3/4/2022  To further Southwire's mission to build a culture that recognizes and celebrates the value of diverse backgrounds, equity in opportunity and inclusivity in action, the company is pleased to announce the launch of its new diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) website.  

Southwire treasures the diversity of its employees and the communities that we represent and serve, and the company’s four key values – trust, empowerment, consistency and inclusion – are the foundation of the organization’s DEI strategy.  

“A focus on diversity, equity and inclusion is mission critical for our organization,” said Cara Herzog, director of DEI. “Over the last several years, we have continued to prioritize and accelerate our internal and external efforts to drive progress. We believe the key to our continued success is our people, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives can thrive.”  

Southwire focuses on fostering an environment that recognizes the value and talent of diverse perspectives regardless of gender and ethnicity. In 2014, the company established its first employee resource group (ERG), and since then, the company has expanded to six ERGs, including the Women’s Network, Spectrum, Nextgen, TEAM, Officium and Allied. These groups actively promote Southwire’s commitment to inclusivity by engaging employees and encouraging participation in events throughout the year.   

“We believe that every person can make a difference from any position, and we are committed to foster an environment where respect and inclusion are at the forefront of everything that we do, an environment where equal access and opportunity to learn, grow and succeed are available to everyone,” said Fernando Esquivel, executive vice president of People & Culture.  

The new DEI site will provide an in-depth look at Southwire as an organization and what the company stands for, including its focus on sustainability and how its five core tenets relate to DEI for the benefit of its workforce.   

“Sustainability is focused on being mindful of our impact on local and global communities and taking actions to create a better world for future generations,” said Burt Fealing, executive vice president, general counsel and chief sustainability officer. “In a very similar way, diversity, equity and inclusion is also focused on sustainable long-term efforts to remove barriers and to create equitable opportunities for everyone as part of a better world.”   

Establishing its brand as an organization dedicated to DEI continues to be an area of focus for Southwire, and with this new external site, the company is communicating openly and remaining transparent about its ongoing efforts — a bold step for a private company that demonstrates its deep commitment to the importance of DEI within the organization and in society at large.  

“We are an organization with a lot to offer, and we are excited for more people to see it. We believe in our people, customers, partners, and communities,” said Herzog. “The opportunity to share and connect in a new way is something that we value, and we welcome the conversations that this will bring internally and externally. We are just getting started.”   

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A leader in technology and innovation, Southwire Company, LLC is one of North America’s largest wire and cable producers. Southwire and its subsidiaries manufacture building wire and cable, metal-clad cable, portable and electronic cord products, utility cable products, OEM wire products and engineered products. In addition, Southwire supplies assembled products, contractor equipment and hand tools. For more on Southwire’s products, its community involvement and its vision of sustainability, visit www.southwiresustainability.com.

obal client base in more than 50 countries.

4/1/2022 –  To further Southwire's mission to build a culture that recognizes and celebrates the value of diverse backgrounds, equity in opportunity and inclusivity in action, the company is pleased to announce the launch of its new diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) website.  

Southwire treasures the diversity of its employees and the communities that we represent and serve, and the company’s four key values – trust, empowerment, consistency and inclusion – are the foundation of the organization’s DEI strategy.  

“A focus on diversity, equity and inclusion is mission critical for our organization,” said Cara Herzog, director of DEI. “Over the last several years, we have continued to prioritize and accelerate our internal and external efforts to drive progress. We believe the key to our continued success is our people, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives can thrive.”  

Southwire focuses on fostering an environment that recognizes the value and talent of diverse perspectives regardless of gender and ethnicity. In 2014, the company established its first employee resource group (ERG), and since then, the company has expanded to six ERGs, including the Women’s Network, Spectrum, Nextgen, TEAM, Officium and Allied. These groups actively promote Southwire’s commitment to inclusivity by engaging employees and encouraging participation in events throughout the year.   

“We believe that every person can make a difference from any position, and we are committed to foster an environment where respect and inclusion are at the forefront of everything that we do, an environment where equal access and opportunity to learn, grow and succeed are available to everyone,” said Fernando Esquivel, executive vice president of People & Culture.  

The new DEI site will provide an in-depth look at Southwire as an organization and what the company stands for, including its focus on sustainability and how its five core tenets relate to DEI for the benefit of its workforce.   

“Sustainability is focused on being mindful of our impact on local and global communities and taking actions to create a better world for future generations,” said Burt Fealing, executive vice president, general counsel and chief sustainability officer. “In a very similar way, diversity, equity and inclusion is also focused on sustainable long-term efforts to remove barriers and to create equitable opportunities for everyone as part of a better world.”   

Establishing its brand as an organization dedicated to DEI continues to be an area of focus for Southwire, and with this new external site, the company is communicating openly and remaining transparent about its ongoing efforts — a bold step for a private company that demonstrates its deep commitment to the importance of DEI within the organization and in society at large.  

“We are an organization with a lot to offer, and we are excited for more people to see it. We believe in our people, customers, partners, and communities,” said Herzog. “The opportunity to share and connect in a new way is something that we value, and we welcome the conversations that this will bring internally and externally. We are just getting started.”   

A leader in technology and innovation, Southwire Company, LLC is one of North America’s largest wire and cable producers. Southwire and its subsidiaries manufacture building wire and cable, metal-clad cable, portable and electronic cord products, utility cable products, OEM wire products and engineered products. In addition, Southwire supplies assembled products, contractor equipment and hand tools. For more on Southwire’s products, its community involvement and its vision of sustainability, visit www.southwiresustainability.com.

3/4/2022 –The Prysmian Group focus on speeding up innovation in the areas of ultra-rapid telecom networks and smarter, more sustainable power grids has been bolstered by financial support from the European Investment Bank (EIB), which has previously made available such funds.

A press release said that the EIB has finalized financing of €135 million intended to support the Group’s 2021-2024 R&D plans in Europe. That support is greatly appreciated as it will help the Prysmian Group’s R&D efforts. “Cable technology is a key enabler to face the challenges of digitalisation and energy transition,” said Srini Siripurapu, Chief R&D and Innovation
Officer Prysmian Group. The specific areas where the EIB support will make a difference include the following.

• Industrial research: research on innovative materials also involving the use of nanotechnologies, systems for the monitoring and management of land and submarine power grids and of low voltage power systems, new cables and materials for more sustainable solutions and hybrid energy and telecom cables.
• Innovation and experimentation: the use of alternative materials for cable design and product project optimisation, use of breakthrough technologies to execute cable jointing operations.
• New products development: submarine power transmission cable systems for installation at high depths; P-Laser Extra High Voltage land and submarine power transmission cable systems; dynamic cables for the offshore renewable energies sector; cable solutions for the e-mobility industry; high-performance optical fibres, cables for FTTH and FTTA applications, and connectivity; development of smart cable systems and sensing solutions for fault location, monitoring and management of power grids.
• Digital transformation and sustainability: development of machine learning and artificial intelligence solutions for enhanced quality in cable manufacturing process, and implementation of digital solutions for the management of operations from remote also through the use of IoT Industry 4.0 technologies and deployment of innovation data management software for a better on-going project portfolio management; development of data models for the continuous evaluation of sustainability impact of a Green IT Strategy and for the assessment of the sustainability of the product portfolio.

The new projects fulfill the goals set within Prysmian Group’s innovation roadmap and strategy, strongly oriented towards the support and promotion of digitalization and the energy transition.

Cable technology is a key enabler for electrical power transmission and distribution and for the development of telecommunications in Europe. Innovative solutions in these areas are a critical component to promote digitalization and the energy transition, thanks also to the expansion of 5G networks and the surge in renewable power installations, that could be interconnected via sustainable and innovative cable links.

The financing represents approximately 50% of the investments planned in Europe during the period concerned. Worldwide, Prysmian Group allocates approximately €100 million per year to R&D. This financing follows those already granted by the EIB to the Group in 2013 and in 2017, also in support of R&D in Europe, a sign of the trust that the company enjoys with the Bank.

“The agreement signed with Prysmian aims at developing technological innovations via cable based on sustainability criteria in order to reduce the consumption of raw materials, the generation of waste and CO2 emission,” said EIB Vice President Gelsomina Vigliotti. “Supporting the cabling sector helps to strengthen economic, social and territorial cohesion and to promote the energy and digital transition in Europe.”

3/4/2022 – Metals producer Ege Çelìk Endüstrisi Sanayi ve Ticaret A.Ş. has contracted with Primetals Technologies for upgrades to its wire rod mill in İzmir, Turkey.

A press release said that the addition of a new wire rod outlet will enable the company to expand its value-added product range for markets in Turkey and Europe, with greater capability for surface finish quality and dimensional tolerance in its wire rod products. Thermomechanical rolling will improve drawability while reducing overall heat treatment costs. Commissioning for the new wire rod outlet is expected in summer 2023.

The new mill will be capable of rolling rods with a diameter of 5.5 to 26 mm at speeds up to 134 tons per hour, or 120 tons per hour with thermomechanical rolling, using both 130 mm and 160 mm square billets. Ege Çelìk operations will produce low, medium and high carbon steels, along with cold heading quality, and welding wire grades for the automotive and other industries that are seeking higher-quality products.

The scope of supply for the contract includes upgrading an existing roughing/intermediate mill with new drives and automation, two roughing mill stands (1H +2V), and a new wire rod outlet with several Morgan products, including an individually driven eDrive 8-stand Vee No-Twist Mill, new inline cooling with an Enhanced Temperature Control System (ETCS), an on/offline reducing/sizing mill, intelligent pinch roll, high speed laying head, and 10½-zone Stelmor conveyor. Coil forming and handling will be accomplished through a vertical/horizontal conveyor system and compactor. A level 2 Process Expert automation package provides reliable material tracking functionality and leads to key performance indicator improvement.

Founded in 1986 with headquarters in Istanbul, Ege Çelìk began steel production in 2001. Ege Çelìk is the leading producer of quality steel wire rod in Turkey and supplies to local and worldwide steel customers.

3/4/2022 – Germany’s Schlatter Group announced that it has acquired a majority stake (51%) in Sokol Engineering Srl, a European manufacturer of wire processing equipment.

A press release said that Sokol Engineering, based in Tavagnacco (Udine), Italy, develops and builds a comprehensive range of wire production equipment. That includes cold rolling, wire drawing and stretching lines that generate net sales of €3 million a year.

With this deal, “Schlatter is strengthening its strategic position in wire production plants and taking a further step towards becoming a comprehensive solution provider in the wire industry.” Schlatter is known for its resistance welding technology and weaving machines for specialized purposes.

Sokol Engineering will continue and expand its existing activities under the name Schlatter Italia Srl. Company founder Sokol Haxhiaj, who has many years of experience, will continue to support the Schlatter Group as managing director and a shareholder. Schlatter’s customers will benefit from the takeover with expanded system expertise and a comprehensive partner across the entire value chain