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Wire Journal News

The official opening of the first fiber optic cable plant in Nigeria in Ogun State by Coleman Technical Industries Limited (CTIL) was heralded as a major step forward as the country seeks to provide such technology internally.

Per an article in nigeriannewsdirect.com, the opening of the Coleman Wire and Cable fiber optic company, located on Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, was deemed by CTIL Managing Director and CEO George Onafowokan as an important achievement. In his remarks, he said that he has a firm belief in local content, and that it was important for Nigeria to grow local capacity. The goal is to build capacity for the country, West Africa, Central Africa and about 50% of the continent, making the operation the biggest fiber optic cable factory in the continent by September 2023.

Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, who also spoke at the inauguration of the Coleman Wire and Cable fiber optic company, said that the new cable capacity is much welcome. The state plans to lay 5,000 km of fiber optic cables across its region, the state would receive the needed boost with the commissioning of the first fiber optic cable factory in West Africa.

The new plant was described as the first one in the West Africa sub-region and the fifth in the African continent.

Last modified on September 2, 2022

Cerrowire® has named Randy Clos as vice president of finance. He has led financial teams for more than two decades, primarily in the wire and cable industry, including 10 years within the Marmon Electrical Group, part of Marmon Holdings, a Berkshire Hathaway company. In his most recent position as vice president of finance at Marmon Utility, Clos led teams for brands such as Hendrix and Kerite. He previously worked with Wayne Water Systems, a sister Berkshire Hathaway company. He holds a B.S. degree in accounting from Southern New Hampshire University. A member of the Marmon Electrical Group, Cerrowire manufactures electrical wire at plants in Alabama, Georgia, Indiana and Utah.

Rich Buchicchio has been named business development manager, mil-aero, for Times Microwave Systems. He previously was a regional sales manager for Cicoil Corporation, where he worked for 13 years, and prior to that was a regional sales manager, Northeastern USA, for Leoni. He holds a B.S. degree in marketing from Rutgers University. A subsidiary of Amphenol Corporation, Times Microwave Systems manufactures coaxial cables, connectors and cable assemblies for military, aerospace, telecom, industrial RF and microwave applications.

Ton Koenders has joined M. Holland Company as its inaugural director of sales for Europe to support international growth and address customer needs. Based in the Netherlands, his focus will include advising customers on improving recyclability efforts and using more sustainable materials. He has an extensive background in plastics, having worked for 34 years at SABIC, where he most recently led the company’s American sales organization for polymers. He holds a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Technical College Heerlen and business administration from the University of Maastricht. Based in Northbrook, Illinois, M. Holland Company is a leading international distributor of thermoplastic resins.

Ed Fenton has been named a senior key account manager for Daikin America, Inc. He has held unique positions in the industry, having been the co-founder and co-owner of the Wire & Cable Focus Conference and Exposition, which was sold in 1999 to the International Wire & Cable Symposium, Inc. He most recently was director of North American sales for Ripley Tools LLC. He was the owner of the Wire & Cable Clubs of America, an industrial membership organization for manufacturers of cables, wire and suppliers to these industries—the predecessor to the Wire & Cable Manufacturers Alliance (WCMA)—which he has been executive director since 2004. He will continue to serve in that role. He was the North American business manager for wire and cable publications by CRU International, London, England, and was vice president sales/marketing in 2004, for Fluoropolymer Resources. He holds a degree in English from the University of Vermont. Based in Orangeburg, New York, Daikin America manufactures fluorochemical products for sectors that include wire and cable.

Joe Neely has joined the sales team of Chroma Color, responsible for account sales in the Midwest. An experienced account manager, he has worked in the food/beverage and packaging industries. Previously, he sold color and additives to a wide variety of plastics converters. Before getting involved in color and packaging, He was in IT and wireless communications, working in various roles from inside sales to virtualization sales. He holds a degree in marketing from Southern Illinois University. Based in Lambertville, New Jersey, Chroma Color Corporation supplies specialty color and additive concentrate to markets that include wire and cable

Last modified on September 2, 2022

Had any personnel changes the last few years? It’s a rare company that hasn’t either lost or added staff during the Covid period, and it’s not a bad idea to make sure that the industry knows who your key people are.

This is an ideal time to take a minute to look at the 2022 edition of the Wire Journal International Reference Guide and see whether you need to make some updates. Companies can now either enter or update their company profiles for the 2023 edition of the Wire Journal International Reference Guide and WAI’s online Industry Search.

New and updated entries, free, will be accepted until Nov. 30, 2022, for the printed publication. An instructional video on submitting a free listing is at wirenet.org: (www.wirenet.org/industry-search-instructional-video).

The WJI Reference Guide lists contact information for international manufacturers and suppliers to the wire and cable industry. Company listings include more than 1,100 product types.

Last modified on September 2, 2022

The WAI is seeking papers for Interwire 2023. Accepted papers will be presented at the event, to be held May 9-11, at the Georgia World Congress Center.

Papers are sought that address advances in the industry that fall under: Industry 4.0 trends, wire and cable making strategies, workforce insights and technical progress in all sectors. Abstracts are due Nov. 18, 2022, notice of acceptance is Dec. 2, 2022, and manuscripts are due March 3, 2023.

Abstracts can be submitted at https://goo.gl/svxgvq. Accepted authors receive a one-year WAI membership and complementary conference registration.

Last modified on September 2, 2022

With Interwire 2023 eight months away, the 80,000 sq ft of exhibit space allocated at the Georgia World Congress Center has been fully taken. WAI has established a “wait list” and will assign booths as space allows to accommodate the continuing influx of requests for exhibit space.

“It’s clear 2023 will be a great year for Interwire,” said WAI Sales Director Shannon Timme. “With the current strength of the industry, the reemergence of industry fairs and energy focused on trade events, new and returning Interwire exhibitors were quick to book their exhibit space. We want to accommodate every company that submits a request to exhibit.”

Exhibitors interested in contracting booth space for Interwire should visit this site—https://www.interwire23.com/exhibitor-information/become-an-exhibitor—and submit their contract. Interwire 2023 will be held May 9-11, 2023.

While Interwire 2021 was not able to be held because of Covid, WAI presented a Virtual Industry 4.0 Conference that did not serve as a replacement for the Atlanta show, but offered presentations from three companies (Southwire, Prysmian and Charter Steel) on Industry 4.0, which was to have been a focus at Interwire.

Last modified on September 2, 2022

WAI’s Ohio Valley Chapter is working with the Association to establish a scholarship program that will start in 2023.

The program will be fueled by proceeds from the Chapter’s annual golf tournament. The scholarship program will follow the same format and schedule as the other three chapters (New England, Southeast and Midwest) that have existing scholarship programs, also funded by their golf tournaments.

The initiative is still in the planning stage, and more news about this will be presented in future issues.

Last modified on September 2, 2022

WAI’s New England Chapter will hold an educational program on Tuesday, Oct. 25, that will include a plant tour followed by a networking reception and dinner.

The chapter’s Annual Regional Education Program will include discussions and a guided plant tour of Radio Frequency Systems (RFS) in Meriden, Connecticut. Check-in at RFS is at 3 pm, and the tour begins at 3:30 pm. There later will be a networking reception and dinner at the Waterfront Restaurant and Bar in Wethersfield, Connecticut.

The event is limited to 50 attendees, and registration will close on Oct. 25. A wait list will be available once the event is full. The cost for the event is $125 for non-WAI members, with a $25 discount for WAI New England Chapter members.

Last modified on September 2, 2022

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The Southeast Chapter’s Scholarship Committee has reported the names of its four scholarship winners, each of which will get $1,800.

Andres Marcelo Galindo Batocletti is the son of Juan Galindo, vice president, product management, at Southwire Company. He will attend the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech), where he will major in chemical and biomolecular engineering.

Penelope Grapsas is the daughter of Constantine Grapsas, president of AIM Inc. She will attend American University in Washington, DC, where she will major in international relations and policy.

Dylan Roulaine is the son of Scott Roulaine, director of modernization, Southwire Company. He will attend the University of Alabama, where he will major in industrial engineering.

Duy (Kevin) Vo is the son of Loc Vo, senior electrical engineer, Honeywell. He will attend the University of Missouri Kansas City, where he will major in engineering.

Last modified on September 2, 2022

Citing the current Covid-19 situation, the organizers of wire China 2022 announced that the event—originally scheduled for Sept. 26-29 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center—will now be held at Nanjing International Expo Center on Nov. 8-11, 2022.

A press release said that Messe Düsseldorf (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. and Shanghai Electric Cable Research Institute Co., consulting with various industry experts, concluded that Nanjing would be the ideal platform to hold wire China 2022. It will be joined by sister event, Tube China 2022. Nanjing, the capital city of Jiangsu Province, is a modern industrial clustered city about three hours driving distance from Shanghai.

The concurrent events, China Wire & Cable Industry Conference, China Wire & Cable Material Conference and China Winding Wire Conference will also take place at the same time.

“The organizers of wire China shall spare no effort on the preparation work and will launch concerted campaigns to present a high-quality event. wire China 2022 in Nanjing will continue to provide an influential platform to the wire and cable industry,” the release said.

The visitor registration system will be valid till early November (www.wirechina.net). Visitors who have already registered for wire China 2022 can keep the previous registration codes and claim their badges onsite. Meanwhile, the organizers will keep close communication with exhibitors regarding the subsequent preparations.

“We have received strong support from relevant sectors of the community since the postponement was announced,” the release said. “The organizers appreciate all your long-term trust, support and understanding! Looking forward to meeting you in Nanjing in November!


Last modified on September 2, 2022

Madison, Connecticut, USA – August 24, 2022 – The Wire Association International (WAI), Inc., host of the biennial Interwire trade exposition and conference, reports that the 80,000 sq. ft. of available exhibition space is currently fully contracted compelling the organizer to pursue expansion to accommodate additional exhibitors.

The event is slated to run May 9-11, 2023, at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, GA, USA.

WAI established a ‘wait list’ and will assign booths as space allows to accommodate the continuing influx of requests for exhibit space.

Commenting on the process, WAI Sales Director Shannon Timme said “It’s clear 2023 will be a great year for Interwire. With the current strength of the industry, the reemergence of industry fairs, and energy focused on trade events, new and returning Interwire exhibitors were quick to book their exhibit space. We want to accommodate every company that submits a request to exhibit.”

Exhibitors who are interested in contracting booth space for Interwire should contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for their renewal code or visit https://www.interwire23.com/exhibitor-information/become-an-exhibitor and submit their contract. 

Developing details are shown on the event website: www.Interwire23.com.

The Wire Association International is a not-for-profit association with 1,800 individual members in 50 countries. The association serves the educational needs of the wire and cable manufacturing industry through a variety of products and services. WAI manages the Interwire Trade Exposition and the WAI Operations Summit & Wire Expo and publishes the Wire Journal International and the Wire Journal International Reference Guide.


Media Contacts: Janice E. Swindells, Director Marketing & Corporate Communications, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 001-203-453-2777 x. 117; Steven J. Fetteroll, Executive Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 001-203-453-1777.

Last modified on August 24, 2022

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