WAI is reaching out again to technical paper authors to take part in two Association efforts this year in Italy and Mexico.
The timing is tight for Wire & Cable Milan 2023, which will be held Oct. 16, 2023, at the Palazzo Giureconsulti in Milan, Italy. For Milan, the abstract deadline is Feb. 28. If that date is a concern, authors can contact WAI staff for a possible extension. Acceptance notifications will be sent March 31, and the manuscript deadline is July 31.
The event is being put on with ACIMAF, the Italian wire machinery association, led by President Ferruccio Bellina, a long-time supporter of such efforts. WAI last held an event in Italy in Verona in 2019, with other events there in Milan (2013), Bologna (2007) and Stresa (2003).
The timing is better for WAI’s Mexico ITC, which will be held Nov. 13-15, 2023, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, in Monterrey, Mexico. It was last held at the same location in 2016, at which time it drew 190 participants. The WAI had held two prior ITCs in Monterrey (2008 and 2010), and one in Querétaro (2004). At all those events, WAI Past President Antonio Ayala served as a key volunteer and organizer.
For both events, the Association is seeking presentations on technical subjects, but also on topics such as sustainability, workforce issues, operating best practices or general business influences in the wire and cable industry.
For Monterey, the abstract deadlines is April 17. Notification will be made by May 22, and the manuscript deadline is Oct. 1. The program will include a presentation about market conditions in Mexico, Central America and South America
WAI News
The Interwire trade exposition held in Atlanta from May 8-11, 2023, provided the perfect backdrop for two remarkable Chapter Board meetings which demonstrated commitment to growth, collaboration, and fostering the next generation of leaders.
Western Chapter. After an eight-year hiatus, the Western Chapter emerged from its slumber with a renewed sense of purpose. Committed volunteers from the region, including California and Texas, took the reins to form the new Western Chapter Board. Their primary objective: to revitalize the chapter, forge connections and promote the benefits of joining the vibrant wire industry.
The board used this in-person meeting opportunity to begin discussing the groundwork and layout. Essentially, a roadmap of what is needed to set their plans in motion. The first order of business is to build a strong member base, actively reaching out to professionals and organizations throughout the Western region. Emphasizing the power of networking, the board aims to create a dynamic platform where industry experts can exchange knowledge, establish meaningful connections, and foster collaborations.
Again, this is still the early stage, but it is an exciting one that will take time to develop, and the leadership roles in the Western Chapter will be defined as more progress is made.
As part of their revitalization efforts, the Western Chapter Board discussed hosting a small golf tournament in 2024. Stay tuned as details develop over the coming months. If you are interested in becoming involved with the Association’s Western Chapter at this time, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
It felt like old (better) times for the WAI’s New England Chapter, which held its annual meeting at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Montville, Connecticut, where 120 members and guests were able to mingle, recognize their new leaders, network, listen to an inspiring keynote speaker, get a keepsake photo, raise money for a good cause and just interact as the wire and cable industry does so well, given a chance.
The new officers for 2023 are President Jessica Foss, Electric Cable Compounds; Vice President Ryan Carbray, Alphagary; and Secretary Mike Roussel, Celanese Corp. The Past President is Mike Sarni, Insulated Wire, Inc.
Maxing out the capacity of the Mohegan’s Cabaret Theater, the gathering was akin to those held in pre-Covid times, enough that the Annual Dinner Committee will discuss other venue options within Mohegan for the 2024 meeting.
Speaking later, Jessica Foss, market development manager for Electric Cable Compounds, was pleased with the solid attendance, and observed that the chapter’s role continues to serve an important need. “Since I joined the industry, the Chapter has exemplified the tight knit community that is wire and cable. We certainly want the chapter to grow and have an even greater presence in the industry. To achieve this, we will continue to host events and programs that foster fraternity through networking and educational opportunities that offer an opportunity to expand one’s knowledge in a specific area. That includes getting to see other companies’ operations. I think it is also important that our annual events have a fresh feel each year.”
Keynote speaker Michelle Dray, creator of the “Getting Unstuck & Leading Fearlessly” program, presenting a different focus on personnel. Her 11-week program is designed for women, but she told attendees that it also applied to men. She explained the different signs of “career stuck-ness, and how they were different for industry newcomers (0-five years) or those who have been around longer, but also face plateau issues. Her message worked, and she had very good reviews.
The dinner itself was again well done. There was a review of chapter activity in 2022. As the society continues to adjust to life with Covid, the chapter’s annual golf tournament on Sept. 10 was a strong step forward to “normalcy,” with a maxed out field of 148 golfers at the Tunxis Country Club in Farmington, Connecticut. The Oct. 25 tour of the RFS plant in Meriden saw some 50 members take part, touring the operations, followed by a dinner at a well-chosen restaurant steps away from the Connecticut River. As of Feb. 10, the chapter numbers 266 members, by far the largest WAI chapter.
The raffle continues to support the chapter’s scholarship program. For hockey fans in attendance, the grand raffle prize, sponsored by Lloyd & Bouvier, was a pair of golden ducats: two tickets to a Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs game. Gem Gravure Co., Inc., continued its legacy of generosity, providing tickets to Boston Red Sox games. The Mohegan Sun also donated two tickets to an Air Supply concert.
You didn’t have to win to walk away with a good memory as award winning photographer Ashley Abel worked a photobooth where attendees could get a free headshot or take a fun group photo with industry colleagues. Abel took the photos on this page.
Finally, a new concept suggested by golf committee chair Jim Evans, approved by the Chapter’s board, was introduced: a trophy for the winning team. It was presented to Proterial Cable America (formerly Hitachi America).
The ante may just have been upped some for bragging rights for the Sept. 11, 2023, golf
Tourney.
The Wire Association International (WAI), Inc. announces details of its annual conference program, offered May 9-11 in conjunction with INTERWIRE at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Presentations include two keynote addresses; a featured speaker; focused sessions on Industry 4.0, the Workforce, and Extrusion/Polymers; Industry Outlook panel sessions; nine technical sessions; a Mordica lecture; and production solution demonstrations as outlined below. All are included with Conference and Exhibit registration.
WAI’s popular Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing course is offered as a pre-show option on May 8 for those either new to the industry or in need of a refresher.
KEYNOTES
Srinivas Siripurapu, Chief Innovation and R&D Officer, Prysmian, delivers his keynote address on May 9: “Innovation, Investments & Incentives – Electrifying the wire and cable industry for a brighter future.”
Rich Stinson, President and CEO of Southwire Co. presents “The future is electrified!” on May 10.
FEATURED SPEAKER
Dr. Mary Ellen Weber, astronaut, executive, aviator, and scientist presents: “To boldly go: The experience of space flight” on May 10. Dr. Weber offers a second presentation that afternoon at the WAI Theater in exhibit Hall A titled: “A new era of space travel: Commercial space, NASA, tourism, the Moon, and Mars.”
INDUSTRY 4.0 SESSIONS
• “How AI will change wire & cable manufacturing,” Willem Sundblad, Oden Technologies.
• “The future of industrial work: How Smart AI is helping to unlock the true potential of today’s workforce,” Russ Fadel, Augmentir.
• “Unleashing the full potential of Industrial IoT with GPT-3,” Andrés Cartagena Ruiz, 40Factory.
• “Lessons from the journey to a connected enterprise, Will Berry, Sr. VP engineering and modernization, Southwire Co.
WORKFORCE SESSIONS
• “Behind the numbers…Establishing world class safety and training programs,” Rob Caillet, VP of environmental, health and safely, Encore Wire.
• “The state of the manufacturing workplace,” Matt Dionne, Managing partner, TYGES Executive and professional search firm.
• Executive panel: Adapting to the workforce challenges with senior industry leaders. Moderator Drew Richards, president RichardsApex; Panelists: Joe Barrett, president, Davis Wire; David Fisher, president, James Monroe Wire & Cable.
EXTRUSION/POLYMER SESSIONS
• “Advanced extrusion technology,” Mikko Lahti, R & D director, Maillefer Extrusion.
• “Polymer technology for wire and cable applications,” David Lindsay, market manager-energy, North America, Borealis.
• “What are you risking by using outdated controls on your extruder?”, Scott Barlow, CEO, Integrated Control Technologies.
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK
• “Can the cable industry avoid the impending economic downturn?” Aisling Hubert, editor, CRU.
• Executive Panel – “Steel Market.”
• Executive Panel – “Copper Supply and Demand.”
Conference and Exhibit registration also includes presentations at the WAI Theater in exhibit Hall A, featuring:
TECHNICAL SESSIONS
• “In-situ evaluation of the performance of wire drawing using multiple sensors.”
• “The future of industrial work - How Smart AI is helping to unlock the true potential of today’s workforce.”
• “Inline surface dimensional flaw detection and outer diameter/ovality measurements using laser line triangulation.”
• “Manufacturing high-quality fine copper wire at a low cost by combining three-roll rolling and wire drawing.”
• “Application of polymer lubricants to replace zinc phosphate in wire drawing.”
• “Thermo-mechanical and air patenting in modern rolling: characteristics and advantages.”
• “Achieving high quality in wire using eddy current testing.”
• “Inline profiling of magnet wires for e-mobility.”
• “UPCAST oxygen free copper rod metallurgy, OFHC/OFE wire manufacturing, and other practicalities.”
MORDICA LECTURE
Presentation by Dr. Bruce Kiefer, “Ferrous rod – Before it gets to be wire.”
PRODUCTION SOLUTION DEMONSTRATIONS
Manufacturing challenges and common process hurdles are reviewed at these live demos offered May 10 and 11 featuring:
• “Factors affecting wire production from precoats to lubricants.”
• “Wire breaks.”
• “Wire drawing die material and profile specification considerations.”
EXHIBITS
300 exhibiting companies participate at the INTERWIRE marketplace to showcase the latest products and developed technologies available to wire and cable manufacturers; 80 product categories are represented. WAI introduces more than 30 new exhibiting companies to the INTERWIRE this year.
Conference and exhibit schedule, details, and registration information is available on the event website: www.interwire23.com.
EVENT BACKGROUND:
Introduced in 1981, INTERWIRE is the largest and longest-running wire and cable marketplace in the Americas. Hosted biennially, Interwire is an international trade event that includes exhibiting companies, speakers, and visitors from more than 50 countries.
WAI, founded in 1930, is a not-for-profit association with more than 2000 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 Exhibition and the WAI Operations Summit & Wire Expo and publishes the Wire Journal International and the Wire Journal International Reference Guide.
WAI is returning to its technical mission, this year offering two international technical conferences (ITC): one in Italy and the other in Mexico. For each event, WAI has issued a Call for Papers.
Wire & Cable Milan 2023 will be held Oct. 16, 2023, at the Palazzo Giureconsulti in Milan, Italy. The event is being put on with ACIMAF, the Italian wire machinery association, led by President Ferruccio Bellina, a long-time supporter of such efforts. WAI last held an event in Italy in Verona in 2019, with other events there in Milan (2013), Bologna (2007) and Stresa (2003).
WAI’s Mexico ITC will be held Nov. 13-15, 2023, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, in Monterrey, Mexico. It was last held at the same location in 2016, at which time it drew 190 participants. The WAI had held two prior ITCs in Monterrey (2008 and 2010), and one in Querétaro (2004). At all those events, WAI Past President Antonio Ayala served as a key volunteer and organizer.
For both events, the Association is seeking presentations on technical subjects, but also on topics such as sustainability, workforce issues, operating best practices or general business influences in the wire and cable industry.
For Milan, the abstract deadline is Feb. 28. If that date is a concern, authors can contact WAI staff for a possible extension. Acceptance notifications will be sent March 31, and the manuscript deadline is July 31.
For Monterey, the abstract deadline is April 17. Notification will be made by May 22, and the manuscript deadline is Oct. 1. The program will include a presentation about market conditions in Mexico, Central America and South America.
WAI to hold annual meeting at Interwire
At Interwire 2023, the Wire Association International will hold its annual meeting, a requirement of the Association’s bylaws.
WAI President Kurt Breischaft will preside over the meeting in the morning session on Tuesday, May 9. It will follow the Keynote presentation by Srinivas Siripurapu, the Chief Innovation Officer and R&D Officer for Prysmian.
The concise meeting will include a review of past and current activities, including the development of additional training education resources for the industry. The session will also include presentation of awards.
Following the annual meeting, at 10 am there will be a session on Industry 4.0, followed by a workforce session. Of note, the exhibit floor will also open at 10 am, and remain so through 5 pm, and again on Wednesday.
- The Ohio Valley Chapter President, Tom Maxwell, has drafted their scholarship program. The draft was reviewed internally by Association staff. The Chapter’s Board will soon meet to review and vote on this important piece, putting them one step closer to assisting college students. It is unlikely that the Chapter’s new scholarship program will be finalized in time to follow the 2023 timeline. Likely, this program will make its debut in January 2024, now less than a year away.
- The New England Chapter Annual Dinner took place Jan. 26th at Mohegan Sun. Registration increased from last year (up from 100 to 130). The event is sold out at maximum capacity for the space. Sponsorships increased from last year (up from 22 to 26). The hotel room block was maxed out. The wrap-up will be in the March issue, including the announcement of new board members.
Starting this year, the Association will work closely with each chapter to develop a regional education program.
Currently, only the New England Chapter and Ohio Valley Chapter offer an education program. The plan is to have the other chapters (starting with Midwest and Southeast) establish an education component, in keeping with the Association’s educational mission. This will provide another attractive member benefit on the Chapter level. More details will follow as the Chapter Boards and Association work together on this.
“We’ve seen a lot of success from educational programs, and once members have a chance to go to them, it proves to be very worthwhile,” said WAI’s John Markowski, manager, membership & social media. He explained that while it does take work, the volunteers seem quite pleased with the results.
The Association has added four members to its Board of Directors (BoD) that will each serve a three-year term. Three are new, while the fourth is returning. The BoD now has a total of 21 members. That includes nine suppliers, and 12 manufacturers: seven from the electrical sector and five from the ferrous sector. Completing their terms on the BoD were Marco Gerardo, Frigeco USA; and Thomas Heberling, Southwire.
Eric Bieberich is the president of Fort Wayne Wire Die (FWWD). Over his more than 20 years with FWWD, he has held various positions in engineering, production management, sales, and general management, before becoming president in 2013. Prior to joining FWWD, he worked as a metallurgical engineer in the automotive industry. He holds B.S. and M.S. degrees in materials science and metallurgical engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from the University of Michigan. He has previously served two terms on the BoD and was also the chairman of the WAI’s Education Committee. He has been a WAI member since 2001.
Andrés Cartagena Ruiz is the head of MFL X and customer care at MFL Group. MFL X is an innovative program focused on digital projects that leverages exponential technologies, which facilitate data-driven after-sales support and product development. He also serves on the Board of Directors of 40Factory, a high-tech scale-up that operates in the fields of Industrial IoT and Artificial Intelligence. He volunteers as a mentor of Forward Factory, an Italy-based technology start-up accelerator dedicated to digital innovations in the manufacturing domain. He is also on the Advisory Committee of MindSphere World Italy and the Scientific Committee of Messe Frankfurt Italia. He holds a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from IE Business School.
Rebecca Cranford is the senior vice president of manufacturing, responsible for operations within the utility and industrial divisions at Southwire Company. Since joining the company in 2012 as senior vice president of sustainability, safety and environment, she has held progressively responsible positions including her prior role as senior vice president of manufacturing for construction systems and solutions division which primarily services the building wire market. She began her manufacturing career with Alcoa as a safety engineer. She spent 15 years in a variety of roles within several global divisions, including AFL (Alcoa Fujikura Ltd.), Howmet Castings and Alcoa Forging and Extrusions. She previously worked in the insurance industry as a risk manager. She holds a B.S. degree in safety and environmental management from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania.
Chris Tucker is the director of nonferrous metals at Encore Wire. He joined Encore in 2012 as a process engineer and has held progressively responsible positions in rod operations before being named to his current position in 2018. He has been a member of the Association since 2012 and currently serves on the Member Relations and Paper Awards Committees. Additionally, he was on the planning committee for the 2019 Global Continuous Casting Forum. He holds a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Texas at Tyler.
As of Dec. 28, 17 companies have signed up to be sponsors for Interwire 2023, which will be held May 9-11 at the Georgia World Congress Center.
“Getting back to schedule has been a huge relief for WAI members and participating companies on all levels, exhibitors, staff and all of our tradeshow partners,” said WAI Sales Director Shannon Timme. “Coupled with the successful production last June of Wire Expo & Operations Summit in Dallas, Texas, and the anticipation of Interwire’s return, exhibitors are excited and eager to continue planning and promoting their participation again, as are we.”
The sponsorships for Interwire come in Elite, Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze levels. Below is a list to date of companies that have committed their support.
Elite sponsors include: Encore Wire, Prysmian, James Monroe Wire & Cable, Southwire, SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS, Rainbow Rubber and Plastics, and Lloyd & Bouvier, Inc. Platinum sponsors include Gem Gravure, Co., Inc., Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp., and Carris Reels, Inc. Silver sponsors include RichardsApex Inc., the MGS Group, Sikora AG and Niehoff Endex North America. Bronze sponsors include Precision Reel/Payoffs, Fort Wayne Wire Die and Baum’s Castorine Co., Inc.
Timme said that Interwire sponsorship opportunities are still available. The event itself, she noted, continues to gain momentum. Following a modest floor plan extension last November, some 250 companies are now represented on the show floor.
Midwest Chapter
The chapter welcomes a new Board member: Cooper Runzel, vice president of insulating manufacturing at Lake Cable.
The Chapter has confirmed that it will be holding a 2023 golf tournament at a date to TBD.
The Chapter approved their 2023 scholarship program, which will be three scholarships at $1,500 each. The online application will be available towards the end of January and Chapter members will be notified of its launch via email.
Ohio Valley Chapter
Dave Rascati officially retired from the Ohio Valley Chapter Board of Directors at the end of 2022 after many dedicated, successful years running the Chapter’s Golf Tournament. He was also known for his unique first-person write-ups.
The Chapter will hold its Golf Tournament on Aug. 24, 2023, at Kennsington Golf Club in Canfield, Ohio. The event will also include an education program.
The Chapter is working to establish a scholarship program, which will be supported by funds raised from their Annual Golf Tournament.
The WAI’s New England Chapter is known for holding memorable annual meetings, and its upcoming one this month at the Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, promises to follow that tradition.
The event will again be held this year inside the Cabaret Theatre, starting with the reception at 5:30 pm, followed by the meeting at 6:35 pm. The keynote speaker will be Michelle Dray, the creator of the “Getting Unstuck & Leading Fearlessly Program.” She has worked for more than 10 years as a coach and creator of her 11-week women’s leadership program that identifies five signs or symptoms of “career stuck-ness” to look out for. She notes that her talk is not limited to women.
“I think the fact that the majority of the audience has historically been men, and the expectation is the same for the upcoming event, will add an interesting dynamic as I believe these signs and symptoms to be true for both women and men,” Dray said. She will discuss employee learning objectives that apply to both industry newcomers (0-5 years) as well as veterans.
The meeting will also see the introduction of the 2023 officers, the raffle and the invaluable experience of networking and catching up with friends and colleagues. The event is also a key fundraiser for the WAI New England Chapter Scholarship Fund. Registration is now open through WAI’s event registration system. The cost is $140, and WAI Chapter members in good standing receive discounted rates. The 2022 meeting, held Feb. 24, saw total attendance of 97, and attendance is expected to easily top a hundred this year.
The memories do not have to be fleeting as an award-winning photographer, Ashley Abel, will be at a photo booth where attendees can get a free professional headshot (perfect for your LinkedIn profile, company website, etc.) or take a fun group photo with industry colleagues. The booth is sponsored by Lloyd & Bouvier.
The grand raffle prize, also sponsored by Lloyd & Bouvier, is for two tickets to a Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs game. The second top raffle prize, provided by the Mohegan Sun, is two tickets to an Air Supply concert.
How to resolve AdBlock issue?