Global Highlights

Messe Düsseldorf says a special area of METAL & STEEL EGYPT will be held from Sept. 2-4, 2023. The four trade fairs GIFA Middle East Africa, METEC Middle East Africa, wire Middle East Africa, and Tube Middle East Africa will be held at the Egypt International Exhibition Center for the first time.

METAL & STEEL EGYPT, organized by AGEX (Arabian German Exhibitions & Publishing Ltd), has presented a wide range of machinery, equipment, and products from the steel and metal industries for the Near and Middle East since 2010. Visit www.wire-mea.com, www.tube-mea.com, www.gifa-mea. com or www.metec-mea.com.

Alloy Wire International (AWI) announced in January the completion of a management buyout. The company’s senior management team of Tom Mander, managing director, Andrew Du Plessis, technical director, and Adam Shaw, finance director, purchased the business from the former owners. The deal means all 33 members of staff have become shareholders in the business.

“This is another major milestone in the history of AWI and gives us the platform to capitalize on recent growth and massive export opportunities,” explained Mander.

In other news, the company announced the retirement of Bill Graham in November 2020 after a 50-year career with the company which included his role as chairman for the past nine years.

For further information on visiting or exhibiting at any of the above events, contact Messe Düsseldorf North America at 312-781-5180, email: info@mdna.com or visit www.mdna.com.

“When I joined the business in 1972, I never expected to still be involved 50 years later. Alloy Wire International gets you like that,” explained Graham.

Alloy Wire International recently promoted Tom Mander to managing director, replacing Mark Venables who now serves as chairman.

AWI manufactures round, flat and profile wire in 60 exotic alloys. For further information, please visit www. alloywire.com or follow @alloywire on Twitter.

SMI mourns the passing of Don Wharin, 88, who died peacefully at his home Nov. 25, 2022, in Oakville Ontario, Canada. Wharin joined his father Douglas at Bohne Spring Industries in Toronto, Ontario, in 1956. Together they purchased the business from the Bohne family, a legacy carried on by sons Chris and Jeff Wharin after their father’s retirement in 1993. Wharin was predeceased by his wife Carol in 2019 and is survived by five children, 13 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

While golfing was one of Wharin’s frequent pastimes, he also enjoyed traveling, spending six months each year in Sarasota, Florida, at the family cottage where he enjoyed time with his grandchildren. While active in the spring industry, Don and Carol Wharin frequently attended SMI conventions with Wharin often winning the golf tournaments. Wharin also served on the SMI board of directors for many years. n