Giving Back - Feature Sample

D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4 | W W W. W I R E N E T. O R G

GIVING BACK

Manufacturers giving back to their community in a multitude of ways.

O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E W I R E A S S O C I AT I O N I N T E R N AT I O N A L

F E AT U R E

Manufacturers GIVING BACK Two years ago, this first-time feature presented a range of manufacturers that have given back to their communities. The return to this feature presents more such examples, including a few unique entries that show the concept can be both creative and flexible.

Collectively, they show that there are many ways to do good, and that the rewards for doing so accrue in the human spirit. Finally, it’s never too late to participate, either on behalf of a company or just oneself.

Report: workers who volunteer make for happier employees A recent study by Ares Management Corporation investigated the effects of workplace volunteer programs, conducting extensive interviews with more than 5,100 employees across five countries. Below are edited excerpts of its findings.

• Employees in volunteer programs are more likely than non-participants to be satisfied with their jobs (79% versus 55%), a 24-point difference; their organization’s culture (75% versus 54%); and the leadership team (71% versus 45%). They are more likely to be satisfied with their professional growth opportunities (70% versus 39%) and their salary and benefits (69% versus 45%). Other disparities were seen for opportunities or professional growth/development (70% vs 39%); developing new skills (72% vs 47%); and organizational leadership (71% vs 45%).

• When asked about volunteering, employees say that it has a positive impact on their capacity for teamwork (73%); yields personal fulfillment (71%); supports positive organizational reputation (71%), lifts employee morale (69%), and promotes their organization’s mission and values (69%).

• Most volunteers (96%) report they take part because they are thankful for what they have, followed closely by those who said it provides a sense of purpose (95%).

3 8 W I R E J O U R N A L I N T E R N AT I O N A L D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4

• Most employees (70%) want a commitment from executive leadership to the volunteer activities that their organization sponsors. In fact, the main reason (53%) that employees do not participate is because they do not believe that volunteerism is a priority for leadership.

Other cited reasons were: concern about taking time off and a sense that the same people always participate (each 50%); that they were not encouraged at their organization (47%); followed by burnout (41%).

• Gen Z employees, i.e., those ages 18 to 26, want to make a positive impact on society and look to their employer to provide opportunities to help make this happen. Their #1 interest is professional skills-based volunteering (43%). Most are interested in volunteering regularly (40%). They are more likely than others to describe career advancement as a benefit of volunteerism (64%); they are more motivated to volunteer because it makes them feel part of a team (56%); and they are more likely to say workplace volunteering has a positive affect on teamwork/comaraderie (78%).

W W W. W I R E N E T. O R G

F E AT U R E

IEWC: offering multiple ways for staffers to give back An ESOP business, IEWC provides wire, cable and fiber solutions to OEMs, contract manufacturers, assemblers and installers. It also provides multiple ways for employees at its 22 locations in 11 countries to give back locally. Below is an overview of causes the company is involved in, with a focus on one that has been especially beneficial.

IEWC’s Community Connect Program is powered by its employees, and the company believes in making it easier for them to take part.

IEWC provides any employee who wants to give back a paid workday off each year to do that; it offers a donation-matching program that doubles the impact when employees contribute to causes; it donates wire and cable supplies to local high schools, offering materials that encourage hands-on learning for students; its volunteer employees keep an adopted section of local highway clean and safe; and it supports seasonal initiatives, including toy, food, blood, school supply and other drives, where employees contribute items that help enrich opportunities and experiences for underprivileged families.

IEWC made a $20,000 donation to SHARP Literacy (SHARP), a non-profit organization that fosters a love of learning and brightening children’s futures through innovative STEAM-based experiential programs that include science, technology, engineering, the arts and math. Mike Veum, the company president & CEO, fully supports the goals of IEWC’s Community Connect program. Of note, the contribution was not just a matter of writing a check.

It was made possible through the generous participation of suppliers and team members in the company’s annual Supplier Summit and Golf Outing in late July.

The donation will directly support SHARP’s educational programs that enrich children’s learning experiences within the community. This year’s event, which has become a much-anticipated annual tradition, fostered networking and collaboration among IEWC’s suppliers and sales teams and reinforced the company’s commitment to giving back to the community.

Dean Stier, the company’s director of communications, said that IEWC has sponsored SHARP Literacy since 2021. Last year, he had the chance to see their work in action during a classroom visit. The fifthgrade students were immersed in coding and constructing small robotic components for a competition. The classroom buzzed Students takes part in the hands-on with excitement SHARP program supported by IEWC. and collabora-

W W W. W I R E N E T. O R G

IEWC Director of Communications Dean Stier presents a check to Lynda Welsh, president & CEO of the SHARP Literacy program.

tion as they worked through challenges together. “It was incredible to see the spark of curiosity and creativity in their eyes, qualities that will serve them for years to come,” he recalled.

Stier’s connection to SHARP deepened when Lynda Welsh, the organization’s president, invited him to join their board. While he had participated in charitable efforts in the past, including helping to raise funds for the Special Olympics, this marked his first active leadership role in a community program. As a SHARP board member, he focused on communication strategies, ensuring that school administrators, parents, donors, and students fully understand the value of keeping STEAM-based education in classrooms. Earlier this year, he co-chaired a fundraising event for SHARP, which he described as a deeply rewarding experience.

“Supporting SHARP’s mission has never felt like work.

It’s a privilege to contribute to an organization that’s making such a meaningful difference,” Stier said. “Their programs bring learning to life for children, equipping them with skills and confidence that will serve them far beyond the classroom.”

Stier said that at IEWC, “giving back isn’t just something we do, it’s part of who we are.” The Community Connect initiatives reflect the company culture, which emphasizes great people working together to do great things. It’s this culture that has earned the company recognition as a “Best Places to Work” company for five consecutive years. “By standing alongside exceptional organizations like SHARP Literacy, we’re not only advancing our business mission of connection, we’re also helping to build stronger communities and brighter futures.”

D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4 W I R E J O U R N A L I N T E R N AT I O N A L

39

A T E C HNIC A L CON FEREN CE OF C OL L ABOR ATI ON & I NNOVAT I ON

CALL FOR PAPERS

• Product Development • AI and Industry 4.0 • System Security • Workforce Training • Production Efficiency • Material Advancements • Quality Management • Professional Development • Market Trends & Economic Factors • Safety & Standards Compliance • Sustainability & Environmental Impact

You are invited to share your knowledge of today’s wire and cable manufacturing landscape with delegates at the 2025 Wire & Cable Conference in Krakow, Poland. Your participation should provide an in-depth view of the manufacturing advances in wire and cable research, operations, or production.

Ferrous and nonferrous topics are welcome. Choose from the following topics or suggest one of your own.

conference: 14 OCTOBER 2025 ABSTRACTS DUE: MARCH 31, 2025

NOTICE OF ACCEPTANCE: MAY 21, 2025

MANUSCRIPTS DUE: SEPTEMBER 1, 2025 S U B M I T

Y O U R

A B S T R A C T :

bit.ly/WAIabstracts

O

R

G

A

N

I

Z

E

D

B

Y

:

SHAPING THE FUTURE OF WIRE MAKING

Uniting people & technology Rapid technological growth has altered today’s wire and cable manufacturing landscape. AI, machine learning, and other wire-making advances call for new measures of understanding.

Visit INTERWIRE 25 to explore proven pathways to success in this era of global change.

Details: Interwire25.com

May 13-15, 2025 Georgia World Congress Center Atlanta•Georgia•USA official publication: organized by:

INTERWIRE Exhibitors ACIMAF, Italian Wire Machinery Manufacturers’ Association ACM Measuring Technology ADVARIS USA, Inc. AESA Cortaillod SA AGAPE Industrial, Inc. AITMAC, Inc. Ajex & Turner Wire Technologies Align Production Systems Ambica Steel Ltd. American Furukawa Inc. Anbao Qinhuangdao International Corp.

Anderson Forest Products Asaclean-Asahi Kasei Plastics North America Automated Industrial Machinery Inc. (AIM, Inc.) AWT Machinery Inc. Axjo America Aztech Lubricants B&H Tool Co. Bartell Machinery Systems LLC Baum’s Castorine Co., Inc. Bechem Lubrication Technology, LLC Bergandi Marchinery Betasistemi s.r.l.

Blachford Corp.

Boockmann Engineering GmbH BOXY S.p.A. Bozdemir Makina Sanayi ve Ticaret Ltd. Sti. Buss AG Caballe SAU Construcciones Mecanicas Caballe Cable Components Cable Consultants Corp.

Calmec Precision Ltd. Carris Reels Inc. Cavallero Plastics Inc.

Cemanco LC Changzhou Haoqiang Cable Co., Ltd. Changzhou Longdu Electrical Co., Ltd. Chase Corp.

Cheng I Wire Machinery Co., Ltd. Chroma Color Corp.

Clifford Machines Clinton Instrument Co. CM Furnaces Inc. CMS Inc. CN Wire Corp.

Commission Brokers Condat Corp.

Conductix-Wampfler Confex Technology Ltd. Conneaut Industries Continuus-Properzi S.p.A. Coremo Ocmea SpA Corrupal Coseco SrL CSM METALURJİ LTD. ŞTİ.

Custom Wire Products Davis-Standard LLC DELTA TECNIC DEM Die Quip Corp.

DijitalPort Istanbul Dan. Loj. Amb. San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti Danyang Windpower Wire & Cable Mfg. Co., Ltd. Domeks Makine A.S. Double E Group DRT Impianti Dynamex Corp.

E-BEAM Services, Inc. EBNER Furnaces, Inc. EKM Steel Reel Electronic Drives & Controls, Inc. Elematec Enercon Industries

ERA Wire Inc. Erocarb SA Esteves Group The George Evans Corp.

EVG EXEL International Fabpro Polymers Fabritex Inc. Fenn-Torin FiB Thermal Solutions Fil-Tec, Inc. Filtertech, Inc. FLYMCA FMS USA Inc. Fort Wayne Wire Die, Inc. Frekans Makina San ve Tic A.S. Freudenberg PM Fridea SrL Frigeco USA Inc. FUHR Rolling Mills Gem Gravure Co. Inc. GENDON GEON Performance Solutions Glenro Inc. GMM USA LLC GMP Slovakia sro Guelph Twines Ltd. Guill Tool & Engineering Guowang Cable Group Haefely Hafner & Krullmann GmbH HARTER GmbH Henrich Maschinenfabrik GmbH HONTA Inc. Howar Equipment Inc. Huestis Industrial IDEAL Welding Systems, L.P. iiM AG measurement + engineering IMH Wooden Reels InnoVites B.V. Inosym Ltd.

International Wire Group, Inc. Intop International Exhibition Co., Ltd. ISIS Carbide Tools Italian Pavilion Italian Trade Agency IWMA Ltd. JAM Industrial Services Inc. Jiangsu Kemaite Technology Development Co.., Ltd. Jiangsu Singcheer Intelligent Equipment Co., Ltd. Jinhua Yonghe Fluorochemical Co., Ltd. Joe Snee Associates, Inc. Joe Tools, Inc. Jouhsen-bundgens Inc. Kablomar Kable Hammaddeleri San Ve Tic. Ltd. Sti. KabosanTurkey - FBC Yayincilik Ltd. Sti. Kabmak Muhendislik ve Makina San. Tic. Ltd. Sti. Kalmark Integrated Systems Ltd. KEIR Manufacturing, Inc. King Steel Corp.

Kinrei of America, LLC KMG Wires Pvt. Ltd. Koch Machinery & Technology GmbH Friedrich Krollmann GmbH & Co. Krueger Steel & Wire Lämneå Bruk AB Laserlinc Inc. Leggett & Platt Leibinger Inc. LLFLEX Lloyd & Bouvier Inc. Lubrimetal Corp.

Lukas Anlagenbau GmbH M. Holland Company ~Continued on next page~

INTERWIRE Exhibitors Madem-Moorecraft Reels USA, Inc. Magnetic Analysis Corp.

Magnetic Technologies Maillefer Extrusion Oy Mario Frigerio SpA Markem-Imaje Mathiasen Machinery, Inc. Max W. Claas GmbH & Co. KG Mega Metal MEKOSAN Group Melos GmbH Metal Link Inc. Metalube UK Metavan N.V. MFL S.A. MFL USA Service Corp.

The MGS Group Microdia SA Mid South Wire Mikrotek Machines Ltd. Milani srl Mill Masters, Inc. Morgan-Koch Corp.

MSS Cable Machinery GmbH Nanjing Volley Metal Materials Co., Ltd. Nano-Dies P/L Nevatia Steel & Alloys Pvt. Ltd. Niagara Composites International Inc. Niehoff Endex North America Inc. nLine GmbH Nordson Measurement & Control Nylon Corporation of America Oak-trees Inc. OM Frigerio S.r.L. Özyaşar Tel ve Galvanizleme San. A.Ş.

P & R Specialty Inc. P/A Industries Inc. Paramount Die Parkway-Kew Corp.

Phifer Inc.

Pioneer Machinery USA Polycab USA LLC Pourtier Precision Die Technologies Process Control Corp.

Properzi International, Inc. / Continuus-Properzi, SpA Proton Products Inc. PT. Nusantara Electric PWM Ltd. Q8Oils QED Wire Lines Inc. Quaker Houghton Radcliff Wire Inc. Rainbow Rubber & Plastics Rautomead Ltd. Reber Systematic GmbH KG Redex USA Reel Options by Vandor Corp.

Reel Power Industrial REELEX Packaging Solutions, Inc. Refractron Technologies Corp.

RichardsApex, Inc. Ridgway Machines Ltd. Roblon Rockford Manufacturing Group Inc. Rosendahl Nextrom Roteq Machinery SACO AEI Polymers Saint-Gobain SAMP USA, Inc. H. Folke Sandelin AB Sark Wire Corp.

SARMAKİNA SANAYİ VE TİCARET A.Ş.

Schlatter North America Schmidt Maschinenbau GmbH Schnell Spa Sensoptic SA Setic S.A.S - Pourtier Shanhai Anchors Mold Shanghai Kechen Wire & Cable Machinery Co., Ltd. Shenzhen Adwantek Technologies Co., Ltd

(continued)

SIKORA Simpacks / Pioneer Sipcon Technologies Pvt. Ltd. Sivaco Quebec Division Sjogren Industries Inc. SKET Verseilmaschinenbau GmbH Sonoco Spirka Schnellflechter GmbH Star Materials Co. Ltd. Steel Cable Reels August Strecker GmbH & Co. KG Subec AB Super Seal Corp. LLC SWEED Machinery Swiss Pavilion Syensqo TapeFormers Ltd. Taubensee Steel & Wire Taymer International TDC Teknikor Teknor Apex Tektapes Tensor Machinery Ltd. Thermcraft Thermoplastics Engineering Corp.

Traxit North America LLC Trefimet S.A. TROESTER GmbH & Co. KG Truva Brass Rod & Billet Ulbrich Specialty Wire Products Ultimate Automation Uniflow United Wire Co. UNITEK Crossheads Universal Wires LLC UPCAST OY UYGAR Makina San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti. Vapormatt Ltd. Vatan Kablo Metal Endustri Ve Ticaret A.S. Vikas Spool Private Ltd. WAFIOS Machinery Corp.

Wardwell Braiding Co.

Weber & Scher Mfg. Co. Inc. Webster and Horsfall Weilly Diamond Industrial Co., Ltd. Windak Inc. Windmill Associates Wire & Cable Technology International (WCTI) Wire and Plastic Machinery Corp.

Wire Association International, Inc. Wire Journal International, Inc. Wire Lab Co. Wire Machine Systems Inc. WiTechs B.V. Witels-Albert USA WK Industrial Services Woodburn Diamond Die, Inc. Woywod - Plasticolor Yagmura Ajans Mak. Mob. San. ve Tic. Ltd. Sti Zhejiang Tenglong Stainless Steel Industry Co. Ltd. Zumbach Electronics Corp.

ZWEZ Surface Products North America, Inc. List as of 11/25/24

WAI training & professional development

Coming soon!

INTRODUCING

WAI’s NEW VIDEO TRAINING COURSES LEARN ABOUT:

• Ferrous and nonferrous sectors • Fundamentals of wire manufacturing • Extrusion • Manufacturing safety

FEATURING: • Convenient online learning • Self-paced courses • On-demand access • Interactive content • Multimedia resources • Certificates of completion

AVAILABLE FOR: Individual & corporate group access

LEARN MORE: wirenet.org/education-program

EDUCATION