J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 | W W W. W I R E N E T. O R G
MARKETING:
social media
Report to Members n 2020 Officers 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
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VOLUME 53 | NO. 1 | JANUARY 2020
TA BL E O F C ON T E N T S
6 Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Industry News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 0 Patent Report . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 0 Asian Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 4 People Corner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 6 Fiber Watch. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 8 Fastener Update . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 9 WAI News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 0 WAI Chapters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 9 Products . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 7 NEW! Sector Update . . . . . . . . . . . 6 2 NEW! KabloSanTurkey . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 8 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 1 Career Opportunities . . . . . . . . . . 7 1 Advertisers’ Index . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 2
F E AT U R E S
Editorial Letter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Report to Members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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A look back at some of what happened in 2019, and a few changes to Wire Journal International.
Marketing: social media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Does social media fit in with wire and cable? The industry focus may start with making products that meet specs, but increasingly, a company’s electronic presence matters.
Sector Update: Take-ups and Payoffs . . . . .
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Looking for a new supplier? WJI’s new Sector Update section is a good place to start.
KabloSanTurkey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Wire and cable news from Turkey, courtesy of an information exchange between WJI and KabloSanTurkey.
T ECHNICA L PA PERS
ON THE COVER Is your wire and cable company sociable? More manufacturers appear to be at least dabbling with an online presence. If social media can be likened to an incoming tide, it appears that this one has a surprising groundswell of support.
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Casting high-conductivity oxygen-free copper rod from scrap: myths and reality Juan Carlos Bodington . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Ductility improvement of drawn aluminum wire for automotive wiring harness Kazunari Yoshida, Chihiro Takuma, Shun-ichi Kikuchi and Hiroaki Kubota . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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NEX T ISSUE February 2020 • Feature: Staffing Crisis • Sector Update: Dies • wire Düsseldorf insert
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CONTENTS
WJI premiere: 2 new sections introduced for 2020
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Sector Update: take-ups and payoffs
KabloSanTurkey: your Turkish link
With this issue, WJI begins a new reader-friendly monthly section that will allow suppliers to summarize what they have to offer, as well as some other details that might be of interest to potential customers. Should your company be listed too? Check the 2020 schedule.
KabloSanTurkey, a bi-monthly magazine that serves the wire and cable industry, is now sharing news with WJI readers, and vice-versa. Turkey, with a population of nearly 84 million people, was rated 33rd in the World Bank’s “Doing Business” 2020 report.
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EDITORIAL LETTER
A supplier’s perspective on WAI’s role As the new president of the Wire Association International, I am honored to craft the first editorial of 2020, and of course, to lead the Association in its milestone 90th year. I have been a WAI exhibitor since I arrived in the U.S. from Denmark more than 30 years ago to manage Enkotec U.S., a position that I am proud to continue today. It has been an amazing journey, both personally and professionally. If I have one regret, it might be my “adopting” the local football team, the Cleveland Browns. Hopefully, time will prove me wrong. WAI has long been part of my career. When I first arrived here, Enkotec had just introduced the rotary design for nail manufacturing. That same year saw the creation of the Interwire trade exposition, at which our revolutionary designs were introduced. WAI provided the ideal forum for that advance and other exchanges of industry knowledge and information. I knew early on that it was important to become a member. Membership lead to volunteering on what is now the Exhibition Planning Committee. That, I must confess, was also a most practical decision: WAI shows were critical to Enkotec, and supporting the Association provided us a ROI. It also gave me a better perspective on the diverse wire and cable industry. The WAI has increased representation of manufacturers over the past 15 years to ensure the focus and purpose of the organization—to support and further the industry—is not lost. The result has been telling, as senior executives from Champlain, Leggett & Platt, Southwire, Mid-South Wire, Nexans, Insteel and Encore Wire have preceded me as president. I believe I can speak for other suppliers and exhibitors when I say that we are grateful for the genuine support of manufacturers. The truth is that we are all linked together. WAI, a constantly evolving service provider, depends on the support of both suppliers and manufacturers. I encourage you to read the Report to Members on p. 36 to get a better sense of what has been done. That scope continues to expand, as can be seen in the news exchange that starts this month (see p. 68) with KabloSanTurkey, a counterpart to WJI. You’ll also notice a new sleeker look to the magazine, courtesy of Karren Muolo, WAI’s award-winning graphic designer. I look forward to meeting with more of you during the course of this new year, so don’t hold back if you see me at an industry event. Again, we’re all in this together.
Jan Sørige Enkotec Co. Inc. WAI President
P U B L I S H E R Steven J. Fetteroll E D I T O R - I N - C H I E F Mark Marselli G R A P H I C D E S I G N E R Karren Muolo D I R E C T O R O F S A L E S Robert Xeller S A L E S M A N A G E R Shannon Timme DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS Janice E. Swindells WAI PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE Dane Armendariz, Chemetall Ferruccio Bellina, TKT Group/President ACIMAF, Italy Michael Crowle, QED Wire Lines Inc. Tom Moran, Insteel Wire Products Giulio Properzi, Continuus Properzi, Italy Ralph Skalleberg, Skaltek USA Willem Sunblad, Oden Technologies Inc. John N. Tomaz, Stolberger Robert Wild, Niehoff Endex North America, USA W.T. Bigbee, Encore Wire Corp. TECHNICAL ADVISORS John Drummond, Scotia Group R. M. Shemenski, RMS Consulting, Inc.
Wire Journal International (ISSN-0277-4275) published monthly by The Wire Journal, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Wire Association International, Inc., which is located at 71 Bradley Road, Suite 9, Madison, CT 06443-2662, USA, and can be contacted at tel. 203-453-2777; fax 203-453-8384; Internet wirenet.org; e-mail editor@wirenet.org. Address all correspondence concerning advertising production, editorial and circulation to the above address. WJI is printed in the USA. Subscription rates: $110 per year, USA; $120 per year, Canada and Mexico; other countries, $140 per year (includes air mail). Back copies: $10 WAI members, $15 non-members. Periodicals postage paid at Madison, CT 06443, USA, and at additional offices. Wire Journal International grants photocopy permission to libraries and others registered with Copyright Clearance Center (CCC), 21 Congress St., Salem, MA 01970, USA, for a fee of $0.50 per article. Payments should be sent directly to the CCC. Requests for bulk orders or reprints should be sent to the Wire Journal International, 71 Bradley Road, Suite 9, Madison, CT 06443-2662, USA. © 2020 by Wire Journal, Inc. All rights reserved. The Publisher of WJI assumes no responsibility for the validity of manufacturers’ claims made herein. Back issues of WJI are on microfilm and available from University Microfilm, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, USA. Phone: 313-761-4700. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Wire Journal International, 71 Bradley Rd., Suite 9, Madison, CT 06443, USA.
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CALENDAR
FEBRUARY 19-22, 2020: AWPA Annual Meeting Scottsdale, Arizona. This event will be held at the Scottsdale Resort at McCormick Ranch. Contact: AWPA, tel. 703-299-4434, info@awpa.org, www.awpa.org. MARCH 24-26, 2020: UL and IWCS China 2020 Shanghai, China. This event will be held at the Shanghai Marriott Hotel City Centre. www.ulandiwcschina.org. MARCH 30-APRIL 3, 2020: wire Düsseldorf 2020 Düsseldorf, Germany. This biennial event, the industry’s largest, will be held at the Messe fairgrounds. Contact: Messe Düsseldorf North America, tel. 312-781-5180, info@mdna.com, www.mdna.com. APRIL 18, 2020: WCMA Annual Distinguished Career Award Hartford, Connecticut. The Hartford Convention Center, will hold this event by the Wire & Cable Manufacturers Alliance, Inc. (WCMA). Registration/hotel room booking will open in early 2020. For more event details, go to https://wcmainc.org/page/distinguished-career-award. JUNE 2-4, 2020: WAI Operations Summit & Wire Expo Uncasville, Connecticut, USA. This WAI event, to be held at the Mohegan Sun, will include its trade show, operational programs and WAI’s 90th Annual Convention. The conference is June 2-4, and the trade show is June 3-4, www.wireexpo20.com.
JUNE 11-13, 2020: Guangzhou International Wire, Cable and Accessories Fair Guangzhou, China. This annual event, to be held at the Bombay Exhibition Center, is organized by Guangzhou Guangya Messe Frankfurt Co Ltd., and others. Tel. 86-20-3825-1558, wire@china.messefrankfurt.com, www.china.messefrankfurt.com. SEPT. 23-26, 2020: wire China Shanghai, China. The 9th staging of wire China will be held at the Shanghai New International Expo Centre (SNIEC) in Shanghai, China. The event is organized by Messe Düsseldorf and its subsidiary, Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co. Ltd. www.wirechina.net. OCT. 11-14, 2020: 69th IWCS International Cable & Connectivity Symposium Providence, Rhode Island, USA. Contact: Michelle Melsop, IWCS, mmelsop@iwcs.org, www.iwcs.org. NOV. 23-25, 2020: wire & Cable India Mumbai, India. This biennial event, to be held at the Bombay Exhibition Center, is organized by Messe Düsseldorf GmbH. Contact: Messe Düsseldorf North America, tel. 312-781-5180, info@mdna.com, www.mdna.com. MAY 10-13, 2021: Interwire 2021 & WAI’s 91st Annual Convention Atlanta, Georgia, USA. This WAI event, to be held at the Georgia World Congress Center, includes its trade show, technical programs and 91st Annual Convention. www.wirenet.org.
WAI EVENTS JAN. 23, 2020: New England Chapter Annual Meeting Uncasville, Connecticut, USA. Contact: Shannon Timme, tel. 203-453-2777, ext. 126, stimme@wirenet.org. JUNE 2-4, 2020: WAI Operations Summit & Wire Expo Uncasville, Connecticut, USA. See above. JUNE 25, 2020: Midwest Chapter 18th Annual Golf Tournament West Chicago, Illinois, USA. To be
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held at St. Andrews Golf & Country Club. Contact: Steve Fetteroll, tel. 203-453-2777, ext. 115, sfetteroll@wirenet.org. SEPTEMBER 16-17: Regional Fundamentals Course co-located with the Ohio Valley Chapter Golf Tournament, tour of Aptiv Warren/Canfield, Ohio, USA. Waypoint 4180 and Kennsington Golf Club. Contact: Samantha Zhang, tel. 203-453-2777, szhang@wirenet.org.
W I R E J O U R N A L I N T E R N AT I O N A L J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0
OCT. 27-29, 2020: ITC Monterrey Monterrey, Mexico. To be held at the Crowne Plaza, this WAI event will include a technical program, table tops, plant tours and a fundamentals course. Contact: Steve Fetteroll, tel. 203-453-2777, ext. 115, sfetteroll@wire.org. Also, Conference Chairman Antonio Ayala at ayala1953@gmail.com or Bob Xeller, tel. 203-453-2777, ext. 119, bxeller@wirenet.org MAY 10-13, 2021: Interwire 2021 & WAI’s 91st Annual Convention Atlanta, Georgia, USA. See above. W W W. W I R E N E T. O R G
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 p r e s e n t s i t s :
INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE
27-29 October, 2020 Crowne Plaza Monterrey Monterrey, Mexico
CALL FOR PAPERS You are invited to share your technical expertise at WAI’s 2020 International Technical Conference for wire and cable manufacturers. Ferrous and nonferrous wire topics are welcome. Suggested subjects include: • data cable manufacturing • medium carbon steel • flame retardant jacket compounds • annealability • aluminum alloys Questions or to participate, contact WAI’s Steve Fetteroll at sfetteroll@wirenet.org or Tel.: (001) 203-453-2777, ext. 115.
Abstract Deadline: April 1, 2020
Acceptance Notification: May 4, 2020
Use the online form to submit your abstract today!
Manuscript Deadline: August 30, 2020
www.bit.ly/cfpitc2020
INDUSTRY NEWS
Corning plans to build plant in Poland to increase fiber optic cable production The US-based Corning Optical Communications (Corning) plans to build a new facility for producing fiber optic cable in Poland. Per a report in Puls Biznesu, the new plant will be located in the town of Mszczonow, in the county of Zyrardow in the Mazowieckie region. The investment will amount to approximately US$93 million, and Corning expects to employ at least 240 people there, “including 85 with higher education.” Corning, which owns more than a hundred plants and branches worldwide, In 2017, Corning held the established its first Polish ground-breaking ceremony plant in 2001 in Łódź. for its second manufacturing Production began in 2002, plant in Poland. and in 2007 the plant was relocated to Stryków, where it opened an R&D department. Today, it has almost 3,000 employees in Poland. In 2017, Corning had more than 2,000 employees in Poland, and the next year it opened a second telecom equipment plant in Stryków. Corning now accounts for more than 82,200 sqm in two warehousing and production buildings.
JDR to supply cables for floating offshore wind project for oil/gas JDR Cable Systems, Ltd., reports that it has won a contract from Equinor to supply the cables for the first floating offshore wind project to power oil and gas platforms. A press release said that the project calls for JDR to supply 11 66kV dynamic inter-array cables (2.5 km long each) and two static export cables (one 12.9 km, the other 16 km), each equipped with a JDR designed breakaway system, and a range of cable accessories. The off-shore location is in the Tampen area in the North Sea, and delivery is scheduled for 2022. The project, the release said, will be the first worldwide to power oil and gas platforms using floating offshore wind, which it described as “a far more technically challenging and less mature technology than traditional fixed-foundation offshore wind.” It said that cables pose a particular challenge due to the high dynamic stress they must withstand.
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The Hywind Tampen project will consist of 11 wind turbines developed by Equinor. The 8 MW turbines will have a total capacity of 88 MW, capable of meeting about 35% of the annual power demand of the five Snorre A and B, Gullfaks A, B and C oil and gas platforms. The floating wind project is in water depths of 300 meters, much deeper than any previous floating wind project and is the first ever to power oil and gas platforms. The cables that will be delivered to connect the loop to the Snorre A and Gullfaks A platforms will be specially designed to withstand higher water pressures. JDR, part of Poland’s TFKable Group, notes in the release that it has already been active in the fledgling sub-sector of this new niche, delivering the world’s first application of dynamic 66kV technology and breakaway system to the Windfloat Atlantic floating wind farm last year. The power cores for the cables will be manufactured by JDR’s parent company TFKable at its Bydgoszcz factory in Poland. All the cables and accessories will be assembled at JDR’s U.K. facilities in Hartlepool.
JDR will supply cables for an industry-first deployment of a floating offshore wind project for oil/gas. “We are delighted to win this project with Equinor,” the release said. “It’s a world-first and we are very proud to be a part of it. Floating wind is still in its infancy compared to fixed-foundation offshore wind, but has the potential to revolutionize how we generate power for deepwater platforms and on coastlines which only have access to deeper waters.”
Alcatel to supply 500 km of cables for addition to Australian area project Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN) has been awarded a contract from the Vocus Group for fiber-optic cable manufacture and marine works at the proposed Barossa offshore gas project. A press release said that ASN will design, manufacture and install a 500-km cable loop—the Bonaparte Basin Cable Loop (BBCL)—that will be integrated into the 2,100-km Vocus North West Cable System (NWCS). The
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Barossa project is a joint venture between ConocoPhillips (the Operator), SK E&S Australia and Santos. It is located in the Bonaparte Basin, some 300 km north of Darwin. Per Vocus, NWCS is a key component to one of Australia’s largest nationwide fiber optic networks. It was originally developed by Nextgen Group to provide ultra-speed data networking to the northern and western regions of Australia. It seamlessly connects offshore O&G facilities in the Browse, Bonaparte and Carnarvon Basins to on-shore locations including data centers and business headquarters. It includes 2,000 km of optical fiber between landing stations Port Hedland and Darwin, branching cables and riser cables to the O&G platforms and terrestrial optical fiber connectivity. Work on NWCS began in late 2014 and was completed in 2016. The two-fiber pair has combined capacity of 12 TB.
Whitmor/Wirenetics sold to BJG Whitmor/Wirenetics, a custom cable manufacturer based in California, has been acquired by BJG Electronics Group, Inc. (BJG). In a brief announcement at the Whitmor/Wirenetics website, it states the following. “Long Island, New York based-electronics distributor and Rockwood portfolio company BJG Electronics, Inc. (BJG), along with its affiliates, announced today the acquisition of Whitmor/ Wirenetics. Headquartered in Valencia, California, Whitmor/Wirenetics has been a leading provider of high-performance wire, cable and tubing to the military, aerospace and satellite industries for more than 50 years.” Connector Tech LLC was described in a later announcement as “a Montana-based value-added distributor of high-reliability electronic interconnect products.” “The combined BJG Electronics Group line card now offers a true ‘one-stop’ solution for OEMs, harness houses and box builders in the military, aerospace and related harsh environment markets,” said a statement from BJG Electronics Group President Rick Flora. The People section on p. 26 has more details on personnel.
Prysmian to supply 150 km of cable for Empire Wind wind project in the U.S. Prysmian Group will supply the submarine inter-array cable system for the Empire Wind project, an 816 MW offshore wind project in New York. A press release said that the contract from Equinor calls for the Prysmian Group to provide the 66 kV XLPEinsulated inter-array cable system, approximately 150 km, that will transmit power from the wind turbines with a capacity in the range of 10-15 MW. Construction of the cable system’s power cores was scheduled to have already started. “This agreement marks an important step forward in the development of Empire Wind and will allow us
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Prysmian will supply 150 km of cable for the Empire Wind offshore wind project. to transport twice as much power over a single inter-array cable as current industry practice,” said Christer af Geijerstam, President of Equinor Wind US. Equinor now powers more than one million European homes with renewable offshore wind from four projects in the U.K. and Germany, and is also developing offshore wind in Poland, as well as solar energy in Brazil and Argentina. Prysmian Group will manufacture the cable at its plants in Montereau, France, and Nordenham, Germany. It is scheduled for completion is 2022, with final installation in 2023 or 2024. The Empire Wind offshore wind project will be located in New York state, about 20 miles south of Long Island.
Southwire target of cyber attack Southwire was targeted in a recent cyber attack where the perpetrators demanded 850 bitcoins, worth about $6 million. Per multiple reports, the ransomware attack struck on Monday, Dec. 9. knocking a large portion of the company offline. Within a day, the company was able to get most of its key systems back online, but some production was lost. “Although many of our locations remained operational throughout the quarantine period, certain functions were impacted, and we apologize for the inconvenience this disruption has caused to our valued employees, customers and community and industry partners,” Southwire President and CEO Rich Stinson said in a statement. Southwire explained that some critical systems were brought back online as early as the next morning, however, five days after the attack, Southwire was not able to fully resume normal business operations. On a web page created to answer queries, the company wrote: “We are in the very early stages of this process, but a full investigation is underway to determine what – if any – information was accessed. Southwire is working closely with its cyber security partner to assess the situation and its impact.”
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Google updates its Curie cable project Google reports that it has successfully tested its Curie cable’s connection from California to Chile, and that it is now focusing on Panama. A press release said that SubCom, the submarine cable company responsible for Curie, will install the branching unit that in a district of Panama City. The 10,500-km-long Curie cable is expected to be active in the second quarter of 2020. It contains four 18 terabit per second (Tbps) fiber-optic pairs, which allow it to deliver 72 Tbps of bandwidth. Google notes that 98% of its traffic travels through fiber optic cables. In areas like Chile, Google cannot grow using existing cables, which are nearing end-of-life and don’t have enough capacity. Submarine cable systems like Curie offer an alternative. Curie landed in Valparaiso last April, the first submarine cable to connect to Chile in 19 years.
A press release said that the acquisition of Owl Wire, a family company founded in 1954, includes its three New York plants in Canastota, Rome and Boonville. It said that the deal will benefit both companies, expanding IWG’s global manufacturing footprint while enabling Owl Wire to add to its existing copper capabilities as a high volume, heavy bare and tinned wire supplier. “This new partnership is a ‘win-win’ for the loyal customers and workforces of both IWG and Owl, and for the communities we are privileged to serve,” said IWG President and CEO Greg Smith. “By integrating Owl’s manufacturing capabilities and superior customer service into our already market-leading company, we will create a unique platform to serve current and future customers. The new IWG will continue to deliver high-quality, precise wire and cable products for mission-critical applications that power our global economy. ” IWG, which was acquired in 2019 by Atlas Holdings, notes that it is the largest bare copper wire and copper wire products manufacturer in the U.S. Per a spokesperson, Owl Wire has about 180 employees. The company’s management team will remain in place at this time, and any operational changes made would be focused “around improving service levels to IWG’s loyal customers.”
Komax buys Exmore in deal that will bolster the range of its equipment
Google has “connected” in Chile with its Curie cable.
Google previously said it has invested $47 billion over the last few years to improve its global infrastructure. That includes investments in two other wholly-owned cables: Equiano, which will connect Portugal and South Africa; and Dunant, which will connect the U.S. and France. Google is already working on a branch into Panama. Dunant is expected to be lit up in 2020 while Equiano is scheduled to be activated in 2021. SubCom will supply Dunant on Google’s behalf, while Equiano will be built by European firm Alcatel Submarine Networks.
Komax reports that it has acquired Exmore, a Belgium specialist in equipment used for making sensor cables. A press release said that Exmore, which was founded in 1993, has focused on equipment for processing sensor cables, which makes it a valuable addition for Komax. It offers equipment for cutting, stripping, crimping, marking, welding and testing cables as well as related electronics. “With the advent of autonomous vehicles, the number of sensor cables will continue to increase, thus driving the demand for solutions for automated processing.” Exmore, based in Beerse, has approximately 60 employees. Its customers are active in a range of market segments including automotive industry, consumer electronics, industrial, aerospace and medical technology.
IWG acquires Owl Wire & Cable The International Wire Group (IWG) announced that it has acquired Owl Wire and Cable (Owl Wire), a manufacturer of bare and tinned wire with three plants, from Marmon Holdings, Inc.
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Exmore is the latest addition to Komax, which as a group has more than 40 companies and 2,200 employees.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Komax, based in Switzerland, has production facilities in Europe, North and South America, Asia and Africa where it manufactures “series and customer-specific machinery, catering for every degree of automation and customization. It provides local sales and service support in more than 60 countries through subsidiaries and independent representatives.” The company has more than 40 companies that collectively employ more than 2,200 people.
Including the planned plant in Kuwait, Taihan will have six production bases in the world that includes manufacturing facilities in Vietnam and Africa. Taihan noted in the release that it has completed some 30 extra-high voltage cable projects in Kuwait since its entry into the nation in the early 2000s. Last year, it won an order for a construction project—the Al Mutlaa City underground power grid project—valued at $76 million.
Taihan Electric Wire to establish fiber optic cable joint venture in Kuwait
LS Cable & System plans public offering for its electric vehicle parts business
Taihan Electric Wire Co., a major cable maker in South Korea, will establish a fiber optic cable manufacturing joint venture in Kuwait to tap deeper into the Middle East market. A press release said that per an agreement with its Kuwaiti partners—which include Rank General Trading and Contracting Co.—the joint venture will set up a facility in Mina Abdullah Industrial Area, southeast of Kuwait City, in the first half of 2020, and be in a sales mode in the second half of the year. Taihan said the latest move will increase its global presence amid rising demand for fiber optic cables due to 5G infrastructure expansion and smart city construction.
LS Cable & System (LS C&S) is going forward with an initial public offering of its electric vehicle parts unit, LS EV Korea, a business it spun off in 2017 that it believes can achieve sales of 1 trillion won ($858 million) by 2030 in the global market. Per a report in The Korea Herald, the South Korean company plans to file for preliminary screening of the EV unit at the nation’s tech-heavy secondary KOSDAQ bourse. LS EV Korea supplies electric car harnesses, battery packs and energy storage system parts to global automakers, such as BYD, Volkswagen and Volvo, and tech firms including LG Chem. In 2018, the EV unit recorded sales of 220 billion won thanks to growth of the
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such as new battery, communication and autonomous solutions—have led to remaining cable customers moving to different solutions. Martin Kenner, president of Commission Brokers, Inc., reports that he has been engaged by Corltand Cable to liquidate manufacturing assets not being transferred from that facility. Kenner can be contacted at tel. 401-943-3777, marty137@aol.com.
An employee assembles a high-voltage harness at a plant of LS EV Korea in China. LS Cable photo. global electric vehicle market. Its current order backlog is about 400 billion won. “With the funds raised through the listing, we plan to expand our facility and technology investments to actively foster LS EV Korea as a global electric vehicle parts company,” said LS C&S President and CEO Myung Roe-Hyun. Attaining its 2030 sales goal will be accomplished by boosting sales in China and Europe. The firm is owned by LS Cable & System, which holds a 53% stake, and private equity funds with 47%. LS Cable & System notes at its website that the business has some 4,000 employees at its 19 companies.
Prysmian wins contract to upgrade power grids of the Canary Islands Prysmian Group has been awarded a new contract worth about €27 million from Red Eléctrica de España (REE), the Spanish transmission system operator (TSO), to connect two Canary Islands (Lanzarote and Fuerteventura). A press release said that the project calls for the design, supply, installation and commissioning of a three-core 132 kV HVAC core submarine and land power cable system with XLPE insulation. The turnkey interconnection will link Playa Blanca, on the island of Lanzarote, to La Oliva, on the island of Fuerteventura. The submarine route will be approximately 14 km, and the underground route about 2 km, the release said. The submarine and land cables will be manufactured, respectively, at Prysmian Group’s plants in Arco Felice, Italy, and Vilanova, Spain.
Cortland Cable closes, certain assets to be liquidated by Commission Brokers Cortland Cable Co. plans to close operations at its River Street plant in Cortland, New York. Per a report in the Cortland Standard, a representative for the parent company, Actuant Corp., confirmed the closure. One cause, it said, was a decline in the oil and gas industry, which is a primary customer for the company’s cables. It also reported that production of ropes at the Cortland plant is moving to other company facilities in Texas and Washington. Another factor was that new technologies—
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Prysmian will supply power cable upgrades for the Canary Island.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
Prysmian will also provide installation, with one of the company’s cable-laying vessels. Delivery and commissioning of the project are scheduled for 2021. The project, the release said, further confirms the Group’s ongoing successful relationship with REE, which in recent years has awarded to Prysmian, among others, several grid connection projects as well as the France-Spain underground electrical interconnection, awarded by a joint venture between REE and French grid operator Réseau de Transport d’Électricité.
CommScope realigns to 4 segments CommScope Holding Company, Inc., announced that it has transitioned to a new operating model and reporting structure divided into four segments: Venue and Campus Networks; Broadband Networks; Outdoor Wireless Networks; and Home Networks. A press release said that the changes will help “better capture the strategic value resulting from its acquisition of ARRIS and Ruckus Networks.” It cited a wide range of organizational benefits. The Broadband Networks segment, which had yearto-date pro forma net sales of approximately $2.1 billion through September 30, 2019, “will position CommScope as the leading North American equipment manufacturer with an end-to-end product portfolio serving the telco and cable provider broadband market,” the release said. The new segment combines the existing Network Cable and Connectivity business with the Network & Cloud business. The segment will drive growth in CCAP, PON, video systems, access technologies, fiber and coaxial cable, fiber and copper connectivity, and hardened closures. The Broadband Networks segment will be led by Kevin Keefe, an industry veteran with more than 25 years of experience. He joined CommScope through its acquisition of ARRIS, where he served in a variety of business leadership roles, most recently as senior vice president and segment leader for the CommScope Network & Cloud segment.
Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan sign Caspian Sea submarine cable project Representatives from Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan signed an agreement on the construction of a submarine cable through the Caspian Sea during the International Telecom and IT Industry Exhibition Turkmentel 2019 in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Nov. 28. A press release said that the intergovernmental agreement was for “organization of activities by communication operators of Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan in relation to the joint construction of fiber optic transmission lines along the bottom of the Caspian Sea on AzerbaijanTurkmenistan route, their ownership, and use.” W W W. W I R E N E T. O R G
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Per the document, the laying of the Trans-Caspian backbone cable will be carried out by AzerTelecom, a backbone internet provider in Azerbaijan, and Turkmen telecommunication operator Turkmentelekom of Turkmenistan. The cable will be laid between the geographical points Siyazan and Turkmenbashi. The contract between the operators and relevant interstate agreement on laying of TransCaspian Fiber Optic cable (TCFO) with the total length of 380-400 km along the bottom of the Caspian Sea have already been signed between Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan.
NTT to build MIST subsea network Japan’s NTT announced plans to build a sprawling subsea network, one that would span from Singapore to Chennai and Mumbai, as well as to neighboring Myanmar. Per multiple media reports, the network, to be called MIST, will join NTT’s three existing subsea cable systems—the Asia Submarine Cable Express (ASE), the Asia Pacific Gateway (APG), and the Pacific Crossing -1 (PC-1)—as well as the JUPITER system currently under construction. The 11,000 km project was estimated to cost approximately $400 million. The goal is for it to be in service as of June 2022. The plans also include the potential for further expansion of the network. The plan is to design the cable system to support 240 Tbps with 400 Gbps DWDM technology. The system would also feature wavelength selective switching reconfigurable optical add drop multiplexing that enables flexible remote switching of transmission routes to provide continuity and uptime in the event of natural disasters. The MIST landing stations will be connected by largecapacity fiber owned, built and operated by NTT. The company also stated its intention to centrally maintain and manage all landing stations. “Globally, India and South East Asia are some of the world’s fastest-growing economies,” NTT CEO Jason Goodall said. “The implementation of MIST will ultimately allow us to work with our clients around the world to build a truly connected future.”
ACL Cables agrees to buy majority share in Cable Solutions (Private) Limited Sri Lanka’s ACL Cables has agreed to acquire a majority interest in Cable Solutions (Private) Limited. A press release said that Cable Solutions has production centers in Sri Lanka and India, the main production facility in the Flinth Industrial Park in Sri Lanka. Its product lines include single and multiple conductor, pair/triples, shielded and unshielded, armored designs and more, with insulation and jacketing materials including PVC, HR PVC, FRLS, TPE, LDPE, HDPE, PP, XLPE, PU, TPM and TPR. ACL Cables PLC was described as the largest manufacturer of cables in Sri Lanka, “having pioneered the industry in 1962.” It holds 45% share of the local market and produces the widest range of cables in Sri Lanka. Its overall group of companies holds 70% share of the cable market in Sri Lanka. It also notes that it is listed as being among Sri Lanka’s top fifty most valuable consumer brands.
EU okays 10 million euros for study of Lithuania-Poland power cable seabed The European Union has allocated €10 million for seabed studies and other preparatory work needed for a new submarine cable, named Harmony Link. Per a press release from the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Lithuania, the heads of the Lithuanian and Polish transmission system operators signed an agreement for the EU support for the Harmony Link submarine power interconnection. The agreement was signed by the CEOs of Lithuania’s Litgrid and Poland’s PSE, and officials from the European Commission’s Innovation and Networks Executive Agency. The EU previously approved 50% co-funding under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for Harmony Link preparatory projects estimated to cost €20 million in total, including €8 million in Lithuania. The overall planned synchronization, estimated to cost €1.6 billion, is for the Baltic power grids with the Continental European system.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
The Baltic grids are still part of the post-Soviet BRELL ring, which also includes Russia and Belarus, and remain dependent on the control center in Moscow and the Russian electricity system. Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia aim to desynchronize from the post-Soviet IPS/UPS system and synchronize their grids with Continental Europe by 2025.
WCMA annual lunch meeting had an added focus on youth and more giving In many respects, the annual luncheon meeting of the Wire & Cable Manufacturers’ Alliance, Inc. (WCMA), held Dec. 5th in Hartford, Connecticut, followed a familiar, welcome formula: an opportunity for networking, welcoming the new officers, hearing a good speaker and sharing a bit of the Christmas spirit by donating to Toys for Tots. This time, however, there was more, and the message appeared to be well received. “We need to see more young leaders emerge in the industry,” WCMA Executive Director Ed Fenton said. He told the audience of 135 people from the electrical and electronic segments that the WCMA should help foster such badly needed growth, and to that end, “WCMA will develop a program to facilitate networking and the exchange of industry wisdom and ‘tribal knowledge.’ ” The effort could help in both directions, he observed, noting that senior industry veterans can help mentor younger individuals, but they too may also be able to learn from some of the younger individuals who can discuss new ideas and business approaches. The WCMA’s plan is to establish a leadership group/ steering committee that includes “Young Executives” in ownership or upper management positions; to build a member database of young industry representatives
WCMA Executive Director Ed Fenton and Susan Welsh both discussed the industry’s need for a youth infusion. in all management sector roles; and to collaborate with other partners, such as WAI, WCISA, IWCS or the American Copper Council. Former Rubadue President Susan Welsh, who will be the WCMA Board Liaison to the group, spoke about the importance of ensuring that tomorrow’s leaders will be there to carry on the industry’s work and mission.
join the best: 30 March–03 April 2020 Düsseldorf, Germany I www.wire.de Be there when the future starts: The world‘s leading trade fair for the wire and cable industry is the sector’s most important international meeting place. More innovative: Experience visionary machinery, technologies and processes. Broader: For the first time, manufacturers of end products - springs and fasteners - will be part of the show. Therefore, the complete value chain from raw materials to industry to high-end results is presented. In focus: trends in mesh welding machinery. And wire is getting greener: The ecoMetals Trails lead you to the pioneers of sustainability. The playing field of progress is ready- for you as the decisionmaker for the future. Register today: wire.de/2130
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For show information: Messe Düsseldorf North America Tel. (312) 781-5180 _ info@mdna.com www.mdna.com For hotel and travel arrangements: TTI Travel, Inc. Tel. (866) 674-3476 _ info@ttitravel.net
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Southwire wins CSR award
The traditional WCMA luncheon meeting was extended to encourage more mingling with future leaders. Of note, more than 30 people in attendance were considered to be in the range for Young Executives. The youth focus was part of the program itself, in the form of an additional meeting segment sponsored by Gem Gravure. Industry veterans were encouraged to stay and mingle. Fenton also spoke about the importance of giving back, noting that WCMA set a record in 2019 for donations, allocating a total of $15,000. He attributed the record to membership growth, and active event participation and participant generosity. The sum includes $6,000 in support of scholarship programs at WAI, IWCS and the American Copper Council; $4,000 to various charities on behalf of the 2019 Distinguished Career Award recipients; and $5,000 to the UCONN Foundation in support of cancer research, generated by the annual golf outing. Also, $4,300 for Toys for Tots was raised on-site at the meeting. The luncheon saw the return of John Traynor, executive vice president and CIO, People’s United Bank Wealth Management, who provided an economy outlook (overall, better than you might think). It also saw the introduction of the new WCMA board/officers. Scott Harden, Nedrah Tech, is the new president, who succeeds Michael Weiss, Whitmor/Wirenetics. William Reichert, Champlain Cable, is vice president, and Susan Welsh, former Rubadue Wire president, is the treasurer. Joining the board are Louis Weisberg, president and CEO, Service Wire Co., and Thomas Walker, president, Pittsfield Plastics. Ron Reed, Lloyd & Bouvier, has completed his board term.
As part of its annual Supplier Excellence Awards program, Duke Energy presented Southwire with the Corporate Responsibility Supplier of the Year Award for 2019, recognizing the organization’s commitment to sustainability and its long history of giving back to the local community. “We are delighted to receive the Corporate Responsibility Supplier of the Year Award from Duke Energy,” said Lee Peeples, vice president of Sales for Southwire. “At Southwire, we are committed to improving the economic and social conditions of the communities in which we operate, and we believe in reducing our environmental footprint, as demonstrated by our efforts to lower our greenhouse gas emissions, waste to landfill and water intensity.”
Wire & Cable Manufacturers Alliance announces its 2020 award winners At its recent annual meeting, the Wire & Cable Manufacturers’ Alliance, Inc. (WCMA) announced the names of the eight winners of the organization’s 2020 Distinguished Career Award. A press release said that the winners—to be honored at the WCMA’s 36th annual Awards Dinner and Investiture Ceremony on April 18th, 2020, in Hartford, Connecticut, at the Hartford Convention Center— are Eric Lawrence, Vice President Strategy and Growth Technology, BerkTek Nexans; Bob Leger, General Manager, James Monroe Wire & Cable; Randy Mortensen, Senior Vice President, Technology and Strategy, Anixter; Anthony Oh; President & CEO, Accel International; Roy St. Andre, Executive Vice President, EIS Wire & Cable; Gary Stanitis, Vice President Marketing & Innovation, Daikin USA; Chris Venice, President, Marmon Electrical Oil & Gas/Nuclear Sector; and Paul Wagner, CEO, Minnesota Wire & Cable. For more details and to reserve a ticket, go online to www.wcmainc.org or call Ed Fenton at tel. 860-331-7074, ed@wcmainc.org.
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PAT E N T R E P O R T
Technical advances are a necessity for any industry, and to that end, companies invest considerable resources in R&D. This section lists the abstracts of recently approved U.S. patents. Most are direct to wire and cable while a few may be more indirect/downstream.
Cable processing machine monitoring with improved precision mechanism for cable processing U.S. Patent No.: 10,481,594 Patent date: Nov. 19, 2019 Filed: March 12, 2016 Assignee: Schleuniger Holding AG, Switzerland Inventors: Mustafa Ayabakan, Martin Stier An intermediary system and processes for controlling cable processing on plural cable processing machines. The intermediary system receives operators’ location data, as determined by location sensors; receives from each cable processing machine technical status data based on a physical parameter indicating a capability of the respective machine in executing a cable processing step; forwards an operator request to a wearable audio output device of an operator; and, receives from a particular machine’s technical status update when capability for executing a particular cable processing step is restored. The intermediary system has a computing component including: technical status evaluator identifying, based on particular technical status data a need for restoring capability of the respective cable processing machine in executing a cable processing step; a request composition component generating the operator request with voice instructions for the operator, the operator request being based on the identified need, technical status data of other machines, and location data of the operators.
of the armoring, and the wrapped layer formed from the at least one thin, flexible band increases the flexibility of the submarine communications cable.
Submarine communications cable, and method and device for the production thereof U.S. Patent No.: 10,481,356 Patent date: Nov. 19, 2019 Filed: Feb. 24, 2017 Assignee: Norddeutsche Seekabelwerke GmbH Germany Inventors: Patrick Schneider, Roland Grabhorn In submarine communications cables having a copper tube surrounding optical conductors, an armoring that surrounds the tube and is made of braided strands, a jacket layer made for example of a copper tube and external insulation, the jacket layer of copper or copper tube is complicated and expensive to produce and the copper jacket layer impairs the flexibility of the submarine communications cable. The invention provides for the copper jacket layer around the strands of the armoring to be replaced by a wrapped layer formed by at least one thin, flexible band that can be easily wrapped like a tape around the strands
Die for drawing metal wire rod, and method for manufacturing same U.S. Patent No.: 10,478,877 Patent date: Nov. 19, 2019 Filed: March 25, 2015 Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation, Japan Inventor: Takayuki Saito Provided are a metal wire rod drawing die that has a longer life than conventional dies and that can prevent damage to a metal wire rod surface and a method for manufacturing the die. In a metal wire rod drawing die (1), a die hole (2) for inserting a metal wire rod is formed. Where Ra1 represents a surface roughness of an inner surface of the die hole from a bearing section (2b) to an approach section (2a) corresponding to an area reduction rate of 30% in an axial direction of the die hole, Ra2 represents a surface roughness of the inner surface of the die hole from the bearing section to the approach section corresponding to the area reduction rate of 30% in a direction orthogonal
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Resistance annealing furnace to anneal a metal wire, strand, string, wire rod or strap U.S. Patent No.: 10,480,044 Patent date: Nov. 19, 2019 Filed: Nov. 4, 2014 Assignee: SAMP SpA Con Unico Socio, Italy Inventors: Artemio Affaticati, Roberto Conte A resistance annealing furnace for annealing a metal wire, strand, string, wire rod or strap having at least two electric axes provided with respective pulleys to convey the metal wire and a DC voltage generator suppliable with an AC voltage to generate an annealing voltage applied between the two electric axes so as to provoke the annealing due to Joule effect. The DC voltage generator has active supplying means supplied with the AC voltage so as to generate an intermediate DC voltage, a pulse width modulator to transform the intermediate voltage into a first PWM voltage with the same amplitude, a voltage transformer to transform the first PWM voltage into a second PWM voltage with a smaller amplitude, and a voltage rectifier stage to transform the second PWM voltage into the annealing voltage.
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to the axial direction of the die hole, and Ra3 represents a surface roughness of an inner surface of the bearing section of the die hole in the axial direction of the die hole, the Ra1, the Ra2, and the Ra3 satisfy a relationship represented by 0.14 .mu.m>Ra2>Ra1>Ra3.
Removing a metal shield from electrical cable U.S. Patent No.: 10,476,245 Patent date: Nov. 12, 2019 Filed: Feb. 23, 2015 Assignee: Frisimos, Ltd., USA Inventors: Hanan Ben-Ron, Tal Pechter A system and method for removing a metal foil shield from electrical wires and/or cable, using ablation process, shear stress generation and video camera feedback is disclosed. The metal foil shield is removed using ablation process, shear stress generation and video camera feedback. The system includes a holder configured to hold an electrical cable, a laser configured to provide a laser radiation beam and an optical system configured to shape the laser radiation beam and concentrate the laser radiation beam on surface of the metal foil shield with power sufficient to ablate a groove on the surface of the metal shield and a gripper configured to grip a segment of the electrical cable that protrudes from the holder twist it such
as to generate a shear stress in the groove and separate the segment of the electrical cable from the rest of the cable.
Cable processing device U.S. Patent No.: 10,476,244 Patent date: Nov. 12, 2019 Filed: Jan. 26, 2017 Assignee: Komax Holding AG, Switzerland Inventors: Flavio Blum, Beat Wicki A cable processing device includes a cable conveying device running along a machine longitudinal axis transporting a cable, and a cable changer selectively supplying cables for processing. The cable changer has two guide units for guiding and holding one cable each and being movable between inoperative and active positions. In the inoperative position, the guide unit is positioned outside the cable conveying device spaced from the machine axis. In the active position, the guide unit is positioned coaxially with the machine axis producing an operative connection to the cable conveying device. The guide units are movable independently of each other. When one of the guide units is moved from the inoperative position into the active position, the other guide unit remains positionally fixed in the inoperative position. When the guide units are both in their inoperative positions, they are positioned lying next to each other on a common horizontal plane. ... It may be
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advantageous if the mechanism for moving the guide units is configured differently.
Cable processing equipment for processing cable cores of a multi-core cable U.S. Patent No.: 10,475,558 Patent date: Nov. 12, 2019 Filed: May 31, 2016 Assignee: Komax Holding AG, Switzerland Inventor: Urs Dober Cable processing equipment for processing cable cores of a multi-core cable includes separating elements that are introducible between the cable cores and are movable along the cable cores with combing effect. The separating elements are arranged in star shape and are movable in a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis of the cable. The cable processing equipment further includes a forming tool for preshaping the core ends, which ends are separated by the separating elements, of the cable cores of the multi-core cable. The forming tool includes a forming die with core receptacles for receiving the cable cores and a guide sleeve for embracing the cable cores.
Spiraling electric wire bundles for loss reduction U.S. Patent No.: 10,475,557 Patent date: Nov. 12, 2019 Filed: Jan. 20, 2015 Assignee/Inventor: Young Il Mok, South Korea The electric wire bundles includes a first reference axial line and a second reference axial line which are spaced apart from each other and fixed and arranged in parallel with each other, and a first wire and a second wire which are wound in a spiral pattern on the first and second reference axial lines in the first rotating direction or the second rotating direction, wherein the first wire and the second wire intersect at a central axis between the first reference axial line and the second reference axial line.
Self-supporting overhead telecommunication/power cable U.S. Patent No.: 10,475,556 Patent date: Nov. 12, 2019 Filed: Oct. 31, 2014 Assignee: Prysmian SpA, Italy Inventors: Zekeriya Sirin, Baris, Martin Davies A self-supporting overhead telecommunication/power cable includes a supporting portion and a transmission portion mutually arranged according to a figure-8 configuration. The transmission portion includes at a central position thereof, an optical fibre conductor and, at a radially outer position with respect to the optical fiber conductor, electrical conductors stranded around the optical fiber conductor. Preferably, the electrical conductors are grouped into sub-units which are stranded around the optical fiber conductor to provide a mechanical protection thereto.
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Coaxial cable and method of construction thereof U.S. Patent No.: 10,475,554 Patent date: Nov. 12, 2019 Filed: Nov. 27, 2017 Assignee: Federal-Mogul Powertrain, LLC, USA Inventors: Jean-Michel Marchisio), Benoit Laurent A coaxial cable and method of construction thereof are provided. The coaxial cable includes an elongate central conductive member; a dielectric insulative layer encasing the central conductive member; an outer protective sheath, and a braided EMI shield layer including hybrid yarn sandwiched between the dielectric insulative layer and the outer protective sheath. The hybrid yarn includes an elongate nonconductive filament and an elongate continuous conductive wire filament. The wire filament is interlaced in electrical communication with itself or other wire filaments along a length of the EMI shield layer to provide protection to the central conductive member against at least one of EMI, RFI or ESD. The method includes providing a central conductive member; forming a dielectric insulative layer surrounding the central conductive member; braiding an EMI shield layer including hybrid yarn about the insulative layer, and forming an outer protective sheath about the braided EMI shield layer.
Submarine cable having heterogeneous armor U.S. Patent No.: 10,475,553 Patent date: Nov. 12, 2019 Filed: Sept. 19, 2016 Assignee: LS Cable & System, South Korea Inventors: Soon Chul Jung, Seon Tae Kim, Kum Hwan Cha, Jee Yong Park, Kyoung Soo Kim, Doo Yeon Kim, Seung Chol Lee, Ji Young Kim The present invention relates to a submarine cable having a bimetallic armor. In particular, the present invention relates to a submarine cable capable of effectively suppressing damage to and corrosion of an armor formed of different types of metals due to a local decrease in tensile strength thereof and capable of avoiding an increase in an external diameter of the cable, the structural instability of the cable, and damage to the cable during the manufacture and installation thereof.
Fiber optic cable with large-diameter optical fibers U.S. Patent No.: 10,473,872 Patent date: Nov. 12, 2019 Filed: Marc h 16, 2015 Assignee: Corning Optical Communications LLC USA Inventor: James Arthur Register, III A large and small diameter optical fiber carrying cable is provided. The cable includes a cable body including an (Patent Report continued on p. 59)
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ASIAN FOCUS
2 South Korean cable companies have success stories to share Two South Korean cable companies—LS Cable & System and Taihan Electric Wire—each recently reported activity and ambitious plans, mostly related to Vietnam. Below are excerpts from press releases and media reports, most notably The Korea Herald. South Korea’s LS Cable & System has reported success in its efforts to further bolster its presence in Asia. Kwon Young-il, president and CEO of LS Cable and System Asia (LS C&S Asia), said in a recent interview that rapid modernization, such as what South Korea went through in the 1970s and ’80s, will become more widespread elsewhere in Asia, providing more opportunities. “The Southeast Asian market has been growing at an average of 5.2%, higher than that of China and South Korea where the speed of economic growth has been slowing since 2018. The ASEAN market has the potential to become the fourth-largest economic bloc, buttressed by the current population of 660 million. We believe that demand for electricity will double by the year 2030.” LS C&S Asia is the holding firm of Korean cable for two units in Vietnam (LS-VINA and LSCV) and one in LS C&S Asia President Myanmar (LSGM). and CEO Kwon Young-il LS-VINA, set up in 1996 has high hopes for further in Hai Phong, east of Hanoi, growth in Asia. produces power cables mainly for the local market. LSCV, which was established in 2006 in Ho Chi Minh City, produces communications cables and ships 95% of its products to global markets. It is the only company in Vietnam that produces high-voltage cables. The product portfolio also includes unshielded twisted pair cables and copper conductors manufactured at Vietnamese factories. These products are shipped overseas, and not just to neighboring countries, but also to the Middle East and the US. The company’s manufacturing plant in Myanmar takes advantage of the nation’s rapid economic growth, large population, English fluency and business-friendly policies. It expects to see a rapid growth in its revenue from the new plant. Half of cable demand in Myanmar relies on imports. “Taking the next step forward, we are looking for opportunities in Cambodia, Laos and Thailand where we can have a competitive advantage in terms of logistics,” Kwon said. He noted that the goal is for LS C&S Asia to become the No. 1 cable supplier in the region. The company has 21% of the cable market, which in Vietnam is worth about $1 billion. Operations are still at a nascent stage in Myanmar, but LS C&S Asia expects to post new revenue records.
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LS Cable & System continues to expand its capacity. One significant deal was a contract from the Hoanh Son Group to build a solar power plant, which helped LC C&S Asia become active in the emerging green energy market in Vietnam. It also expanded its production capacity of copper conductors from 25,000 to 100,000 metric tons a year to 100,000 tons. “We will collaborate with the parent company LS C&S to diversify our market destinations by positioning ourselves as a reliable supplier of cables priced at reasonable costs, while having it seek exports of highly advanced items like submarine cables,” said Kwon, who was promoted to his position after building his expertise in the cable market by taking crucial roles as the head of the company’s overseas operation in China and submarine cable division.
Taihan Electric Wire cites positive directions in Vietnam, notes award South Korea’s Taihan Electric Wire (Taihan), recently honored as the top-quality power cable manufacturer of the year by the Korea Electric Power Corp., was also singled out at a trade show. Per published reports, Taihan participated in the Korea Smart Electric & Energy Week 2019, the first-ever overseas exhibition hosted collectively by the Korean electrical industry sector. The event was designed to create platforms for exporting activities to Vietnam and other markets abroad, and Taihan was given the honor of representing the cable industry at the event. At the exhibition, Taihan showcased its extra-high voltage cables (its main product) as well as next-generation products and solutions, such as insulated wire cables, Aluminum Conductor Composite Core (ACCC) cables and underwater cables. Taihan promoted previous projects it
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had executed successfully for power authorities and clients around the world, and aired videos of its staff working on various projects where they offered customized consultation sessions for different clients. Taihan highlighted the competitiveness of Taihan Vina, the company’s production subsidiary in Vietnam. A few years ago, seeing the country’s growth potential and geographical advantages, Taihan selected Vietnam as a key strategic foothold. Since then, the company has continued to invest in both equipment and technology in Taihan Vina. Taihan recently supplied the U.S. and Australian markets with power distribution cables produced at Taihan Vina. “On a more macro level, the successful establishment of Taihan Vina served as proof that Taihan’s quality and management systems at Taihan Vina are highly effective in producing quality products.” The company also reported that Taihan’s underground cables for distribution had received an award at the 2019 BIXPO Awards hosted by Kepco in Gwangju, where Kepco CEO Kim Jong-kap gave Taihan CEO Na Hyungkyun the award. See p. 28. “We are pleased to be recognized for the highest level of quality competitiveness and will contribute to the stabilization of the power grid through continuous quality control of cables,” Na said. He noted that winning the award will enable Taihan’s products to be even more accepted by Kepco in future contracts.
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Taihan reports that it has won two U.S. power cable contracts worth $89 million. In other news, Taihan reported that it had won two contracts in 2019 worth $89 million to supply power cable to the U.S. The company said it secured two separate contracts from an unidentified American firm to set up power networks in Long Island in the eastern U.S. Taihan said it will not only supply cable products but also do construction work and conduct test operations. No further details on those contracts were available. The company also announced a fiber joint venture in Kuwait (see p. 13).
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PEOPLE CORNER
Metro Wire and Cable Corp. has named Charles (Charlie) Antie as its national sales manager. He most recently served as vice president of sales and marketing for Dekoron Wire & Cable, LLC, and prior to that held management/leadership roles with General Cable, Belden Cable and Electronics, and Shawflex. Based in Sterling Heights, Michigan, Metro Wire and Cable Corp. provides warehousing, supply chain and delivery services of wire and cable products for a broad spectrum of markets. Bob Sudo has joined Comtran as a transit sales engineer. He has more than 25 years of experience in the rail/ transit industry, serving in various roles in engineering, project management, and business development. He is an expert in signaling, SCADA, data communications, and transit vehicle components. He most recently worked for Deuta America. Based in Attleboro, Massachusetts, and a member of Marmon Electrical Group, a Berkshire Hathaway company, Comtran manufactures specialty cable and system solutions for a variety of applications. Metalube Ltd., part of the Bishopdale Group, has promoted Matthew (Matt) Buffin to commercial manager, responsible for overseeing the company’s sales worldwide. He joined the company in 2017 as global product manager, developing international business for the company’s Buffin high-performance chain oils division as well as running Bishopdale’s own label company: United Oil Products (UOP). He previously worked for ITW ROCOL for 16 years, where he was a global key account manager. He attended the University of Gloucestershire, where his focus was commercial practice. Based in Irlam, Manchester, U.K., Metalube has a fully integrated lubricant manufacturing facility, including new state-of-the-art laboratories. Chroma Color Corporation reports that Juan Rodriguez will represent the company’s growing business in Latin America as sales manager. Based in Monterrey, Mexico, he has worked in the plastics industry in both the U.S. and Mexico over the past 17 years. In his prior sales and technical positions with PolyOne and Uniform Color Company, he developed a deep knowledge of plastics processing and has considerable experience serving the auto/heavy truck, packaging, consumer products and healthcare industries. Based in McHenry, Illinois, Chroma Color Corporation supplies specialty Rodriguez color and additive concentrates.
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Rick Flora, formerly president of BJG Electronics Group, Inc., (BJG) has been named CEO of the business. BJG recently acquired Whitmor/Wirenetics, a Californiabased provider of wire, cable and tubing to the military, aerospace and satellite industries, as well as Connector Tech LLC (CTL).See p. 11. Kent Smith will start with BJG on Feb. 3, responsible for integrating the companies. Peter Miller is the general manager of CTL, while Mike McGuire is the general manager of Whitmor/Wirenetics, and Mark Lee will continue as vice president of sales. Based in Ronkonkoma, New York, BJG Electronics Group, Inc., is a global supplier of interconnect and electromechanical products. Dane G. Armendariz was named the WAI’s first Technical Advisor. A WAI Past President (2010) and a Life Member, he will retire this year from Chemetall, where he is a key industry manager. He will serve WAI as a consultant to help assemble ferrous-related educational programming for Armendariz upcoming conferences, and as a resource for WAI members. He has a vast knowledge of wire drawing gained from his decades-long career interacting with wire manufacturers and rod suppliers, and has been a presenter at numerous WAI programs. He holds a degree in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. WAI plans to add a second technical advisor later this year for the electrical sector.
OBITUARY Gerald “Jerry” E. Todd, a longtime sales representative for lubricants used by the wire and cable industry, died on August 27, 2019, at age 82. A resident of Vero Beach, Florida, and formerly of Liverpool, New York, Todd worked as a sales representative for Apex Alkali (now RichardsApex, Inc.) covering the upstate New York Todd area and Canada from 1969 until his retirement in late 1980s. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Rosalie; sons David and Alan; brothers Paul and Robert; four grandchildren (Jason, Marcus, Courtney and Katie); and several nieces and nephews. n
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STEEL: Strong. Tough. Reliable. And the right choice for structural support. If you are on a mission to learn about steel wire, you will want to prepare for the rugged challenges of this global sector. But don’t go it alone. Think of the Wire Association International (WAI) as an ally for alloys—a resource to help you meet your educational and manufacturing goals straightaway. That’s our mission and it has been for 90 years. Join forces with peers who are centered on steel wire. Get training and industry news. Meet influencers and experts. WAI is the only choice for wire industry professionals unless, of course, you’d rather get to “B” on your own. Use the QR code to reveal why members around the world rely on WAI for career support.
JOIN TODAY: www.wirenet.org
F I B E R W AT C H
Taihan Electric honored by KEPCO for power cable quality that produce semiconductors and displays Taihan Electric Wire Co. (Taihan), a like Samsung Electronics, we will expand major cable maker in South Korea, was our presence in related domestic and recognized for top quality by Korea overseas markets.” Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). The “Top Quality Power Manufacturer” A press release said that Taihan was award selects, recognizes and incenselected as the “Top Quality Power tivizes companies that have excellent Manufacturer of the Year” at the 2019 quality and management performance BIXPO Awards hosted by KEPCO in of KEPCO’s power equipment, and has Gwangju on Nov. 8. The award was for been implemented every year since 2014. the company’s underground cables for This year, the evaluation was conducted distribution, and received high scores on 661 companies that supplied a total of for quality excellence and management 89 items and went through three stages ability. of verification. Ten companies were Taihan CEO Na Hyung-kyun, who selected, and Taihan was deemed the only was at the event and accepted the award, cable manufacturer. In addition to qualsaid that he was pleased for the recogniKEPCO CEO Kim Jong-kap, l, with ity evaluation factors such as defect rate, tion. He observed that the company has Taihan CEO Na Hyung-kyun. failure rate, considered the contribution continued to strive to offer the highest of electricity and adherence to fair trade. quality for power grids through its extraThrough this selection, Taihan will benehigh-voltage and high-voltage transmisfit from the ease of inspection tests when supplying equipsion cables as well as its medium-voltage and low-voltage ment to KEPCO in the future. n distribution cables as part of its long-term plans. “As we continue to supply distribution cables to high-tech plants
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Fastenal, with 3,200 locations, is building a new headquarters In 1967, Fastenal founder Bob Kierlin—who in a 1997 profile by Inc. magazine was called the “cheapest CEO in America”— had an idea for a fastener distributor business. It started out as a very small business, and its first location, in Winona, Minnesota, was known as “the 55 Club,” because that was the temperature at which the thermostat was kept, even in winter. Fast forward, and Fastenal, once just one of 10,000 fastener distributors, had set itself apart. Its “growth through customer service” mantra resulted in stunning success. Its 3,200 in-market locations (a combination of public branches and customer-specific on-sites) each provide custom inventory and a dedicated sales team to support local customers, supported by our global distribution network. The company has some 21,000 employees and a presence in 26 countries. The company’s headquarters that is being built in Winona is starting to take form, at least through renderings. Construction starts this year, and shown is a preliminary design of what the four-story building might look like. It is scheduled for completion this fall, at which time it will house between 400 and 600 employees. The building will fill an entire city block.
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An artist’s rendering of Fastenal’s future headquarters. Per Wikipedia, at one point in 2010, Fastenal offered a total of 690,000 individual products. It also provides services that include inventory management, small fastener manufacture, vending and machining. Fastenal has retail stores in every U.S. state, every province of Canada and 14 Mexican states as well as Puerto Rico and Panama. Elsewhere, it has sites in China, Dominican Republic, Hungary, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Germany, Singapore, and the United Kingdom. It also has sourcing offices in Asia that include an accredited testing laboratory that is A2LA certified. n
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MEMBERSHIP SPOTLIGHT Q: What does your company do? A: Since 1928, Magnetic Analysis Corporation (MAC) has been both a manufacturer and supplier of custom eddy current, ultrasonic, and flux leakage NDT equipment. We specialize in high throughput speed systems that keep up with production requirements at wire, bar and tubular product mills. Q: What is your role there?
Michael Rakos District Manager, Magnetic Analysis Corporation (MAC)
A: I manage customer account activity in northeast United States and Canada. This includes business development and deploying field staff/assets to provide technical support and service. I assist with installing new NDT systems, and maintaining existing ones. My goals include bolstering the leased equipment base and cultivating sales through partnerships with all customers. As an ASNT level III, I also provide eddy current and ultrasonic NDT training and consultation. Q: What do you like best about your position? A: As a field staff member and district manager, I enjoy wearing many hats. Interfacing directly with customers on site, each with unique applications, is interesting and challenging. I also enjoy projects that help shape future business, including drafting technical papers and working closely with engineering and sales to develop custom NDT solutions to satisfy a customer’s special needs. Q: How has your industry most changed? A: MAC is a resource for NDT equipment, field service and training, an asset for our sale and lease customers. Our equipment is often integrated into the production process. Preventing and minimizing downtime is therefore critical and handling this is a key to our customer relationship longevity. MAC’s field staff have hundreds of years of collective experience. Q: Why did you recently join WAI? A: MAC has recently brought exciting products to market well suited for wire inspection. WAI gives us a great opportunity to be fully engaged with this growing industry.
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NEWS
MEET YOUR PEERS. ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS. JOIN WAI TODAY. The following individuals either recently joined WAI or became Platinum Members through their companies.
Joseph Baldauff Vice President Technology Magnetic Technology Corporation Keith Brandt District Manager Magnetic Technology Corporation Josh Bredeson R&D Operator Technician Copperweld Bimetallics Jim Busse Process Engineer Encore Wire Corporation Rob Caillet Safety Director Encore Wire Corporation
Kwakou Cooper Operator Southwestern Wire Inc Jared Crow Director of Logistics Encore Wire Corporation Suzanne Dafni Production Manager Carris Reels Inc Tyler Davis Operator Southwestern Wire Inc Claudine Hayes Marketing Administration Manager Magnetic Technology Corporation
Seth Holloway Copperweld Andy Lewis Process Engineer Service Wire Co Josh Munoz Rod Mill Engineer Encore Wire Corporation Robert Nolen Maintenance Repair Operations (MRO) Buyer Encore Wire Corporation
Denis Otuke Quality Specialist Encore Wire Corporation Michael Rakos District Manager Magnetic Technology Corporation Cordell Teague Breakdown Operator SDI LaFarga LLC
David O’Connor District Manager Magnetic Technology Corporation
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 ( W A I ) Founded in 1930, WAI is a worldwide technical society for wire and cable industry professionals. Based in Madison, Connecticut, USA, WAI collects and shares technical, manufacturing, and general business information to the ferrous, nonferrous, electrical, fiber optic, and fastener segments of the wire and cable industry. WAI organizes events such as the Interwire and WAI Operations Summit & Wire Expo, technical conferences, and educational programs. It publishes the Wire Journal International (WJI), the annual WJI Reference Guide, the Official Show Program, the HardWIRED educational e-newsletter, and reference materials.
Wire Journal International is the official publication of the Wire Association International, Inc.
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2020 GOVERNANCE Jan Sørige to serve as WAI president in 2020 Jan Sørige will serve as WAI president for 2020, succeeding W.T. Bigbee, Encore Wire Corp. The other 2020 officers are 1st Vice President Thomas Heberling, Southwire Co.; 2nd Vice President James R. York, Insteel Industries; WAI Executive Director/Secretary Steve Fetteroll; and WAI Treasurer David LaValley. The WAI officers are key to the direction and planning for events, products and services to serve the WAI’s 2,000 members.
President: Jan Sørige Jan Sørige is president of Enkotec Co., Inc., the U.S. business of Denmark’s Enkotec A/S, a global supplier of machinery for manufacturing wire nails. He joined the parent company in 1987, and was promoted to his current position in 1995. A WAI member since 1992, Sørige Sørige served from 2009 to 2014 as chairman of the Association’s Exhibition Planning Committee, which is responsible for planning the Interwire and Wire Expo events. He is also a member of the Board of Directors. In addition to WAI, Sørige is a member of the Specialty Tools & Fasteners Distributors Association (STAFDA) and the American Wire Producers Association (AWPA). He holds a degree in engineering from the University of Southern Denmark, and speaks six languages (Danish, English, German, Norwegian, Spanish and Swedish).
1st Vice President: Thomas Heberling Thomas Heberling is senior vice president of manufacturing power systems and solutions at Southwire Co., where he has worked for nearly 33 years. A WAI member since 2010, Heberling has served the Association in multiple roles, one of the most crucial being when he served as co-chair of the WAI
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Member Relations Committee from 2012–2014. In this role, he carried out a Board initiative that reshaped the educational products serving the industry, and served to further strengthen the value of membership in the Association. In May 2017, he Heberling received the President’s Award for his lasting contribution to the Association and the industry for his work on the Member Relations Committee. Heberling became a WAI Director in 2017 and has served as an Executive Committee Liaison to multiple committees. He now serves in that role for the Nominating and Exhibition Planning committees. Of note, while attending Auburn University, where he earned a B.S. degree in industrial engineering, Heberling worked for Southwire for seven quarters as a cooperative education student
2nd Vice President: James R. York James R. York is vice president of Insteel Industries Inc., where his focus is sourcing, logistics and business development. He joined the company in 2018, and prior to that had worked for Leggett & Platt for 15 years in key management positions, the last one being York vice president, president rod & wire products. Prior to that, he had worked for Bekaert for nearly 20 years. York joined the Board of Directors in 2017 and the Executive Committee in 2018. He has served as an Executive Committee Liaison for several committees and will be the liaison to the Finance, Education and Memorial Awards Committees in 2020. He has been a WAI member since 2012. He is active in the American Wire Producers Association. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri, Columbia, where he earned a degree in marketing from the school’s College of Business. n
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2020 WAI Organizational Chart Following are the committees/boards and chairmen that will help direct the WAI’s activities this year.
Executive Committee
Committee Chairmen
President
Bylaws Committee
Jan Sørige, Enkotec Co., Inc.
1st Vice President Thomas Heberling, Southwire Co.
Anand W. Bhagwat, Minova USA Inc.
Conference Programming Committee Thomas Heberling, Southwire Co. Jan Sørige, Enkotec Co., Inc.
2nd Vice President James R. York, Insteel Industries
Education Committee Eric P. Bieberich, Fort Wayne Wire Die Inc.
Immediate Past President W.T. Bigbee, Encore Wire Corp.
Exhibition Planning Committee Andrew R. Richards, RichardsApex Inc.
Board of Directors Joe Barrett, Davis Wire Corp. Eric P. Bieberich, Fort Wayne Wire Die Inc. W.T. Bigbee, Encore Wire Corp. Daniel Blais, Prysmian Kurt Breischaft, SDI LaFarga LLC Brian Burr, Sumiden Wire Products Inc. Tim Fingeroos, Charter Steel David Fisher, James Monroe Wire & Cable Raúl Garcia, Viakable SA de CV
Finance Committee William F. Reichert, Champlain Cable Corp.
Member Relations Committee Kurt Breischaft, SDI LaFarga LLC
Memorial Awards Committee Thomas E. Moran, Insteel Wire Products
Nominating Committee Andy G. Talbot, Mid-South Wire Co. Inc.
Oversight Committee
Marco Gerardo, Frigeco USA, Inc.
Jan Sørige, Enkotec Co., Inc.
Thomas Heberling, Southwire Co.
Paper Awards Committee
Harvey McDowell, Berk-Tek LLC, Nexans Robert McKinzie, Leggett & Platt Inc. Richard R. Miller, Consultant Brian Parsons, Dekoron Wire & Cable Jan Sørige, Enkotec Co., Inc. Willem Sunblad, Oden Technologies Inc. Richard Wagner, Insteel Wire Products Robert Wild, Niehoff Endex North America Inc. Dave Winebarger, Sonoco James R. York, Insteel Industries John Zachow, Davis-Standard LLC
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Bhaskar Yalamanchili, Gerdau Long Steel North America
Publications Committee Dane G. Armendariz, Chemetall US/ WAI Technical Advisor
WAI Chapters India, Italy, Poland and U.S. (Mid-South, Midwest, New England, Ohio Valley, Southeast and Western)
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WIRE, CABLE, 90 YEARS AN D MANY HAP PY R E T U R NS You’re in for a win-win as the WAI Operations Summit & Wire Expo returns to the Mohegan Sun Resort Casino in 2020. PLANNING STARTS NOW. It’s GAME ON for visitors, ace speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors who want to replay the event’s 2016 success at this popular New England attraction. And in the Wire Association’s 90th year, this event brings to light the latest in Manufacturing Best Practices. MORE SUNSHINE. This is your chance to take home valuable insight you can use right away to achieve more positive, profitable results at your wire and cable plant. Featuring: A Plant Operations Focus | Exhibits | Bright New Products | Welcome Reception Production Solutions Demos | Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing Course | Area Plant Tours Plus+ New England Chapter & WAI-member Activities Ask about booth space, sponsorship, or speaking opportunities! Contact: Bob Xeller or Shannon Timme, sales@wirenet.org; or education@wirenet.org
DETAILS www.wireexpo20.com
Conference June 2-4 | Exhibits June 3-4, 2020 Mohegan Sun Resort Casino, Uncasville, Connecticut, USA
WIRE EXPO 2020
LEARN MORE AT
WIRE EXPO E X H I B I T O R S Ace Metal Inc. AITMAC Inc. Allied Industrial Group, Inc. Alphagary/Mexichem Specialty Compounds Amacoil Inc. American Kuhne Arkema Inc. Aztech Lubricants LLC Balloffet Die Corp. Bartell Machinery Systems Bechem Lubrication Technology LLC Beta LaserMike/NDC Technologies Cablogic Technologies Inc. Carris Reels Inc. Cavallero Plastics Cemanco LC Chemetall/BASF Clinton Instrument Co. Commission Brokers Inc. Condat Conneaut Industries Inc. CTS - Cincinnati Thermal Spray Inc. Die Quip Corp. DuBois Chemicals/Heatbath E-Beam Services Inc. Ebner Furnaces Inc. Elkem Inc. ERA Wire Inc. Esteves Group USA EuroWire/Intras George Evans Corp. Fenn LLC Filtertech Inc. FMS USA Inc. Fort Wayne Wire Die Inc. Gem Gravure Co. Inc. Graham Engineering Corp. Guill Tool & Engineering Co. Heany Industries Inc. Howar Equipment Inc. Huestis Industrial IDEAL Welding Systems Incom America Integrated Control Technologies
International Wire Dies Joe Snee Associates, Inc. Joe-Tools King Steel Corp. KN Manufacturing Solutions Lamnea Bruk AB LaserLinc, Inc. Leggett & Platt Wire Group Leibinger Coding and Marking Systems LLFlex Lloyd & Bouvier Inc. M. Holland Madem-Moorecraft Reels USA Magnetic Technologies Ltd. Maillefer Extrusion Oy Mathiasen Machinery Inc. Metalloid Corp. MFL Group The MGS Group Micro Products Co. Microdia USA Morgan-Koch Corp. Nexeo Plastics Niehoff Endex North America Inc. OMCG, Inc. P & R Specialty Inc. Paramount Die Co. Parkway-Kew Corp. Precision Die Technologies Inc. Properzi International Inc. Q8Oils QMS America, Inc. Quaker Houghton Radcliff Wire Inc. Rainbow Rubber & Plastics
WWW.WIREEXPO20.COM
Reel Options by Vandor Corp. Refractron Technologies Corp. RichardsApex Inc. Rockford Manufacturing Group FELM Rosendahl Nextrom Roteq Machinery Inc. Saint-Gobain SAMP USA Inc. Schlatter North America Sikora International Corp. Sivaco Wire Group Sonoco Reels and Spools Stolberger Inc. DBA Wardwell Braiding Super Seal Corp. Taubensee Steel & Wire Co. Teknikor Tensor Machinery Ltd. United Wire Co. Inc. Vandor Corp. W. Gillies Technologies LLC WAFIOS Machinery Corp. Windak Inc. The Wire Association International, Inc. The Wire Journal International, Inc. Wire & Cable Technology International Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp. Wire Lab Co. Wire Machine Systems Inc. Witels Albert USA Ltd. Woodburn Diamond Die Inc. Yield Management Corp. Zumbach Electronics Corp.
*List as of 12/30/19
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REPORT TO MEMBERS By Steve Fetteroll, Executive Director The following is intended to highlight the activities and directions of the Association. What’s of interest is that all of the highlighted topics in this section are “ongoing.” As needs change, and with the guidance of our volunteer committees, we continue to evolve what we offer. This section provides brief snapshots of a few sections.
The ‘Fundamentals’ work ... anywhere WAI’s Fundamentals of Wire & Cable Manufacturing (Fundamentals) program has continued to excel, with the second staging of the program as a standalone event—not connected to either Interwire or Wire Expo—confirming its value. On Oct. 8, 2019, the Association held the second staging of Fundamentals at the Grand Wayne Convention
Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana, which drew 102 attendees. The first staging, held Oct. 10, 2018, in McKinney, Texas, drew 105 participants. By comparison, the Fundamentals drew 161 attendees (a record) at Interwire 2019, and 90 at Wire Expo 2018. The results justify offering the program twice a year. Further, the Education Committee is discussing whether an expanded version can be offered.
Interwire 2019: biennial event proves to be a memorable industry success
2019
WAI’s Fundamentals program in Indiana, the second such “standalone setting,” drew more than a hundred attendees.
The WAI is much more than just an entity that puts on trade shows, but there is no denying that its singlemost important industry presence is its biennial staging of Interwire. The 2019 event—which also included the 3rd staging of the Global Continuous Casting Forum and the 1st International Fastener Manufacturing Exposition—had a healthy buzz that reflected the event’s forward-looking “Next Gen” tag. Held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, Interwire 2019 saw 3,514 wire and cable industry professionals representing 39 states and 47 countries in attendance. Staffers from more than 400 manufacturing
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The WAI Theater, sponsored by Sonoco Reels, was introduced at Interwire 2019. In the front row for the opening, from l-r, were WAI President W.T. Bigbee, WAI 2nd Vice President Tom Heberling and Sonoco Reels’ Dave Winebarger.
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Founded in 1930 to disseminate techYEARS 193 0-2020 nical information, the Wire Association International has evolved over the years as did the industry. Today, it is best known for its Interwire and Wire Expo trade shows, but the non-profit organization has stayed true to its mission of serving individual members. As the wire and cable industry has gone through the inevitable challenges, the WAI has sought to find solutions. Some of that is obvious, and further addressed
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Shakespeare never focused on wire and cable (nobody’s perfect), but the Oct. 21 staging in iconic Verona will long be remembered by the wire and cable audience that later showered high praise on the quality of the International Technical Conference (ITC). The event flowed smoothly from the first presentation on Monday to the next day’s tours and subsequent visit to the Masi winery. The jointly organized techni-
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cal conference ITC, planned by the Italian Machinery Manufacturers Association (ACIMAF) and the WAI, saw 235 industry professionals participate in the conference, which included 21 ferrous and nonferrous presentations, table top exhibits, a gala dinner, and two plant tours. It may be a bit of a stretch, but one could say that the heart-felt calls by attendees for further stagings had a poetic touch.
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facilities were at the event, which saw the show floor introduction of the WAI Theater, sponsored by Sonoco. Keynote speaker Shawn DuBravac and closing speaker Ross Bernstein shared thoughtful insights as did manufacturing executives from Champlain Cable Corporation, Insteel Wire Products, Leggett & Platt, Minnesota Wire & Cable, Nexans Energy Cables North America, Prysmian Group North America, RSCC Wire & Cable LLC and Southwire Company, as well as commentary by Integer Research and Cimteq.
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below, but a key to recent, current and future planning is that the WAI has focused on the needs of manufacturers by seeking out their participation. That includes the direction provided by recent past presidents from Southwire, Leggett & Platt, Champlain Cable, Mid-South Wire Co., Nexans Energy USA, Insteel Wire Products and Encore Wire. That legacy of knowledge will help direct us for years to come.
A key Association’s driver is digital Adjusting to a digital era is a challenge for the wire and cable industry, but the potential returns make it one well worth pursuing. Thus, WAI continues to pursue such technology to better serve members; to deliver useful services, such as its series of Hardwired videos; to make it easier for exhibitors to sign up for Wire Expo and Interwire; and a slew of other initiatives. This is an ongoing process—one that many companies likely can relate to—and it shows great promise.
WAI to bolster staff resources, names the 1st of 2 new technical advisors The WAI has named industry veteran Dane G. Armendariz as the association’s first Technical Advisor, a role that commenced on January 1, 2020. Armendariz, who this year will retire from his current role as Key Industry Manager at Chemetall, will serve as a consultant to help assemble ferrous-related educational programming for upcoming conferences. He will also be a resource for WAI members in need of technical expertise within their organizations. Encore Wire Corporation’s W.T. Bigbee, who served as Armendariz
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the 2019 WAI president, applauded the choice. “Some may recognize Dane as he has been an active WAI volunteer and has spent the majority of his career in the wire business. He has a broad background in the ferrous sector, and we welcome his expertise with regard to the association’s educational mission.” Armendariz has a vast knowledge in all segments of wire drawing gained through his decades-long career interacting with wire manufacturers and rod suppliers. Over the years, he has contributed to WAI’s Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing Course as well as the technical program and production solutions. A WAI Past President (2010) and a Life Member, he holds a degree in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. He can be reached at darmendariz@wirenet.org. WAI plans to add a second Technical Advisor in 2020 who will have expertise in the electrical sector. WAI’s Executive Director Steven Fetteroll observed that the Association will continue to rely on the technical expertise of its volunteers for the majority of ongoing initiatives. “These new resources will complement and expand our capacity to serve the educational needs of the membership and the industry.”
New for WJI: a new look, more content Readers will notice that Wire Journal International is starting off the New Year with a new look, a refined style crafted by Karren Muolo, WJI’s award-winning graphic designer. There also is new content as two new monthly sections will make their debut. Sector Update. This section is a place where suppliers can showcase what they do, and also share some details that customers may not know. Entries for each month’s sector can be entered at bit.ly/WJISector. See p. 62. KabloSanTurkey. A leading wire and cable industry publication in Turkey, KabloSanTurkey has entered into an information exchange with WJI that will result in readers of both magazines getting more content. See p. 68 for the first installment. n W W W. W I R E N E T. O R G
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From l-r, 2019 board members: John Accorsi, Michael Sarni, Jim Evans, Jeff Lawrence, Lori Parent, Harish Panchal, President Richard Goyette, Jessica Foss, Bob Durante, Jonathan Rufe, Mark Long and Joel Cacopardo.
New England Chapter to hold its 26th Annual Meeting on January 23, 2020 The Wire Association’s New England Chapter will hold its annual meeting on Jan. 23, 2020, at the Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut. The meeting, will include networking, dinner, a recap of 2019, a raffle, an update on the scholarship program, and more. Supporters and sponsors of the chapter’s events and programs will also be recognized. The chapter will introduce its officers for 2020, and include an update on the scholarship program as well as future plans. Attendees will hear from 2013 scholarship winner, Alexander Cooper, the son of Mark Cooper, PolyOne, who will talk about what has happened since he completed college. Fundraising has continued to be a priority for the chapter to bolster their scholarship programs that serve as a direct benefit for a good cause and for chapter members. The five winners of the 2019 scholarships for $2,500 were: Andrés Aguilar, the son of Alberto Aguilar, vice president manufacturing, Carris Reels Inc.; Cole Hermsen, the son of Mark Hermsen, regional sales manager, General Cable; Julia Fritz, the daughter of James Fritz, purchasing sourcing manager, RSCC Wire and Cable; Lily Richards, the daughter of Drew Richards, CEO, RichardsApex; and Nathan Wright, the son of William Wright, regional account manager, International Wire Group. The cost for the annual dinner meeting is $120 for chapter members, $130 for WAI members and $140 for
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all others. A block of hotel rooms is also available at a cost of $150 a room. For tickets, sponsorships and any other information, contact WAI’s Shannon Timme at tel. 203-453-7530, stimme@wirenet.org.
A New Year ushers in the importance of scholarship program for WAI chapters Giving back is a good thing, and giving back to the industry that one makes a living in is especially valuable, which is why the WAI is asking the members of its New England, Midwest and Southeast chapters to continue their support. “It is really impressive what the chapters have done” said WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll, who attributed it to being a great story of how volunteers within the organization have made a difference. The scholarship efforts started in 2006 with the New England chapter, and the Midwest and Southeast chapters launched their programs in 2008. To date, a total of 114 scholarships have been awarded. “Over the years, I have been fortunate to see the effort that the chapters direct to the scholarships and the golf outings that serve as the critical fundraising mechanism for the scholarship,” Fetteroll said. “I have the unique staff vantage point, and I can tell you the time and effort extended by the volunteers is considerable and passionate. They want to make the outings perfect and they are most happy when they authorize the next round of scholarships. This was the case in December when the board of each chapter approved the 2020 program, which now has a total of 12 scholarships.” n J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 W I R E J O U R N A L I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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does it pay to be social? Following up on last year’s feature on marketing, WJI returns to the topic, this time focusing on social media. Is it more than puffery? Is it worth the effort? This story presents thoughts from five companies, and a brief look at some key SM vehicles and WAI’s approach.
Is social media worth the cost/effort, and if so, why? The cost associated with social media can be minimal or significant. It depends on the type of business you are. A big factor relates to how your company produces content. Is your SM content a result of regularly occurring events (baseball team, NASA, Ford) or do you have to produce content specifically for SM? Also, are you using SM to directly drive sales or to generate/maintain top-of-mind awareness. Steven Kenney, Hitachi Cable America, Inc. For us, social media is an indirect initiative that is worth our time and investment. With a small amount of effort, we receive a boost in both brand affinity and brand awareness from the connections and conversations that we have on our social channels. Ted Jolly, Distributor Wire & Tray Cable. Yes, I think social media is definitely worth the cost and effort – assuming that both are kept in check, which is why we take a strategic approach to both our content and the frequency with which we post. Our social media allows us to connect with our customers, our community, and our employees. It gives us the opportunity to showcase our capabilities, our amazingly talented and passionate people, and our dedication to innovation. This allows us to extend our brand image beyond what’s possible in more traditional marketing channels. For Fort Wayne Metals, social media isn’t so much about generating sales – it’s about relationships. It allows our audience to get to know us on a much
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more fundamental level. It’s hard to put a price tag on that. Helge Hinniger, Fort Wayne Metal. I do think social media is worth the time and effort; we certainly wouldn’t waste resources on it if we didn’t see the value. It’s tough to measure its direct impact, but we certainly get enough positive feedback to justify continuing to use it as another tool to promote Encore Wire and our services and products. Kevin Kieffer, Encore Wire. Social media has grown into a direct initiative, almost playing stakes, the same way eCommerce has grown from being a value-add to a standard barrier to entry. When determining whether something is worth cost and effort, traditionally leaders would evaluate Return-On-Investment metrics. Now, social media is more than a platform to market, it is a communication vehicle to share insights with customers, receive feedback and provide customer service in a more personalized, intimate form of interaction. While there is an intangibility to social media presence, I believe that there is an added pressure for Business-to-Consumer brands to not only have presence, but to stand out and exercise creativity in the virtual marketplace. Overall, social media far exceeds the balance of being worth the cost and effort, especially as generations growing up in a digital landscape become representative of the majority of our consumer base. Jason Kline, Consolidated Electronic Wire & Cable.
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Is social media a subset of your marketing, or is it unto itself? Is it a tool, an influencer or both? At Fort Wayne Metals, social media is handled as part of marketing communications. We’re fortunate enough to have a talented in-house creative team, and they develop the strategy and content for social media along with all of our other marketing materials. In terms of the role of social media, I’d see it mostly as an influencing tool. In my experience in B2B, it’s pretty difficult to drive business with organic social media, and even boosted posts show limited success. One exception to this would have been our hiring campaign, which drove significant clicks to our website
and employment portal. Helge Hinniger, corporate communications manager, Fort Wayne Metal. In my opinion, marketing as a discipline is still divided into two major classifications: traditional and digital, with social media being one of several components that makes up digital. At Consolidated Electronic Wire & Cable, we leverage social media as a branding tool within our overarching digital strategy. We promote new content offers, share photos of company events, and post company news
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Social media: it’s worth doing ... but avoid those !@# pitfalls! WAI, like many other companies, has been trying to do more with digital marketing, and that led to finding John Markowski, a Marketing Management major at Albertus Magnus College. He observes that the biggest challenge to doing social media successfully is not the mechanics, as plenty of information exists, but simply avoiding some of the pitfalls. Below is his “don’t do” list. • Don’t “mail in” the first key step: strategy. Social media requires a clear message and a target audience. Sound obvious? Maybe, but if more than one person is involved, there may be different “understandings.” List goals for both what you want do, and where to do it. That blueprint can change as do your goals, but it should exist. • Don’t miss out on platforms There’s a slew of sites you can post at for free, such as Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Thomas (see p. 47). It makes sense to start off where your target audience is most active as you can always expand site use later. John Markowski at work on a WAI campaign. • Don’t try to start out by doing everything! Get a company consensus. Pick a goal (generate new sales, increase brand awareness or drive new traffic to your website) and stick to it. Keep messages short and pepper them with eye-catching images and video, but use hashtags sparingly. Include one link per post either to your website or to another platform to increase traffic all around. • Don’t make a bad first impression A viewer is not likely to give you more than five seconds, so key information should be front and center. Make sure there is a reason that visitor would want to see more. • Don’t overhype You may think of your company and/or its products as “the world leader,” but others may see hubris. That also
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goes for new product claims. At the same time, don’t be reluctant to hype what you know is to be true: the value of what you do, good service, follow-up, etc. Just keep it real. • Don’t forget your best resources That would be your existing customers and staffers! They should be willing to share your posts, and pass along word of new products. • Don’t ignore analytics but do avoid “ghost towns” Gauge your results regularly to see what works. What doesn’t work is inconsistency as many postings, followed by staff burnout and an extended posting absence, can lead to a “ghost town,” a tag your company should avoid. J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 W I R E J O U R N A L I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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Staffers are the stars At Fort Wayne Metals, one social media focus is on staff in the form of “Employee Highlights.” To date, the company has done some 40 such entries since 2017, averaging about one a month, that appear in Facebook and LinkedIn. Corporate Communications Manager Helge Hinniger explained that the series fits in the company’s core values: “Our people are the source of our strength.” “Publicly recognizing our people for their contributions and accomplishments is one way to demonstrate just how important they are to us,” he said. “I also think that demonstrating that we rely on our people to make a difference every day is a good way to position ourselves as an employer that provides deeply meaningful work.”
to engage with our existing customer base and to give prospective customers an idea of who we are. Although currently a subset of our existing strategy, with the trajectory of evolving technology and cultural standards, social media may very well be a classification all in its own right within the next five CEWC’s Jason Kline, c, with years. Whether you colleagues Peter Liavas, l, and might describe social Marco Lara discuss social media media as a tool or an plans. influencer depends on how you use it, no different than anything else. I would challenge my peers to begin to think of it in a third way: identity. Jason Kline, marketing specialist, Consolidated Electronic Wire & Cable. We are currently present on a variety of social media platforms. All those platforms are part of our marketing effort, and are controlled by our marketing department. Social media is definitely both a tool and an influencer. By the way, it’s funny to me how the term “influencer” has become so synonymous with social media, but that’s the point of marketing: to influence. Today’s consumers are influenced in many ways, but some of the traditional forms are almost silent to the current generation. Magazines and newspapers are a good example. Almost everyone I know consumes information through their electronic devices as opposed to paper, so if you don’t have some sort of presence on social media, your exposure is probably limited. Kevin Kieffer, vice president sales & marketing, Encore Wire. Social media is both a tool and an influencer. Like television, magazine, newspaper, promotional items and eblasts, it has unique characteristics and needs to be managed appropriately to be successful. And, success would be defined by the user and their expectations. Steven Kenney, marketing manager, Performance Cable Systems & Materials Division, Hitachi Cable America Inc. As a master distributor of specialty wire and cable, we utilize social media as a subset of our overall marketing program. It’s a useful component in our overall strategy to stay engaged with our customers and industry partners on both a personal and professional level. Ted Jolly, strategic marketing manager, Distributor Wire & Tray Cable.
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Social media campaigns feel as if they could run in a hundred different directions: are most of yours preordained, or is there a good deal of “art” in determining what to do for a specific campaign? Some SM is best suited for mobile devices. Some are good for both mobile and desktop. Though most are good for both, LinkedIn and Facebook are likely to have a pretty large following on computers, not just phones. However, I don’t have data on that. Regarding what came before, yes, it quickly moves posts to the back to make room for new posts. Steven Kenney, Hitachi Cable America Inc. I am a firm believer in balance. With social media, as well as the rest of our marketing strategy, building a data driven framework that is flexible enough to accommodate artistic complementation within the direction of the campaign, painting in between the lines, is where I’ve seen the most success. Jason Kline, Consolidated Electronic Wire & Cable. Our social media is mostly driven by the art of it. In other words, content comes from what we feel is needed in the market at that moment. Some of it is planned and per-ordained—for instance if we are running a product campaign—but much of it comes through inspiration, which I think is what really appeals to people on social media. Kevin Kieffer, Encore Wire.
Most of our posts are planned as quarterly campaigns that align with our strategic objectives. This helps with project planning and brings certain efficiencies in execution. That said, our plan also includes space for spontaneous posts in order to recognize our people for accomplishments or tell stories in a timely fashion. Helge Hinniger, Fort Wayne Metal.
Hinniger
We use our two main social media platforms in different ways. For the most part, LinkedIn is reserved for our more business-related content and/or industry news that might help inform our readers. The approach to Facebook is a little more geared toward bringing out the personality of our company and keeping things fun. Social media should first and foremost be “social.” DWC is a fun place to work and we try and let our Facebook followers in on the fun. Nobody really logs into Facebook wanting to read spec sheets or product information. We’d rather share a funny dog video or some information about a cool charity that we’re involved with. Ted Jolly, Distributor Wire & Tray Cable.
Do you see your use of social media changing in the years to come, and if so, how? Social media is a highly dynamic space, and as such will continue to change. This means our use of it will have to change, too. Given that younger generations see social media as an integral part of their lives, and that these generations are coming up in the ranks of organizations everywhere, I expect that social media will continue to grow in importance, which means we will have to continue to devote more resources to it. As for where social media is headed next, that’s anyone’s guess. I do see a tendency towards channels which only put content in front of users that they are actively interested in rather than content their connections engage with, which will make achieving organic reach more difficult. Helge Hinniger, Fort Wayne Metal. I’m sure our use of it will evolve just as how users use it has evolved. Steven Kenney, Hitachi Cable America, Inc. Without a doubt. If there is one thing I’ve learned, it’s that change is constant, which makes adaptability that much more valuable as a skill set. Pair that with the abilities to ask the right questions, listen, have patience, and you won’t have to make a foundational decision on how to change your strategy … the customer will likely show you. W W W. W I R E N E T. O R G
I am a forward thinker, so I try to imagine the direction of society 10 years out to make sure that I am always growing away from complacency. The evolution of machine learning, artificial intelligence, 5G are going to shift behaviors in the same capacity as the emergence of ecommerce, especially for digital marketers. Jason Kline, Consolidated Electronic Wire & Cable. There are always new social media platforms that emerge and new communication tools to explore. We are always open to new ways to build connections with customers, suppliers, and the communities that we operate in. We view any new social media platforms and tools that are introduced as opportunities to build relationships with those in our industry. Ted Jolly, Distributor Wire & Tray Cable. I think social media is a blessing and a curse. It’s a blessing in that it is a low-cost (in most cases free) way to get a message to a broad audience, but it’s a curse in that there is so much content out there that it’s very difficult to digest. There is a fine line between social media being a distraction and an effective tool, and it will be interesting to see how the creators and future generation of users will utilize it. Kevin Kieffer, Encore Wire.
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How do you determine what works best? Does it all come down to larger numbers = success, or are there other metrics that can matter more? We tend to look at the core engagement metrics (likes, comments, shares). We use these to assess what types of posts or content our readers are most interested in. Comments are truly appreciated, and we always respond to these. The two-way conversations that social media platforms facilitate are great for communicating and building relationships with distributors. Ted Jolly, Distributor Wire & Tray Cable.
Ted Jolly of Distributor Wire & Tray Cable. Since we manufacture and sell a wide range of building wire products, we are not concerned about social media consumption in terms of volume as much as we are about getting in front of a targeted audience. Not everyone cares about wire as much as we do, but those who care need to hear what we have to say. A lot of what sets our company apart is how we do things, as opposed to what we sell.
Social media, especially video, helps us explain that in a unique way. Kevin Kieffer, Encore Wire. At Consolidated, we pride ourselves on the customer experience. We’ve been experts in our field for a century, and that’s because we put relationships with people first. That being said, success on social platforms, for us, is determined by the quality of interactions. If we can help provide a solution, as subject matter experts, that is a success. Jason Kline, Consolidated Electronic Wire & Cable. Social media, unless you can measure sales results associated with a post, is useful to maintain or improve top-of-mind awareness with those likely to use, sell, install, specify or are otherwise associated with your product(s). Social media has become a less formal way of communicating your message. It allows companies to support their overarching marketing initiatives in a cost-effective manner. Steven Kenney, Hitachi Cable America Inc. It’s a mix of numbers and verbal feedback from coworkers and the community. As I have mentioned earlier, we have found the value of social media to be mainly in employer branding and employee engagement. As such, we keep an eye on metrics such as impressions and engagement, but receiving positive feedback from our target audience is every bit as important as numbers. Helge Hinniger, Fort Wayne Metal.
Can you provide an example of how you might deploy social media to get the word out for, say, a new product, or news of a company award or ...? How important is follow-up? Your social media postings are only as good as your list of followers. We can tweet about a new product, or post it on LinkedIn, and include links to the product on our website. We can then measure the traffic on our site to see how the SM worked. Steven Kenney, Hitachi Cable America Inc.
Steven Kenney, Hitachi Cable America Inc.
When we launch a new campaign or series of content, we typically aim to cover our bases and post to every social media platform in some capacity. We create content aimed to catch the eye of the end user and entice them to read or look more into what we are posting about. We are also a big proponent of email marketing and utilize that quite a bit. Kevin Kieffer, Encore Wire.
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We would first plan out the imagery—video, image, etc. This is what grabs users’ attention. For the presentation of a company award, we might, for example, take a short video clip of the ceremony. For a new product announcement, we might work with the Thomas design team (see p. 47) to create a distinctive image. From there, we’ll plan accompanying copy and the appropriate link back to our website. Social media is a space in which we feel we can be more casual with our customer base and that is reflected in the copy we develop, however, we still consider every post a unique backer of our brand. I have found that relatability to the end user and functionality are two of the most important answers to the question, why? Therefore, if we can describe or demonstrate a common scenario in which our new product or company news is applicable for our following, we can position ourselves as true partners. Jason Kline, Consolidated Electronic Wire & Cable.
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When your company first started to deploy social media, what form did it start with, and how it has evolved over the years? We started with Twitter and LinkedIn. We had two involved, and that number has not changed. Steven Kenney, Hitachi Cable America Inc. We initially used Facebook to highlight our community involvement and charitable endeavors. We’ve added LinkedIn for recruiting purposes and to help share business and electrical industry related content. We did use Instagram and Twitter, but our audience doesn’t tend to spend a lot of time on those platforms in a professional capacity. Our customers seem to appreciate the subject matter expertise that we bring as we report on and aggregate content pertaining to our industry. As a specialty wire and cable master distributor, we’re not that interested in paid social ad campaigns as these tend to generate engagement beyond our core audience of electrical distributor partners. Ted Jolly, Distributor Wire & Tray Cable. As a company, we were slow to dip into the social media realm, and as an industry, we are still behind. We began with Facebook, and have evolved to Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube. While we do our best to focus on all of these platforms, we still rely heavily on sales reps and traditional face-to-face marketing to get our products into the market. Because all of our sales reps have varying markets and multiple channels, we’ve found that having them speak directly to the end consumer on behalf of the company, quickly and to a broader audience, is very effective for us. My opinion is that video is the best way to communicate with people today. It’s informative, takes very little effort from the person consuming the information, and can create both visual and audible connections that stick longer than a traditional advertising method. An ad in a magazine, for comparison, can be quickly overlooked or not deeply
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SM provider facts Below are a few recent stats that can be found at omnicoreagency.com. Of note, Facebook may be the most active social media site, but for business, LinkedIn continues to rule.
LinkedIn • LinkedIn makes up more than 50% of all social traffic to B2B websites & blogs.
• 91% of marketing executives list it as the top place to find quality content. More than 90% of recruiters use it.
• Of 500 million users, more than 70% are outside of the U.S. Of note, just 3 million users share content weekly.
• LinkedIn has more than 30 million companies that have 20 million open job listings. There are 100 million job applications on LinkedIn every month. • There are 303 million active users, and 1 million professionals have published a post on LinkedIn. • 25% of millennials (18-24 years old) use LinkedIn. • 51% of U.S. college graduates use LinkedIn. • 90 million workers in the U.S. have LinkedIn profiles.
Facebook • Facebook accounts for over 42% of monthly social media visits, with 2.2 billion mobile users.
• 5 billion comments added monthly to Facebook pages. • The Facebook like button has been pressed 1.13 trillion times.
• Every 60 seconds, 317,000 status updates; 400 new users; 147,000 photos uploaded; and 54,000 shared links. • Facebook averages 8 billion daily video views. • 350 million photos are uploaded every day, with 14.58 million photo uploads per hour, 243,000 photo uploads per minute, and 4,000 photo uploads per second. • 1 billion people use Facebook groups.
Twitter • 22% of U.S. adults use Twitter, 42% on a daily basis. • 80% use mobile access, 93% of views are mobile. • 74% of Twitter users say they use the network to get their news.
• “Discover something new and interesting” is the most cited reason for visiting Twitter.
• 85% of small and medium business users use Twitter to provide customer service.
• Twitter can handle 18 quintillion user accounts. Encore Wire’s Kevin Kieffer by one of his company’s Facebook postings.
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understood if the consumer is not paying attention or understanding the message. Kevin Kieffer, Encore Wire. We started with Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter in 2014. Back then, we had a single digital content person who acted mostly autonomously and generated content without much oversight or strategic direction. Over the years, we
have brought social media closer to the rest of the team. Rather than living on an island, as it was in the beginning, social media is now included in our strategic discussions, and receives resources from our design team. We continue to be active on LinkedIn and Facebook, but have dropped our Twitter feed since we were never able to build a relevant audience for this channel. Helge Hinniger, Fort Wayne Metal.
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WAI evolves its social media approach along with the industry WAI continues to build its social media presence with a focus on LinkedIn, Twitter, and to a lesser degree, Facebook. Below is an assortment of pieces that were created to spread the word about Interwire 2019. “I’d say we are in the beginning stages of realizing the potential of this medium in terms of engaging the audiences we have yet to attract to WAI, particularly a younger demographic,” said Jan Swindells, WAI’s director of marketing and corporate communications. “That said, we continue to view the medium as a part of an overall communications strategy aimed at WAI’s network and potential members.” For example, WAI’s Interwire campaigns are comprehensive, strategically employing traditional tactics like public
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relations, advertising, direct mail, and email. Social media supports those efforts with consistent branding. To date our social media use has been concentrated during the build up to WAI events. “We value the immediacy of the medium because it gives WAI the flexibility to communicate late-breaking news about an event or spotlight portions of the program,” Swindells said. “It is an excellent tool to create excitement and it is an economical part of the media mix. There is much work ahead to capture a larger following and to deliver meaningful content in a consistent way. As we learn more about its effectiveness and its potential, WAI’s social media presence will gain momentum.”
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Thomas: a trusted industry partner has continued to evolve The Thomas Register was once the dominant go-to industry connecting source. Today, simply called Thomas, the iconic company has continued to evolve, offering services such as Thomas Network, Thomas WebTrax, Thomas Connect and Thomas Navigator. Go to business.thomasnet.com to see how it has changed to remain an invaluable resource. It may not have the same cachet that it once had in a pre-electronic/digital era, but Thomas—which has served and connected industrial buyers and suppliers since 1898— has continued its mission of serving the needs of industry. And that means embracing social media. “Working with thousands of industrial clients, we have found that using social media is an effective tool to relay news and updates to a manufacturer’s customer base when used in conjunction with a comprehensive marketing program,” the company notes. “Where content marketing, Search Engine Optimization and email marketing efforts are designed to derive qualified traffic and convert into actionable leads, social media is a great way to test out new ideas or creative messaging to see what resonates with customers and what doesn’t. That said, industrial and manufacturing companies shouldn’t rely on social media to fill their sales funnel, but instead use it to engage with their customers and prospects in a more human manner.” The company’s solutions include the Thomas Network at Thomasnet.com©, which it notes is the industry’s largest and most active buyer/supplier network. “As the leading resource for product sourcing, supplier selection and actionable information for industry, we also provide datadriven advertising, product experience management software and analytics that allow in-market buyers to find the right products and services when they need them. “With that knowledge and anonymized behavioral data from buyers across different sectors and industries, we can
The new Thomas look, one that reflects its wider scope.
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develop intelligent marketing programs for ourselves and our clients which target in-market buyers with the most relevant messaging on our website, newsletters, and on social media.” Thomas Marketing Services offers social media management for clients who have already worked with the company to design and roll out a complete digital marketing package. Once the necessities—such as a strong website, SEO-centric content plans and marketing automation—have been taken care of, social media can help engage customers in a more relaxed tone and distribute content that offers value beyond a sales call. “We have learned a great deal from growing the user base on Thomasnet.com to nearly one million registered industry professionals, many sourcing on our platform daily,” it reports. “For 120 years plus, we provide industry buyers with one of the most comprehensive supplier databases in North America. Our structured data allows buyers to refine and qualify suppliers, and we work in tandem with our users to develop an in-depth understanding of their needs.”
Thomas: some industry uses & facts • More than 1.5 million supplier evaluations occur on the platform every month. Buyers visit specifically to gather the information they need to solve their product sourcing and supplier selection needs. These are highly engaged buyers who are actively evaluating suppliers in the Thomas network to become part of their supply chain. • 75% of the active registered users on the Thomas platform represent SMBs, while 93% of Fortune 1000 companies source suppliers on the Thomas Network. • 40% of their audience represent millennials, and is the fastest-growing segment of their audience. • There are more than 3.5 million pages of industrial content on the Thomas network. • More than 300,000 active subscribers stay up to date via the Thomas Industry Update, their daily e-newsletter, for industrial news and trends, product announcements and information on the latest innovations. • Thomas’ network reaches over 150 countries. Its site hosts more than 500,000 supplier profiles, six million industrial products and 10 million 2D and 3D CAD drawings. n J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 W I R E J O U R N A L I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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Casting high-conductivity oxygen-free copper rod from scrap: myths and reality To preserve the properties of high conductivity oxygen free-copper rod, the most ductile of all copper grades, special care must be taken when it is produced either entirely from scrap or from a cathode/scrap combination. This presentation describes the effect of some melt pollutants on conductivity and drawability. By Juan Carlos Bodington
UPCAST® by its own right is not a refining process. In standard cases, the only element that is removed from the melt is oxygen. By some physical and chemical means, and if the system is purposely designed so, some other impurities may be eliminated by oxidation or the addition of additives promoting slag formation, or even mechanically (i.e. hydrogen). However, as oxygen free high conductivity (OFHC) copper rod (UNS C10100 and C10200) becomes the raw material of choice in ever more demanding applications such as high speed multiwire fine and super-fine drawing, ultrafine magnet wire production, among others, the need to produce rod with a consistent excelsior quality crashes with the possibility of using lower quality scrap as raw material. As presented in the title, the focus in this paper is on the most demanding application in terms of scrap use as raw material: high conductivity oxygen-free copper rod (Cu-OFHC). Nevertheless, lesser quality scrap may be “upcast” into products which chemistry and electrical prop-
Fig. 1. Microporosity caused by high hydrogen concentration in melt.
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erties are less constraining, as for instance the big family of binary and tertiary brasses, among other products. Some casting equipment manufacturers offer magic solutions that allow the use of low quality scrap for manufacturing OFHC copper, but regretfully alchemy is not chemistry, and magic and science are not best friends. In standard UPCAST lines producing Cu-HCOF, in-plant scrap is normally fed back into the operation at a rate that is typically not bigger than 10%, while the balance of the feeding material is made up of copper cathodes. However, running on a higher scrapto-cathode ratio or even 100% scrap, represents a different working condition bringing in a different set of variables. Environment. This is the first point. Depending on scrap grade the content of organic substances, among other pollutants, may be significant. For instance, the weight percentage of enamel in magnet wire may range from less than 0.5% for bigger sizes to around 3% in sub-mm sizes. Burning those organics, either before or during the melting stage, tends to generate furans and dioxins, as copper works as a catalyzer for their formation. Gases. The high solubility of oxygen and hydrogen in molten copper represents an important challenge. While O2 can be dealt with by sizing the system in order to allow enough dwell time for full de-oxidation to occur, once H2 reaches an oxygen deplete melt, it is very difficult and costly to remove it. Options may include mechanical means, as argon or nitrogen bubbling. In case of hydrogen, the absolutely best option is not allowing it into the melt. One of the possible effects of high Hydrogen content in the melt— microporosity—can be observed in Fig. 1. Substances that are main hydrogen contributors include moisture (water) and hydrocarbons (emulsions, oil, grease, enamel (from magnet wire)), among others. Cu-HCOF electrical conductivity. High conductivity 8 mm oxygen-free copper rod is typically cast with less than 2.5 ppm of oxygen in order to obtain the best quality results.
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Reduction reaction takes place by means of carbon addition, normally in the form of charcoal and/or flake graphite. By checking on the Ellingham diagram for some oxides (see Fig. 2), it can be noticed that at normal melting/casting temperatures for Cu-OF, copper will not be the only de-oxidized (reduced) metal; others, like iron, nickel or cobalt, will be reduced to their metallic form. While metal oxides migrate to the grain boundaries of the solidifying shape, non-oxidized metals do not migrate but remain inside the grains (solid solution), reducing the electrical conductivity. In that sense, in order to maximize electrical conductivity for Cu-HCOF—typically well above 101% IACS—the level of metallic impurities must be kept low. The effect of some metallic impurities on Cu-OFHC electrical conductivity can be observed in Fig. 3. It shows that iron, silicon and residual phosphorus are the most detrimental single elements for electrical conductivity, but conductivity is affected by impurities in an additive form. Annealability. Anneability (softening temperature) can be affected by elements that rise the softening temperature of a work-hardened wire. Among those elements, the most important are: antimony, arsenic, lead, bismuth, tin, sulfur, tellurium and phosphorus. Table I shows the effect of 20 ppm of selected elements on softening temperature of Cu-HCOF after work-hardening (75% area reduction). Drawability. Bismuth, lead, selenium and telurum are low-temperature melting elements, have a small solubility in copper and form molten films or brittle phases on grain boundaries. This will lead to breaks during casting and further drawing. Bi is especially sensitive. Furnace charging. As melt cannot be exposed to atmosphere in Cu-HCOF production systems, metal to be charged needs to go through the covering layer, as mentioned earlier, typically charcoal or flake graphite. Another point is the apparent density of baled copper scrap being much smaller than that of molten copper, so the bale tends to float on the melt. Floating material or material above the carbon protection layer will tend to oxidize, bringing more oxygen into the system once molten.
Cu-HCOF produced from 100% ETP scrap After several trials in UPCAST OY pilot plant for process fine tuning, and long hours of engineering, an UPCAST line suitable for processing clean 100% ETP scrap (250300 ppm O2) as in-feed material into high conductivity oxygen-free rod, came into production during the first half of 2014 with a capacity of 12,000 tons per year. Its successful operation ever since confirms the suitability of both process and equipment design for this demanding application.
Process Definition Considering the constraints mentioned before, process and equipment were designed to maximize dwell time, withstand the chemical attack of heavily oxidized in-feed
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Figure 2. Ellingham diagram for selected oxides.
Fig. 2. Ellingham diagram for selected oxides.
Figure 3. Influence of some impurities on electrical conductivity of oxygen free Fig. 3. Influence of some impurities on electrical conductivity copper.
of oxygen-free copper.
It canImpurity be noticed from Fig. 3 thatSoftening Iron, Silicon and residual Phosphorus are the – 20 ppm temperature (°C) most detrimental single elements for electrical conductivity, but conductivity is O 140 affected by impurities in an additive form.
Fe 146 Sb 192 Ag 148 (100ppm – 207°C) Annealability (softening temperature) P 258 (100ppm – 300°C) Annealability can be affected by elements that rise the softening temperature of a Te 212 work-hardened wire. Among those elements, the most important are: Antimony, Se Lead, Bismuth, Tin, Sulphur, 222 Tellurium and Phosphorus. Table I shows Arsenic, the effect on softening temperature of Cu-HCOF Zn of 20ppm of selected elements 148 after work-hardening (75% area reduction). Si 161 Pb 250 Sn 198 (100ppm – 315°C) S 181
Table 1. Effect of some impurities on Cu-HCOF softening temperature (75% area reduction). J A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 W I R E J O U R N A L I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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Fig. 4. The upper part of melting furnaces showing the door/ hood arrangement.
Fig. 5. The holding furnace and launder.
Fig. 6. Elevator releasing its payload in the vibrating table box.
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material, facilitate scrap charging operation, and comply with environmental regulations. Furnaces. System was designed with two melting furnaces and one holding furnace. Melting furnaces are shown in Fig. 4, while the holding furnace is shown in Fig. 5. All furnaces were lined with high alumina bricks in order to maximize their chemical and mechanical resistance, enhancing service life time. Melting furnaces are powered with one double-loop 500 kW channel inductor each while holding furnace is powered with a smaller single loop 150 kW channel inductor. Channel inductors are the most efficient way of electrical heating and they produce better melt homogenization by effect of their inductive stirring. Charcoal is used as reduction agent in melting furnaces, while natural flake graphite is used in holding furnace. Both melting furnaces are connected to holding furnace through an airtight nitrogen-filled launder (Fig. 5). Charging system. This is fully automated. The charging process starts with the introduction of a 10001500 kg (payload) container into the container elevator. The elevator raises the container right on the vibrating wagon and tilts, releasing the scrap load in the vibrating wagon box. The vibrating wagon then turns on a turntable in the direction of the furnace to be fed, and moves on rails to position itself in front of the melting furnace. At that moment furnace hood door opens, and vibrating wagon moves in and starts vibrating. Copper is then fed by weight into the melting furnace as there is continuous weighing and a weight control system. Once loading operation is completed, the wagon moves out and away, and the pushing device located in the hood dips the newly charged copper into the melt, under the charcoal layer. Figs. 6 and 7 show the equipment involved in the charging operation. Gases are collected in the hood exhaust duct and processed.
Fig. 7. Vibrating wagon feeding copper into the melting furnace.
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Results After few months of operation it was found that, depending on the level of oxidation of the raw material, a maximum production rate of 1670 Kg/h could be achieved, raising the unit capacity to 14000 MT/year. Oxygen level was found to be in the vicinity of 5 ppm and hydrogen level remained below 1 ppm. Electrical conductivity stayed in the 101+% IACS range. General views of the plant can be seen in Figs. 8 and 9.
Conclusions Quality of Oxygen Free High Conductivity Copper (C10100 and C10200) is very sensitive to impurities, particularly those affecting electrical conductivity and drawability. In order to get standard OFHC copper quality out from scrap in-feed material, only Mill Berry scrap can be used. If other kind of scrap is to be added (in small quantities), calculations must be performed in order to guarantee that the final melt chemistry is inside standards. Lower quality scrap may be used for upcasting brasses for instance. UPCAST OY designed, built and successfully tested a fully automated UPCAST system capable of producing high conductivity oxygen free copper (UNS C10200) from 100% ETP scrap copper infeed. While the system was initially designed for 12000 tons per year, it was found that it could produce an output of up to 14,000 tons per year. ETP scrap to Cu-HCOF rod transformation cost is comparable to that of producing rod from cathodes. Systems could be scaled up or down by sizing the furnaces according to the desired capacity. n
Figs. 8-9. Two views of the the 100% scrap to Cu-HCOF 14KTPA plant.
Bibliography Pietilä, Seppo, 2006, Cathodes and their impurities, IV UPCAST Users Meeting Proceedings. Gardone, Italy. Bodington, Juan Carlos, 2016. UPCAST GREENerCAST and beyond. WJI, December issue, from 2nd Global Casting Forum, 2015, Atlanta, USA. Bodington, Juan Carlos. 2017. Casting ETP scrap into high conductivity oxygen free copper rod. IWCC Technical Seminar: Melting, refining, casting. Munich, Germany.
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Bodington Juan Carlos Bodington is technical advisor for Upcast Oy, Pori, Finland, responsible for customer service, plant commissionings, technical support to sales, and R&D. In 1997 he joined Outokumpu Castform Oy, where he worked in the technical area. The company re-formed as Upcast Oy in 2006. He has worked in the wire and cable industry since 1987 in technical and management positions for companies that include Phelps Dodge, Alcatel and Kabelmetal Indonesia. He holds an M.Sc. degree in industrial automation and robotics from the Catholic University of Ă vila University, Spain, and an electrical engineering degree from Simon Bolivar University, Caracas, Venezuela. This paper was presented at the 3rd Global Continuous Casting Forum, Atltanta, Georgia, May 2019.
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Ductility improvement of drawn aluminum wire for automotive wiring harness An alternate wire drawing process that can impart high strength and ductility to the drawn wires is proposed by the authors. By Kazunari Yoshida, Chihiro Takuma, Shun-ichi Kikuchi and Hiroaki Kubota
In the automotive industry, there is increasing attention to designs related to automated driving and collision safety control, improved energy efficiency and environmental issues. One solution to reduce the weight of automotive parts includes car bodies and wire harnesses. The typical weight of wire harnesses in a vehicle is in the range of 20–60 kg, depending on the type of automobile; therefore, the reduction of the weight of wire harnesses cannot be ignored. The study to examine the feasibility of changing the conductor material of wire harnesses from copper to aluminum has already started1; however, some problems still remain to be resolved. The specific gravity of aluminum wire is one-third that of copper; therefore, they can be used to realize lighter automotive parts. However, aluminum drawn wires have poor ductility and tend to break at peripheral areas of wire harnesses. The authors have reported that alternate wire drawing can yield wires with high ductility and suppress the delamination that occurs in high-carbon high-strength steel wires2.In this study, the possibility of fabricating aluminum wire harnesses with high ductility and strength by alternate wire drawing is Si 0.066
Fe 0.196
Cu 0.199
Zn 0.001
Mg 0.145
Ti+V 0.003
Al 99.34
Table 1. Chemical composition of tested wire for automobile wire harnesses [%].
examined. There were five steps to this process. 1) The deformation of wires during alternate drawing was analyzed by finite element analysis (FEA), 2) strength and ductility were measured by tensile tests, 3) the number of repetitions until wire breakage was determined by a repeated bending test, 4) electric conductivity and residual stress in drawn wires were measured, and 5) crystal orientation mapping was performed by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). On the basis of the results obtained, the feasibility of using the aluminum wires obtained by alternate wire drawing in wire harnesses was examined.
Experimental Condition Material and experimental method. The mother aluminum wire which is provided for automobile wire harnesses had a diameter of 1.52 mm. It had been annealed at (380℃ for 1 h keep). Table 1 shows the chemical composition of the aluminum wire used for wire harnesses. The alternate wire drawing process and conventional wire drawing process are shown in Fig. 1. The usefulness of alternate wire drawing is due to the reduced accumulation of additional shear strain near the wire surface that results from changing the drawing direction with every pass. Consequently, the mechanical properties of the drawn wire are improved. In this experiment, wire drawing was done to reduce the wire diameters with a reduction per pass R/P of 20%. This is expressed by Eqs. (1) and (2)3.The drawing dies were polycrystal diamond with a half-angle α of 6°, and a petroleum-based hydrocarbon was used as a lubricant in the wire drawing process.
Fig. 1. (a) conventional wire drawing and (b) alternate wire drawing processes.
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Results and Discussion Distribution of equivalent strain of drawn wires calculated by FEA. The equivalent strain was compared. It was calculated by FEA to clarify the effects of conventional wire drawing and alternate wire drawing on drawn wires. In the FEA, R/P was 20% and the die half-angle was 6°. As shown in Fig. 2, the elements subjected to conventional drawing are elongated along the drawing direction, whereas the elements in alternate drawFig. 2. Change in the shape of elements in FEA and distribution of equivalent ing show no marked change in their strain after five-pass drawing for consistency. shape. The distribution of equivalent strain shows a difference, particularly at the surface layer of wires. The equivalent strain tensile strength requirement was set to 160 MPa and the of the surface layer of the drawn wire obtained by alternate tensile breaking strain was set to 0.02 as the target values for drawing is 7 to 18% less than that of the drawn wire obtained application to a wire harness4. Although the conventionally by conventional drawing. drawn aluminum wire satisfies the required ductility, it does These results reveal that the strain generated in the wire not have the required tensile strength. Both the alternately during each pass of drawing is canceled by reversing the drawn wire and the conventionally drawn wire exhibited drawing direction of the subsequent pass, thus suppressing good surface characteristics. the work hardening of the wire. This can explain why the A tensile test was conducted on the alternately drawn and drawn wire obtained by alternate drawing has slightly lower the conventionally drawn wires whose diameters had been strength and higher ductility in the tensile test, as described reduced by a total cross-sectional reduction ratio of Rt= in the next section. 98.6% (20 passes). As shown in Fig. 3, the highest tensile Mechanical properties of drawn wires by both wire drawing strength exhibited by the drawing wire was 274 MPa for processes. The stress-strain curves obtained from the tensile the conventionally drawn wire, compared with 263 MPa for tests of conventionally and alternately drawn wire and the the alternately drawn wire, a difference of about 4%, but the annealed mother wire are shown in Fig. 3. The minimum increase in elongation during testing was about 15% (over 0.02). Thus, the alternately drawn wire satisfied the target values, and it was established that alternating wire drawing is a useful process for obtaining highly ductile wires. Fatigue characteristics of drawn wires in repeated bending test. The fatigue characteristics of birefringent wires were investigated by the repeated bending test. In the test, a simple 100µm 100µm fatigue testing machine was used, in which the drawn wires were bent to 45°, and the number of repetitions until breakage a) Alternately drawn wire b) Conventionally drawn wire was counted. For a fatigue test on an aluminum fine wire, it has been reported that the variation in the results increases with decreasing size of the test piece5; thus, the number of samples in each test was 10, and the average value was calculated. The measurement results for the alternately drawn and the conventionally drawn wires are shown in Fig. 4. Although there are variations in the number of repetitions up to breakage, when comparing the average values, the number for the alternately drawn wire is about 20% higher. As a result, it has been shown that alternate wire drawing also improved the fatigue characteristics of the drawn wire. This is due to suppression of additional shear strain but may have also been due to the orientation of the metal grains. Residual stress measurement of drawn wire by slit method6. The authors prepared five types of wire: 1) annealed mother wire, 2) drawn wire after four passes of conventional drawing Fig. 3. SEM images of surface and stress-strain curves of [Rt = 56%] and 3) drawn wire after four passes of alternate each drawn wire. W W W. W I R E N E T. O R G
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Fig. 4. Number of repetitions up to breakage in repeated bending test.
Fig. 5. Residual stress measurement of drawn wire by slit method (L = 11 mm, h = 0.2 mm).
drawing (Rt = 56%). The residual stress of these wires was measured by the slit method. The length of the slit made in the wires was 11 mm and the diameter of the wire used for electric spark cutting was 0.2 mm. Fig. 5 shows photographs of the drawn wires with a slit and the residual stress determined by the slit method. By the slit method, the maximum axial residual stress at the surface of the wire was calculated on the basis of the opening of the slit7. The residual stress of the annealed mother wire was 0 MPa, but there was residual stress in the drawn wires. The residual stress of wires obtained by alternate drawing was 10-15% lower than that of wires obtained by conventional drawing. The reduction in the tensile residual stress at the surface of the wire is considered to lead to the improve-
ment of the lifetime and the fracture characteristics revealed by the repeated bending test. Electric properties of alternate drawn wire. It is thought that the amount of dislocations in the crystal grains increases by wire drawing, and the electrical resistance of the wire becomes higher8. The electric resistance of the conventionally drawn wire and the alternately drawn wire was investigated. For the measurement of electric resistance, the four-terminal method was used with the following wire conditions: length L of 1000 mm, current A of 1 mA, and temperature of 20°C for each drawn wire. The average electric resistances of the annealed wire, alternately drawn wire, and conventionally drawn wire samples are shown in Fig. 6. The electric conductivity of the annealed wire, alternately drawn, and conventionally drawn wire were 58%, 34% and
Four-terminal method
Fig. 6. Electric resistance of each drawn type of wire obtained by four-terminal method.
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99%, examined by EBSD mapping. The number of crystals along the <111> direction is high in both wires11. In the wires obtained by alternate drawing, the crystals along the <100> direction are strongly oriented near the surface of the wire. These wires have a double fiber structure along the <111> and <100> directions or a fiber structure with a random crystal orientation. The above findings can explain the following results, i.e., the wires obtained by alternate drawing have slightly lower tensile strength than the wires obtained by conventional drawing, and their ductility until breakage is increased.
Summary In this study, the authors examined the mechanical properties, such as the strength and ductility until breakage, the conductivity and the fracture characteristics revealed by the repeated bending test, of aluminum wires for automobile harnesses obtained by alternate wire drawing. The reasons behind the advantages of the wires obtained by alternate drawing over the wires obtained by conventional drawing were discussed on the basis of the crystal orientation mapping by XRD and EBSD. The following results were obtained. The shear strain generated on the wire surface during each pass of alternate drawing is canceled by reversing the drawing direction of the subsequent pass; thus, the equivalent strain accumulated in the wires is smaller than that in the wires obtained by conventional drawing, as revealed by FEA. The tensile strength and the breaking strain of the wires obtained by alternate drawing are 263 MPa and 0.024, respectively, indicating good mechanical properties. In particular, the tensile breaking strain is 15% higher than that of the wires obtained by conventional drawing. The number of repetitions until breakage, residual stress, and conductivity of the wires obtained by alternate drawing are superior to those of the wires obtained by conventional drawing. The reasons behind the superiority of the wires obtained by alternate drawing in terms of ductility and the number of repetitions until breakage were discussed referring to the crystal orientation mapping by XRD and EBSD. It was found that the wires have a double fiber structure along the <111> and <100> directions or a fiber structure with a random crystal orientation, leading to wires with high ductility and good fracture characteristics, as revealed by the repeated bending test.
Figs. 8. Crystal orientation of drawn wire by conventional drawing (left) and alternate drawing by EBSD map10. 32%, respectively. From Fig. 6, it is confirmed that electric conductivity is decreased by the drawing process. However, comparing the alternately drawn and conventionally drawn wire, it was found that the electric conductivity of the alternately drawn wire is slightly higher than that of the conventionally drawn wire. It was considered that in the case of alternate wire drawing, suppressing the formation of additional shear strain and hence increase in the electrical resistance was inhibited. Crystal orientations analysis of drawn wires by XRD and EBSD. The authors have explained that the properties of wires obtained by alternate drawing are superior to those obtained by conventional drawing for use in wire harnesses. The reasons behind the increase in breakage elongation (ductility) and the number of repetitions until breakage are discussed in terms of the crystal orientation revealed by XRD and EBSD. Fig. 7 shows the XRD intensities at the (111), (100), (220), (311) and (222) planes, along with the {111} and {100} pole figures of wires obtained by conventional drawing (Rt = 99.8%) and alternate drawing (Rt = 99.8%). It has been reported that the XRD intensity along the <111> direction of the wires obtained by conventional drawing with a high Rt exceeding 99% becomes extremely high9. The fiber structure along the <111> direction becomes coarse and the wire strength is considered to increase. Similarly, the XRD intensity along the <111> direction of the wires obtained by alternate drawing is also high. However, the XRD intensity along the <100> direction is higher than that of the wires obtained by conventional drawing. The wires obtained by alternate drawing are considered to have a double fiber structure along the <111> and <100> directions. This finding indicates that the ductility of the wires obtained by alternate drawing increases. Fig. 8 shows the crystal orientation of the wires obtained by conventional drawing and alternate drawing with Rt =
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References 1. T. Horikoshi, “Hitachi Cable,” 2006, pp. 31-34. 2. H. Nagashima, “Ductility Improvement of High Carbon Steel Wire by Alternate Wire Drawing,” Master’s thesis in Tokai University, Japan, 2016, pp. 1-62 3. K. Yoshida, “Basic knowledge of plastic working,” SangyoTosho Publishing, 1988, pp. 65-67 4. Y. Yamano et a.l, “Development of aluminum wiring harness,” No. 179, Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., 2014, p. 81. 5. Y. Nakai et a.l, “Material,” 54-3, 2005, 284-289 6. M. Asakawa, “Form Tech Review,” p. 22-1, 2013, pp. 63-79. 7. H. Sudou, “Residual Stress and Strain,” Uchida Rokakuho, 2003, 49. 8. S. Komatsu, H. Akagi, T. Sugimoto and K. Kamei, “Light Metals,” 33, 1983, pp. 670-675. 9. S. Nagashima, “Crystal Texture,” The Japan Institute of Metals and Materials, 1984, 14. 10. S. Kikuchi, “High Ductility Wire for Wiring Harness by Alternate Drawing,” Master’s thesis in Tokai University, Japan, 2010, 54-60. 11. N. Inakazu, Y. Sato, “Drawing - From fundamentals to up-to-date techniques, Korona Publishing Co., Ltd., 1990, pp. 75-85.
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Yoshida
Kubota
Kazunari Yoshida who was awarded WAI’s Mordica Memorial Award in 2011, is is a professor of precision mechanics at the Department of Precision Engineering at Tokai University, Japan. He won WAI medal awards for presenting the best paper in the nonferrous division in 1999, 2001, 2003, and 2004, and in the general division in 2008 and 2009. Hiroaki Kubota is a junior associate professor of the Department of Precision Engineering at Tokai University. His research areas are bar, wire and tube forming, and structural design. Chihiro Takuma and Shun-ichi Kikuchi are graduate students at Tokai University. ment of Precision Engineering, Tokai University, Japan. This paper was presented at Wire & Cable Verona 2019, Verona, Italy, October 2019.
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PRODUCTS
Take-up family expanded with new system that can process sizes from 6.5 in. to 16 in. The MGS Group announced that it has expanded the company’s product lines with the addition of the FAT616 Fully Automatic Takeup system. Per the company, the system delivers a new level of productivity for spools as small as 6.5 in. to reels as large as 16 in., while maintaining a compact footprint. Based upon the same design platform as the FAT820, the system performs to the same level of high speed, smooth operations as the FAT820 has become known for.
The versatile FAT616 is available in different versions, ranging from its most simple configuration as a direct replacement for SP16 systems, all the way up to a fully integrated system for boxing 6.5 in. spools and palletizing 8 in. to 16 in. reels with ReelBOT handling solutions. This totally integrated solution provides state-of-the-art in packaging solutions for the 6.5 in. spool application. The combination of the FAT616 with robotic handling provides seamless handing of a full range of customer put-ups. The MGS Group recognizes that many customers need flexible solutions, so it offers operators a host of different packages to obtain the best return on their investments. The FAT616 and FAT820 feature a coiling head option that can produce coils in addition to the range of reels and spools. This option delivers a tremendous range of capability for one machine to process. The MGS Group is comprised of MGS Manufacturing, Hall Industries and Northampton Machinery Company. Contact: Jeff Swinchatt, MGS Group, tel. 315-3373350, ext. 116, jpswinchatt@themgsgroup.com, www.themgsgroup.com.
Design of new 2-position payoff allows it to offer enhanced low-range tension control Lloyd & Bouvier’s newest product—a two-position, dual-shaft payoff, model LB LT 500—is a low-tension unit designed to maintain consistency. Per the company, the payoff has two linear, servo-controlled dancers with load cell feedback that integrate with a servo-powered, driven payoff shaft and a speed regulator with real-time tension feedback. The integrated dancers set
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and maintain tension as the reel is depleted. Each shaft is driven by a vector AC inline drive motor, and all inlet and outlet pulleys are made from ceramic-coated, lightweight aluminum. Shafts, rollers and sheaves are fitted with double preloaded angular contact bearings. This unique solution provides very stable and consistent tension throughout the payoff reel. It also can be made to accept multiple shafts and reel sizes based on customer needs. The payoff includes a touch screen HMI interface that has multiple operator controls with real-time tension displays. As with all Lloyd & Bouvier products, a wide range of safety features is available, including a full surround safety cage. Contact: Jason Sterndale, Lloyd & Bouvier, tel. 978-365-5700, jason@lloydbouvier.com, www.lloydbouvier.com.
Payoff unit introduced at Interwire 2019 was refined for even better performance RTD Manufacturing has further refined the company’s auto-adjust tension control flyer that it introduced at Interwire 2019. Per RTD Sales Manager Mike Waterman, the company has continued to refine the model. The tension control flyer design allows the operator to set the desired tension at the beginning of the payoff run, and the system auto-adjusts the tension setting as the wire package decreases in diameter. This process provides the desired constant tension throughout the entire spool for a fraction of the cost for other payoff equipment. No operator intervention is required to maintain the required gram weight at the lower end of the customer spec. This new design includes RTD’s “Anti-gravity Arm,” which decreases the overall weight that the operators need to lift in and out of the spools. RTD has reduced that weight to under five pounds, greatly reducing or eliminating worker injury cases related to employees reaching over the spool with heavier payoff units. The design also allows the articulating anti-gravJ A N U A R Y 2 0 2 0 W I R E J O U R N A L I N T E R N AT I O N A L
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PRODUCTS
ity arm to reach out to a 180-degree mark that allows the next full spool to be placed in close proximity, which reduces down time. Once one spool is empty, the operator can swing the arm to the next spool and continue the payoff process. The magnetic brake contains no friction components, unlike other pneumatic units, greatly reducing longterm maintenance costs by the elimination of those friction components. Contact: Mike Waterman, RTD Manufacturing, tel. 315-337-3151, mike@rtdmfg.com, www.rtdmfg.com.
Take-up designed to multiple applications Showmark, LLC reports that its “Pull-N-Spool” take-up system excels for applications such as extrusion and optical fiber draw towers. Per the company, the Pull-N-Spool combines a servo-motor-driven belt capstan with a tension controlling take-up unit to precisely control the diameter of a jacketed wire or optical fiber exiting an extruder or draw tower while winding it neatly onto a spool. The system pulls the wire or fiber from the process—controlling the diameter to within microns—by making constant adjustments to the pulling rate based on analog feedback from a laser micrometer.
The take-up section pulls the material from the capstan onto the spool at a constant settable tension. The take-up spool is driven by a brushless DC motor coupled to a smooth turning electronic slip clutch. The system will only pull as hard as the clutch setting allows, and will safely slip if the tension setting is exceeded. A traversing unit steers the wire onto the rotating take-up spool. The traverse is synchronized with the rotations of the take-up spool to produce a neatly wound spool. The traversing width and pitch can be adjusted on the fly. The system is controlled by a touchscreen interface and a tension adjustment knob on the control panel located on top of the take-up unit. A touchscreen is used to setup and display the speed of the capstan servomotor and the laser micrometer input properties. The interface also displays the length of mate-
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rial pulled through the system. A separate digital readout displays tension information. Contact: Scott Markovitz, Showmark Corp., tel. 610-458-0304, scott.markovitz@showmarkcorp.com, www.showmarkcorp.com.
This ‘bullet’ targets the ultimate ease for use with extrusion head technology In 2015, Guill Tool introduced The Bullet®, a new extrusion head with a fixed-center design, multi-port spiral flow design and gum space adjustment. It required no fastening hardware, so cleaning and restart are easier and faster than any conventional head. Now, the company has introduced the next generation of this unique and patented tool: The Bullet II. Per the company, the Bullet II allows quick tooling changes. The absence of fastening hardware eliminates leaking, as does the taper body and deflector design pioneered by Guill. Also, the company’s new patent-pending innovation—the Cam Lock® deflector retaining system—offers the below additional benefits to extruders and machine builders: • It only takes ½ turn of the Cam Lock to remove and install the deflector and tip • Fast tool changes, threaded retaining ring for the die and a threaded tip retainer • Dies are removed from the front, and tips from the rear • Tooling retainers provide gum space adjustment • Hassle free air/vacuum connections • Simplified cleaning • Reduced downtime and lower operating costs The head is suitable for high- and low-volume applications which are suitable for this head as it requires the simple, easy changing of just one component. A family of crosshead designs is available, and users can specify the “caliber” in terms of maximum die ID. The unit includes a vacuum chamber and kit for assembly and disassembly. Optional keyed tooling capability offers machine designers and end users quick orientation, so the overall unit design enables faster disassembly, proper cleaning and restart, allowing the line to become more profitable, more quickly. To view a video demonstrating this new design, go to www.youtube.com/watch?v=MpEdmCRtaqg. Contact: Bill Conley, Guill Tool & Engineering, tel. 401-828-7600, www.guill.com. n
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P AT E N T R E P O R T
Technical advances are a necessity for any industry, and to that end, companies invest considerable resources in R&D. This section lists the abstracts of recently approved U.S. patents. Most are direct to wire and cable while a few may be more indirect/downstream.
(Continued from p. 22) inner surface defining a channel within the cable body, a first group of optical fibers comprising a plurality of first optical fibers located within the channel and a second group of optical fibers comprising a plurality of second optical fibers located within the channel. The optical core diameter of the first optical fibers is larger than the optical core diameter of the second optical fibers..
Method for fabrication of a gold alloy wire U.S. Patent No.: 10,471,486 Patent date: Nov. 12, 2019 Filed: Nov. 3, 2016 Assignee: Nivarox-FAR SA, Switzerland Inventors: Denis Vincet, Christian Charbon
Method for fabrication of a gold alloy wire: an alloy is prepared including from 33.33% to 45.83% Au, from 3.64% to 12.44% Zn, from 18.46% to 45.02% Cu, from 9.88% to 33.78% Ni, and from 0.0 to 5.0% of elements from among Ir, In, Ti, Si, Ga, Re, a continuous cast bar is produced, having a diameter of 8.0 to 20.0 mm, this bar is wire rolled while limiting the cross-section deformation to less than 20% per pass, preferably 13%, the cumulative deformation compared to the initial cross-section is measured, the wire rolling is stopped when the cumulative deformation reaches 60% to 75%, an anneal is performed, the wire rolling is started again and the wire rolling, measuring, annealing process is repeated until the desired cross-section is achieved, the intermediate product is drawn to obtain a section wire of circular cross-section.
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Join Us at Booth #11D49 to view our NEW PRODUCTS in Wire Drawing Technology Providing wire tooling equipment since 1927
www.sjogren.com W W W. W I R E N E T. O R G
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Voltage-leveling monolithic self-regulating heater cable U.S. Patent No.: 10,470,251 Patent date: Nov. 5, 2019 Filed: May 1, 2017 Assignee: Pentair Thermal Management LLC USA Inventors: Mohammad Kazemi, Peter Martin, Linda Kiss, Edward Park, Jennifer Robison A self-regulating electric heater cable includes a monolithic heater core of PTC material encapsulating a pair of bus wires, and a conductive layer disposed on an outer surface of the heater core such that the conductive layer levels the voltage generated at the outer surface of the heater core when an electric current is passed through the bus wires. The conductive layer draws the current evenly through lobes of PTC material encapsulating the bus wires. The conductive layer may be a coating, such as a conductive ink or paint, or may be an extruded or wrapped material applied to the heater core. Standard heater cable layers are applied over the conductive layer, including an electrically insulating layer that contacts a portion of the conductive layer and also may be separated, at points, from the conductive layer by one or more air gaps.
Power cable with laminated steel and polymer armor U.S. Patent No.: 10,468,159 Patent date: Nov. 5, 2019 Filed: April 23, 2019 Assignee: Baker Hughes Oilfield Operations LLC USA Inventors: Ping Duan, Anil Sadana A power cable for an electrical submersible well pump has at least one insulated conductor and an armor strip wrapped in helical turns around the conductor. The armor strip has a steel layer and a first polymer layer bonded to a first side of the steel layer. Each of the helical turns of the armor strip overlaps with another of the helical turns, causing the first polymer layer of each of the helical turns to form a seal with of a next one of the helical turns. A second polymer layer may be bonded to a second side of the steel layer. The second polymer layer of each of the helical turns overlies in sealing contact with the first polymer layer of the next one of the helical turns.
Apparatus and method for an electro-mechanical cable overstress indicator U.S. Patent No.: 10,468,158 Patent date: Nov. 5, 2019 Filed: May 7, 2014 Assignee: Sercel, Inc. USA Inventor: Mike Maples An apparatus for indicating overstress in an electro-mechanical cable. The apparatus includes an overstress an overstress indicator cable including at least one
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non-twisted conductor disposed within a section of the electro-mechanical cable, where the non-twisted conductor is adapted to break when tension in the non-twisted conductor is greater than an allowable working load for the electro-mechanical cable.
Insulated electric cable U.S. Patent No.: 10,468,157 Patent date: Nov. 5, 2019 Filed: Nov. 2, 2018 Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd. Japan Inventors: Satoshi Hashimoto, Yuji Ochi, Masayuki Ishikawa, Takami Sagisaka, Takaya Kohori An insulated electric cable 10 has a core member 1 formed by stranding a plurality of core wires 4, each of the core wires 4 including a conductor 5 and an insulating layer 6 covering the conductor 5, an inner sheath 7 covering the core member 1, an outer sheath 8 covering the inner sheath 7, and a paper tape 2 disposed between the core member 1 and the inner sheath 7 in a state that it is wrapped around the core member 1, in which the outer sheath 8 is formed by a flame-retardant polyurethane resin, and a cross-sectional area of each of conductors 5 is within 0.18-3.0 mm.sup.2.
Aluminum electrical wire and method for manufacturing aluminum electrical wire U.S. Patent No.: 10,468,154 Patent date: Nov. 5, 2019 Filed: June 25, 2018 Assignees: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Furukawa Automotive Systems Inc., Japan Inventors: Yasuharu Uchiyama, Akihiro Sakaki A conductor including multiple aluminum-based core wires, and an insulating resin covering directly covering the conductor such that the insulating resin covering is in contact with the aluminum-based core wires. The aluminum-based core wires includes one aluminum-based core wire containing not less than 99 mass % of aluminum in a center of the conductor and aluminum-based core wires positioned concentrically from the center of the conductor, and the conductor is constructed by concentrically twisting 19 or 37 of the aluminum-based core wires in a non-compressed state and at a same pitch such that a thickness deviation of the insulating resin covering is not less than 70%.
Insulated electric wire and method for producing insulated electric wire U.S. Patent No.: 10,468,153 Patent date: Nov. 5, 2019 Filed: May 12, 2017
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P AT E N T R E P O R T
Assignees: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Sumitomo Electric Wintec, Inc., Japan Inventors: Shinya Ota, Masaaki Yamauchi, Jun Sugawara, Yasushi Tamura, Kengo Yoshida; An insulated electric wire includes a linear conductor and one or more of insulating layers formed on an outer peripheral surface of the conductor. In the insulated electric wire, at least one of the one or more of insulating layers has a plurality of pores, outer shells are disposed on peripheries of the pores, and each of the outer shells has a plurality of projections on an outer surface thereof.
Flux-cored wire for Ar--CO.sub.2 mixed gas shielded arc welding U.S. Patent No.: 10,464,174 Patent date: Nov. 5, 2019 Filed: Nov. 15, 2015 Assignees: Nippon Steel Welding & Engineering Co., Ltd., Japan Inventors: Kiyohito Sasaki, Rikiya Takayama, Yasuhito Totsuka; A wire includes, in terms of % by mass with respect to a total mass of the wire, as a total in a steel outer skin and a flux, 0.03 to 0.09% of C, 0.1 to 0.6% of Si, 1.3 to 2.6% of Mn, 0.01 to 0.5% of Cu, 0.05 to 0.5% of Ti, 0.002 to 0.015% of B, and 0.05% or less of Al, and further including, in the flux, 5 to 9% in terms of TiO.sub.2, 0.1 to 0.6% of in terms of SiO.sub.2, 0.02 to 0.3% in terms of Al.sub.2O.sub.3, 0.1 to 0.8% of Mg, 0.05 to 0.3% in terms of F, 0.05 to 0.3% in terms of Na and K in a fluorine compound, 0.05 to 0.2% of Na.sub.2O and K.sub.2O, and 0.1% or less in terms of ZrO.sub.2.
Aluminum alloy element wire, aluminum alloy stranded wire and method for producing aluminum alloy stranded wire, automotive electric wire, and wire harness U.S. Patent No.: 10,461,444 Patent date: Oct. 29, 2019 Filed: Nov. 3, 2016 Assignees: Autonetworks Technologies, Ltd. Sumitomo Electric Indsutries, Ltd. Sumitomo Wiring Systems Ltd., Japan Inventor: Hiroyuki Kobayashi An aluminum alloy element wire has a chemical composition including in mass percent: Mg: 0.3% or more and 0.9% or less, Si: 0.1% or more and 0.7% or less, Fe: 0.1% or more and 0.4% or less, at least one element selected from the group consisting of Cu, Cr, Ni, and Zr: 0.01% or more and 0.5% or less in total, and the balance being Al and unavoidable impurities. The aluminum alloy element wire has a surface roughness Ra in the range of 0.15 .mu.m or more and 2 .mu.m or less as measured with a non-contact surface roughness measuring machine. An aluminum
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alloy stranded wire includes a plurality of the aluminum alloy element wires twisted together. An automotive electric wire includes the aluminum alloy stranded wire. A wire harness includes the automotive electric wire, and a terminal crimped to the aluminum alloy stranded wire of the automotive electric wire.
Magnesium diboride superconducting thin-film wire and method for producing same U.S. Patent No.: 10,460,862 Patent date: Oct. 29, 2019 Filed: Oct. 16, 2015 Assignee: Hitachi Ltd., Japan Inventors: Toshiya Doi, Shigeru Horii, Tashiaki Kusunoki An object of the invention is to provide: an MgB.sub.2 superconducting thin-film wire that exhibits excellent J.sub.c characteristics even under a 20 K magnetic field; and a method for producing thereof. The MgB.sub.2 superconducting thin-film wire includes a long substrate and an MgB.sub.2 thin film formed on the long substrate. The MgB.sub.2 thin film has a microtexture such that MgB. sub.2 columnar crystal grains stand densely together on the surface of the long substrate, and has T.sub.c of 30 K or higher. In grain boundary regions of the MgB.sub.2 columnar crystal grains, a predetermined transition metal element is dispersed and segregated. The predetermined transition metal element is an element having a body-centered cubic lattice structure.
Superconducting wire U.S. Patent No.: 10,460,854 Patent date: Oct. 29, 2019 Filed: March 16, 2015 Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Japan Inventors: Takashi Yamaguchi, Tatsuoki Nagaishi, Masaya Konishi, Kotaro Ohki, Genki Honda, Tatsuhikoa Yoshihara A superconducting wire includes a multilayer stack and a covering layer (stabilizing layer or protective layer). The multilayer stack includes a substrate having a main surface and a superconducting material layer formed on the main surface. The covering layer (stabilizing layer or protective layer) is disposed on at least the superconducting material layer. A front surface portion of the covering layer (stabilizing layer or protective layer) located on the superconducting material layer (front surface portion of the stabilizing layer or upper surface of the protective layer) has a concave shape. n
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Sector Update: TA K E - U P S AW MACHINERY USA
A N D PAY O F F S
DYNAMEX CORPORATION USA
An automatic dual-take-up from AW Machinery.
A DYNAMEX take-up system.
What do you offer?
What do you offer?
AW Machinery (AWM) is a North American manufacturer and integrator of machinery and control systems. With over 100 years of combined experience, we have the knowledge to provide payoff and take-up equipment at an affordable price point. Although our primary line of machinery is used in the manufacture of electrical wire, electrical cable and fiber optic coating, AWM also manufactures and produces equipment used in other applications, including tube and hose manufacturing, rewinding applications, extrusion applications, etc. AWM designs and fabricates electrical control systems used in its machines and for various other applications. Digital Touch Screen Control systems design and fabrication is a specialty of AW Machinery. Our payoff systems are designed for fiber optic, tubing and wire cable. We offer mechanical payoffs and motorized versions. Our take-up offerings are extremely broad, from portal-style machines to small fiber optic takeups. We offer automatic cut and transfer dual reel machines in rigid shaft and parallel axis.
DYNAMEX offers innovative machinery and equipment that enables wire and cable companies to reliably perform their manufacturing tasks. Its lineup concentrates on providing complete cabling and bunching lines, including the high-speed, single-twist take-ups as well as multi-position driven payoffs and equipment for in-line taping. DYNAMEX also developed ground-breaking technology for the field. Its patented high-speed, auto-splicing tape payoff makes it possible to uninterruptedly tape in extrusion lines. These reliable machines are operating in the Americas, Europe and Far East. The company also offers special project designs to the civil and defense industries.
What three things should readers know about your company? 1. AW Machinery’s dual-reel automatic cut and transfer take-ups are in production at most major wire and cable manufacturers nationally. We provide flexibility in reel size and product range. 2. Our equipment is 100% American made. 3. We focus on proven safe designs. Our take-up features numerous safety features to protect the operator.
What three things should readers know about your company? 1. DYNAMEX has been serving the industry for over 45 years, and hundreds of our machines around the world are running. 2. All our machines are designed and built in the USA. Many have no parallels in the industry, and several have U.S. and foreign patents. 3. Our machines are built to be extremely rugged, and some are still in production after more than 30 years. To keep the older machines viable in today’s world, we offer upgrade kits to modernize them that can often be installed by the customer on location. Contact: Ben Bravin, bbravin@dynamexcorp.com
Contact: Rudy Fernandez, rudyf@awmachinery.com
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This section presents quick looks at suppliers for wire and cable manufacturing. It also may include some details about a supplier you might not know. FINE INTERNATIONAL USA
KALMARK CANADA
A payoff offered by Fine International.
A KALMARK portal traversing reel take-up.
What do you offer?
What do you offer?
Fine International offers a broad range of payoffs and take-ups based on shaft and shaftless reel support systems with varying levels of automation (driven lift/lower, driven open/close, etc.) and configurations (single, dual ganged, etc.). Options include driven and non-driven systems (mechanical and electromagnetic), manual and automatic reel loading/unloading, integrated dancers or accumulators, mechanical or independent servo driven traverse units and overall customization of the format and location of operator control interface). Our extensive designs allow for a precise match to a customer’s requirements. We also offer general purpose and foam extrusion lines, braiding and taping operations, preheaters, cable stranding equipment and packaging lines.
KALMARK Integrated Systems offers every configuration and type of take-up and payoff for use with process lines for the manufacture of wire and cable, conduit and hose. We provide standard electrical systems for North America with 480V/3/60 and highly regarded North American drives motors and mechanical components. International exports are offered with 380V3/50 with Siemens drives, servos and PLC. We supply a variety of reel raise systems offered with electro-mechanical, manual mechanical, pneumatic, and hydraulic for process specific applications and budgets. Each system has focused tension control of the elements that are being wound for precise layer and package configuration.
What three things should readers know about your company?
1. A third-generation family business, we continue to make wire machinery in Canada. 2. We moved to a new plant in Brantford, Ontario, as it offered logistical advantages that would help our operations, customers and employees. 3. We also offer services such as production consulting, project management, plant relocation, foundation design, detailed manufacturing drawings, installation supervision and alignment by laser, as well as after sales service and spare parts.
1. This year marks our 25th year serving the global wire and cable machinery market. 2. Our main factory has incredible resources, including more than a hundred machinists and engineers. 3. We’re there with you for the long haul. We continue to support all our machines with technical assistance through their lifetimes. We also help customers with necessary upgrades if a system needs to be changed and/or expanded to meet new requirements. Contact: Bruce Ceres, finesales@gmail.com
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What three things should readers know about your company?
Contact: Louis Kalmar, louisk@kalmarkltd.com
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LÄMNEÅ BRUK SWEDEN
LLOYD & BOUVIER USA
Lämneå Bruk’s No Twist Coiler 1200.
Lloyd & Bouvier’s dual-shaft payoff.
What do you offer?
What do you offer?
Lämneå Bruk offers a broad and extremely customizable portfolio of payoffs and take-ups that maximize plant efficiency. Wire manufacturers want less downtime and continuous production, and we have focused on providing innovative solutions to achieve those goals. Our lines can process applications for low- and high-carbon steel, stainless steel and welding.
Since 1989, Lloyd & Bouvier has offered new and used equipment, including many types of take-ups and payoffs. This includes shaft-style or pintle-style, powered and drag to name a few. We provide the best solution while paying attention to value, safety and quality. All new equipment is custom made to customer requirements. We have a modern machine shop, and build our own panels and integrate systems. We meet industry demands. For instance, there is big demand for take-ups that can level wind cables. We offer a PLC programmable traverse model with an optically controlled precision level winding system. Take-ups can also be fitted with a mechanical level winding arm. Both systems allow semi-automatic reel change without line shutdown. See p. 57 for our latest advance.
What three things should readers know about your company? 1. Lämneå Bruk makes every part of its machines in-house in Sweden to ensure the highest quality and customization. From the first idea for manufacturing and assembling the specific machine parts to the programming, the electrical design and assembly of the control cabinet, it’s all done by our competent, hard-working staff in Bergslagen. 2. We have a long history in the wire industry and knowledge to source from. Founded in 1727 as an iron work, Lämneå Bruk began producing wire industry machines in 1823. It has been owned by the Hagstedt family over several generations. The passion for wire truly runs in our blood! 3. We offer 123 customized machines, from smaller machines to complete lines. Last year, we launched the ground-breaking No Twist Coiler 1200, a machine that acts as both payoff and take-up. Contact: info@lamnea.se, www.lamnea.se
What three things should readers know about your company? 1. Our management team has more than 125 cumulative years of experience, and that know-how supports everything we do for customers. 2. We specialize in customized new equipment for unique applications. 3. We don’t just believe in safety, we design it. We created a new dual-reel, take-up system that not only uses the latest technology, it completely isolates the operator from any moving or rotating parts of the equipment. Contact: Jason Sterndale, jason@lloydbouvier.com
U P C O M I N G S E C T O R U P D AT E S
• February: Dies • March: Welders • April: Braiding Equipment • May: Packaging Equipment • June: Springs • July: Lubricants & Filtration • August: Plating Equipment 64
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M+E MACCHINE+ENGINEERING SRL ITALY
THE MGS GROUP USA
An M+E Macchine+Engineering Srl line.
The FAT 616 system from MGS.
What do you offer?
What do you offer?
M+E specializes in the design and manufacturing of payoffs and take-ups for steel and stainless steel wires in coils-spools for annealing, patenting, galvanizing, brass and bronze plating, oil tempering processes and wet drawing machines, covering a wire range from 0.010 mm to 25 mm. Our manufacturing program includes: payoffs from coils and spools; rotating capstan take-up frames (with flatgrooved or V-grooved capstans); stationary capstan take-up frames with pattern laying (with flat-grooved or V-grooved capstans); spool take-up frames (with or without accumulation capstans for continuous operation); and wet drawing machines with standard or automatic spoolers.
We offer a diverse range of take-up and payoff solutions to fit customer needs. We are known for built-in USA, rugged and reliable solutions at all levels with a sector emphasis today on our fully automatic take-up (FAT) systems: the FAT616 and FAT820. The MGS Group— comprised of MGS Manufacturing, Hall Industries and Northampton Machinery Company—provides first-class wire and cable solutions based on our highly engineered equipment and superior sales and service support. See p. 57 for our latest advance.
What three things should readers know about your company? 1. Each of our machines is individually designed and manufactured to meet the most rigorous needs of all our customers, and each subassembly we use is tested to ensure that the overall system we deliver will meet our promised guarantees. 2. The extensive experience of our team of technicians allows us to not just deliver advanced equipment, but to provide ongoing support as needed for our customers. 3. Based in Dervio, Italy, some 70 km north of Milan, we have agents representing 29 countries who are ready to answer any questions you might have about our sophisticated technology. Contact: Marco Fusoni, info@meitaly.it
What three things should readers know about your company? 1. This year we delivered to the market our new FAT 616 model for packaging product on 6.5-in. spools to 16-in. reels. This system addresses a range of capability in high demand in a variety of markets. 2. Our FAT systems have been a significant part of the company’s product portfolio since 1999. The FAT820 was introduced to the market at Interwire 2017, and its success has been marked by customer claims of increased speeds, reliability and overall equipment effectiveness (OEE). Its performance has been compared to CNC machine technology as the operation is accurate, repeatable, simple and trouble free, providing the best uptime performance in the industry. 3. The MGS Group celebrated its 50th year in the wire and cable industry in 2019. Contact: Jeff Swinchatt, jpswinchatt@themgsgroup.com
• September: Straighten-and-Cut Equipment • October: Tapes, Yarns & Strength Members • November: Bending Equipment • December: Spoolers and Respoolers W W W. W I R E N E T. O R G
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RTD MANUFACTURING USA
SHOWMARK LLC USA
A view of RTD Manufacturing’s new tension control flyer.
Showmark LLC’s Pull-N-Spool Take-up System.
What do you offer?
What do you offer?
RTD Manufacturing provides the North American market multiwire payoff systems that include triple-pass accumulators, flyer payoffs, both drop-in units and frame-based auto-tensioning units, down coiler baskets and steel transport skids. We offer strong customer service that starts from project inception, design and fabrication updates, and continues beyond the installation of your equipment. RTD provides payoff systems that fit customer requirements by not looking to sell you an off-the-shelf, cookie-cutter system. Perfectly sized and perfectly located floor space is rarely available in any manufacturing facility. That is why RTD has focused on excelling in payoff system layout, development and design throughout the North American market. See p. 57 for our latest advance.
Showmark manufactures payoffs, take-ups and respoolers for use in manufacturing where wire, optical fiber, 3D filament, or other fine materials need to be handled delicately and/or wound neatly onto a new spool. Single wire and multiwire take-ups are offered for annealing, cleaning, jacketing and drawing wire as small as 58 AWG with tension as low as 10 grams. Larger gauge wires can also be accommodated on spools as large as 40 in. in diameter, weighing up to 300 lb. We also offer many styles of respoolers, ranging from simple general-purpose systems to sophisticated computer-controlled machines for use in inspection applications, wire straightening, spark testing, and proof testing. See p. 58 for our latest advance.
What three things should readers know about your company?
1. Showmark was founded over 20 years ago. We only design and manufacture winding machines. We have almost 600 systems in the field addressing needs in the general wire, telecommunications, solar, defense, medical, 3D filament and fishing industries. 2. We offer many standard machines, but we design custom systems if needed. 3. Showmark’s new LEVEL-TRU programmable respooling machines produce spools with perfectly placed rows and layers of wire – even at the flanges.
1. As other firms are acquired and merged, RTD has continued to serve as a family-owned business since 1982. 2. Our RTD Flyer Payoff has an “anti-gravity assist” that reduces the weight an operator has to lift to less than five pounds. This has all but eliminated back related injuries and worker compensation cases in these areas. 3. Our RTD Flyer Payoff has a two-year parts and labor warranty ... but we’re proud to say that we’ve never had a customer that needed to use it! Contact: Mike Waterman, mike@rtdmfg.com
What three things should readers know about your company?
Contact: Scott Markovitz, scott.markovitz@showmarkcorp.com
For inclusion, submit your entries via the online form at bit.ly/WJISector. You can include a high-resolution image or logo (200 dpi min). Questions? Send them to editor@wirenet.org.
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This occasional section is part of an information exchange between KabloSanTurkey, www.kablosanturkey.com, and U.S.-based Wire Journal International.
Wire Journal International and KabloSanTurkey information exchange At Interwire 2019, Bekir Koc, the publisher of KabloSanTurkey Wire & Cable Magazine, and Steve Fetteroll, the executive director of WAI, publishers of Wire Journal International, entered into an agreement whereby each magazine will present content from the other one on a regular basis. “We are very excited about this exchange because KabloSanTurkey is a well-respected publication in Turkey,” said WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll. He said that the bimonthly magazine does a very good job covering Turkey, which is a very vital and active region for the wire and cable industry. Per a recent industry report, Turkey is the fifth most active country for insulated cable. “They do very good in-depth interviews, and provide news that our readers will find most interesting. We, in turn, will provide U.S. content to their readers. We see this exchange benefiting everyone,” he said. KabloSanTurkey is sent to thousands of companies using cables in more than 30 industries. Available in print or digital, KabloSanTurkey is published in English and Turkish. For more details, go to www.kablosanturkey.com.
KabloSanTurkey Publisher Bekir Koc, with WJI editor Mark Marselli at Interwire.
Elcab Kablo Profile Sanayi Ticaret A.Ş. Chairman of the Executive Board Nejdet Tıskaoğlu:
Elcab Kablo: Change, progress & innovation Have the first quarter’s data of 2019 realized in accordance with your goals? When we evaluate the first quarter of 2019 on a sectoral basis we may say that we have experienced a slow-down in terms of economic growth and volume of trade worldwide on one hand and that the commercial risks have increased as a result of increases of interest rates and weakening of entry of direct capital Investments on the other hand. When we make a general evaluation we may say that the year that we have left behind has not been a good year not only for our sector but for all other sectors and companies due to the insecure trade and market conditions created by the political turmoils and instable market environment affecting the whole world. No positive and noteworthy developments have been observed throughout that year due to the political problems affecting our country and foreign countries as well as the instability in the markets and the fluctuations of the exchange rates. And it has also been
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observed that the companies not only in our sector but in all other sectors have maintained their existence at the same level in a stable manner without growth and making any progress and tried to finish this year with the least amount of losses. When we finally evaluate this question in the name of our company we may say that our enterprise which has focused on customer satisfaction since the date of its foundation without making concession from quality continues in its path in the year 2019 as well whatever the market conditions may be, supply quality products and services at a cheaper cost, error-free and on time by optimum utilization of the resources, put permanent improvements and progress in the production process into action by increasing the training level of its employees, proceeds more prudently based on a strategy which is more selective in the businesses it undertakes and more sensitive regarding profitability based on its understanding of corporate governance. There has been a recession in domestic market. It has been seen in fairs. In which proportion have you been being affected by this recession as company and sec-tor? Being Elcab Cable, we continue our sales activity by 2 separate professional teams both in domestic market and international market. However our market share shows plus\minus rate of changes in accordance with the changes experienced time to time in global and international area, we can consider it as 60%for domes-tic market and 40% for export. We have been trying to meet the deficit coming out as a result of the recession in local market incurred by the instability in markets and the fluctuations in the exchange rates by expanding our sales network to abroad. Export has been like a flotation ring in today’s conjuncture. How is the prospect? Is high exchange rate an advantage for export? We can evaluate, how our export sales is affected by the fluctuations in foreign exchanges by this means; the supply of raw materials and goods necessary for the production are realized in foreign currency. When we answer this question by considering the export activities, we can say that the situation is in our favor because the difficulty of applying instantaneous changes into the internal market is seen in the international market, and that our sales are made in foreign currency. However, whether high exchange rates are really a serious advantage for export or not is an arguable issue because when it comes to the country’s macro-economy, high exchange rates are not a very big advantage in export since the inputs are foreign indexed and based on foreign exchange.
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How is your export sales going on to EU countries? Our exports, as Elcab Cable, to countries in the European Union continue at a stable level and our greatest wish is to maintain our current export volume to the countries in this union and eventually increase this volume. The problems experienced in previous years and the crisis setting that was generated showed that companies far from a corporate identity concept encountered major problems and the smallest sign of fluctuation or change and faced serious problems in maintaining their presence. As long as companies move forward with a corporate identity approach we can say that in which sales, not just our company, but also in our sector to European Union member countries, can rise and positive developments are possible. Could you please share your basis and target markets for export sales? As Elcab Cable, in addition to the leading companies we serve in the domestic market, we also export our products to a number of different countries in Europe, Asia, North Africa, South America and Middle East. As a company that aims to maintain its export country volume at a wide range and deliver its products; never compromising on quality, to any location throughout the world with affordable prices and on time delivery advantages, in line with customer wishes and demands, we are well aware of the vital importance of providing customer satisfaction focused quality services to our existing customers in these countries in addition to participating in fairs, conducting market research and customer visits to increase our presence in these markets to an even higher level and to enter the new markets like United States of America.
About Elcab Kablo
Established in 1998 as a manufacturer of cable harnesses and based in Istanbul, Turkey, Elcab Kablo (Elcab Cable) produces and exports silicone cables and profiles. Today, its product lines include a range of silicone cables, wire harnesses and power cords. The company exports nearly half of its production to markets that include South America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
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2M Kablo will produce radiation-resistant cable for European Nuclear Research Center Being one of the most important players in the sector with high quality and special design cable production, 2M Kablo became the approved supplier of European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN). 2M Kablo will produce radiation resistant special cables prepared according to the standards determined by CERN. 2M Kablo one of the most important manufacturer of low voltage cables of Turkey with domestic and national capital has been one of the approved suppliers of the European Nuclear Research Center (CERN), which start-ed negotiations a year ago, on March 14, 2019. 2M Kablo has proved its quality at international standards by supplying direct products to CERN, the world’s most prestigious organization of research into particle physics. Moving rapidly towards becoming a global brand Exporting to more than 80 countries and producing special and standard cables for many national and international projects, 2M Kablo has managed to become one of the approved suppliers of CERN thanks to its high quality production. Exporting 55% of its annual production to abroad, 2M Kablo by expanding in 2005 to Russia and Dubai in 2018 taking firm steps towards becoming a global brand as a domes-tic and national capital cable manufacturer. We proved our product quality as a Turkish brand in international platforms 2M Kablo Board Chairman Mehmet Dereli; Being a supplier to a world-worthy organization like CERN requires great effort and systematic work. We’ve been negotiating with CERN for about a year. During this time, we passed many
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technical inspection and quality control tests. CERN controls strict compliance with the standards it sets. Special cables, which have radiation resistance with trial orders and prepared according to the standards they want, have been used in their application areas. Our cables, which have received successful results in the field of application, have been approved by CERN and we have been accepted as one of the suppliers. CERN is a very prestigious organization that proves your quality in international platform and many suppliers want to offer goods and services to CERN. Our investment in R & D, product quality and systematic work have enabled us to achieve such a success today as a Turkish brand. n
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CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AA ENTERPRISE. México. Proveedores e soldadoras eléctricas y manuales; impresoras y discos; cilindros, bandas y anillos para recocedores, bobinas/ carretes de plástico y acero; carretes p/ enmalladoras; bandas para caterpillar; tapes; conos y anillos de cerámica y tungsteno p/estiradoras; maquinaria p/ producción; cabezas de extrusión, etc.ayala1953@gmail.com.
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WAI RESOURCES FERROUS WIRE HANDBOOK. This 1,168 page, hard-cover, indexed publication is a definitive industry resource for ferrous wire, a reference tool for those in the steel wire or manufacturing, engineering or operations sectors. It includes 36 chapters that cover many of the equipment types, processes, and specialty applications of steel wire manufacturing. The book begins with a history of
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the steel industry and its evolution, followed by details on: continuous casting; controlled rod cooling; rod defects; pickling and coating; mechanical descaling; deformation in cold drawing; wiredrawing theory, machinery and finishing equipment; lubrication; heat treatment; stress relief; annealing; oil tempering; patenting; corrosion; galvanizing; statistical process control; bridge rope and strand; nails, barbed wire, mechanical springs. The price is $235, $195 for WAI members. To buy, go to wirenet.org and click on The WAI Store.
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Alphagary ................................. inside front cover
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Carris Reels Inc ...................................back cover
ITC Monterrey........................................................ 9
Commission Brokers Inc ................................... 23
WJI Advertising ............................................ 16, 18
Esteves Group USA ............................................. 25
WAI Membership .......................................... 27, 67
Huestis Industrial ............................................... 28
WAI Operations Summit & Wire Expo 2020 ...........................................34-35
Inosym Ltd ...................................................... 14, 71 KEIR Manufacturing Inc..................................... 59 Messe Dusseldorf GmbH ................................... 17 Mexichem Specialty Compounds Inc........................ inside front cover
NEX T AD DEADLINE
Niehoff GmbH & Co KG......................................... 5
March 2020 Booth listings: January 31 Reservation: February 3 Materials: February 10 • wire Düsseldorf Preview • Sector Update: Welders
Paramount Die Co ................................................. 1 Queins Machines GmbH .................................... 15 Rainbow Rubber & Plastics Inc ......................... 2 SAMP SpA (SAMPSISTEMI) ............................. 19 SIKORA AG ............................................................. 7 Sjogren Industries Inc........................................ 59 August Strecker GmbH & Co KG ....................... 29 WAFIOS Machinery Corp ......inside back cover Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp ....................... 13
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Wyrepak Industries ........................................ 4, 21
North America Robert J. Xeller ext. 119 | bxeller@wirenet.org Shannon Timme ext. 126 | stimme@wirenet.org sales@wirenet.org
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