6/2/2022 -

Cerrowire, a leading U.S. manufacturer of copper building wire, which this year celebrates its 100th anniversary, announced that it plans to invest more than $100 million to build a 270,000-sq-ft facility.

A press release said that the plant, to be located in the Morgan Center Business Park in the city of Hartselle, Alabama, will produce metal-clad (MC) cable. “We are looking forward to Hartselle being the strategic location that is a perfect fit for our major new venture and to the creation of over 130 jobs to support this growing community,” said a statement from Cerrowire President Stewart Smallwood. “The state of Alabama, Morgan County, the Tennessee Valley Authority, and city of Hartselle are excellent partners in creating an environment for our business to flourish. Our workforce is dedicated to our growth and the production of high-quality products.”

The product focus will provide Cerrowire “an even stronger future by extending its product offerings in a way that positions the company and its retail partners and electrical distribution partners for success,” the release said. It noted that the MC cable market is a growing sector in the building wire market as it is used for most types of building construction, primarily in commercial, and is also used in some residential and industrial applications. Different wire configurations are wrapped in metal cladding to meet standards set by the National Electrical Code (NEC); end uses of MC cable include commercial building construction, data centers, and hospital applications. Electricians and electrical contractors like the streamlined installation process and lower cost factors with MC cable, driving the growth in demand and sales.

“Adding Metal Clad cable to our product portfolio allows us to leverage our core business—manufacturing building wire—and to provide a strong building wire solution that fulfills a growing need for our customers,” Smallwood said. “We’ve been asked to get into this segment because our customers know we will back MC with our ongoing commitment to product quality, on-time and in-full delivery, and industry-leading customer service. MC cable provides an exciting opportunity for focused growth for Cerrowire and our customers.”

Based in Hartselle and a Marmon/Berkshire Hathaway company, Cerrowire also has plants in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana and Utah.