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9/30/21 – It's October already but not too late to register for the IWCS starting this Monday, October 4th, kicking off with the annual Executive Session for Management, Panel Discussion, and Keynote presentation. Take in the Technical Sessions and Virtual Exhibition for the balance of the week!

Executive Session
This program element presents important information you need to manage your business. This session is designed for the general management of the wire and cable producing companies and their suppliers. Important issues facing the industry will be addressed by expert speakers in a provocative session which will be followed by a panel of industry leaders reflecting on the issues. Presentations by key industry analysts and market experts are featured as follows:

2021 Executive Session Presentations

A Wire And Cable Market Boom Amid Risks, Chenfei Wang, Senior Analyst, CRU International.

Opportunities For The Optical Cable Market In A Post-Pandemic World, Michael Finch, Head of Wire & Cable, CRU International

Global Economic Outlook, Robert Fry, Chief Economist, Robert Fry Economics

Panel Discussion
Insightful perspectives and answer your questions on Connectivity Technology Trends and Critical Infrastructure. Chenfei Wang, Michael Finch, and Robert Fry will join the following panelists to comprise a well-rounded panel that includes: Trevor Smith, VP of Strategy & Business Development, CommScope; Ric Johnson, SVP Broadband Networks, CommScope; Boh DuPree, Dir. Network Investments, Facebook; and Roland Montagne, Principal Analyst/Director IDATE/DigiWorld Institute.


Keynote Address
Demand/Needs for Connectivity Infrastructure in a Post Pandemic World, Trevor Smith, VP of Strategy & Business Development, CommScope

Visit www.iwcs.org.  

Last modified on September 30, 2021

9/23/21 – Madison, Connecticut, USA.  The Wire Association International (WAI), Inc. will host a Virtual Industry 4.0 Conference along with its 91st Annual Convention on Oct. 26-27, 2021, as a continuation of its educational mission. The virtual format gives registrants the opportunity to participate from any location; interact with speakers; and also to replay sessions of interest.

Remarking on the introduction of the new conference, WAI President Tom Heberling said, “Offering this conference virtually is valuable for everyone who wants to understand how Industry 4.0 technologies apply to wire making. We are thrilled that the speakers—originally scheduled for Interwire—are cued up and ready to bring their expertise and energy to the program. We’ve adjusted our expectations upward since attendance is convenient for all.”

The 21 sessions feature speakers from manufacturing companies currently using Industry 4.0 technologies in their plants, as well as representatives from a wide range of suppliers that offer solutions in this space. Session categories include: Big Data; IoT; Industrial IoT; Process Automation; Smart Factories; Smart Planning; Smart Integration; and Virtual Reality.

The WAI Annual Convention features the following keynote speakers on Oct. 26 and 27, respectively.
Award-winning filmmaker Brett Culp presents “Superhero Leadership: How everyday people can have an extraordinary impact; and Kathleen Edge, EVP Operations, Southwire Company LLC presents: “Connected – flexible operating system.”

This program has the generous support of the following sponsors: Cerro Wire LLC; Encore Wire Corp.; Gem Gravure Co. Inc.; James Monroe Wire and Cable Corp.; Lloyd & Bouvier Inc.; Prysmian Group; SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS; Sonoco Reels & Spools; Southwire Co. LLC; Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp.

Discounts are available for WAI members. Tickets are $90 USD for full access; and $110 for full access plus new WAI membership.

Visit: https://waiindustry40.heysummit.com/ for full details and to register.

Last modified on September 23, 2021

9/17/21 – Teknor Apex Company will present a webinar, Decoding the Wire & Cable Material Recognition Program, that features veteran staffers Mike Patel, director of marketing, and David Braun, wire & cable industry manager. It will be held at 2 pm EST on Wednesday, Sept. 22, and is open for registration at this link. Joining Patel and Braun will be Anthony Tassone, principal engineer, UL.

 The hour-long webinar will include the following topics:

  •  Current trends in wire & cable applications
  • How using UL-recognized components may help eliminate additional material testing saving time and money (an FAQ/panel discussion with UL)
  • Differences between polymeric materials for use in wire and cable vs. plastics component recognitions
  • How Teknor Apex develops compounds with regulations and UL recognitions in mind

The event will include a Q&A session, and attendees are welcome to send questions.

About Teknor Apex. Teknor Apex Company, a privately held firm founded in 1924, is one of the world’s leading custom compounders of plastics.  Teknor Apex produces flexible and rigid vinyl, thermoplastic elastomers, nylons, color masterbatches, specialty chemicals, and hoses. The company is headquartered in Pawtucket, RI, U.S.A. and operates thirteen manufacturing facilities worldwide in the United States, Belgium, Germany, China, and Singapore. To learn more visit: www.teknorapex.com.

The Vinyl Division of Teknor Apex Company is a leading manufacturer of custom compounds, including Apex® flexible and rigid vinyl, Flexalloy® vinyl elastomers, Fireguard® low-flame, low-smoke compounds, and Halguard® low-smoke, halogen free, flame retardant compounds and elastomers. The Division is a global supplier to the appliance, automotive, construction, medical device, wire and cable, and other industries.

 The company can be contacted at: Teknor Apex, 505 Central Avenue, Pawtucket, RI  02861 U.S.A. Tel: 1-401-725-8000.  Tel. from U.S. only: 1-800-554-9892. Fax: 1-401-729-0166. E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

 


  

Last modified on September 17, 2021

9/8/21 -  Loos and Company is proud to announce the unveiling of our new government sales webpage. This page features our capabilities statement, shows proof of qualifications, lists our manufacturing standards and specifications, and provides an overview of our areas of support. As a domestic manufacturer, Loos has numerous certifications that we feel are important to share with you, especially when they regard government contracts. Here is a brief breakdown of the new government sales page.

Buy America, Buy American, and Domestic Manufacturing:

Loos draws wire, strands, and closes wire rope up to 1-1/4" DIA right in the USA at our Pomfret, Connecticut facility. As a result, our capability statement focuses on how Loos meets the standards of Buy America and Buy American. What's Buy American? Specific manufacturing outlines set by the Federal Government. For a wire product to qualify for Buy American, the wire must be manufactured in the USA, and the cost of domestic components must exceed 50% of the total cost. You may have noticed we also use the terms "100% domestic" or "Buy America" when talking about our products. For wire rope to be called "100% domestic" or "Buy America", products are required to have been manufactured in the USA from components made in the USA, including the steel mill products. Refer to our complete government sales page for additional information.

Our Primary Areas of Support:

Our new government sales webpage focuses on our ability to meet Military and Federal specifications. Our page provides the exact number and callouts for each of these specifications, making it easy to see the full extent of our manufacturing capabilities.

Our Certifications:

Our new webpage highlights some of our achievements as a manufacturing company. For example, our Wire and Wire Rope Division at Loos meets ISO 9001:2015 & AS9100: Rev D certification. Additionally, we have highlighted our CAGE and DUNS ID numbers to make it easy for those working in government sales quickly to quickly and easily reference our capabilities.

To look at a complete list of our domestic capabilities, the primary areas we support, and the certifications & ID numbers we have at Loos and Company, check out our brand-new government sales page! If you would like to discuss one of our Government specifications, you can contact our Government sales specialist here. Alternatively, if you have any other questions, our team is happy to help! Reach out to us by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by phone at (860) 928-7981.

Last modified on September 8, 2021

9/8/21 -- Ulbrich understands the need for rapid Medical Device development cycles. With the new Ulbrich Braid Wire Accelerator™ Program, timelines and specific design performance characteristics are faster and more precise than ever before. Once an order is placed, we will ship a set of bobbins directly from our manufacturing facility within 24 hours and can have the product in customers’ hands in 72 hours or less. Alloys currently offered through this program are Stainless Steels, Nitinol, L605, MP35N, Tungsten, and Copper Beryllium, with plans of adding new materials in the future.

Braid reinforcement wires are important components in minimally invasive delivery systems. Our wires enable torque transmission and strength in these critical systems, with just the right amount of flexibility. As a leader in specialty wire production and development, Ulbrich’s wire manufacturing capabilities can reach as small as 0.0005″ diameter (about 5 times thinner than a human hair). Ulbrich’s advantages include tight dimensional and mechanical property control, which translates to a consistent program of commonly used sizes and alloys for quick response to new and existing medical braid wire customers.

Inventory management and customer service are areas in which Ulbrich excels and this program allows for braid wire customers to stabilize their supply chain. Our Development Partnership serves as an extension of your design team. When it comes to metals, we can bring expertise, technology and extraordinary processing capabilities to your project. That’s lightning-fast support from Ulbrich, your trusted partner from concept through mass production!

Ulbrich Specialty Wire Products, located in Westminster, South Carolina, is equipped for rolling, drawing, annealing, straightening and precision winding of a variety of round, flat and square wire products. Our “focus factory” (factory within a factory) dedicates managers and engineers along with state-of-the-art equipment to produce and manage industry specific requirements.

Ulbrich offers technical support and applications engineers who work directly with customers to determine product needs and specifications based upon our customers processes, equipment and specific needs. Ulbrich is on the technical forefront of the metals industry delivering precision wire products to an increasingly diversified and global marketplace, expanding into the medical, solar, electronics, aerospace, microwave cable, automotive and other industries.

Last modified on September 8, 2021

8/12/21 – Citing the ongoing Covid-19 related effects in Brazil, organizers Cipa Fiera Milano and Messe Düsseldorf decided to cancel the 2021 staging of wire South America and TUBOTECH. The new dates for both events is Oct. 25-27, 2022, in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The events had been scheduled to be held Oct. 5–7, 2021. at the Sao Paulo Expo Exhibition & Convention Center. For further information on visiting or exhibiting at wire South America and TUBOTECH 2022, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America, tel. 312-781-5180, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or go to the event website, www.wire-south-america.com.

Last modified on August 12, 2021

8/9/21 – The Wire Association International (WAI), Inc. announces two keynote speakers to open each day of Interwire 2021 at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Both presenters focus on a desire for change to make every day a rewarding experience—one emphasizing leadership, the other through operational improvements and technology.


Tuesday, Oct. 26. Award-winning documentary filmmaker Brett Culp, founder of The Rising Heroes Project, will address the audience with his presentation titled: “Superhero Leadership: How everyday people can have an extraordinary impact,” at 10:00 a.m.

Through his groundbreaking non-profit documentary work, Culp has pioneered the art of creating “mini-movements” that inspire the super-human spirit in all of us. His approach to community-building and relationship-driven engagement invite people to connect with a noble vision and make a difference together. Passionate, energetic, and engaging, he encourages audiences to find the superhero within and their own path to “everyday leadership.” His insights on connecting individuals to an organization’s mission and goals resonate, help us realize our greatest personal and business potential, and renew our collective sense of hope for the future.

Culp is known for the films, Legends of the Knight, and Look to the Sky, both of which explore the power of heroic stories and heroic individuals to inspire us to believe in a better tomorrow. His newest film, A Voice That Carries, premiered in early June 2021. His films are featured on Netflix, iTunes, Hulu, and other top digital platforms.


Wednesday, Oct. 27. Kathleen Edge, Executive Vice President of Operations at Southwire Company, LLC, will discuss “Southwire’s connected flexible operating system” at 10:00 a.m.

The Industrial Revolution 4.0 has been a decade in the making. The wire and cable industry is delivering power to this revolution with solutions and services. Southwire is on a mission to revolutionize operations and make the lives of its operators easier and more rewarding by equipping experienced employees with tools to realize the true benefits of technology.
Edge has led a group of 34 manufacturing locations, as well as ten distribution centers, and many worldwide support areas with a method that emphasizes lean operational toolkits; modernization; and safety improvements.

Industry 4.0 – the theme of the Interwire show – is evident in the activities and aspects taking place on the show floor including: the Industry 4.0 Pavilion, exhibits, mini briefings, and conference sessions. See the full program at www.interwire21.com.

REGISTRATION:
Interwire 2021 registration is open at www.interwire21.com. Since all activities will be held on the exhibit floor, registration includes the Industry 4.0 sessions, exhibits, keynotes, production solution demonstrations, and the 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 Wire Association International is a not-for-profit association with 1,800 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.


  

Last modified on August 9, 2021

8/9/21 LEONI, global solution provider for energy and data management in automotive and other industries, has been named top performing supplier in North America by U.S. truck manufacturer PACCAR Inc.

LEONI Wiring Systems, Inc. was recognized within the Supplier Performance Management (SPM) program with the Leader Level Award. PACCAR is a leading global manufacturer of DAF, Kenworth and Peterbilt light, medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles.

The award is of particular significance to LEONI in a year in which extraordinary challenges had to be overcome due to the global pandemic. It recognizes LEONI's outstanding customer focus to ensure product development, operations and aftermarket support, and alignment with PACCAR’s key business objectives. 
The award recognizes not only the close customer relationship between PACCAR and LEONI Wiring Systems, Inc., but also in particular LEONI's plants in Arad, Romania, and Durango and Hermosillo, Mexico. These plants contributed significantly to this award with their consistently high level of performance related to quality and delivery.

Ron Augustyn, PACCAR Vice President of Global Purchasing, recognized Leoni's achievements, saying, "PACCAR is pleased with the level of engagement from our suppliers in this very rigorous SPM program. Our suppliers create value for PACCAR, its customers and dealers, and their own companies under this program."
Jeremy Tibbett, SVP Account Management Trucks & Powertrain, received the award on behalf of LEONI: "We are very excited to receive the 2020 SPM Leader
award on behalf of the global LEONI team supporting PACCAR. It is a strong indication that our cross functional team has the proper focus, dedication, flexibility, and commitment to consistently perform on the highest levels to ensure customer satisfaction. And it further underlines the strategic working partnership and alignment between PACCAR and LEONI to ensure our mutual success."


  

Last modified on August 9, 2021

8/9/21  Prysmian Group proudly launched their first Global eNclusion Week, a five-day digital initiative with 50+ events and 120 speakers highlighting the importance of building diverse and inclusive workspaces. The series of digital panels and workshops focused on four main themes: Gender Diversity; Diversity & Inclusion (in all forms); Inclusive Culture in the workplace; and Generational Diversity & Inclusion. Over 4,600 participants attended with almost a third of the participants joining six or more events.

The highest attended North America session was How to be a Better Ally, which featured Melissa DePino and Michelle Saahene of From Privilege to Progress. The duo shared the impactful story of the day they met – when two Black men were unjustly arrested in a Philadelphia Starbucks while waiting for a friend – and the conversation that incident sparked for them and the rest of the world. Throughout the session, attendees learned about checking their unexamined biases, in the workplace and everywhere, and steps to take to become a better ally.

Other North America sessions featured Prysmian Group employees and experts from partner companies. Panels discussed supporting the LGBTQ+ community, the importance of inclusion in every employee’s day-to-day job, how the pandemic challenged the mindset of management to embrace a new approach, appreciating all generations and inclusive hiring.

The week-long event, held May 12-21, showcased education, listening and acceptance and is just one phase in the company’s overall diversity and inclusion strategy put forth by their Side by Side program. As the world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, the company accepts the responsibility to embody a more inclusive culture.


  

Last modified on August 8, 2021

7/8/21  Superior Essex has completed an agreement to become the eighth corporate partner of The Copper Mark, which it notes is the only comprehensive social and environmental assurance program for the copper industry.

A press release said that the partnership aligns with the corporate sustainability goals of Superior Essex, and its recently announced Vision 2030 for the Essex Furukawa Magnet Wire brand. The focus of the initiative is to responsibly source raw materials being used in its magnet wire products. Superior Essex Communications, a global producer of communication cabling, has been a leader in sustainability since 2011, working in collaboration with its copper suppliers.

The Copper Mark demonstrates the copper industry’s responsible production practices and industry contribution to the sustainable development goals of the United Nations. It assesses criteria of 32 different environmental, social, and governance “issue areas” of sourcing of minerals and metals. It sets to establish sound management practices based on voluntary standards for supply chains.

Annie Bevan, the global head of sustainability for Superior Essex, told WJI that the formalization of the relationship helps the brand advance its efforts. “This commitment showcases the ways in which our sourcing and sustainability efforts can work hand in hand within the organization, as well as the upstream and downstream activities outside of the organization.”

“This partnership is a victory from all sides of our business operations,” said Scott Wilde, global vice president of strategic sourcing for Superior Essex. “As our CEO, Brian Kim, recently launched his Vision 2030 commitments, we took this as a challenge to be forward thinking with green production and improving our product from the source which is a major step in the right direction.”
  

Last modified on July 16, 2021

7/8/21  The Chicago Association of Spring Manufacturers, Inc. (CASMI) is re-scheduling SpringWorld 2022 so that it will not conflict with Yom Kippur.

A press release said that the event, which was scheduled to take place Oct. 5-7, 2022, will now take place Oct. 12-14, 2022, at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois. For more details about the event, go to www.casmi-springworld.org.  

Last modified on July 8, 2021

7/8/21 DtGV, the German Association for Consumer Studies, has named SIKORA as one of the winners of its SME Innovation Award 2021/2022.

A press release said that the award goes to small and medium-sized companies from Germany “that demonstrate particularly high innovation potential in their segment and/or state.” The award was based on the Corporate Patent Classification (CPC) system. The basic parameter patent number was rounded off by the qualitative moment of the citation frequency and condensed into a score value.

SIKORA, a supplier of measuring technology, was scored as being among the top 10% of all examined SMEs in the CPC main class for instruments.” In the parallel federal state ranking, it was listed as one of the top three companies from Bremen. “This award makes us very proud and confirms the corporate course we have been following since the foundation of the company,” said Sikora CEO Dr. Christian Frank. “Thanks to our inventive spirit and innovation potential, we are able to continuously offer our customers future-oriented technology solutions. Thus, we create the basis for highest customer satisfaction and long-term growth.” 

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P: (203) 453-2777