4/1/2022 –  To further Southwire's mission to build a culture that recognizes and celebrates the value of diverse backgrounds, equity in opportunity and inclusivity in action, the company is pleased to announce the launch of its new diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) website.  

Southwire treasures the diversity of its employees and the communities that we represent and serve, and the company’s four key values – trust, empowerment, consistency and inclusion – are the foundation of the organization’s DEI strategy.  

“A focus on diversity, equity and inclusion is mission critical for our organization,” said Cara Herzog, director of DEI. “Over the last several years, we have continued to prioritize and accelerate our internal and external efforts to drive progress. We believe the key to our continued success is our people, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive environment where diverse perspectives can thrive.”  

Southwire focuses on fostering an environment that recognizes the value and talent of diverse perspectives regardless of gender and ethnicity. In 2014, the company established its first employee resource group (ERG), and since then, the company has expanded to six ERGs, including the Women’s Network, Spectrum, Nextgen, TEAM, Officium and Allied. These groups actively promote Southwire’s commitment to inclusivity by engaging employees and encouraging participation in events throughout the year.   

“We believe that every person can make a difference from any position, and we are committed to foster an environment where respect and inclusion are at the forefront of everything that we do, an environment where equal access and opportunity to learn, grow and succeed are available to everyone,” said Fernando Esquivel, executive vice president of People & Culture.  

The new DEI site will provide an in-depth look at Southwire as an organization and what the company stands for, including its focus on sustainability and how its five core tenets relate to DEI for the benefit of its workforce.   

“Sustainability is focused on being mindful of our impact on local and global communities and taking actions to create a better world for future generations,” said Burt Fealing, executive vice president, general counsel and chief sustainability officer. “In a very similar way, diversity, equity and inclusion is also focused on sustainable long-term efforts to remove barriers and to create equitable opportunities for everyone as part of a better world.”   

Establishing its brand as an organization dedicated to DEI continues to be an area of focus for Southwire, and with this new external site, the company is communicating openly and remaining transparent about its ongoing efforts — a bold step for a private company that demonstrates its deep commitment to the importance of DEI within the organization and in society at large.  

“We are an organization with a lot to offer, and we are excited for more people to see it. We believe in our people, customers, partners, and communities,” said Herzog. “The opportunity to share and connect in a new way is something that we value, and we welcome the conversations that this will bring internally and externally. We are just getting started.”   

A leader in technology and innovation, Southwire Company, LLC is one of North America’s largest wire and cable producers. Southwire and its subsidiaries manufacture building wire and cable, metal-clad cable, portable and electronic cord products, utility cable products, OEM wire products and engineered products. In addition, Southwire supplies assembled products, contractor equipment and hand tools. For more on Southwire’s products, its community involvement and its vision of sustainability, visit www.southwiresustainability.com.

4-/1/2022 - Responding to world events, the WAI Poland Chapter has changed the focus of its panel discussion for its 9th International Drawing Conference, to be held May 18-20 at the Hotel GALAXY in Cracow, Poland.

The panel discussion has evolved from a pure technical theme to one that addresses the European reality in dealing with Covid-19 and the war in the Ukraine. The panel discussion theme will be, “The economy of the
metal and drawing industry during the post-Covid crisis and the turbulent global geopolitical situation.”

The panel discussion, to be moderated by Piotr Milewski and Jakub Siemiński, directors and managers at DRUMET and TELE-FONIKA, will see panelists try to answer increasingly difficult questions in the metal sector that relate to the current situation of the world economy and where it is headed. Five participants selected from large and medium-sized companies in the metal sector, who together with the conference participants, will talk about the outlook for the metal and drawing industry after the current crises. Attendees will hear about important technological and economic issues for the metal and drawing sector that relate to the development of principles and methods for wire and
cable companies to better function during the difficult conditions caused by the pandemic and war.

“It is sad that such topics should be the focus of a technical conference, but they are realities for the industry, and not just in Europe,” said WAI Chapter President Jan Pilarczyk. He noted that this will be the second time that there has been a discussion panel, the first held in 2019, where all participants shared their observations on the new directions needed to maintain the continuous development of the metal and drawing industry both in Europe and in the world. The panel discussion will be the final educational event at the conference.  

Pilarczyk said that he was pleased with the support the event has had so far from industry. The main sponsors are Drumet, a member of WireCo World Group; Schlatter; WiTechs; the MFL Group; Vassena; and Lubrimetal. Other sponsors include MET-PRIM Sp. z.o.o.; TELE-FONIKA Kable S.A.; CMC Poland Sp. z o.o., operating in Poland, a member of the CMC Commercial Metals Group; Witels Albert; and Wilhelm Tatje KG.

The focus for the conference is “Modern methods of metal forming and drawing processes and production of wire rod and wire.” Topics include: selected issues from the theory and technology of the drawing process and
other plastic forming processes; directions of drawing technology development in the field of devices, tools, accessories, lubricants and cooling agents; quality problems for production of charge materials, wires and final
products; new materials and new application areas for drawn products; and operational issues – ropes, cables, wires, welding wires, springs, etc. 

Event participants are expected from: CMC Poland, Arcelor Mittal Poland, TELE-FONIKA Kable, DRUMET Wire Corp. Poland and MET-PRIM Radomsko, WIŚNIOWSKI Sp. z o.o., ITALMEC Sp. zo.o., Fabryka Drutu Gliwice., all from Poland; the MFL Group, Vassen and Lubrimetal, all from Italy; WAFIOS and Witels Albert, Germany; Bekaert Bohumin and ZBD AS, Czech Republic.; and Schlatter, Switzerland.

The co-organizers of the conference include Pilarczyk; Knych, the 2015 winner of the WAI’s Mordica Memorial Award; and Prof. Adam Zieliński, of the Institute for Ferrous Metallurgy. It will also include a plant tour of TELE-FONIKA. The Conference Honorary Patronage is by Prof. Norbert Sczygiol, rector of the Czestochowa University of Technology. 

Of note, the event is being held in May, which marks the 20th anniversary of the creation of the Poland Chapter. For more information, visit the Poland Chapter website at www.msc.wip.pcz.pl.

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3/4/2022  On many levels, the New England Chapter had much to rejoice over at its Feb. 24th annual meeting: it was again able to be held in-person, it was at an even better location in the Mohegan Sun Casino, attendance was very respectable, and there was a lot to look forward to.

The event, held at the Mohegan Sun Cabaret Theater, provided lots of comfortable elbow space for the 97 attendees, a very respectable number that does not include WAI staff. The new officers for the chapter are President Michael Sarni, Insulated Wire; Vice President Jessica Foss, Electric Cable Compounds, Inc.; Treasurer Ryan Carbray, AlphaGary; and Secretary Sean Dezalia, EIS Wire, Inc. Other 2022 board members include Joel Cacopardo, Radio Frequency Systems; Jim Evans, Web Industries, Inc.; Michael Mathiasen, Mathiasen Machinery, Inc.; Harish Panchal, HP Technologies LLC; Lori Parent, Delta Technic; Jason Ponce, Harbour Industries LLC; Jonathan Rufe, Rainbow Rubber and Plastics, Inc.; Michael Roussel, Celanese Corp.; Jason Sterndale, Quabbin Wire & Cable; and Robert Swanson, Jr., United Wire & Cable.

Speaking remotely, Champlain Cable Group President William Reichert welcomed fellow chapter members, and spoke about the challenges of the supply chain, a topic that all could relate to. There was also discussion about two events, the golf tournament on Sept. 12th and an Oct. 25 educational program. Below are thoughts from the officers about the meeting, which featured much camaraderie as well as discussions on activity to come.

“Everyone in attendance was happy to be out ‘beyond the Zoom’,” said Sarni, who made it a point to meet with each attendee. He said that one of the main chapter focuses this year will be coming up with unique ways to increase membership, making it beneficial for companies to allow their employees to join and hopefully be active.

Dezalia observed that a lot of the chapter focus is rightfully on educational events and scholarship programs, but being together again for the annual meeting was special. “Wire and cable is an old and close-knit group, and being able to get everyone together at the annual meeting provided an amazing opportunity for old friends to catch up, discuss industry trends, and impart their love for this field to the next generation.”

The chapter’s annual meeting provides a feel for the pulse of the industry, but more than just that, Carbray said. “Beyond connecting with peers, customers, suppliers and other auxiliary companies, members see the value of networking, collaborating on solutions, and cherish the value in giving back through the scholarship program.”

Despite not being able to be at the meeting, Foss said that she always enjoys the opportunity to hear and talk to cable manufacturers and material suppliers in person, “It’s not often I have the opportunity to network with such a diverse group of industry colleagues at one time.”

More event news will be presented in future issues.

4/1/2022 - Earlier this year, LS Group’s cable manufacturing unit, LS Cable & System (LSCS), officially opened its new power cable plant in Indonesia, a joint venture.

A press release said that the new plant, called LSAGI, is a joint venture between LSCS and Artha Graha Network, Indonesia’s 10th-largest conglomerate. The Korean firm owns a 75% stake in the entity.

The plant, located on a 64,000-square-meter site in the Artha Industrial Complex near Jakarta, will mainly produce overhead wires for power transmission and distribution and low-voltage cables for buildings and plants.

LSCS said it aims to expand its presence in the Southeast Asian country by taking advantage of its local partnership business experience and sales networks ranging from banks to hotels. “In the cable industry, each country is strengthening policies to protect its own companies,” an LS official said. “We will pursue different strategies for different markets to better meet the local demands.”

The firm also expected a quick recovery of the pandemic-hit cable market, citing Indonesia’s planned relocation of its capital from Jakarta to a jungled area of Kalimantan on Borneo island, which involves a $32 billion mega development project. LSCS now operates a total of 12 production facilities around the world, including in the U.S., Poland, Vietnam and China.

4/1/2022 -  PT Communication Cable Systems Indonesia Tbk. (CCSI) and PT NAP Info Lintas Nusa (Matrix NAP Info) announced that they have entered a joint venture—PT Varuna Cahaya Santosa—to develop a high-capacity, submarine network called the Varuna Cable System (VCS).

A press release said that CCSI will make the 48-core submarine fiber optic cable. The light-weight repeaterless system will include single- or double-armored cable, that meets multiple certifications. The construction of this network is targeted to be completed within 24 months, with cable deployment following the national corridor.

The 3,400-km submarine fiber optic cable will connect Java, Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa, Labuan Bajo, Sulawesi, Kalimantan, Bawean, Madura Island and return back to Java island to form a loop network in Indonesia.

The two companies also reported that a third company, Mitsui & Co., Ltd., expressed interest in joining the joint venture. “The CCSI/Matrix NAP Info/Mitsui cooperation and collaboration shows a high commitment in the services provided to cross-industry strategic partners who will use the network from VCS,” said Peter Djatmiko, president director of CCSI and VCS.

CCSI notes that is the only Indonesian cable manufacturer capable of producing submarine cables. Its factory, in the Krakatau Industrial Estate in Cilegon, Banten, has annual production capacity of 1.6 million fiber km.

CCSI was founded in 1996. It was formerly known as PT Siemens Kabel Optik, established as a joint-venture company with Siemens AG (Germany). It was later acquired by Corning Inc., before being taken over by CCSI. Since then, CCSI has continued its long partnership with Corning, which continues to supply optical fiber for the CSSI factory.

4/1/2022 - Egypt’s Elsewedy Electric reports two firsts: an order for 185.5 km of cable from a business in Rwanda, and the first order filled by its new plant that is part of the Elsewedy Industrial Complex.

A press release said that the company officially entered Rwanda’s market through an EPC contract with the Rwanda Energy Group through EPC Africa and its subsidiary Afrilott LTD. An EPC contract is one that is used to undertake construction works by the private sector on large-scale and complex infrastructure projects.

Elsewedy Electric supplied 185.5 km of ACSR OH cables that will be used to support Rwanda’s development efforts that have been hindered by growing demand and limited supply. The cables for the contract, the first for the company in Rwanda, were produced from the Elsewedy Industrial Complex, representing the factory’s first order. It was completed before the official inauguration of the plant.

Rwanda, officially the Republic of Rwanda, is a landlocked country in the Great Rift Valley, where the African Great Lakes region and East Africa converge. Located a few degrees south of the Equator, Rwanda is bordered by Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

4/1/2022 -  Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., has received a preliminary order worth US$200 million, from Samsung C&T Corporation, for an HVDC cable that the company said will represent a first in the Middle East.

A press release said that the preliminary order for the submarine HVDC network is from Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) in the UAE. It calls for the company to provide its 400 kV DC cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) cable for a route that is approximately 140 km. The initial engineering work will be started, followed by a full contract award and financial investment decision in 2022. The system is expected to be in operation in 2025.

The project, part of the Project Lightning, a new submarine HVDC network for ADNOC, will allow bulk-power energy transmission between the converter station in Al Mirfa, in Abu Dhabi mainland, and on the Al Ghallan artificial offshore island. The EPC consortium of Samsung C&T and Jan de Nul received the order from a joint venture of Korea Electric Power Corporation, Kyushu Electric Power Transmission and Distribution Co., Kyuden International Corporation, and Électricité de France S.A.

“It is a great honor for us to be selected as an HVDC cable supplier for this important project for UAE,” said Sumitomo Electric Managing Executive Officer Yasuyuki Shibata.

4/1/2022 - Nexans has won a contract with Ørsted and Eversource to supply the export cable link that will connect the Revolution Wind Farm in the U.S. to the onshore grid.

A press release said that the cable, mainly aluminum medium voltage, will be produced in collaboration with Nexans Indeco (Peru), in one of the Nexans Group plants in the Andean region. The conductor design was optimized based on the requirements of the project, which is located in the municipality of Taltal, Antofagasta Region. The first deliveries are planned for May 2022.

This will be Nexans’ first cable installation project in the U.S. as part of the frame agreement with Ørsted-Eversource. The Export Cable Framework Agreement, providing the opportunity to supply up to 1,000 km of high-voltage subsea cables in the U.S. by 2027, was signed in December 2019 between Orsted Wind Power North America LLC and Nexans to accelerate the energy transition in North America by bringing Nexans’ industry-leading subsea cable technology to the U.S. This contract is the first project to be delivered under this agreement.

The cable lay vessel Nexans Aurora will be used for the installation. Nexans notes that it is the first vessel of its kind in the offshore cable-laying sector.

Located more than 15 miles south of the Rhode Island coast and 32 miles southeast of the Connecticut coast, the 704 MW Revolution Wind Farm will address the energy needs of both states. “We are committed for the long term in the US offshore wind industry and look forward to pursuing our partnership with Ørsted and Eversource on this historic project,” said Ragnhild Katteland, executive vice president subsea and land systems for Nexans.

4/1/2022 - The Prysmian Group has been awarded a contract worth approximately €1.2 billion for supplying a full-package 725-km submarine cable interconnector that will directly link the German and U.K. electricity grids for the first time.

A press release said that the order, from NeuConnect Britain Limited and NeuConnect Deutschland GmbH, calls for the turn-key design, manufacturing, installation, testing and commissioning of the 1400 MW submarine and land cable system. It will connect two of Europe’s largest energy markets, promoting the efficient use and integration of renewable energy generation resources in both Germany and the U.K.

The NeuConnect interconnector is a privately financed project developed by a group of international investors that include Meridiam, Allianz Capital Partners and Kansai Electric Power, and is contingent on the successful tendering of the converter station and financing agreements for the project.

“When completed in the coming years, NeuConnect will join the world’s longest interconnectors,” said Hakan Ozmen, EVP Projects, Prysmian Group. “Moreover, it is one of the first interconnectors to be financed through a project financing arrangement, demonstrating that the major infrastructure projects needed to deliver the sustainable energy goals in Europe are supported by private investment.”

The project shall deliver the cable connection along a route which runs between the U.K. converter station located on the Isle of Grain in Kent (U.K.), passing through the U.K., Dutch and German waters to the landing point in Lower Saxony in Germany, where it will connect with the converter station near Wilhelmshaven. The NeuConnect project shall provide major energy transmission infrastructure that shall contribute to the wider European goals for increased availability of economically beneficial, sustainable, and secure electrical power.

Prysmian will provide the complete cable system to be operated at ±525kV HVDC utilizing mass-impregnated (MI) paper insulated cables, and include fiber optic cables on the land and selected submarine sections, complemented with state-of-the-art cable monitoring systems that shall support the monitoring, maintenance and services to be provided during the warranty period.

The submarine and land power cables will be manufactured at Prysmian’s Arco Felice factory near Naples, Italy. Offshore installation activities will involve three of the Group’s own cable-laying vessels. Commissioning of the project is scheduled in the second half of the decade.

The NeuConnect project joins the latest record-breaking awards to the Prysmian Group and follows projects such as Viking Link, the connection currently under installation between Denmark and U.K., as well as the recent successful awards of the major framework contract by Terna developing a more robust power grid in Italy and the strategic link connecting Saudi Arabia and Egypt by SEC and EETC respectively.