hips it is issuing for 2022, each of which will receive $2,500. Below are the winners.
Alyssa Hicks is the daughter of William Jason Hicks, technical support engineer, Gem Gravure Co., Inc. She is attending Jacksonville State University, where she is majoring in family and consumer sciences.
Owen LaRoss is the son of Michael LaRoss, corporate controller, Whitney Blake Co. He is attending Merrimack College, with an undeclared major.
Timothy McComiskey is the son of Thomas McComiskey, vice president of engineering, MGS Group. He is attending the University of Rhode Island, where he is majoring in pharmacy.
Andrew Person is the son of Kim Person, purchasing, Insulated Wire. He is attending SUNY College at Oneonta, where he is majoring in biology.
Ashley Potvin is the granddaughter of Kenneth Potvin, vice president of sales, Teknikor. She is attending Quinnipiac University, where she is majoring in public relations.
Aidan Tomaz is the grandson of John Tomaz, vice president, Wardwell Braiding Machine Co. He plans to attend Louisville University, where he is majoring in sports management.
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 complimentary conference registration.
Martin Thacker has plenty of experience as the British representative for WAI’s 2022 clockwinding ceremony, having served in that role for the prior two years. However, this time, he will be the one doing the actual winding when he visits WAI’s office on Nov. 3.
On Nov. 11, 2020, Thacker served as the first-ever virtual clockwinder as part of a special Association meeting that also included the WAI’s Annual Meeting and the presentation of the Mordica Award. He spoke from his home in Britain, and discussed the significance of the tradition. Each year, a representative for the British wire and cable industry comes to rewind the stately grandfather clock that they gave to the Association on Oct. 20, 1948, in appreciation of the support given during World War II.
On Nov.17, 2021, Thacker again performed his duties before a meeting of the WAI’s Board of Directors. Both times he talked about the value of maintaining close ties. “I am disappointed not to be with you in person today,” said Thacker, who is a Liveryman of the Court of the Worshipful Company of Tinplate Workers Alias Wireworkers (Tinplate Workers) in London. “Last year I had the honor of being the first person to conduct the clock winding ceremony via virtual means. I am now the very first person to have conducted the clock winding ceremony via virtual means twice in succession!”
Now Thacker—whose grandfather was a wiredrawer in Sheffield, and his father worked for Markham and Company Ltd., as did his uncle—will be back for the third time in the flesh.
Andy Zinner has been named vice president operations & service at Niehoff Endex North America (NENA). He most recently worked for Leoni Wire Inc., where he held positions that included vice president sales/operations lead, president/vice president of sales, and vice president of sales and marketing. Prior to that, he worked for eight years for Schneider Electric. He holds a degree in electrical power and engineering from the Technical University, Regensburg. Based in Swedesboro, New Jersey, NENA is a division of Germany’s Maschinefabrik Niehoff GmbH, a global supplier of wire drawing/processing technology.
Joel Spink was named the new quality manager at Reel Power Industrial. He has 25 years of quality management experience, working as manufacturing engineer, quality engineer, senior quality engineer, quality manager, division quality manager and quality director for different companies representing industries from hydraulics and airplane engines to fabrication. He holds a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from Oklahoma State University, and an MBA from Harding University. Based in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, Reel Power Industrial supplies standard and custom reeling and coiling equipment.
Hitachi Cable America has named Jerry O’Donnell as senior sales engineer for the company’s Performance Cable Systems and Materials Division. He has over 30 years of experience in the data communications industry in sales engineering and project management. He most recently was a sales engineer for seven years for Corning Optical Communications, and prior to that was a project manager or manufacturer’s representative for four other companies. He holds a degree from Cabrini University. Hitachi Cable America, Inc.’s Performance Cables Systems & Materials Division manufactures copper and fiber optic communication cables and assemblies for the telecom industry.
François Desné has been named divisional CEO for Steel Wire Solutions of Bekaert. He began his career with RHODIA in 1996, holding management roles in quality and development. He moved to BASF in 2003, working in regional and global leadership positions across Europe and Asia. He joined Recticel in 2016 as a group general manager before he moved to Bekaert. A French national, he holds an M.S. degree in fundamental physics from the University of Paris VII, an MBA from the Wharton School, and a Master of Arts in international studies from the Lauder Institute/University of Pennsylvania.
The American Wire Group (AWG) announced two new hires. Benjamin Sender has joined as regional vice president, renewables. Based in Colorado, he will be responsible for developing new business and expanding AWG’s customer base in the rapidly growing renewables market. Michael Joseph is the new engineering director. Based in Connecticut, he will provide engineering support, quality control and quality assurance system management. Based in Miami, Florida, the American Wire Group supplies wire, cables and accessories for markets that include power transmission, distribution, substations, solar, wind, battery energy storage and EV infrastructure.
Mark Richmond has been promoted to the position of senior manager, strategic accounts, at Hexatronic US. He started with Hexatronic in 2020 as a strategic account manager, successfully managing several large accounts. The U.S. Navy veteran, who served on the attack submarine USS Grayling, holds a BSET degree in electrical engineering from the University of Central Florida.
Ken Consalvo has joined Comtran as a process engineering supervisor. He most recently had been manager quality assurance for Alphagary, which he joined in 2020. He also had worked for seven years in different manager roles for Data Guide Cable. Part of the Marmon Electrical Group and based in Attleboro, Massachusetts, Comtran manufactures specialty cable and system solutions for a variety of applications.
Charles Mellagui has been named CEO of the cable business unit of the Ducab Group. He previously worked for Nexans, where he had held various roles in Europe and the Middle East since 2007, rising to vice president for Central Europe, Russia and France. He has a solid track record and vast business networks in the cable industry, including industry ecosystems in the Middle East, Europe, Russia and Africa. He has restructured business units in the Middle East and helped developing Factories of the Future. He holds an engineering degree from CentraleSupelec in France and a SLOAN MBA from London Business School in the U.K. He succeeds Mike Englebrecht. Based in Dubai, the Ducab Group is one of the UAE’s largest industrial manufacturing businesses
Obituaries
Editor’s note: It just came to the attention of WJI of the passing of a WAI Past President who had a remarkable career.
Dr. Curtis Maitland Jackson, a pioneer in metallurgical research and development, a Past President of the Wire Association International, died Dec. 9, 2021, at age 88.
A native of the Bronx in New York, Jackson graduated from the Bronx High School of Science in 1951, and earned a B.S. degree in metallurgical engineering from New York University in 1954. He earned his M.S. degree (1959) and his Ph.D. (1966) in metallurgical engineering from The Ohio State University. He moved to Columbus, Ohio, where he worked in research management for the Battelle Memorial Institute for 36 years. During his tenure there, he was a pioneer in metallurgical R&D, specializing in memory alloys such as Nitinol, which are widely used in medical, military, and commercial applications. He was a leader in professional associations including A.I.M.E. (chairman of the North Central Region) and the WAI (president in 1976-77), and also oversaw WJI for six years. His professional awards include both the WAI’s 1977 Mordica Memorial Award for contributions to the advancement of the wire industry, and the Donnellan Memorial Award for outstanding service to WAI. He was recognized by Industrial Research Magazine with inclusion in its 1977 IR-100 Award that honors individuals who made one of the 100 most outstanding new product developments. His outside interests included collecting worldwide military rank insignia, genealogy and lecturing on luxury passenger trains.
He is survived by his children, Carol Adams and David Jackson; three grandchildren; and many cousins.
William Cantrell, a well-respected industry veteran who lived in Irwindale, California, and was director of sales for Davis Wire Corporation (HEICO Metal Processing Group), died Aug. 28 at age 54.
An Eagle Scout who earned a degree from the University of Georgia, in 1992 he joined the family business, Cantrell Group LLC. Over the next seven years he represented steel products that included imported wire and production from companies such as Northwestern Steel & Wire and National Wire. In 1999, he joined Keystone Steel & Wire as a senior field sales representative, and over his 17 years there he rose to the position of director of national accounts.
In 2016, the WAI member joined Davis Wire. He was serving a term as vice president of the Chain Link Fence Manufacturers Institute, and had served as treasurer for the Wire Reinforcement Institute (WRI). At the WRI website, it posted the following tribute. “The WRI has truly lost a valued leader and friend. William was a joy to work with in the WRI and his wit, humor, and perspectives on the industry were always refreshing and valuable. He will be sorely missed by all, both within and outside of the WRI.”
He is survived by his wife, Jennifer Pittman Cantrell; parents Linda and Tom Cantrell; two sons, William Pittman and Louie Thomas Cantrell; and a sister, Cherise.
Ralph Furlong, who was the second family member to serve as president of Industrial Steel Wire, died Aug. 13, at age 87. A chemical engineer, in 1965 he bought the company from his father, Harry Furlong, who had founded the business in 1935. He oversaw considerable growth, and was still active with the Chicago, Illinois-based company at the time of his passing. Survivors include his son, Brian Furlong, who in 2006 became the third Furlong to serve as president of the company.
Robert “Bob” Gingue, an industry chemicals veteran, died Aug. 21 at age 74. He was one of the four founders of Gary Chemical Corp., where he served as vice president and general manager from 1979-1983. In 1989, U.K.-based Evode Group acquired Gary Chemical and named Gingue as president. In 1993, when Evode Group was acquired by Laporte plc, he was named managing director over the consolidated Gary Chemical and Alpha Chemical Corp. which became AlphaGary. In 2000, he received the Charles D. Scott Distinguished Career Award from the Wire & Cable Manufacturer’s Alliance for his contribution to AlphaGary and the wire and cable industry as well for his leadership in many material developments, particularly the globally recognized SMOKEGUARD® PVC material for communications and data cables. He held a degree in chemical engineering from Lowell Tech (University of Massachusetts at Lowell). Until his retirement in 2011, he managed through four ownership changes, leaving an undeniable impact on co-workers, customers, suppliers and colleagues as he maneuvered shifting industry dynamics and the everchanging landscape of business development.
He is survived by his wife, Carol (Dooley) Gingue; a daughter, Robin Scott and her husband John; granddaughters Haley DiMeco, Maddisen Scott and Mary Scott; a great grandson, and several nieces and nephews.
Ralph Edward Mabry, a veteran of the lubrication industry, died at age 77 at his home in Franklin, Tennessee. He worked in sales for some 30 years for companies that included PPG, Oakite, Henkel and Chemetall. He had a degree in sociology from David Lipscomb University, and was known for his cheerful manner, technical expertise, interest in his clients and presence at trade shows. He later formed Ralph Mabry Associates, a representative firm, before retiring and joining the fledging online business of Cathee Alsup Mabry, his wife of 49 years. Other survivors include a son, Adam Mabry; a brother, Morris Mabry; a sister, Marva Nettles; two granddaughters, Addison and Ansley Mabry; and other family members.
At this sad and historic time our thoughts are with the people of the U.K. as the world mourns the passing of Queen Elizabeth II.
Each year we remember our friends in the U.K. at an annual clock winding ceremony at which a representative from Great Britain makes the trip to the U.S. to commemorate the friendship and communication between the two nations. The tradition began in 1948 when John Rigby and Sons, Ltd. of Manchester, England, presented the Wire Association with a 400-day grandfather clock at its Annual Convention. The gesture, which represented a group of 32 companies from the U.K., was made in appreciation of the support given by the U.S. wire industry to Great Britain during World War II.
While saddened we are reminded of our strong and lasting connection to our friends in the U.K. and, in doing so, we acknowledge the inevitability of the passage of time.
XLCC, a new entrant to the power cable market, has been given planning approval to build the first HVDC subsea cable factory in the U.K.
A press release said that XLCC got the June 29 okay from the North Ayrshire Council Planning Committee for its plans to construct the factory in Hunterston, Scotland. Construction was expected to start soon at the Brownfield site, where XLCC will manufacture XLPE (cross-linked polyethylene) coated HVDC subsea cable for use in interconnector projects and export cables to bring power back to the shore from offshore wind farms.
“We look forward to delivering a factory of great local and international importance for HVDC subsea cable,” said XLCC Project Director Alan Mathers. “The U.K. will be positioned as a world leader in the green economy, with the site at Hunterston playing a key role in connecting cheap, green energy from renewables projects around the world.”
XLCC has appointed HIGHVOLT as the primary provider of test systems for the pre-qualification, type and routine testing of subsea cables. Cable testing and certification will take place in 2023 and 2024, with the first cable lengths being produced in 2025 for deployment to client projects. The company has also ordered a new cable-laying vessel to be delivered in the first half of 2025.
Once fully operational, the facility “will support 900 jobs in the area, with thousands more in the wider supply chain.” XLCC notes that it will need 60 HVDC jointers for the facility, and it is working in partnership with Ayrshire College to increase the number of PEO (Performing Engineering Operations) courses available to prospective students across Ayr, Kilmarnock and Kilwinning campuses.
XLCC has already reported its first order: four 3,800 km long cables to connect solar and wind renewable power generation in the Sahara to the U.K. for the Xlinks Morocco-U.K. power project.
The CEO of XLCC is Simon Morrish, the founder and CEO of Ground Control and Levitate Capital. He was described as an experienced investor in businesses and projects related to the electrification of energy and transport, who previously worked for McKinsey & Co., and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
NEC Corporation has been selected to build a recently announced trans-Pacific subsea cable, JUNO, that will connect California in the U.S. with two sites in Japan.
A press release said that the system—approximately 10,000 km long—will be built by Seren Juno Network Co. (Seren), a company established by NTT Ltd. Japan Corporation; Mitsui & Co., Ltd.; PC Landing Corp.; and JA Mitsui Leasing, Ltd. It will land in Japan in the Chiba Prefecture, located on Japan’s eastern Pacific coast to the east of Tokyo, part of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the Mie Prefecture, within the Kansai region on Japan’s main island of Honshu.
Subsea cable has typically deployed a maximum of 16 fiber pairs, but using NEC’s newly developed energy efficient repeaters and its SDM (Space Division Multiplexing) technology, the system will be able to adapt as many as 20 fiber pairs for the first time in a trans-Pacific subsea fiber-optic cable. The cable is expected to provide a maximum capacity of 350 Tbps, the largest among any existing cable system between the U.S. and Japan.
“With the rapid growth of the global digital economy and an increasing demand for cloud solutions and lower latency, the undersea internet cable sector is quickly becoming more critical to global internet infrastructure,” said Takanobu Maeda, president and CEO of NTT Ltd. Japan Corporation. “This new subsea cable is the latest joint effort NTT has led in a long and proud history of providing reliable global internet infrastructure.”
The JUNO cable will support the strong demand for communications, including the spread of 5G across Asia and North America. By providing communication routes from two separate Japanese locations to the U.S., the system will be highly resilient to natural disasters in the coastal areas of Japan. The system is also designed to remotely alter the bandwidth of each route, enabling it to respond flexibly to customer business needs and changes.
NEC, a supplier of submarine cable systems for more than 50 years, notes that it has built more than 300,000 km of cable. It also makes and installs repeaters, does surveys and route designs, training and delivery testing. Its OCC Corporation subsidiary manufactures subsea optical cables able to be used at ocean depths beyond 8,000 meters.
Alcoa Corporation announced that it is supplying low-carbon EcoLum™ aluminum to Hellenic Cables S.A., one of the largest cable producers in Europe with key markets in renewable energy transmission and distribution.
A press release said that Hellenic Cables, the cables segment of Cenergy Holdings, operates five manufacturing plants across three countries and manufactures power, telecommunication, and submarine cables, and compounds. The EcoLum brand is part of Alcoa’s Sustana™ family of low-carbon products, the most comprehensive in the aluminum industry, and has a carbon footprint that is approximately 3.5 times better than the industry average.
“We are very proud to partner with Hellenic Cables and assist them in their stated mission to develop a sustainable energy future,” said Alcoa EVP and CCO Kelly Thomas. “We know that aluminum is a key material for a more sustainable future, and we are the company to deliver with responsible production from mine to metal, all backed by excellent quality and strong customer service.”
Produced at hydroelectric-powered aluminum smelters, EcoLum aluminum has no more than 4.0 metric tons of carbon emissions for every ton of metal produced, including both direct and indirect emissions (scope 1 and scope 2) across the entire production chain, including bauxite mining and alumina refining. Alexis Alexiou, CEO of Cenergy Holdings and Hellenic Cables, said that Hellenic Cables finds strong alignment with Alcoa’s strategic priority to advance sustainably. “We prioritize the urgency of deep and immediate mitigation actions, hence EcoLum minimizes our environmental impacts and enhances the value of our products.”
H.L. Blachford Ltd. announced that it has entered into a partnership agreement with Bellini Tecnologia Della Lubrificazione SpA, a lubricants and metal working fluids manufacturer based in Bergamo, Italy, to distribute their products in Canada and the USA.
A press release said that H.L. Blachford will now be able to offer their customers a wide variety of new products ranging from water-miscible coolants, neat cutting oils, forming and drawing lubricants to industrial lubricants, and more. “We are excited about this strategic alliance with Bellini,” said H.L. Blachford President Michael Cundari. “It expands our product offering, allows us to re-enter key metalworking markets, and brings a strong value proposition to our future customers.”
Cundari’s counterpart said that he has high hopes for the deal. “We enter this partnership with high expectations as Blachford is a technology based chemical manufacturer with whom we share a similar history and values such as reliability and dedication to technical customer satisfaction,” said Bellini SpA President Marco Bellini.
The Prysmian Group welcomed U.S. President Joe Biden on his July 21 visit to see the company’s new submarine power cables plant in Brayton Point, Massachusetts.
A press release said that the visit reflects Prysmian Group’s strategic vision and commitment to the sustainable energy transition. “We are very proud of welcoming President Biden; this visit highlights our role in supporting the energy transition in the U.S. market,” said Hakan Ozmen, EVP Projects Business Prysmian Group, who along with Andrea Pirondini, CEO Prysmian Group North America, welcomed President Biden.
The Brayton Point factory will manufacture innovative submarine inter-array and export cables up to 275 kV AC or 525 kV DC, that are needed to connect offshore wind farms to mainland power grids.
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