of Oct. 26-27.
At press time, the good news has been that aside from the event itself, the backdrop should be better and better as the percentage of vaccinated people continues to rise over the next five months. Yet WAI is taking every measure to make sure that the return to Atlanta is both safe and worthwhile.
WAI has been working diligently with its long-time show contractor, Shepard Exposition Services, and the staff of the Georgia World Congress Center, to ensure that a comprehensive operating plan will be in place for Interwire. Only recently have meetings and exhibitions restarted, so WAI and its Atlanta partners will be consistently monitoring best practices, and will adjust plans accordingly. More details will be provided in future issues, but they all will be based on what will best ensure the health and safety of all participants and contractors.
In normal times, WJI would not be going into details on an event that is still far off, but it is worth noting again that much effort is being put into a showcase for the potential of Industry 4.0, which includes elements such as automation, AI, robotics, data analytics, and machine learning. Ready or not, change has arrived, and representatives at the Industry 4.0 Pavilion will be there to inform and inspire Interwire attendees.
Madison, Connecticut, USA – May 6, 2021 – The WAI’s Midwest Chapter grudgingly officially cancelled its annual golf tournament, but three other chapter tournaments are still scheduled to be held, all in September.
“We would have loved to hold the golf tourney, but the June timing was too much of a challenge,” said Kevin Sopczak, who has had a key role in organizing the Midwest Chapter’s golf tournament. He noted that the board agreed, for the second year in a row, that the event would not be held because of Covid-19, a very disappointing outcome. “We know that business is the priority, and we didn’t want golf to be a distraction as restrictions are being removed.”
For now, the news to focus on is that the three chapters that have scheduled tournaments are optimistic that the events will be held.
Up first, on Tuesday, Sept. 14, will be the New England Chapter Annual Golf Outing, to be held at the Tumble Brook Country Club in Bloomfield, Connecticut. For more details, contact: Shannon Timme, tel. 203-453-2777, ext. 126, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Next up, on Thursday, Sept. 16, will be the 2021: Ohio Valley Chapter Annual Golf Outing, to be held at the Kennsington Golf Club in Canfield, Ohio. For more details, contact: WAI’s Rex Tran, 203-453-2777, ext. 116, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The final event, on Thursday, Sept. 23, will be the Southeast Chapter Vannais Golf Outing at the Rock Barn Country Club in Conover, North Carolina. For more details, contact: WAI’s Rex Tran, 203-453-2777, ext. 116, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
At this point in a golf preview, all the details would have been finalized long ago, but in the current climate that is not the case. Golf courses are still evolving how they will handle group events, especially those that would traditionally include an indoor dinner, as well as what the cost would be. Those details are being discussed, and will be presented in future issues.
One other element that needs to be addressed is that each of the golf tournaments depend on sponsors to defray the costs for golfers, while the New England and Southeast chapters also use such funds to support their college scholarship programs. Companies that would like to support those efforts while getting recognition, are encouraged to become a sponsor. Multiple levels are available. For more details, contact: WAI’s Rex Tran, 203-453-2777, ext. 116, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Madison, Connecticut, USA – May 5, 2021 – WAI completed its second virtual presentation of the Association’s Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing (Fundamentals) course, with the courses presented over seven consecutive Wednesdays from March 17 to April 28 drawing a collective 165 attendees.
“The continued strong participation shows the industry need for sound, basic information,” said WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll, who observed that the virtual format has also proven to be a good fit for the industry. “While in-person programs presented at Wire Expo or Interwire are ideal, staging them on-line has allowed more companies to allow their employees to participate for a very affordable cost. We will continue to offer Fundamentals at our trade shows, including Interwire 2021, but the virtual version has evolved from an emergency replacement to a full-fledged program that we are proud to offer.”
The presentations included: mechanics of wiredrawing, Matt Reinoehl, SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS; drawing dies, Tom Maxwell, Jr., Die Quip; wiredrawing lubricant properties, David Gzesh, Blachford Corporation; wire breaks and surface damage, Dr. Horace Pops, Horace Pops Consulting; fundamentals of ferrous metallurgy, Anand Bhagwat, Minova USA Inc.; stranding and cabling, Kevin Dancy, Roteq Machinery Inc.; extrusion, Erik Macs, Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp.; cleaning and coating of rod and wire, Zach McAfee and Chris Porada, Chemetall North America; ferrous testing and properties, Richard Gordon, C. Richard Gordon Consulting LLC; fundamentals of electrical testing, Casey Spradlin and Erika Akins, Southwire Company, LLC; marking and printing, Mark Spencer, W. Gillies Technologies LLC; ferrous heat treatment, Richard Gordon; manufacturing problem solving, Stacy Martin, Prysmian Group; and an Operations Panel, Jan Sørige, Enkotec; Tom Heberling, Southwire; and Jim York, Insteel Industries, Inc.
The first virtual Fundamentals program, which replaced the program that could not be held when Wire Expo was canceled due to Covid-19, was held over seven consecutive Wednesdays from Sept. 16 to Oct. 28, 2020. The program, which saw two sessions each week that were each 70 minutes long (up from 45 minutes), drew a total of 199 attendees from 28 countries. The format received very positive reviews.
Virtual formatting quickly became a WAI focus due to Covid-19. WAI presented Streamcast on July 15, 2020.The online presentation of 12 industry speakers saw more than 250 individual attendees take part, setting a record for any WAI online event. On Nov. 11, 2020, WAI held a trifecta virtual event that included the Association’s annual clockwinding ceremony, its annual meeting and the 2020 Mordica Lecture by Dr. Gil Baker. A separate three-part webinar series by Dr. Horace Pops in January/February saw all 500 available slots filled before the first one was held.
Madison, Connecticut, USA – May 5, 2021 – The Wire Association International (WAI), Inc. announces the participation of 20 company sponsors that support Interwire 2021 and the Wire Association International’s 91st Annual Convention which will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC), Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The new show dates are: October 26-27, 2021. Guests will be able to explore the technologies associated with Industry 4.0—the theme for the event—by visiting the Industry 4.0 pavilion, various exhibits, presentations and briefings on the topic.
INTERWIRE SPONSORS INCLUDE:
Platinum level: Encore Wire Corp.; Gem Gravure Co. Inc.; Insteel Wire Products; James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp.; SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS; Sonoco Reels & Spools; Southwire Co. LLC; and Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp.
Gold level: Carris Reels Inc.; and Continuus-Properzi SpA
Silver level: The MGS Group; Niehoff Endex North America; RichardsApex Inc.; and SIKORA International Corp.
Bronze level: Baum’s Castorine; Champlain Cable Corp.; Enkotec Co. Inc.; Fort Wayne Wire Die; Lloyd& Bouvier Inc.; and Precision Payoff.
The Wire and Cable Industry Suppliers Association (WCISA) is an industry partner with WAI.
REGISTRATION:
Interwire 2021 registration is now open at: www.interwire21.com. Since all activities will be held on the exhibit floor, registration includes the Industry 4.0 sessions, exhibits, keynote, production solutions, and welcome reception. Advance registration pricing is as follows: WAI member: $75 USD; New WAI member: $140 USD; Nonmember: $175. Registration for the hybrid Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing course is separate with advance rates as follows: WAI member: $295 USD; New WAI member: $395 USD; Nonmember: $445.
The 2021 staging of Interwire will mark 40 years since its inception. Hosted biennially, Interwire is an international trade event that includes exhibiting companies, speakers, and visitors from more than 50 countries. See developing details at www.interwire21.com.
The Wire Association International is a not-for-profit association with 1,700 individual members in 50 countries. The association serves the educational needs of the wire and cable manufacturing industry through a variety of products and services. WAI manages the Interwire Trade Exposition and the WAI Operations Summit & Wire Expo and publishes the Wire Journal International and the Wire Journal International Reference Guide.
Media Contacts: Janice E. Swindells, Director Marketing & Corporate Communications, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 001-203-453-2777 x. 117; Steven J. Fetteroll, Executive Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 001-203-453-1777.
4/8/2021: It may still be seven months away, but the staging of Interwire 2021 this October seems more officially real with the map on the next page, and a show floor pledge that the Atlanta show will offer something the wire and cable industry has never before seen: a full-fledged display of Industry 4.0.
As explained in WJI's March issue, attendees will be able to see first-hand how the essence of the technology works and interact with experts who will be at the Industry 4.0 Pavilion on the exhibit floor at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Georgia. There will be lots more information to come in future issues as this Interwire will offer a comprehensive program on Industry 4.0 that is unlike anything that the Wire Association International has done before.
Yet the logistics matter, and that means reserving a place to stay. WAI has secured special rates for Interwire, to be held Oct. 26-27. To get that rate, reservations must go through the official housing administrator. EventSphere, LLC.
To review the options, go to either https://book.passkey.com/go/Interwire2021 or access the site at www.interwire21.com. The reservation deadline is Oct. 4. EventSphere LLC can also be contacted at tel. 877-419-8753 or (international) 864-208-2945, interwire@eventspher
4/8/2021: The ongoing seven-week virtual staging of the Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing Course (Fundamentals) continues to reflect the demand that exists in the industry for basic information.
Of note, the program will be repeated in a hybrid form at Interwire 2021. The current program—seven consecutive sessions (two presentations each) started on consecutive Wednesdays that began March 17 and concludes April 28—presents a comprehensive education. Topics covered include: mechanics of wiredrawing/drawing dies and lubricants; wire breaks and surface damage; stranding cable; cleaning and coating of rod and wire; ferrous heat treatment and metallurgy; extrusion; testing; marking/printing; and manufacturing problem solving. Each course is presented by industry veterans, and provides 30 more minutes than the traditional in-person program.
Attendance during the Covid-19 period has been quite good. Registration for a three-part WAI webinar program by Dr. Horace Pops—also a Fundamentals presenter—closed out at 500 before the first one (annealing) was held on Jan. 27, followed by fines on Feb. 3 and wire breaks on Feb. 10.
In terms of the ongoing Fundamentals series, registration reflects a continuing trend of more companies signing up multiple staffers. Mexico’s Viakable had 31 participants: 11 from Colombia, four from Brazil, three from the U.S. and 13 from Mexico.
“I believe this is a great opportunity for expanding the benefit of this course to a much broader base considering the value proposition in terms of money and time invested for this high-quality content,” said Raúl Garcia, Viakable’s director of technology and development.
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