LS Cable & System announced in Korea IT Times that it has signed an MOU with the Korea Photonics Technology Institute (KOPTI) for cooperation in next-generation optical communication technology for advanced communication systems such as 5G and 6G. The two companies plan to expand optical communication technology cooperation and human exchange, starting with the development of multi-core optical fiber. “Multicore optical fiber is so difficult that only a few European and Japanese companies have succeeded in developing it. ... We have an ability to overcome the technical challenges associated with multi-core optical fiber development.”

... Southwire’s President and CEO Rich Stinson added to his long string of industry accolades, being named the 2023 Most Respected Business Leader by Georgia Trend!, a monthly magazine covering business and finance in Georgia. The publication did a lengthy piece outlining the company’s accomplishments under his leadership, both financially as well as its approach to sustainability and employee diversity.

... Chroma Color Corporation announced that it was recently awarded a Silver rating from EcoVadis for 2023. “After receiving the Bronze award last year ... we implemented programs to become more cognizant of the use of our resources such as reduction of water usage, improving air quality, reuse of scrap materials, and reduction of electricity usage. We will continue to identify additional areas where we can reduce our carbon footprint and become more socially mindful and responsible as it is the right and good thing to do for all of us and our future,” said Chroma Color’s Corporate Quality & Regulatory Manager Jennifer Presnell.

... SIKORA AG reports that it was named a “Germany’s innovation leader 2023” by the F.A.Z.-Institut, which analyzes worldwide patent applications from over 500 technology and knowledge areas. It evaluates the number of patents submitted in the last 10 years and their relevance. Last year, SIKORA, which annually invests about 10% of its revenue in R&D, was named an innovation leader for “Measuring, testing.” It was cited again in 2023, for the category for “Processing of plastics.”

... The Prysmian Group announced the availability of its Lifeline® RC90 fire resistive cables in Canada. The cables officially received its ULC-S139 listing and meet all the requirements of the Canadian National Building and Electrical Safety Codes and is now available for immediate implementation across the country within a variety of industries, including healthcare facilities, transportation networks and more

Perfection Industrial Sales, in association with Martin Kenner of Commission Brokers Inc., will hold a live auction via webcast for the sale of assets from two wire manufacturers.

The first auction, to be held Sept. 12, at 10 am central time, is for equipment from a major wire and cable manufacturer in Waukegan, Illinois. The vast majority of the equipment was being used for production until the end of June and is in good condition. The items include extruders, take-ups and payoffs, accumulators/dancers, different types of cablers; spiral stripers, taping and binder heads, steel reels, dual wheel capstan assemblies, silos and much more. The equipment—which is offered as-is, where-is—needs to be out before the end of the month. Further details can be found online at: www.perfectionmachinery.com/auctions/listings/.

The second auction, which does not have a date set yet, is for the remaining assets of a thermocouple wire manufacturer. That includes a Royle Teflon extrusion line, Wardwell braiders, Davis Electric rewinders and ancillary equipment.

For more details call Martin Kenner at Commission Brokers, Inc., at tel. 401-943-3777, or by e-mail at

either This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., www.commissionbrokers.com.

Following the successful staging of Interwire 2023, the WAI is now focused on the 2024 WAI Operations Summit & Wire Expo (Wire Expo), and it all starts with the points meeting, which is scheduled for Wednesday, Oct. 11.

The Association will return June 11-12, 2024, to the Mohegan Sun Casino Resort in Uncasville, Connecticut. It ably hosted Wire Expo 2016 and had been scheduled to do so again in 2020 before Covid upended those plans.

The Wire Expo show floor saw a total of 240 companies represented on the show floor, and WAI Director of Sales Shannon Timme, CEM, wants companies interested in being there to be prepared for the Points Meeting. Exhibitors must be in good standing and have submitted their contract with full payment.

The Points Meeting determines the order in which exhibitors get to choose a location. The following parameters affect the points system: years of exhibiting, square footage (or size) of stands and continuity of years exhibiting.

Points for the system include exhibit space at WAI’s Wire Expo and Interwire shows. Exhibitors must have proof of insurance before they can take part in the Points Meeting. For more details, contact Timme at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The WAI’s Midwest Chapter reported a sound success for its 20th annual golf tournament, held at the prestigious St. Andrews Golf & Country Club in West Chicago, Illinois. There were 72 slots, and all were taken by golfers who got to enjoy what proved to be a wonderful day.

The tournament began on a high note with a delightful breakfast, where participants fueled up for the thrilling day ahead. As the sun peeked through the clouds, the golfers gathered for the shotgun start at the meticulously maintained greens and challenging fairways of St. Andrews. The atmosphere was vibrant, filled with camaraderie and friendly competition, as players showcased their skills and enjoyed the game.

The winning team, from Lake Cable—Daniel Pelzel, Dan Borst, Justin Albright and Jack Rosenthal—proved to be unstoppable, shooting a very respectable 57 to grab top honors and bragging rights. The company had a strong presence at the event as Cooper Runzel, vice president of insulating manufacturing at Lake Cable, LLC, had signed up 16 of his employees to participate in the tournament.

John Markowski, WAI’s manager, membership & social media—who attended the event and also went on a tour of Lake Cable’s plant—said that he was impressed by Runzel’s support of the event. “It is inspiring to see a leader who fosters a strong sense of community within their organization, committed to employee engagement and team spirit.”
A long-time key organizer for the golf tournament, Kevin Sopczak, said that the event went off without a hitch. It made for a great day to see everyone enjoying themselves, he said. As a sidenote, he noted that he has left his position at Liberty Steel and now works for Castle Metals, which has a product range that includes some wire, so he remains in the industry and plans to continue helping out with future chapter activities.

Markowski said that Sopczak’s dedication, leadership and tireless work were instrumental in organizing and executing this memorable event. “His unwavering commitment to the industry and the Midwest Chapter is truly commendable.”

Following the golf, participants convened for a well-deserved reception, dinner and awards presentation. The air was filled with anticipation and excitement as the tournament’s winners were announced and celebrated for their outstanding performances. The event provided an excellent opportunity for industry professionals to network, share experiences and forge new connections.

Chapter officials thanked event sponsors for their generous support. That included Liberty Steel (Accurate Drive); Chemetall North America, Merit Steel and Traxit North America LLC (Closest-to-the-Pin); Micro Wire, The Rubicon Group and Worth Steel & Machinery Inc. (Long Drive). Also, Charter Steel, D&S Wire, Fort Wayne Wire Die Inc, Ivaco Rolling Mills, Lake Michigan Metals, OmniSource, SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS and Tri Star Metals (corporate hole sponsorships). Their collective commitment and support contributed significantly to the overall success of the event, which helps support the scholarship program.

Markowski said that while golfers thrive on the sport, there was more to it than just that. “This event not only celebrated two decades of camaraderie and industry excellence but also fostered meaningful connections and friendships among the participants. ... Here’s to another 20 years of success, camaraderie, and unforgettable moments at WAI’s Midwest Chapter Golf Tournament. Until next year, may your drives be accurate, your putts be precise, and your spirits high!”

IEWC has named Martin Rohde as president and chief business officer of its Global Infrastructure Group, tasked will leading the newly formed infrastructure business that was created earlier this year to focus on growth industries such as telecom, data centers, solar and renewable energies, power grids, and industrial automation. He has more than 25 years of experience in the B2B distribution space, and led transformational business changes at Arrow Electronics, Hewlett Packard, Amazon Business, and most recently, Parts Town. He will oversee IEWC’s telecom brands (Cablecon and Jupiter Communications), IEWC’s Premier Cables business in Europe, as well as lead business development within other infrastructure markets. Based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, IEWC is a global distributor of wire and cable products, a manufacturer of custom fiber assemblies, and a provider of value-add solutions that advance a connected world.

Southwire announced a series of personnel news. Norman Adkins, Southwire’s president of Wire and Cable and COO, will assume responsibility for the company’s Tools, Components and Assembled Solutions (TCAS) business. He replaces Brandon Moss, who resigned to take a role outside the company. Peter Lugo, senior vice president of product management, will report to Adkins and lead Southwire’s TCAS business. Alan Bearden, senior vice president of strategic integration, will now report to Guyton Cochran, executive vice president and CFO. Based in Carrollton, Georgia, Southwire Company is a world-leading developer, manufacturer and supplier of building wire and utility cable.

Brad Andrews was promoted to senior marketing manager wire drawing, North America, at Condat Corporation. He joined the company in 2016, serving as marketing manager, North America. Prior to that he worked in related industrial companies for some 29 years, including Bazetta Steel Processing, Capital Steel & Wire, Solon Wire Processing, BCS Industries/BSC Metal Prep, LLC, and Metal Processing Corporation. He holds a B.S. degree in business administration and management from Ohio University. He was also an instructor in WAI’s Fundamentals of Wire & Cable Manufacturing course at Interwire 2023. Based in Saline, Michigan, USA, Condat Corporation supplies lubricants and coatings to sectors that include the wire and cable industry.

Belden Inc. announced that Jay Wirts, president of smart buildings, has been appointed to the newly created position of executive vice president of enterprise solutions. He was cited for his extensive industry experience and track record of driving operational excellence that make him the right fit to drive future growth at the Enterprise Solutions segment. He joined Belden in 2018, and most recently served as president of Smart Buildings, where he was responsible for operations, product development, and financial performance. Prior to that, he served in other leadership roles at Belden including vice president and general manager of Industrial Cable Solutions within the Industrial Automation Solutions segment. Prior to Belden, he served in various roles in Emerson and Vertiv following more than six years in the U.S. Marine Corps. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Colgate University and an MBA from Northwestern University. Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Belden Inc. is a leading global supplier of network infrastructure solutions.

Matt Wasinger has joined National Standard as the new district sales manager/industrial wires, responsible for managing distributors and end users for the company’s industrial wire portfolio. He has a strong background, with experience in welding and industrial product sales. Most recently he worked as a business development specialist. He has held sales positions with Fastenal Company, Praxair, Brennan Industries and Matheson Tri-Gas. A member of The Heico Companies, National Standard produces a range of wire at its plants in Niles, Michigan, and Stillwater, Oklahoma.

Service Wire has promoted Ron Spozio to regional sales manager for the pump and irrigation markets of Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico. He joined the company in 2022 and has over 19 years of sales experience in the metal industry. He holds a degree in humanities from the University of Houston. Based in Culloden, West Virginia, Service Wire is a family-owned wire and cable manufacturer.

Joe Cebulski has been named a US country manager for Mattr Connection Technologies DSG-Canusa & Shawflex. He has 30 years of industry experience, starting in 1992 with Rome Cable, where he was a regional vice president. In 2003 he joined Shawcor, where he was a country manager for the piping company. In June 2023, Shawcor rebranded to Mattr, “reflecting its transformation from an energy services organization, into a materials technology company, providing differentiated, high-performance products to critical infrastructure markets around the world.” He attended La Salle University. Based in Toronto, Mattr has three business segments, one of which is Connection Technologies, which includes Shawflex, a manufacturer of engineered wire, cable and assemblies.

Fil-Tec Inc. announced the promotion of Christine Lovett to vice president, responsible for the global business development of the company’s wire and cable business unit. Since joining Fil-Tec, she has served as director of business development for specialty coated fibers used in the cable industry. She has been active in new product development, various process improvement and quality programs as well as customer development. Prior to joining Fil-Tec, Lovett served some 24 years in roles of increasing responsibility at industry suppliers LLFlex, Sonoco and Zumbach. Based in Hagerstown, Maryland, Fil-Tec is a leading global supplier of technical fibers (binders, fillers and ripcords) to cable manufacturers.