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.
May 10 2021. Cerrowire® has named David Hawker as plant manager for its facility in Hartselle, Alabama. He has 34 years of management experience in the electrical products manufacturing sector, with leadership roles in the U.S. and Canada. He most recently was vice president and general manager of Nexans Energy Division (North America). His understanding of market drivers, technology capabilities and cost/financial implications in his previous role drove him to focus on factors that resulted in world-leading profit. A Canadian native, he holds a degree in applied science, with a specialty in mechanical engineering, from the University of Waterloo in Waterloo, Ontario. He also served as the 2017 president of the Wire Association International. Based in Hartselle, Alabama, with plants also in Georgia, Indiana, and Utah, Cerrowire manufactures copper wire for commercial, industrial and residential sectors.
RichardsApex, Inc., reported two promotions. Howard Luckey has been promoted to plant manager of its Philadelphia operation. He started with the company in 1984 and worked his way up through various positions. He most recently was shipping manager, where he ensured the efficient movement of materials throughout the manufacturing facility. Of note, he has been promoted to the same position that his brother, Robert “Bob” Luckey, had held before retiring several years ago. Several other Luckey family members have been and continue to be employed at RichardsApex, and Howard continues the family’s legacy of hard-working, dedicated employees. The company also promoted Janelle Gerardi to senior chemist within its R&D team. She was cited for critical contributions to development of next generation products. She joined the company in 2018. She previously worked for Johnson Matthey in the company’s precious metals division. She holds a B.S. degree in chemistry from Villanova University. Based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, RichardsApex, Inc., supplies lubricants, cleaners and coatings for the wire drawing and metal working industries.
David Ohmann is the new president of Wytech Industries. Prior to joining the company, he held sales and marketing leadership positions at Heraeus and MicroGroup (a TE Connectivity Company). He was cited for his extensive medical device background, engineering perspective and deep understanding of the complexities of the development of specialty wire. He holds an M.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and an MBA from the University of Minnesota, Carlson School of Management. Based in Rahway, New Jersey, Wytech designs and manufactures complex components for medical devices that includes precision wire components and specialty core wires.
5/7/2021: Kinderhook Industries, LLC (Kinderhook) announced that it has acquired Cameron Wire & Cable, Inc., a leading distributor of commercial and industrial wire, cable and related accessories.
A press release said that Robert Cameron, who founded the company and served as president, will continue his involvement and be on the board of directors. Founded in 2010 and headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas, Cameron Wire & Cable supplies Cameron-branded copper, aluminum and specialty wire and cable products that are sold to the renewable energy, building wire, industrial and utility end markets. It also provides value-added services that include paralleling, cutting, kitting, harness assembly and development of custom engineered products for unique applications. It serves its customers out of a strategic footprint of distribution centers spanning the continental U.S.
The release did not cite the sales price, but Kinderhook Managing Director Paul Cifelli said that Cameron is “retaining a significant minority stake.” Kinderhook will add two of its operating partners—Ed Flynn, former CEO of International Wire Group, and Craig York, CEO of Kinderhook portfolio company, Copperweld—to Cameron Wire & Cable’s management and board of directors. The two men, who have more than 40 years of collective experience in the wire and cable industry, will provide operational and strategic expertise in support of Kinderhook and management.
Partnering with Kinderhook will allow us to accelerate our growth plan in Cameron’s core and adjacent industry verticals, said Robert Cameron. “In particular, I’m very excited to pursue complementary add-on acquisitions that will help continue to grow our franchise and value-added capabilities.”
“Robert Cameron has successfully led the company to a position of industry leadership in just over a decade, and we look forward to working with him on expanding the Company’s products, services and end markets,” Cifelli said. “Cameron Wire & Cable is a valuable addition to Kinderhook’s rapidly growing wire and cable franchise, and we are excited to help facilitate the acceleration of the company’s already impressive growth.”
Founded in 2003, Kinderhook Industries, LLC, is a private investment firm that manages over $3.3 billion of committed capital. In 2019 it acquired the Copperweld Group, Inc., which last November acquired Copperhead Industries, a Minnesota-based provider of specialty tracer wire products and related equipment.
5/7/2021: NKT reports that it has been awarded a long-term frame agreement with French Transmission System Operator, Réseau de Transport d’Electricité (RTE) to supply it high-voltage power cables.
A press release said that the agreement builds upon a decade of successful collaboration between NKT and RTE. “This new frame contract is a testament to NKT’s presence in France and a confirmation of the mutually rewarding business relationship between NKT and RTE.”
NKT will supply 25 kV high-voltage AC XLPE underground power cable systems, and install accessories such as joints and terminations. The contract covers from 2021 through 2023, with an option for one additional year, as RTE furthers its goal to renew and modernize the transmission power grid in France to support energy transition.
“We are fully committed to accelerate the sustainability journey as we are the first major power cable manufacturer to commit to the Science Based Target initiative and to become a net-zero emissions company supporting RTE in their ambition of making ‘the Greener Choice,’” said NKT President and CEO Alexander Kara.
NKT is currently supporting RTE by executing a 225 kV high-voltage retrofitting power cable project in Marseille, where old cables installed in steel pipes are being replaced with new armored extruded XLPE type cables. The power cables for both the retrofitting project and the new frame agreement are to be made at NKT’s factory in Cologne, Germany, which runs on 100% green electricity.
5/7/2021: Italy’s Elettrotek Kabel SpA (EK) announced that it has completed the acquisition of Associated Wire Products (AWP), a Canadian leader in automation cables.
Founded in 1987 with headquarters in Burlington, Ontario (Canada), AWP is specialized in providing special cables for the industries. Elettrotek Kabel Group thus continues its growth in strategic sectors such as the industrial automation. The acquisition of AWP allows the expansion of EK’s presence in these markets by providing customers with excellent technical and commercial support.
Announcing the acquisition, EK President and CEO Roberto Gallingani explained, “The addition of AWP to our group represents an excellent value-add for Elettrotek Kabel Group’s Cables Automation division in the Canadian markets. We believe this is a strategic acquisition that will also allow AWP to continue expanding its capabilities while benefiting from the technical expertise and global footprint of Elettrotek Kabel Group.”
“Elettrotek Kabel established another important milestone,” said Nicola Malaguti, president and CEO of Elettrotek Kabel North America Inc. “We are confident that with this acquisition our presence in North America will continue to grow. AWP perfectly fits with the group, embracing the same business model and goals. This investment is essential to support Canadian customers and it confirms that Elettrotek is a leader in the cable industry.”
Founded in 2001, Elettrotek Kabel is a leading company in the design, manufacture and supply of special electrical cables used in harsh environments with a high cost of failure. It is one of the first companies in the world to manufacture and distribute special cables for the industrial automation, steel, mining, port and crane, marine and oil industries. The rapid expansion of the group has been possible thanks to the competence of the management team and their constant attention to the exclusive use of the highest quality products.
Founded in 1987, AWP is a Canadian leader in automation cables, with the main objective of meeting the customer’s needs by offering technical solutions and excellent service. AWP has never stopped listening to the needs of the market for over 30 years, and today is recognized for the highest guarantee of quality and reliability.
5/7/2021: OmniCable has agreed to buy Houston Wire & Cable Co. (HWCC) in a $91 million deal that would combine their complementary businesses, products and footprint to create a national leader in the redistribution field.
A press release said that the deal was approved by HWCC’s board of directors, and is expected to get approval at a May 25 meeting of HWCC shareholders. The publicly traded company would then become a private entity of Omni Cable.
The deal “will maximize OmniCable’s and HWCC’s highly complementary operations,” the release said. The combined company will also continue HWCC’s fastener redistribution business. Following the close of the transaction, each company will retain its own brands and its existing locations. “Our shared central focus on redistribution, logistical expertise, and unyielding pursuit of perfection for our business partners will drive both businesses to enhance the value that we bring to the marketplace,” said Jeff Siegfried, OmniCable founder and vice chairman.
HWCC, founded 45 years ago, is a large industrial distributor of wire and cable and fastener products in the U.S. market. Based in Houston, Texas, it has sales and distribution facilities strategically located throughout the U.S. OmniCable, a subsidiary of Dot Holdings Co., has 14 regional distribution centers to serve and support electrical distributors nationwide.
May 7, 2021. Obituaries
Tom Artinian has been named COO of the Performance Cable Systems and Materials Division of Hitachi Cable America Inc. (HCA), based in New Hampshire. He joined the company as executive vice president in 2020, and was a key contributor to the HCA executive team and a transformational leader. Prior to joining HCA, he served for two years as vice president of sales for Southwire Canada, and held key positions for 14 years at ECS Electrical Cable Supply Ltd., IEWC and EIS Inc. He holds a BBA degree in entrepreneurship/entrepreneurial studies from Johnson & Wales University. Based in Manchester, New Hampshire, Hitachi Cable America, Inc., is part of Japan’s Hitachi, Ltd., a multinational conglomerate whose products include copper and fiber optic cables.
Judd Wire, Inc., announced that Atsushi Shinchi has been promoted to company president. He is a graduate of KEIO University in Tokyo, where he studied mechanical engineering, and in 1995 began his career with the electronic wire division of Sumitomo Electric Industries (SEI), which acquired Judd Wire in 1988. His domestic and international assignments were directed towards the growth and advancement of the division (SEIW) and its employees. His most recent role was general manager of SEIW’s manufacturing department. Based in Turners Falls, Massachusetts, USA, Judd Wire is a high technology wire company that specializes in the use of electron beam crosslinked thermosets for wire insulation.
Permanoid Ltd. reported multiple personnel news items. Oliver Hingston been appointed commercial director of Permanoid Ltd. He previously worked eight years for Clynder Cables Ltd. in Manchester, U.K., where he started out as a purchasing assistant and became managing director. He replaced Wayne Butler, who retired after working for the company for 34 years. Gary Taylor has been appointed technical manager. He has worked for Permanoid for almost twenty years, first as purchasing manager and latterly as operations manager. He had previously worked for BICC Cables as a process engineer in both the UK and North America. He has extensive knowledge of cable design, manufacturing processes and materials. David Clarke has been appointed operations manager. He was previously the technical manager, and prior to that, served as quality manager, where he had extensive experience in cable making. Based in Manchester, U.K., Permanoid Ltd. manufacturers a wide range of electrical wire and cables.
TiniFiber® has named Dion King as a strategic accounts representative for the South East Region. The RCDD-certified electrical engineer worked for more than 18 years with Corning in positions that included global commercial training manager with Corning’s Telecommunications Business Group. He previously worked as a communication systems engineer with Mayer Electric Supply Co., Inc. He holds a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and an MBA from Georgia State University. Based in Farmingdale, New York, USA, TiniFiber is a leading manufacturer of innovative, micro armored patented fiber optic cable solutions for diverse industry applications.
LLFlex has hired John Kay III as COO. He previously was president of The Morven Group, which provides operational support for manufacturing and distribution companies. Prior to that, he spent seven years as executive vice president of manufacturing and distribution for HVHC; and three years as vice president of operations for a division of Catalent Pharma Solutions. Earlier in his career, he was business unit project manager and plant manager, consumer packaging for Alcoa/Reynolds Metals. He holds a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the Virginia Military Institute, and an MBA in Operations Management & Finance from Carnegie Mellon University. He is a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, LLFlex’s product lines include cable armor, wraps and tapes.
Troester GmbH & Co. KG announced that Thomas Holzer has joined the company’s management board. In addition to Managing Partner and CEO Peter Schmidt and COO Bernd Pielsticker, he will share the management responsibility for engineering and sales in the future. He has comprehensive knowledge in the sale, engineering and project management of special machines, as well as proven management and leadership experience. He held management positions at the paper division of Voith, a German technology company, where he held management positions in Germany, Indonesia, Austria, and China. He was responsible for global projects as well as the service and spare parts business for many years. He studied process engineering in Munich, then business management in Reutlingen and in Michigan in the U.S. Based in Hannover, Germany, Troester GmbH & Co. KG’s product lines include systems for producing cores and jackets, rubber lines, rubber cables and CV systems for medium- and high-voltage cables.
Glen Clark has joined Service Wire Co. as a regional sales manager based at the corporate headquarters, where he will serve commercial and industrial distributors, contractors and engineers while working with manufacturers’ representatives in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida. Tony Holderby, the regional sales manager for the company’s wire and cable electrical distribution markets in 12 states, will now add Michigan to his territory. He has more than 25 years of experience with Service Wire, working in all areas of the company from distribution to sales and logistics. Also, Rodney Smith, who is now serving the wire and cable electrical distribution markets of Kentucky and Tennessee, will also be responsible for serving the commercial and industrial markets of Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. He has more than 20 years of sales and management experience. Based in Culloden, West Virginia, USA, Service Wire Co. has three manufacturing and distribution facilities across the country.
After a career of more than 45 years, Harry Prunk has retired from the management board of Germany’s Sikora, where he was lauded for his key role in shaping the development of the company and success of its brand. He started with the company immediately after finishing his studies in electronics, and 11 years later, he was appointed managing director of Sikora. In 1981 he founded the first subsidiary, Sikora International Corp. in California, USA. Since transforming the company into Sikora AG in 2002, Prunk has been a member of the Management Board, which he chaired from 2011 to 2015, responsible for the sales, marketing and service. He was particularly involved in the internationalization of Sikora, which today has 14 subsidiaries and 300 employees. He plans to remain active in the industry.
May 7, 2021. Obituaries
Peter Maddin Power, a retired steel industry veteran who lived in Beaumont, Texas, died Feb. 3, 2021 at age 89. The Canadian native earned a B.S. degree from King’s College in Halifax and an engineering degree in metallurgy at Nova Scotia Technical College. In 1955, he worked for DOSCO Steel and was transferred to Toronto, Ontario in 1962. He later worked for Tree Island Steel in British Columbia. In 1970, he moved to Georgetown, South Carolina, to manage Andrews Wire Mill. His last stop was Beaumont, Texas, where he was superintendent of quality control at Georgetown Texas Steel, North Star Steel and Gerdau Ameristeel, where he worked for the remainder of his career. A WAI Life member, he retired in 2004 at age 73, and remained as a consultant with Gerdau Ameristeel until 2020.
He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Hazel Power; two daughters, Katherine Wilhelm and Shena Power; two sons, Sean Power and Conor Power; and six grandchildren.
Sebastian “Sam” Pascarelle, who worked for the Wire Association for more than two decades, died Thursday, March 18, 2021 at the Connecticut Hospice, Branford, at age 84. Pascarelle worked for the Association for over 20 years during the 1970s and 1980s until his retirement. As the Association’s convention planner, he was responsible for working with the companies that exhibited at the WAI’s trade shows, or who held seminars both within the United States and at international locations. His name and face were well known to anyone who needed help on the convention floor. He is survived by his wife of 60 years, Jacqueline Russo Pascarelle; a daughter, Sharon Pessin Aharon; a son, Sebastian Pascarelle, Jr.; a sister, Concetta Piscitelli; and five grandchildren.
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.
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