Making sense of copper tariffs: 4 takes Industry Insights. p. 22
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Making sense of copper tariffs: 4 takes Industry Insights. p. 22
Wire die deep dive 2-part WAI webinar Sept. 17 & 24. p. 40
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Baffled by the tariffs? Read these 4 takes
In a first for WJI’s “Industry Insights” section, the focus is still on a specific topic (copper tariffs), only this time it comes from three different sources: a report and Q&A from CRU’s Aisling Hubert and Chenfei Wang; practical observations from John Gross, the savvy publisher of The Copper Journal; and sharp, candid analysis from Michael Zinn, marketing director of KrisTech Wire. And, if you can’t get enough of the subject, the editorial on p. 6 expands on these insights.
This 1-day event is well worth the travel Wire & Cable Kraków in Poland offers more than a one-day technical blitz with 29 expert speakers and a tabletop exhibition showcasing high-value, tech-driven solutions from leading suppliers. Attendees can also explore the city’s famous salt mines the day before and tour Tele-Fonika’s world-class Kraków-Wielicka cable plant—the largest such one in Europe—the day after. Knowledge, networking, innovation, and truly unforgettable experiences—all in one trip.
Zimm
Gross
Hubert
Wang
EDITORIAL
The industry’s uncharted path through copper tariffs
The Industry Insight entry in this issue examines copper tariffs through the lens of three companies deeply familiar with copper’s place in the wire and cable business. They provide real-world takes yet the full story stretches even wider. Below are some other perspectives that also illustrate how volatile—and unpredictable—this new copper landscape has become for our industry.
A strategic vulnerability
Electrification, grid modernization and AI have placed copper at the heart of U.S. economic security. But our dependence on imported semi-finished copper is a strategic vulnerability now exposed by the latest tariffs. Rapid demand growth, not seen in prior cycles, magnifies present risks. Center for Strategic & International Studies.
A costlier path for now
The new tariffs could tack on $8.6 billion in annual costs for U.S. users—even before supply chain shifts and inflation take hold. For construction and manufacturing, that means higher costs and more complex procurement. Boston Consulting Group.
Price hikes and repricing
Major U.S. wire makers raised prices, even after most basic copper imports were exempted. In a market where supply sources are shifting weekly, end-users pay more, whether cost increases reflect tariffs or new market leverage. Bloomberg.
Lower operating rates
A normal operating rate for the copper wire and cable industry is usually in the 80–85% range of production capacity, depending on market cycles and region. In 2024, operating rates were close to 82.8% in comparable periods. As of June through August 2025, operating rates have fallen steeply to 67–70%, a dramatic drop of more than 12–24 percentage points year-on-year. Discovery Alert.
The one shortage that does not exist for copper is uncertainty, a backdrop that is far from welcome in an industry known to be very price sensitive. It’s one thing to deal with a situation that is finite in nature, but when a variable such as a tariff is summarily cast into the mix—and it could be pulled or even increased at some unknown point—it is hard to see an upside. Right now, one thing is clear: nobody’s sure how—or when—this story gets a satisfying ending.
Mark Marselli Editor-in-Chief, editor@wirenet.org
PUBLISHER Steven J. Fetteroll
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Mark Marselli
DIRECTOR OF SALES Shannon Timme
DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL SALES & BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Anna Bzowski
DIRECTOR OF MARKETING & CORPORATE COMMUNICATIONS
Janice E. Swindells
WAI PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE
Dane Armendariz, consultant Ferruccio Bellina, TKT Group/President ACIMAF
Michael Crowle, QED Wire Lines Inc.
Tom Moran, consultant
Giulio Properzi, Continuus Properzi
Willem Sundblad, Oden Technologies Inc.
John N. Tomaz, Stolberger
Robert Wild, Niehoff Endex North America
W.T. Bigbee, Encore Wire Corp.
TECHNICAL ADVISORS
John Drummond, Scotia Group
R. M. Shemenski, RMS Consulting, Inc.
Images: Adobe Stock.
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CALENDAR
SEPT. 17-19, 2025: wire Southeast Asia 2025 Bangkok, Thailand. This event is to be held at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre. Contact: Messe Düsseldorf North America, tel. 312-781-5180, info@mdna.com, www.mdna.com.
SEPT. 28-30, 2025: SteelOrbis Fall 2025 Conference & 93rd IREPAS Meeting Munich, Germany. This event is to be held at Sofitel Munich Bayerpost. Contact: tel. +90-212-231-89-00, events@steelorbis.com, www.steelorbis.com.
OCT. 14, 2025: Wire & Cable Kraków 2025 Kraków, Poland. This event is organized by ACIMAF, the AGH University of Kraków, IWMA and WAI. The event website is www.wirecable25.com. See p. 46.
OCT. 27-30, 2025: 74th IWCS Cable & Connectivity Industry Forum Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Contact: IWCS, tel. 571-265-3657, www.iwcs.org. WAI will be exhibiting at this event, so look for us there. See p. 56.
NOV. 4-6, 2025: Cable & Wire Fair 2025
New Delhi, India. This event is to be held at the Pragati Maidan. Contact: Tulip 3P Media Pvt. Ltd.: tel. +91-01244250148, info@wirecable.in, www.cablewirefair.com. See p. 54.
APRIL 7-9, 2026: World Copper Summit Santiago, Chile. This event is organized by the CRU Group. More information and registration will be available at a later time at www.events.crugroup.com/copper/homes, and conferences@crugroup.com.
APRIL 13-17, 2026: wire Düsseldorf Düsseldorf, Germany. To be held at the Messe Fairgrounds. Contact: Messe Düsseldorf North America, tel. 312-781-5180, info@mdna.com, www.mdna.com.
MAY 6-7, 2026: Wire Expo & 96th Annual Convention Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA To be held at the Baird Center— colocated with the Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo (EWPTE)—this WAI event includes the Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing Course on May 5, 2026.
OCT. 7-9, 2026: SpringWorld Expo and Symposium Rosemont, Illinois, USA. This event, presented by the Chicago Association of Spring Manufacturers, Inc. (CASMI) and the Symposium and the Spring Manufacturers Institute (SMI), will be held at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Contact: CASMI, tel. 414-908-4963, info@casmi-springworld.org, www.springworld.org.
NOV. 30-DEC. 2, 2026: Wire India
Mumbai, India. This event, organized by Messe Düsseldorf India Pvt. Ltd, will again be held at the Bombay Exhibition Center (BEC), also known as the Bombay Convention & Exhibition Center (NESCO). Contact: Messe Düsseldorf North America, tel. 312-781-5180, info@mdna.com, www.mdna.com.
WAI/WAI CHAPTER EVENTS
SEPT. 8, 2025: WAI New England Chapter Annual Golf Tournament
Farmington, Connecticut, USA. The New England Chapter will return to the Tunxis Country Club.
OCT. 9, 2025: New England Chapter Educational Event
East Berlin, Connecticut, USA. This event has been rescheduled to this new date. See p. 45.
OCT. 16, 2025: Southeast Chapter Annual Golf Outing Conover, North Carolina, USA. The Southeast Chapter’s annual tournament will return to the Rock Barn Country Club & Spa.
MAY 6-7, 2026: Wire Expo & 96th Annual Convention
Milwaukee, Wisconsin. To be held at the Baird Center, this event includes the Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing Course on May 5, 2026.
For more details, go to “events” at www.wirenet.org, then choose “chapter events.”
INDUSTRY NEWS reports of industry activity
U.S. company wins R&D grant to pursue new products for its cable plant in Scotland
U.S.-based Oceaneering International Inc. hopes to expand the scope of cable production at its existing plant in Rosyth, Scotland, a development that reflects a larger industry trend: established manufacturers adapting their operations to address new opportunities in the evolving wire and cable sector.
Per a press release and wire reports, Oceaneering has received a €465,000 grant from Scottish Enterprise to support dynamic cable qualification projects at its established Rosyth facility. The funding will drive initial R&D using existing equipment, aimed at designing and certifying new subsea power cables for floating offshore wind projects. Once qualified, Oceaneering will invest to expand production capacity with new equipment and automation. The company said the project is expected to support both jobs and advanced manufacturing skills in Scotland.
“We are excited to leverage our established expertise in subsea systems to support the floating wind sector and strengthen Scotland’s role in this industry,” an Oceaneering press release said.
Oceaneering’s Rosyth facility has produced subsea communication, power and hydraulic umbilicals for offshore oil and gas platforms since 1999. Now, the company aims to extend this expertise into cables for renewables. For the initial R&D and qualification phase, existing manufacturing equipment will be used. If the project progresses as anticipated, Oceaneering will participate
in the growing floating wind supply chain, increasing its contribution to the expanding renewables market.
This approach—expanding cable capabilities into emerging markets—contrasts with developments seen in other regions. As reported in the June issue of WJI, two major Indian industrial firms, UltraTech Cement and Adani Group—each previously unrelated to cable manufacturing—announced plans to enter the wire and cable sector. UltraTech Cement, for example, intends to invest $216 million over the next two years, while Adani Group cited the attractiveness of a compound annual growth rate that has topped 13% in recent years.
Oceaneering’s story alone may not seem like big news, but it shows how the wire and cable industry has emerged as a growth field—for established cable manufacturers seeking new applications, as well as for companies entering new markets/locations. See pages 11 and 19.
Amphenol follows up buy of CommScope unit with a 2nd cable manufacturer deal
On August 4, Amphenol Corporation announced it would acquire CommScope’s Connectivity and Cable Solutions (CCS) business for $10.5 billion. It didn’t take long for the company to follow up with a second announcement.
An Aug. 18 press release said that Amphenol has now agreed to acquire Trexon from Audax Private Equity in a transaction that reports said was valued at about $1 billion. Trexon, based in Boston, Massachusetts, with some 1,100 employees globally, specializes in custom-engineered interconnect solutions such as specialty cable, cable assemblies and connectors for defense, aerospace, industrial, and specialty markets.
The deal with CommScope, Amphenol’s largest ever, is expected to close in the first half of 2026. Per Reuters, this transaction will make Amphenol a major player in the U.S. and global wire and cable markets by dramatically expanding its broadband and fiber-optic product lines. Prior to the deal, Amphenol was best known for its connectors and specialty cables, while CommScope’s CCS unit was widely recognized for its fiber-optic and copper connectivity cables used in broadband networks, cable television, and data centers.
CommScope’s CCS business employs more than 15,000 people worldwide, with major manufacturing and distribution centers in the U.S. It also has operations through-
Oceaneering International, Inc., has landed a grant that could help it expand the product scope of its cable plant in Scotland.
out Latin America, Asia-Pacific, India, China, Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.
“We are excited to welcome the talented CCS team to Amphenol,” company CEO
R. Adam Norwitt said in an interview with CNBC, calling the acquisition “a strong long-term growth opportunity.”
Amphenol’s official press release emphasized that the deal will bolster its fiber-optic interconnect capabilities, particularly in the data center and broadband infrastructure segments.
Legal advisor Latham & Watkins noted that the combination of Amphenol’s existing product lines with the newly acquired businesses would make it “one of the largest U.S. manufacturers in the wire and cable industry, especially in the broadband and fiber optic segments.”
For CommScope, the sale of its CCS business represents a major realignment. The company will retain its Access Network Solutions and Ruckus segments.
Poland’s Tele-Fonika plans to build its 1st plant in the U.S., seeks state tax break
Tele-Fonika Cable Americas, a subsidiary of Poland’s Tele-Fonika Kable S.A. (TFKable), plans to invest $365 million in a new cable manufacturing plant in Texas, an initiative that would represent its first in the U.S.
A press release said that the company plans to build on a 117-acre site in Waller, Texas, which is near Houston. The plant will manufacture a variety of wire and cable products for power, telecom, energy, and industrial markets, supporting both domestic and export demand. The proposed facility would create some 75 permanent jobs.
The company filed for a state tax abatement application in August, seeking a 10-year tax incentive for 2030 to 2039 “to help make the project viable.” If that follows, the company plans to spend about $150 million from 2026 to 2029 on construction, with operations to begin in 2029.
TFKable, which runs six manufacturing facilities plants in Poland, U.K. and Serbia, serves some 90 countries through its distribution network. U.S. operations were limited to sales and distribution offices.
WIRE & CABLE IN THE NEWS
What just flashed by? Why, yet another fiber optic speed record!
Japanese researchers have reported a world record for internet speed: data transmission rates of over 125,000 Gbps (1.02 Pbps per second) over 1,120 miles. Per Live Science, that speed is roughly four million times faster than the average U.S. broadband connection and double the previous record.
The breakthrough, presented by Japan’s National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT) at the 48th Optical Fiber Communication Conference in San Francisco in April 2025, was made possible by a revolutionary optical fiber cable. The cable contains 19 cores bundled into a single strand just 0.127 mm thick—the same diameter as most standard single-core cables. As Tasnim News reports, unlike earlier multi-core designs, these fibers interact with light uniformly, reducing fluctuations and data loss over
long distances. This also means the design is compatible with existing cable infrastructure, making realworld adoption more realistic.
At such speeds, analysts note, you could download the entire Netflix library in under a second or transfer the complete Internet Archive in less than four minutes. As ZME Science points out, experts consider this far more than a “laboratory wonder,”
seeing it as a major step toward scalable, high-capacity global networks capable of meeting exploding demand from AI, telemedicine, and virtual reality.
While today’s fastest home internet services typically reach 1 Gbps, EurekAlert! notes that innovations like this could enable 10 Gbps or faster connections to become commonplace within the next decade. Such capabilities would transform fields dependent on fast, reliable data—ranging from global scientific collaboration to cloud computing and immersive VR.
Global data traffic is projected to “increase explosively” in the coming years. As Live Science emphasizes, advances in fiber capacity and efficiency are essential for building more resilient, high-capacity communications networks and laying the groundwork for a truly connected global society.
Norwitt
Aug. 11 explosion
at
U.S. Steel plant in Clairton kills 2, most operations continue
A series of explosions at U.S. Steel’s Clairton Coke Works on Monday, Aug. 11, killed two workers and injured 10, shutting down part of the vast facility but leaving most operations intact.
According to updated reports and company statements, the Clairton plant—North America’s largest coke facility and now a central part of Nippon Steel’s U.S. operations after its $15 billion acquisition—remains a critical supplier to U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson Plant in Braddock, Pennsylvania, and other downstream manufacturing, including wire rod lines. Emergency responders from 14 fire departments and 20 EMS services, along with plant crews, focused recovery and rescue efforts on batteries 13 and 14, key sections where the incident took place, while the rest of the sprawling, century-old plant stayed functional.
Advisories initially told residents within a mile to stay indoors, though health officials later lifted the warning as air quality remained at safe levels. Multiple state, local, and federal agencies are conducting thorough investigations, with community groups and labor unions closely monitoring all developments and future safety measures.
Nippon Steel, which finalized its acquisition in June, said that while batteries 13 and 14 are down indefinitely for investigation and repairs, the remainder of the plant and its workforce of nearly 1,300 are operating. Executives have not disclosed how much of Clairton’s 4.3-million-ton annual capacity remains offline but emphasized the outage is limited to just two of ten batteries.
The incident has renewed focus on both safety and longterm investment in the facility, as officials and Nippon Steel pledge a full investigation, increased support for those impacted, and a commitment to future plant safety and modernization.
Prysmian chosen to be fiber optic cable supplier for multi-island Hawaii project
Prysmian has secured a contract to supply approximately 740 km of submarine fiber optic cable for the Hawaiian Islands Fiber Link (HIFL) project, a cornerstone infrastructure initiative designed to deliver equitable broadband access across all six main Hawaiian islands by late 2026.
A press release said that the HIFL cable system represents a critical component of the Hawaiʻi’s Connect Kākou initiative to provide reliable broadband service to all residents, businesses, educational institutions and government facilities. The submarine cable system will span approximately 416 miles of seabed between islands, with cables ranging from 1.1 in. in diameter in shallower waters to about 0.6 in. at maximum depths. The installation will connect cable landing sites on Kauaʻi, Oʻahu, Maui, Lānaʻi, Molokaʻi, and Hawaiʻi Island.
Prysmian will provide the fiber optic cable for a project in Hawaii that will include six islands.
Each cable landing site will employ horizontal directional drilling to traverse underneath shorelines to offshore connection points, minimizing environmental impact while ensuring secure cable placement. The system design incorporates 24 fiber pairs with a 25-year operational life expectancy.
SAMP relocating its headquarters in Italy early next year to a new, larger facility
Italy’s SAMP announced that the company plans to complete its headquarters relocation by March 2026 to a larger facility in Quarto Inferiore, Granarolo dell’Emilia.
SAMP is relocating its headquarters in 2026.
A press release said that the new site, spanning 12,000 sq m, “represents a pivotal investment in SAMP’s international strategy, aimed at enhancing operational efficiency, innovation capabilities, and customer proximity.” The plant will offer the OEM wire and cable equipment manufacturer a 30% increase in production space and allow consolidation of all Italian operations under one roof, fostering stronger interdepartmental collaboration and enabling a more agile response to market demands.
Central to this transformation is the revamped Customer Service structure, now strengthened with the creation of dedicated Service Centers worldwide. The centers help customers avoid unnecessary costs and can serve local markets more effectively by hiring local personnel and establishing regional hubs, such as those already operating, which are capable of providing tailored service and immediate support. These hubs are strategically developed to
ensure close contact with customers for revamping activities, technical services and ongoing support.
While the headquarters relocates, SAMP’s global footprint remains firmly established. With active manufacturing facilities in Brazil and China and a solid commercial presence in the U.S., SAMP continues to strengthen its international operations to better serve a growing global customer base. “This strategic expansion reflects SAMP’s commitment to delivering high-performance solutions, tailored services, and faster support across borders, paving the way for the next phase of global industrial excellence.”
LS Cable & System unit signs pact that calls for it to add to its 2 plants in Vietnam
LS Eco Energy Ltd. (LSEE), part of LS Cable & System, signed a Joint Development Agreement with PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC) during the Vietnam–Korea Economic Forum on August 12 in Seoul.
A press release said that the agreement covers investment, construction and operation of a high-voltage alternating and direct current cable manufacturing plant, marking a strategic step to strengthen Vietnam’s renewable energy infrastructure and related industries. It noted that as the world shifts to clean energy, demand for high-capacity power transmission, especially offshore high-voltage
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cables, is rising rapidly. At the same time, a global shortage of quality HVDC cables is slowing many renewable projects. “The partnership between PTSC and LSEE aims to tackle this challenge and position Vietnam as a regional leader in producing and exporting high-quality high-voltage cables.”
The strong backing from the two parent corporations, PetroVietnam and LS Cable & System, serves as a strategic guarantee for the scale and long-term sustainability of the venture, while underscoring their commitment to driving technological innovation, enhancing value creation, and
Stranding of copper & aluminum up to 1000 KCM / 500 MM Products include MV & LV Power, Building Wire
From l-r,
Electric CEO Koo Ja-kyun, KEPCO President Kim Dongcheol and LS C&S CEO Koo Bon-kyu at the MOU signing ceremony at LS Yongsan Tower in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
making a positive contribution to the global green energy development goals, the release said.
LS Cable & System currently operates two large-scale manufacturing facilities in Vietnam, namely LS-VINA Cable & System in Haiphong and LS Cable Vietnam in Dong Nai. The company notes that both of its facilities have established a strong reputation for delivering high-quality power cables to domestic and export markets. The addition of the new high-voltage cable plant will complete the production value chain, meeting the rapidly growing demand in this strategic market segment.
Prysmian awarded framework agreement from Terna to improve the Italian power grid
Prysmian reports that it has been awarded a framework agreement with Italy’s Terna—which is responsible for the management, maintenance and development of the country’s high-voltage electricity grid—to support the strengthening of the Italian power grid.
A press release said that the framework agreement is for three years and includes an additional year which may be optioned by Terna—that has a potential total value of €382.5 million. Terna is one of the largest independent grid operators in Europe. As part of the agreement, Prysmian
Prysmian will supply cable for Terna for Italy’s infrastructure.
will supply Terna with HVAC cables, as well as maintenance of high voltage cables.
Terna is expected to acquire at least 50 km of high-voltage cable each year, a number that could rise considerably in line with their requirements. Based in Rome, Terna manages about 98% of Italy’s high-voltage and extra-highvoltage electricity transmission grid, operating over 75,000 km of power lines.
The award is aligned with Terna’s strategy for the development and modernization of the national transmission grid, aimed at supporting the objectives outlined in the European Green Deal and the Integrated National Energy
and Climate Plan. Prysmian will make use of its extended facilities in Pignataro Maggiore, Campania, to manufacture these cables. That site recently received over €20 million in investment to support an increase in capacity, including in high voltage cables.
Prysmian Europe CEO Marcello Del Brenna said the deal was positive on multiple levels. Prysmian will help Terna improve its power grid and bolster progress for its energy transition while supporting the overall Italian economy by making the cables at its Pignataro Maggiore factory in Caserta. Added Italy Country Manager Fabio Zucca, “This framework agreement is an important commitment, from both Prysmian and Terna at a critical moment in the energy transition, and we are proud to have been entrusted with this significant award.”
Taihan Cable reports it will establish its 1st extra-high voltage cable plant in Vietnam
Taihan Cable & Solution Co. announced August 13 that its wholly owned Vietnamese subsidiary, Taihan Vina, will invest approximately $54 million to establish Vietnam’s first 400kV-class extra-high voltage (EHV) cable production facility.
A press release said that this will be the company’s first overseas EHV cable plant, aimed at capturing the rapidly growing power infrastructure market driven by Vietnam’s industrial expansion. The new plant will be in the Long Thanh Industrial Park, Dong Nai Province, by Taihan Vina’s existing facility, on a site of some 56,200 sq m. Construction is scheduled to commence in the first half of 2026, with operations expected to begin in 2027.
The release said that the strategic expansion targets Vietnam’s surging power demand, projected to grow at an annual rate of 10-12% through 2030, fueled by large-scale transmission projects involving 220 kV or higher capacity EHV cables. The new plant will allow Taihan Vina to serve not only Vietnam but also export to key markets such as Europe, North America, and Oceania, thus supporting the company’s broader international expansion plans.
An artist’s likeness of Taihan’s proposed plant for Vietnam.
Taihan Cable operates two cable plants and one cable accessory plant in South Korea. Overseas, it runs cable plants in South Africa, Kuwait and Vietnam, along with a cable accessory plant in Saudi Arabia. Founded in 2005 and headquartered in Ho Chi Minh City, Taihan Vina employs around 300 people. Its product lineup includes high-voltage, medium-low voltage power cable, and overhead wires. Last year, the subsidiary achieved sales of approximately $132 million, representing a 20% year-overyear increase.
“Vietnam’s excellent industrial environment, infrastructure, and geographical advantages will serve as a solid foundation for Taihan Vina to establish itself as a major global supplier in the EHV cable sector,” said a company spokesperson. “We aim to expand our presence beyond Asia to the global market.”
LS Group to partner with KEPCO to develop world’s 1st superconducting power grid
LS Cable & System (LS C&S) and LS ELECTRIC announced that on July 10, they signed an MOU with Korea Electric Power Corporation Corporation (KEPCO) to jointly develop and complete the world’s first superconducting power grid at a hyperscale data center in Gapyeong, South Korea, by 2028.
“This collaboration between three leading power industry companies on the world’s first superconducting power grid for data centers is a significant milestone,” said LS Electric Chairman Koo Ja-kyun. He noted that LS Cable & System’s superconducting cables and LS Electric’s advanced fault current limiters will offer optimal solutions for the eco-friendly power grid market.
The superconducting fault current limiters are key components that enhance operational stability by immediately interrupting fault currents, thereby preventing equipment damage and minimizing data loss risks. This technology is particularly crucial for AI data centers where uninterrupted power supply is essential for continuous operations.
The three companies plan to expand cooperation in developing and demonstrating superconducting grid technologies while pursuing initiatives to foster the industry ecosystem and jointly enter overseas markets. The Gapyeong project is expected to serve as a blueprint for future superconducting power infrastructure deployments globally, particularly in markets with high concentrations of energy-intensive data centers supporting AI and cloud computing operations.
U.K. manufacturer of knitted wire mesh invests in its Indian plant near New Delhi
KnitMesh Technologies, a U.K. manufacturer of knitted wire mesh solutions, reports that it has made a major investment at its manufacturing facility near New Delhi, India that it opened in 2023.
Per the company, the site has recently commissioned new knitting machines and associated equipment, capable of producing knitted wire mesh up to 1000 mm wide. The investment, which should enable the company to double its capacity, is part of its broader, ongoing strategy.
The new equipment will allow KnitMesh Technologies to better serve prestigious customers in fast-growing industries such as electrolyzer manufacture for use in green hydrogen production, where high-performance knitted mesh components are essential. Also, the wider mesh width is ideal for applications in zoos and aviaries, where large-format stainless steel screens are often required for animal and bird enclosures.
A press release said that LS C&S will design and manufacture superconducting cables, while sister-company LS Electric will supply superconducting fault current limiters and other power equipment. KEPCO will oversee technical and regulatory aspects and coordination.
LS C&S already demonstrated commercial viability of superconducting cable technology in 2019 when it began operating a 1-km superconducting cable section between Singal-Heungdeok Energy Center substations in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Compared to existing copper lines, the installation reduced transmission losses by a factor of 20.
The company said that it had 16 employees when it first opened and that it expects to have 24 once the additional positions are completed. The company did not expand the facility but it did acquire new building space near New Delhi last year in anticipation of future growth.
By establishing a local presence, KnitMesh Technologies is better positioned to offer on-the-ground support, faster response times, and enhanced technical expertise. This expansion allows the company to collaborate more closely with Indian manufacturers, offering them access to KnitMesh Technologies’ cutting-edge solutions and empowering them to overcome their unique challenges.
From l-r, LS Electric CEO Koo Ja-kyun, KEPCO President Kim Dongcheol and LS C&S CEO Koo Bon-kyu at the MOU signing ceremony at LS Yongsan Tower in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.
“This investment reinforces our commitment to innovation and customer service,” said KnitMesh Technologies Managing Director Peter Evans. “By enhancing our knitted wire mesh production capabilities in India, we can meet growing global demand more efficiently while developing new, industry-specific solutions.”
“The New Delhi facility plays a key role in KnitMesh Technologies’ global operations, supporting both regional and international customers,” said Saurabh Thapar, managing director of the KnitMesh operation in India. “These strategic upgrades are designed to futureproof operations and align with increasing demand for high-quality, custom-engineered knitted wire mesh across a variety of sectors.”
Taihan Cable wins big cable contract to supply offshore wind farm in South Korea
Taihan Cable & Solution has won a turnkey contract for the supply and installation of inter-array cables at the 532 MW Anma offshore wind farm in South Korea.
A press release said that the project, valued at approximately €113 million, calls for Taihan to oversee the entire turnkey process, including the design, manufacturing, transportation and installation of inter-array cables. All submarine cables will be produced at the recently completed Dangjin Submarine Cable Plant 1.
For cable-laying operations, Taihan will use PALOS, South Korea’s only cable-laying vessel (CLV). The CLV recently completed the installation of export cables at the 364.8 MW Yeonggwang Nakwol offshore wind farm.
Submarine Cable Plant 1 will supply both inter-array and export cables for the offshore wind market. As of July 16, Taihan has also approved investment in Submarine Cable Plant 2, which will be capable of producing 640 kV HVDC and 400 kV HVAC cables.
The 532 MW Anma offshore wind farm is planned to be built on the west coast of the Anma Archipelago in Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do, covering an area of 83.9 million square meters. The wind farm was among five developments awarded a share of nearly 1.9 GW in
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offshore wind capacity by the South Korean government at the end of 2024.
The submarine cables that will connect Anma to the mainland will be supplied by LS Cable & System, while the cables will be installed by its subsidiary, LS Marine.
Chinese company completes previously announced deal for Germany’s Leoni AG
Chinese electronics giant Luxshare-ICT has officially acquired German cable and wiring systems specialist Leoni AG, finalizing a transaction first announced last year.
Marinus Link project gets final okay from government: Prysmian will supply cable
Marinus Link has received a positive Final Investment Decision (FID) from government stakeholders, clearing the way for construction of a major electricity interconnector between Tasmania and Victoria,
A press release said that Stage One construction is slated to begin in 2026 with completion targeted for 2030. The project will establish a second high-voltage direct current (HVDC) connection across Bass Strait, adding up to 1.5 GW of capacity via two 750 MW links. Stage One includes a 750 MW cable between Burnie, Tasmania, and Hazelwood, Victoria, made up of approximately 250 km of undersea cable and 90 km of underground cable. This stage will proceed in parallel with the first phase of the North West Transmission Developments (NWTD) to reinforce Tasmania’s electrical grid.
Industry leaders have been selected for key components: Prysmian Group, through Prysmian PowerLink, will supply and install both the undersea and underground HVDC cables for Stage One. Hitachi Energy will supply the HVDC converter stations necessary for alternating current (AC) and direct current (DC) conversion.
Stage Two, planned to deliver an additional 750 MW, remains subject to market conditions, regulatory approval, and further development of dispatchable generation in Tasmania. This second phase is intended to roll out alongside NWTD’s later phase, but has yet to be contracted.
A press release from Leoni AG said that the partnership between Luxshare-ICT and Stefan Pierer marks a key step in securing Leoni’s future growth and stability. Luxshare-ICT now holds a 50.1% stake in Leoni AG’s Wiring Systems Division, while its subsidiary TIME Interconnect has acquired 100% of the Automotive Cable Solutions (ACS) division, following all necessary approvals since the September 2024 agreement.
This deal enhances Leoni’s market access through Luxshare’s global customer network and enables ACS to expand in Europe and Asia. The combined strengths of Leoni and Luxshare will produce complementary products, drive vertical integration, and create supply chain efficiencies, while leveraging both firms’ automation expertise and global manufacturing networks.
Leoni’s CEO Klaus Rinnerberger noted that the partnership supports financial recovery and continued restructuring, with efforts underway to streamline operations and costs. “Our complementary portfolios, manufacturing strengths, and positive customer feedback prove that Leoni and Luxshare are an ideal match,” he said.
Per a Leoni LinkedIn posting, the deal brings “a time of transformations and new beginnings - not just in our business, but across our teams, our technology and our vision. ... (We look ahead) with confidence as we continue to innovate, collaborate and connect across the globe.”
Marinus Link forms the centerpiece of the broader Project Marinus initiative, which includes supporting transmission infrastructure within Tasmania and operates alongside the existing Basslink interconnector. The project aims to tap Tasmania’s hydro and wind resources for export, bolstering reliability and flexibility in the National Electricity Market (NEM). According to TasNetworks and Marinus Link Pty Ltd, it will facilitate greater renewable integration, complement mainland grid modernization, and support Australia’s energy transition targets.
Luxshare-ICT has finalized its acquisition of Leoni AG.
The route of the Marinus Link
New cable manufacturing plant in Central Asia signals supply chain shift
A newly launched Uzbek-Tajik joint venture in Uzbekistan’s Fergana region demonstrates how emerging markets are transforming global supply chains and international investment—a development of increasing significance for U.S. industries and policymakers. With the U.S. elevating trade and investment in Central Asia, projects like this offer new sources of critical industrial materials while deepening economic ties across borders.
The new facility, named Osiyo Kabellari, is being established by Uzbek businesswoman Fatima Imomova and Tajik investor Shukhradzhan Ashurmatov as an entirely private greenfield venture. The plant, located in the Dangara district on a one-hectare site, is financed exclusively through $10 million in direct foreign investment, without public sector ownership or funding. Osiyo Kabellari is a purposebuilt company formed specifically for this initiative, reflecting the region’s shift towards private-sector-led, cross-border industrial cooperation.
Set to begin operations by year’s end, the plant will boast an annual output capacity of 15,000 tons of copper wire and 1,700 tons of aluminum wire—products critical for infrastructure, energy, and manufacturing supply chains. Alongside production, the project is forecast to generate about 100 permanent jobs. Exports will be an important part of Osiyo Kabellari’s model, with the plant aiming to send up to $1 million of its wire products to neighboring CIS countries, especially Kyrgyzstan, in its first phase.
This joint venture reflects both countries’ broader goals: strengthening economic integration, expanding private sector opportunities, and diversifying the region’s export mix. For international observers—including the U.S.—such investments signal the potential for Central Asia to play a larger role as a reliable manufacturing and supply hub in the ever-evolving landscape of global trade and production.
Per Diplomatic Watch, Uzbekistan is one of the fastest-growing, most reform-minded economies in Central Asia, actively opening to foreign investment and global markets. U.S. trade with Uzbekistan is rising, with American investment in sectors like manufacturing, infrastructure, and energy reaching over $600 million in 2024—and growing connections between American and Uzbek companies.
U.K. wire manufacturer plans to open its 1st U.S. production plant in Virginia
WB Alloys, a U.K.-based wire alloy manufacturer, has announced plans to establish its first U.S. production facility, marking a significant milestone in the company’s international expansion. The plant, located in Virginia, represents a $6.6 million investment and is expected to create 30 jobs.
A press release said that WB Alloys, founded in 1974, produces alloy wire for welding, designs weld monitoring
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systems, and develops equipment for additive manufacturing. The company currently operates seven facilities in the U.K. and one in the Middle East. The new Danville site will become its first in the U.S. Company executives said that the move was designed to strengthen WB Alloys’ ability to serve the U.S. defense and advanced manufacturing sectors. The Virginia facility will primarily support the U.S. Navy and Department of Defense, which are expanding investment in domestic manufacturing capacity.
“Opening our first U.S. facility is a strategic milestone,” said company spokesperson Richie Barker. “The market is growing quickly, and this positions us to serve American customers more efficiently while aligning with defense industry priorities.”
The company added that proximity to advanced manufacturing partners in Virginia—such as FasTech, Phillips Corporation and the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research—was a critical factor in its location decision.
WB Alloys already supplies FasTech with alloy products for 3D printing and machining, giving it a built-in customer and partner base in the U.S.
By localizing production, WB Alloys expects to reduce lead times and improve responsiveness to its American clients, particularly as defense supply chains move toward more resilient, domestic sourcing. Almost all of the 30 new roles will be filled by U.S. workers, with the potential to expand operations if demand grows.
IWG acquires Hussey Copper
International Wire Group Holdings Inc. (IWG), one of the largest manufacturers of copper wire in the United States, announced the acquisition of Hussey Copper, a Pennsylvania-based producer of copper products for industrial and infrastructure markets.
A press release said that the deal consolidates two long-established names in copper manufacturing and signals IWG’s intent to expand its market share across North America. Founded in 1859, Hussey Copper is best known for its production of copper bus bars, sheet and plate products,
which serve power generation, transmission, and industrial applications. The company operates facilities in Leetsdale, Pennsylvania, and Eminence, Kentucky, and has long been recognized as one of the nation’s key domestic suppliers of copper plate and strip.
International Wire Group, headquartered in Camden, New York, manufactures bare, plated, and engineered wire products used in electrical infrastructure, automotive, aerospace, and industrial markets. The company operates more than a dozen facilities in the U.S., Poland, and Italy, and is known for its vertically integrated wire solutions. n
50% tariffs on downstream copper imports to boost US cable market
In an unexpected turn of events, on 30 July 2025, the Trump administration ruled that the previously announced 50% copper tariffs resulting from the Section 232 investigation would apply not to refined copper cathode, but to semi-finished copper products including copper wire and cable and copper rod.
Copper tariffs: 3 complementary takes on the industry impact
In a twist, WJI presents content from three industry sources that closely follow copper: a report by CRU International Senior Analyst Aisling Hubert, with a Q&A with CRU’s Chenfei Wang; a column in The Copper Journal by owner/publisher John Gross, a long-time chronicler of the field; and a recent LinkedIn post by Michael Zimm, vice president of marketing, KrisTech.
This development is significant as the US currently imports one quarter of its insulated wire and cable requirements each year. These import tariffs are intended to “level the playing field for U.S. copper businesses to support a strong domestic copper industry” by making domestic players the more cost-effective choice. CRU forecasts that the increased costs of importing finished goods from overseas will significantly stoke higher demand for domestically produced wire and cable products and wirerod, though the question is now whether the US cable market has the domestic manufacturing capacity to satisfy demand in the short-term.
CRU Report: The 50% tariffs on downstream copper imports to boost the U.S. cable market
Cable imports account for one quarter of US cable demand which will be difficult to replace in the short-term
In the last few years, trade has moved to the forefront of strategic discussions in the cable industry. Trade flows have evolved over the past few years as key economic forces have had profound impacts such as India’s rapid emergence as a key low-cost exporter, China’s increasing reliance on exports to counterbalance weakness in its domestic markets and increasing global participation by cable manufacturers from Northeast Asia.
In 2024, 23% of US insulated wire and cable demand was met by imports, roughly 465 kt conductors. These imports were comprised of an array of product types with low voltage cables accounting for roughly half of the imports.
In an unexpected turn of events, on 30 July 2025, the Trump administration ruled that the previously announced 50% copper tariffs resulting from the Section 232 investigation would apply not to refined copper cathode, but to semi-finished copper products including copper wire and cable and copper rod.
Just under one quarter of US cable demand is fulfilled by imports last year
The source of imports to the US has evolved over the past few years. Mexico has always remained the key trading partner for US wire and cable, though this is skewed heavily by the trade of vehicle harnesses for the automotive manufacturing industry. A key observable trend
This development is significant as the U.S. currently imports one-quarter of its insulated wire and cable requirements each year. These import tariffs are intended to “level the playing field for U.S. copper businesses to support a strong domestic copper industry” by making domes-
tic players the more cost-effective choice. CRU forecasts that the increased costs of importing finished goods from overseas will significantly stoke higher demand for domestically produced wire and cable products and wirerod, though the question is now whether the U.S. cable market has the domestic manufacturing capacity to satisfy demand in the short-term.
U.S. cable imports not simple to replace
Cable imports account for one-quarter of U.S. cable demand and that will be difficult to replace in the shortterm. See Chart 1. In the last few years, trade has moved to the forefront of strategic discussions in the cable industry. Trade flows have evolved over the past few years as key economic forces have had profound impacts such as India’s rapid emergence as a key low-cost exporter, China’s increasing reliance on exports to counterbalance weakness in its domestic markets and increasing global participation by cable manufacturers from Northeast Asia.
In 2024, 23% of U.S. insulated wire and cable demand was met by imports, roughly 465 kt conductors. These imports were comprised of an array of product types with low voltage cables accounting for roughly half of the imports. See Chart 2.
U.S. import sources have evolved over the past few years. Mexico has always remained the key trading partner for US wire and cable, though this is skewed heavily by the trade of vehicle harnesses for the automotive manufacturing industry. A key observable trend has been the phasing out of imports from China which accounted for 21% of imports in 2015 to only 12% of imported insulated cables in 2024. This trend is likely to continue at a gathering pace as punitive tariffs on Chinese goods dissuade imports.
Significantly, many other countries have been gaining market share, South Korea and India have been some of the main winners, with cable imports from South Korea growing from roughly 19 kt cables in 2015 to 77 kt in 2024. India has also grown from less than 2 kt cables imported in 2015 to 41 kt imported in 2024.
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 WJI at editor@wirenet.org.
Chart 1. About a quarter of U.S. cable demand was met by imports last year. Data: CRU Wire & Cable Market Outlook, GTT.
DATA: CRU Wire and Cable Market Outlook, GTT
Hubert
Only copper content of cables to be ‘tariffed’, U.S. cable makers likely to invest in new capacity
Typically, tariffs will fall in line with HS code classification of products. According to the White House, “The copper 232 tariffs apply to the copper content of a product; non-copper content of a product remains subject to reciprocal tariffs or other applicable duties.” This initiates a difficult question for players involved in the trade of copper cables, namely, calculating the copper content of each of their cable products. From a cost perspective, this also leads to the assumption that differing cable products will be exposed to differing relative tariffs since their copper conductor can be a greater or smaller proportion of the overall cable. It is also unclear whether the tariff will be calculated based on the copper conductor weight or value. Whether domestic cable makers can meet the additional demand hinges on both current utilisation rates and production flexibility. Some U.S. manufacturers may have headroom on existing lines to scale up production, particularly for standardised products like low-voltage energy cables, which have seen a demand slump in recent years as residential building output has fallen to a five-year low. However, low voltage cables also account for more than 50% of U.S. cable imports, much of which come from Asia. If these are subjected to a 50% tariff, there is a risk that local substitutes may not be immediately available, especially as major cable distributors rely significantly on imported low voltage and medium voltage (1-10 kV) products.
That said, low-voltage capacity is relatively quick to add, typically within one to two years, so some supply response is likely within a short timeframe. For more specialized products such as submarine cables, high-voltage DC lines, or complex copper data cables, capacity is more limited and is concentrated in a small number of facilities operating near full capacity.
There have already been significant investments such as LS Cable’s new submarine cable plant which will be located in Virginia and is expected to come online in 2027 Q3 and Encore Wire’s expansion of its medium-voltage cable production. These are the segments where tariff-induced manufacturing investment is most likely.
A USMAC exemption could be a factor
Under the new tariffs, copper wire rod, the precursor to insulated metallic wire and cable manufacturing, will also be tariffed at 50%. The U.S. exports some copper wirerods with many cable makers offering fully integrated services, producing wire rod as well as cables. There are also a healthy number of stand-alone copper semi fabricators who produce wire rod.
Traditionally, there have been high levels of integration of Canadian and Mexican wirerod producers who supply to the U.S. market. While the U.S. sources most of its wirerod locally, imports from Canada and Mexico still account for around 17% of U.S. copper wirerod consumption. Currently, it is unclear whether USMCA exemptions will apply to this trade.
Under previous Section 232 rulings such as in steel and aluminium, Canada and Mexico were granted exemptions based on their USMCA status. If USMCA goods are exempt from the copper Section 232 tariffs, Canadian and Mexican wirerod could become more competitive, reinforcing the current North American integration. If no exemption is granted then this would significantly impact current procurement patterns, increasing the competition for U.S. cable producers.
Even before the announced 50% tariffs, there were a number of wirerod manufacturing capacity expansions underway including IMC’s new SCR 4500 (Southwire) rod line. This line could produce up to 250,000 tonnes of copper wirerod annually, roughly 15% of total US demand and is expected to come online later this year. Additionally, there have been several investments into smaller upcast lines which manufacture oxygen-free rod. These smaller lines are likely to be the type of project which can come online quickly to meet new tariff-induced demand. Sources suggest that most existing U.S. wirerod producers are operating at close to maximum capacity and the tariffs are likely to motivate further investment.
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WJI Q&A with CRU Head of Cable Chenfei Wang
WJI followed up the CRU report on p. 22 by sending questions to CRU’s Chenfei Wang. A frequent industry speaker, he joined CRU in 2019 as an analyst and now heads wire and cable activities. He holds a master’s degree in advanced materials science and engineering from Imperial College London and a BEng (Hons) degree in chemical and materials engineering from the University of Auckland.
WJI: Beyond the sector fundamentals, what are you hearing about how industry leadership is adapting to the new 50% Section 232 copper tariffs?
Wang: There’s a growing sense of strategic recalibration among US cable producers. Many had anticipated action on copper trade policy, but the application of a 50% tariff specifically to semi-finished copper products has accelerated conversations at the executive level about capacity, supply chain risk, and market positioning. We’re seeing companies take a hard look at their flexibility to ramp up production, especially for standard products like low-voltage energy cable. There’s also a renewed focus on supply chain transparency, particularly as the mechanics of tariff calculation—like determining copper content for customs— remain in flux. While some of this creates uncertainty, most leadership teams seem to be viewing it as an inflection point to secure longer-term business by investing locally and clarifying contract terms with both customers and suppliers.
WJI: Given the evolving global trade patterns, how do you see the competitive landscape shifting for U.S. wire and cable imports in the next year?
Wang: The data show that imports once dominated by China have already shifted rapidly—China’s share is down from 21% to 12% of US imports over the last decade, and new entrants like South Korea and India are quickly expanding their presence. With the tariff, the cost-competitiveness of these markets changes overnight, which could encourage even more regional consolidation, particularly if USMCA exemptions are clarified. A key watchpoint is how quickly distributors react. Do they double down on North American sourcing or look for short-term workarounds in Asia or elsewhere, provided regulatory clarity allows.
WJI: The report mentions new investment in domestic capacity. Are there specific segments of the market where you expect bottlenecks or delays to persist despite expansion efforts?
Wang: While scaling up basic low-voltage cable production can often be done within a year or two, highly specialized segments—such as submarine cables, high-voltage DC lines, or custom data cables—are likely to face tighter constraints. These products require not only specialized facilities but also advanced engineering talent and stringent quality controls. Major projects, like LS Cable’s new submarine cable plant in Virginia, are underway but won’t be online until 2027. So, in the medium term, some supply gaps—especially outside standard residential cables—will remain, and customers in those segments will likely have to plan further ahead or diversify sources.
WJI: What does the U.S. market risk or gain if USMCA exemptions aren’t granted?
Wang: Without exemptions for Canada and Mexico, there’s a legitimate prospect of dislocation in North American supply chains. While U.S. cable makers mostly source copper wirerod locally, a significant minority—about 17% of the total consumption—still comes from its USMCA partners. If those flows are suddenly subject to the same tariff as Asian imports, it could incentivize both U.S. cable and semi producers to hasten expansion plans, but not without short-term logistical headaches or pricing anomalies as contracts get renegotiated. If exemptions are confirmed, it should preserve the established North American integration, which most manufacturers seem to favor for stability.
WJI: Is it fair to say there’s a greater sense of uncertainty in the U.S. wire and cable sector than in past years? What could help restore stability?
Wang: Absolutely—the pace and unpredictability of trade actions, coupled with evolving global manufacturing trends, mean leadership teams are constantly adjusting strategies. For many, it’s become routine to model multiple “what if” scenarios around tariffs, supply disruptions, and regulatory changes. What industry leaders want most now is policy clarity and enough runway to invest in people, plants, and technology with confidence. Stability isn’t just about protection—it’s about predictability, so all parts of the supply chain can plan and grow.
Chenfei Wang speaking at CRU’s June Summit in Prague.
Wang
Thoughts from a copper veteran who thought he had seen it all
It takes a lot to stun copper pricing guru John Gross who has over four decades of experience. The principal of John E. Gross Consulting Inc., a metals management firm, and since 1987 the publisher of The Copper Journal, he admits that he too was staggered by how much copper tariffs have roiled the market. Below is his Aug. 1 column. He can be contacted at tel. 631-824-6486, john.gross@jegross.com.
Now what indeed!
We’re trying to come up with something fitting to describe events of late, but the appropriate words fail us. We’d also like to say markets did this or that because of technical factors, or fundamental influences, but even that won’t work this time around.
Now what indeed!
My friends, it looks like we’ve gone through the 100-year storm more than a few times over the past 16 months, and given the gravity of changes in the global copper market, equity markets, and the economy overall, we’re not out of the woods yet.
$1.52, bounded by $5.83 above and $4.31 below. The good Dr. Copper can’t even comprehend these numbers.
We're trying to come up with something fitting to describe events of late, but the appropriate words fail us. We’d also like to say markets did this or that because of technical factors, or fundamental influences, but even that won’t work this time around.
There’s little point in rehashing how and why the market did what it did last week, or three weeks ago, or three months ago, or even a year ago, but the moves were massive. Below, Chart 1 illustrates the Spot price of copper on Comex: if we were on a boat looking at it, we’d all be seasick and heaving over the side. Here is a brief recap of three major downdrafts since May of last year:
On a daily basis, Spot copper posted a $1.33 trading range on Wednesday, July 30th, when tariffs were announced, but because it came out after the settlement price was posted, the $1.24 drop did not show up until the following day.
My friends, it looks like we’ve gone through the 100-year storm more than a few times over the past 16 months, and given the gravity of changes in the global copper market, equity markets, and the economy overall, we’re not out of the woods yet.
There’s little point in rehashing how and why the market did what it did last week, or three weeks ago, or three months ago, or even a year ago, but the moves were massive. The first chart illustrates the Spot price of copper on Comex, and if we were on a boat looking at it, we’d all be seasick and heaving over the side. Here is a brief recap of three major downdrafts since May of last year:
5/21/24
3/26/25
In any event, to say the market was shocked that the tariff did not include imports of refined copper (cathodes) is an absolute understatement. For many months, the assumption was that imports of refined copper would be subject to tariffs, prompting everyone who could ship copper into the U.S. to get it in before the August 1st deadline in order to take advantage of the $1.00 + Comex premium over the Cash LME price. In fact, it was viewed as the trade of a lifetime.
If this isn’t enough to make you queasy, the second chart shows the weekly trading range based on the active month. Last week saw not only the record $1.35 freefall in price, but also the biggest weekly trading range of $1.52, bounded by $5.83 above and $4.31 below. The good Dr. Copper can’t even comprehend these numbers.
Where do we go from here? At this point, it appears to us that the fifth and final wave of this cycle is complete, but we’ll wait for time and the price for confirmation. In the meantime, expect corrections and volatility to remain with us.
On a daily basis, Spot copper posted a $1.33 trading range on Wednesday, the 30th alone, when tariffs were announced, but because it came out after the settlement price was posted, the $1.24 drop did not show up until the following day.
If the above isn’t enough to make you queasy, the second chart shows the weekly trading range based on the active month. Last week saw not only the record $1.35 freefall in price, but also the biggest weekly trading range of
August 15 update
In any event, to say the market was shocked that the tariff did not include imports of refined copper (cathodes) is an absolute understatement. For many months, the assumption was that imports of refined copper would be subject to tariffs, prompting everyone who could ship copper into the U.S. to get it in before the August 1st deadline in order to take advantage of the $1.00 + Comex premium over the Cash LME price. In fact, it was viewed as the trade of a lifetime.
Big Red is still recovering after receiving the one-two punch in July.
Regrettably, however, as Robert Burns said in 1785, “The best laid plans of mice and men often go wrong, and leave us nothing but grief and pain instead of promised joy.”
Moving on, the question now is: Where do we go from here? And to answer that query, we go to our file of esoteric charts and the work of our old friend Ralph Elliott. We’ve mentioned his work many times before, and we include our interpretation of where we think things now stand. At this point, it appears to us that the fifth and final wave of this cycle is complete, but we’ll wait for time and the price for confirmation
In the meantime, expect corrections and volatility to remain with us.
Regards, John
Chart 2. Comex Spot Copper Price cycles from January to August.
The relocation of inventories held in exchange warehouses is a reminder of how things can change when the tariff narrative influences the flow of metal. Although copper held in Comex warehouses has risen nearly 158,000 mt this year, that figure is minor relative to total imports. During the first six months, some 940,000 mt of cathodes were imported into the U.S. compared to 540,000 mt during all of 2024. So, there’s a lot more metal out there.
Over the past few years, the ‘Green Energy’ transition has been a significant factor contributing to strong demand for metal and the market moving higher. More recently, though, it has become apparent that the new administration does not share in this vision. EV credits have been eliminated, along with a crackdown on tax incentives for wind and solar farms. One wonders how this will impact demand in the months and years ahead.
So, depending on where you look, you may see the glass half empty with a recession coming, or the glass half full, with the economy and markets still rolling along.
Chart 1. Highs and lows for Spot prices of copper.
August 1, 2025
Got copper tariff qualms? The fundamentals say ‘remain calm’
On July 30, 2025, copper tariffs were imposed that set a 50% duty on imported copper products. While that news led to many scary headlines, Michael Zimm, vice president of marketing at Kris-Tech Wire, points out in the below column he posted on LinkedIn that the impact is unlikely to upset the copper market fundamentals.
As a wire and cable manufacturer, our business depends heavily on copper rod, a critical input that is now subject to this tariff. Wire and cable manufacturers support the electrical construction supply chain, which ultimately serves commercial, residential, and infrastructure development across the U.S.
When copper prices rise, the effects cascade: Copper mined → Refined into cathode or rod → Converted into wire → Sold to electrical distributors → Purchased by contractors → Installed in buildings and infrastructure.
On the surface, the policy appears sweeping—but a set of carve-outs buried in the announcement drastically reshaped how markets interpreted the impact.
The exemptions
The new policy “imposes universal 50% tariffs on imports of semi-finished copper products (such as copper pipes, wires, rods, sheets, and tubes) and copper-intensive derivative products (such as pipe fittings, cables, connectors, and electrical components), effective August 1.”
However, there are exemptions: “Copper input materials (such as copper ores, concentrates, mattes, cathodes, and anodes) and copper scrap are not subject to 232 or reciprocal tariffs.”
Domestic rod mills can now import cathode without penalty, melt it down, and extrude it into copper rod. While this process adds cost compared to importing finished rod directly, it is far less expensive than paying a 50% tariff on foreign rod.
For U.S. manufacturers, this is an added cost compared to being able to simply import copper rod, but it is a better scenario than facing full exposure to the new tariff.
Operational impact for U.S. copper wire producers
The two most common uses of refined copper are cathodes and rod, so the exemption for cathode was surprising to us following the release of copper tariff details. Moreover, if an auto manufacturer is already hit by the 232 auto tariff, they are exempted from the copper tariff.
Copper price reaction
Copper was trading at $5.57/lb just before the White House released its fact sheet around 1:50 p.m. EST. Within minutes, it dropped nearly 20% to $4.49/lb, the steepest single-day decline since 1968.
This wasn’t due to collapsing demand or a sudden supply surge. It was a repricing of expectations. In early July, copper had surged from $5.03 to $5.69/lb as markets anticipated a more expansive copper tariff that would restrict U.S. access to refined copper. The exemption of cathode—a high-purity input used to make rod—eased those concerns.
The net result is that input costs will rise, but not as sharply as initially feared. The conversion of cathode into rod involves capital, energy, and logistics means that domestic rod prices will still become more expensive. However, the worst-case scenario of full supply disruption has been avoided. And with more downstream manufacturers now sourcing domestically, U.S. rod mill capacity may tighten, potentially creating additional price pressure in the months ahead.
Broader copper demand: EVs, renewables and AI
Zooming out, the real story isn’t the July 30 tariff or even short-term volatility. It is the broader forces shaping longterm copper demand:
• Electric vehicles (EVs), which require some 3 to 5 times more copper than internal combustion vehicles (140–200 pounds per EV vs. ~50 for ICEs) for passenger vehicles.
• Renewable energy infrastructure, where solar and wind installations require 2–5x more copper per megawatt than fossil fuel plants.
• Grid modernization, essential for EV adoption, decentralized energy, and transmission expansion.
• AI data centers, a newer driver for copper demand, rely on copper for power distribution and cabling.
Since OpenAI’s release of GPT-4 in late 2022, the demand for data center construction has surged. These data centers are energy-intensive and require extensive copper cabling, switchgear, and utility upgrades. In fact, one of
Zimm
the limiting factors for AI growth and scale is available energy—which in turn demands copper, the most efficient metal for electrical conductivity.
Supply-side problem: opening new copper mines
While demand soars, supply is struggling to keep pace. According to S&P Global, it takes on average 29 years to bring a new copper mine online in the U.S. While the U.S. has sizable copper reserves in the ground, permitting delays and environmental reviews slow project timelines dramatically.
The Trump administration’s move to classify copper as a “critical mineral” will help accelerate project approvals, but even under ideal conditions, new supply is still years away. This imbalance between rising demand and sluggish supply growth is why many analysts remain bullish on copper prices well into the 2030s. Source: S&P Global.
Where prices could be heading
Prior to the July 30 policy release, several long-term forecasts (e.g., S&P Global, Goldman Sachs) projected copper prices to rise significantly as a result of growing demand to meet energy transition needs. That trajectory factored in EV growth, grid upgrades, and renewable deployment.
And now there is the additional impact of: a 50% tariff on imported rod and semi-finished copper goods; AI data
center construction along with required electrical grid updates; and still-constrained U.S. copper mining capacity. Therefore it is reasonable to expect price increases on copper over the next decade. While it’s speculative to pinpoint a price, $8.00/lb+ is within the realm of possibility over the coming years, especially if rod mill capacity becomes constrained, there is accelerated AI data center construction and global supply chains face further disruption. That said, robust forecasting would require modeling marginal cost curves, substitution dynamics, and capacity expansions.
Conclusion: structural pressure, not a bubble
The market correction on July 30 was a sharp correction, reflecting a repricing based on the actual details of the copper tariff policy. But it is not a sign of collapsing fundamentals.
The bigger picture remains clear: copper is mission critical to the 21st-century industrial economy, spanning electric vehicles, clean power, AI, and electrical grid resiliency. The need for copper will only intensify in the years ahead. Over time, U.S. copper product manufacturers (such as wire and cable manufacturers) will pass higher copper costs on to their customers. But with demand so deeply embedded in core sectors of the economy, it will be years before copper price pressure triggers demand destruction.
PATENT REPORT
recently approved U.S. patents for wire and cable
Method and wire processing machine that produces prepared shaped parts
U.S. Patent No.: 12,343,784
Patent date: July 1, 2025 Filed: Jan. 18, 2021
Assignee: WAFIOS, Germany
Inventors: Florian Stefan, Oliver Kunhert, Jürgen Rauscherng
A method of producing shaped parts includes drawing wire from a wire stock and feeding the wire to a processing machine; straightening the wire in the wire processing machine; and separating shaped parts of a predefinable wire length from the straightened wire, wherein, to separate a shaped part from the fed wire, at a separating position provided for separation, the wire is first notched in at least one notching operation from two opposite sides by notching tools such that a tapered wire cross section remains between opposing notches at the separating position, and in a dividing operation, the notched wire is separated at the separating position in a region of the tapered wire cross section by engagement of two dividing tools on opposite sides of the wire and their synchronous feed in opposite feed directions perpendicularly to the wire axis until the wire material is severed at the separating position.
Electric wire processing apparatus
U.S. Patent No.: 12,343,764
Patent date: July 1, 2025 Filed: May 14, 2020
Assignee: Shinmaywa Industries, Ltd., Japan
Inventor: Zhen Wang
The present invention relates to a coaxial cable processing device and a method for processing a coaxial cable. The coaxial cable processing device has a first clamping member provided with a first clamping part; a second clamping member provided with a second clamping part which is opposite to the first clamping part; and a first driving device configured to drive the first clamping member and/or the second clamping member to make the first clamping part and the second clamping part move towards or away from each other in a straight line. When the first clamping member and the second clamping member move towards each other and clamp a shielding layer of a coaxial cable, the first clamping part and the second clamping part respectively surround a part of the coaxial cable in a circumferential direction and apply radial pressure on the shielding layer to flare it. The coaxial cable processing
device of the present invention can replace manual operation and has high degree of automation.
Coaxial cable processing device and method
U.S. Patent No.: 12,340,921
Patent date: May 24, 2025 Filed: Sept. 22, 2021
Assignee: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. China
Inventor: Zhen Wang
The present invention relates to a coaxial cable processing device and a method for processing a coaxial cable. The coaxial cable processing device has a first clamping member provided with a first clamping part; a second clamping member provided with a second clamping part which is opposite to the first clamping part; and a first driving device configured to drive the first clamping member and/or the second clamping member to make the first clamping part and the second clamping part move towards or away from each other in a straight line. When the first clamping member and the second clamping member move towards each other and clamp a shielding layer of a coaxial cable, the first clamping part and the second clamping part respectively surround a part of the coaxial cable in a circumferential direction and apply radial pressure on the shielding layer to flare it. The coaxial cable processing device of the present invention can replace manual operation and has high degree of automation.
Twisted pair cables suitable for extended distance applications
U.S. Patent No.: 12,340,920
Patent date: May 24, 2025 Filed: June 20, 2023
Assignee: Superior Essex International Inc.
Inventors: Christopher McNutt, Amir Sekhavat
A twisted pair cable suitable for extended length applications exceeding 100 m may include an outer jacket and four twisted pairs of individually insulated conductors disposed within the outer jacket. Each of the four twisted pairs may have a respective nominal twist lay along a longitudinal length of the cable with the exception of a first termination area positioned at a first longitudinal end of the cable and a second termination area positioned at a second longitudinal end of the cable opposite the first termina-
THE IP PATENT PRIMER
Don’t let sales pull the plug on your patent protection
Business owners love speed. When you create something new, the instinct is to get it out the door and start generating revenue. After all, what good is a great idea sitting on the shelf? The problem is, sometimes moving too fast can kill the protection you’ll need later to prevent competitors from copying your innovation.
That’s the lesson from a recent case: Celanese International Corp. v. International Trade Commission (ITC). The Federal Circuit reminded everyone that if you sell a product made by your secret process before filing for a patent, you may have killed your patent. This isn’t theory. Celanese lost its ability to protect one of its valuable processes. And if it can happen to them, it can happen to you.
How sweet turned sour
Celanese developed a new way to make an artificial sweetener known as Ace-K. It’s used in everything from soft drinks to chewing gum. They started selling Ace-K made with their new process, and then later filed for patents on that process. Years later, foreign competitors began importing Ace-K, and Celanese tried to use those patents at the International Trade Commission to stop the imports.
That’s where it fell apart. The ITC decided the patents were invalid because Celanese’s earlier sales of Ace-K triggered the “on-sale bar.” The Federal Circuit agreed, holding that The America Invents Act didn’t change that rule. A sale is a sale, even if no one outside your company knows what secret sauce made the product.
Imagine spending years perfecting a process, only to be told: “Sorry, you sold the product before you filed. The patent clock expired, and you’re out of luck.” That’s what happened.
Why this matters in your world
You may not be in the sweetener business, but you are in the business of innovation. Whether it’s a new way to draw wire faster, a coating that extends service life or a manufacturing tweak that saves time and money—such process improvements are your crown jewels.
But here’s the hard truth in the U.S.: if you sell products made with a new process more than a year before filing for a patent, you’ve lost the right to patent it. It doesn’t matter if it was a secret process. Your sales started the countdown, and once a year passes, there’s no getting it back.
The undoing of ITC protection
One reason this case stings so badly is because of where it played out. The ITC is a highly effective weapon U.S. companies have to block infringing imports. It moves fast, it hits hard, and it doesn’t get bogged down like regular lawsuits. But the ITC only works if you have valid patents. If your patents are dead because of your own early sales, you lose that powerful tool. That’s exactly what happened to Celanese. They walked into the ITC with big plans and walked out empty-handed.
Business choices
The heart of this story isn’t about the sweetener ... it’s about making choices early and intentionally.
If your advantage is how you make something, you need to decide whether to patent it or keep it as a trade secret.
Patents give you a sword that you can use to stop others from using your invention. Only you have to file on time. If you want to get the product into the market fast, you can file a provisional application. It’s quick and inexpensive, and it buys you 12 months to file the non-provisional application. It also protects your ability to file in other countries.
Trade secrets, on the other hand, don’t require any filings. They can last forever if you keep them locked down with strong contracts and tight security. Think about the Kentucky Fried Chicken recipe or the CocaCola formula. The disadvantage with trade secrets is that a competitor can reverse engineer your process. Also, enforcement in other countries can be difficult.
The takeaway
Celanese teaches a painful but powerful lesson: the excitement of a first sale can blind even big, sophisticated companies to the invisible patent clock ticking in the background.
The smart move? Decide early. Either file before you sell or keep it secret forever. Just don’t stumble into a sale thinking you can fix it later.
As I often tell clients, “The easiest way to lose a patent is to sell your own invention before you ask for one.” Celanese learned that lesson the hard way. You don’t have to.
-Bill Honaker
Bill Honaker has been an intellectual property attorney for more than 30 years, helping businesses—from Fortune 100 firms to individual entrepreneurs—protect their patents, trademarks and copyrights. A former Patent Office Examiner, he is a partner with Dickinson Wright, PLLC. He notes that he is especially good at keeping clients out of court. He can be contacted at whonaker@dickinson-wright.com, tel. 248-433-7381.
tion area, where each of the first and second termination areas occupies a longitudinal distance of 15.0 cm or less. Additionally, each of the four twisted pairs may a first twist lay within the first termination area that is smaller than its nominal twist lay and a second twist lay within the second termination area that is smaller than its nominal twist lay.
Composite
wire
U.S. Patent No.: 12,340,918
Patent date: May 24, 2025 Filed: Feb. 15, 2023
Assignee: Arizona Board of Regents on Behalf of Arizona State University\
Inventor: Hamzeh Kashani, Wonmo Kang
A composite wire material may include a core wire including copper (Cu). The core wire material may include a first layer on a circumferential surface of the core wire, where the first layer includes graphene. The composite wire material may include a second layer on a circumferential surface of the first layer, where the second layer includes nickel (Ni).
Fiber optic cable management systems and methods
U.S. Patent No.: 12,339,511
Patent date: May 24, 2025 Filed: March 31, 2021
Assignee: CommScope Technologies LLC
Inventor: Thierry Declerck, Debora Dockx
A fiber management cable assembly for facilitating routing and storing optical fibers includes a plurality of fiber fixation tabs. The plurality of fiber fixation tabs can provide fixation for optical fibers supported by, mounted on, or attached to components within a telecommunications enclosure. The plurality of fiber fixation tabs can secure optical fibers that are in a multi-fiber (e.g., ribbon) configuration or a single fiber configuration.
Fire retardant strength member for optical fiber cables and manufacturing method thereof
U.S. Patent No.: 12,339,510
Patent date: May 24, 2025 Filed: March 17, 2022
Assignee: none listed
Inventor: Pramod Marru, India
A strength member (202, 302) for use in an optical fiber cable and manufacturing method thereof are provided. The strength member comprises a polymer matrix reinforced with one or more yarns, wherein the polymer matrix is a blend of a resin and an inorganic filler. The resin is a polyurethane resin and the inorganic filler is one or more of Magnesium Hydroxide, Aluminium Trihydrate, Zinc borate, Antimony Trioxide, Ammonium Polyphosphate, molybdate based filler and clay nanocomposite. The manufacturing method includes coating the one or more strength yarns with the polymer matrix and curing of the polymer matrix. The inorganic filler is blended in third wet bath of the resin followed by two wet baths of the resin only and the resin is cured after each wet bath. The strength member produces a smoke density of less than 170 at heat flux 50 kW/m.sup.2 for 20 minutes.
Dual-layer
sheath for an optical fiber cable
U.S. Patent No.: 12,339,508
Patent date: May 24, 2025 Filed: April 13, 2022
Inventor: Srvan Kumar, India
The present invention relates to a flexible high density optical fiber cable (100) having no central strength member. Particularly, the optical fiber cable (100) comprises a core having a plurality of bundled optical fiber ribbons (104), a inner layer (108), a outer layer (112) and a continuous strength layer (110) sandwiched between the inner layer (108) and the outer layer (112). The continuous strength layer (110) is a stiff strength member providing flexibility and strength to the optical fiber cable (100). The proposed structure of the optical fiber cable (100) enables the optical fiber cable (100) to have an optimized blowing performance and anti-buckling characteristics.
Machine and method for producing simply reinforced steel wire meshes
U.S. Patent No.: 12,337,374
Patent date: May 27, 2025 Filed: Aug. 30, 2021
Assignee: BAM AG, Progress Maschinen & Automation AG China/Italy
Inventors: Franz Haussler, Alexander Stuflesser
A machine and a method for producing uniaxial reinforcing steel bar meshes, in particular for uses with not predominantly static load, has reinforcing wires which are fastened to support strips by individual wire tying ... The present invention relates to a machine and a method for producing uniaxial reinforcing steel bar meshes, in particular those for uses with not predominantly static loads.
Wire harness with fixing mechanism for electromagnetic wave absorbing member
U.S. Patent No.: 12,336,085
Patent date: May 24, 2025
Filed: Feb. 5, 2021
Assignee: Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd., Japan
Inventor: Masashi Hayashi.
A wire harness including: a wire; a positioning member that is made of a synthetic resin and is provided on an outer circumference of the wire; a ring-shaped electromagnetic wave absorber that has a through hole through which the wire passes and is fixed to the positioning member; and a fixing member for fixing the positioning member to the wire, wherein: the positioning member includes a main body including an insertion portion inserted in the through hole, and a fixing portion protruding from the main body to an outside of the through hole, and the fixing member is formed so as to fasten the wire and the fixing portion to each other.
Cable glands with multiple seal positions
U.S. Patent No.: 12,336,082
Patent date: May 17, 2025
Filed: Feb. 5, 2021
Assignee: Hubbell Limited, Great Britain
Inventors: Andrew Tindall, Lawrence Lonergan, Carl Jackson.
A cable gland (1) comprising: an entry component (2) sized to fit through an orifice in a surface and having a flange (11) arranged to bear against the surface around the orifice; a middle component (3) in threaded engagement with the entry component (2); and a back component (4) in threaded engagement with the middle component (3), the cable gland (1) defining a through bore (5) for a cable through the entry component (2), the middle component (3) and the back component (4); the cable gland (1) further comprising a sealing body (6) which is arranged to provide a seal in
(Patent Report continued, see p. 82)
SEA R CHING F OR TH A T
Find it with FENN!
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ASIAN FOCUS
South Korea’s LS Cable & System reports continued strong growth in the U.S. market
LS Cable & System has significantly expanded its U.S. manufacturing presence through its Tarboro, North Carolina facility, reflecting continued growth in cable demand from sectors including AI data centers, grid modernization initiatives, and renewable energy projects.
The Tarboro plant, operated by LS Cable & System USA, produces medium- and low-voltage power cables and is notable for the use of cleanroom-grade (Class 100) insulation technology, which is rarely applied in this segment of cable manufacturing.
The company reports that this level of process control is intended to ensure its cables meet North American safety and performance standards, with production aimed at applications that require high operating resilience, such as datacenters and utility-grade infrastructure. Local manufacturing is said to position the company to supply cables with reduced lead times while addressing concerns over tariffs and supply chain flexibility.
LS Cable & System, headquartered in Anyang, Korea, operates more than 60 production and sales sites across 20 countries. Its business includes the supply of submarine, HVDC, and communications cables for global energy, data, and utility projects. According to recent statements, demand growth in the U.S. has been supported by trends toward reshoring cable supply and rising investment in domestic electrification and grid resilience. Company financial results show LS Eco Energy, its overseas subsidiary, achieved record-high first-half revenue and profit in 2025, credited in part to increased U.S. orders.
Recent announcements from the company note completion of a major HVDC submarine cable plant in Korea and contracts for large-scale offshore wind and submarine cable projects, including AIS infrastructure in Asia and North America. LS Cable & System officials have indicated that the U.S. business will continue to focus on providing localized engineering support and products that address requirements for rapid project delivery and compliance with domestic standards.
“U.S.-based manufacturing enables us to respond to local market demands and changes in the supply chain environment,” said Sangho Lee, CEO of LS Eco Energy, in recent company materials. The company, founded in 1962, has also reported progress on long-term sustainability targets, with increased use of renewable energy at several plants and public commitments to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
The company’s range of products for North America and global markets consists of power, telecommunication, subsea, and industrial cables, with a focus on solutions for data centers, utility infrastructure, and renewable energy development.
Malaysia’s Southern Cable Group turning to exports for growth, including to the U.S.
Southern Cable Group Bhd is rapidly emerging as a Malaysian export success story, with overseas sales on track to hit about $22.7 million (nearly triple last year’s) in 2025 and management targeting more than triple that again by year-end.
Per details from the company’s website and other cited sources, the Kedah-based cable and wire manufacturer, founded in 1993 and listed on Bursa Malaysia, is leveraging strong demand from the United States—especially for UL-certified aluminum wiring for the robust U.S. construction sector—to diversify beyond its traditional domestic base and drive rapid profit growth. The group’s overseas revenue surged 636% year-on-year in the first quarter of 2025 to roughly $7 million, with exports now about 3% of total sales but targeted to climb toward 30% over time. Southern Cable aims to increase monthly shipment batches from 50 to 100 containers to meet this surge in demand. This export growth complements a strong domestic tender book of some $120 million, as noted in the company’s 2023 Annual Report, and long-standing relationships with major Malaysian clients such as Tenaga Nasional Berhad, Telekom Malaysia, Petronas, Sabah Electricity and Sarawak Energy. Export sales fetch higher prices and better margins—high single-digit gross profit margins from the U.S. market versus 5–6% locally.
Founded in 1993, Southern Cable operates its main manufacturing hub in Kuala Ketil, Kedah, currently running at nearly 82% utilization. To meet rising demand at home and abroad, it plans to invest $4.65 million this year to boost production, particularly for high-voltage cables for infrastructure projects such as the Klang Valley MRT, East Coast Rail Link, and Pengerang RAPID. The company’s capacity is now about 42,000 km of cables annually, supported by in-house production of copper and aluminum rods for efficiency and quality control.
Southern Cable plans to complete its cable capacity expansion by 5,000 km per year this fiscal year, with 2,000 km per year expected by the second half of the current fiscal year. Construction at multiple lots is underway, aiming to increase capacity by another 20% to approximately 60,000 km per year over the next two years. The expansion primarily targets low and medium voltage segments.
Per a report from India-based 6Wresearch (Malaysia Insulated Wire and Cable Market Report 2025–2031) and profiles from EnSun and Metoree, Southern Cable is one of the top 10 cable makers in Malaysia. It is not the largest, as foreign-owned multinationals such as Italy’s Prysmian Group, France’s Nexans and Japan’s Fujikura operate larger Malaysian facilities—particularly in fiber optic and high-tech cables—but Southern Cable remains a very competitive local player in the power cable segment. Its growth has been driven by manufacturing investments, export diversification, and resilience to challenges such
as U.S.–Malaysia reciprocal tariffs, which it says have not disrupted delivery schedules.
Significant growth drivers also come from Malaysia’s data center boom and utility infrastructure upgrades. Tenaga Nasional is upgrading power cable conductor sizes, doubling them on critical routes to support rising electricity needs, which Southern Cable is well-positioned to supply. The company’s typical delivery timeframe for private data center projects is under two months.
Renewable energy is another strategic focus. Malaysia aims for 70% renewable energy capacity by 2050, and
Southern Cable is progressively expanding its product offerings in line with these goals. It manufactures its own plastic compounds for insulation and cable drums for packaging, underscoring its vertically integrated approach.
Recent analyst reports from Apex Securities affirm confidence, projecting core earnings growth of around 25% annually through 2026, underpinned by export expansion and improved product mix. The firm rates Southern Cable a “buy,” with a target price implying nearly 20% upside from current share levels.
Rising electricity demand linked to data center growth is expected to be a key driver, with Tenaga planning to upgrade conductor sizes on key lines, potentially doubling cable cross-section from 800 sq mm to 1,600. The company also services private data center builds, which typically require delivery within two months.
Its rail-related business remains robust. The manufacturer has supplied cables for KTM, the MRT1 and MRT2 lines in the Klang Valley, and the RAPID project in Johor, and won a $3.8 million contract for the Kelantan section of the East Coast Rail Link. About 80% of sales are from purchase orders, with the remainder from longer-term utility contracts. Southern Cable is also positioning for renewable energy growth, with Malaysia targeting a 70% renewable capacity mix by 2050.
An assortment of cables produced by Malaysia’s Southern Cable Group.
PEOPLE CORNER
who’s on the move in the industry
Aurora Material Solutions announced news about five positions in recent months. Renee Havrilla was named president of the company’s flexible compounds business segment. Most recently, she served as vice president of the solvents business for Monument Chemical in Indianapolis, Indiana. She previously held roles as vice president of global compounds for Westlake Corporation and general manager of the polyurethane spray foam business for Bayer Material Science (now Covestro). She holds a B.S. degree in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. Daniel Lowery was named technology director of the company’s engineered thermoplastics (ETP) business segment. He most recently worked for EMS-Chemie, where he managed a team developing and commercializing specialty polyamides in niche markets. He also held leadership roles at Ascend Performance Materials, SABIC/GE and Eastman Kodak. Juan Bravo was named business development and technology manager for rigid specialties. He previously worked for Cruz Foam in Santa Cruz, California, where he most recently served as senior director of technology/ operations. He has also worked for Struktol Company of America, Ferro Corporation, Trim-Tex, Alloyd Company, and Arlington Mills in various technical and management roles. He holds a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from the University of
Guadalajara in Guadalajara, Mexico. He has co-authored multiple patents in polymer and foam technologies. Megan Kravec was named a market segment manager, industrial. She previously worked at Valtris Specialty Chemicals in Independence, Ohio, as global product manager/operational marketing manager for polymer modifiers. She also worked for PPG Industries for 18 years in multiple technical roles and has extensive experience in product development, technical service and market development. She holds a B.S. degree in biology and chemistry and an MBA from Bowling Green State University.
Brian Bejcek was named a regional sales manager. He has a proven track record of selling into distribution channels, OEMs and direct customers. He previously worked at EMS-Chemie (Grivory) North America, where he most recently served as distribution manager. Prior employers include PolyOne/Avient and EcoLab & Rogan Corporation. He holds a B.S. degree in chemical engineering from Oregon State University and a plastics engineering certificate from the American Injection Molding Institute. Based in Streetsboro, Ohio, Aurora Material Solutions makes custom PVC compounds and engineered polymers for sectors that include wire and cable.
Héctor Ferrer has been appointed segment manager, insert blanks & gears, at Hyperion Materials & Technologies. He has some eight years with the company, serving in roles that included business development specialist - carbide metal cutting, application engineer - metal forming and application engineer & product specialist - metal forming. He holds a B.S. degree in materials engineering from the Universitat de Barcelona. Based in Dublin, Ohio, Hyperion Materials & Technologies makes materials used to manufacture carbide nibs and wire die blanks, as well as PCD (polycrystalline diamond) blanks.
Havrilla
Lowery
Bravo
Kravec
Bejcek
Ferrer
Hawaii on track to be 1st fully fiber-enabled state by end of 2026
Clearfield, Inc., reports that through its Hawaiian Telcom business, it is on course to help the state of Hawaii to become the first fully fiber-enabled state in the U.S. by the end of next year.
A press release said that Hawaiian Telcom’s fiber already reaches more than 60% of homes across Hawaii, spanning all major islands and tackling some of the state’s most challenging terrain. By the end of this year, the company expects to reach 475,000 homes.
The multi-year build, which began in 2010, focuses on long-term scalability, community impact, and digital equity, prioritizing remote and underserved areas first. From volcanic terrain to rainforest, and from rural farms to dense urban centers, Hawaiian Telcom’s network reflects both technological resilience and cultural responsibility.
The initiative by Clearfield has gone on more than 12 years. By the end of 2025, Hawaiian Telcom will have installed more than 1,000 Clearfield passive optical network (PON) cabinets. A wide variety of Clearfield cassettes, splitters, wall boxes, central office panels and frames, and patch cords round out the solution set that enables high-density, scalable fiber distribution across Hawaii’s uniquely diverse landscapes.
“They started with the hardest-to-reach places first, delivering high-speed internet to rural farms, homesteads, and remote community centers,” said Clearfield Chief Marketing Officer Anis Khemakhem. “From lava fields to high-rise hotels, this project has faced an immense range of unique challenges. It’s been incredible to see how our products are helping Hawaiian Telcom develop future-proof networks to invigorate the state’s economy and empower residents through greater access to healthcare, education, and connection with others.”
Hawaiian Telcom notes that its approach goes beyond deployment numbers. The company provides internet to all public schools and libraries as well as qualifying residents through the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL). It has also helped connect vital community spaces such as Hale Līhu’e, a combined community center, coworking space and a cafe in downtown Līhu’e, where broadband has sparked entrepreneurship and cultural experience. More recently, Hawaiian Telcom announced plans to donate $6 million this year to fiber-enable all properties managed by the Hawaii Public Housing Authority, expanding access to even more underserved communities across the state.
Report: aerospace market expected to fly high through 2029
A report from the Business Research Company— Aerospace Fasteners Global Market Report 2025 – Market Size, Trends, And Global Forecast 2025-2034— projects strong results for the field, which it predicted would grow from the $8.19 billion in 2024 to $9.05 billion at the end of 2025.
A press release said that the market “has witnessed a brisk pace of growth in the past few years,” with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 10.4%. That growth stems from the expansion of the aerospace industry, initiatives for modernizing the military, the globalization of aerospace supply chains, orders for commercial aircraft, and rigorous safety and quality standards.
Looking forward, the CAGR will slow some, but still achieve an impressive rate of 8.6% through 2029, by which time the market should be worth $12.57 billion, at CAGR of 8.6%. This expected growth is due to a variety of factors such as increased air travel, development of advanced aircraft, new markets for air travel, space exploration initiatives, and initiatives in green aviation. Some key trends expected in this timeframe include the introduction of digital processes in manufacturing, research and development in lightweight materials, the incorporation of intelligent
fastening technologies, titanium fasteners and the use of composite materials.
The International Civil Aviation Organization predicts that by 2035, passenger traffic and freight volume will have doubled. That surge is expected to propel the growth of the aerospace fasteners market.
Europe emerged as the largest region for the year 2024, and the market in the Asia-Pacific region is forecasted to grow the fastest during the predicted period. The report encompasses regions including Asia-Pacific, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East and Africa.
The report also covers major players in the sector; segments for future trends, such as the heightened usage of super alloys; segments such as products (nuts, bolts, rivets), platforms, materials and end uses. SPS Technologies, for example, has employed these super alloys and successfully developed the MP35N, which is renowned as the first fastener superalloy.
To download a free sample of the aerospace fasteners market report, go to www.thebusinessresearchcompany. com/sample.aspx?id=5756&type=smpAerospace Tapes Global Market Report 2025.
MEET YOUR PEERS. ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS. JOIN WAI TODAY.
The following list includes new WAI members, renewing members and those who became Premium members through their companies.
Brad Alaton
Maintenance Supervisor Southwire Co
Abdallah Sami Badawy
Head Cable Design Section Elsewedy Cables
Abigayle Bessman Manufacturing Manager Prysmian
Caleb Brown Process Engineer Prysmian
Bhanuprakash Budamagunta Senior Process Engineer Southwire Co
Mario Camargo Lean Manufacturing Manager Southwire Co
Frederic Pierre Chatron-Colliet Global Business Development Manager Versiv Composites Limited
Michael Chlebowski Manager of Polymer Engineering Nexans Canada Inc
Al Chong Business Development Manager Aurora Material Solutions
Robert Conners President Nautilus Cables, LLC
Dennis Currin Plant Director Draka EHC
Joseph Daversa Consultant Joseph Daversa Inc
Ted Davis President 3S Wire
Trebor Davis Managing Partner eQubed LLC
Peter Dreux Research Engineer The Dow Chemical Company
Matthew Duncan Vice President Granite Falls Furnace
Shane Ferguson Regional Head of Sales - Americas Victrex USA Inc
John Garrison Territory Manager GEON Performance Solutions
Sergio Guillen Wire Mill Operations Manager Indalco Lincoln Electric
Scott Harden President Provideon Cable
Nathan Hebert Technical Sales Total Energies Marketing USA
David Hegyi Senior Product Engineer Fisk Alloy Inc.
WAI flag sails at Fort Wayne Wire Die
Fort Wayne Wire Die Inc. President Eric Bieberich recently sent the Wire Association International a photo showing the WAI flag flying alongside the U.S. flag at the company’s headquarters in Fort Wayne, Indiana.
Bieberich, who is serving as WAI’s 2025 president, continued the tradition by displaying the flag, which WAI provides to each current president to be flown during their term.
This custom, embraced in recent years, highlights the close relationship between WAI leadership and its member companies and serves as a visual symbol of industry pride and association identity throughout the president’s tenure.
Guillermo Hernandez Project Engineer Viakable
Soonhyun Hong Engineer LS Cable and System USA
Michael Huff Value Stream Manager Southwire Co
Perry Huffstickler Materials Manager Southwire Co
William Hyman President Burton Wire & Cable Inc
Bruce Kirby Lean Manager Southwire Co
Stephan Lier Chief Engineer PDM US
Wesley Marcrum Senior Process Engineer Prysmian
Matt Miles Vice President Distribution & Transportation Southwire Co
Jamie Miller
Maintenance Planner Hexatronic Rochester Cable
John David Moore Compliance Director Southwire Co
Elias Muhlrad President Remee Products Corp
Iman Naseri Lead Product Development Engineer Superior Essex Communication
Maura Nespoli Vice President Sustainability Prysmian
Quinten Orantek Product Engineer Cerro Wire
Jigar Parikh CEO Arvind Anticor Ltd
Nick Petri President Device Technologies, Inc.
Jody Phillips Operations Support Supervisor Southwire Co
Joseph Piner Operations Manager LS Cable & System, USA
Rafael Quintero Engineer Champlain Cable Corp
Kyle Raffel National Sales Manager, Engineered Materials Palmer Holland
Nicholas Riva Manufacturing Engineer Dynamet Inc
Mark Roden Vice President/General Manager SCR Technologies Southwire Co
Jorge Rubio Condat Corp
Jason Rush Operational Director Southwire Co
Joe Schleupner Vice President PMO and IT Performance Southwire Co
Dylan Shepherd Engineering Manager Southwire Co
John Sherrell Outside Sales Samuel ATG
LaShantra Simmons Supervisor, Operations Southwire Co
Nicholas Squanda Director of Manufacturing Fortius Metals
Ronald Stephens Maintenance Supervisor Southwire Co
Dan Stuart Senior Vice President/Chief Information Officer Southwire Co
Andrew Sumner
Engineering Compliance & Certification Southwire Co
James Sweeting III Manufacturing Manager Prysmian Cable
Katsuya Tobinaga
Japan President Fort Wayne Wire Die, Inc.
THE WIRE ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL (WAI)
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.
ASSOCIATION HIGHLIGHTS
WAI staff adds new project manager
Vanessa Lewis has joined the Wire Association International as project manager, serving as the primary contact for WAI member relations.
Lewis, a 2024 graduate of Purchase College at SUNY, holds a B.S. degree in communications. She previously worked as a production assistant at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Her responsibilities include managing chapters, overseeing new member onboarding and renewals, and providing project management support for WAI’s meeting planning, circulation and association management software (AMS).
The Points Meeting is critical for companies to select exhibit spaces based on a points system that rewards frequent and long-time supporters. Director of Sales Shannon Timme commented that Wisconsin is an excellent location, with Milwaukee positioned in a key hub of the Midwest’s industrial corridor, while also offering visitors the chance to experience downtown and regional hospitality. Bolstered by co-location with EWPTE, Wire Expo 2026 is expected to see even greater results, she added.
At the last Points Meeting on October 11, 2023, for Wire Expo 2024, 91 companies participated, resulting in 102 floor spaces being claimed for the expo held June 11-12, 2024, at Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut—representing more than 60% of available booth space. Two months after the meeting, nearly 70% of 2024 expo floor space had been reserved, with 10% of exhibitors being new.
‘Last Call’ for 2-part Sept. die webinar
Lewis will act as the staff liaison to the Member Relations Committee and all chapters. She has already met with Member Relations Committee Chairman Brian Steinbruegge of Insteel Industries to ensure a smooth transition. Her first WAI event was the Ohio Valley Chapter Outing on August 21. She will provide on-site support at the New England and Southeast Chapter outings in September and October.
“I am pleased to have Vanessa join our dedicated team,” said WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll, who noted that in her short time at WAI, Lewis has already impressed her colleagues. Fetteroll added that Lewis will also be involved in WAI’s transition to a new AMS, which is in its early phases, as well as the upcoming deployment of the new wirenet.org site.
WAI announces that Points Meeting for Wire Expo has been set for Oct. 2
WAI has set October 2 as the date for the Points Meeting for Wire Expo 2026 at its headquarters in Madison, Connecticut, where space allocation will officially launch for the event set for May 6-7, 2026, at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
The Wire Association International’s Education Center is presenting a two-part webinar series this month on differentiating high-quality wire dies from substandard ones. Targeted at tool makers and wire producers, the sessions are led by experts from Hyperion Materials & Technologies.
On Sept. 17, 2025, at 11:00 am CST, “Differentiating High-Quality PCD Wire Dies” will explore carbide and PCD (polycrystalline diamond) fundamentals, highlighting issues like EDM cutting problems and cracks. Attendees will learn to identify defects, receive a checklist for product evaluation, and discover innovations in PCD materials.
On Sept. 24, 2025, at 11:00 am CST, “Key Differentiators in Carbide Wire Dies” will focus on carbide materials with an interactive segment covering issues such as casing problems, breakage, cavities, and scratches. This session will also present a checklist for quality assessment, testing methods, certifications, and the latest in carbide technology. Registration is required for each session. Webinars are free for WAI members and $75 for non-members, making membership ($150/year) an attractive option for those interested in both sessions and seeking further discounts on training and events. n
Lewis
PRIMARY WIRE WIPE
An economical way to remove copper dust, excessive oil lubricant, dirt, and dust from primary wire or strand
CCC LINE CARD
• Stranding & Cabling Lines
• Take-Ups / Pay-Offs / Coilers
• Fully Automatic Re-Wind Lines
• Complete Extrusion Lines
WIRE RANGE: Up to 0.098 in. (2.5 mm.) diameter
MAX. F/M: Approx. 8000 ft./m.
MATERIALS: Ferrous or nonferrous material / tinned, bare, or plated
FLOOR SPACE: 18” x 27”
• Reduce Spark Faults
• Improve Insulation Bond
• Easy to Install
• Improve Insulation Concentricity
• Increase Pre-Heater Sheave Life
• Environmentally Friendly
• Ultrasonic, Wet Blast, and Various Mechanical Cleaning Systems
• Drum Packers, Air Wipes, and Taping Lines
GIMAX SRL DRAWING EQUIPMENT
TYPICAL WIRE SIZE:
15 mm. (0.6 in.) inlet down to .5 mm. (0.02 in.) outlet
NUMBER OF BLOCKS: Up to 15 blocks
LINE SPEED: 30 m./s. (6000 f/min.)
CAPSTAN COATING: Tungsten Carbide or ceramic coating
• Forming / Welding / Sizing Lines
• Wire Drawing and Shaving
• Semi and Auto Re-Spooling
CHAPTER NETWORK
Midwest Chapter event enjoys strong rebound in 2025
The Midwest Chapter Golf Tournament made a triumphant return this year at a new location—White Pines Golf Club—drawing 86 golfers for a day of friendly competition, networking and fun. After a one-year hiatus, the boost in participation from 69 golfers in 2023 marked a strong rebound and a promising step forward for the chapter.
This impressive jump in attendance wouldn’t have been possible without the support of Lake Cable. A special thanks goes to Jack Rosenthal, Lake Cable’s director of purchasing, whose efforts in organizing and promoting the tournament played a key role in its success.
The event kicked off with a morning shotgun start, followed by a lively networking reception and buffet dinner featuring an open bar, sponsored by Lake Cable. Capping off the day was the highly anticipated grand raffle prize—a Honeywell 115-Can Beverage Refrigerator and a $100 Amex gift card—won by Clifford Goss of SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS.
On-course contests kept things competitive throughout the day. The winning golf team, with a commendable score of 63, included Matthew Bosler, Asa Garland, Matt Zumm and Nichlas Pellegrino. Closestto-the-pin winners were Jack Haberkorn, Ricardo Magana, and Rick Fischer. The longest drive contests were won by Kimberly Johnson, Clifford Goss and Jack Haberkorn while Ricardo Magana also claimed the straightest drive.
Sponsors of the tournament included Avient Corporation, Chase Corporation, Chief Supply Inc, Fenn-Torin, Guelph Twines Ltd., Industrial Wire & Cable Corp, Lake Cable & Lake Copper, OTECH Compounds, Reel Options, SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS, SIKORA International, Teknor Apex, The George Evans Corp, Thermo Conductor Services Inc., Think Packaging Group, and Three D Metals.
The Southeast Chapter reports the names of its 2 scholarship winners for 2025
The Southeast Chapter began its college scholarship program in 2008, awarding them to children, grandchildren and dependents of chapter members that are in good standing. Through this year, the chapter has awarded 50 scholarships. Below are this year’s recipients.
Erin Mulligan is the daughter of Alan Mulligan, sales representative, Vandor Corporation. She is pursuing an MBA at High Point University.
The
Ohio Valley Chapter reports the names of its scholarship winners for 2025
The Ohio Valley Chapter, which was launched in 2003, awards college scholarships to children (including step-children, adopted or wards) of its chapter members in good standing. It also considers AIST student members. Below are the 2025 winners.
Meredith Hammontree is the daughter of Joe Hammontree, president, Temple Terrace Industries. She is studying biology at Florida College.
Allison Kuli is the daughter of John Kuli, technical consultant, Materion. She is studying biomedical engineering at Wright State University.
Lily Ferguson is the daughter of Shane Ferguson, regional head of sales – Americas, Victrex USA. She is pursuing a dual major in special education and early childhood education at St. Joseph’s University.
Hammontree
Kuli Ferguson
CHAPTERS
Ohio Valley Chapter event scores both on and off the links
The Ohio Valley Chapter (OVC) held its 21st annual golf outing on Thursday, August 21, the second straight year it featured a split-activity format, where participants chose between golfing at the Kensington Golf Club in Canfield, Ohio, or target shooting at The Training Range in nearby Austintown. The event attracted a total of 54 attendees, with 46 golfers and eight shooters.
For the golfers, it started with a shotgun start at 8 am. Despite the misty weather, players were prepared for some friendly competition, and the atmosphere remained lively and lighthearted throughout the morning. The driving range—sponsored by Rainbow Rubber & Plastics—was also open for those who wanted to get in some extra swings.
The fight for the tournament win was a close one. Taking home bragging rights with an impressive score of 60 was the Premier Wire Die and Worldwide Superabrasives’ team of Denny Eisberg, Vincent Griffin, Kim Wynn and David Simpson, who are pictured below. In second place, with a score of 61, was the team of Michael Krueger of Traxit North America, Jason Giebfried of Paramount Die Company,
and Jonathan Gaser and Sam Diamond, both of Lincoln Electric. In third place, at 64, was the team of Tim Gascoigne of G2 Materials, Mark MacKimm of Rainbow Rubber & Plastics, and Mike Dies and Alex Lippincott of Wire & Cable Technology.
Hole sponsors for the tournament included CONDAT Corp, Die Quip Corp., GEON Performance Solutions, OmniSource, Paramount Die Company, Premier Wire Die, Rainbow Rubber & Plastics, SIKORA and WAFIOS. Closest-to-the-pin was sponsored by Enkotec Company, Inc. and Blachford Corp. Longest drive was sponsored by BECHEM Lubrication Technology, LLC and SIKORA. The scoreboard sponsor was SDI La Farga Copperworks.
Meanwhile, the eight attendees who went to the Training Range took target practice with handguns. It was the second time the alternative event was held there. Chapter President Thomas Maxwell, Jr., Die Quip Corp., who won the five-shot marksmanship contest, said that it was a good alternative for non-golfers. While small in numbers, the participants thoroughly enjoyed the experience, he said.
At the luncheon, participants enjoyed a buffet and limited bar sponsored by GEON Performance Solutions. Every participant was entered to win one of many raffle prizes, which included a set of golf clubs, wine, shooting targets and other donations from sponsors.
As participants enjoyed their meal, they engaged in educational seminars. Topics included wire straightening techniques by E.J. Neron, Witels Albert, who explained both the basics and latest developments in technology; unlocking the power of carbide by Matthew Beyers and Hector Ferrer Ribas of Hyperion, who discussed the use of carbide, the different grades and characteristics; and locating defects typically found in wire and cable manufacturing by Mario Di Bello, Foerster Instruments, Inc., who presented real-world examples and key takeaways.
The OVC also announced the recipients of their scholarship program at the luncheon. See p. 43.
The event was made possible by dedicated committee volunteers who made sure participants would have a fun, informative and rewarding experience. A special thank you went to John Leffler—who announced his resignation from the committee—for his years of service on the Chapter’s Board and for all his contributions. The board is pictured below.
NE Chapter alert: time to sign up for Oct. 9 meeting at FENN
The WAI’s New England Chapter’s rescheduled visit to FENN’s plant in East Berlin, Connecticut, is rapidly approaching. Originally set for Thursday, August 7, it will take place Oct. 9, and now is a good time to sign up.
This special program commemorates 125 years of Fenn Torin’s excellence in metal forming machinery and kicks off with a guided facility tour showcasing their historic legacy and modern advancements in rolling and swaging technology. After the tour, there will be
a casual networking celebration with fellow professionals—an opportunity to connect, reflect, and celebrate this milestone in a relaxed setting. Check-in begins at 3:30 pm and the tour starts at 4:00 pm. All proceeds support the WAI New England Chapter Scholarship Fund. Registration for the event can be made by WAI members and nonmembers at my.wirenet.org. The cost is $105, $85 for NEC members. n
Wire & Cable Kraków 2025
The August preview covered much of what would take place at Wire & Cable Kraków when the international conference is held Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Holiday Inn Kraków City Centre in Kraków, Poland. Now, as the one-day event draws nearer WJI presents fuller coverage of what looks to be an amazing event.
Wire & Cable Kraków will be packed with innovation, insight and international collaboration. The conference program calls for 32 expert speakers to share their knowledge in this single-day technical blitz. The program will explore topics such as production efficiency, product development and sustainability. Ferrous and nonferrous sessions will run concurrently.
Scheduled speakers come from companies that include Tata Steel, the MFL Group, InnoVites, SAMP Group, Eder Engineering, Hyperion, TKT Group, Windak Group, Aeroel Marposs, Niehoff, WiTechs, the Pittini Group, AGH University, CRU, Metalube, Bekaert, Taymer Europe, Tokai University, Częstochowa University of Technology, University of Milano-Bicocca and Celanese.
It’s worth noting that a key element of the Wire & Cable 2025 Conference has stemmed from a local WAI connection: higher education in Poland. Beata Smyrak, a faculty member of the AGH University, which is based in Kraków,
said that she is both pleased and proud that the event “is being held in this special city.” She noted that Poland has earned the reputation of a highly skilled workforce that is interconnected with academia and research. “I know this first-hand and I can tell you that the trajectory is positive with further growth anticipated for all of manufacturing and the wire and cable sector.”
Beyond that, Smyrak said that she also proudly represents WAI’s Poland Chapter, whose mission is serving this broad and impactful industry. The chapter, long led by President Jan Pilarczyk of Częstochowa University, has actively represented the Association in Poland for nearly three decades. “This Conference symbolizes our efforts,” she said.
The conference will include a tabletop exhibition where companies will have an opportunity to meet with attendees from dozens of manufacturers. There is a total of 25 tabletop positions at €895 and they are being filled now on a first-come, first-served basis. Contact WAI via sales@ wirenet.org for more details on getting a tabletop.
A gala dinner will be held Tuesday night at the historic Stara Zajezdnia Kraków by DeSilva in the heart of Kazimier. The former tram depot in Kazimierz, Kraków— renowned for its unique wooden architecture—is now a vibrant venue hosting craft beer, events and dining.
The event has been designed to be more than “just a conference,” and the experience will unfold both before and after. On Monday, Oct. 13, there will be an optional private tour of the famed Wieliczka Salt Mine, with all transportation arranged. Located near Kraków, the
The city of Kraków will host Wire & Cable Kraków on Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2025, at the Holiday Inn Kraków City Centre.
Smyrak
UNESCO World Heritage site is known for its vast underground labyrinth, chapels carved from salt, and centuries-old mining history. Operated since the 13th century, it attracts tourists worldwide with stunning subterranean architecture and fascinating salt sculptures.
On Wednesday, Oct. 15, there is an optional plant tour of the TeleFonika Kraków-Wielicka plant in the Podgórze Duchackie district of Kraków. The facility is one of Europe’s largest cable factories, specializing in power, signaling and specialized cables. As a global manufacturer of cables and cable systems, TFKable plays a key role in developing energy, industrial and telecommunications infrastructure around the world. The TFKable Group consists of three produc-
tion plants in Poland, one in Serbia and two in the United Kingdom, as well as service units in the U.S. the United Kingdom and Brazil, and a cable waste recycling plant in Poland. Registration for all event elements can now be done at www.wirecable25.com. The four event organizers include WAI, ACIMAF, the AGH University of Kraków and the International Wire & Machinery Association (IWMA).
The International Wire and Cable Machine Exhibitors Association (IWCEA) is also an event sponsor. WAI’s Poland Chapter is graciously providing administrative services. The event is backed by media partner Expometals.net, supported by WJI. Other sponsorship opportunities are still available.
FERROUS TRACK
Below is the list of scheduled presentations for the ferrous track that will follow the welcome at 9 am.
9:10 AM–9:30 AM
Analysis of the Influence of a Sigmoidal Drawing Die Geometry on the Parameters of the Drawing Process and the Properties of the Wire
Jan Walenty Pilarczyk, Professor, Czestochowa University of Technology, and also a founder/president of the WAI Poland Chapter
As part of the study, a drawing process was carried out using a sigmoidal die and a conical die in two runs, with a single crush of ~20%. The dies were made of NC 10 tool steel. The study analysed the mechanical and technological properties of medium and high carbon wire rods, the geometric structure of the wire surfaces, the microhardness distribution and the number of fatigue cycles of the wires.
9:30–9:50 AM
Superior Strength Spring Steel Wires for New Age Two Wheeler Suspensions
Amit Agarwal, Principal Technologist, Tata Steel Limited, Global Wires
Two wheeler manufacturers constantly strive to reduce weight of motor bikes and improve fuel efficiencies. This includes designing of lighter suspensions without adversely impacting the bike’s performance. This paper illustrates the development of superior tensile spring wires with better fatigue properties as compared to normal hard drawn spring wires, for 2 wheeler suspension springs.
9:50–10:10 AM
STAR Project (stearate from steel wire drawing processes as a resource) Valorisation of Solid Lubricants for Dry Drawing in a Circular Economy
Perspective
Dr. Elena Collina, Associate Professor, University of MilanoBicocca; and Giovanni Garoli, Production Unit, TKT Group
The STAR project targets the valorization of exhaust solid lubricants from wire drawing, either as new materials or for energy recovery. This research covers characterization of stearate waste—including proximate analysis and metal content determination— followed by anaerobic digestion tests and trials incorporating stearate waste into plastics, construction materials, and metal recovery processes.
Eurodraw’s Lorenzo Facchinelli speaking at Wire & Cable Milan 2023.
10:40–11:00 AM
Prevention of Delamination Defects in High Carbon Steel Drawn Wire by Alternate Drawing Process
Kazunari Yoshida, Professor, Tokai University
We investigated whether it is possible to manufacture drawn wires with high strength, high ductility and no delamination defects by alternate drawing of high carbon steel wire. The results indicated that the alternate wire drawing process suppressed delamination defects of drawn wire and the alternately drawn wire exhibited a higher ductility compared to conventionally drawn wire and also the tensile residual stress near the surface of the alternately drawn wire is small.
11:00 AM–11:20 AM
Low CO 2 eq Emission Wire Rod: Pittini Applications of EAF Carbon Steel Wire Rods, and Comparison to BOF Carbon Steel Wire Rods
Gianbruno Luvarà, Laboratory Director; and Claudio Zaccomer, Wire Rod Manager, Gruppo Pittini
EAF scrap-based steelmaking CO2 emission intensity is 7 times lower than integrated BOF steelmaking. Pittini experimented with low carbon wire rod and high carbon grades for the use of recycled steel present in cold rolling/drawing and final applications. Latest process technologies together with internal know-how brought strong improvements with EAF issues like inclusions content, uniformity of mechanical properties and differences in chemical analysis.
11:20–11:40 AM
Bezinox ® : Non-magnetic Armouring Wire Solution with Protection against Crevice Corrosion
Peter Polakovic, Business Development Manager for the Energy Division, Bekaert
Submarine HVAC power transmission cables require armoring wires for protection during installation, operation, and decommissioning. The use of conventional ferritic steel armoring leads to power losses and local heating due to magnetic susceptibility. This presentation will discuss stainless steel wire as a non-magnetic alternative, its performance characteristics, the challenge of crevice corrosion in subsea environments, and the benefits of Bezinox® armoring wire for subsea power cable uses.
11:40 AM–12:00 PM
Influence of the Process Parameters on the Deformability of Wire-Rod for Mechanical Applications
Andrea Parimbelli, Quality and Innovation Manager; and Mirko Tenca, PhD Student, Caleotto SpA
The as-rolled deformability of wire rods has been observed to enhance following storage, exhibiting a “reverse aging” phenomenon. This study aims to investigate this recovery process through tensile tests, with a particular focus on the reduction of area (ROA) changes over the storage period. The study will also examine the impact of various hot rolling and cooling parameters on this deformability recovery, the goal being to clarify the underlying mechanisms governing this process.
2:00–2:20 PM
Pioneering Advances in Steel Cord
Production: Cutting-Edge Material Innovation
Hector Ferrer Ribas, Business Development Specialist, Hyperion Materials & Technologies
This session explores the evolving technological landscape and its impact on steel cords, with a focus on material innovations and performance optimization. Attendees will gain insight into the latest advancements in ultra-fine grades and submicron thermally stable polycrystalline diamond (PCD) grades, examining their influence on performance and overall impact on production outcomes. The session will also cover improvements in performance resulting from advances in case technology, highlighting specific benefits and measurable results. It will all address the often-overlooked role of geometric imperfections— particularly miscoaxiality—in affecting the quality and efficiency of carbide blanks. Finally, the discussion will include the growing influence of finite element analysis (FEA) tools in enhancing precision and performance in steel cord manufacturing processes.
2:20–2:40 PM
Automation & Sustainability: Tackling Labor Shortages And Green Demands In Wire & Rope
Alberto Balotelli, Area Manager, MFL Group
The wire and rope industry faces two critical challenges: labor shortages and growing sustainability demands. To address labor shortages, automation plays a key role. Using our automatic rewinding and packaging line as a case study, we’ll explore how
such innovations reduce labor dependence and improve efficiency. On the sustainability front, our mechanical descaling and phosphating solution demonstrates how performance and environmental responsibility can go hand-in-hand.
2:40–3:00 PM
Nontypical Method of Thin Wire Manufacturing for Welding High-Alloy Steel
Marek Burdek, Research Worker, Sie� Badawcza ŁukasiewiczGórno�l�ski Instytut Technologiczny
Sometimes it is necessary to use a small batch of thin steel wire as a welding wire or as input material in additive manufacturing for special applications. The article presents an unconventional method of manufacturing welding wire made of high-alloy steel including 12%Cr, 10%Ni, 2%Mo, that uses cold methods: hydrostatic extrusion, rotary forging and wire drawing. Finally, the wire of the assumed diameter with the required properties was obtained.
3:50–4:10 PM
Enhancing DIE Diameter Measurement: Advanced Sub-Pixel Edge Detection and Circle Fitting Algorithms
Fabio Giannuzzi, Manager, Aeroel Marposs
Accurate measurement of DIE diameter is crucial in the competitive landscape of wire manufacturing, particularly during the wire drawing process. This presentation explores innovative approaches to optimize diameter measurement using advanced algorithms. We focus on sub-pixel edge detection techniques that improve measurement precision. We aim to demonstrate significant improvements in measurement accuracy and efficiency, contributing to enhanced quality control in wire production.
4:10–4:30 PM
How to Change to the Future of Steel Wire
Cleaning: Mechanical Descaling as an Alternative to Pickling
Jort Kuipers, Director, WiTechs B.V.
This presentation will highlight how mechanical descaling of wire rod offers significant operational and financial benefits across the entire production workflow. Key areas impacted include reduced wire rod purchase and handling costs, improved working and environmental conditions, lower energy consumption, easier waste disposal, streamlined workflow management, enhanced surface quality, and
simpler maintenance. Mechanical descaling also minimizes required floor space and supports compliance with government regulations. The result is a cleaner, safer, and more efficient production environment with consistently higher product quality.
4:30–4:50 PM
Bringing Real-Time Simulation into the Drawing Shop: AI-Driven Predictions for Process and Product Optimization.
Andrea Meleddu, Technical and Commercial Manager, Astarte Strategies Srl
This work presents an approach for real-time prediction in steel wire drawing. Using data from validated Finite Element models, an AI model was trained to instantly estimate wire properties based on the process setup. The tool enables rapid and reliable predictions for industrial optimization. Mechanical testing confirms the model’s effectiveness, offering significant reductions in computational cost while maintaining high predictive performance for process control.
4:50–5:10 PM
Opportunities and Challenges in the Steel Industry
Chetan Soni, Analyst; and Matt Watkins, Principal Analyst, CRU
The recent economic downturn has seen the global steel industry reach a cyclical low point in both demand and prices. More recently, the shifting geopolitical landscape has exacerbated or indeed created new challenges already faced by the steel industry, including those associated with decarbonisation, competitive supply, and costs. In response, regional markets have increased their protectionist measures.
Attendees at Wire & Cable Milan in 2023.
NONFERROUS TRACK
Below is the list of scheduled presentations for the nonferrous track that will follow the welcome at 9 am.
9:10–9:30 AM
Dieless Drawing Process of Ultra-thin Wires
Piotr Kustra, Assistant Professor, AGH University of Kraków
The study addresses the increase in roughness of dieless-drawn wires due to strain-induced roughness, which can cause stress concentrations and wire breakage, limiting product diameter and process efficiency. It demonstrates that combining of dieless and conventional drawing methods reduces wire roughness, improving workability compared to dieless drawing alone and enhancing product quality. Surface defects are also significantly reduced, increasing wire strength.
9:30–9:50 AM
Innovative Compounds for Specialty Cable Applications
Luis Zalamea, Application Development Leader for W&C, Celanese
Several new material developments build upon the solid base and track record of Celanese, expanding the application spaces that can be addressed. Namely, halogen-free flame retardant compounds, that comply with several of the most stringent flammability tests, and novel TPVs which significantly raise the upper temperature operating limit. Application case studies will be presented.
9:50–10:10 AM
Windak Smart Cable Packaging
Dieter Gerger, Sales Manager, Windak Group
Windak is a world-leading provider of fully automatic cable packaging machines, offering smart solutions that enhance efficiency and ensure 100% quality control. By automating the packaging process, Windak optimizes workflow, reduces scrap-length and improves productivity in cable manufacturing. This presentation will showcase the latest advancements in cable packaging automation, cost-saving benefits, and future developments that drive efficiency and sustainability in cable packing.
10:40–11:00 AM
Advancing Lubricant Sustainability Within the Copper Wire Drawing Industry
Emma Pates, Global Technical Service Management, Metalube Group
The copper multi-wire drawing industry is increasingly prioritising sustainability, driving a shift away from mineral oil and crude oil-derived lubricants. At the same time, manufacturers seek to maximise production output without compromising product quality or cleanliness. This study explores the development of sustainable lubricant solutions to meet these evolving demands.
11:00–11:20 AM
Innovative Solutions and Machine Efficiency for the Wire and Cable Industry
Enrico Conte, Product Manager, Samp Group
The main drivers for product development—renewable energies, data transmission and digital services, global competition, production efficiency, and sustainability—continue to shape the wire and cable industry. SAMP will present its latest technical advancements, designed to ensure higher product quality and reliable, efficient production while minimizing the carbon footprint.
The historic city of Kraków offers a wide range of attractions for attendees who are able to schedule an extended stay.
11:20–11:40 AM
New Generation of Crane Cables - Conductor Material and Design Factors Crucial for Improving Operating Properties
Andrzej Mamala, Professor, AGH University of Kraków
Crane cables for transshipment devices operate in multiple systems—including roller, drum, festoon, and chain—each of which produces distinct mechanical stresses and operational challenges. This presentation shares results from material research on copper conductors with micro-additives and conductor design, focusing on reliability in crane cable applications. The findings are part of R&D project POIR.01.01.01-000716/18, which is developing a new range of flexible rubber cables with improved elastic properties.
11:40 AM–12:00 PM
Modern Service Concepts in a Digitalized World
Jürgen Krieg, Director After Sales Service, Maschinenfabrik NIEHOFF GmbH & Co.KG
This presentation will introduce NIEHOFF’s new service concepts, emphasizing opportunities enabled by advanced digital tools. Topics include: an updated service strategy integrating digitalization; myNIEHOFF, a centralized digital service portal for global customers; the NIEHOFF LIFECYCLE+ business model, offering digital support throughout the full machine life cycle; and continuous monitoring solutions, such as key performance indicator tracking and NIEHOFF Output Tune.
2:00–2:20 PM
Economical Maintenance Solutions for Strongly Growing Drawing Die Quantities in Multiple Wire Drawing Processes
Dr. Kurt Eder, Owner and CEO, EDER Engineering GmbH
The growing number of drawing dies that need to be repaired, often is presenting increasing problems for many companies, because frequently the traditionally available die-maintenance machines no longer offer the reworking potential that is currently required, or there is a lack of suitably trained personnel in the drawing die workshop. Often both come together. We have a proper solution to this problem!
2:20–2:40 PM
AI in Industry 4.0 - Quality Inspection in the Wire and Cable Industry
Piotr Wincenciak, Territory Manager, Taymer International
AI enhances quality assurance in Industry 4.0, and Taymer integrates AI-driven solutions in print verification and surface
Note: schedule is subject to change. Go to www.wirecable25.com for the latest schedule.
PRICING
14 OCTOBER 2025
Join international delegates for this one-day technical conference to learn the latest manufacturing advances in wire and cable research and operations.
Presented by 32 field experts, topics include production efficiency, product development, and sustainability. Both ferrous and nonferrous tracks are planned. Visitors can also explore the tabletop displays of multiple exhibiting companies.
Pre-conference activities on 13 October include: a dinner reception at Stara Zajezdnia Kraków by DeSilva— an historic building in the center of Kraków’s Kazimierz,
ORGANIZED BY:
and an optional guided tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine with private transportation to and from the hotel.
A post-conference tour of the Tele-Fonicka KrakówWielicka plant—a global manufacturer of cable and cable systems—is offered on 15 October.
Holiday Inn Krakow City Centre Hotel
To book your stay contact reservations@hik.krakow.pl or call +48 12 619 00 51 and provide the password: THE WIRE KRAKOW
EVENT DETAILS & REGISTRATION:
WWW.WIRECABLE25.COM
inspection for wire and cable manufacturing. The OCR-based Print Verification (PV) system ensures accurate printing, reducing false alarms and manual inspection. The Surface Inspection (SI) system uses Machine Learning to detect real defects while minimizing false positives. Taymer improves efficiency and reduces waste, with intelligent automation.
2:40–3:00 PM
Energy Efficiency Meets Peak Performance In Extrusion For High And Low Friction Materials
Robert Pinter, Area Manager, MFL Group
Our extrusion lines use two distinct thermoregulation methods to deliver unmatched performance while improving energy efficiency. For high-friction polymers like HFFR, our patented EXB system features a uniquely designed barrel, delivering top market performance while ensuring energy savings. For low-friction polymers like PEEK, we use alternative technologies that boost efficiency by +30% compared to traditional solutions, ensuring top-tier performance with reduced energy consumption.
3:00–3:20 PM
Development and Implementation of a Production Technology for Biodegradable Surgical Wire from Zn-Mg Alloy
Andrij Milenin, Professor, AGH University of Kraków
This paper presents a new technology for producing biodegradable surgical wire developed at AGH. The wire’s mechanical and corrosion properties were thoroughly examined. The process combines hot drawing and final cold drawing of a hot-extruded workpiece. Hot drawing ensures the required ductility, while cold drawing improves surface quality, enhancing the wire’s biological performance. The study also describes the integration of this technology into production processes.
3:50–4:10 PM
cableCORE MES: A Modular Approach to Future-Proofing Cable Manufacturing
Frederik Becker, Director Sales & Marketing, InnoVites B.V.
In today’s rapidly evolving manufacturing landscape, cable manufacturers face the challenge of balancing flexibility with scalability. Traditional MES solutions either require heavy upfront investment or offer limited growth. In this session, we explore a modular, scalable approach to MES that minimizes risk and ensures long-term adaptability. Discover key success factors, operational alignment, and lessons from real-world
transformations. Leveraging low-code technology and industry case studies.
4:10–4:30 PM
Metallic Screens in High-Voltage Cables –Construction, Properties and Applications
This article presents a comprehensive overview of metallic screens used in high-voltage cables. It discusses various screen types, including wire-based, tapebase and hybrid constructions. Key technical parameters such as thermal conductivity, flexibility, mechanical resistance, ease of application, cost and weight are analyzed. The article also explores current technological possibilities, industry trends, and how wire characteristics influence overall screen performance.
4:30–4:50 PM
Wires,
Waves, and
Shifting Markets: What’s Next for Cable?
Natalie Noor-Drugan, Principal Analyst, CRU
The wire and cable industry is undergoing a profound transformation driven by global electrification, data demand, supply chain disruption, and shifting trade patterns. This presentation explores the key growth areas — from renewables and grid upgrades to data centres — while also addressing the constraints: raw material costs, tariffs, and capacity bottlenecks.
The WAI would like to single out the WAI’s Poland Chapter for its help with this conference. It is headed by Jan Pilarzyk, who is in his last year as president of the chapter, which has put on multiple educational events in Poland. Its members have presented many technical papers at WAI events, including award winners.
More about the host hotel
The official conference hotel is the Holiday Inn Kraków City Centre. A modern hotel located in Kraków’s Old Town just steps from the Main Market Square, it offers spacious rooms, conference facilities, two restaurants, a gym, and attentive service, making it ideal for both business and leisure travelers visiting this historic Polish city. The Holiday Inn Kraków City Centre is about 25 minutes by taxi from John Paul II Kraków-Balice Airport.
Travelers can also reach the hotel by train or airport bus, both offering convenient, affordable connections to the city center. Private and group transfers are available for added comfort. n
Cable & Wire Fair preview
Launched in 2015 by Tulip 3P Media Pvt. Ltd., the Cable & Wire Fair (CWF) has seen impressive growth in serving India’s wire, cable and allied industries—a trend set to continue when it stages its sixth edition from Nov. 4–6, 2025, at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. CWF will expand to five halls and 35,000 sq m, with more than 500 exhibitors, and over 15,000 visitors from 50+ countries expected. It will include a two-day technical conference that complements the exhibits. CWF will run alongside two other Tulip events: Tube & Pipe Fair (TPF) and the Bharat Metal Expo (BME). Below, CEO Priyank Jain discusses the Fair’s evolution, industry landscape and the technical conference. For more information, visit www.cablewirefair.com.
WJI: How has the Cable & Wire Fair changed since its launch in 2015?
Jain: We started with just under 3,000 sq m and fewer than 100 exhibitors. Today, CWF includes five halls and features over 500 exhibitors from 20 nations. Our visitor numbers have followed suit—from a few thousand at launch to well over 15,000 attendees expected in 2025. What’s enabled steady growth is a willingness to recalibrate the event: we survey both exhibitors and attendees continuously and use that feedback to align with market trends and technology shifts. We’re now recognized as India’s fastest-growing show in the sector.
WJI: What kinds of exhibits can attendees expect?
Jain: It’s a wide mix. You’ll see machinery for drawing, stranding, extrusion, cabling and coiling; a full range of raw materials such as copper, aluminum, polymers and specialty compounds; process automation systems; measuring, control and testing equipment; plus finished products from specialty cables to fiber optics. More, exhibitors are bringing operational machines to run on the floor so attendees can see process efficiency, surface finish and output quality in real time. That’s a big differentiator compared to a static display: a visitor can watch a machine producing and ask technical questions on the spot.
WJI: How international is the exhibitor base?
Jain
Jain: Very. In 2023, nearly 20% of exhibitors were from outside India. We had exhibitors from countries including Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, USA. For 2025, international participation is further enhanced with more countries and increased number of exhibitors. This diversity benefits visitors because they can compare global materials, equipment and technology options side-by-side. It also benefits domestic manufacturers, who can meet overseas suppliers without incurring travel costs.
WJI: Who typically attends? What are they looking for?
Jain: Attendees range from owners and senior managers of wire and cable plants to engineers, procurement heads, R&D teams, and project planners. Many come with specific sourcing requirements—a new extruder line, a specific testing instrument, a raw material with defined properties. Others are scouting for process improvements or supplier alternatives. We also get a growing number of attendees from industries that use wire and cable products heavily, like railways, telecom, power distribution, and renewable energy.
WJI: How do exhibitors measure success at CWF?
Jain: For some, it’s direct orders placed at the show. For others, it’s generating leads that convert over the following months. Many exhibitors tell us that what sets CWF apart is the balance of serious buyers and technical decision-makers—they can have detailed product discussions without filtering through multiple layers. Also, because we attract both domestic and international visitors, exhibitors often open new export channels as a result.
WJI: How do you work with exhibitors before the event?
Jain: Engagement is year-round. We brief exhibitors on visitor profiles, provide marketing tools to promote their booth, and help coordinate machinery logistics if they’re doing live demos. We also use our publishing arm to preview exhibitor highlights in Wire & Cable India— which helps draw the right buyers to their stands.
WJI: Can you give a sense of the scale of machinery displayed?
Jain: We’ve had exhibitors bring in large extrusion lines, complete stranding lines, large drawing towers, and even integrated cable testing rigs. The exhibition in 2023 witnessed various live running machines on the floor producing cables on the spot. These large-scale setups are logistically challenging, but they create strong engagement—you can see engineering capabilities in action.
WJI: What role do major exhibits play in visitor decision-making?
Jain: A live demo or a full-scale display often tips the balance for a buyer. Seeing a machine run at speed, measuring energy use, checking output quality—it answers questions that brochures can’t. Visitors can compare two machines from different suppliers within minutes and make more informed choices. That’s why many exhibitors go to the trouble of transporting full lines to the show.
WJI: Any examples of exhibit-driven outcomes from past Fairs?
Jain: In 2023, numerous business deals were successfully finalized during the exhibition. Many visitors arrive with a clear intent to close deals, while others leave the event with a well-defined vision and finalize agreements shortly after. Such transactions take place across diverse segments and scales, reflecting the show’s role as a powerful platform for business growth.
WJI: How does the technical program fit into this exhibit-heavy environment?
Jain: It’s complementary rather than competitive. The exhibit floor is the main attraction—it’s where deals start. The two-day conference and CEO Conclave are scheduled so that people can attend a session or two without losing too much booth time. Topics are chosen to support what’s being exhibited—for example, if several companies are showing fiber optic manufacturing technology, we’ll run a session on fiber deployment trends.
WJI: Has the co-location with Tube & Pipe Fair and Bharat Metal Expo changed the exhibits?
Jain: Cable & Wire Fair will span across Halls 2 to 5, while Tube & Pipe Fair and Bharat Metal Expo will take place in Hall 6. The addition of these newly co-located shows expands our exhibition portfolio significantly, introducing an exciting new segment for us as organizers. The new events will attract leading tube and pipe manufacturers, steel producers, and machinery and technology providers serving the tube and pipe industry, creating fresh networking and business opportunities for all participants.
WJI: With India’s cable demand rising, how is that reflected in the exhibits?
Jain: Exhibitors are showing higher-speed machinery, more automation, and smart monitoring systems aimed at reducing downtime. There’s also a noticeable increase in energy-efficient equipment and sustainable materials. Many visitors are expanding capacity quickly to meet infrastructure and telecom growth, so they’re looking for solutions that can be delivered fast and integrated smoothly.
WJI: What should first-time visitors prioritize on the show floor?
Jain: Set aside full days for the exhibits. Start with the categories that meet your immediate needs but explore areas you may not have considered—cross-sector technology transfer is growing. And talk to exhibitors about the implementation side; many are willing to provide on-site commissioning and training, which adds to the value.
WJI: What else would you like readers to know about the 2025 edition?
Jain: The show floor will be the largest we’ve ever had, with more than 500 exhibiting companies from across the globe. Many will debut new machinery or materials here, and several international launches are already on the schedule. For anyone in this industry, it’s the most efficient way to see the latest technology, compare suppliers, and make connections that directly impact your operations.
Update: IWCS 2025 Forum
Developments continue for the IWCS Cable & Connectivity Industry Forum, which will be held Oct. 27-30, 2025, at the David Lawrence Convention Center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. New event details, such as speakers for the special sessions and executive session have been announced, as well as several more exhibitors who will be showcasing their products during the Supplier Exhibition™. The schedule remains similar to last year, with the Plenary Session and additional elements starting on day 1, Monday Oct. 27.
Join industry-leading wire and cable suppliers, manufacturers, and end users in Pittsburgh this October to experience critical innovations and developments affecting the global cable and connectivity industry.
The traditional IWCS event elements return, which include the Executive Session, Plenary Luncheon, Supplier Exhibition™, Welcome Reception, and Professional Development Courses. Plus, new trend sessions.
The following presentations have been announced for the Executive Session, with more speaker announcements coming soon. Global Economic Outlook, Robert Fry, award-winning economist; Metallic Wire and Cable: Tariffs Herald a New Paradigm for North American Cable Manufacturing, Aisling Hubert, CRU; Datacentres, BEAD, and FTTH – What is the Future of the US Fiber Optic Cable Market?, Egest Balla, CRU.
The cornerstone of the IWCS Cable & Connectivity Industry Forum is the Technical Symposium, which includes presentations of novel peer-reviewed papers related to technical innovations in cable design, manufacturing, materials and applications. The strong response to the Call for Papers has led to a high-caliber Technical Symposium that will feature multiple technical presentations in each of the following sessions.
• Codes and Standards
• Fiber Manufacturing
• Materials Resilience & Durability
• Cable Sustainability & Recycling
• Micro-Cable Design & Installation
• Design and Testing for Copper Ethernet and PoE Cables
• Special Applications & Installations
• Advances in Optical Fiber Coatings & Cable Materials
• Fiber Cable Design, Qualification, Manufacturing and Reliability
• Hyperscale and AI Innovations for Data Centers
• Multicore Optical Fiber
• Poster Session
The 2025 IWCS Forum will be enhanced by the following three trend sessions featuring influential industry and technology leaders. There will be time for audience questions.
• AI/ML for communication network infrastructure
During this special session on Monday afternoon, experts will share real-world examples of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) in action, highlighting how these transformative technologies are already driving meaningful impact within the cable and connectivity industry. From accelerating research and innovation to enhancing efficiency, optimizing design and processes, improving forecasting, and enabling groundbreaking discoveries, AI and ML are reshaping processes and problem-solving approaches. While the potential benefits are vast, panelists will also address common challenges, including high energy demands, infrastructure requirements, evolving regulations, and shifting societal perceptions.
Hear from the following speakers, and more. Glenn Bleiler, division VP-AI platform & products, Corning; Carlee Joe-Wong, co-founder, DataMi; John D’Ambrosia, datacom standards, Futurewei Technologies.
• Sustainable solutions for power and data cables
A highlight of this session will be an update from the Sustainable Optical Fiber Industry Alliance (SOFIA), whose collaborative initiative was introduced during last year’s IWCS Forum. This full-day special session will feature
Dr. Amin, “Father of the Smart Grid,” and Rashmi Varma, QuantaWatt joined panelists from Alabama Power and Fiber Optic Center.
The Executive Session will again include a metallic cable outlook from Aisling Hubert, CRU, seen here presenting at last year’s Forum.
ALPHABETICAL LIST OF EXHIBITORS
A key part of the event experience is the Supplier Exhibition™, which allows industry suppliers to exhibit their products and services to event attendees. The Supplier Exhibition continues its two-day program, providing plenty of opportunity and incentive for all attendees to visit with premier suppliers from around the world. It also includes Supplier Spotlight presentations, where latest product developments and industry trends are showcased by exhibitors. This is a preliminary list; please visit iwcs.org to view all participating companies.
ADVARIS USA, Inc.
AESA S.A.
AGC Chemicals
Alphagary/Mexichem Specialty Compounds
Arkema Inc.
Arlin Manufacturing (new)
Artofil bv
ATK Flame Retardant Materials Company
Aurora Material Solutions
Aversion Technologies, Inc.
Avient Corporation
Axjo America
BASF
Carris Reels
Chase Corporation
Chemyork Inc (new)
Commission Brokers Inc
Conneaut Industries Inc.
Covestro LLC
Dainichiseika Color & Chemicals Mfg. Co.
Delesun Inc (new)
Delta Tecnic
DeWal Industries / Rogers Corp.
Excelitas Technologies
Fabpro Polymers
Fiber Optic Ctr., Inc.
Fil-Tec, Inc.
Gem Gravure Company
GEON Performance Solutions
Glenair, Inc. (new)
Graham Engineering Company LLC
Herkula
HS Hyosung Advanced Materials
Huber Advanced Materials
iiM GmbH (new)
Info-Gel LLC
InnoVites B.V
IWCS
Joe Tools (new)
Kinrei of America, LLC
KN Manufacturing Solutions
Lloyd & Bouvier Inc.
M. Holland Company
Madem-Moorecraft Reels USA, Inc.
Maillefer Extrusion Oy
Medek & Schörner GmbH
Melos GmbH
The MGS Group
Mitsubishi Chemical Group
Mitsui Chemicals America (new)
Nabaltec AG
Narwal Exports
NBG Fiber Optic Corp.(new)
Neomat Distribution (new)
topical panel discussions as well as the following Technical Paper Presentations: Sustainable Options for XLPE Cable Scrap, Prysmian; Next Gen. of Recycled Polyolefins for Outer Jacket in OSP Cables, Prysmian; Sustainable Solutions for Cable Infrastructure, Teknor Apex Company; New Sustainable Design for Category 6 Cables, Prysmian.
• Powering the grid of the future
This program brings together industry leaders, technologists, and policymakers to explore the evolving landscape of grid modernization. With a focus on the critical role of cabling, connectivity, and emerging technologies such as AI and digital twins, this session delves into the infrastructure, innovation, and strategic partnerships necessary to power an electrified economy. Designed for cable and fiber experts, smart grid engineers, and energy stakeholders, the session offers forward-looking insights and action-
OZEN USA LLC.(new)
Proton Products Inc
REELEX Packaging Solutions Inc
Roblon A/S
Rosendahl Nextrom
Runaya Pvt Ltd
SABIC (new)
Saint-Gobain Tape Solutions
Senko (new)
Service Thread
Setic Pourtier SAS
Shaowu Yonghe Jintang New Materials Co.
Shresht Composites Inc
Sikora International
Sonoco Products
Submarine Telecoms Forum
TDC
Teknor Apex
Tensor Machinery Ltd
Testmach Intech LLP
Thermoplastics Engineering Corp.
Web Industries
Wire Association International/WJI
Wire & Cable Technology Int’ (WCTI)
Wire and Plastic Machinery Corp.
Xaloy LLC
Zumbach Electronics Corporation
able dialogue to shape the next generation of resilient, intelligent grid systems. Speakers include: Kevin Chen, joint-appointed scientist, Idaho National Lab; Mabud Choudhury, standards manager, Lightera; Travis Kavulla, VP-regulatory affairs, NRG Energy; Brian Risch, materials technology manager, Prysmian; Rashmi Varma, CEO, QuantaWatt.
One final enhancement for this year’s event is the addition of Cable Manufacturing Spotlight presentations, which will be available in the exhibit hall on Wednesday. These presentations will feature innovations from Prysmian, Corning and YOFC.
See the event schedule-at-a-glance on the following page. Registration is now open on the IWCS website with discounts available for a limited time. Visit iwcs.org for the most up-to-date event information and travel details. n
This section asks OEMs to explain why what they have to offer for customers is “the best of.” That claim could be for a wire drawing system that either offers the lowest operating cost or the newest advanced technology, but part of the equation can also be what else a company has to offer customers. What makes it a good potential partner.
At Interwire, Italy’s Beta Sistemi Srl introduced its latest technological innovation: the M2, which it says sets a new benchmark in the copper wire drawing industry.
Designed to combine high performance with a compact footprint, the M2 redefines efficiency and quality in wire production. In just 5.5 meters, it integrates a complete system—drawing machine, annealer, and dancer—into a streamlined, space-saving solution ideal for modern manufacturing environments. Engineered for continuous operation, the M2 reaches speeds of up to 36 meters per second and a production capacity of up to 20,000 tons per year. Each drawing capstan and annealer shaft is independently motor-driven, enabling precise control.
The M2 significantly lowers energy consumption, reduces operational costs, and promotes sustainability. It extends the lifespan of drawing capstans, reduces noise emissions, and ensures outstanding final wire surface quality. These features make maintenance more cost-effective, minimize downtime, and maximize productivity.
Beta Sistemi has carefully engineered the M2 to offer the best balance between capital investment and operating expenses. Its compact, integrated design helps manufacturers optimize their production floor, making better use of available space without compromising functionality or output quality. The M2 is also versatile, perfectly suited for tandem installations with extrusion lines and tinning plants, offering seamless integration into various production configurations.
Confirming its international outlook, Beta Sistemi recently signed an agency agreement with Amaral Automation for the management of the North American and Canadian markets, ensuring direct and highly qualified sales and after-sales service.
The Best of ... CCMotionTec Austria
CCMotionTec CEO Christian Gassler with Mathiasen Machinery V.P. Mike Mathiasen by a rigid strander being made at the WiCa plant.
CCMotionTec, part of Austria’s WiCa Wire and Cable Machinery GmbH, is represented in the U.S. by Mathiasen Machinery, Inc. (MMI).
The company specializes in customized machines for the wire and cable industry, offering a complete suite of stranding solutions including planetary, rigid, SZ-, tubular, and steel bow stranders, as well as single twist bunchers and drum twisters. Beyond stranding, the portfolio also covers extrusion, sheathing, automotive lines, and ancillary equipment such as winders, tape binders, yarn binders, and Kevlar binders.
CCMotionTec emphasizes advanced technology in both mechanical and electrical design, supported by 100% quality control throughout production. Its strength lies in flexibility and customization—providing machines for specific applications, project-specific adaptations, and tailor-made services based on customer requirements.
Offerings from the company include turnkey project development, refurbishment and upgrading of used machinery, and revision and maintenance programs to extend equipment life. The company also provides comprehensive engineering services and dedicated after-sales support, ensuring every project meets the highest standards of reliability, performance, and longevity, whether for new builds or upgrades of existing lines.
In the Americas, CCMotionTec has been represented by MMI since 2019. With over 42 years of expertise in wire and cable machinery, MMI combines deep knowledge of secondhand solutions with the ability to guide buyers toward the right new equipment investment.
CCMotionTec can be contacted at ww.ccmotiontec.at. MMI can be contacted at tel. 860-873-1423 or mmi@mathiasenmachinery.com.
FENN is a trusted leader in wiredrawing solutions, offering a versatile range of drawbenches and drawing equipment renowned for rugged design, technical flexibility, and high productivity across industry applications. FENN’s drawbenches support straight-length die-drawing of round rod, wire, or tube, while their draws block equipment enables continuous coil drawing—systems can be customized up to 230 feet and deliver up to 200,000 lb of pull force for even the most demanding production needs.
FENN’s product portfolio includes manual, hydraulic, and fully-automated drawbenches with options such as manual or hydraulically-actuated grippers, single or multi-draw benches, fully articulating die boxes, Turks Head mounting provisions, dry and wet lube systems, pull force measurement, and complete draw cycle automation for streamlined operation and maximized uptime. FENN also offers roll pointers and swagers for material preparation, enabling efficient processing of wire, rod, and tube in a range of shapes and materials—including steel, copper, aluminum, exotic metals, superconductors, and precious metals.
Cutting-edge ancillary equipment like multi-pass draw machines, bull blocks, dead blocks, payoff and take-up systems, de-scalers, and material handling systems are available for operations of all sizes. FENN’s flexible machine configurations—horizontal, inverted, or vertical— accommodate wire diameters from 0.010 in. up to 2 in. and block sizes up to 96 in., with air or water-cooled options to optimize production. Every FENN machine combines reliable performance, precise tension control, and ease of integration, making it an ideal choice for manufacturers seeking quality, uptime and customized wiredrawing solutions.
The Best of ... FLYMCA Spain
Contact: Roberto Verez, sales department Tel. +34-942-55-98-55 rvc@flymca.com www.flymca.com
FLYMCA, a well-known Spanish manufacturer, is dedicated to developing and producing rotating machinery for all types of cables and sector markets, from energy and control/data cables to submarine and umbilicals. In recent years, this has included stranding technology for OPGW cables, yielding excellent results and satisfied customers.
FLYMCA has increasingly focused on submarine cables over the past few years, especially following the company’s 25th anniversary in 2024. Rigid stranders and planetary armoring lines work sequentially to produce high-voltage cables for the submarine market. The company’s latest advancement is a new rigid strander line for power cables capable of processing up to 157 wires. It features automatic loaders and can accommodate 800 mm bobbins—a significant capacity upgrade from the commonly used 630 mm bobbins.
FLYMCA also offers armoring lines equipped with auxiliary machinery such as a double-cage armoring line (pictured) for submarine cable up to 144 wires, with PP yarn and bitumen applicators, using heavy caterpillars as pulling machinery and semi-automatic loaders. These armoring lines can include fiber optics for 1000 mm bobbins.
In addition, FLYMCA provides a range of auxiliary equipment and services to support its rigid stranders, including payoffs (static, columns, self-traversing, forks, gantry, rollers, etc.); preformers, postformers and compactors; capstans (double pulley, single pulley, or caterpillars); taping and binding units for metallic and non-metallic tapes and all binder materials; safety guards meeting CE or local standards; and take-ups (static, columns, self-traversing, with forks or gantry). All of these are backed by experienced staff, spare parts availability and technical assistance.
The Best of ... Gimax Group Italy
Contact: Mason McClaugherty, vice president of sales and technical services
Cable Consultants Corp.
Tel. 914-240-6033
mmcclaugherty@cableconsultantscorp.com
www.cableconsultantscorp.com
Gimax: www.gimaxgroup.com.
Italy’s Gimax Group, represented in the U.S. by Cable Consultants Corp, has 44 years of experience in welding wire machinery as well as the specific experience of Gimax engineers in the production of wire and the entire process of wire manufacturing.
Gimax recently introduced a range of “TRD” dry drawing equipment, available with vertically or horizontally mounted capstans, in designs such as non-slip (independently driven), tilted horizontal capstans, rotating dies, and water-cooled capstans, etc. The capstan diameter can vary from 300 mm up to 800 mm (inquire for other diameters) depending on the application and the diameter of wire, and can reach a line speed of 35 meters/second.
In nonferrous applications (aluminum), the drawbenches are often used in combination with shaving or other equipment.
The Gimax drawbench with vertical capstan (horizontal shaft) has added further benefits to the features of the more traditional line that has the horizontal capstan (vertical shaft).
In this newly designed machine, the weight of the wire that accumulates on the capstan doesn’t press down on the lower wraps of wire on the capstan, so it does not affect the pull required from the wire on the bottom to higher wraps on the capstan.
The vertical capstans have also improved the ergonomics during maintenance and string up of the line, making the machine far more accessible, in particular on the rear of the line where the motors, gearboxes, piping cabling, etc., are housed.
Gimax also manufactures fully automatic and semi-automatic respooling machines and a full range of no-twist after packing units.
At COPPERWORKS™, we’re proud to provide copper rod and wire that’s sustainably manufactured right here in America. No matter what happens in the international market, our innovative refining process lets us pull from the domestic “modern mine,” utilizing a steady, reliable supply of 100% recycled copper. Our ability to utilize a variety of virgin, pre- and post-consumer copper inputs makes us a dependable partner for high-performance copper that’s made in the heartland and used in all 50 states—and beyond.
The Best of ... Lämneå Bruk Sweden
Contact: Jonas Hagstedt, president Phone: +46-122-232-00 sales@lamnea.se www.lamnea.com
With over 200 years of expertise, Lämneå Bruk is a trusted name in the wire industry, delivering high-performance machines for the entire wire drawing process.
For dry wire drawing, Lämneå Bruk offers robust systems designed to meet the demanding needs of wire production. Key features include specially designed v-groove blocks that create an expanded surface area for superior heat dissipation, effectively preventing block overheating. Additionally, each block is coated with zinc on the inside and tungsten carbide on the outside, further enhancing cooling efficiency and durability. The adjustable tilted table design provides added flexibility, allowing operators to regulate both height and degree with ease. To maximize productivity, the block wire height is automatically maintained at a set level, which can be conveniently adjusted via the operator control system. Lämneå Bruk’s innovative round soap box design is a gamechanger in the wire drawing process. Unlike traditional rectangular soap boxes, the rounded stirrer ensures complete 360° soap coverage, providing superior lubrication and significantly reducing friction. The extra lubrication protects the wire from overheating but also enables higher drawing speeds and improved die performance. The result is smoother wire drawing, increased efficiency, and extended die life
The company also offers a wet wire drawing machine with a unique configuration that combines non-slip and slip drawing in one line. This enables producers to adapt to different wire types and production goals by simply adjusting the slip percentage electronically at each die step— no mechanical changes needed. In non-slip mode, the system automatically balances speed and torque between dies. Each die step allows individual reduction settings, giving maximum process control.
The Best of ... MSS Cable Machinery Turkey/Germany
At Interwire, MSS Cable Machinery showcased its innovative Multi Strander—a high-performance central strander built for demanding cable production environments. A key is its dynamic tension control system that ensures exceptional process stability. This enables precise and repeatable stranding, screening and armoring operations, even at high speeds or during rapid emergency stops, without sacrificing product quality. The photo shows its ability to work with flat wire.
Powered by advanced Siemens-based automation and optimized motion control, the Multi Strander supports true tandem operation: stranding continues seamlessly while a new reel is loaded, maximizing uptime and minimizing manual intervention. This feature greatly enhances workflow continuity, making the system ideal for continuous or high-mix production.
The Multi Strander sets a benchmark in its class for daily output, processing sensitive materials with consistent quality and high throughput. Its energy consumption is impressively low—an important advantage for cost-conscious, sustainability-focused manufacturers. Rapid stop-and-hold functionality preserves tension in any operating state, ensuring product integrity and reducing waste. Intelligent feedback systems and real-time diagnostics provide operators with a streamlined, reliable, and efficient production experience.
Backed by over 25 years of Turkish-German engineering expertise, the Multi Strander is now in use across Europe, Asia and the Americas. Its modular, low-maintenance design makes it a future-ready solution for cable manufacturers seeking reduced downtime and improved quality, flexibility and operational control. “Engineered to strand smarter— not harder.”
RMG designs and builds equipment to uncoil, descale, draw, straighten, and cut coiled wire to length. Since 1976, it has manufactured wire processing equipment for customers in over 30 countries. The pictured system (89) is one of 16 wire drawing models featuring totally enclosed guarding of all moving parts, preventing operator contact with moving components. All doors and hinged covers are part of a safety circuit monitoring system.
“Quick Change Wire Relaxers” allow operators to swap each relaxer roll in under a minute, reducing setup time by more than 80% and making coil changeovers significantly faster and more efficient. These Quick-Change assemblies are operator friendly, highly convenient and provide increased safety for employees.
RMG has also been a leader in integrating Industry 4.0. Its PDR and PQR model wire drawers feature real-time production monitoring, comprehensive diagnostic support and robust data collection, enabling maintenance and production teams to be proactive instead of reactive to changing floor conditions.
The RMG line of wire drawers can further reduce setup times by giving your production team real-time access to job status at the machine. Manufacturers can be confident that raw material will arrive at the system when needed, minimizing wait times. Real-time monitoring lets operators see if excessive loading is occurring due to die wear or pick-up: they can view FLA, speed, drawbox pull, and all critical loads applied. Maintenance teams can be notified in advance by setting up schedules visible to all staff. Contact our sales team for more details on these and other model advantages.
High production speeds. Long batch runs. Minimized setup and downtime. Rosendahl Nextrom’s SZ stranding technology provides manufacturers of fiber-optic cables with a highly productive setup for fiber optic cables with single and dual-layer stranded designs. The line combines ultra-high rotational speed with exceptionally gentle product handling. It ensures minimal stranding-tension fluctuations and consistent binding tension throughout runs of up to 50 km.
At the heart of the process is the DTSZ ultra-high speed strander, engineered for short reversal times. Its high-dynamic drive system ensures precise lay reversals and reaches speeds of up to 2,500 rpm. Working in tandem is the ROBI low-tension crossbinder, which operates at up to 4,500 rpm while maintaining a constant yarn tension below 2 Newtons. This way, the sensitive FOC product is handled with utmost care.
Together, the low-tension crossbinder and ultra high-speed strander achieve the market’s shortest reversal length. Ensuring uniform flexibility along the entire length of the SZ-stranded cable and allowing it to bend, twist, or move without breaking or losing its structural integrity.
Another performance booster: Rosendahl Nextrom’s stranding line makes extended production batches possible. The system employs generously dimensioned payoffs: tube reels up to Ø 1,000 mm, yarn bobbins up to Ø 290 mm and tape pads or jumbo spools. With these matched components, extended batches are feasible without the need for operator intervention. Longer batch sizes of up to 50 km become possible, slashing the number of changeovers and pushing net output to new heights.
The Best of ... SETIC & POURTIER
France
Contact: Thierry Pietroniro, sales director info@setic-pourtier.com www.setic-pourtier.com
SETIC & POURTIER is an industry leader in large double-twist and rigid stranders, known for technological innovation, superior performance, reliability, and energy efficiency in cable production.
Our large double-twist machines, specifically the TC2200 and TC2600 models, are designed to significantly enhance productivity and efficiency. These versatile machines can operate independently or with an external capstan and are suitable for stranding large bare conductors such as copper and aluminum, handling sizes up to 630 mm² for compressed/compacted conductors. The TC2600 and TC2200 can replace traditional rigid stranding lines for low and medium voltage (LV & MV) cables, offering remarkable advantages: tripling productivity, reducing energy consumption and capital expenditure, and cutting manual labor by two-thirds compared to traditional methods. Thanks to continuous production from stem pack pay-offs, they can produce several MV cable sections with the same single wire dimension without stopping the line, ensuring high efficiency and cost-effectiveness.
Our heavy-duty rigid stranding lines, such as the RFS series (pictured), are engineered for high-quality power cables, including extra high voltage (EHV) cables. These robust machines can strand up to 163 wires and are suitable for various conductor types, including Aluminum Conductor Steel Reinforced (ACSR), All Aluminum Alloy Conductors (AAAC), and trapezoidal wires. With the ability to handle both sector and round cores, they combine flexibility, high productivity, and top-quality output—thanks to high-tech constant tension control and precision guiding tools, making them perfectly suited for overhead conductors and specialized cables.
The Best of ... SKET Verseilmaschinenbau GmbH Germany
Sket Verseilmaschinenbau GmbH (SKET), emerging from Magdeburg’s engineering heritage in 1996, offers stranding technology that addresses complex conductor manufacturing needs through controlled helical positioning, optimizing lay angles and pitch ratios for tailored electrical and mechanical performance. SKET stands on decades of precision manufacturing expertise and an innovative design philosophy inherited from over a century of operation.
The pictured MKZ central strander, SKET’s most revolutionary breakthrough, fundamentally transformed conductor manufacturing when it was introduced in the 1980s. It achieves practical stranding rotor speeds up to 500 RPM and triple wire loading capacity (510 kg per spool), delivering unprecedented economic advantages. Unlike conventional rigid stranders with rotating cages, the MKZ’s concentric spool design eliminates time-consuming spool changes, enabling continuous production.
The system achieves impressive fill capacity up to 550 kg aluminum (245 liters per spool) while maintaining superior production speeds. Offered in Twin-Version MKZT (dual spools per wire) and SingleVersion MKZS configurations, the technology enables simultaneous stranding and respooling for minimal standstill time. This continuous operation addresses bottlenecks that traditionally cut efficiency by up to 50%. With over 100 machines delivered worldwide, the MKZ proves reliable for round or sectoral compacted conductors, overhead transmission lines (ACSR, AAC, AAAC), cable shielding, and armoring—consolidating processes into one efficient platform that sets new industry standards. n
PATENT REPORT
recently approved U.S. patents for wire and cable
(Continued from p. 31)
at least two positions from the group comprising: between the surface and the flange (11) of the entry component (2) (typically acting as a ingress protection washer); between the cable and the back component (4) (typically acting as an ingress protection seal); between the back component (4) and the middle component (3) (typically acting as a shroud); and between the middle component (3) and the entry component (2) (typically acting as a deluge boot).
Terminal-equipped electric wire, wiring harness, terminal, terminal crimper, and method for producing terminalequipped electric wire
U.S. Patent No.: 12,336,059
Patent date: May 17, 2025 Filed: Dec. 30, 2022
Assignee: Furukawa Electric Co., Ltd., Japan
Inventors: Hirofum Kawanaka, et al.
A terminal-equipped electric wire includes a terminal and a coated conductive wire, which are electrically connected to each other. A crimp part of the terminal is crimped to the coated conductive wire, and has a conductive wire crimp part, which is crimped to a conductive wire that is exposed from a coating on the front-end side of the coated conductive wire, and a coating crimp part, which is crimped to the coating of the coated conductive wire. On the front-end side (terminal body side) of the conductive wire crimp part, an electric wire holding part, which applies a relatively strong holding force on the conductive wire, is provided, On the rear-end side (coating crimp part side) of the conductive wire crimp part, a conductive part for achieving conduction with the conductive wire is formed.
Data cable
U.S. Patent No.:12,336,0486
Patent date: May 27, 2025 Filed: April 29, 2025
Assignee: Dongguan Youhechuang Electronic Technology Co., Ltd., China
Inventor: Hongping Tan
A data cable is provided, which includes a cable body and two plugs respectively connected to two ends of the cable body. Each plug is detachably connected to a sleeve joint having an accommodating groove. A first locking structure is provided on the plug, and a second locking structure, corresponding to the first locking structure, is provided on the sleeve joint. The second locking structure is movably connected or fixedly connected to the sleeve joint. When the plug enters the accommodating groove, the first locking structure is locked with the second locking structure. The locking is accomplished by providing a first locking structure on the plug and a second locking structure on the sleeve joint, thereby enhancing the connection strength and stability between the plug and the sleeve joint.
Floating photovoltaic cable manufacturing device for offshore photovoltaic systems and manufacturing method thereof
A floating photovoltaic cable manufacturing device for offshore photovoltaic systems and a manufacturing method thereof are provided. The device includes a cable body that passes through a rack at a constant speed, a winding frame is provided on one side of the rack, the winding frame is connected to a driving motor through a transmission mechanism, a rotation of the winding frame drives armored steel sheets to be wound on a surface of the cable body; a spot-welding gun provided in the rack through a regulation mechanism, a bottom of the spot-welding gun is aligned with the armored steel sheets; and a resistance band sleeved on surfaces of two sets of driving shafts, the resistance band is attached to the armored steel sheets, and a movement of the cable body enables the driving shafts to rotate on two sides of a connection rack.
Flexible flat cable manufacturing system and method, and flexible flat cable
U.S. Patent No.: 12,335,655
Patent date: May 27, 2025 Filed: June 29, 2022
Assignee: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.,
TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH, Kunshan League Automechanism Co., Ltd., all China
Inventors: Zhonghua Xu, et al.
A flexible flat cable manufacturing system comprises a tape conveying device conveying an adhesive tape along a first direction, and a wire conveying device conveying a row of wires along a second direction perpendicular to the first direction and parallel to a width direction of the conveyed adhesive tape. A wire pressing device presses and pastes the part of the row of wires facing the adhesive tape onto the adhesive tape. A wire cutting device cuts the row of wires to obtain a row of wire segments pasted on the adhesive tape and separated from the row of wires and produces a flexible flat cable including the adhesive tape and the wire segments pasted on the adhesive tape.
Cable processing device
U.S. Patent No.: 12,335,654
Patent date: May 27, 2025 Filed: Aug. 3, 2022
Assignee: Tyco Electronics (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.,
TE Connectivity Solutions GmbH, China
Inventors: An Yang, Lvhai Hu, Roberta Lu
A cable processing device includes a cable clamping device for clamping a cable to be processed. The device further includes a core wire straightening device for straightening exposed core wires of the fixed cable, and a core wire separating device for separating the straightened two core wires by a predetermined spacing.
Optical fiber cable and optical fiber unit
U.S. Patent No.: 12,332,894
Patent date: May 27, 2025 Filed: Oct. 29, 2021
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Japan
An optical fiber cable includes a plurality of optical fibers, a plurality of water-absorbent fibers, and a sheath covering a periphery of the plurality of optical fibers and the plurality of water-absorbent fibers. A ratio of areas of the water-absorbent fibers to an area of an accommodating portion in an inner side of the sheath in a cross section orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the optical fiber cable is 1% or more and 5% or less, and a maximum value of an area of a gap portion surrounded by the optical fibers in the cross section is 1.0 mm.sup.2 or less.
Apparatus for winding cables
U.S. Patent No.: 12,312,207
Patent date: May 27, 2025 Filed: Sept. 23, 2022
Assignee: Javier Ruiz Poo, Mexico
Inventor: Javier Ruiz Poo.
An apparatus for winding at least one cable includes a cover, a top portion attached to the cover, and a base attached to the top portion. A surface of the base is configured to be attached to a stationary object. The top portion includes a sloped surface configured to receive the at least one cable, such that the at least one cable remains detangled and is externally invisible when is fully wound around the sloped surface.
Electric wire manufacturing method and electric wire manufacturing apparatus
U.S. Patent No.: 12,311,464
Patent date: May 27, 2025 Filed: July 15, 2021
Assignee: Yazaki Corporation, Japan
Inventor: Kei Sato.
An electric wire manufacturing method includes a step of placing a core wire having a plurality of strands inside a tubular member capable of transmitting laser light, and a step of forming a joined portion where the strands are joined together by emitting laser light along a direction intersecting an axial direction of the tubular member onto an outer circumferential surface of the core wire placed inside the tubular member. The tubular member is, for example, transparent. The laser light transmitted through the tubular member may be emitted onto the outer circumferential surface of the core wire in the step of forming the joined portion.
Automatic machine for the ordered winding of wire with graduation for multi-pole rotor
U.S. Patent No.: 12,308,711
Patent date: May 20, 2025 Filed: July 28, 2022
Assignee: Thales, France
Inventors: Eric Touzet, et al.
An automatic winding device for winding wire onto a pole of a multi-pole rotor, the pole includes a bottom and a head, the device comprising: a support vice supporting the rotor and capable of rotational movement about a first axis, a needle plate, centred on the pole along the first axis and comprising four placement needles, which is capable of translational and rotational movement about the first axis, a conducting wire, attached to the rotor and to a wire winder, in contact with at least one placement needle, the winding device being able to perform a number of sequences from an “initial configuration” to a “winding configuration” wherein, successively, the needle plate is rotated and the pole is moved translationally with respect to the needle plate along the first axis so as to wind the conducting wire around the pole as far as a “final configuration”.
Connection structure of conductive layers, conductive wire, coil and apparatus
A connection structure of conductive layers according to an embodiment includes: a first conductive member including a first conductive layer and a first substrate, the first conductive member extending in a first direction, the
first conductive member curved in the first direction such that the first conductive layer side is convex; a second conductive member including a second conductive layer and a second substrate, the second conductive member extending in the first direction, the second conductive member curved in the first direction such that the second conductive layer side is convex; a third conductive member including a third conductive layer and a third substrate, the third conductive member extending in the first direction; a first connection layer between a the first conductive layer and the third conductive layer, the first connection layer having varying thickness; and a second connection layer between the second conductive layer and the third conductive layer, the second connection layer having varying thickness.
Temperature-stable composite of a stranded wire having a contact pad
U.S. Patent No.: 12,308,588
Patent date: May 20, 2025 Filed: June 14, 2021
Assignee: Yageo Nexensos GmbH, Germany
Inventors: Matthias Muziol, Martin Bleifuß
The invention relates to an electrical element having at least one functional region and a contact surface, wherein a connecting element is arranged on the contact surface, wherein the connecting element comprises a stranded wire coated with sintered material, wherein the stranded wire is connected, in particular sintered, to the contact surface by a sintered material. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for producing the electrical element according to the invention.
Multi-core cable
U.S. Patent No.: 12,308,144
Patent date: May 20, 2025 Filed: March 19, 2021
Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., Japan
Inventors: Takumi Ooshima, Jo Yagisawabeeny
A multi-core cable includes two power wires, and a twisted pair signal wire having two twisted signal wires. The power wires and the twisted pair signal wire are twisted together to form a core, and the power wires include a first conductor, and a first insulating layer covering the first conductor. The signal wires include a second conductor, and a second insulating layer covering the second conductor, and a Young’s modulus of the second insulating layer is greater than or equal to 700 MPa and less than or equal to 1600 M Pa.
Manifold pair lay data cable
U.S. Patent No.: 12,308,138
Patent date: May 20, 2025 Filed: Dec. 27, 2022
Assignee: Belden Inc., USA
Inventors: Roy Kusuma, William Clrk, Alex Chattin, Caspar Arbeeny
The present disclosure describes manifold lay lengths for each twisted pair of conductors in a cable comprising at least one twisted pair of insulated conductors, reducing both internal and alien crosstalk. The lay length of each pair can be adjusted, either continuously or in discrete steps, between a shortest lay length and a longest lay length, such that each pair has each lay length at some longitudinal point along the cable. The lay lengths of each pair are staggered in their progression between shortest and longest lay length to avoid pairs having the same lay lengths for any significant length along the cable.
Copper alloy wire, plated wire, electric wire and cable using these
A copper alloy wire is composed of a copper alloy including indium of 0.3 mass % or more and 0.65 mass % or less, and has 0.2% proof stress of 300 MPa or more, electrical conductivity of 80% IACS or more, and elongation of 7% or more. ... The object of the present invention is to provide technology to enhance both strength and electrical conductivity of metal wires.
Jumper cables with high tensile performance and low acidity
U.S. Patent No.: 12,306,447
Patent date: May 20, 2025 Filed: Nov. 28, 2022
Assignee: Corning Research & Development Corporation, USA
Inventors: William Hurley, Martina Richter-Bühling
An optical fiber cable is provided. The optical fiber cable includes an outer jacket having an outer surface defining an outermost surface of the optical fiber cable and an inner surface defining a central bore. The optical fiber cable includes a plurality of aramid fibers located in the central bore, and the plurality of aramid fibers have a relatively low total linear density. The optical fiber cable includes at least one optical fiber located within the central bore, and the at least one optical fiber has a proof test of greater than 100 kpsi.d
Inventors: Miew Wan Lo, Murali Sarangapani, Yong Sheng Wanf
A round wire comprising a wire core with a surface, the wire core having a coating layer superimposed on its surface, wherein the wire core itself is a silver-based wire core, wherein the coating layer is a double-layer comprised of a 1 to 100 nm thick inner layer of palladium or nickel and an adjacent 1 to 250 nm thick outer layer of gold, wherein the outer layer of gold exhibits at least one of the following intrinsic properties Al) and A2): A1) the average grain size of the crystal grains in the outer layer of gold, measured in longitudinal direction, is in the range of from0.1 to 0.8 μm; A2) 60 to 100% of the crystal grains in the outer layer of gold are oriented in <100>direction, and 0 to 20% of the crystal grains in the outer layer of gold are oriented in <111>direction.
Wire rod disposing device and wire rod disposition method
U.S. Patent No.: 12,304,767
Patent date: May 20, 2025 Filed: Sept. 8, 2020
Assignee: Nittoku Co., Ltd., Japan
Inventors: Takayuki Sato, Masashi Watanabe
A wire rod disposing device includes: a wire rod delivering mechanism configured to deliver a wire rod from a nozzle at a predetermined speed; a movable stage serving as a member support part configured to support a base plate serving as a disposition target member such that the wire rod is routed after the wire rod is delivered from the nozzle and curved; and a tension application mechanism configured to apply tension to the wire rod, the wire rod being routed to the base plate by being delivered from the nozzle.
Wire harness with first and second path restrictors and formed air layer
A wire harness that includes: an electrical wire; an exterior tube covering an outer periphery of the wire; a first path restrictor attached on an outer peripheral side of the exterior tube; and a second path restrictor attached on an outer peripheral side of the first path restrictor, wherein the smooth outer surface of the first path restrictor and the smooth inner surface of the second path restrictor form an air layer therebetween.
Method of automating and optimizing coil formation in a wire rod line cooling conveyor
U.S. Patent No.: 12,303,965
Patent date: May 20, 2025 Filed: April 1, 2022
Assignee: Primetals Technologies USA LLC, USA
Inventors: Matthew Palfreman, Jason Zelle, Margaret Gentile
Disclosed is a system for automating and optimizing coil formation in a wire rod cooling conveyor comprising: (a) a speed measuring device (e.g., a laser velocometer) measuring a speed of a material entering a laying head; (b) a processor that: (1) receives, as input, the speed measured in (a), (2) computes an optimal speed of the laying head based on the received speed of the material entering the laying head; and wherein the processor dynamically computes the optimal speed of the laying head as the speed of the material changes. Also disclosed is a camera that monitors actual ring formation on the wire rod cooling conveyor at an exit point of the laying head, wherein the processor receives such monitored information from the camera and outputs a control signal to override the speed measuring device and to adjust a speed of the wire rod cooling conveyor.
PRODUCTS equipment, supplies and more
Grading software shown during Interwire 2025 provides real-time material grading
At Interwire 2025, Magnetic Analysis Corp. (MAC®) demonstrated how its grading software helps wire, rod, and bar manufacturers effectively meet a wide range of customer quality standards with precision and consistency.
Per the company, wire producers often supply customers in industries ranging from construction to aerospace—each with its own expectations for surface condition, inclusion levels, and documentation. MAC’s Grading Software was developed to address this challenge by providing real-time, automated grading during production. Integrated with MAC’s MultiMac® or Minimac® II eddy current testers, the system can categorize individual segments or full coils based on user-defined thresholds for defect type and quantity.
Operators can configure grading criteria such as the number and type of surface defects allowed per segment or coil, and assign color-coded grade levels accordingly. The software then automatically assigns a grade and generates reports that include coil ID, defect counts, date, time and testing equipment used. Multilingual support and CSV-format reports make it easy to integrate this data into customer databases or print labels for shipment.
For manufacturers balancing multiple production lines and varied customer specs, the ability to tag and track coils by grade streamlines both internal workflows and outbound quality communication. This allows producers to deliver exactly what each customer needs—no more, no less—while minimizing scrap and overprocessing.
MAC’s Grading Software empowers wire producers to deliver consistent, traceable quality tailored to each end
application. The result? Greater efficiency, transparency, and customer satisfaction—right from the production floor.
Contact: Magnetic Analysis Corp., info@mac-ndt.com, www.mac-ndt.com.
Surface clearing technology was on display for attendees at Interwire 2025
At Interwire 2025, Germany’s Boockmann Engineering, among other topics, once again presented the company’s HELICORD® technology for wire and cable cleaning and coating, focusing on small diameter wire.
Per the company, the HELICORD principle is based on friction between a fast-moving wire and a textile cord or yarn wound around a wire, strand or insulated cable multiple times, moving rather slowly under push-pull-controlled conditions, creating a multiple 360° contact between the constantly renewed cleaning cord and wire. The company notes that the use of small amounts of liquids, such as water-based tensides (surfactants), organic solvents, oil or a variety of dispersions, may be desirable or even required for both cleaning and coating processes, depending on the application in question.
While HELIFIL machines NB59 are limited to friction forces below 35 N and wire diameters below 3 mm for soft metals, NB56 models are designed for cleaning of wire diameters of 0.2 down to 0.02 mm. Based on a similar yarn and wire guidance as used for lubricant application on fine and ultra-fine magnet wires, it provides tangential, but still fully circumferential, cleaning of the wire surface below the 0.2 % yield strength of the wires.
The very latest development, however, allows bringing back the HELICORD principle to NB56 for fine wire (see picture): Using special cord and wire guide pulleys,
a special fine flat cord and a looping unit adapted in size, actually wrapping the cleaning cord around the wire for fully circumferential cleaning is now possible without exceeding the 0.2 % yield strength limit of the wire.
Stationary flyer payoff is now offered with an automatic tension control option
U.S.-based Precision Payoffs, an international supplier of payoff equipment and tension control technology, has upgraded a dependable processing staple by now offering it with an option for further control.
Per the company, the optional model is the SQS24000 Automatic Tension Control (ATC) pneumatic stationary flyer payoff. While the standard manually controlled version (the SSQ12000 pneumatic stationary flyer payoff) is still offered, the optional model maintains line tension at the desired set point, start to finish and top to bottom, allowing one person to efficiently monitor several lines simultaneously. The result is a more consistent product (even with bad spooling or ‘sticky’ wire), minimal scrap and fewer customer returns, as rapid automatic adjustments to line tension are performed in milliseconds. A large digi-
tal display makes monitoring safe and simple.
Both units feature an elongated internal wire separator, which provides more enhanced wire separation capability than typical reel-mounted flyer-style payoffs. Additionally, since the flyer arm is suspended from above, size and condition of your reel’s arbor have no effect on wire quality.
Both models also offer improved safety, as the overhead design eliminates manual handling of the flyer arm, reducing employee injuries and damage to your equipment. An optional wire separator safety cover protects fingers from internal moving parts, and a portable safety cage can be added for additional safety.
Reel change-outs are quick and easy with either model. The self-centering reel alignment system allows speedy and precise placement of a full reel. The air connection
is made only once, when the unit is first placed on the production floor, and is done at a safe, comfortable height. There is no need to “fish” the airline through the bottom of a skid and through the reel at every change-out. The benefit is two-fold: time saved when placing a reel and time saved when taking one away.
Unlike motorized payoffs, these units have no electric motor. The air-actuated high-speed clutch system feeds from your in-place air system. Only the automatically controlled unit requires a 110-volt outlet for the controller and display. The cost of electricity is only going up, while air is free, so the savings over motorized payoffs is obvious. Both units are portable with heavy-duty, adjustable, rubberized non-skid leveling feet and can also be bolted to the floor. Like all our designs, the flyer arm can be made to run in either direction, or both.
Contact: George Webb, Precision Payoff Systems, tel. 315-361-9159, wireflyers@yahoo.com, www.wireflyers.com.
At Interwire 2025, company introduced a new spooler that expands its product line
U.S.-based REELEX introduced its REELEX DHSDual Head Spooler (DHS), a new addition that expands the product range of the company.
Per the company, the pictured DHS is a semi-automated, high-throughput solution that enables two spooling spindles with automatic cut and transfer to maximize efficiency high volume production environments. The DHS also features an intuitive operator touchscreen for machine operation, integrated automatic safety features and the ability to spool up to 90 (1,000 ft) spools per hour.
The semi-automated DHS was designed to boost production efficiency, safety and user experience in high-volume cable manufacturing environments. It features fully automatic cut-and-transfer between two spindles, enabling continuous, high-speed operation with minimal downtime. It accommodates standard or custom spooler shaft kits to handle common spool designs, along with an adjustable wire guide to manage various cable types. The optional stretch-wrap module protects and secures finished spools on the line.
connectivity, plus easy troubleshooting and machine diagnostics. Integrated safety guarding keeps operators protected, automatically isolating the rotating spool shaft; the system meets ISO safety standards and uses Safety PLC controls for emergency monitoring.
Key specifications include a top line speed of 1,500 ft/ min, throughput of around 90 spools/hour (at 1,000 ft length), ~10 second transfer time, and compatibility with the latest G5 controls platform.
Also on display at Interwire was the REELEX S320e hybrid coiler, which enables rapid switch between REELEX coils and traditional spools with changeovers under 10 minutes, a solution ideal for flexible, space-constrained production. The company’s POD Cable Delivery System, designed to reduce waste and improve package durability, rounds out REELEX’s portfolio of automation-focused, operator-friendly packaging solutions.
Pail Packer designed for packaging welding wire offers optimum solution
Italy’s MFL Group reports that the company’s Pail Packer Machine (PPM) is a major addition to the company’s wire and rope drawing portfolio.
Per the company, the PPM offers an efficient wire take-up solution in drums with minimal or no permanent twist, ensuring a smooth static wire payoff. It accommodates various wire types, including high, medium, and low carbon, CO2, FCW, stainless steel, and aluminum.
The DHS’s high-definition touchscreen HMI offers recipe-based selection for fast product changeovers, more than 100 preset recipes, Industry 4.0 support with network
Initially designed for welding wire, the PPM has evolved into a versatile alternative to traditional gooseneck coilers, serving multiple industries. With a high coil capacity of up to two tons, it reduces operator intervention and enhances production speed. Built for efficiency, it requires minimal maintenance, lowering downtime and operating costs. The design simplifies installation and changeovers, and its ability to handle a wide range of wire diameters makes it highly adaptable. It can also integrate a laser gauge in the drawing machine.
The PPM improves downstream processes with highspeed, energy-efficient static payoff. It ensures smooth wire handling, prevents snarls, and streamlines production. This makes it an ideal solution for welding wire production, bedding springs, galvanizing lines, heat-treating multiwire lines, and nail manufacturing, among others.
Line of mechanical descalers efficiently covers a wide range of industry needs
U.S.-based Wire Lab Company (WILCO) offers a comprehensive line of mechanical descalers for steel wire. Per the company, the WILCO Model 920 is the company’s most basic and economical system, able to process a U.S. ton for less than $1. That low operating cost, along with reasonable machine pricing, makes it one of the most widely used mechanical descaling systems.
The WILCO Model 1030 Water Jet Descaling System is the most widely used WILCO mechanical descaler because of its ability to directly descale wire rod that is wet because of outdoor rod storage. The three-stage design uses a combination of high-volume water flow and compressed air to remove scale dust from the rod surface. Cleaning water is constantly recirculated throughout the 110-liter closed-loop system. Scale is continuously removed from the cleaning water by a magnetic filter.
The WILCO Model 1250—shown at Interwire 2025— provides aggressive mechanical descaling. It incorporates the WILCO Automatic Rod Brushing Machine to clean the rod surface using a series of eight steel wire brushes that allow customers with wire rod of various quality and surface conditions to achieve consistently clean, high-quality rod for making into higher quality wire products. One
of the most economical aggressive descaling systems available, the WILCO Model 1250 will process one ton of wire rod for approximately $3.
The WILCO Model 1750 combines reverse bend descaling, automatic rod brushing and lubricant precoating to produce a consistently very clean mechanically descaled rod for the most demanding wire drawing operations. Operator attention to the entire mechanical descaling system is minimized as advanced PLC-based electronic controls constantly monitor the WILCO Brushing Machine and automatically adjust the unit to account for brush wear. This unique operating system allows it to consistently produce cleaned descaled rod.
AIM’s company AFCe model can precisely process wire to 8 mm.
What do you offer?
Automated Industrial Machinery, Inc. (AIM) is a leading U.S.-based manufacturer of CNC wire bending and forming equipment. Since 1992, AIM has developed fully integrated solutions for 2D and 3D wire forming across a broad range of industries, including automotive, appliance, HVAC, medical, and aerospace. Our product line ranges from compact tabletop machines for low- to medium-volume production to high-capacity, multi-axis systems with integrated feeders, welders and robotics. AIM also offers automation systems and proprietary software designed to streamline production and reduce labor costs. We support straightened wire from coil and pre-cut wire operations.
What should readers know about your company?
1. Engineering innovation. With over three decades of industry experience, AIM continuously re-engineers and patents new solutions, including advanced clamping systems, servo-driven bending heads, and smart automation options.
2. Global service & support. AIM provides worldwide service coverage, remote diagnostics, and training in multiple languages. We prioritize long-term customer relationships and maximizing uptime.
3. User-friendly software. Our proprietary programming software is easy to use, even for operators without a CAM background. It features intuitive part design, simulation and machine monitoring.
Contact: Matt Hathcock, sales manager, tel. 813-818-8222, sales@aimmachines.com, www.aimmachines.com.
FENN equipment can process a wide range of desired shapes.
What do you offer?
FENN provides a full range of wire shaping and flattening equipment for both ferrous and nonferrous metals. Our experts design and build machines to your specifications, boosting precision and productivity. With experience in both standard and customized solutions, we deliver lines that meet rigorous production demands at speeds up to 3,000 feet per minute. Industries worldwide trust FENN’s wire-shaping mills. From conception and design to pass schedules, roll development, and measurement integration, we ensure your project is effectively managed from start to finish. With decades of proven results and thousands of installations, you can trust FENN to have the process knowledge necessary to help you reach your production goals and meet critical tolerances.
What should readers know about your company?
1. A know-how legacy. FENN has more than a century of experience in providing precise, productive, reliable and versatile wire flattening and shaping machinery.
2. Product scope. Our wire shaping lines are not limited to rolling natural-edged flat wire: square, rectangle, trapezoid, oval, half-round, and many other shapes can be rolled with the proper selection of equipment.
3. Upgrades. We offer a comprehensive evaluation of your equipment and will recommend an upgrade package that will ensure your equipment performs to its fullest potential.
You are invited to join the Wire Association’s team of expert speakers at Wire Expo 2026 in Milwaukee next May. The conference will focus on all aspects of wire and cable manufacturing. Select from presentation topics or suggest one with your abstract submission.
WAI accepts abstracts for both practical presentations and technical papers from the ferrous, nonferrous, and electrical sectors. Accepted authors receive a one year WAI membership and conference registration.
Submit your abstract today: http://bit.ly/4kA10al
REDEX GROUP FRANCE/USA
Cold-rolling technology from the Redex Group.
What
do you offer?
The Redex Group is a global leader in high-precision cold-rolling mills, delivering advanced solutions for the wire and narrow strips industry. Backed by over 150 years of experience and the combined strength of Bühler Rolling Mills and Redex Technologies, we design and manufacture fully customized equipment to maximize accuracy, productivity and easy maintenance. Beyond rolling mills, our portfolio includes Merobel web tension control and Redex zero backlash linear and rotary axis drives as long as a complete range of gearboxes—planetary, multispeed, bevel and differential—for demanding industrial applications. Redex: we are your partner committed to precision, innovation and long-term success!
What should readers know about your company?
1. Tailored solutions across multiple industries. With over 150 years of expertise, we create precise, innovative solutions for evolving industries by combining deep specialization with cross-sector experience.
2. Cutting-edge rolling technologies. We provide advanced, customizable systems for metals and alloys, with seamless integration for narrow strip, wire, and shaped wire applications.
3. Global service & lifetime support. Our worldwide network of experts, and on-site interventions ensure maximum uptime, reliability, and consistent performance throughout your equipment’s lifecycle.
Contact: David Sequeira, tel. 732-493-2812, dsequeira@redex-group.com, www.redex-group.com
ULTIMATION U.K./USA
Ultimation’s UMW bending system was shown at Interwire.
What do you offer?
Ultimate Automation Ltd. (Ultimation), represented in the U.S. by AWT Machinery, offers a broad range of wire forming and welding machines. At Interwire, its display included the company’s UMW-65 Bending System, a two-axis, PC-controlled wire forming and welding machine specifically designed for manufacturers that require precision and flexibility in the production of wirebased products. It is particularly suitable for applications such as point-of-purchase displays, supermarket shelving, and similar products that require complex wire forms in both prototype and high-volume production environments. The UMW-65 model is capable of processing wire diameters from 2.00 mm to 6.50 mm, making it versatile for a range of industrial applications. The system features two-axis computer numerical control (CNC) for precise and repeatable wire forming operations.
What should readers know about your company?
1. Technology. Ultimation’s design engineers use stateof-the-art 3D modelling software to create new models from initial concept to completed designs in a short timeframe.
2. Scope. Ultimation provides models that include 2D wire formers and welders, ring formers and welders, sign wire formers and welders, cross-wire welders and special purpose units.
Contact: Ultimate Automation Ltd., Martin Smith, Tel: +44-1403-710043, sales@ultimat.com. In U.S., AWT Machinery, Clive White, whitec@awtmach.com.
October: Hand Tools • November: Wire Rope Equipment • December: Wire Rod Breakdown
This section is part of an information agreement between Wire & Cable India (WCI), www.wirecable.in, and U.S.-based Wire Journal International.
Anil Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director, KEI Industries Limited
KEI Industries has collaborated with domestic and international compound developers to source advanced materials such as halogen-free flame retardant (HFFR) and cross-linkable low smoke zero halogen (XL-LSZH) compounds, marking a strategic shift from traditional PVC compounds, and catering to premium and infrastructure-centric wire and cable segments. In an exclusive interview with Wire & Cable India, Mr. Anil Gupta, Chairman and Managing Director, KEI Industries Limited highlighted KEI Industries’ ‘Viksit Bharat ka Viksit Wire’ initiative, ensuring that the wires power the upcoming infrastructure ecosystem and are future-ready. He also shared his vision for the future of wire and cable materials, emphasizing on the growing demand for high thermal stability (up to 105°C), hydrocarbon resistance, and recyclable materials in wire and cable segments.
Wire & Cable India: Which specific Indian and international fire-resistance standards most significantly influence your material selection process, and how have these affected your compound sourcing since the 2022 electrical safety regulation amendments?
Anil Gupta: The most influential standards guiding our material selection are the revised IS 7098 (Part 1 & 2), IS 17048, IEC 60332, and IEC 61034. The 2022 amendments to India’s electrical safety regulations elevated the threshold for flame retardance and smoke density, compelling us to re-evaluate our entire compounding strategy.
As a result, we have partnered closely with both domestic and international compound developers to source halogen-free flame retardant (HFFR) and cross-linkable low smoke zero halogen (XL-LSZH) materials, enabling enhanced fire performance while maintaining mechanical reliability.
WCI: Within your fire-retardant cable portfolio, which specific material systems deliver the optimal balance of BIS compliance, performance, and production efficiency in the Indian market?
AG: For our FR and FR-LSH cable segments, we rely predominantly on halogen-free flame-retardant (HFFR)
compounds and low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) systems. These not only comply with the updated BIS fire resistance norms but also cater to critical markets such as metro rail, hospitals, and public infrastructure projects.
KEI Industries’ R&D team has developed in-house formulations that ensure consistent extrusion behavior, cost efficiency, and ease of installation — a must in India’s diverse climatic and operational conditions.
WCI: Are you transitioning away from PVC in some applications? What drives these decisions at KEI Industries?
AG: There is an undergoing strategic transition from the PVC segment. While PVC continues to serve non-critical segments, premium and infrastructure-focused categories have shifted towards LSZH and HFFR systems. The key drivers include enhanced BIS compliance requirements, growing demand from metro and defense projects, and evolving export mandates.
Additionally, as part of our campaign ‘Viksit Bharat ka Viksit Wire’, we’re proactively aligning with India’s infrastructure vision — ensuring that the wires powering tomorrow’s smart buildings and transport systems are safe, sustainable, and future-ready.
WCI: Did new fire-resistant compounds pose any manufacturing challenges in India’s climate conditions?
AG: New fire-resistant compounds pose challenges, especially during the
initial phase of manufacturing. High filler loadings in HFFR compounds and cross-linking variability presented challenges during extrusion. However, KEI Industries invested in advanced temperaturecontrolled extrusion lines and realtime compound monitoring to ensure uniformity, particularly during peak monsoon and summer months when humidity and ambient temperature swings affect material behavior.
WCI: How do your material requirements vary across Indian Railways, commercial real estate, and data centers?
AG: Each vertical demands tailored material systems. For Indian Railways, cables must meet stringent flame propagation, smoke emission, and oil resistance standards (RDSO norms). In commercial real estate, especially green-certified buildings, halogen-free and low smoke features
are prioritized. Data centers require high dielectric strength with low emissions — making XL-LSZH compounds a default. Regional climate, project height, and local regulatory mandates also influence material selection, particularly in coastal vs. dry interior zones.
WCI: What trade-offs between fire safety, flexibility, and cost have been most challenging?
AG: Enhancing fire retardancy typically compromises cable flexibility which is a critical issue for installers. We addressed this by engineering a unique blend of elastomers and plasticizers in our LSZH compounds, which retained flexibility without compromising tensile strength. Balancing cost was achieved through in-house compounding efficiencies and scale optimization across our plants.
WCI: Are clients demanding specific certifications or materials like REACH or recyclable compounds?
AG: Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in sectors like IT, healthcare, and hospitality now demand halogen-free, REACHcompliant, and even RoHS-certified cables. Multinational clients and export projects are driving this
change. As part of our ‘Viksit Bharat ka Viksit Wire’ initiative, KEI Industries has aligned its qualification process to cater to this shift, integrating global certifications and enhanced third-party testing into our standard project protocols.
WCI: Which aspects of fireresistant performance remain most challenging in Indian field conditions?
AG: Long-term smoke suppression performance, in high-humidity zones and flame propagation control in densely packed conduits, remain challenging. Our internal testing protocols now simulate field conditions more closely, and we’ve deployed pilot installations with real-time sensor feedback to further validate performance.
WCI: Which next-gen material features would most benefit KEI Industries in domestic and export markets?
AG: Materials that combine high thermal stability (up to 105°C), hydrocarbon resistance, and recyclability — without compromising processing speed — would be game-changing. Ceramic-reinforced polymer blends with reduced filler dependency are particularly promising. They align with both India’s heat-intensive environments and Europe’s evolving green regulations.
We invested in advanced temperature-controlled extrusion lines and real-time compound monitoring to ensure cable and wire uniformity, particularly during peak monsoon and summer months when humidity and ambient temperature affect material behavior.
NEWS
Havells India Announces Additional Investment of INR 340 Crore For Its Alwar Plant
Havells India has announced an additional investment of INR 340 crore, taking the total capex to INR 715 crore to expand its cable manufacturing capacities in Alwar, Rajasthan. The enhanced capacity expansion is expected to be operational by September 2026.
Havells India has recently announced to enhance its annual manufacturing capacities of cables at Alwar location by 0.25 lakh km with an additional investment of INR 340 crore.
The company has earlier proposed an expansion of its annual manufacturing capacities of cables at Alwar location, from 32.9 lakh km to 41.2 lakh km, with an investment of INR 375 crores. The proposed capacity was expected to become operational by March 2026.
With this additional capex, the company’s total investment turned to INR 715 crore. The additional capital expenditure and capacity enhancement are intended to meet the growing demand for cables and improve operational efficiencies through backward integration and process improvements. The additional investment is proposed to be funded through internal accruals, and the enhanced capacity expansion is expected to be operational by September 2026.
Laser Power and Infra Levels Up Fire Safety with FRLSH Cables And Compound Supplier Collaborations
Mr. Praveen Paul, Vice President, Laser Power & Infra Private Limited
Wire & Cable India: Which specific Indian and international fire-resistance standards most significantly influence your material selection process, and how have these affected your compound sourcing since the 2022 electrical safety regulation amendments?
Praveen Paul: We comply with IS 7098 (Parts 1 & 2), IEC 60502-1 & 2, ASTM D2863, ASTM D2843, IEC 60754-1, SS 424-14-75, IEC 603321, IEC 60331-2, and IEEE 60383. While no significant changes directly affecting compound sourcing were introduced in the 2022 amendments, the overall regulatory trend toward stricter fire safety has influenced our material selection and testing protocols.
WCI: Within your fire-retardant cable portfolio, which specific material systems deliver the optimal balance of BIS compliance, performance, and production efficiency in the Indian market?
PP: We primarily utilize low smoke zero halogen (LSZH) and halogen-free flame retardant (HFFR) compounds. These materials offer superior fire performance with minimal toxic emissions, align with BIS requirements, and meet growing
Laser Power & Infra Private Limited is advancing its cable manufacturing strategy through advanced material choices and closer collaboration with compound suppliers. In this exclusive interaction with Wire & Cable India, Mr. Praveen Paul, Vice President, Laser Power & Infra Private Limited, outlines how the company is transitioning from PVC to LSZH and HFFR compounds to meet stringent BIS norms, especially for sectors like Indian Railways, metro rail, and data centers. He also highlights the company’s focus on in-house R&D, evolving client demands for REACH-compliant and recyclable materials, and the operational challenges of maintaining fire-resistant performance under India’s varied field conditions—all while integrating circularity into manufacturing.
demand from infrastructure and metro rail sectors. They offer an optimal balance between regulatory compliance, performance, and costeffectiveness in the Indian context.
WCI: Are you transitioning away from PVC in some applications? What drives these decisions at Laser Power & Infra Private Limited?
PP: Yes, we are steadily moving away from traditional PVC towards FRLSH and halogen-free compounds, particularly for insulation and outer sheath applications. Key drivers include updated BIS norms, metro rail and real estate specifications, and heightened fire safety requirements from export clients.
WCI: Did new fire-resistant compounds pose any manufacturing challenges in India’s climate conditions?
PP: Transitioning to halogen-free and cross-linkable fire-retardant materials has significantly improved our fire safety performance. However, it required equipment upgrades, climate control adjustments, and operator retraining to ensure extrusion consistency and maintain product integrity under Indian environmental conditions.
WCI: How do your material requirements vary across Indian Railways, commercial real estate, and data centers?
PP: Our material selection strategy is tailored to the specific requirements of each application segment. For Indian Railways, we use low smoke zero halogen (LSHZ) cables in tunnel environments and flame retardant low smoke halogen (FRLSH) cables for underground installations. In commercial real estate projects, the choice between LSZH and FRLSH depends on the installation type–whether cables are laid in ducts or exposed to open air.
For data centers, we deploy specialized solar or DC cables with enhanced fire-resistant properties to meet stringent safety demands. Additionally, regional material choices are often influenced by client or utility-specific safety mandates that go beyond standard BIS compliance.
We are steadily moving away from traditional PVC towards FRLSH and halogenfree compounds, particularly for insulation and outer sheath applications.
WCI: Recent joint development agreements between polymer suppliers and cable manufacturers suggest deeper suppliermanufacturer partnerships in the Indian market. How extensively does your R&D team engage with domestic and international compound producers when developing cables for specific Indian project tenders? Could you describe a recent example where such collaboration proved particularly valuable?
PP: Although we do not have formal joint development agreements, our R&D team actively collaborates with select domestic and international compound suppliers when specific project performance criteria are involved.
One example includes custom formulations optimized for parameters such as oxygen index, smoke density, anti-tracking, thermal stability, and extrusion compatibility. Our in-house compounding facility allows rapid prototyping and iterative testing, enabling agility and IP control in development.
WCI: What trade-offs between fire safety, flexibility, and cost have been most challenging?
PP: We tailor our use of FR/ FRLSH compounds based on specific flexibility and mechanical requirements. These materials typically offer mechanical properties comparable to PVC. So far, we have not encountered significant challenges in extrusion or flexibility within our production setup.
WCI: Are clients demanding specific certifications or materials like REACH or recyclable compounds?
PP: Yes, there’s a clear uptick in demand for halogen-free, REACH-compliant, and recyclable materials— particularly from clients like Tata Power.
This has required us to enhance our testing procedures, documentation practices, and traceability protocols to align with more stringent material qualification norms.
WCI: Which aspects of fireresistant performance remain most challenging in Indian field conditions?
PP: Maintaining consistent fire barrier integrity under varied site conditions—especially in high temperature or underground settings—remains a challenge. For instance, BHEL and NTPC projects often mandate glass
fiber tape for thermal shielding, impacting both material cost and compounding processes.
WCI: Which next-gen material features would most benefit in domestic and export markets?
PP: We seek materials that combine high-temperature resistance, superior flame retardancy, mechanical strength, and environmental compliance— without compromising on process efficiency.
Ceramic-reinforced compounds showing promise in these areas could be pivotal in scaling up our advanced fire-safe cable range for both domestic and export markets.
WCI: What steps are you taking to ensure sustainability in your processes?
PP: As part of our backward integration efforts, we’ve implemented a closed-loop system that reprocesses in-house polymer waste into value-added products like packaging sheets.
This approach not only reduces landfill reliance but also supports internal material circularity. By upcycling waste, we minimize environmental impact and align with emerging e-waste and recycling regulations, positioning ourselves as a responsible, futureready manufacturer.
RR Kabel will invest around INR 1,050 crore at its Waghodia facility to enhance production capacity by 36,000 MTPA and INR 400 crore at the upcoming unit near Silvassa to take its overall capacity to 18,000 MTPA.
In order to cater to the rising domestic and export demand for its wire and cable products, RR Kabel Limited has announced a major investment plan worth around INR 1,450 crore for the expansion of its existing manufacturing capacities at the Waghodia unit in Gujarat and at the upcoming unit near Silvassa in Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu.
The leading global manufacturer of electric wire and cable manufacturers said in an exchange filing that the plan, to be funded through internal accruals and debt, recently received the nod from its board of directors.
The cablemaker plans to invest around INR 1,050 crore at its Waghodia facility, to enhance its production capacity by 36,000 MTPA, in addition to the existing 67,200 MTPA. The capacity addition will be carried out in a phased manner and is expected to be completed by March
2028. RR Kabel is currently operating at approximately 79 percent capacity utilisation at Waghodia.
The first phase of 12,000 MTPA is already underway at RR Kabel’s new unit in Silvassa, which is expected to become operational by March 2026. An additional 6,000 MTPA capacity will be added by December 2026, taking its total capacity to 18,000 MTPA. The company will invest around INR 400 crore for the two phases.
APAR Industries Announces INR 1300 Crore Capex
APAR Industries has allocated INR 800 crore for its cable business, INR 300 crore for its conductor business and INR 200 for its oil business. The company plans to double its revenue from the current INR 5,000 crore to around INR 10,000 crore in the next 12-15 months.
APAR Industries Limited has come up with an investment plan worth INR 1,300 crore to enhance its existing facilities in India and the UAE, as well as double its revenue from the current INR 5,000 crore to around INR 10,000 crore in the next 12-15 months.
APAR would use a one-to-one equity-debt combination to fund the capex. While INR 650 crore would come from its equity, the remaining amount would come from a longterm debt.
The company has earmarked INR 800 crore for its cable business, INR 300 crore for its conductor business, which includes manufacturing rods for cables, and INR 200 for its oil business.
APAR aims to quadruple its manufacturing capacity of medium voltage cables. It would manufacture cables from 11 kV up to 220 kV. The amount would further be utilized to double the capacity of its low-tension cables, elastomeric or rubber cables and solar cables, along with a green-
field expansion. The company is coming up with a new cable manufacturing plant at a brand new site. Besides, it would enhance its conductor capacity by 25,000 tonnes. APAR plans to manufacture premium products, including HPLS, CPC and other high-end products. It is also bringing in new specialized equipment to manufacture a higher volume of cables exclusively for the defence sector. APAR plans to commission most of its equipment in the next 18 months. n
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