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Wire Journal News

6/2/2022 

Matthew Bedell has been promoted to vice president of the Industrial Specialties business unit for North America for the Prysmian Group, responsible for directing all commercial activities. He has more than 20 years of process engineering, operations management, supply chain, and commercial experience. He began his career with Prysmian Group as part of General Cable in 2002. He was part of the integration of the aluminum building wire business and led the aluminum rod and strip business following the acquisition of Alcan Cable in 2012. After the acquisition of General Cable by the Prysmian Group in 2018, Bedell held leadership responsibilities for all of U.S. inside sales. He most recently was responsible for commercial operations in the Trade & Installers business unit. He replaces Richard Parvesse, who was recently appointed president of Prysmian’s Elevator and Escalator business unit, Draka EHC. The Prysmian Group which operates in more than 50 countries and has 108 plants and approximately 29,000 employees, is a leader in many wire and cable fields.

Chris Blakeman has been promoted to vice president/general manager of Davis Wire. He joined the company in 2018 as director of operations, and has extensive international leadership experience. Prior to that, he was general manager at Insteel Industries and plant manager for Chatsworth Products, with his longest tenure at Bekaert, where he worked for nearly 19 years, mostly in managerial positions, in locations in the U.K., Belgium, Czech Republic, U.S. and Costa Rica. He is certified in Six Sigma and can also speak French, Spanish and Dutch. He holds a B.Sc. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Wolverhampton, and a M.Sc. degree in advanced materials from Cranfield University. Part of the Heico Group and based in Irwindale, California, Davis Wire specializes in galvanized, brite and reinforcing wire.

LS Cable & System USA reports that Adnan Skopljak is a new regional sales manager. He has more than 15 years of professional experience, most recently serving as a regional sales manager for Southwire Company, where he worked for six years in utility wire and cable. He has a degree in business management from the University of West Georgia. Based in Georgia, LS Cable & System USA manufactures energy wire and cable products serving the commercial, industrial, renewable energy and utility markets.

 Robert Auger was named plant director for the Lincoln, Rhode Island site of the Prysmian Group. He most recently was vice president of operations for Champlain Cable Corporation, which he joined in 2017. Prior to that, he was vice president of operations for Comtran Cable, where he worked for 14 years, and before that he had worked for two years at Alpha Wire and 18 years for C&M Corporation. The Prysmian Group, which operates in more than 50 countries and has 108 plants and approximately 29,000 employees, is a leader in many wire and cable fields.

Luvata Senior Vice President and CFO Pekka Kleemola has been promoted to president. He has worked for the company and its predecessors for nearly 20 years. He replaces Jussi Helavirta, who joined Luvata in 2000 and was the president of Luvata Special Products division when it was acquired by Mitsubishi Materials Corporation in 2017. Kleemola said that Helavirta was a highly valued and respected leader, and under his leadership the company had moved toward a more modern and open corporate culture, developing processes, operations and global presence. Based in Finland, Luvata has a diversified product portfolio that includes wire. It has operations in seven countries, which includes Accurate Wire in Branford, Connecticut.

Last modified on June 2, 2022

6/2/2022 -

Gina Guzowski has joined Wire Association International as sales manager. She most recently worked at Sargent Manufacturing, where she was a customer support specialist.

Prior to that, Guzowski worked for four years as a customer account representative for RFS, where she handled all the cable, wire and antenna deployments for cell tower build ups. She collaborated with engineering, applications engineers, technical services, teams, project managers, product managers, supply chain, vendors, shipping and logistics until the products were delivered to the site. She holds a degree in international business from Marymount College.

She will report to Shannon Timme, who was promoted to director of sales at the beginning of the year. The two-person sales team will serve the marketing interests of the wire and cable industry by connecting suppliers and customers through the Association’s Interwire and Wire Expo events as well as the Association’s official publication, the Wire Journal International.

“We are excited to have Gina join the team,” said WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll. “She has a great background, including her wire and cable experience at RFS. She joined the organization at an ideal point as she will be supporting the organization at Wire Expo and at the Association’s booth in wire Düsseldorf.”

Last modified on June 2, 2022

6/2/2022 -

From last May to this May, the WAI has added a total of 26 new companies to the Association’s Platinum portfolio. The gain is impressive as in 2021 WAI was not able to stage Interwire, which is a strong event for adding members as well as Platinum Members.

Per the Association’s bylaws, WAI membership operates on an individual basis, so the Platinum membership works a bit differently. The Platinum option is a good incentive for companies to register a group of up to five individuals with a slight savings and some additional perks (such as their logo on the homepage of the Association’s website). There is no limit as to how many Platinum groups a company could have. However, the memberships still work as individual ones.

WAI’s total member base now tops 2,000, and is expected to see further growth thanks to the return of in-person events. That number now includes 271 individuals who fall into the Platinum Member category.

One of the new Platinum Member companies—Kimber Kable, a specialist in high-end audio cables owned by WAI Life Member Ray Kimber—described the Association as a dependable resource in professional development and networking. “With the ongoing workforce challenges coupled with the disruptive Covid environment, companies recognize that membership provides high value educational services and a connection to the broader profession. Seeing more companies sign up for Platinum Memberships confirms that we are following a direction that the industry needs and appreciates.”

Last modified on June 2, 2022

6/2/2022 -

In just a few days, Wire Expo 2022 will be held in Dallas, but coming up quickly is an important meeting that is essential to Interwire 2023.

The WAI will hold the points meeting for Interwire 2023 on Wednesday, June 15, at its headquarters in Madison, Connecticut. The process determines how booths are assigned based on the WAI’s established priority point program. For more details, contact the WAI sales team of Shannon Timme and Gina Guzowski.

Last modified on June 2, 2022

5/4/2022 -

Annual Meeting in Dallas to offer a return to sorely missed live gathering

On-line meetings were certainly better than no event, but it is safe say that the WAI welcomes the return to a live format for the annual meeting on Wednesday, June 8, which will honor the winners of three awards as well as present a timely keynote presentation.

The meeting element itself is brief as it is procedural, but the breakfast session will see the presentations of the Mordica Memorial Award to Anand Bhagwat, manager, quality and technology at Minova USA; the Donnellan Memorial Award to Richard Wagner, the senior vice president and COO of Insteel Industries; and the President’s Award to Joe Downes, a long-time Leggett & Platt executive who retired as senior v.p. in 2015.

The gathering will also include comments from Keynote speaker Ty Garrison, senior vice president of operations, Commercial Metals Co., whose theme feels very appropriate: “Leadership in a Volatile World.” He will discuss how the last few years have strained businesses across the globe as Covid forced companies to deal with events like virtual work, burn out, unprecedented supply chain disruptions and volatile markets. Such challenges test the leadership at every level of an organization, and are essential to master for companies to thrive.

The annual meeting will, as ever, serve as a good place for WAI members to gather.

Last modified on May 4, 2022

5/4/2022 -

The industry focus now is rightfully on Wire Expo 2022, to be held June 7-8 in Dallas, but a week after the first day there is an important meeting that is essential to Interwire 2023.

The WAI will hold the points meeting for Interwire on Wednesday, June 15, at its headquarters in Madison, Connecticut. The process determines how booths are assigned based on the WAI’s established priority point program. The Points Meeting for Interwire 2021, held March 12, 2020, saw a total of 63,650 sq ft of floor space taken by 140 exhibitors. That represented 59% of the floor space. Those results topped the same result for the 2019 Points Meeting. 

Exhibitor representatives get to pick first in order of their  accumulated points from past participation. The booths will be assigned by WAI staff. After that date, other companies wanting to exhibit can seek a booth by either going to the event website, interwire23.com, or contacting WAI Sales Director Shannon Timme.

“Interwire 2023 is obviously a ways off, but just to see us nearing one of the key organizing steps makes it feel like a step back to normalcy,” Timme said. The industry has had a lot of experience with remote contact, and while  that had to be done to continue business, it also re-affirmed the value of face-to-face discussions. It may be a ways off still, but it is good to once again see Interwire back on the calendar.”

Of note, WAI had planned to have an Industry 4.0 focus at Interwire 2021. That theme was carried over to the Virtual Conference that was later held, but the goal is to make the full in-person presentation on the show floor at Atlanta in 2023.

Last modified on May 4, 2022

5/4/2022 -

 Prysmian Group wins contract for Alaskan submarine fiber optic cable link project

The Prysmian Group reports that it has been awarded a contract from Alaska Power & Telephone Company (AP&T) to supply, install and test two submarine fiber optic cable links in southeast Alaska.

A press release said that the SEALink project, valued at nearly $20 million, is directed by AP&T’s subsidiary, AP&T Wireless (APTW). The goal is to improve

communications in southeast Alaska, bringing broadband to rural areas that are currently unserved. The SEALink project calls for a 214-mile submarine fiber optic cable from Alaska’s capital in Juneau to the Prince of Wales Island.

Under the terms of the turnkey contract, Prysmian will provide a 323-km MINISUB brand cable with 36 G.652.D FO. The cable will be produced at Prysmian’s Nordenham, Germany plant, one of the group’s three centers of excellence for submarine cable production. Delivery is scheduled for the third quarter of 2022, with provisional acceptance by end of 2022.The project is being managed by Projects BU.

“This is the second project with AP&T after the successful installation of the Lynn Channel Project in 2016,” said Hakan Ozmen, EVP Projects BU, Prysmian Group. “We are excited to be helping AP&T support the digital transition in these remote areas of Alaska.”

The project will bring high-speed broadband to the residents of Kasaan and Coffman Cove on Prince of Wales Island for the first time. It was made possible by a grant from the U.S. government’s Rural Utility Services. “We are honored to be entrusted with this prestigious contract by AP&T which underscores the trust and credibility our customers have for our products and capabilities on a worldwide basis,” said Ashutosh Bhargava, Global Business director Subsea Telecom of the Prysmian Group.

Last modified on May 4, 2022

5/4/2022 -

Rise Light & Power (Rise) and Delaware River Partners LLC (DRP) announced that they plan to work together to develop a submarine cable manufacturing facility in New Jersey “to attract an offshore cable manufacturer that would ultimately construct and operate the facility.”

A press release said that as part of its Outerbridge Renewable Connector project, “Rise is preparing to invest millions to develop a shovel-ready site for a submarine cable manufacturing facility at DRP-owned Repauno Port & Rail Terminal in Greenwich Township.” The proposed submarine cable manufacturing facility will have a footprint of approximately 30 acres, along with dock access. Upon approval of the Outerbridge Renewable Connector project, pending BPU, Rise and DRP will commence development and permitting work to make the site shovel-ready. The two companies will develop the site to be shovel-ready and collaborate to attract manufacturers for two types of subsea cables required for offshore wind farms. First are inter-array cables that connect turbines within the offshore wind farm to an offshore substation, and the second are export cables that connect the offshore substation to the onshore grid.

“This opportunity will bolster New Jersey’s leadership in offshore wind with a major investment to create good-paying jobs and become a national supply chain leader,” says Clint Plummer, CEO of Rise Light & Power. “The Outerbridge Renewable Connector will revitalize and repurpose infrastructure to meet New Jersey’s bold clean energy goals. We are excited about this partnership with Delaware River Partners.”

“We are proud to enter into a partnership with Rise Light & Power to develop New Jersey’s first submarine cable manufacturing facility,” commented Hank Alexander, DRP’s CEO. “The Repauno Port & Rail Terminal is an ideal location for this project. Conveniently situated along the Delaware River, we are accessible and fully capable of meeting the offshore wind industry’s needs.”

Of note, the Prysmian Group recently announced that it has signed a contract with the Commercial Development Company (CDC) to purchase a site in Brayton Point in Somerset, Massachusetts, which pending final approvals will be the site of a new plant to manufacture submarine power cable, an initiative that will cost an estimated $200 million. A press release said that the deal is subject to securing state construction permits as well as confirmation of the official awarding of cable contracts for the Commonwealth Wind and Park Wind City offshore wind projects.

 

Last modified on May 4, 2022

5/4/2022 -

Orient Cable has been awarded the Hollandse Kust West Beta export cable contract by TenneT, in consortium with Boskalis.

A press release said that the contract calls for the supply and installation of two 65-km-long export cables that will connect the planned Hollandse Kust West Beta 700 MW offshore wind farm to TenneT’s onshore grid in the Netherlands. The company will also supply a nine-km 66kV interconnector cable between the Hollandse Kust West Alpha and Hollandse Kust West Beta offshore substations.

Orient Cable is working with partner Boskalis, which will install the high-voltage cable system. The two 220kV AC cable circuits will come ashore near the existing onshore high-voltage substation at Wijk aan Zee, the Netherlands. The value of this contract was described as “sizable.”

Orient Cable will design, engineer, manufacture, test and transport the 220 kV XLPE-insulated export cables and associated accessories termination works. The subsea cables will be manufactured at Orient Cable’s plant in Ningbo, China, which it notes is the world’s largest cable manufacturing facility for the high and extra-high voltage subsea cables.

The Hollandse Kust West Beta offshore windfarm is expected to enter service in 2025. The project is a part of the Dutch national roadmap to achieve a 49% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.With this project and through its client TenneT, Orient Cable is supporting the decarbonizing by making renewable energy available in the Netherlands.

Last modified on May 4, 2022

5/4/2022 -

NKT has finalized the repair of the 285 kV HVDC power cable system Kontiskan 2 that connects the power grids of Sweden and Denmark.

A press release said that NKT was awarded the repair contract after the Kontiskan 2 interconnector—operated by Svenska Kraftnät and Energinet—suffered a fault due to external impact at the end of January 2022. Roughly eight weeks after the fault occurred, the 285 kV mass impregnated (MI) HVDC power cable system was back in full operation. The actual repair operation took only 12 days. 

NKT performed the initial fault finding from shore identifying that the damage was located offshore. The damaged cable section was located 33 km from the converter station in Billdal, Sweden, after further pinpointing with a third-party vessel. NKT completed the repair operation within only 12 days after the mobilization of a third-party repair vessel. Following the operation, NKT buried the power cable at safe water depth to mitigate the risk of external impact.

 The Kontiskan 2 was energized shortly after the repair bringing the power cable connection back in full operation. The interconnector was installed in 1988 as an addition to the Kontiskan 1 from 1969 to support the exchange of energy between the Nordic countries by connecting the national power grids in Denmark and Sweden.

“Once again, we demonstrated that we are among the fastest companies in the market when it comes to offshore repairs,” the release said.

Last modified on May 4, 2022

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