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OEM R&D Advances: The time is now
Inside: + Riding shotgun with the Road Warrior of wire and cable p. 62 + WJI: Sorry, but we are NOT for sale! p. 66 + Keynote imperative: All must embrace AI p. 68
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
CALL FOR PRESENTATIONS Interwire 2027 & SAFETY STARTS HERE. SAFER WORK. STRONGER INDUSTRY. The Wire Association International (WAI) invites you to share practical knowledge, proven strategies, and real-world experience to improve wire and cable manufacturing safety by presenting at the Interwire 2027 Conference.
SAFETY & INNOVATION
Choose from the: • Safety Starts Here Track; or • Technical Innovation Track. Abstract submissions should focus on actionable insights that help protect people, strengthen operations, and advance the wire making industry.
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Accepted presenters to either the Interwire Conference or the REWIREcable Forum receive conference registration and a one-year WAI membership.
ABSTRACTS DUE: NOVEMBER 2, 2026
SUGGESTED TOPICS: • Machine & Process Safety • Operational Safety on the Plant Floor • Electrical & Thermal Safety • Material, Chemical & Environmental Safety • Designing Safety into Equipment & Facilities • Safety Training, Culture & Workforce Development • Incident Prevention, Investigation & Continuous Improvement • Safety, Productivity & Quality: Making the Business Case PANEL DISCUSSION OPPORTUNITIES: • Safety Challenges in Small vs. Large Operations • Global Safety Standards & Best Practices
ACCEPTANCE NOTIFICATION: DECEMBER 1, 2026 MATERIALS DUE: MARCH 26, 2027
Submission Link: interwire27.com official publication:
MAY 4-6, 2027 GEORGIA WORLD CONGRESS CENTER ATLANTA, GA, USA
REWIREcable Forum @ Interwire
WAI and INNOVITES®, its educational partner, seek presentations for the REWIREcable Forum that will be co-located with Interwire 2027.
DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION
This one-day educational forum will explore the technologies, strategies, and digital transformation initiatives shaping the future of wire and cable manufacturing. The program serves as a bridge between traditional wire and cable industry manufacturing excellence and the broader industrial ecosystem. Intended audience: production leaders, supply chain professionals, IT/OT specialists, digital transformation teams, and operational decision-makers. Submit your abstract today: interwire27.com
MAY 6, 2027 CO-LOCATED WITH INTERWIRE 2027 EDUCATIONAL PARTNER:
SUGGESTED TOPICS: • Digital Transformation in Wire & Cable Manufacturing • Smart Factory & Industry 4.0 Applications • MES, ERP & Connected Manufacturing Systems • Industrial Data & Analytics • Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning • Digital Quality Management • Production Planning & Scheduling • Supply Chain Visibility & Optimization • Cybersecurity for Manufacturing Operations • IT/OT Convergence • Industrial Automation & Connectivity • Digital Twins & Simulation Technologies • Change Management & Technology Adoption • Case Studies and Lessons Learned from Digital Initiatives
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Accepted presenters elevate their companies through conference publicity. They enjoy the career-building benefits of expert status; receive complimentary registration; and a WAI membership for one year.
NEWS
ASSOCIATION HIGHLIGHTS New ferrous heat treatment course launches online The Wire Association International has completed and launched Ferrous Heat Treatment, a new videobased course in the WAI Education Center. The course gives learners a focused introduction to the principles, processes, and practical considerations involved in heat treating ferrous wire products. The course is organized into eight concise videos with knowledge checks in between: Introduction; Heat Treatment Overview; Annealing Part 1; Annealing Part 2; Patenting; Conventional Quench and Tempering (Oil Tempering); Austempering and Martempering; and a Final Recap & Key Takeaways. Together, the modules establish a clear foundation while allowing participants to move through the material at their own pace. Heat treatment plays an important role in determining the properties, performance, and suitability of ferrous
SIGN UP. STEP UP. LEVEL UP.
Achieve your career milestones with WAI’s online industry training courses. Learn more with WAI. https://wirenet.org/education/online-courses/ or contact: education@wirenet.org
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wire for its intended application. By examining several commonly used processes, the course helps participants understand how the selection and control of different processes matter in wire manufacturing. The online format makes the material accessible to employees who are new to the industry while also providing a useful refresher for experienced production, engineering, quality, and technical personnel. Serving as subject matter expert is Richard Gordon, technical director for the Spring Manufacturers Institute and managing director of C. Richard Gordon Consulting LLC. Gordon brings extensive technical and industry experience to the course, helping translate complex metallurgical concepts into practical instruction for wire manufacturing professionals. Ferrous Heat Treatment is one of 13 courses WAI is producing to create a complete online version of the Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing course. The full program is currently offered only once each year in person. When development is complete, (expected by the end of 2027) the online program will allow professionals to enroll on demand. Ferrous Heat Treatment is available through the WAI Education Center. Enrollment can be purchased at member and non-member rates at wirenet.org/education/ online-courses.
WAI membership offers year-round value, and there’s more there than you think! Membership in the Wire Association International is often most visible around industry events. However, WAI membership provides resources that can be used throughout the year to research a technical problem, find a supplier, follow industry developments, and more. (continued W W W. W I R E N E T. O R G
NEWS
Members always have a place to recharge at WAI events.
WAI digital resources offer a slew of industry information.
Wire Journal International digital access. Getting the magazine each month does not necessarily mean that a reader is a WAI member. Subscriptions to the magazine are free and are separate from Association membership. Members, however, receive additional access through wirenet.org, including the complete collection of WJI back issues. This archive makes it possible to revisit past coverage when researching a company, manufacturing process, technical development, or industry trend. Education. Members receive free registration for webinars, access to archived webinars and member pricing for education programs and online courses. WAI is also expanding its online education offerings, including its work to create a complete online version of its Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing program. Technical papers. Members can access WAI’s thousands of technical papers. Covering subjects from ferrous and nonferrous manufacturing to electrical wire, cable, materials, equipment and process improvement, the collection represents decades of industry knowledge. They can support troubleshooting, internal research, employee development and a better understanding of wire and cable industry technologies. WJI Reference Guide and WAI Industry Search. This industry bible includes profiles of some 3,000 companies that manufacture wire and cable or supply products and services to the industry. Its online counterpart, the
WAI Industry Search, allows users to conduct customized searches by company category and capability. They can help members identify potential suppliers, locate specialized equipment or services and develop a broader view of the companies serving the global market. Savings. Membership provides savings on WAI events, products, and services. Reduced registration rates can make it easier to participate in industry programs, while member recognition at WAI events helps identify fellow members. Networking. Being a WAI member makes you part of a vital class of people who collectively serve in many essential roles in the wire and cable industry, from sales and leadership to technical and engineering. It represents a link to potential sources and potential opportunities, all for a very reasonable annual cost. Chapter network. Many WAI members can also join a WAI chapter for just $15 a year. There are several US-based chapters: Midwest, New England, OhioValley, and Southeast. International chapters include Italy and Poland. Bottom line. WAI membership is more than an event credential. It is a year-round resource designed to help professionals stay informed, solve problems, find industry partners, and remain connected to the wider manufacturing community.
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CHAPTERS
CHAPTER NETWORK Southeast Chapter names scholarship winners
Tee time approaches for Southeast tourney
The Southeast Chapter established its scholarship program in 2008 to reinforce the value of higher education and to provide members with an opportunity to further benefit from their WAI membership and Chapter membership. Below are the 2026 winners. Audrey Brown is the daughter of Greg Brown, director of manufacturing at Insteel Wire Products. She is currently attending UNC Wilmington, where she is seeking a degree in business. Meredith Hammontree is the daughter of Joseph Hammontree, president of Temple Terrace Industries Inc. She is currently attending Florida College, where she is seeking a degree in biology. Mary Hannah is the daughter of William Hannah, electronics technician at Prysmian. She is currently attending Clemson University, where she is seeking a degree in biomedical engineering. Alexander Schelling is the son of Thomas Schelling, senior technical service associate at Teknor Apex. He is currently attending Arizona State University, where he is seeking a degree in computer systems engineering.
The WAI Southeast Chapter will hold its annual Golf Tournament Oct. 15 at Rock Barn Country Club in Conover, North Carolina. The chapter has held the event at Rock Barn since its debut in 2010. Set in the foothills of western North Carolina, Rock Barn has 36 holes of golf. Its public-access Tom Jackson Course was ranked No. 5 in North Carolina for 2024 by GolfPass. Last year, 116 golfers attended the event, making it the largest turnout since pre-Covid and a strong indicator of the chapter’s growth. The winning foursome included Steve Zande of Service Thread and Paul McConnell, Robert Kidd and Patrick Noble of CommScope, who finished at 14 under par. Sponsorship opportunities are available during the registration process. Players are also encouraged to bring additional prizes to donate on behalf of their companies. Registration includes greens fees, cart, lunch, reception and dinner program. Non-golfers may register for the dinner and networking program.
Scholarship Recipients
Don’t delay—secure your spot today! Register for the tournament at: https://bit.ly/3S62rVJ Brown
Hammontree For more information, visit www.wirenet.org or contact Vanessa Lewis, project manager, at vlewis@wirenet.org.
Hannah
Schelling
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CHAPTERS
Record turnout for Midwest Chapter annual golf tournament The Midwest Chapter’s annual golf tournament on July 30 proved to be a beautiful day of golf, networking, and camaraderie. Returning to White Pines Golf Club for the second year in a row, the event attracted 132 golfers—a new record for the Midwest Chapter—compared to 86 golfers last year, and just 69 golfers in 2023. The morning of the event was lively as players enjoyed complimentary breakfast and hitting golf balls out on the driving range. Players officially hit the course with a 9 am shotgun start, followed by a 3 pm networking reception, dinner, and award ceremony. Overall, first place and second place both shot 14 under par. The course rules say that in such a case, the winning team is the last team to have scored a birdie. That meant that the win went to the team (pictured below) of Kelley Stone, Dan Borst, Fabian Arias, and Ricardo Magana of Lake Cable. Second place went to Matt Bosler, Nicolas Pelligrino, Asa Garland, and Matt Zumm of Lake Cable. Finally, third place, with a score of 11 under par, went to Joey Mandel, John Mintun, Nick Pigott, and Logan Gibbs of Tri Star Metals.
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On the course, other contests kept the competition exciting. Closest to the pin winners included Fabian Arias, Andrew Heinen, and David Aranda. Most accurate drive was won by Kelley Stone. Longest drive was won by Brock Braun, Luke Peterson, and Doug Winter. Players dug deep for the raffle, raising over $2,500 for the Midwest Chapter scholarship program. The grand prize—a Weber Q 1200 Portable Propane Gas Grill and a $100 Gift Card to Chicago Steak Company—was won by Andrew Heinen of Tempo Global Resources. Sponsors of the tournament included Arkema Inc, Avient, Benvic, Charter Steel, Chase Corporation, Chief Supply Inc, GEON Performance Solutions, George Evans Corporation, Industrial Wire & Cable Corp, International Wire, Lake Cable, Lake Copper Conductors, M. Holland Co., Mico Wire & Bar, LLC, OTECH Corporation, SACO AEI Polymers, SDI Lafarga Copperworks, Sikora, Teknor Apex, Three D Metals, Inc., Ulbrich, USM, Inc., and Worth Steel. A special thank you goes to Lake Cable for supporting the event, particularly Jack Rosenthal, director of purchasing, whose promotion of the tournament played a key role in attendance and the tournament’s overall success. Rosenthal said it was “Great golf, better friends, and a beautiful day for an amazing cause.” n
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The Best of... OEM R&D A D VA N C E S
The Best of ... Bartell USA
Contact: Mike Hovey, vice president, sales and marketing Bartell Machinery Services Tel.: 315-356-4000 mhovey@bartellmachinery.com www.bartellmachinery.com
Advances in wire and cable equipment connect smarter controls, sensors, automation and digital tools. Yet the most important element remains the people who operate them. As technology transforms manufacturing, operators are taking on greater responsibility for interpreting data, solving problems and making informed decisions that improve quality, safety and productivity.
With a rich history in wire and cable and the integration of market leader CEECO, Bartell has developed wire and cable manufacturing solutions that propel its customers forward. The Armourlock SA-4 exemplifies this innovation. The strip-armoring system enhances speed, quality, productivity, ease of setup, and reduces maintenance, allowing manufacturers to handle a wider product range with a single system, offering ultimate production flexibility to meet diverse customer needs. The model has an increased production range (0.375 in. to 4.0 in.) and delivers industry-leading performance at 1300 RPM, depending on the product. It boasts a 50% increase in input material capacity, handling strip coils up to 1,500 lb. Advanced ergonomic design ensures user comfort, and hardened LED lights improve visibility during operation. The SA-4 machines feature Bartell’s “Operator IQ” HMI platform, providing an intuitive, user-friendly interface that simplifies operator training and machine operation while providing easy access to realtime machine performance, operating parameters, and production data directly from the HMI. Key features include sliding doors with integrated plexiglass windows, improved door seals for better lubrication retention, a redesigned tooling head and strip path, and an optional offline tool setup. The refined drive system has integrated servo motors that ensure precise strip tension without slip rings. The machine, adaptable to both right- and left-handed orientations, has a backload design for quicker pack changeovers and simplified string-up. The sliding door has improved door seals, and an oil-collection tank maximizes lubrication containment. A drain allows for easy transfer of used oil, and a multi-stage oil mist collector ensures a clean environment.
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OEM innovation: it still starts with people The latest advances in wire and cable equipment may involve smarter controls, sensors, automation and digital tools, but they still begin with people. The World Economic Forum, in an August 2026 article on advanced manufacturing, reported that three in four industrial jobs are expected to evolve over the next decade as workers take on more judgment, machine-oversight and problem-solving responsibilities. Its conclusion: competitive advantage depends on developing people and technology together. Todd Deaville, who leads corporate R&D for automotive supplier Magna, recently made the point well in an essay on the smart factory. As manufacturing systems become more connected and data-rich, he wrote, the operator’s role becomes “more, not less, important.” Machines can provide speed, consistency and data. People provide context, judgment and creativity. Their work increasingly involves interpreting signals, troubleshooting problems and deciding what action to take. Behind many equipment advances is a simple question: can this be done better? Better does not always mean a dramatic new machine or an entirely different process. It may mean a way to make a changeover less dependent on individual judgment; to detect a developing defect before it
The Best of ... DEM Italy
Contact: Alessandro Olivieri Spring Wire Q+T Lines Tel.: +39 0432 867611 info@demgroup.com www.demgroup.com
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produces a coil of scrap; to make a line easier to clean, maintain or operate; or to give an operator clearer information before a small variation becomes a costly problem. That kind of progress often starts with frustration. A customer sees a recurring delay, a difficult material, an avoidable safety concern or a quality issue that does not appear in every production run. A service technician sees the same trouble at several plants. An engineer recognizes that a change in tooling, controls, measurement, material flow or line layout could produce a better result. The advance comes when those perspectives meet. The entries in this feature reflect that process. Some describe new equipment, others improved control, inspection, digital monitoring or processing methods. Their common purpose is not technology for its own sake. It is to make the production of wire and cable more reliable, repeatable, efficient and manageable in the real conditions of a working plant. In every case, the aim is practical: less scrap, more repeatable setups, safer operation, easier maintenance and better productivity. The advances described here may differ in scale and technology, but all reflect the same continuing effort to make a demanding process work better for the people who have to run it every day.
Italy’s DEM has developed induction quenching-and-tempering (Q+T) lines for high-carbon spring wire, offering an automated, continuous alternative to conventional heat-treatment methods. Designed to support high strength, consistent wire properties and reduced environmental impact, the lines combine induction heating, controlled processing, repeatable machine setup and water-based quenching. The resulting wire is intended to be ready for cold coiling and subsequent spring production. DEM’s spring-wire process begins with pre-straightening, rust removal and drawing to achieve the required inlet tensile condition. The wire is then cleaned to remove soap residues before entering the induction furnace. The water-quenching system uses no oil, polymer or lead, eliminating quench-oil handling and disposal while reducing fire and pollution risks and simplifying environmental compliance. The process is designed to produce consistent martensitic structures along the wire length. Automated weld detection and removal, together with precise tension control, are intended to support reliable operation. In-line systems can also track surface defects, mark them with paint and remove affected sections without interrupting production. DEM Spring Wire Q+T Lines are designed to harden and temper high-carbon spring steels, including SAE 9254, achieving tensile strengths of up to 2,000 MPa. With line throughput of up to 3 t/h, the equipment is intended to provide dimensional stability through in-line section control, surface-quality monitoring, in-line nondestructive testing for defect detection and tensile-strength uniformity. Wire processed on DEM lines is designed for springs that must withstand repeated stresses while retaining their original shape. Applications include automotive components and industrial spring production. S E P T E M B E R 2 0 2 6 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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The Best of ... Fuhr GmbH Germany
Contact: Juergen Majewski, sales manager Tel.: 49-5233-383-600 juergen.majewski@fuhr-wire.com www.fuhr-wire.com
The Best of ... Gimax Italy
USA Contact: Cable Consultants Corp. Mason McClaugherty, vice president of sales and technical services, Tel.: 914-240-6033 mmcclaugherty@cableconsultantscorp.com www.cableconsultantscorp.com
Germany’s Fuhr Rolling Mills has continued to innovate in the field of enamelled rectangular copper wire production with the development of its IPU series (pictured). The IPU320 was designed in response to the increasing demand for high-quality, damage-free wire used in industries such as electric vehicle manufacturing. This compact unit (2m x 2m) integrates easily into any wire enameling line and operates autonomously, requiring only a power connection. Its unique combination of rolling and profile drawing processes, supported by polycrystalline diamond drawing dies, ensures precise wire calibration and outstanding surface quality. Building on the success of the IPU320, Fuhr has launched the IPU500, extending its capabilities to the transport and mobile machinery sectors. The IPU500 retains the compact design (3m x 2m) and offers a wider production range, making it ideal for integration into both enameling and extrusion lines. Equipped with a “double rolling system,” it provides accurate rectangular wire profiles in a single step, ensuring high precision and minimal tool wear. Additionally, Fuhr’s innovative wobble drum technology significantly improves product quality. By minimizing the relative motion between the drum and wire, common in single-drum drawing machines, the wobble drum ensures a smoother wire surface, leading to enhanced final product quality. For both models, the rolling forces of up to 112 kN allow for thickness-to-width ratios of 1:1 to 1:8, making them highly versatile for modern production demands especially in the environment.
Gimax Srl, Italy, has 44 years of experience in welding-wire machinery, supported by its engineers’ hands-on knowledge of wire production and the full wire-manufacturing process. The company offers its “TRD” range of dry-drawing equipment in multiple configurations, including vertically or horizontally mounted capstans; non-slip units with independently driven capstans; tilted horizontal capstans; rotating dies; and water-cooled capstans. Depending on the use and wire diameter, capstan diameters range from 300 mm to 800 mm, other diameters available on request. The equipment can operate at line speeds of up to 35 m/s. For nonferrous applications, including aluminum, Gimax drawbenches are often used with shaving equipment or other upstream or ancillary equipment. The company’s drawbench with a vertical capstan and horizontal shaft adds to the features offered by its more traditional configuration, which uses a horizontal capstan and vertical shaft. In the newer vertical-capstan design, the weight of wire accumulated on the capstan does not bear down on the lower wraps. As a result, the weight of the buildup does not affect the pull required to draw wire from the lower to the higher wraps on the capstan. The arrangement also improves ergonomics and accessibility during maintenance and line string-up, particularly at the rear of the line, where the motors, gearboxes, piping and cabling are located. Gimax also manufactures fully automatic and semi-automatic respooling machines and a full range of no-twist after-packing units. It designs and manufactures its wire-processing machinery in Italy, supplying both standard and customized systems. Its capabilities cover complete wire-processing solutions. In the U.S. and Canada, Gimax is represented by Cable Consultants Corp.
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The Best of ... Kurre Germany
Contact: Joachim Lukassen, sales and service Tel.: +49-4498-9250-121 joachim.lukassen@kurre-systems.de www.kurre-systems.de
Kurre Systems is well known for providing customized solutions for customers in the wire and cable industry. One example of this is the company’s VA-P-400-2, a fully automatic, double take-up winder that winds ready-to-sell spools directly on the extrusion line and subsequently palletizes them. In the compact version, the empty spool magazine accommodates six spools with a diameter of 400 mm, ensuring reliable and seamless operation of the fully automatic machine. The palletizer is supplied with pallets from a magazine that holds up to ten empty pallets. This design enhances efficiency and significantly reduces the manual workload for operators. The winding unit features an overlap function that ensures perfectly wound spools across two winding stations. The tightly synchronized sequence processes enable an output of up to one spool (500 m) per minute. Electrically adjustable pintles provide fast and precise tensioning of the spools. The integrated linear dancer maintains constant tensile forces between 30 and 200 N. After the winding process, the cable end is automatically secured with tape. Quick-change magazines facilitate the easy replacement of empty tape rolls during production, minimizing downtime and ensuring uninterrupted operation. After the winding and taping process, spools previously detected within the line as defective or of incorrect length are ejected via a separate roller conveyor. The palletizer transfers finished spools neatly onto the designated pallet. Full pallets are automatically conveyed further, while a new, empty pallet is fed from the magazine. Finally, the double-winder configuration is customizable.
Toroidal® Steel Reel ISO 9001:2015
Kimberly Johnson, Sales & Production Analyst • Tel: 309-757-8300 ext 138 • Kimberly.Johnson@george-evans.com Kris Lawrence, Reel Planner/Estimator • Tel: 309-757-8300 ext 109 • Kris.Lawrence@george-evans.com Brandon Johnson, Sales Manager • Tel: 309-236-2223 • bjohnson@matconmfg.com
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The Best of ... The MGS Group USA
Contact: Jeff Swinchatt, director of sales and marketing Tel.: 315-337-3350 x 160 jpswinchatt@themgsgroup.com www.themgsgroup.com
The Best of ... Niehoff Germany
Contact: Andy Zinner, President/CEO Tel.: 856-803-1817 a.zinner@niehoffendex.com www.niehoffendex.com
The MGS Group continues to advance its automation and packaging technology, with its side-loading boxing system a notable example. The system is designed to simplify the boxing of spools by combining robotic box erection, side loading and sealing in a single operation. A six-axis robot performs all three functions, providing a compact automated cell that reduces manual handling while making efficient use of robotic technology for the application. The side-loading capability builds on the company’s broader experience in robotic automation and automated packaging, including its ReelBOT systems. MGS Group was an early adopter of industrial robots for wire and cable applications, and its equipment portfolio includes wire, cable and optical-fiber handling systems, automated take-ups and packaging equipment, as well as double-twist machinery. The company also continues to develop its Fully Automatic Take-up, or FAT, systems. Its FAT616 is designed for online or offline packaging of products that include THHN, NM-B, Category cable, coaxial cable, tubing, hose and optical-fiber cable. The system accommodates customer-specified reel sizes and formats and uses an integrated mechanical and controls design for precise winding of a range of product constructions. With a smaller footprint, faster production capability and a more economical investment than previous models, the FAT616 can be integrated with ReelBOT and other MGS Group equipment as part of a more comprehensive packaging system. Together with the larger FAT820, it reflects the company’s continuing work to improve automated packaging efficiency, labor utilization and workplace safety for wire and cable producers.
Maschinenfabrik Niehoff, represented in the USA by Niehoff Endex North America Inc., is one of the globally leading manufacturers of machinery for the production of non-ferrous wires and their processing into automotive, power, data and special cables. One of the most recent results of these activities is a film wrapping and labeling unit for the NPS double spooler types SV 402 D and SV 403 D. With this device, filled spools can be wrapped at the bottom with stretch film to secure them for transport. The SV 403 D can reliably operate within the 0.13-0.50 mm² product range (with a cable diameter of 1.25 mm) at a maximum production speed of 2,400 m/min. This means a 30% increase in production output – and thus a higher operational efficiency with the same labor effort – compared to the predecessor SV 402 D. The NPS (Niehoff Package System) is a storage system for automotive wires comprising the SV type spoolers and collapsible plastic multiway spools. The spoolers are designed to operate non-stop in line with extrusion lines and spool the insulated wires coming from them onto NPS spools. The wire laying technology ensures secure, stable, and tangle-free packages on the spools, whether they are full or partially empty. Changeover from full to empty spools happens automatically at full production speed. NPS spools allow for the fastest wire pay-off speeds in downstream processes. When empty, NPS spools can be fully disassembled and nested inside each other. Thus, they require much less return shipping space than comparable conventional spools. Upon return to the cable manufacturer, NPS spools can be quickly reassembled, reloaded and reused for dozens of cycles. See p. 88 for more about Niehoff.
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The Best of ... Rosendahl Nextrom Austria
Contact: M. Murali Das Tel.: 770-568-1230 sales@rosendahlnextrom.com www.rosendahlnextrom.com
The Best of ... Troester Germany
Contact: Thomas Lerch Tel.: +49-511-87040 thomas.lerch@troester.de www.troester.de/www.troester-usa.com
Rosendahl Nextrom advances cable and fiber manufacturing technology to meet growing demands for data capacity, performance and production efficiency. In copper datacom, high-precision foam-extrusion lines support high data rates, low latency and elevated-temperature performance in applications such as Twinax cable. Flexible insulation technology processes solid and foamed designs, as well as high- and low-temperature materials, on the same line. For optical-fiber cable, Rosendahl Nextrom covers the manufacturing chain, including fiber drawing and proof testing at speeds up to 3,500 m/min; rollable-ribbon manufacturing with adjustable bonding patterns and missing-weld detection; fiber identification; SZ super-bundling; and cable jacketing. This ability is increasingly relevant as fiber moves into data centers for shorter-distance connections. In automotive, R&D focuses on extrusion processes for high-performance magnet wire using polymers such as PEEK, TPI, PPSU and fluoropolymers. Recent developments include in-line wall-thickness measurement and a fully automatic, robot-supported layer-winding station for controlled take-up. For high-voltage cable, cross-welding and accumulator technology enables continuous production of copper, aluminum or stainless-steel sheaths on a forming and welding line. Water- and gas-tight welds make these metal sheaths suitable for subsea cable and superconductor applications. Across these technologies, line control and service support help manufacturers achieve stable processes, consistent quality and high productivity throughout the equipment lifecycle.
Founded in 1892, Troester GmbH & Co. KG develops and supplies complete extrusion systems for the cable and rubber industries. Its cable portfolio includes CCV and VCV lines for medium-, high- and extrahigh-voltage XLPE cable, as well as rubber CV/CCV lines, silane lines for low- and medium-voltage applications, and insulation and sheathing lines. For continuous-vulcanization applications, Troester highlights several established technologies designed to support cable quality, productivity and process control. These include the TRANCS active nitrogen cleaning system for the controlled removal of crosslinking by-products; the TRENDSEAL variable end-seal system, designed to reduce downtime associated with product changes; and TRISAG contactless sag control. Troester also emphasizes digitalization through its Industry 4.0 platform, including a Line PC for intelligent data acquisition and production supervision. The system is intended to give cable manufacturers greater visibility into operating conditions and support process optimization. In extrusion equipment, Troester’s TQu triple crossheads are designed for the simultaneous application of three material layers, with features intended to support material efficiency, stable operation and shorter tooling-change times. Its TREMVIS system (see photo) supports precise manual centering of extrusion tools in crossheads through mechanical leverage and visual position indication, helping improve operator ergonomics and centering accuracy. Troester operates in more than 40 countries and has service capabilities that include a Mexico service center supporting customers in the Americas.
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The Best of ... vom Hagen & Funke Germany
At vom Hagen & Funke, innovation is our tradition. Based in Sprockhoevel, Germany, the vHF team has supplied the cable, wire, and plastics industry with standard and custom solutions since 1960. This includes solutions for stranding/twisting, spooling, and generally material handling. Focusing on our fully automatic rewinding, the Spulomat machine offers many advantages, including simplified and low intensity maintenance, user friendly design for training and operation, and high versatility. Depending on the model, this machine can also be placed in line where products can be wound onto spools, stretch wrapped, labelled and ejected ready for shipment. This innovative fully automatic take-up leaves a test end inside the spool of the conductor exposed for electrical testing. Owing to further development of the Spulomat, vHF offers the option of guiding all starting scrap and any faulty product into a container. This ensures only good product is wound onto the spool. The Spulomat can be equipped with industrial robots for palletizing reels and reel handling. The firsttime use of an industrial robot took place in the year 2013 and replaced the reels handling systems as well as the output magazine. The robot enables efficient and flexible reel handling as well as the mounting of intermediate layers on the palletized reels (flange face). Furthermore, the positions for the affixing of labels (optionally on the stretch film and or on the coil flange) can vary depending on the customer’s preference.
Contact: vom Hagen & Funke, Tel.: +49-2324-9745-0 info@vhf-cable-machines.com USA Contact: Cable Consultants Corp. www.cableconsultantscorp.com, mmcclaugherty@cableconsultantscorp.com
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F E AT U R E
The Best of ... Vapormatt U.K.
U.K. Contact: sales@vapormatt.com Tel.: 44-1823-257976 www.vapormatt.com USA: Cable Consultants Corp. Mason McClaugherty, vice president of sales and technical services, tel. 914-240-6033 mmcclaugherty@cableconsultantscorp. www.cableconsultantscorp.com
The Best of ... WAFIOS Germany/USA
Contact: Brian Davi, inside sales and marketing manager Tel.: 203-871-2072 briand@wafios.com www.wafios.com
Vapormatt, the original U.K. innovators and leaders in wet blasting technology that is represented in the U.S. by Cable Consultants Group, has designed a finishing machine that could repeatedly and reliably exceed the international standard B979 for non-specular finish on overhead electrical conductors. The standard specifies a non-specular finish requirement of an average maximum diffuse reflectivity of not more than 32%. Using an American-made model 577(5G) Photovolt, the company was able to precisely measure the reflectivity of its test samples of aluminum overhead conductors. By adjusting the wet blast recipe of water, abrasive media and air pressure, Vapormatt’s R&D team were able to repeatedly achieve a reflectively as low as 18% to 20%. The next step was to develop a machine that was purpose built for finishing overhead conductors to a consistently high standard and that could repeatedly achieve a non-specular finish as low as 18% to 20% reflectivity. Now in its 2nd generation, the Profelis is the result of all the hard work, a purpose-built automatic wet blasting machine for wire and cable products, including, of course, the finishing of overhead power cables. It has a unique manifold that holds four blast guns at 90-degree angles to ensure complete 360-degree finishing. For increased productivity the Profelis can even be specified with up to eight blast guns held at 45° angles. Capable of processing wire 0.04 in. to cable 2.13 in. the machine is designed to run ‘in-line’ with existing production, making it significantly more productive than alternative processes. Based in the South West of England, Vapormatt was founded in 1978 by the Ashworth family and remains family owned today.
WAFIOS AG offers a wide range of wire bending machines that can process materials from 2.0 mm to 16.0 mm. The machines range from single head benders to wire benders with up to four bending heads. A key advantage of WAFIOS’ unique bending concept is the rotating feed unit, which allows for precise 3-D bending. This unique concept enables our customers to have a minimal distance between the feed unit and the bending head while bending from a fixed position. This way of bending results in high accuracy and bending speed. Another benefit of our bending machine is the adjustable feed unit which enables customers to set the perfect combination between back bend clearance and distance from the feed unit to the bending head. Key features of WAFIOS’s line of bending machines include: • iQsmartbend. This automatically optimizes the vibration and output of bent parts. • iQwire. This provides real-time simulation for calculating cycle times and for collision monitoring. • iQwire+. This provides automatic calculation of a bending process free from collisions as well as optimization of the table position. • iQinspect. This transfers nominal/actual geometries and correction values from an external measuring device. • Inline chamfering. This allows our customers to chamfer the ends of parts without using a secondary process. • Bending after cut. This provides customers the ability to bend a wire part after it’s been cut. This is achieved using an additional gripper that holds and feeds the part to the bending head.
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The Best of ... Wardwell USA
Contact: Cynthia Tomaz Tel.: 401-724-8800 sales@wardwell.com www.wardwell.com
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For more than a century, Wardwell has helped define the evolution of braiding technology for the global wire and cable industry. Founded in 1911, the company built its reputation on equipment that combines mechanical ingenuity, durability and application-focused performance—particularly in cable shielding. The first braider Simon Wardwell delivered to Joseph Belden was groundbreaking for its era; today, Wardwell continues that legacy with advanced systems engineered for modern production demands. Wardwell’s strength extends well beyond the machines themselves. Customers value the company for its competitive pricing, proven reliability, responsive service and deep technical expertise. From its long-standing manufacturing and support facility in Central Falls, Rhode Island, Wardwell works closely with cable producers to solve application challenges, improve productivity and adapt equipment to evolving material and performance requirements. That collaborative approach has driven many of Wardwell’s most important innovations such as the sector’s first machine kits capable of processing a broad range of materials—including aramid and glass fibers, metal-covered yarns and plated wires—on the same platform. Its newest high-speed Maypole braiding line is available in configurations from 16 to 64 carriers and is designed to accommodate large material packages, giving manufacturers greater flexibility, efficiency and confidence on the production floor. As wire and cable manufacturers face increasing pressure to deliver higher performance, tighter quality control and greater production efficiency, Wardwell remains a trusted partner in braiding technology. With more than 100 years of experience behind it and a continued commitment to innovation, Wardwell is positioned to help customers meet today’s demands while preparing for the next generation of cable manufacturing. n
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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
Riding shotgun with the ‘Road Warrior’ of wire and cable Join HOWAR Equipment’s Martin Plut, aka “the Road Warrior,” on a whirlwind day across New England, where weather, timing, and instinct shape every mile. From factory floors to roadside lunches, his disciplined travel routine reveals a salesman who turns logistics into relationships and every stop into a future opportunity. Below is WJI Editor-in Chief Mark Del Franco’s report. A Walmart parking lot in Northeastern Connecticut seems like an odd location to meet a road warrior. I’m not entirely sure what to expect the moment he arrives. “All set?” he asks as he extends his hand in friendship. He’s friendly and outgoing. Purposeful. The antithesis of who I was expecting. Meet Martin Plut, product sales manager at Concord, Ontario-based supplier HOWAR Equipment. Several months earlier at Wire Expo in Milwaukee, he graciously offered to let me ride along on a day’s worth of client site visits in New England. Before his engine even settles, there’s a plan—there’s always a plan. “Worcester is our first stop,” Plut proclaims. “How do you pronounce it?” he asks. “WOO-ster?” Clearly, the local pronunciation is already jarring his Canadian sensibilities. “Anyway, it’s 31 minutes out.” Not “about half an hour,” but exactly 31, mapped, buffered, and accounted
The 800-mile travel plan for Martin Plut’s New England trip that saw WJI ’s Mark Del Franco join on the second day.
WJI ‘s Mark Del Franco, r, with Martin Plut, “The Road Warrior,” who shared part of his trip and some tales of the road. for. That’s how the road warrior operates. Every mile has purpose. Riding with him, it immediately becomes clear this isn’t just a job—it’s a system. A rhythm. Meticulously planned out over the prior two weeks, Plut had determined that the Walmart was the ideal meeting place. Plut didn’t earn his tag casually. This week alone, he was to meet about 20 customers across New England. 800 miles all told. Yesterday, it was five visits, despite a delayed flight that cost him his first appointment. No complaints. Just adjustments. A stop in Taunton, Massachusetts, another down toward Kingston, a cold call that didn’t pan out, and then a visit to Protectowire in Pembroke, where antique firefighting equipment fills the lobby like a museum. Somewhere in between, a last-minute request pulls him to New Bedford – which means he wont reach his hotel until well after 8 pm. And this morning? He’s back at it before most people finish their first coffee. To Plut, this pace is normal. A way of life built on spreadsheets, logistics, and an almost relentless efficiency. He walks through the route like a pilot reviewing a flight plan. Multiple stops, tightly scheduled, each one a piece of a larger strategy. Plut started with Howar Equipment during the uncertainty of Covid. See p. 64. Most people stayed put. But the moment restrictions lifted, he moved fast—armed with letters, reasons, and a clear objective. Within days, he crossed the border and launched into a two-week run,
Editor’s note: This occasional section is a venue where the industry can discuss topics of interest, both direct and indirect. If you would like to share your thoughts, contact editor@wirenet.org. For more on Howar Equipment, visit howarequipment.com.
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INDUSTRY INSIGHT visiting 24 customers in 15 states and covering some 3,600 miles. Not casually. Deliberately. Since then, Plut has made some 40 such trips. Ask him what makes a day difficult, and he doesn’t mention the schedule. He doesn’t mention the miles. “Weather,” he says. “Always weather.” He’s driven through whiteouts in Vermont where the road disappears entirely. He’s navigated the South during tropical storms, trying to stay just ahead of systems that don’t care about appointments or timelines. He describes skies that don’t look real—tornado warnings lighting up his phone, flood alerts stacking up, and still, he keeps moving. “You plan, you adjust, and you keep driving.” The first stop on our journey is Worcester, Massachusetts-based TriCab USA Inc., a cable manufacturer owned by TriCab Group, which is based in Australia. The company’s marine cable products are used in commercial vessels, offshore installations, shipyards and government projects. As we arrive, Plut pulls into a visitor parking spot where we see a sign that reads, “Vendor Offering Discounts.” “Isn’t that great?” Plut says with a chuckle. That’s a good harbinger and it sends us inside still laughing. At this early morning hour, the front desk is The road is not without its unoccupied but worklighter moments. ers are going about their business. While we wait for Melissa Pacheco Navarro, general manager of operations, Plut imparts the first of many tips and tricks learned from a lifetime on the road. “See these magazines on the desk?” he points out. “Put your magazine in that stack.” He then steps back and peruses the company’s guest book. “When I have a few minutes, sometimes I’ll flip through the guest sign-in book to see which of my competitors has been here before me.” Navarro, Plut and I take a seat at the conference table. Plut is asking Navarro about the plant’s needs. She then provides a tour of the TriCab plant. We exchange business cards. Plut reads from Pacheco Navarro’s business card. “General manager. Did you get promoted?” You can sense that Plut has already registered a quick mental note. He’s building relationships. He theorizes that today’s process engineer becomes tomorrow’s decision-maker. A quick visit today can turn into an opportunity years down the line. He isn’t just chasing sales, he’s in it for the long haul. Plut excels at building relationships, explains Chris Hauer, general manager at Howar Equipment. “Visiting
customers is not just a numbers game though. It is important to our relationship with customers that we get enough face-time in with them and witness what happens on the shop floor. Our motto is ‘solutions, not just products’ Sadly, hurricanes have no respect for Road and this only Warriors. happens when we interact with the customer and operators, as only then can we provide a solution to everyday issues. Martin exemplifies this process.” Even the miles tell a story. This week might only be 800—light work in New England, where everything is closer together. Put him in Texas or the Midwest, and that number doubles easily. Fifteen hundred miles means fewer stops, longer stretches of road. Driving through Texas at night in thick fog, guided only by glowing road lines. For Plut, it’s just part of the landscape. He doesn’t mind the company, though. Twenty hours behind the wheel in a week is easier when someone else can take a turn. But whether he’s driving or riding, he’s still in control of the bigger picture—the route, the timing, the mission. And then there are the moments you can’t plan. Because that’s what defines him. Not just the miles, but the mindset. The planning. The ability to move through uncertainty without hesitation. To stack five visits into a single day and still be thinking about the next one. From Worcester, we make our way to the quaint New England town of South Grafton, Massachusetts. We have two stops here. First is Molex, a manufacturer of interconnection cables used in everything from data centers to defense. We’re greeted and shown immediately to the cafeteria because all the conference rooms are occupied (more on that in a moment). The Molex building is bright and welllit. You can eat off the floor. The cafeteria still has the posters up from the recently concluded World Cup. After a brief meeting, Process Engineering Manager Manny Goncalves provides a tour of the operation. While every manufacturing facility is different, I’m amazed at the creative workarounds I have seen that operators come up with to get the job done. After a quick tour of the Molex operation, Plut is hungry. Even the Road Warrior must eat. We find a rustic looking restaurant right
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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS off the main road. Walking inside, we’re led to the back of the restaurant. Plut spots a table of guys wearing Navy blue shirts with the Ulbrich logo emblazoned on them. Spotting an opportunity to introduce himself and possibly open an avenue toward another sale, Martin says to me, “Go get your magazine from the car.” After introducing ourselves and some quick introductions, Plut and I learn that the Ulbrich party had just come from Molex (Ulbrich supplies copper to Molex) and they were the reason why we couldn’t get a conference room. Small world. Such is life on the road for the traveling salesman. On the way to the car, we feel the raindrops start to fall. Not a good sign particularly as we are only half way through the trip. They next stop is Hueson Corp., also located in South Grafton. Hueson is a long-time customer that has bought a wide variety of equipment over the years. There’s a new management team at this location and Plut wishes to establish a good rapport. He is always thinking. Inside Hueson Corp., the building is emblematic of many old industrial plants in New England. In fact, the wire and cable industry was one of several advanced
manufacturing sectors that grew in New England after textiles had already made the region an industrial center. The last stop of the day is Pomfret, Connecticut-based Loos & Co., part of Central Wire (see p. 12 for related story). Founded in 1958 by Gus Loos, the wire rope, cable, and hardware manufacturer is best known for mil-spec fittings, aircraft cable, swaging tools and accessories. The rain is now a full-on downpour. Plut and I sprint into the building. As the company is looking to modernize some of its legacy process lines, the purpose of the visit was to review some quotes issued earlier in the year. We meet with Anthony Rondeau, senior engineer. The thunderstorm was in full effect. Loud claps of thunder and lightning caused the lights to flicker. It’s probably our cue to wrap things up and finish our visit. Now the day has shifted. I’m back where it started—the Walmart parking lot—but this time under a heavy curtain of rain. Plut has another hour or so on the road before he stops for the night. The rain may have changed the route, but not the routine. Before he pulls away, Plut is already planning the next day’s agenda.
The ‘Road Warrior’ evolved from the 1st post Covid roadtrip Worse single day ever? Chicago O’Hare during Tornado-mania in July 2023. A direct tornado warning led to 10,000 people being pulled from the terminal and from planes It took staff three weeks to on the tarmac, then directed prepare a two-week-business trip into underground tunnels in the U.S. It was a time when leading to the parking many customers had a “no visigarage. tor” policy and there was a risk I was asked how I had of not being allowed to enter the maintained my energy and U.S. The trip, by car, would start spirit. I realized that I had and finish in Toronto. never really thought about I had to plead my case for two The first trip served as a template for future trips. it that way. It was just what hours at the border crossing, I did, and I enjoyed it. I like but I was allowed in. I intended visiting cable manufacturing plants for the first time and to make the most of it. Over the next 12 days, I met 24 helping customers with various process challenges they customers in 15 states, racking up 3,600 miles. This being face. my inauguration trip into the U.S., I relied on the Howar A key through all of this has been Sunita, my very underEquipment brand to get me into customer facilities. I had standing wife of 27 years. Throughout, she has been most previously worked with Howar many years ago, but the supportive. But aside from a few earlier trips, I now plan so U.S. market was new to me. Some customers I visited were that I am always home to spend time with her on weekends. strict on Covid distancing while others were happy to interShe’s good with that, and I am a lucky guy. act on a professional level once again. It was a unique time One last thing. My work is not done. There are roughly and learning experience for me. 430-450 factories in North America that manufacture Since then, over the past five years I have averaged eight extruded wire and cable products. I have been to roughly different long trips a year, most lasting five days and about 60% of them in the past five years. I have many more to 1,000 miles, although some are much longer. I usually have go. n four different hotel stays Every story has a beginning, and for the Road Warrior it began in the post-Covid period. when the U.S. started to allow essential travel in spring 2021. Below is Plut’s story.
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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS
Private equity comes a calling to the wire and cable field The industry news section in this issue has two stories of significant wire and cable manufacturers being bought by private equity companies, and it seems that owners of privately held wire and cable companies are getting more calls, more emails and more pitches. Below is a look at what is driving that interest, as well as an example on the next page as to just how wide a net is being cast. By Mark Marselli WJI contributing editor The stories about the sales of Central Wire Industries and Fort Wayne Wire Products (see p. 12) are big news, but not surprising. Private equity is calling on wire and cable companies not because the sector is fashionable, but because manufacturing remains one of the few places where buyers can find scale, cash flow and operational upside they believe they can improve. SMERGERS, a business-for-sale and investment marketplace, lists 37 active and verified private-equity firms with wire and cable as a stated focus area as of July 18, 2026. That does not mean each of those firms is actively targeting every manufacturer, but it does show that wire and cable is seen as a defined investment theme, not a random afterthought. In the post-Covid rebound, dealmaking has come back strong. A 2026 McKinsey private-equity report says the industry is now working in a tougher environment, where the old combination of cheap leverage and multiple expansion has largely run its course. Returns depend far more on operational value creation, disciplined underwriting and longer holding periods. The volume has climbed in recent years. According to PitchBook, U.S. private-equity deal value jumped to $1.16 trillion across 9,019 transactions in 2025, up 30.8% from 2024. Wire and cable finds itself in a sweet spot, tied to infrastructure, electrification, grid work, data centers and industrial expansion. Those trends give the sector stable demand, infrastructure exposure, consolidation potential and room for operational improvement. That does not mean every private-equity transaction follows a simple buy-and-flip formula. Kinderhook Industries pursued a build-and-grow strategy, building Copperweld through the 2020 acquisitions of both Copperhead Industries, a supplier of copper-clad-steel tracer wire and utility-locating products, and Seminole Wire & Cable, before selling the expanded platform to Rhône in 2025. Kinderhook continues to hold investments in Advanced Digital Cable and Kingwire. The outreach, however, can be less precise than the capital behind it. Owners report a steady flow of generic messages, some only thinly personalized. That helps explain the volume of inquiries. McKinsey said global buyout dealmaking value reached nearly $1.8 trillion in
2025, while total private-equity deal value rose to $2.6 trillion. Those figures do not just mean more money in the system; they mean more firms competing for a narrower set of assets that fit the new model. Firms also are using AI to identify and evaluate potential acquisition targets. Of course, interest is not the same as an offer, and an unsolicited approach is not necessarily a good fit. For owners considering a sale or minority investment, the questions go beyond valuation: Will the buyer support capital spending and management continuity? Is the company intended to remain a stand-alone business or become an add-on? How much control will the owner retain? For family-owned companies, succession timing can be as important as price. Ted Bill, CEO of Wire Experts Group, said the volume of such “investment interest” emails and phone calls “has become overwhelming.” The business is not for sale, “and an unsolicited message from a broker, investment banker or other party that we do not recognize as a legitimate participant in our industry is reported as junk.” “I must get a few emails a week from some investment/ financial firm that either wants to buy or partner with me,” said Bob Swanson Jr., president of United Wire Co., Inc. The North Haven, Connecticut-based company makes precision flat, square and custom-shaped wire. He said he also receives solicitations from companies interested in partnering or investing, including competitors and suppliers. “The markets have seemed to level off, so the best way for some companies to grow is by purchasing/acquiring other businesses,” he said. Another company reporting multiple inquiries is Fisk Alloy Inc. CEO Eric Fisk said that there has been strong interest from would-be acquirers. “I can only speak for ‘bare wire’ companies, leaving the insulators to speak for themselves, but both have a mix of small- to medium-sized, well-run companies with solid equipment capitalization, know-how, flexibility and reputation for same,” he said. “It would not surprise me in the least that, come 10 years on, there will only be the big cable companies and the small but fast and flexible cable companies.” The reach of such solicitations can be broad, and sometimes notably imprecise, as the one-sided exchange on the opposite page shows.
Editor’s note: Industry Insights provides a forum for perspectives, ideas and issues of interest to the wire and cable industry, both direct and indirect. To contribute, contact editor@wirenet.org.
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expansion. He can be contacted at egest.balla@crugroup.com.
INDUSTRY INSIGHT
It’s nice to be wanted, but can we just start with a WJI ad? Over the last three months, Wire Journal International has repeatedly been approached by multiple would-be equity investors that appear to have mistaken an industry publication for a “compelling” wire-and-cable acquisition candidate. Sadly, WJI’s office location is not especially well-suited to wire and cable manufacturing, but the messages do underscore the breadth, and occasional imprecision, of today’s outreach. Below is the history of the one-sided exchange, minus a dozen plus other messages that were largely duplicates. If nothing else, credit is due for persistency. Friday, June 5, 2026 1:53 PM Hey Mark, We’re seeking to allocate in the range of $2M–$35M from our family office relationships into the wire and cable industry category this quarter alone, our team has specifically designated this space deliberately. WJI has landed on our shortlist. Would you be open to a brief conversation? Best, Christian Varquez Monday, June 15, 2026 2:43 PM Hi Mark, WJI is on our short list. Are you open to jumping on a call? Warm regards, Alexander Lim
Wednesday, July 29, 2026 2:25 PM Hey Mark, One thing I wanted to ask: Could private-market capital from growth investors considering investments in your segment potentially strengthen WJI’s runway during the next six months? Carolsue Friday, August 7, 2026 9:11 AM Hello Mark, I am resurfacing this concerning my previous outreach. The family office we advise is still seeking to invest in the wire and cable industry landscape, and Wire Association International remains on our list. Could we grab some time? Stevie Friday, August 7, 2026 9:11 AM Hey Mark, Had a quick question, Right now we have a family-office platform seeking to invest in the wire and cable industry landscape and WJI is one of the companies on it. Would it make sense to have a conversation? Haley
Monday, August 10, 2026 9:57 AM The messages on this page may have been Hey Mark, misdirected ... but not the underlying private I am reaching out again on the equity interest in wire and cable manufacturers. topic of my last message. The Wednesday, June 24, 2026 3:06 family office I mentioned is still PM interested in making an investHi Mark, ment into the wire and cable industry category, and WJI Wanted to reconnect on the message I sent. We’re still remains one of the names we’d bring to them. searching for founders inside the wire and cable industry Would you be interested in a call? market looking to align themselves to make themselves Haley invested into by single-family offices before end of quarter, and WJI remains a leading candidate. Tuesday, August 11, 2026 9:06 AM Are you available for a quick call? All the best, Hey Mark, Lloyd Revisiting my note here. Our family-office client would like us to speak next week. Friday would suit us. Thursday, July 2, 2026 3:01 PM Is that day open on your end? Hey Mark, Portia I am circling back on my first email about positioning WJI so it can be invested into by our family office partners. As a reminder, we typically work with management Editor’s note. WJI deleted the names of the entities teams working to attract private investments of $2 million sending these messages and abbreviated/italicized the to $35 million, and WJI is still a compelling candidate. magazine name in the entries. n Are you open to jumping on a call? Best regards, Alexander
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INDUSTRY INSIGHTS Wire Expo 2026 Keynote Speaker Dr. John Sviokla
Sviokla: train for AI, but fire those who refuse to use it Wire Expo 2026 keynote speaker Dr. John Sviokla, co-founder of GAI Insights and an executive fellow at Harvard Business School, discussed how artificial intelligence can help industrial companies improve productivity, customer access, technical support and competitiveness. His presentation, “The Next Productivity Curve: Where AI Creates Value in Industrial Settings,” urged companies to move beyond experimentation and identify practical applications. The following is an edited version of his direct, blunt remarks. cannot build a healthy company around people who insist Good morning. It is a pleasure to be here, and I apprecion working as though modern tools do not exist. ate the opportunity to speak with you. I hope to make you a There is another point companies need to understand: little afraid … and a little greedy. whether you know it or not, there is increasingly a robot Think about 2030. Not 2035. Just 2030. Can you imagine between you and your customer. a competitive organization that does not use AI to prepare If an engineer is looking for a product to specify, if a RFQs, marketing materials, customer-service responses purchasing person is researching suppliers or if an end and design work? Can you imagine a company whose user is trying to solve a problem, they may no longer begin employees do not use AI to find information, solve probwith a traditional Google search. They may ask ChatGPT, lems and serve customers? Claude, Gemini or an AI-enhanced Google search tool to There will always be businesses that continue to operidentify options and explain the differences. ate without these tools. But being in business and being If your technical information is locked in PDFs, poorly healthy are two different things. The healthy organization structured on your website or difficult to interpret, those of the future will combine human intelligence and machine systems may not find it. Or they may not understand it well intelligence. Think of Iron Man and Jarvis—the assisenough to recommend you. You may have the best technitant who can process information, organize priorities and cal information in the industry, but if the systems customhelp make better decisions. That is increasingly how I run ers are using cannot see it, you are invisible at the moment my own day. I ask AI to look at documents, identify what decisions are made. matters most and help me prioritize what needs to be done. You cannot win business if you are not even in the Every employee in your organization will soon have some consideration set. That is why version of that assistant. digital visibility means more than If your company does not having a website. Your product provide those tools, or does not information, application knowlencourage employees to use them edge, technical specifications well, you may still be in business. and customer stories need to be But you probably will not generate available in formats that people as much revenue per employee as and AI systems can understand. competitors that do. Customers should be able to find That is what much of this clear answers when they ask what conversation is about: revenue per you make, what markets you serve, employee. AI can help companies what standards you meet and why grow without adding people at the they should work with you. same pace as revenue. It can help The speed of AI adoption is companies take on more work, extraordinary because this is the respond more quickly and serve first major technology that speaks customers more consistently. our language. We do not need to That does not mean people no learn a programming language to longer matter. It means the people use it. We can talk to it. who do use these tools effectively People worry about prompt will be able to do more. If employengineering. They ask, “What is ees refuse to adopt the tools Keynote speaker Dr. John Sviokla made a powerful the perfect way to speak to these needed to do their jobs competipresentation on AI and digital transformation. systems?” My advice is simple: tively, you need to fire them. You Editor’s note: Industry Insights provides a forum for perspectives, ideas and issues of interest to the wire and cable industry, both direct and indirect. To contribute, contact editor@wirenet.org.
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INDUSTRY INSIGHT First, educate your people. They need to understand what ask the AI. Tell it what you are trying to accomplish. Then these tools can do, where they can help and where human ask it how you should prompt it to get the best result. It will review remains essential. They also need to understand often tell you. how to protect confidential information, customer data and The investment behind this technology is enormous. proprietary knowledge. Major technology companies are investing heavily in AI Second, create islands of automation. Identify processes infrastructure, models and applications. Private equity is where AI can create value without requiring the company moving in as well because AI is suited to improving operto redesign everything at once. ating performance, reducing repetitive work, building scalContract review is one example. AI can help identify able processes and increasing enterprise value. issues, compare language and flag items for review. The AI will move into industrial businesses faster than lawyer, executive or responsible manager still makes the many people expect. It will affect manufacturing, distridecision, but the machine can help that person get to the bution, engineering and service organizations. The quesimportant issues faster. tion is not whether it matters. The question is where it can Customer service is make an immediate difference another opportunity. AI in your business. can respond to routine Consider a simple example. questions, route complex A person with a BMW needs If employees refuse to issues to the appropriate to add oil, but does not know adopt the AI tools needed to person and help idenwhich engine is in the car or tify when a customer is what oil specification it requires. do their jobs competitively, becoming frustrated and Using a smartphone camera and you need to fire them. needs human attention. Google’s Gemini assistant, he The goal is to make it points the phone at the engine easier for customers to get compartment and asks it to an answer—and faster for identify the engine. The system them to reach a person when one is needed. does that and recommends a suitable oil specification. At Marketing, sales, human resources, training and legal the store, he points the phone at the shelf and asks which work offer similar opportunities. A salesperson should product is correct. Gemini identifies the appropriate bottle not walk into a customer meeting without researching that and explains that it meets the relevant BMW approval. customer. An AI tool can help prepare a company profile, After adding the oil, he asks how to check the oil level in summarize public information and suggest useful quesa 2009 BMW that does not have a conventional dipstick tions. Before sending an important email, use AI to review or an iDrive display. The system explains how to use the it. Before giving a presentation, use it to identify gaps and vehicle’s onboard controls, tells him to warm up the engine suggest improvements. Before issuing a quotation, use it to first, and then confirms from a camera view of the display help organize the information and make sure the response that the oil level is correct. That is retail, off-the-shelf intelis clear. ligence, available now. At my company, one of our most useful questions is: So here is your homework: take out your phone and point “Have you asked the robot?” It does not mean the robot it at something in your business. It could be a machine, a makes the decision. It means we do not ignore a tool component, an inventory item or a part. Ask, “What is this? that may help us make a better decision. The companies Where do I get another one? How do I fix it?” that lead will not wait for industry averages. You are not You may be shocked by what it already knows without competing with the average company. You are competing being customized to your company. Now think about the with the company that is moving faster, serving customers implications. How much of your business involves parts, better and learning how to use these tools before you do. replacement orders, technical service and aftermarket Start with education. Build a few islands of innovasupport? Could a customer use a phone to identify a part, tion. Then ask whether you can redesign a larger process: get basic information and begin a reorder? Could a techniorder to cash, inventory management, customer support, cian use a phone to find documentation, translate instrucsales development or technical service. Focus first on the tions or receive help diagnosing a problem? customer—how customers find you, how you quote them, Every person who works for you already carries a powerhow you support them and how you remain visible to them. ful computer in his or her pocket. For a multilingual workAnd focus on talent. Hire and develop people who care force, AI can help translate spoken or written information about results, not simply about preserving the old way of quickly. That does not remove the need for careful traindoing the work. The outcome still matters: serving customing and management oversight, especially where safety is ers, producing quality products, solving problems and involved. But it can reduce communication barriers and building profitable companies. But the tools will be differmake technical and operational information more accesent. Train the people who are willing to learn. If employees sible. The right approach is not to launch one massive AI refuse to adopt the AI tools needed to do their jobs competinitiative. Start by building capability. itively, you need to fire them. n W W W. W I R E N E T. O R G
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