Amphenol Corporation has completed the acquisition of the Industrial Products Group (IPG) of Trexon, a divestiture that includes the brand portfolios of TPC Wire & Cable, Pittsburgh Wire and Cable and MilRail.

A press release said that the elements will become part of the Amphenol Harsh Environment Solutions Division, joining several other existing industrial businesses. “I’m very excited to welcome TPC Wire & Cable (Trexon’s Industrial Products Group) to the Amphenol family,” said Division President Luc Walter. “TPC’s unique capabilities extend Amphenol’s harsh environment interconnect capabilities by adding highly engineered raw cable and value-add cable assemblies for the high technology and harsh environment industrial markets. Collectively, Amphenol and TPC provide a broader solution offering to our customers in these markets.”

Trexon, a portfolio company of Audax Private Equity, was formed in 2021. It included two divisions, one being IPG, the other for engineered products. TPC’s IPG division will operate as a standalone business unit within Amphenol under the new name of Amphenol TPC Wire & Cable. By leveraging the complementary capabilities of the existing organization, Amphenol TPC will accelerate/ enhance the value of critical industrial applications in the market. It will retain its current headquarters. Walter noted that the entire executive team of TPC will remain with the company.

“TPC’s unique capabilities extend Amphenol’s harsh environment interconnect capabilities by adding highly engineered raw cable and value-add cable assemblies for the high technology and harsh environment industrial markets,” Walter said. “Collectively, Amphenol and TPC provide a broader solution offering to our customers in these markets.”

Pittsburgh Wire & Cable, Inc., established in 1992, is a stocking distributor of industrial and commercial wire, cable and accessories. MilRail is a U.S./Canadian specialty distributor for wire and cable, electrical components, cable management, wire harnesses, and cable assemblies serving the rail.

The acquisition follows Amphenol’s agreement to acquire the Carlisle Interconnect Technologies (CIT) business of Carlisle Companies. Other recent acquisitions include PCTEL, a global provider of wireless technology solutions, including purpose-built Industrial IoT devices, antenna systems, and test and measurement products; and Airmar Technology Corporation, a supplier of ultrasonic sensors and sensor systems for marine and other industrial applications.

Italy’s Prysmian announced an expansion to the company’s optical cable manufacturing plant in Australia to help meet the needs of Telstra InfraCo, a key, long-time customer.

A press release said that Prysmian will expand the plant that is in Dee Why in New South Wales (NSW). Prysmian will enhance and increase the production of locally made state-of-the-art cable for Telstra’s intercity fiber network.

Telstra InfraCo is building an intercity fiber network in response to the ever-growing demands for fast and capable digital networks. Prysmian has been Telstra’s strategic cable partner since 1998 and over that time Prysmian has invested more than A$20 million in the NSW Australian production facility. “We are continually evolving our products and capabilities to maintain our leadership in telecom cables in the region. With comprehensive local manufacturing, product development, services and logistics backed by global strength, Prysmian is uniquely placed as Telstra’s sole strategic supplier of cable. Telstra is one of only a small number of Prysmian’s globally strategic customers.”

“The intercity fiber network project will future-proof Australia’s connectivity needs for the next 20+ years,” said Brendon Riley, Telstra InfraCo CEO. “We have already laid hundreds of kilometers of cables across the country and have commenced planning on several new fiber routes that will see all mainland capital cities connected.”

“This significant investment into Australian-based skills, R&D, and manufacturing is the result of two years of collaborative research and development,” said Frederick Persson, executive vice president digital solutions at Prysmian. “Together with Telstra, we have designed a world leading fiber optic cable that will support the current and future demand for high capacity, low-latency fiber networks in Australia.

The new fiber optic cable is 59% smaller and 54% lighter than the previous design employed across Telstra’s existing fiber network. The reduced size and weight avoid CO2 during cable production and transportation which is estimated to be approximately 35,000 metric tons over the length of the project. To support the rollout of this large project, Prysmian has invested in three key areas of production to significantly increase the capacity of the Dee Why based facility.

Belden recently marked a significant milestone in its operations in India with the groundbreaking ceremony of expansion of the company’s manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune.

A press release said that the expansion, which will add 19,000 sq m to the existing footprint, represents an investment of approximately $40 million. The expansion will result in a substantial increase in Belden’s production capabilities, allowing the company to meet the rising demands for network and data solutions. With this investment, Belden aims to strengthen its foothold in both domestic and foreign markets. Phase II of the Chakan plant will serve as a hub for delivering high-quality products for network infrastructure solutions worldwide.

Belden’s expanded facility will be equipped to manufacture state-of-the-art specialized Ethernet switches and firewalls designed for industrial and building automation, connectivity solutions and assemblies of patch cords and connectors tailored for diverse industrial applications, reinforcing Belden’s global impact.

“In India, where industrial, broadcast and enterprise markets are experiencing remarkable growth, our expansion is strategically positioned to cater to this unique opportunity,” said Nexans President and CEO Ashish Chand. “With the expansion of our facility, we are emphasizing our dedication to sourcing raw materials locally. This underscores our unwavering commitment to ‘Made in India for the World.’ With the strategic establishment of this facility, we not only strengthen our domestic roots but also envision it as a pivotal export hub.”

Dr. Chand, who joined Belden in 2002 and was named president and CEO in 2023, played a pivotal role in developing and executing Belden’s long-term growth agenda, solutions and product strategy, and go-to-market efforts. He made key contributions towards establishing and growing Belden throughout the Asia Pacific region, including setting up manufacturing in China and India.

Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., has established Judd Wire Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (JMEX), a subsidiary focused on the manufacturing of tab leads for automotive lithium-ion batteries, as well as high-functionality and high heat-resistant electric wires.

A press release said that an investment project announcement ceremony was held last September by the Economic Development Bureau of the state government of Aguascalientes, Mexico, at the building of the state government, where Sumitomo Electric announced the establishment of JMEX and its business plans. At the ceremony, the governor of the state, María Teresa Jiménez Esquivel, said “I am very pleased that 300 jobs will be created. Our state was selected for its good public safety, and we will continue to make further improvements in the future.”

The establishment of JMEX, which is scheduled to be operational in 2025, is attributed to “the significant demand for high-functionality electric wires and wiring materials expected in North America due to the advancement of CASE (Connected, Autonomous, Shared, and Electric) in the automotive and mobility fields. We aim to contribute to the advancement of CASE and increase our presence in the North American market.”

Belgium’s Herbosch-Kiere and the U.K.’s Enshore Subsea have teamed up to buy a shallow-draft cable layer called the Topaz Installer.

Per multiple reports, the 88-m long vessel, built in 1999, is owned by the two companies in a newly created partnership entity called the Combined Marine Offshore Services (CMOS). The vessel will be renamed the CMOS Installer.

Previously owned by P&O Maritime Logistics, the vessel is currently in Singapore and after a scheduled dry dock and upgrade will make its way to South Korea to collect a cable consignment, before heading to Senegal for its first contract under new ownership. The vessel had most recently been used for development support of three offshore wind farms.