South Korea’s LS Cable announced that it has signed a framework contract with the U.K.’s National Grid for the future supply of HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current) cables, a massive project that will require multiple cable suppliers.

A press release explained that the framework contract was established to pre-select key suppliers before the commencement of individual projects and to create a long-term partnership. In addition to LS Cable, six other companies from Europe and Japan are involved. Specific contracts for other projects will be signed in the future.

The National Grid, which is responsible for managing Britain’s electricity network, has ambitious plans for large-scale transmission infrastructure in mainland Britain and the North Sea region. Over the next eight years, it plans to undertake cable supply and installation for 15 projects, allocating a budget of approximately £21.3 billion.

Through this contract, LS Cable will participate in upcoming projects, supplying and installing offshore and underground HVDC cables, as well as carrying out connection works. “Only six companies, including LS Cable, have experience supplying HVDC cables worldwide, making us the sole provider in South Korea,” said an official from LS Cable. “The current supply is insufficient to meet demand, prompting companies in various countries to proactively secure supply volumes.”

In other news, LS Cable announced that it and LS Marine Solutions have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with British marine engineering company Balmoral Comtec for collaboration on the floating offshore wind power project.

A press release said that Balmoral Comtec, a leading energy company, provides cable protection systems, buoyancy solutions, and submarine infrastructure for the offshore wind power and marine energy industries. LS Cable & System is the first in Korea to develop a dynamic cable for floating offshore wind power that operates stably even in harsh marine environments. “Under this partnership, we aim to collaborate with Balmoral Comtec to build a safe operation system for floating offshore wind power cables, optimized for extreme marine conditions.”

LS Marine Solutions Co. will support this collaboration by enhancing the installation and operational efficiency of the cables and ensuring stable maintenance.

Hellenic Cables, the cables segment of Cenergy Holdings, has signed a framework agreement with National Grid, that secures its position as one of the appointed contractors eligible to participate in future HVDC cable projects across the U.K. and Europe.

A press release said that the agreement will enable it—and Jan De Nul, a global offshore installation contractor it has formed a consortium with—to participate in upcoming tenders for call-off projects for the design, manufacturing, supply, installation, testing, and commissioning of HVDC cable systems as part of National Grid’s large-scale offshore and onshore transmission infrastructure investment program. This framework agreement, which has an initial term of five years with an option for extension of up to three additional years, is a key component of National Grid’s strategy to secure long-term partnerships that support deliverability for critical projects in the U.K.

The U.K. Government’s commitment to achieving Net Zero by 2050 has placed significant emphasis on expanding the country’s electricity infrastructure to integrate renewable energy sources, such as offshore wind. National Grid’s cable framework aims to support this transition, ensuring a robust and reliable energy network. This framework will play a crucial role in enhancing grid resilience, facilitating renewable energy integration, and ensuring energy security for the future.

The consortium will participate in potential future tenders for turnkey projects. Hellenic Cables is undergoing a strategic investment program to expand production capacity and enhance technological capabilities for its plants in facilities in Corinth and Thiva. 

Jan De Nul has invested in two cable-laying vessels that will make it possible for the consortium to meet the expected future needs stemming from the development of HVDC interconnector projects.

“This agreement strengthens our commitment to supporting the UK’s energy transition and offshore wind ambitions,” said Hellenic Cables General Manager Kostas Savvakis. “We are proud to be part of this critical framework, providing world-class HVDC cable solutions.”

Hexatronic reports that the company will start manufacturing its fiber-optic cables in the U.S., with plans calling for production lines to be commissioned at its plant in Clinton, South Carolina.

A press release said that the company will also commit to additional staff and training at the Clinton facility. The new production lines are expected to be commissioned in the second quarter of 2026. “This is an important signal to our U.S. customers,” said Martin Åberg, acting CEO of Hexatronic. “We see an increasing interest in Hexatronic’s solutions ... (and we) are setting up production to consolidate our position as a local producer more clearly. We expect this to further strengthen our position in fiber solutions for the U.S. market.”

Hexatronic, which employs approximately 1,900 people globally across some three dozen operational entities, entered the U.S. market in via its 2022/2023 $55 million acquisition of Rochester Cable from TE Connectivity Corporation. In 2023 it inaugurated the Clinton plant, and in South Carolina, during the first quarter of 2023, marking a significant step forward in its U.S. operations. It made high-density polyethylene (HDPE) conduit materials, and soon, the scope will include optical fiber cable there.

“Production in the U.S. has become increasingly important and something many customers are asking for,” said Brian Riley, CEO of Hexatronic US. “This investment represents that last strategic move for Hexatronic to be able to offer a full suite of U.S.- made ‘Build American – Buy American’ (BABA) certified products to customers.”

Plans for a new submarine cable plant announced by Egypt’s Elsewedy Electric represents not just a Middle East first for the cable manufacturer, it represents the initial investment in ambitious plans to make West Damietta Industrial City—located on the north coast of the Mediterranean Sea—“a regional industrial powerhouse.”

Per reports in multiple publications, including Daily News Egypt, The Middle East Observer and Arab Finance, Elsewedy Electric plans to invest $500 million in the proposed submarine cable plant. It will be the first such plant in the Middle East, and only the sixth such one in the world.

Among those at the signing ceremony with port and government officials were Mohamed El-Qamash, CEO of Infrastructure Investments at Elsewedy Electric, Ahmed Elsewedy, CEO and Managing Director of Elsewedy Electric, and Amr El-Sawaf, General Manager of Egytech Cables. This initiative is part of the government’s comprehensive plan, led by the Ministries of Industry and Transport, to improve infrastructure and upgrade ports, bolstering Egypt’s competitiveness.

The Elsewedy deal, described as the first major investment in the West Damietta Industrial City, will strengthen Egypt’s role as a regional hub for energy transmission and advanced industries by manufacturing submarine cables that connect continents. The design of the factory calls for it to include one of the world’s tallest submarine cable manufacturing towers, exceeding 180 meters in height. Of note, 100% of its output will be exported.

The West Damietta Industrial Zone is part of New Damietta, which was established in 1980 and hosts the industrial zone adjacent to Damietta Port, a strategic location for trade and logistics. The factory itself will span 500,000 sq m within a larger 6 million-sq-m integrated industrial and logistics zone. The West Damietta Industrial Zone is approximately 15 km west of Damietta City, near the New Damietta Port.

Beyond the cable plant, Elsewedy Electric, through its subsidiary ElSewedy Industrial Development, is leading the planning and infrastructure development of the entire zone. Mohamed El-Qamash, CEO of ElSewedy Industrial Development, described the project as a groundbreaking model for industrial zone development.

SubCom has been awarded the design, manufacture, and installation of the MANTA system, a new subsea telecom cable system that will connect Mexico and the U.S. with Central and Latin America.

A press release said that Sparkle, Gold Data and Liberty Networks are the partners behind MANTA, which plans to improve traffic flow in the region by providing high bandwidth, low-latency routes interconnecting major data hubs in Mexico City, Queretaro, Bogota, and Panama City with the U.S. using new landing access points in Veracruz, Mexico, and San Blas, Florida.

SubCom will manufacture the fiber optic cable and other optical components for the MANTA system at its campus in Newington, New Hampshire, using open cable specifications that support up to 22 Tb/s per fiber pair (FP). All three consortium partners will access the northern portion of MANTA, connecting the U.S. to Mexico, and Sparkle will join Liberty Networks on the southern portion, accessing Panama and Colombia. MANTA, which will be approximately 5,400 km in length, consists of an up to 18 FP repeatered trunk segment.

“SubCom is honored to supply and deploy MANTA, which will provide a new reliable and resilient data route to a region that is seeing consistent demand for improved connectivity,” said SubCom CEO David Coughlan. “We look forward to delivering on the vision of the partners and making MANTA a reality.”

The weather may not have been overly obliging, but the New England Chapter’s Feb. 6 annual meeting and dinner was thoroughly enjoyed by the WAI chapter members who gathered at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut.

The chapter welcomed its new president for 2025, Annaliese Sviokla, Gem Gravure, and thanked its 2024 president, Ryan Carbray, Alphagary, for a job well done. Also recognized were new board members David Roberge, Sjogren Industries Inc.; Sean Donnelly, Kinrei of America LLC; and Shawn Stavely, Gendon Polymer Services Inc.

Sviokla said that she was honored to head the chapter and pledged to carry on Carbray’s good work. She also thanked multiple people, including a friend and past chapter president, Lori Parent, and multiple Gem colleagues. That included President Paul Gemelli, who she said gave her every opportunity to succeed. “At our board meeting earlier today, it was joked that in the wire industry, when you’re in, you’re in. And after 17 years of wire and cable, I’m happy to say that’s fine with me because there’s truly no place I’d rather be.”

Carbray traced the highlights on 2024, which included the 30th Annual Golf Tournament, the largest to date with more than 160 golfers and attendees; the awarding of three college scholarships for $2,500 each; and the November tour of ACCEL International’s wire drawing plant in Cheshire, Connecticut; as well as last year’s annual meeting. “We owe a great deal of thanks to all of you who support these events. All the money raised directly supports the scholarship fund and allows us to continue providing these awards. Please give yourselves a round of applause,” he said.

The keynote speaker, Ramon Peralta of Peralta Design, proved to be remarkable. His discussion that covered multiple considerations of employee engagement was well received, as was the overall event. “Despite some snowy weather in Connecticut, the WAI NE Chapter Annual Meeting was a big success,” said Paul Gemelli. “I continue to be impressed with the quality of this annual event.  It was an excellent night of networking in a great venue with many industry leaders and professionals. Mr. Peralta’s presentation was very relevant and informative for me and my colleagues. Thanks to WAI for a terrific event!” 

Over the past 20 years, ACIMAF, IWMA and the WAI have produced numerous technical conferences throughout Europe. This time, they are being joined by Poland’s AGH University (AGH) to put on an event that will be held in Kraków, Poland, on Oct. 14, 2025.

The deadline for an abstract submission form is March 31, 2025. The form can be accessed online at BIT.LY/WAIABSTRACTS.

The Kraków location is most fitting as multiple members of WAI’s Poland Chapter have presented technical articles. A public university in Kraków, Poland, that was founded in 1913, AGH focuses on innovative technologies, and its research includes engineering disciplines, exact sciences, earth sciences and social sciences. Wire production is part of its scope.

WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll credits RichardApex’s Don Neville—who recently completed his term as chairman of U.K.-based International Wire Machinery Association (IWMA)—for encouraging a collaboration with AGH. That led to support from AGH Dean Tadeusz Knych, the 2015 winner of WAI’s Mordica Award and a long-time member of the WAI Poland Chapter, and Dr. Beata Smyrak, an AGH professor. “The group is working well together and of course, it is a pleasure to have a chance to work more closely with genuine supporters.”

Professor Jerzy Lis, the rector of AGH, is also supporting the one-day event that will see concurrent ferrous and electrical tracks as well as tabletops.

Attendees will be presented an in-depth view of the manufacturing advances in wire and cable research, operations and production. While some presentations have already been secured, the issued call for papers is for ferrous and nonferrous topics

On Feb. 10th, The Wire Association International (WAI) launched its new online training platform, the WAI Education Center, a resource designed to support the professional growth of the wire and cable industry.

The early reviews of this innovative platform that provides on-demand access to expert-instructed courses covering essential industry topics have all been positive. The series makes it easier than ever for professionals to expand their knowledge and enhance their skills at their own pace. From foundational principles to advanced technical concepts, WAI’s training platform is built to meet the evolving needs of the industry. New courses on various subjects will be regularly released throughout 2025.

Attendees at Interwire 2025 will have multiple opportunities to explore WAI’s new educational content and learn how it can benefit them individually or their company at large. Visit WAI’s Resource Center & Member Lounge on the show floor to see the platform in action, ask questions, and discover a solution for workforce development specific to wire and cable manufacturing.

Finally, if you are at Interwire, don’t miss the final conference session on Thursday from 1:30 to 2:00 pm in the WAI Theater, where WAI’s Manager of Education, John Markowski will present “Empowering Industry Growth: Unlocking the Potential of WAI’s Education Center and Training Platform.” This session won’t just highlight WAI’s new training content—it will also emphasize the importance of having a structured training program in place. Whether a company lacks an existing training program or needs more comprehensive materials, WAI can be a valuable resource for onboarding new employees and upskilling the current workforce through continuing education.

Join us at Interwire to see how WAI’s latest initiative is driving industry education forward and empowering

At Interwire 2025, the WAI will hold its required annual meeting on Wednesday, May 14. WAI President Eric Bieberich will preside, including a brief review of past and current activities.

The brief required meeting will also include the presentation of four Association awards: the Mordica Memorial Award, the Donnellan Memorial Award, the WAI President’s Award and the WAI Champion Award. For more details on these and other Association activity at Interwire, see the March preshow issue.

Southwire announced changes to its executive leadership team, including adding two new leadership positions. Juan Hernandez has been named Executive Vice President (EVP), Residential and Commercial Group. He joined the company in 1997, and most recently was senior vice president of infrastructure. He will join the executive leadership team. Veronica Braker will maintain her position on the executive leadership team with an expanded role as executive vice president, operations. She joined Southwire last year, leading strategic efforts such as environmental health and safety, quality, maintenance, lean, modernization and vertical integration. The company also named Rohan Kelkar as executive vice president, utility and industrial group. He most recently worked for Schneider Electric as EVP for its global Power Products business from 2021 until present. He previously spent more than 20 years at General Electric serving in executive roles. He will lead the utility and industrial groups as one unit while serving on the executive leadership team. Hernandez and Braker will formally assume their new roles on March 31. Based in Carrollton, Georgia, USA, Southwire is one of the world’s largest wire and cable manufacturers.

As part of a series of realignments, LAPP Group CEO Matthias Lapp will devote his full attention to his duties as CEO of LAPP Group, handing over his role as CEO of the important EMEA region (Europe, Middle East, Africa) to Michael Seddig as of April 1, 2025. Seddig has been responsible for purchasing, production and logistics in the region as COO EMEA at LAPP since July 2023. The family initiated the handover to the third generation in 2022, when Andreas Lapp and Siegbert E. Lapp withdrew from the LAPP Group’s operational business. Matthias Lapp took over as CEO from Andreas Lapp after 12 years with the company. Katharina Lapp succeeded Siegbert E. Lapp on the LAPP Group’s Supervisory Board. Since then, Matthias Lapp has fulfilled his role as CEO of the Group in addition to his EMEA role. Before joining LAPP, Seddig held global, customer-facing management positions at LEONI, a supplier of cable solutions and wiring systems for the automotive industry. In parallel, Andreas Lapp is stepping down as chairman of the Supervisory Board of the European parent company U.I. Lapp GmbH. He will be succeeded by his nephew Matthias Lapp, who will join as chairman of the Supervisory Board after stepping down from the EMEA management. Based in Stuttgart, Germany, LAPP manufactures a wide range of products for the wire and cable industry, with some 5,800 employees worldwide.

 Ahmet Kabaktepe has been named director of sales - north at Marmon Industrial Energy and Infrastructure. He previously served as vice president of sales & marketing for Sark Wire Corp., where he worked in multiple roles for more than 14 years. Prior to that he was a marketing specialist for Sarkuysan A.S. in Turkey. He holds a B.Sc. degree in metallurgical engineering from Yıldız Teknik Üniversitesi. A division of U.S.-based Marmon Electrical, Marmon Industrial Energy and Infrastructure produces electronic wire and cable products.

Johannes Weber was promoted from service account manager to service manager for Niehoff Endex North America. He has 25 years of field service experience with the Niehoff Group. He started his career in Germany and relocated in 2017 to the US. His last role was as service account manager. He replaces Rene Isael, who joined Niehoff in 1997 and has retired. Based in Swedesboro, New Jersey, Niehoff Endex North America is the U.S. business of Germany’s Maschinenfabrak Niehoff GmbH & Co.  KG, a leading manufacturer of nonferrous wire and cable machinery. 

David Devoe was recently named the new president/CEO of John Evans and Sons. He had previously worked for more than 30 years for Plymouth Spring, including serving as president there since 1994. He currently serves as the president of the New England Spring & Metalstamping Association (NESMA). Based in Lansdale, Pennsylvania, John Evans and Sons was founded in 1850. It was acquired by Lesjöfors, a Swedish spring manufacturer that is part of the  Beijer Alma Group.

Eland Cables announced two positions for its international team. Aaron Ellis was named head of key projects (EMEA). He most recently was at JDR Cables Systems, where he worked for 11 years, most recently as sales manager, renewables. His experience of large-scale installations will serve him well alongside his degree in engineering as he takes on an EMEA role covering key projects. Patrick Marx was named country manager for Germany and Austria. He has more than 20 years in the industry, including serving as director of sales for Central Europe. Still based in Germany, he will lead the company’s German-speaking European-based customer offerings. Based in London with its principal operations in Yorkshire, Eland Cables is a power, data, control and instrumentation cable supplier, primarily serving the energy infrastructure in Europe.

 
Obituary

Paul James Wagner, the chairman and CEO of Minnesota Wire, died Jan. 7, 2025, in Scottsdale, Arizona.

In 1985, Wagner joined the company founded by his father, Fred Wagner, in sales. At the time, the company specialized in computer cable. Over the years, Paul Wagner changed the company’s scope, focusing on wire for the medical industry in 1990. He became president in 1992 and CEO in 2000. In 2003, the company began providing wire for the defense industry, including for products such as PDAs, night vision goggles and headset communication systems as well as military vehicles. It later extended to space technology sectors.

Paul Wagner was seen as a CEO who identified as the average man. To him, everyone mattered. Under his leadership, he and his company received numerous recognitions. He was named a 2011 Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year® and a Distinguished Career Award winner by the Wire & Cable Manufacturers’ Alliance in 2020. Most recently, his company was named Business of the Year (2024) by the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce for its excellence in innovation, growth and community impact. He gave his time and talent to a multitude of organizations. He held a degree in business with an emphasis in management from the University of St. Thomas. He is survived by his wife, Cindy, daughters Lauren Kaniho and Kelsey Gustafson, and multiple grandchildren.