One benefit offered by WAI chapters is that three of them—New England, Southeast and Midwest—each offer college scholarships for sons and daughters of chapter members.

In 2023, the New England Chapter issued six scholarships, each $2,500; the Southeast Chapter issued four scholarship winners, each $1,800; and the Midwest Chapter issued three scholarships, each $1,500.

What’s noteworthy about the collective scholarship programs is that they are very flexible. Also, each chapter funds the program through various events, and event sponsors and chapter members have been very generous in supporting the cause.

For more details, go to the individual chapter page at www.wirenet.org.

Madison, Connecticut, USA – January 2, 2024 – The Wire Association International (WAI), Inc. announces the appointment of Daniel Blais as the 71st president of the association for a one-year term that commenced on January 1, 2024. Blais will chair the Board of Directors of the 94-year-old association, which is headquartered in Madison, Connecticut, USA.

Blais is North America Engineering and Canada Manufacturing Utilities vice president for Prysmian Group, where he has worked since 1987. He is based at the company’s headquarters in Highland Heights, Kentucky, and is responsible for the engineering across the North America manufacturting sites as well as leading the activities of the four Canadian manufacturing facilities. He has held several operational leadership positions of growing responsibilities across the Prysmian North American footprint.

A WAI member since 2011, Blais joined the Board of Directors in 2018 and the Executive Committee in 2019. He was the co-chair of the 2022 Conference Programming Committee, and previously he was a member of the Interwire Industry 4.0 Task Force and the Finance Committee. He holds a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Sherbrooke University, Quebec, Canada.

Commenting on this new appointment, Blais said, “The WAI continues to be the place where members and industry professionals come to find the latest information and educational material related to wire and cable. I look forward to leading the association on a journey to continuously improve its offerings to better support the needs of our members and industry professionals.”

The Wire Association International, Inc. is governed by a network of volunteers from around the globe. Joining Blais for the 2024 term are members of the association’s 2024 Executive Committee: First Vice President Eric Bieberich, Fort Wayne Wire Die; Second Vice President David Fisher, James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp.; Rebecca Cranford, Southwire Co.; and Immediate Past President Kurt F. Breischaft, SDI La Farga COPPERWORKS.

Prysmian Group is a world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry. With almost 150 years of experience, sales of around €16 billion, about 30,000 employees in over 50 countries and 108 plants,the Group is strongly positioned in high-tech markets and offers the widest possible range of products, services, technologies and know-how..

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 Wire Expo and publishes the Wire Journal International and the Wire Journal International Reference Guide.

Media Contacts: Janice E. Swindells, Director Marketing & Corporate Communications, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 001-203-453-2777, x. 117; Steven J. Fetteroll, Executive Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 001-203-453-1777.

Nexans reports that it has agreed to reserve capacity so it can supply and install high-voltage cables to SSEN Transmission to provide a transmission link from Orkney to Dounreay in the Scottish Highlands.

A press release said that capacity reservation agreement was signed by both parties for the project. The official contract, expected to be signed in the second quarter of 2024, will require approximately 100 km of 220kV AC subsea and land cables. The Orkney Islands is investing in further renewable energy projects and needs more transmission capacity so it can export energy to the Scottish transmission network.

“This agreement marks a significant milestone for Nexans and we look forward to collaborating closely with SSEN Transmission,” said Nexans Executive Vice President Pascal Radue. “The Orkney transmission link is critical for the development of renewable energy in the UK, and underscores our commitment to advancing electrification and renewable energy in the region.”

United Wire expanding operations, adds new equipment to make medical products