The more AWI produces, the greener the company gets.

Alloy Wire International, which recently achieved carbon-negative business status, has taken that pledge even further, committing to plant a tree for every 100 kg of wire sold. Below, Managing Director Tom Mander discusses why it forms an important part of the company’s “Wired for Good” initiative.

Manufacturers contribute so much in the way of greenhouse gases that it’s up to companies like Alloy Wire International (AWI) to buck the trend and start giving back to the environment and the communities we operate in.

That’s why we have joined forces with JUST ONE Tree. The U.K.-based organization uses donations to fund reforestation projects, selecting partners to plant them based on criteria such as existing infrastructure, methodology, impact on community and tree survival rates. The trees are planted in countries, including Mozambique, Nepal, Haiti, Indonesia, Madagascar, Kenya and Zambia.

We believe that our commitment to sustainability is now stronger than ever. Based on the amount of wire AWI has sold between the months of January and June 2023, we have already donated over 1,500 trees to JUST ONE Tree.

Once grown, those trees will remove more than 300 metric tons of CO2 from the atmosphere over the next 25 years. Supporting the efforts of JUST ONE Tree is part of a wider picture where AWI is committed to becoming more environmentally friendly and to continue to act as a good citizen to the communities it operates in.

As part of our “Wired for Good” campaign, AWI partnered with Carbon Neutral Britain to offset emissions around its manufacturing, deliveries and even employee commuting, with our efforts seeing us become carbon negative in recent months.

Over the last 18 months, we have also donated £30,000 to local charities and good causes, with the latest recipient being Acorns Children’s Hospice to help it continue to provide respite, short breaks, end of life and emergency care across its three U.K. locations. We have been longterm admirers of the charity and the way it provides a homely environment where children can take part in a range of fun and therapeutic activities, from arts and crafts sessions to hydrotherapy.

This was the final donation to mark our 75th anniversary year and follows similar £7,500 gifts to Mary Stevens Hospice in Stourbridge, the Chris Westwood Charity for Children with Physical Disabilities and the Giving Hands Mission.

For more on the organization, go to www.justonetree.life.

Manufacturers GIVING BACK

This is part 16 of Wire Journal International's first-ever feature presenting 16 manufacturers that have given back to their communities: hundreds others could just as easily have been here. Each entry has a unique story, yet the common thread is the people—of all ranks—who care about their companies as well as their communities. Big volunteer efforts deserve applause, but so do smaller ones as they all head in the same direction. In a time when there is seldom a lack of daunting news, one can take pride in the industry spirit.

Not currently subscribed to Wire Journal International? Start your free subscription here. Not a Wire Association International member? Become a WAI member now.
We are the leading monthly publication and technical society for the wire & cable manufacturing industry. 

Looking for other parts of this feature series?

Companies Featured:
Hitachi Cable America (now Proterial Cable America), Viakable, Acme Wire Products, High-Performance Conductors (HPC), Kris-Tech, Allied Wire, Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc., Cerrowire, Belden, Fort Wayne Metals, Optimus Steel, Prysmian, Minnesota Wire, Southwire, Service Wire, Alloy Wire International
Bonus Content:
> Employer alert! Volunteers make for a better workforce.
> How can a small business start a ‘giving back’ program?

From l-r, Alex Peach, Trish Weisberg, Bruce Kesler, Chuck Oldaker, Liz Weisberg, Louis Weisberg, Brad D. Smith, Avinandan Mukherjee, Rosie Brydie and Ron Area.

Based in Culloden, West Virginia, Service Wire Company is giving back to the community in a big way, through a very large pledge to Marshall University. Below, a company official explains why they chose to do this.

Service Wire Company has committed $1 million in financial resources and wire and cable products to the Marshall University Foundation. The donation will be used to help fund the new state-of-the-art facility being built in Huntington, West Virginia, for the Lewis College of Business and Brad D. Smith Schools of Business.

“We are excited to expand upon an existing relationship with the university and the city of Huntington,” said Service Wire President and CEO Louis Weisberg. “We have a long-standing history partnering with Marshall University, and we are pleased to continue this legacy.”

Weisberg said that supporting the university benefits both entities. “Service Wire has always been committed to serving the communities in which our employees live and work. This dedication extends to educational institutions. By providing an outlet for our employees and their families to further their education and recruit new talent, we can better equip our growing workforce.”

The link with Marshall University has long been seen at Service Wire, Weisberg said. “We are proud to have Marshall University graduates in all departments across multiple locations, from accounting, sales and marketing to engineering, operations and executive management.” The university is about a half-hour drive away from Culloden.

Dr. Ron Area, CEO of the Marshall University Foundation, echoed the importance of the relationship between regional businesses and Marshall. “There is a great deal of excitement right now surrounding the new school of business and its impact on Marshall University and the surrounding area. He said that Weisberg and Service Wire Executive Vice President and CFO Chuck Oldaker have been a partner of the university for a long time. “This gift will help Marshall achieve its goals in transforming Huntington into a central hub for business innovation.”

“The College of Business’ cutting-edge curriculum will help attract new talent,” Oldaker said. “We can continue to support these individuals post-graduation by offering gainful employment opportunities in one of our nationwide locations or through our sales agent network.”

The facility is scheduled to open in January 2024. The university’s existing Transformative Sales and Service Excellence Center within the college will be renamed the Service Wire Company Transformative Sales and Service Excellence Center.

“Service Wire is proud to be a staple in the community. We have a long history of supporting West Virginia and the Tri-State region and are pleased to be able to continue this spirit of giving,” Weisberg said.

Founded in 1968, Service Wire Company is a multi-generation, family-owned wire and cable manufacturer. It has locations across the country, including West Virginia, Texas and Arizona, and a nationwide network of distributors and advanced distribution capabilities.

Manufacturers GIVING BACK

This is part 15 of Wire Journal International's first-ever feature presenting 16 manufacturers that have given back to their communities: hundreds others could just as easily have been here. Each entry has a unique story, yet the common thread is the people—of all ranks—who care about their companies as well as their communities. Big volunteer efforts deserve applause, but so do smaller ones as they all head in the same direction. In a time when there is seldom a lack of daunting news, one can take pride in the industry spirit.

Not currently subscribed to Wire Journal International? Start your free subscription here. Not a Wire Association International member? Become a WAI member now.
We are the leading monthly publication and technical society for the wire & cable manufacturing industry. 

Looking for other parts of this feature series?

Companies Featured:
Hitachi Cable America (now Proterial Cable America), Viakable, Acme Wire Products, High-Performance Conductors (HPC), Kris-Tech, Allied Wire, Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc., Cerrowire, Belden, Fort Wayne Metals, Optimus Steel, Prysmian, Minnesota Wire, Southwire, Service Wire, Alloy Wire International
Bonus Content:
> Employer alert! Volunteers make for a better workforce.
> How can a small business start a ‘giving back’ program?

Southwire Technician Specialist Bryan Cole was among the company volunteers from six states who helped communities in Florida that suffered widespread hurricane damage.

Southwire designates substantial funds every year to support a wide range of community programs that include lots of employee volunteers, but sometimes the unexpected happens, and then it is important to react to an unplanned emergency. Below, Southwire explains how it responded to such an event.

On Sept. 28, Hurricane Ian made landfall in Southwestern Florida as a Category 4 hurricane, causing widespread damage and leaving millions without power.

In response, Southwire’s Project GIFT hosted disaster relief drives across several of the company’s Giving Back communities. Through this effort, nearly six tractor-trailers full of much-needed supplies were collected for those impacted by the devastating storm.

Volunteers from Project GIFT and Southwire’s agent, John Carter & Associates (JCA), were on site for the delivery and distribution efforts at Cape Christian Church in Cape Coral, Florida, thanks to a connection made from Southwire customer, Wesco Anixter. Because of the tremendous level of support from Southwire employees and communities across the country, an additional donation of over $9,000 was made to Second Harvest Food Bank, which provided meals to those affected by the storm.

“I have worked with Southwire for more than 30 years and know that they are the best at responding with resources to help customers get their power back on,” said JCA President Ed Hanner. “After participating as a volunteer with the Southwire folks that came to Florida and seeing and hearing from the storm victims that received our help, I now know it is more than just a great program: it is truly something special. It’s hard for me to put into words how thankful we all are for the gifts from the volunteers at Southwire.”

Southwire’s disaster relief drive was made possible by the generosity of community members, employees, volunteers and Project GIFT teams from West Georgia and Heflin, Alabama; Bremen, Indiana; Huntersville, North Carolina; Medford, New York; York, Pennsylvania; and Denton, Texas. They came together with the same passion for helping and ensuring that the supplies made it to the families affected by this tragedy.

“As a native Floridian, I have seen my fair share of hurricanes and the everlasting trails of destruction they leave behind,” said Kyle Tafelski, Southwire regional sales manager for tools, components and assembled solutions. “I am beyond grateful to have participated in the Project GIFT effort. The opportunity to provide just an ounce of hope and joy to the families of southwest Florida is something that I will never forget.”

Manufacturers GIVING BACK

This is part 14 of Wire Journal International's first-ever feature presenting 16 manufacturers that have given back to their communities: hundreds others could just as easily have been here. Each entry has a unique story, yet the common thread is the people—of all ranks—who care about their companies as well as their communities. Big volunteer efforts deserve applause, but so do smaller ones as they all head in the same direction. In a time when there is seldom a lack of daunting news, one can take pride in the industry spirit.

Not currently subscribed to Wire Journal International? Start your free subscription here. Not a Wire Association International member? Become a WAI member now.
We are the leading monthly publication and technical society for the wire & cable manufacturing industry. 

Looking for other parts of this feature series?

Companies Featured:
Hitachi Cable America (now Proterial Cable America), Viakable, Acme Wire Products, High-Performance Conductors (HPC), Kris-Tech, Allied Wire, Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc., Cerrowire, Belden, Fort Wayne Metals, Optimus Steel, Prysmian, Minnesota Wire, Southwire, Service Wire, Alloy Wire International
Bonus Content:
> Employer alert! Volunteers make for a better workforce.
> How can a small business start a ‘giving back’ program?

(Left) Zach James Wagner thanked soldiers for their service at the company’s Annual Veterans Day on Nov. 11. (Right) Minnesota Wire supports the University of Minnesota’s Racing Team.

Minnesota Wire, a 54-year-old family-owned business that specializes in manufacturing wire for defense and medical markets, cites “community” as being a core value. Below, the company explains what that includes.

The Minnesota Wire Charitable Giving Fund, established in 2001, has donated over $750,000. Minnesota Wire founders Fred and Nora Wagner created the fund that over the years has donated to organizations from adoption agencies and the Special Olympics to veteran’s organizations and homeless shelters. The company has assisted hundreds of different organizations/charities within its communities.

Beyond direct company donations, Minnesota Wire invites employees to suggest charities, and encourages them to give back through donations and/or volunteer time. Those include individual and team volunteer involvement grants, matching donations and charity donations. That translates to support of MS Bike Rides, Polar Plunges, highway clean up projects and support of local youth sports teams. But the company’s largest hosted event continues to be its Annual Veterans Day celebration, which was celebrated on Nov. 11, 2022.

The event honors area veterans and their families and is open to the public. Minnesota Wire and its employees are dedicated to providing life saving connections to soldiers, veterans and their families. This year marks our 13th Annual Event. The company hosts and sponsors it while employees do the event planning, recruit sponsorships, create literature/promotion, procure raffle prizes, arrange booths for area Veteran Services available, provide a free lunch and beer, arrange inspirational speakers, local school bands/choirs to perform, display military or classic vehicles and provide same day event staff. Pre-pandemic, the event served up to 600 free meals and was long the only Veterans Day Celebration in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. The company offers employees who are Veterans paid time off to attend. We like to say, “Come to Thank a Vet ~ Stay for the BBQ!”

Minnesota Wire is inclusive, employing people with a multitude of various disabilities, and providing them the accommodations so they can perform their jobs successfully. It starts from home, as company Chairman/CEO Paul J. Wagner named the Eau Claire building where this happens after his beloved son, Zachary James Wagner, who thrives daily regardless of his intellectual disability (ZJ Enterprises). Zach, an Eagle Scout, regularly participates in the Veterans Day event.

The extended Wagner family operates a farm in Wisconsin for people with developmental challenges called Community Homestead. There, some 40 people of all ages and abilities celebrate land and human sustainability, run an organic dairy farm, an organic biodiverse garden and CSA, a bakery and food processing kitchen, a woodshop and many crafts. Not only does the company financially donate to the farm, Zach enjoys volunteering his time on the farm as well.

Minnesota Wire believes in strong STEM programs. At Eau Claire, the company partners with area middle schools to help promote STEM opportunities within the manufacturing sector. It provides monthly factory tours, speakers and “hands on” activities. At our R&D facility in St. Paul, the company welcomed astronaut Duane “Digger” Carey (http://astronautbiker.com/) as a guest speaker at their 50th Anniversary Celebration. In honor of his participation, the company donated to the Farnsworth Aerospace Charter School in St. Paul which serves pre K-8 STEM and aerospace programs. The company enjoys a long history of sponsorship and engineering support for the University of Minnesota Racing Team (Gopher Motorsports). Paul J. Wagner also devotes his time to being a mentor/judge in area high school Robotics/STEM groups and university level Robotics competitions.

Charity and giving back is more than a special occasion for Minnesota Wire, it is an essential part of who we are.

Manufacturers GIVING BACK

This is part 13 of Wire Journal International's first-ever feature presenting 16 manufacturers that have given back to their communities: hundreds others could just as easily have been here. Each entry has a unique story, yet the common thread is the people—of all ranks—who care about their companies as well as their communities. Big volunteer efforts deserve applause, but so do smaller ones as they all head in the same direction. In a time when there is seldom a lack of daunting news, one can take pride in the industry spirit.

Not currently subscribed to Wire Journal International? Start your free subscription here. Not a Wire Association International member? Become a WAI member now.
We are the leading monthly publication and technical society for the wire & cable manufacturing industry. 

Looking for other parts of this feature series?

Companies Featured:
Hitachi Cable America (now Proterial Cable America), Viakable, Acme Wire Products, High-Performance Conductors (HPC), Kris-Tech, Allied Wire, Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc., Cerrowire, Belden, Fort Wayne Metals, Optimus Steel, Prysmian, Minnesota Wire, Southwire, Service Wire, Alloy Wire International
Bonus Content:
> Employer alert! Volunteers make for a better workforce.
> How can a small business start a ‘giving back’ program?

In 2021, the Prysmian Group donated about €1,705,000 to local communities around the world in cash, in kind and in the form of time as part of the Corporate Citizenship and Philanthropy policy it adopted in 2019. Below, the company discusses one of its smaller donations.

Large donations draw a lot of attention, but sometimes a small one is equally important. In 2021, Prysmian supplied the cables required for developing a photovoltaic system at Hôpital Général de Référence d’Uvira. Prysmian’s solutions were used to ensure that the local population in the Democratic Republic of Congo enjoys access to a more reliable and effective hospital service.

The hospital is located in Uvira, one of the country’s major cities. Unfortunately, Congo is constantly plagued by ethnic conflicts and indiscriminate exploitation of underground resources, which place the health of the population at risk. With the participation of various organizations and businesses, the EIS project seeks to provide the hospital with energy independence from the city’s power plants to prevent constant power outages, of which there are an average of 10 a day. The multiple blackouts inevitably impact the hospital’s services, particularly in some wards, where electricity is fundamental to saving lives, such as neonatal care and surgery.

Prysmian Group contributed to the project by donating about four km of medium-voltage cables required to build up a photovoltaic system composed of 152 photovoltaic modules and 48 batteries that ensures that the hospital has access to a reliable power supply, based on renewable, sustainable sources.

The system’s storage capacity of 155 kWh helps the hospital to maintain a constant energy output, complementing the power supplied by the local public utility. This way, the system can provide reliable power not just for the most sensitive wards of the hospital but for the entire facility.

The Group’s support made it possible to develop a photovoltaic system that captures solar energy. Prysmian Group is proud to have contributed to this humanitarian initiative, in collaboration with a non-profit organization, Progetto Sorriso Nel Mondo, donating a new source of energy to the Uvira community thanks to its cables.

Manufacturers GIVING BACK

This is part 12 of Wire Journal International's first-ever feature presenting 16 manufacturers that have given back to their communities: hundreds others could just as easily have been here. Each entry has a unique story, yet the common thread is the people—of all ranks—who care about their companies as well as their communities. Big volunteer efforts deserve applause, but so do smaller ones as they all head in the same direction. In a time when there is seldom a lack of daunting news, one can take pride in the industry spirit.

Not currently subscribed to Wire Journal International? Start your free subscription here. Not a Wire Association International member? Become a WAI member now.
We are the leading monthly publication and technical society for the wire & cable manufacturing industry. 

Looking for other parts of this feature series?

Companies Featured:
Hitachi Cable America (now Proterial Cable America), Viakable, Acme Wire Products, High-Performance Conductors (HPC), Kris-Tech, Allied Wire, Ulbrich Stainless Steels & Special Metals, Inc., Cerrowire, Belden, Fort Wayne Metals, Optimus Steel, Prysmian, Minnesota Wire, Southwire, Service Wire, Alloy Wire International
Bonus Content:
> Employer alert! Volunteers make for a better workforce.
> How can a small business start a ‘giving back’ program?