Plans are still being finalized for the XI International WAI Poland Chapter Seminar, which is scheduled to be held Nov. 23-24, 2023, but some of the details are presented here.

Chapter President Jan Pilarczyk said the seminar is to be held at the METALURGIA Hotel in Radomsko. Notices are just going out for the event, which will see presentations and a discussion panel and dinner the first day, and paper presentations the second day.

Per the tentative schedule, the event begins Thursday, Nov. 23, with lunch, followed by the opening of the seminar that includes a welcome by a city official. Scheduled presenters at this point include: Robert J. Glodowski, The Evolving Technology of Steel Rod Manufacturing- A Personal Perspective, from 1:30 pm to 1:55 pm; Tom Moran, Development of a high-carbon wire that could be drawn to ultra high tensile strength 285, (a joint effort project by National Standard and Southwire), 1:55 pm to 2:20 pm; a presentation by Jan Krnac, 2:20 pm to 2:24 pm; and a coffee break followed by a session on coaching (business topic: leasing, business financing), from 3:15 pm to 3:45 pm.

A discussion panel—The condition of the steel industry in the era of political and economic destabilization in the post-Covid period and in the face of war in Ukraine— will be held from 3:45 pm to 6:30 pm. Subjects will include steel, raw materials, delivery, prices, media, photovoltaics, other RES, development prospects, creating new products, innovative economy, corporate social responsibility, industry 4.0, digitization /automation. Moderators will include Piotr Milewski, Adam Świerczyński and Piotr Pawlak (proposal of further moderators).

Dinner will follow at 7 pm, with awards presented to Krnac and Głodowski. On Friday, papers will be presented from 10 am to noon, followed by lunch. For more details go to www.msc.wip.pcz.pl and look for updates here in future issues.

Southwire’s 12 for Life® is pleased to partner with the Independent Electrical Contractor’s (IEC) Atlanta and Georgia Chapters to provide a Skills-Based Electrical Installer Program to its students. 

12 for Life, a collaborative partnership that began between Southwire and Carroll County Schools in 2007, provides classroom instruction, on-the-job training, key work and life skills, mentoring and employment opportunities. Through the program, students are motivated to stay in school, graduate and move ahead to become successful, productive members of the communities in which they live. Due to its growth and success in the west Georgia area, a second site for 12 for Life was added at Southwire’s campus in Florence in 2010.

Students who participate in the IEC Installer program will receive 36 hours of in-person, hands-on training that will prepare them to qualify for employment in an electrical wiring occupation after graduating from high school.

“This partnership is a practical way for us to connect electrical contractors with a trained workforce. According to IEC, there’s a need for at least 10,000 electricians across the United States, and many of those electricians are needed here in west Georgia,” said Joel Grubbs, 12 for Life site supervisor for Carroll County Schools. “Jobs in manufacturing may not be readily available when they graduate, so this training will give them an additional opportunity for employment.”

The certification program consists of nine days of training that are focused on interactive learning and includes hands-on activities. At completion of the training, each student will receive a course completion certificate, an OSHA 10 certification and a first aid card. Students will also qualify for the IEC’s Electrical Apprenticeship Program.

“The IEC’s Atlanta and Georgia Chapters are proud to work with Southwire and the Georgia Industry Foundation for Training (GIFT) to implement our Basic Skills Installer Training in the 12 for Life program through the Carroll County School System,” said Niel Dawson, executive director of IEC Atlanta and Georgia Chapters. “The program will provide ongoing basic skills training in the electrical field and expose them to a high-paying skilled trade that has the potential for a meaningful career. We look forward to this program continuing for years to come and the expansion of it in other school systems.”   

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

Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC), a global specialty chemicals company, announced today it has received a Gold medal rating from EcoVadis, an independent organization that assesses the performance of companies in a wide range of sustainability areas.

Orion improved its score from the previous year, moving up from 72 to 77 points – just one point away from receiving a Platinum medal rating. The company is now in the 99th percentile of companies assessed by EcoVadis.

“The way Orion was able to jump five points in one year and reach the top 1% of companies shows how the many improvements we have made can add up to a big change,” Orion CEO Corning Painter said. “We are so close to Platinum now and will continue to strive for that goal as we deliver sustainable solutions to our customers.”

EcoVadis reviews companies’ performance in the areas of environment, ethics, sustainable procurement, overall sustainability governance, labor and human rights. The organization says it assesses more than 100,000 companies in over 200 industries in more than 175 countries.

Orion’s most recent sustainability initiatives have included installing control equipment at its U.S. plants that is substantially reducing emissions. The company is producing innovative products with pyrolysis oils from end-of-life tires and bio-circular feedstocks. Orion also plans to expand production of acetylene-based conducive additives for lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles.

About Orion Engineered Carbons
Orion Engineered Carbons (NYSE: OEC) is a leading global supplier of carbon black, a solid form of carbon produced as powder or pellets.

As part of a company-wide commitment to customer service and environmental sustainability, Davis-Standard’s manufacturing facility in Fulton, N.Y., recently attained ISO 14001 certification. This certification validates processes across the board, internally and externally, and serves as a benchmark for Davis-Standard’s ongoing pursuit of operational excellence, sustainable practices and process improvement. This is the third Davis-Standard facility to become ISO 14001 certified in addition to facilities in Finland and Switzerland. All of Davis-Standard’s global facilities are slated to become ISO 14001 certified by 2025.

“ISO 14001 certification directly aligns with our sustainability efforts concerning safety, quality and productivity to address customer needs while also strengthening internal practices,” said Giovanni Spitale, Davis-Standard CEO. “Every aspect of our business at all Davis-Standard facilities must support industry-wide quality standards in order to fulfill the value proposition we offer customers. This includes focusing on equipment development and manufacturing efforts that reduce waste, improve energy efficiency and recyclability.”

At the core of ISO certification is the ability to consistently provide products and services that meet customer and applicable statutory and regulatory requirements. This is achieved by enhancing customer fulfillment through an effective quality management system (www.iso.org). All issues are addressed at the source to support best practices.

Davis-Standard, LLC Davis-Standard, LLC (www.davis-standard.com), headquartered in Pawcatuck, Conn., is a global leader in the design, development and distribution of extrusion and converting technology.

You have two more weeks to submit your Technical Paper Abstract for the 72nd annual IWCS Cable & Connectivity Industry Forum. Examples of topics range from manufacturing processes of copper and optical fiber cables, cable design, codes and standards, connectivity and assemblies, installation, materials, and more. View suggested topics and submission criteria at iwcs.org/present.