WAI, in collaboration with Hyperion Materials & Technologies (HMT), will present a two-part webinar series in September free to WAI members for wire die tool makers and wire producers that will provide insights into PCD and TC wire dies.

Part 1, Differentiating High-Quality PCD Wire Dies, will be held Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 11 am EST, presented by HMT’s Hector Ferrer Ribas, a business development specialist- carbide metal cutting, and Andrew Gledhill, technical manager. They will focus on identifying high-quality polycrystalline diamond (PCD) wire dies. Topics will include fundamental material properties, common defects like EDM cutting issues and cracks, and the impact of quality on Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Attendees will also receive a checklist to assess superior products and learn about innovations in PCD materials.

Part 2, Key Differentiators in Carbide Wire Dies, will be held Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 11 am EST, will highlight the defining features of high-quality carbide wire dies. Attendees will explore red flags such as casing issues, breakage, and porosity, along with an assessment checklist to evaluate manufacturing quality and material consistency. The webinar will also cover advancements in carbide materials, testing methods, and the importance of traceability and certifications.

Both sessions will be recorded for those unable to attend live. As noted above, that access will be free to WAI members. They will offer a convenient opportunity for industry professionals to deepen their understanding of wire die quality and advancements. For more updates on these events and programs, visit wirenet.org.

Barnes, a manufacturer whose product range includes fasteners, was sold to Apollo Global Management for $3.6 billion in a deal that closed in January. Now, it will see its corporate headquarters in Connecticut closed by the end of this year.

Per a press release and media reports, Barnes, long known as the Barnes Group, will close its corporate headquarters in Bristol, cutting about 28 jobs, the company said in a filing with the state Department of Labor. Layoffs will be made periodically, including June 30 and Sept. 30.

The news comes several months after Apollo Global Management acquired the Barnes Group and took the company private. Barnes Group makes precision components for aerospace and a range of other industries. Barnes Group and its predecessor, Associated Spring, have been located in Bristol since 1857.

Per its 2024 annual report, Barnes Group, as of  Dec. 31, 2023, the company had approximately 6,500 employees worldwide. Approximately 25% were in the Asia-Pacific region, approximately 45% in the European, Middle East and African regions and approximately 30% in the Americas region. 

Southwire, which this year marks its founding 75 years ago in Carrollton, Georgia, was awarded 2025 World’s Most Ethical Companies® recognition by Ethisphere, a global leader in defining and advancing the standards of ethical business practices.

A press release said that in 2025, Ethisphere recognized 136 companies spanning 19 countries and 44 industries. This marks the second consecutive year that Southwire—one of only four honorees in the electronics and components industry—has been recognized by Ethisphere.

“It is an honor to be recognized once again by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies,” said Southwire President and CEO Rich Stinson. He termed the award as “a testament to the fact that doing right is not only one of our core tenets of sustainability but a true pillar of Southwire’s culture.”

The assessment by Ethisphere requires companies to provide 240+ different proof points on practices that support robust ethics and compliance, governance, a culture of ethics, environmental and social impact and initiatives that support a strong value chain. The data are analyzed by Ethisphere’s panel of experts who spend thousands of hours vetting and evaluating applicants. 

The SPS Technologies factory in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania, suffered catastrophic damage from a fire that broke out on Feb. 17 blaze.

Per multiple media reports, the fire lasted multiple days, destroying much of the 600,000-sq-ft facility. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The company has laid off 250 of its approximately 500 employees. At its peak during World War II, the plant employed over 3,000 workers but had reduced its workforce to 475 employees in recent years. The fire resulted in half of thee employees being out of work..

The plant produced nuts, bolts, washers and fasteners used in critical applications for aircraft engines, wings, fuselages, and landing gear. It also supplied fasteners for industries such as medical technology, automobile racing, marine applications and power generation.