Prysmian has received a Letter of Award for an energy transmission project that calls for it to supply the cable to connect the island Mallorca with the Spanish mainland, a project valued at more than €500 million.

A press release said that Prysmian and Red Eléctrica, the transmission system operator of the Spanish electricity system, will hold an exclusive negotiation of the contract, with the signing expected by the end of 2024. Prysmian will be responsible for the design, installation, testing and commissioning of two HVDC 250 kV MI single-core cables, as well as fiber optic cable for telecom and monitoring purposes that will connect the island of Mallorca with the Spanish mainland power grid, covering both the submarine and land section. The project will reinforce the quality and security of the Balearic Islands’ electricity supply.

“Prysmian has strengthened its leading role in development interconnections thanks to the second Baleares Peninsula project, as we continue to enable increasingly efficient and sustainable power transmission grids in the Mediterranean area,” said Hakan Ozmen, EVP Transmission at Prysmian. The project will use the same consolidated MI cable technology previously deployed in the Peninsula Baleares 1 installation, he said.

In recent years, Prysmian’s long relationship with Red Electrica has seen the company being awarded projects such as the Ibiza-Formentera, Lanzarote-Fuerteventura, Tenerife –La Gomera and Ceuta-Peninsula connections.

TS Conductor has raised $60 million to finance a significant expansion of its U.S. manufacturing capacity for its advanced conductors.

A press release said that most of the funds will go to opening a new, much larger factory at an unnamed location in the Eastern U.S. The new factory will have about 10 times the annual capacity of its Southern California facility, which can produce 5,000 miles of conductors.

TS Conductor notes that it has support from very credible companies in the transmission field. Along with lead investor Wellington Management and early-stage investor Breakthrough Energy Ventures, investors in the recent funding round included the venture arm of utility National Grid; U.S. utility holding company Edison International; a subsidiary of leading U.S. renewable energy developer NextEra Energy Resources; Energy & Environment Investment, Inc.; and Quanta Services, a major transmission project engineering and management firm.

The release said that TS Conductor’s advanced conductors, made of aluminum surrounding a carbon composite core, are lighter, stronger and capable of carrying more electricity than the aluminum and steel cables that are used across most of the grid. They can serve an important role in improving the U.S. power grid.

Since its inaugural U.S. deployment with Montana-Dakota Utilities, in 2021, TS Conductor has been working with the federally owned power company Tennessee Valley Authority, Arizona utility Arizona Public Service, and other U.S. utilities, Huang said. The company largely maxed out its production capacity of its Southern California factory that it opened in 2023.

Yangtze expands Poland plant, starts optical fiber cable production in Mexico

China’s Yangtze Optical Fibre and Cable Joint Stock Limited Company (YOFC) reports that it has expanded production at its Poland plant and started production at its expanded plant in Mexico.

A press release said that on July 12, the company’s expansion project was successfully completed, marked by the first reel of indoor cable rolling off the production line in the new workshop. Construction of the plant began in 2021 with the first reel of qualified outdoor cable produced in February 2022. Full capacity was reached in October 2022 and the subsidiary’s growth to a project to expand the plant’s indoor cable production in 2023. That project is wrapped up, and the plant’s current product mix is now more diversified and better able to cater to the European market’s demand.

YOFC also announced that operations commenced Aug. 8 at Yangtze Optics Mexico Cable S.A. de C.V. in Mexico’s Jalisco State, marking its first production facility in the nation. It said that this development represents a significant phase in YOFC’s international strategy and positions the company to capitalize on the growing demand for telecom infrastructure in Mexico for which it will supply fiber optic cables and solutions.

“We look forward to Yangtze Optics Mexico providing customers with the best solutions through its strong professional technology and high-quality product services, becoming the most trusted fiber optic cable supplier in the area,” said YOFC President and Executive Director Zhuang Dan.

YOFC notes that since 2014, it has embraced the national Belt and Road Initiative and embarked on “a relentless journey of internationalization.” Its products are now sold to more than 100 countries and regions

Paul Lorigan has joined Benvic USA as sales and technical director. He most recently was manager technology & laboratory services for M. Holland Company for nearly seven years, and prior to that worked for nine years as technical director of T&T Marketing, Inc., which was acquired by M. Holland in 2017. His industry career began in 1981, when he was a product development engineer for Anaconda Wire and Cable, followed by seven years at BP America Chemicals Company and nine years at AT Plastics. Based in Easton Pennsylvania, Benvic USA is a custom compound supplier for sectors that include the wire and cable industry.

John Maul has joined Vincent-Angel, Inc. as a business development and contractor salesman. He has years of experience in construction, and most recently worked for Ecolab. Based in Greensboro, North Carolina, Vincent-Angel, Inc., represents electrical manufacturers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Radix reported two recent hires. Matt McConnell is the company’s new DuraLife inside sales representative. He has more than 15 years of prior experience in the electrical industry. with strong expertise in lighting products and applications. He is customer focused and experienced in technical sales. He holds an associate’s degree in interdisciplinary studies and an associate’s degree in computer drafting and design. Diane Pinkey is a customer service representative for the company’s DuraLife Fire Protection Team. She has more than 15 years of prior experience in manufacturing and another 15 years of prior experience in retail. She has an associate’s degree in e-commerce/business management and is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in business management at Cleveland State University. Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Radix is a leading manufacturer of UL, CSA and factory-rated electrical wire and cable for high performance, extreme temperature applications.

Leigh-Ann Nalle was promoted to HR administrator at Quabbin Wire & Cable Co., Inc. She joined the company in 2021 as an HR/payroll associate. She holds a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) issued by the Society for Human Resource Management. Based in Ware, Massachusetts, Quabbin Wire & Cable Co., Inc., is a manufacturer of electronic cables for numerous industrial, commercial, audio/visual/lighting and general-purpose applications.

Alben Roland has been hired as a specification engineer at RSCC Wire & Cable, part of Marmon Electrical. His industry career started in 1992, when he was a design engineer at Trilogy Engineering Services for two years, then in that same role for two years with Belden Inc., followed by 20 years with General Cable, where he worked in multiple engineering leadership roles through 2017. He then held other positions at industry companies that included the TriCab Group and Winchester Interconnect. In 2023 he launched R&S Wire & Cable Consulting, working on projects that included new product development, quality troubleshooting and regulatory approvals. He holds a B.S. degree in electrical and electronics engineering from Mississippi State University. Based in East Granby, Connecticut, RSCC Wire & Cable, is a division of The Marmon Group, a manufacturer of high-performance power, instrumentation, control, specialty electronic and electrical cables.

The WAI’s Midwest Chapter has canceled its Sept. 30 golf tournament and plans are already underway for the event to return to the normal spring time slot in 2025.

The Southeast Chapter will be back at the Rock Barn Country Club & Spa in Conover, North Carolina, on Thursday, Oct. 10, for its tournament. Last year, 83 players took part in the chapter’s 22nd annual golf tournament. The winning TD Corp. team of Travis Card, William Godwin, Andrew Godwin and Paul Godwin finished at a very respectable 14 under par.

There’s still time to register at wirenet.org for either the tournament or dinner-only, and sponsorships.

There were two winners at the Ohio Valley Chapter’s Aug. 22 event: one was for the annual golf tournament at the Kennsington Golf Club in Canfield, Ohio while the other was for a 12-round shoot off at a nearby gun range.

The winning golf team of Mark MacKimm, Rainbow Rubber & Plastics; Alex Lippincott, WCTI; Tim Gascoigne, G2 Materials; and Mike Dies, WCTI, shot 61, 10 under par, to grab top honors among the field of 44. The day was perfect for golf, and each player was given a ball from Steve Lebischak, president of Polara Golf, who spoke later about how and why his company’s Polara golf ball can self-correct and fly straight. That led to the chapter’s first most-accurate-drive contest for the first shot at the final hole, a par 5. Dave Rascati, Premier Wire Die, saw his ball jump off the club, correct its path and end up right on the rope just short of the 150 yard marker in the middle of the fairway. Rumor has it that he ordered five dozens balls.

Meanwhile, a small contingent, eight, spent two hours at the Training Range in nearby Austintown. It ended with an impromptu shoot off won by Brennan Mai from Hobart, using a gun borrowed from colleague Nick Heitkamps, who came in second (106-105).

“The gun range was a great networking event,” said Rick Bray, WAFIOS. “It was a great atmosphere. By the end of the morning we all had talked and joked together. I’m looking forward to shooting with the guys again next year. Without this event I may have never been met these gentlemen in the industry.”

Following both events, the educational program was held. Other presenters included Dave Brambert, president of Fifth Wave Manufacturing (AI in Manufacturing); Tim Moury, president/CEO of Vericheck Technical Services, and Technical Director Marco Degasperi (metal analyzing equipment and ISO17025 accredited training and services).

“I thought it was another great day with networking on the course and at the educational seminar,” said Stephen Wright, Blachford. “The speakers brought a wide range of knowledge that seemed to keep the audience engaged. For many people, this has become an annual event they look forward to every year.”

The WAI’s New England Chapter annual education event and networking dinner is set for Nov. 7 at the ACCEL International plant in Cheshire, Connecticut.

ACCEL will host a tour of the company’s wire-drawing plant from 3:30 to 5:30 pm. ACCEL has three vertically integrated factories in Connecticut and Indiana that make silver-plated, nickel-plated and tin-plated copper wire and copper alloys.

Following the tour, there will be a networking dinner at Viron Rondo Osrerio, which is also located in Cheshire. Tickets are $115 for chapter members and $130 for non members. Registration (vetted) can be made at www.wirenet.org.

The WAI’s Education Committee plays a pivotal role in advancing the professional development and technical knowledge of industry professionals, and its role has never been more important as the focus is on delivering an ambitious program that serves a defined need.

The committee, comprised of a diverse group of experts, oversees the creation and implementation of innovative training programs that cater to the evolving needs of the wire and cable industry. Chaired by Matt Miles of Southwire, with Erik Perks of Prysmian as vice chair, the education committee is instrumental in driving WAI’s educational initiatives. The committee includes representatives from leading companies and institutions, bringing a wealth of expertise to the table.

Currently, the committee is overseeing the development of WAI’s new online training platform, which is set to revolutionize industry education. This platform offers a growing library of video content, meticulously curated to provide professionals with accessible, high-quality training materials. From foundational courses to advanced technical sessions, the platform is designed to meet the diverse needs of industry members.

The committee also actively collaborates on in-person events, such as the Advanced Extrusion Workshop. This hands-on session will offer participants a unique opportunity to deepen their understanding of extrusion processes, further showcasing the committee’s commitment to comprehensive education.

In addition to Miles and Perks, committee members include Brad Andrews of Condat Corp., Donald Dodge of Calmont Wire & Cable, Joseph Domblesky of Marquette University, Jason Giebfried of Paramount Die Co., Tracy Gooding of Mar-Mac Wire Inc.,
C. Richard Gordon of C. Richard Gordon Consulting, David Gzesh of Blachford Corp., Erik Macs of Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp., Richard Medoff of Ace Metal Inc., Isaac Muller of American Wire Group and Donald Neville of RichardsApex Europe Ltd.

Also, Dale Olp of A-1 Wire Tech Inc., Brian Parsons of Interstate Wire Co. Inc., Svet Pavlovsky of Blachford Corp., Horace Pops of Horace Pops Consulting, Cristian Rangel of Encore Wire Corp., Christopher Reeve of Insteel Wire Products, Matthew Reinoehl of SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS, Eric Wagner of Charter Steel and Bhaskar Yalamanchili of Gerdau Long Steel North America.

The WAI Executive Committee Liaison is Kurt Breischaft of SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS and the staff liaison is John Markowski. To learn more about WAI’s education initiatives, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 203-458-4044.

The Wire Association International will present a new program—Advanced Extrusion Workshop—as part of the Association’s ever-evolving educational offerings at Interwire 2025.

Scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, 2025, from 9 am to noon, the exclusive workshop will be limited to 50 participants. The unique immersive learning experience is designed to build on the foundational extrusion principles introduced by Erik Macs of Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp during the Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing Course on Monday.

The workshop will take place at Southwire’s campus in Carrollton, offering participants invaluable up-close learning with extrusion equipment, shifting from the traditional classroom setting to a more practical, equipment-focused environment. The workshop will feature breakout activities and group exercises, allowing participants to collaborate and apply concepts in a practical setting.

The session is not meant to be just a lecture but a dynamic learning experience. When participants return from Southwire they will go on organized group visits to key extrusion exhibitors on the Interwire show floor, where they can hear about the latest advances and engage directly with industry leaders.

The workshop will be co-taught by Rick Chamberlin, an extrusion veteran, Hawkins Consulting, LLC; and an expert from Southwire. They will ensure participants walk away with a deep understanding of advanced extrusion techniques and their practical applications.