2/8/21 -- Maillefer announced that it plans to strengthen its support and presence in India by introducing local manufacturing and supply of brand name technology for low-voltage wire and cable manufacturers within the region.

A press release said that the Indian subcontinent is seen as one of the fastest-growing wire and cable markets in the world. Maillefer has long had a presence there, supporting the growth of this market through its office and team in Mumbai. It now will be able to provide local equipment as well as testing capability and service/support. “We are happy and enthusiastic to announce our latest investment, strengthening this support and presence.”

The company also announced that the Maillefer India team now includes Mr. Reddy of Herlin Products and Services Pvt. Ltd. as the key contact in the region for low-voltage solutions. He can be contacted directly at tel. 91-95157-88679 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Japan’s Sumitomo Electric Industries (SEI) has been awarded a contract for the Stikine Crossing Submarine Cable Replacement Project from Southeast Alaska Power Agency (SEAPA) through its subsidiary, Sumitomo Electric USA.

A press release said that the project calls for removing and discarding the existing 138 kV OF (oil filled) submarine power cable. It will be replaced by an environmentally friendly 69 kV XLPE (Cross-linked polyethylene) submarine cable, with ancillary equipment, for a fully functional system located in the Stikine crossing (approximately 16,700 ft high) between Vank and Woronkofski Islands, near Wrangell, Alaska, USA. In 2018, SEI completed a similar project in relatively close waters for Orcas Power & Light Cooperative, Washington, USA.

“The Sumitomo Electric Group will carry out this project soundly with the highest priority on quality and safety, and through constant optimization in project execution gain further experience to capture demand for power grid renewal projects in the U.S. market, which is expected to rise in coming years.”

In other news, SEI has passed the approval test for its 525 kV DC cable system with a DC gas-insulated switchgear (DC GIS) interface in accordance with CIGRE TB496 by a collaboration with Siemens Energy and German cable supplier Südkabel. DC GIS provides a compact solution for connecting HVDC cable lines to offshore converter platforms and onshore transition stations. Südkabel supplied its DC XLPE cable using Sumitomo Electric’s DC XLPE compound materials and connected it to Sumitomo Electric’s XLPE cable and joints.

MWS, which notes at its website that it offers the world’s largest selection of magnet wire, has completed construction of its new 30,000-sq-ft site in Oxnard, California, which it described as “an agile production facility for drawing, shaping, serving, twisting and insulating of wire for high-technology users worldwide.”

A letter from MWS President Benjamin Konrad said that the company has “invested significantly into a building that mirrors the ambition and commitment that MWS has towards its employees and customers.” The new building houses the latest equipment for fine wire production, and there are plans to expand the building by another 50,000 sq ft. The site has a 40,000-sq-ft warehouse that more than doubles the space available in its former facility in Westlake Village, California. Over the next year, MWS will add significant manufacturing capacity with new machines that will create new wire manufacturing capabilities and value-added services.

“Our goal is to build upon the formula of the last 50 years: customer service, quality, lead times and broad availability of precision fine wire, and meet the evolving and increasing demands of the next 50 years,” Konrad wrote. He noted that MWS Medical Wire has added five new sales organizations serving three continents, achieved certification to ISO 13485:2016 and purchased strategic equipment for precious metal drawing and laser ablation. MWS, which has a new medical website, “has also entered an exciting marketplace targeting early-stage development of medical devices.” It notes that it is also the first wire company to feature products on www.chamfr.com.

“We are excited for the future and look forward to getting down to the wire on new and existing projects,” Konrad wrote.

In 2014, MWS became a part of The Elektrisola Group, an international producer of fine and ultra-fine magnet wire that has eight manufacturing plants in Europe (Germany, two in Italy, Switzerland), North America (U.S. and Mexico) and Asia (Malaysia and China).

The board of the directors for the WAI’s New England Chapter met recently to discuss plans for 2021, which included the possibility of holding a technical program. Appropriately, it was a virtual meeting, as the discussion focused on how a program could best be done. The consensus was that, if it deemed possible to do this in spring, it should be similar to the Association’s Streamcast program in July 15, 2020, a WAI online first.

The Streamcast program featured 12 industry speakers. More than 400 people registered for the virtual event, which ran from 8:30 am to 2 pm on Wednesday, July 15. The final “attendee” numbers for individuals that took part was more than 250, which at the time set a record for any WAI online event.

More news will follow in a future issue as to whether there is traction for the chapter’s plans.

In other news, the chapter welcomed the addition of Jessica Foss, market development manager, Electric Cable Compounds, Inc., who will serve as its treasurer.

The chapter also named two new board members: Sean DeZalia, process engineer, EIS Wire & Cable, and Jason Ponce, product development engineer, Harbour Industries. Of note, more than half the board members are younger than 40, which those on the call agreed was a good sign.
Founded in 1994, the New England Chapter is the oldest and largest of the Association’s nine chapters.

The WAI’s Poland Chapter has rescheduled its 9th International Drawing Conference from Oct. 22, 2021, to a date in April 2022, at a new location in Poland.

The announcement from Poland Chapter President Jan W. Pilarczyk said that the plan is to now hold the event at the Hotel GALAXY in Krakow. The event date was changed due to concerns about the pandemic.

The conference will focus on modern methods of metal forming and drawing processes, and production of wire rods and wires. It is designed to serve as a gathering site for producers of carbon steel wire rod with their customers and create future cooperation for partners.

Beyond the technical program during the event, the conference will honor WAI Past President Tom Moran, a steel industry veteran, who will receive the Schneider Memorial Award, the highest honor in the Polish steel wire industry. For further and future details, go to the event website: www.msc.wip.pcz.pl.