Top Cable Companies

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LEWIRE ADING •CAJOURNAL BLE •COMPANIES •HNOATT•PI ROONDAULCT HOT •TOPIC •HOT •RIEG N ITOENR LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES HOT •TOPIC •HOT •REGION •HOT •PRODUCT LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES HOT •TOPIC •HOT •REGION •HOT •PRODUCT LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES HOT •TOPIC •HOT •REGION •HOT •PRODUCT LEADING •CABTLEO•PCOCMAPBALNEIES HOT •TOPIC •HOT •RC EGOIOM N •PHOATN•PIREOSDUCT LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES HOT •TOPIC •HOT •REGION •HOT •PRODUCT LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES HOT •TOPIC •HOT •REGION •HOT •PRODUCT LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES HOT •TOPIC •HOT •REGION •HOT •PRODUCT LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES HOT •TOPIC •HOT •REGION •HOT •PRODUCT LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES JANUARY 2007

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WIRE JOURNAL

®

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

Volume 40 Number 1 January 2007

C ONTENTS

FEATURES

48 IWCS/Focus wrapup

11

IWCS/Focus reported that attendance was good for its 2006 event held in Providence, where attendees found a strong technical program and tabletop exhibits.

51 Top cable companies This feature, based on information provided by U.K.’s Integer Research, provides a snapshot of the world’s top cable companies, and more.

84 2006 WJI article index

TECHNICAL

PAPERS

A compilation of all the news items that ran in the WJI during 2006.

96 Development of B-Nb microalloyed medium carbon steels with high ductility for severe wiredrawing

101 Estimation of quality of copper coatings on low carbon steel wires Wieslaw Waszkielewicz, Bogdan Golis, Ryszard Budzik, Jan W. Pilarczyk and Zbigniew Muskalski— An equation has been developed that can predict, for some instances, the thickness of a copper coating, post wiredrawing, for wires.

Mario Confente, André Lefort and Michael Klemm—This process has been shown to improve the ductility of the input material by tying up nitrogen and refining the microstructure.

42

106 Computer-aided tool design and simulation of the wire rolling process Stefan Freitag, Albert Sedlmaier and Stefan Ruess— Advanced software addresses factors from developing the individual forming stages to simulation of generated tools for a more complete understanding of the rolling process. (continued)

Cover: This feature, based on excerpts from a report and other information from U.K.-based Integer Research, presents profiles of the world’s top cable companies and commentary on a range of industry topics.

JANUARY 2007 3

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10 Industry News Sonoco to close Yuba reel facility, Bekaert to make $23 million investment in plant, Belden to close two plants, and more

DEPARTMENTS

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26 Asian Focus Wire India draws 4,500 attendees, report on four-day combination of events in Jamshedpur, and more

34 Fiber Watch Nextrom delivers fiber draw tower, and more

36 Fastener Update TRW Automotive has official plant opening in China, MW Industries acquired by management/equity firm

38 Chapter Corner New England Chapter meeting set for Jan. 18, Poland Chapter updates program for Zakopane

42 WAI News WAI 2007 report to members, new officers, new Fundamentals of Wire course to be held at Interwire 2007 and more

4 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

WIRE JOURNAL

ÂŽ

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

6 Editorial 8 Calendar 30 People 110 Products 115 Media 117 Classified 117 Career Opportunities 120 Advertisers’ Index

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WIRE JOURNAL

INTERNATIONAL

Editorial

Publisher Steven J. Fetteroll Editor-in-Chief Mark Marselli

Flattened but innovative is a good combination

Senior Graphic Designer Bill Branch

The last several years have been exciting for our association and the industry as a whole. It doesn’t seem that long ago that we were looking at the global marketplace and dreaming of the possibilities and opportunities. There were some doubters and many questions, but the “future stuff” talk has become reality.

As Tom Friedman said in The World is Flat, “You can flourish in this flat world, but it does take the right imagination and the right motivation.” The wire and cable industry has been an active participant in the global scene, with numerous joint ventures, acquisitions, strategic locations and more.

Just as the industry has not remained static, neither has the WAI. The Association recently established an office in India and saw the creation of its third international chapter, this one in Italy. Both actions serve notice that the WAI is responding to opportunity, that it is committed to helping connect the industry it serves to facilitate its advancement around the globe.

The exchange of information that leads to quality advances, safety improvements and higher drawing speeds, can be dizzying, but this activity is good for the industry. Availability of information is more important than ever, a driver for the WAI’s programs, and we plan to make the case during this year for why it is that companies should choose to share information. Sharing leads to innovation. I have seen many segments of the industry during my 30+ year career and the one thing that successful companies have in common is that they are innovators.

I’m thrilled to serve as president of WAI for 2007, a year that will see Interwire’s debut in Cleveland; our India office complete its first year of operation; and several technical events put on around the world through the efforts of many WAI volunteers, supported by the staff. I have always been proud to be a member of WAI, but now more than ever as we go forward, trying to be even more innovative during this period of “interesting times.”

Director of Sales Robert Xeller

Thomas E. Moran WAI President

6 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Advertising Sales Anna Bzowski Director of Marketing Services Janice E. Swindells Circulation Manager Jan Valois Publications Advisory Board Kurt Breischaft - Belden/CDT (Chairman) Dane Armendariz - Henkel Surface Technologies, USA (Executive Committee Liaison) Antonio Ayala - J.J. Lowe, Mexico Ferruccio Bellina -TKT Group/President ACIMAF, Italy Anand Bhagwat - Wire and Cable Services, India Rick Kristensen - Beta LaserMike, USA Don Schollin - Q-S Technologies, USA Ken Scott - UK Ralph Skalleberg - Skaltek USA Dave Stackpole - Nutmeg Wire, USA Giulio Properzi - Continuus Properzi, Italy Robert Wild - Niehoff Endex North America, USA WAI Executive Committee Liaison Dane Armendariz Henkel Surface Technologies Technical Advisors John Drummond - Scotia Group Nate Rosebrooks - Fluid Coating Technology R. M. Shemenski - RMS Consulting, Inc.

WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL (ISSN-0277-4275) is published monthly by the Wire Journal, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of The Wire Association International, Inc. Address all correspondence concerning advertising production, editorial and circulation to Wire Journal International, 1570 Boston Post Road, P.O. Box 578, Guilford, CT 06437-0578, USA. Tel: 203-453-2777; fax: 203-453-8384; web site: wirenet.org; e-mail mmarselli@wirenet.org. Printed in USA. Subscription rates: $95 per year, USA; $105 per year, Canada and Mexico; other countries, $125 per year (includes air mail). Single copies: $6 in the U.S.; all other countries $7. Periodicals postage paid at Guilford, CT 06437, USA, and at additional offices.

Wire Journal International grants photocopy permission to libraries and others registered with Copyright Clearance Center (CCC), 21 Congress St., Salem, MA 01970, USA, for a fee of $0.50 per article.

Payments should be sent directly to the CCC. Requests for bulk orders or reprints should be sent to the Wire Journal International, P.O. Box 578, Guilford, CT 06437-0578, USA. © 2007 by Wire Journal, Inc. All rights reserved. The Publisher of Wire Journal International assumes no responsibility for the validity of manufacturers’ claims made herein. Back issues of Wire Journal International are on microfilm and available from University Microfilm, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, USA. Phone: 313-761-4700.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Wire Journal International, P.O. Box 578, Guilford, CT 06437-0578, USA.

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World Calendar April 18-20, 2007: 7th Wire & Cable Expo International Exhibition & Conference New Delhi, India. Contact: Sameer Nair, Intech Trade Fairs Pvt., tel. 91-22- 26861040; fax 91-22-26863716; e-mail intech@bom5.vsnl.net.in; Internet www.intechtradefairs.com.

May 5-10, 2007: Interwire 2007 Cleveland, Ohio, USA. To be held at the International Exposition Center (I-X Center), Interwire incorporates: Interwire Trade Exposition, the technical program and the WAI’s 77th Annual Convention. It addresses both ferrous and nonferrous manufacturing, and electrical/data/voice segments as well as wire forming and related wire and wire products. For more details, go to www.wirenet.org.

May 5-10, 2007: International Fastener Exposition Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Co-locating with Interwire 2007 at the I-X Center, IFE is put on by the International Fastener Machinery Suppliers Association (IFMSA). Contact: Ray Zirkle, IFMSA, tel. 800-688-1698; fax 203-743-4810; e-mail rzirkle@bsales.com.

May 23-24, 2007: National Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo Hartland, Wisconsin, USA. To be held at the Midwest Airlines Center, Hall A. Contact: Cheryl Luck, Expo Productions Inc., tel. 262-367-5500 or 800-367-552; fax 262367-9956; e-mail cherylluck@sbcglobal.netInternet; Internet www.expoproductionsinc.com./wireshowinfo.htm.

May 28-31, 2007: Wire Russia 2007 Moscow, Russia. To be held at the Expo Centre Krasnya.

Contact: Messe Düsseldorf North America, tel. 312-7815180; fax 312-781-5188; e-mail mail: info@mdna.com Internet www.mdna.com.

June 25-28, 2007: FASTENER TECH™ ’07 Rosemont, Illinois, USA. To be held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. Contact: www.fastenertech.com and www.mwfa.net.

June 24-28, 2007: JICABLE 2007 Versailles, France. To be held at the Palais des Congres, JICABLE is an international conference and exhibition on LV, MV, HV and EHV (extra high voltage) cables. The event is held every four years. For more details, go to www.jicable.org.

October 16-18, 2007: wire Southeast ASIA 2007 Bangkok, Thailand. This event at the BITEC exhibition centre, formerly known as wire Singapore, is organized by Messe Düsseldorf Asia Pte Ltd. Singapore. Contact: Messe Düsseldorf North America, tel. 312-781-5180; fax 312-7815188; e-mail info@mdna.com; Internet www.mdna.com.

October 17, 2007: Non-Ferrous Bangkok Bangkok, Thailand. This seminar on the latest developments in nonferrous wire and tube technology is jointly organized by the Int’l Wire & Machinery Assn./Int’l Tube Assn. during wire Southeast Asia, BITEC exhibition centre. www.iwma.org.

October 24-31, 2007: K 2007, the 17th international Trade Fair Plastics and Rubber Düsseldorf, Germany. K 2007 will be held at the Düsseldorf fairgrounds, Halls 1-17. This event for plastic and rubber industries is organized by Messe Düsseldorf GmbH. Contact: Messe Düsseldorf North America, tel. 312-781-5180; e-mail info@mdna.com.

November 5-7, 2007: Wire 07 Bolgna Bolgna, Italy. This technical conference is organized by multiple industry organizations. Contact: WAI, tel. 001-203-4532777, ext. 133; Internet www.wirenet.org.

WIRE ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL EVENTS For more information, contact the WAI, USA. Tel. 203-453-2777; fax 203-453-8384; Internet www.wirenet.org.

January 18, 2007: New England Chapter 13th Annual Meeting Uncasville, Connecticut, USA. The New England Chapter will return to the Mohegan Sun for its annual meeting. Along with the chapter’s annual report and introduction of the 2007 officers and directors, attendees will be entertained by hypnotist Dan LaRosa.

Contact WAI’s Chip Marsh at cmarsh@wirenet.org.

8 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

March 1-3, 2007: Modern technologies and modelling of manufacturing processes of wires and wire products Zakopane, Poland. Organized by the Poland Chapter and the Czêstochowska University of Technology, this event will include tech sessions, tabletop exhibits, banquet and more.

For more, go to www.konferencja.mim.pcz.czest.pl (in Polish/English) or e-mail Jan Pilarczyk at pilar@mim. pcz.czest.pl, tel. 48-34-3-250-785; fax 48-34-3-250-714.

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November 11 to 14, 2007: 56th IWCS/Focus™ Conference and Symposium Orlando, Florida, USA. Contact: IWCS/Focus, Internet www. iwcs.org; e-mail admin@iwcs.org; tel. 732-389-0990.

March 31-April 4, 2008: wire Düsseldorf Düsseldorf, Germany. To be held at the Messe fairgrounds.

Contact: Messe Düsseldorf North America, tel. 312-781-5180; e-mail info@mdna.com.

June 7-11, 2008: Wire Expo 2008 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. To be held at the Pittsburgh Convention Center, this event incorporates: the Wire Expo trade exposition, the technical program and the WAI’s 78th Annual Convention. The event addresses ferrous and nonferrous manufacturing, and electrical, data and voice segments as well as wire forming and related wire and wire products.

October 15-17, 2008: Spring World 2008 Rosemont, Illinois, USA. To be held at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, this event is sponsored by the Chicago Association of Spring Manufacturers (CASMI). Contact: Tom Renk, tel. 847-433-1335; fax 847-433-3769; e-mail info@casmi.org; Internet www.casmi.org. ■

WIRE ASSOCIATION INT’L EVENTS

(cont’d.)

May 5-10, 2007: Interwire 2007 Cleveland, Ohio, USA. To be held at the International Exposition Center (I-X Center), Interwire incorporates: Interwire Trade Exposition, the technical program and the WAI’s 77th Annual Convention. It addresses both ferrous and nonferrous manufacturing, and electrical/data/voice segments as well as wire forming and related wire and wire products. For more details, go to www.wirenet.org.

November 5-7, 2007: Wire 07 Bologna Bolgna, Italy. This technical conference is organized by the Associazione Costruttori Italiani Macchine Per Filo (ACIMAF); The International Wire and Machinery Association (IWMA); Comité Européen de la Tréfilerie (CET); and the WAI. Contact: WAI, tel. 001-203-453-2777, ext. 133; Internet www.wirenet.org.

June 7-11, 2008: Wire Expo 2008 Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. To be held at the Pittsburgh Convention Center, this event incorporates: the Wire Expo trade exposition, the technical program and the WAI’s 78th Annual Convention. The event addresses ferrous and nonferrous manufacturing, and electrical, data and voice segments as well as wire forming and related wire and wire products.

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Industry News Sonoco to close, relocate Yuba City reel facility U.S.-based Sonoco, a manufacturer of wire and cable reels, announced that effective December 31, it will have closed its Sonoco Baker facility in Yuba City, California, relocating the operation to Oakland, Oregon.

The facility manufactured wood cable reels, and the work that was done by the 19 employees there will be moved to the new Oakland site, which itself will be combined with an existing Sonoco facility that assembles and recycles wooden reels for the wire and cable industry, a press release said.

Sonoco currently employs eight workers at

the Oakland facility and about 17 new hires will be required following the relocation of operations, it said.

“The decision to relocate the facility was necessary to better serve our West Coast customer base,” said Randy Lusk, general manager, Baker division.

Sonoco’s Baker division is a leading producer of wooden, composite and metal reels in North America for the wire and cable industry. The business operates five manufacturing facilities in the U.S., 30 distribution centers and nine recycling centers in the U.S. and Canada.

Phelps Dodge acquisition likely by end 1st quarter Barring an unexpected regulatory snag, the acquisition of Phelps Dodge by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. should be complete by the end of the first quarter, a company spokesman said.

FCX bid approximately $25.9 billion in cash and stock to acquire Phelps Dodge, a deal that a press release noted would create “the world’s largest publicly traded copper company.” The deal focus is decidedly mining as the combination of FCX and Phelps Dodge will result in the largest North American-based mining company.

There was little mention to be found in news reports of the copper rod and cable business, but Phelps Dodge spokesman Peter Faur said that “no conclusions should

be drawn from that.” At this time, there are no definitive plans to announce regarding intentions for its Phelps Dodge Wire and Cable business, he said. PDWC manufactures wire and cable products in North and South America, as well as Asia. However, the company has moved in recent years to divest portions of that business.

In 2005, Phelps Dodge sold its North American magnet wire assets to Rea Magnet Wire Company, Inc., which included manufacturing facilities, property and equipment at Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Monterrey, Mexico. In 2006, Phelps Dodge sold its Phelps Dodge High Performance Conductors business to International Wire Group (IWG).

Windy City Wire plans expansion in Bolingbrook U.S.-based Windy City Wire, a manufacturer of low-voltage wire and cable, announced that it plans to expand its staff and training facilities at its new headquarters in Bolingbrook, Illinois.

The company plans to hire five to ten new sales professionals to be staffed at the headquarters for the new year, a press release said. Although it is headquartered outside of Chicago, the staff expansion this year is expected as well to take place at the

other three locations: Tempe, Arizona; Secaucus, New Jersey; and Los Angeles, California, it said. The company notes that its new facility encompasses 115,000 sq ft, including a training room for new hires and customers.

The company’s flagship product is “SmartWire™,” a low-voltage wire and cable product that it said has the qualities of a tape measure, tester, toner and a label maker.

Belden reports plans to close 2 of its plants Belden reported that it plans to close two plants, one in the U.S. and the other in Canada, eliminating 325 positions as part of its reorganization.

The company said it would stop production at the plants in Quebec and Illinois by mid 2007, with production transferred to other facilities that will take up the production activities of both plants, which were closed to reduce selling, general and administrative expenses.

Earlier this year, Belden said that it planned to close facilities in South Carolina and Kentucky, which employed 315 people in total, and said that it would transfer production to a new plant under construction in Mexico by mid 2007.

Dow Chemical to sell interest in VAM plant U.S.-based Dow Chemical Company announced that it plans to sell its interest in the vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) manufacturing facility at Cabo (State of Pernambuco), Brazil, to the JB Group, located in Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil. The price was not disclosed.

VAM is a key ingredient in emulsion polymers, resins, and intermediates used in wire and cable polyethylene compounds, among other products.

“The decision to divest our interests in this plant is aligned with our ongoing drive to improve Dow’s global competitiveness,” said Philippe Raynaud de Fitte, Business Vice President, Chlor-Vinyl and VAM. “Operations at the Cabo facility do not fit with Dow’s model of integrated production--where raw material supply, manufacturing facilities and downstream derivative demand are all accessible and provide competitive advantage. The plant will have more opportunity for long-term economic improvements in the hands of JB Group,” the release said

Does your company have news that belongs here? E-mail it to the WJI at editorial@wirenet.org.

10 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

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Niehoff Open House draws 50 attendees The Open House at Niehoff Endex North America (NENA) proved to be a good event, with some 50 attendees representing two dozen manufacturers visiting the machinery supplier’s facility in Swedesboro, New Jersey, USA, over a three-day period.

Niehoff holds its Open House in the U.S. every two years, a tradition that goes back to when the facility first opened to the public in 1985. The event, explained NENA Executive Vice President Robert Wild, showcases the facility and its latest equipment.

“This also helps our customers and guests learn more about the organization and meet the people they normally do not get a chance to talk with at wire shows,” Wild said. The casual background, he added, makes for a good atmosphere. Attendees this year came from 23 manufacturers from the U.S., Canada and

Niehoff officials with customers at their recent Open House.

From l-r (in suits and ties) are NENA Ex. V.P. Robert Wild, Niehoff GmbH President Heinz Rockenhaeuser and Niehoff GmbH Vice President of Sales and Marketing Bernd Lohmueller. With them are Carl Calabrese, Industrial Wire & Cable, and Doug Glore, Southwire Company..

Mexico in addition to representatives from accessory suppliers for industry staples such as dies, lubricants, spools, payoffs and more.

Present were five OEM partners: Chris Hauer, HOWAR Equipment (spools); John Downey and Alan Sidney, Fort Wayne Wire Die, Inc. (drawing dies); Tom Whitcombe and Paul Berger, Baum’s Castorine (drawing lubricants); Michael Waterman, RTD (payoffs and baskets); and Bob Calliham, Andy Setzer and Robert McEllen, CommScope Bi-metals (CCA wire).

The event, which normally includes equipment presentations, had a slightly different format this year, the company noted. “We had a specific interest in a new trend in the industry related to copper clad aluminum (CCA) and decided to revolve the Open House about aluminum and copper clad aluminum.” Two presentations were made: Janusz Sekunda, Alcan Cable, “Important Factors in Aluminum Wire Drawing,” and Bob Calliham, CommScope Bi-metals, “Copper Clad Aluminum (CCA) Benefits and Material Processing (wire and bunching).”

Some of the displayed machines had been “wired or fired up” so attendees could experience production conditions. “Questions and ideas were raised and will give Niehoff justification in its R&D planning,” Wild said. “In short, it was a good opportunity for us to hear what our customers want to tell us,and customers showed interest for the different topics discussed.”

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Russian’s Evraz Group S.A. bids U.S. $2.3 billion for Oregon Steel Russia’s Evraz Group S.A. made a US$2.3 billion bid to buy Oregon Steel Mills, a tender offer that was scheduled to expire Dec. 28 (after press time).

If the bid from Evraz wins, it will represent the largest Russian takeover of a US company.

Evraz is a steel and mining business with operations mainly in Russia. In 2005, it was listed as the world’s 13th largest steel producer, with production of 13.9 million metric tons. An Associated Press report said that the combined Evraz-Oregon Steel business will produce more than 16.8 mil-

lion metric tons of crude steel a year and will have more than 17.4 million tons of steel shipments in 2006.

The release also noted that billionaire tycoon Roman Abramovich holds a 41 percent share in Evraz. A wire report said that could result in scrutiny by a U.S. government panel that reviews foreign deals as to whether Abramovich is acting with the backing of the Russian government. It noted that Abramovich is believed to be close to Vladimir Putin, Russian president.

The report said that questions regarding the relationships may not ultimately matter

as steel “is not considered a particularly sensitive asset.”

Based in Portland, Oregon, Oregon Steel Mills has two divisions. Its Rocky Mountain Steel Mills division produces high-carbon rod products, such as those used for spring wire, wire rope, and tire bead; standard carbon and head-hardened rail; and seamless pipes. The Oregon Steel division offers specialty steel and coiled plates, commodity steel and coiled plates, large diameter line pipes, electric resistance welded pipes and casings, and structural tubing.

Bekaert reports that it plans to make a major investment in Belgium plant Bekaert announced that it will make an investment of approximately US$23.75 million in its manufacturing facility for advanced wire products in Zwevegem (Belgium).

The company is streamlining its activities in fiber technologies and will expand its production capacity to further strengthen its market leadership, a press release said. The

12 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

expansion will not result in new positions but the company expects to hire modestly for other manufacturing areas, it said.

Bekaert notes that it is able to process wire rod from stainless steel into ultra thin metal fibers that can be as fine as 1/50th of a human hair. The ultra thin metal fibers, it said, are then processed into all kinds of specialized applications in textiles, filtration

and conductive plastics.

“With this investment in Zwevegem we will pursue our sustainable profitable growth in applications based on stainless steel wires, and thus better serve our customers in these rapidly growing markets,” said Bekaert’s Henri-Jean Velge, Group Executive Vice President.

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2:04 PM

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Morgan Construction sells 6th mill to Zhangjiagang Shajing Steel Co. U.S.-based Morgan Construction Company reported that it has won a contract to supply a high speed wire rod mill outlet, a contract that represents its sixth mill order from the Zhangjiagang Shajing Steel Company, Ltd., located in Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu Province, China.

This single-strand high speed wire rod outlet will allow Zhangjiagang to produce approximately one million tons per year of 8 mm to16 mm plain rod using a 100 percent rolling rate of 166 tons per hour and a guaranteed speed of 105 meters per second, a press release said.

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14 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

®

Manufacturing is underway at Morgan’s facilities in Worcester and in Shanghai, China, for the project, which includes a 2-stand 300 Horizontal/ Vertical Pre-Finishing Mill, 2-stand Vee Pre-Finishing Mill, water cooling nozzles, guides, 8-stand Vee No-Twist Mill®, pinch roll and laying head, the release said. Morgan will also do the engineering design for all equipment from the exit of the intermediate mill to the exit of the reform station, it said.

The rod outlet, it said, is scheduled to be commissioned in the second half of 2007.

“Zhangjiagang’s continued use of Morgan’s technology and service for each of their six mills is a clear recognition of the superior performance and reliability of a Morgan mill,” said Dave Pariseau, Vice President of Corporate Projects.

IEWC completes buy of Colonial Wire & Cable U.S.-based Industrial Electric Wire and Cable (IEWC) announced that it has completed its acquisition of Colonial Wire & Cable Inc., a distributor of wire and cable based in Sterling, Massachusetts, USA. Colonial, an ISO 9001:2000 certified distributor of wire, cable and tubing products, focuses primarily on military, aerospace and commercial applications, a press release said. It noted that Colonial has strong partnerships with customers and suppliers alike and that plans call for Colonial President J.R. Dubovick to serve as general manager of the Colonial MIL/AERO Business Unit. It added that the business will continue to operate under the Colonial Wire name at its Sterling location.

“Our decision to unite with Colonial Wire & Cable signals Industrial Electric’s strong commitment to expand its service offering globally into both the military and commercial Aerospace markets,” said IEWC President David Nestingen. “We believe our customers and our suppliers will find favor in the ‘solution focus’ of our combined companies.”

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Brazilian company raises the bid for Corus Steel, further bids a possibility At press time, the vying continued for the Corus Group, a Dutch-based steelmaker that had previously approved a US$8 billion bid from Tata Steel but has now welcomed a higher bid from a Brazilian company, with more activity a possibility.

Tata Steel of India had raised its original prior bid by 10 per cent but Brazil’s Companhia Siderurgica Nacional submitted an ever larger bid,

US$9.18 billion in cash and assumed debt, a wire story noted. It said that there could be further bids, including from other potential suitors.

Corus Group, created through the merger of Dutch firm Hoogovens and British Steel in 1999, has a wide product range that includes wire rod for applications from tire cord and springs to household nails and bolts and screws. It has manufacturing opera-

tions in many countries with major plants located in the U.K., The Netherlands, Germany, France, Norway and Belgium. The company produced around 18 million metric tons of crude steel in 2005, which represented approximately 10% of total EU production and positioned the company as the ninth largest steel producer in the world and the second largest producer in Europe.

Davis-Standard sells 500th dual reel take-up; first one still in operation U.S.-based Davis-Standard’s wire and cable business group reported a recent milestone with the sale of its 500th dual reel take-up.

The “Clipper” style machine was sold to American Bare Conductor and will be used for processing THHN building wire, a press release said. It noted that the model has been a mainstay in the company’s wire and cable product line due to its durable design,

economical pricing and ability to provide automatic transfer capability from full reel to empty reel without stopping or slowing down a line.

“This take-up has been around for over 20 years and has proven itself both in safety and reliability,” said John Zachow, Business Director of Davis-Standard’s wire and cable business group. “It is a very efficient machine and has performed exception-

ally well for customers. We look forward to selling the next 500.”

The company notes that the first dual-reel take-up of this kind, sold in 1983 to Hi-Temp Wire and now owned

by General Cable, continues to run 24 hours a day, six days a week at the company’s manufacturing facility in Franklin, Massachusetts.

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PolyOne acquisition to result in its 4th manufacturing site in China U.S.-based PolyOne Corporation announced that it has agreed to acquire the assets and operations of Ngai Hing PlastChem Company Ltd., the vinyl compounding subsidiary of Ngai Hing Hong Company Limited.

“Positioning PolyOne to capture growth within Asia is one of our core strategies,”

said PolyOne President and CEO Stephen D. Newlin. “This acquisition will allow us to bring manufacturing for one of our primary businesses, vinyl compounds, to China and help to accelerate our business growth there.”

A press release said that the transaction includes the transfer of a manufacturing

Equipment from Meltech used by Wintwire U.K.-based Meltech Engineering reported that Wintwire Ltd. has been able to boost its stainless steel wire production at its Sheffield facility following the installation of a Meltech furnace and take-up equipment.

A press release said that Wintwire had previously subcontracted strand annealing, but with increasing customer demand it chose to bring strand annealing in-house,

which it did via a furnace from Meltech.

The Meltech furnace operates at up to 1,100°C, with high specification thermal insulation and rapid heating that allow the furnace to reach operating temperature in less than 20 minutes, the release said. “This combined with accurate temperature control along the length of the furnace will enable Wintwire to exceed its customer’s quality expectations,” it said.

Itasca Automation buys assets of GS Automation U.S.-based Itasca Automation Systems, LLC, (IAS) reports that it has purchased the assets of GS-Automation (GSA), a precision-engineering coil winding and machine automation company based in Geneva, Switzerland.

IAS President Charles Brumder said that the purchased assets include all of the engineering for all coil winding machines, fine wire winding machines, and automation equipment manufactured by GSA and Sarcem. The deal also includes the patent

for thermo-compression bonding heads used in the bonding of fine wire to chips and other miniature electronic components, he said, adding that applications for this process will include medical devices, miniaturized electronics, and Radio Frequency Identification Devices (RFID).

IAS supplies programmable/automated single spindle and multi-spindle coil winding machines and related equipment for the coil winding industry and coil winding automation.

Ebner furnace scheduled to start up this summer A HICON®/N2 bell annealer facility ordered from Ebner by a Netherlands company, Ovako Wire, Alblasserdam, will enable the company to meet ambitious plans to extend its capacities in the production of ball bearing grade steel wire,and include an increase in throughput to a total of 150,000 t/year, the Austrian furnace supplier reported.

Ebner Industrieofenbau noted that Ovako Wire, which produces grade 100Cr6 wire in various degrees of hardness, plans to expand in three stages, each amounting to 50,000 t. The company chose Ebner’s jumbo bell annealer technology during the Wire trade show at the 2006 Düsseldorf show. “This type of HICON®/N2 bell 16 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

annealer facility is currently the largest worldwide with a clear inside diameter of 4,850 mm and a charging height of 5,400 mm,” it noted. Each workbase, it said, accommodates a total of 48 wire coils (dia.

1,300 mm), which are charged in two layers and have a net weight of 58 t.

The scope of supply for the first phase includes two gas-fired heating bells, three HICON®/N2 workbases with valve stands, three inner covers, one cooling bell, a coil tipper, hydraulic power unit, pressure reducing system for nitrogen and hydrogen and the complete control center with COS, it said, adding that the bell annealer facility is scheduled to start production this July.

facility in Dongguan, a city in the Guangdong province of South China. This plant, it said, will be PolyOne’s fourth manufacturing site in China. The others, it noted, make products for its Engineered Materials, Color and Additives, and Polymer Coating Systems businesses.

Danieli awarded job to upgrade India mill Mukand Ltd, a leading stainless steel producer in India, has awarded Italy’s Danieli Morgårdshammar a contract for a plant upgrade.

A press release from Danieli said that the upgraded mill will produce 5.5 to15-mmwire rod, 15 to 35-mm-dia coiled bars (in up to 1.5-t coils), and 20 to 45-mm-dia straight bars in low to high carbon, free cutting, low alloy, SBQ and spring steel qualities, plus ferritic, austenitic, and martensitic stainless steels at rates of up to 55 tph.

The delivery will include a new 930-mm housingless-type reversing shiftable rougher with associated front/back tables, plus rolling mill miscellaneous auxiliary parts, the release said.

The new bar-in-coil line will consist of two garret coilers, coil-handling device, tank for in-line quench annealing of stainless steels, and a walking beam conveyor with fans for fast cooling. The bar line includes a new dividing shear, cooling bed, cold shear and a dedicated Sund Birsta bar handling plant.

Modifications to the wire rod line will include new pre-cooling water boxes before the finishing block, new water cooling line, laying head, extension of the controlled-cooling conveyor, and a new reforming station with ring distributor to obtain optimum coil density.

One single Sund Birsta coil handling plant will serve both the wire rod and the garret line. Startup of the upgraded plant is foreseen by the first quarter of 2007, the release said.

The upgrade, the release said, will result in improving Mukand Ltd.’s ability to achieve higher production capacity and offers a wider product range in terms of size and steel grades.

(Industry News continued on p. 22)

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Representative USA — Canada Cable Consultants Corporation 7 Woodland Avenue — Larchmont, New York 10538 — Ph: 914-834-8865 — Fax: 914-834-8903 — E-mail: info@cableconsultantscorp.com — www.cableconsultantscorp.com website North Carolina Office: 325 Queens Road, Apt. 7 — Charlotte, North Carolina 28204-3256 — Ph: 704-375-9313 — Fax: 704-375-9321 — E-mail: Fhardy@cableconsultantscorp.com

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12/5/2006

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A body in motion stays in motion.

And for Interwire 2007—the largest and longest running wire and cable marketplace in the Americas—a surge of activity surrounds its strategic move to the I-X Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, May 5-10, 2007, to access a new industry hub.

• • ••

Everything at Interwire 2007 is designed to move you forward in your industry and to accelerate your career. Exhibits. New business forums.

New contacts. Tech talk. Hot topics.

Everything revolves around the current best practices in the global wire and cable industry.

We’ve added a new format as well as the colocation of the International Fastener Exposition to keep things moving.

PRESENTS: “WIRE

Kurt Breischaft Plant Manager Belden Nogales, Sonora, Mexico

Nothing stands still. Why should you?

Join the momentum that has thousands moving in the direction of Cleveland for Interwire 2007.

”

•••• Organized By:

Look for program specifics in future issues of WJI, online at: www.wirenet.org, or call The Wire Association International at: (001) 203-453-2777 for details.

Interwire 2007. I-X Center Cleveland. Your move!

I-X Center Cleveland, Ohio, USA May 5-10, 2007

••••

The Wire Association International, Inc.

Supporting Sponsors: Society of Plastics Engineers

MOTION”

Interwire 2007 is the only place in the Americas to meet with the most influential industry professionals in the world who travel from more than 50 countries to participate.

“

I attend Interwire because it is the most efficient way to find answers to technical questions, learn about industry trends and meet with colleagues, customers, and suppliers. Interwire is truly the most important industry show in the Americas.

IN

Educational Alliances: AUSTRALASIAN WIRE INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

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Interwire 2007 Exhibiting Companies as of December 2006 A. Appiani Ace American Wire Die Co. Ace Metal Inc. ACIMAF ACM AB Advanced Plastics Reclaiming LLC AEB International Inc. Agape Industry Inc. AIM Inc. All Forming Machinery Inc. Alloy Engineering Co. Amacoil Inc. American & Efird Inc. American Electronic Components Inc. American Fastener Journal American Wire Producers Association Anbao Wire & Mesh Co. Ltd. Anderson Controls Inc. ASB Industries Inc. Atlantic Wire LLC Automation Kinetics Inc. AW Machinery LLC AXIS Computer Systems Inc. Aztech Lubricants Baker Division of Sonoco Balloffet Die Corp. USA B&H Tool Co. Inc. Bartell Machinery Systems LLC Base Ten Consulting/Software Inc. Baum’s Castorine Co. Inc. BCS Industries LLC Beijing CEW International Fair Co. Ltd. Bekaert Beneke Wire Co. Bergandi Machinery Co. Beta LaserMike Blachford Corporation BMR Group Rolf Bock Maschinenfabrik GmbH Bongard Drummond Trading LLC Bonko Inc./Machine Technology & Control Bow Shing Metal Manufacturing Ltd. Boxy SpA Breen Color Concentrates Inc.

Brookfield Wire Co. Buhler USA Inc. Bulk Chemicals Inc. C.M. Caballe SA Cable & Tubing Solutions Ltd. Cable Consultants Corp.

Canterbury Engineering Co. Carpenter Technologies Corp.

Carris Reels Inc. Cemanco LC CeramTec AG CERSA-MCI Chengdu Centran Industrial Co. Cheng I Machinery Inc. Chhaperia International Company Chi Ning Co. Ltd. Clifford Welding Systems (Pty.) Ltd. Clinton Instrument Co. CM Furnaces Inc. CN Wire Corp.

Coats North America Cometo Commission Brokers Inc. CommScope Bimetals Condat Corp.

Conductix/Delachaux Group Confederaton of Indian Industry Conneaut Industries Inc. Conoptica A/S Continuus-Properzi SpA CoorsTek Copperweld Core Furnace Systems Corp.

Cortinovis America Cortinovis SpA Crown Technology Inc. CRU North America Inc. Custom Machining & Fabrication D & S Wire Inc. Davis Electric Davis-Standard LLC Davis Wire Corp.

Delachaux Design & Engineering LLC Die Quip Corp.

Domeks Makine Ltd. Dynamex Corp.

Easen Corp.

E-Beam Services Inc. Ebner Furnaces Inc. Ebner Industrieofenbau ECD Inc. Eddytech Systems Inc. EFAF Engineered Control Systems Inc. Engineered Machinery Group Enkotec Co. Inc. Emmerre srl ERA Wire Inc. Erocarb SA Esteves-DWD USA Etna-Bechem Lubricants Ltd. Etna Products Inc. Eurobend SA Eurodraw Energy Spa Eurolls SpA Eurowire Magazine George Evans Corp.

EVG Exel Fil SA Facts Inc. Fasten Group Co. Fenn Technologies FH Machinery Fiber-Line Inc. Fil-Tec Inc. Filtertech Inc. Fine International Corp.

Fisk Alloy Wire Inc. FMS Force Measuring Systems AG FMS USA Inc. Foerster Instruments Inc. The Foreign Trade Corp. of the Haidian Forming Systems Inc. Fort Wayne Wire Die Inc. Fortune Machinery Corp.

Le Four Industriel Belge SA Frey Group LLC Friedr Krollmann GmbH Frontier Composites & Castings Inc. FSP-One Fuhr GmbH & Co. KG T. Fukase & Co. Galvacor Inc.

••••

Garg Sales Inc. Gauder & Co. SA Gavlick Machinery Corp.

GBC Technologies Inc. GCR Eurodraw SpA GE-Plastics Gem Gravure Co. Inc. GENCA Corp.

Gibbs Wire & Steel Co. W. Gillies Technologies LLC Gimax Srl Global Signal Inc. USA Global Wire Inc. GMP - Slovakia Rudolf Grauer AG GSG GmbH & Co. KG Guill Tool & Engineering Co. Hafner & Krullmann GmbH Hangzhou Sanp Machinery Co. Ltd. Heacock Metal & Machine Co. Inc. Heany Industries Inc. Hearl Heaton Heatbath Corp.

The Heico Wire Group Henkel Technologies Henrich Service GmbH Heritage Wire Die Inc. Hezel GmbH & Co. KG Gebruder Hilgeland-Nutap GmbH The Hilliard Corp.

Hitachi America Ltd. Houghton International Inc. Howar Equipment Huanghua Zhonglian Hardware Prod.

Huestis Industrial Huettner Maschineenfabrik GmbH Hyradix ICE Group IDEAL Welding Systems Ideal-Werk Imaje USA Industrial Heating Magazine Industrial Steel & Wire Co. Integer Research Ltd. International Wire & Cable Symposium Inc. (IWCS) Intertek Testing Services InterWire Products

Intras Ltd. Iowa Steel & Wire Italian Trade Commission IWE Spools & Handling GmbH IWMA International Wire & Machinery Association Jiangyin Kangrui Stainless Steel Keystone Steel & Wire Co. Kingway Metal Products Co. King Steel Corp.

Kinrei of America KMK GmbH Knill USA Inc. Ernst Koch GmbH & Co. KG Kuhar Metallizing Co. Inc. Lamnea Bruk AB LaserLinc Laurel Wire Co. Le Four Industriel Belge SA Leggett & Platt Wire Group Leibinger Inkjet Systems Leoni Wire Inc. Lesmo Machinery America Inc. Lloyd & Bouvier Inc. Loos & Co. Inc. Lors Machinery Inc. J.J. Lowe Associates Inc. L-S Industires M+E Macchine+Engineering SpA MacDermid Inc. Mack-Brooks Publishing Ltd. Magnetic Technologies Ltd. Magnus Equipment MAGPOWR Maillefer SA Mang Systems Mapre Belgium SA Maschinenfabrik Niehoff Mathiasen Machinery Inc. Manidhari Stainless Wire Pvt. Ltd. William McCaskie Inc. Menam Stainless Wire Ltd. Merritt Davis Messe Düsseldorf North America Metavan N V MFL USA Service Corp. - Frigerio MGS Group Micro Products Co.

Interwire 2007 is organized by The Wire Association International, Inc.

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Interwire 2007 Exhibiting Companies as of December 2006 (cont.)

Microdia Mikrotek Machines Ltd. Mittal Canada, Inc., Wire Products Mittal Canada Lachine Inc. Morgan-Koch Corp.

Mossberg Reel LLC / Boxy Group National Standard National Strand Products Inc. NEPTCO Inc. Nevatia Steel & Alloys Ltd. Nextrom Oy Niagara Composites Industries Inc. Niehoff Endex North America Inc. North American Spring Tool Co. Northampton Machinery Co. The MGS Group Northeast Steel Corp.

Norwalk Innovation Inc. NOVA-S a s NUMAMERICA Inc. Oklahoma Steel & Wire OM Frigerio OM Lesmo OMA srl OMA USA Inc. OMCG North America Inc. Otomec Srl P & R Specialty Inc. Paramount Die Co. Inc. Parkway-Kew Corp.

Pave Automation Design Phelps Dodge High Performance Conductors Pioneer Machinery Co. Ltd.

Pittsfield Plastics Eng. Inc. Plasmait GmbH Plastore Inc. Plymouth Wire Reels & Dies Inc. Polyone Ets Pourtier Pere & Fils Powder Tech International Ltd. Power Sonics LLC Precision Die Technologies Inc. Precision Payoff Systems, LLC Premier Wire Die Pressure Welding Machines Ltd. PrintSafe Process Control Corp.

Process Technology Properzi International Inc. Proton Products Ltd. PS Costruzioni Push-Up Tools Udyog Pvt. Ltd. QED Wire Lines Inc. Qual-Fab Inc. Queins & Co. GmbH Raajratna Metal Industries Rad-Con Inc. Radcliff Wire Co. Inc. Radyne Corp.

Rautomead Ltd. Reel-O-Matic RichardsApex Inc. Rizzardi Rolf Schlicht GmbH Rosendahl Inc. Roteq Machinery Inc. Saarsteel Inc.

••••

SAMP SpA (SAMPSISTEMI) SAMP USA Inc. Sarkuysan SA Schlatter Inc. Scientific Forming Technologies SCOB Paul Schaaf GmbH Sealeze Seaway Yarns Ltd. Setic SAS Shanghai JinShen International Co. Ltd. Shuster-Mettler Corp.

Sictra Srl SIKORA AG Sikora International Corp.

Simple Packaging Solutions LLC Singleton Reels Sivaco Wire Group Sjogren Industries Inc. Skaltek Inc. SKET Verseilmaschinenbau GmbH SNTN Sonoco Crellin Inc. South African Wire Association South Fence Machinery Ltd. Steeger USA Inc. Stolberger KMB-Maschinenfabrik GmbH August Strecker GmbH & Co. KG Subec AB Summit City Enterprises Sylvin Technologies Inc. T & T Marketing Inc. TAK Enterprises Inc.

Talladega Machinery & Supply Taubensee Steel & Wire Co. Taymer Industries Inc. Team Meccanica Srl Techalloy Co. - Central Wire Group Tecna SpA Teknor Apex Co. Temsa Diamond Division SA Tensor Machinery Ltd. Teurema Thermoplastics Engineering Corp.

Tian Jin Yong Ze Metal Ltd. Tianjin Mei Jia Hua Trade Co. Timco Inc. Traxit North America LLC Troester GmbH & Co. KG Tubular Products Co. Tulsa Power LLC Ultimation Machines United Wire Co. Inc. Unitek North America Inc. Uniwire International Ltd. Upcast Oy Urbano Associates US Synthetic Vandor Corporation VARO S.r.l.

Vitari SpA Vollmer America Inc. Wafios AG Wafios Machinery Corp.

Wardwell Braiding Machine Co. Wardwell Europe GmbH Wardwell Italy SRL Warner Electric

Weber & Scher Mfg. Co. Inc. Windak Inc. Windings Inc. Wire & Cable Industry Suppliers Association (WCISA) Wire & Cable Technology International Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp.

The Wire Association International Inc. Wire Forming Technology International Wire Industry Wire Journal International Wire Lab Co. Wire Machine Systems Inc. Wire World Witels Albert USA Ltd. Witels Apparate-Maschinen Albert GmbH Woodburn Diamond Die Inc. Worth Steel & Machinery Inc. Woywod Kunststoffmaschinen GmbH WRCA Wire Wyrepak Industries Inc. Ya Sih Technology Co. Ltd. Yield Management Corp.

YMD Engineering LLC YR Products Zapp USA Zhejiang Minmetals Zhongchen Imp. & Exp. Co. Ltd. Zumbach Electronics Corp.

Industrial Fasteners Institute Intools Inc. J & J Carbide Tools, Inc. Jern Yao Enterprises Co., Ltd. Johnstown Wire Technologies Manufacturing Solutions Metal Forming Systems Inc. Mectron Inspection Systems, Inc. Nakashimada Engineering Works, Ltd. National Machinery LLC OSG Tap & Die, Inc.

PCC Precision Tool Group PLAN-E-TECH INC Push-Up Tools Udyog Pvt. Ltd. Quality Rebuilding Corp.

Reed Machinery, Inc. Reg-Ellen Machine Tool Corp.

Rockford Manufacturing Group FELM Rockform Tooling & Machining RTM Products, Inc. Sacma Machinery Corp.

Sakamura Machine Co. Ltd.

Sanmei Company Scientific Forming Technologies SMART Technologies Sterling Die/OSG Talleres Saspi SA Temsa Diamond Division SA Truform Equipment, Inc. Unimatic Engineering Universal Punch Corp.

USA Carbide Tooling Videx Machine Eng. Ltd. Wrentham Tool Products

IFE Exhibiting Companies American Fastener Journal Anderson Controls Inc. Arken Manufacturing Inc. Asahi Sunac Corp.

Barbarotto International BM Rebuilders Inc. Can-Eng Furnaces Ltd. Carlo Salvi S.p.A. Chun Zu Machinery Industry Cold Header Machine Corp.

Computer Insights Creative Carbide

Drawing Technology Inc. ELP E.W. Menn Fastener Equipment Corp.

Fastener World Group FH Machinery Formatec GmbH Greenslade Fastener Services Hariton Machinery Co. Inc. Heroslam S.A.L. Hilgeland-Nutap GmbH Hydropulsor Inc.

Interwire 2007 is organized by The Wire Association International, Inc.

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2:21 PM

Page 22

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22 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Timken completes $215 million sale of Latrobe Steel subsidiary The Timken Company announced that it has completed the sale of its Latrobe Steel subsidiary in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, to a group of investors led by the Watermill Group, Hicks Holdings and Sankaty Advisors for approximately $215 million.

Latrobe Steel manufactures and distributes specialty steel for the aerospace, high speed, and tool and die markets. It has more than 800 associates across the United States, including approximately 530 in Latrobe, Pennsylvania, a press release said. It noted that Timken purchased Latrobe Steel in 1975 to have direct access to its coil-making capacity to support the company’s bearing manufacturing. “In recent years, Timken's declining demand for internally manufactured roller wire has decreased Latrobe Steel’s synergy with the company’s bearing business,” it noted.

“We are taking actions across our portfolio to increase the ability to generate consistent profitable growth,” said James W. Griffith, Timken president and chief executive officer. “We believe the divestment of Latrobe Steel will create new opportunities for us to invest in key industrial markets that have the potential to generate greater value for our shareholders over time.”

“Watermill has a long history of buying and helping businesses improve,” said Steven E. Karol, founder and managing partner of the Watermill Group. “Latrobe Steel is attractive to us due to its position in growing and profitable markets and its strong management team. Latrobe has manufacturing and distribution facilities that are up-to-date, well-maintained and that will support the company’s continued growth.”

“The sale of Latrobe Steel reinforces our focus on the alloy steel business," said Salvatore J. Miraglia Jr., president of Timken’s Steel Group.

In 2005, The Timken Company had sales of $5.2 billion with $1.6 billion, excluding intersegment sales, from the company;s Steel Group, the release said. Latrobe Steel sales, which have benefited from the strong aerospace and specialty steel markets, were $345 million or nearly 7 percent of the company’s overall sales.

AGC Chemicals Americas reports opening new site in Pennsylvania AGC Chemicals Americas, Inc. announced that it has opened a new business and technical center in Exton, Pennsylvania, that will serve as an operations center for its sales and marketing as well as promote R&D. A wholly owned subsidiary of Japan’s Asahi Glass Company of Japan, AGC Chemicals Americas’s product lines include fluoropolymer resins and compounds (Fluon®) and fluoroelastomers (AFLAS®), both used by the wire and cable industry.

The company has manufacturing sites in Bayonne, New Jersey, and Thorndale, Pennsylvania, with operations in Charlotte, North Carolina, and satellite sales offices throughout the U.S. The new location is scheduled to be fully operational by the first quarter of this year, it noted.

For more information on AGC Chemical, go to www.agcchem.com.

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IWCS and ECA agree to cooperation agreement, plan closer relationship The International Wire and Cable Symposium, Inc (IWCS) and the Electronic Components, Assemblies and Materials Association (ECA) have entered into a “Cooperation Agreement,” a step that a press release said is expected to lead to affiliation between the two groups within the next three years.

The agreement runs for a period of three years, after which each party will assess the results of the collaboration and take further action to affiliate, the release said. “It is anticipated that the core IWCS program will remain in place, with new products and services added to address a broader audience of suppliers and users,” it noted.

The two organizations, which have worked together closely at IWCS/Focus, said that the agreement and plan for further cooperation, including affiliation, make sense given industry trends.

“The industry we serve has been shifting the focus of its innovation from the wire and cable itself increasingly towards interconnect and application technologies,” said John Sicotte, Chairman of the Board of Directors of IWCS. “In keeping with this trend, the scope of the IWCS forum is evolving to better address all the constituent and collective elements of end-to-end cable systems. This cooperation, and possible affiliation, with the ECA is a major step towards expanding the scope and role of the IWCS in order to better serve the changing needs and interests of the wire and cable industry.”

Sanxin

IWMA to hold seminar at Bangkok show The International Wire & Machinery Association (IWMA) announced that it is co-organizing a joint seminar with the International Tube Association (ITA) for the nonferrous sectors in both the wire and tube industries during wire/Tube Southeast Asia 2007.

The event will take place at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre, Bangkok, Thailand, October, 17, 2007.

The program will have a wire session in the morning and a tube session after lunch. It will be held in the exhibit hall so attendees can attend both the exhibition and the seminar, a press release said. It noted that potential speakers will be able to combine speaking with attendance or working on their booths at the exhibition, and that those with technologies relating to both industries will be able to present at both sessions.

For more details on participating, either as speakers or delegates, contact IWMA at tel. 44-1926-834680; e-mail info@iwma.org; Internet www.iwma.org.

Dyneon names Chemtech as distributor of polymer additives Dyneon LLC, a U.S.-based supplier of fluoropolymer producers, announced that Chemtech Specialties Inc. will be an authorized distributor of its additive products, focusing on the northeastern United States. Chemtech Specialties, a chemical distributor based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a subsidiary of Brenntag North America, a press release said. “They carry many complementary lines of products and have excellent logistical services, catering to customers from Maine to Virginia,” it said.

The distribution deal represents Dyneon’s first appointment of an authorized distributor for polymer additives in the U.S., the release noted.

JANUARY 2007 23

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Umicore and Zinifex to combine zinc units Umicore and Zinifex announced that they have signed an agreement that it is aimed at the two companies ultimately combining their respective zinc smelting and alloying businesses, a combination that they noted “would lead to the creation of the world’s pre-eminent zinc metal producer with operations on four continents.”

The Zinifex assets to be contributed are the Hobart (Australia), Port Pirie Australia), Clarksville (USA) and Budel (Netherlands) smelting and alloying operations as well as its holdings in Australian Refined Alloys (Australia) and Genesis Alloys (China).

The Umicore assets to be contributed are the Balen (Belgium), Overpelt (Belgium), Auby (France) and GM Metal (France) smelting and alloying operations as well as its shareholdings in Padaeng Industry (Thailand) , Galva 45 (France), Umicore Yunnan Zinc Alloys (China) and Föhl China (China).

Combined, these entities produce some 1.2 million metric tons of zinc and zinc alloys per year and employ some 4,500 people, the press release said.

AMSC agrees to buy Austria’s Windtec U.S.-based American Superconductor Corporation announced that it has agreed to pay approximately US$12.4 million in stock to acquire Windtec, a private Austrian company that develops and licenses proprietary wind turbine electrical systems.

Windtec uses AMSC’s PowerModule systems to control power flows.

“Wind power is one of the most dynamic markets in electrical energy today, and virtually all industry experts predict that it will play an increasingly important role in powering the world’s homes and businesses,” said AMSC CEO Greg Yurek.

“According to the Global Wind Energy Council, the installed base of wind generated electricity worldwide is expected to double from approximately 59,000 megawatts in 2005 to nearly 135,000 megawatts in 2010,” Yurek said. “We believe this acquisition will strongly enhance AMSC’s revenue growth in the wind energy market and speed the time to achieving overall corporate profitability.”

24 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Danieli updates jobs in Mexico, Saudi Arabia Italy’s Danieli reported that it has completed a rod mill project in Mexico and a bar and rod mill in Saudi Arabia.

The company said that it has successfully completed an upgrade to meltshop no. 2 and wire rod mill No. 3 at the operations of Mexico’s Deacero Celaya.

The long products minimill plant, supplied by Danieli in 1998 as a greenfield project, before extension was made up of a steel meltshop and two rolling mills for bars and for wire rod production, respectively, a press release said. It noted that with the recent expansion, the Celaya minimill will at full capacity be able to double its production potential to over 2-Mtpy, “thus further strengthening Deacero’s leading position as the largest wire rod producer in Mexico and as one of the largest in the whole American continent.”

The No. 2 meltshop, the release said, features a 120-t EAF, ladle furnace and a 6strand FastCast™ conticaster for highspeed casting of 120 to 180-mm billets, directly connected to the rolling mill for hot charging operation. The No. 3 rolling mill has 18 stands plus a 10-pass highspeed finishing block that produces 5.5-16-

mm wire rod in up to 3-t coils, it said.

The company also reported that it has successfully completed the commissioning of a bar and rod mill operation at Saudi I&S (Hadeed), Saudi Arabia.

The plant was commissioned in stages during 2006 that saw the startup of the line in February, the first EWR® billets welding in June, and the wire rod line started up (without TMB operation) in July, a press release said. It has since completed the final step, the commissioning of a TMB Twin Module Block unit that it said makes it possible for the mill to reach finishing speeds of 115 mps for production of 5.5 mm wire rod in 2.5-t coils.

The new mill was installed at the Saudi Iron & Steel Al-Jubail steel complex, where another Danieli bar and section mill was installed in 1993, the release said.

Made up of 18 SHS stands, a production outlet for straight bars, and TMB-based high-speed wire rod line, it is designed to produce 8 to 40 mm deformed bars and 5.5 to 16-mm (including down to 6 mm deformed) wire rod. The new plant has an EWR billet welder for uninterrupted production at the mill, it said.

Industry topics discussed at AWPA fall meeting The American Wire Producers Association (AWPA) covered industry topics from technology to regulations during its annual Fall Operations Managers meeting last October in South Bend, Indiana, with more than 95 attendees from 25 companies.

The AWPA provided the following report. During a panel discussion moderated by Paramount Die Co. President Rich Sarver, one of the topics was the state of the U.S. wiredrawing machinery. Panelists included Thomas Voss, managing director, Ernst Koch GmbH; Don Young, sales agent with GCR Eurodraw SpA; and Marco Dell’Oro, general manager of Mario Frigerio SpA. The discussion covered the practice of maintaining aged machinery versus benefits from replacing with a new wiredrawing line, such as maintenance cost savings, machine utilization and improved drawing speeds. Other topics included recent technological advancements, machine visions for the future, optimizing wiredrawing speeds and the effect of new advancements

through better wiredrawing lubricants.

A second presentation was made by Traxit North America President Hubertus Damm, Morgan-Koch’s Voss and Frigerio’s Dell’Oro, with presenters sharing their insights into doing business in these emerging Asian markets.

Another presentation was made on new hex chrome rules as set forth by OSHA, highlighting new safety guidelines limiting exposure to hexavalent chromium. Among those commenting was Nick Johannes, Leggett & Platt Wire Group.

Attendees later split into 10 groups to discuss four topics: how companies measure important variables that may affect machine utilization and efficiency rates; greatest challenges to doing business; what industry benchmarks the AWPA should look to undertake; and analyzing how Asia is affecting the supply side.

Attendees also toured two plants: Davis Wire Corporation’s National Standard plant in Niles, Michigan, and Leggett & Platt’s Merit Steel operations in Kouts, Indiana. ■

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www.niehoff.de

The worldwide partner for the wire & cable industry

MASCHINENFABRIK NIEHOFF GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, Phone +49-9122-977-0, Fax +49-9122-977-155, E-Mail: info@niehoff.de, Internet: www.niehoff.de · NIEHOFF ENDEX NORTH AMERICA INC., USA, Phone 856-467-4884, Fax 856-467-0584, E-Mail: sales@niehoffendex.com MASCHINENFABRIK NIEHOFF GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, Phone +49-8342-7008-0, Fax +49-8342-7008-40, E-Mail: info@niehoff.de· MASCHINENFABRIK NIEHOFF s.r.o., Nymburk, Phone +42-325 519 751, Fax +42-325 519 755, E-Mail: info@niehoff.cz · NIEHOFF-HERBORN MÁQUINAS Ltda., Brasil, Phone 11-41 98 43 22, Fax 11-41 98 42 34, E-Mail: diret@niehoff.com.br · NIPPON NIEHOFF Co., Ltd., Japan, Phone 3-3257-0911, Fax 3-3257-0910, E-Mail: s.kanazawa@nippon-niehoff.co.jp · MASCHINENFABRIK NIEHOFF GmbH & Co. KG, Singapore Representative Office, Phone 63369936, Fax 63364070, E-Mail: niehoff@pacific.net.sg · MASCHINENFABRIK NIEHOFF GmbH & Co. KG, Germany, Shanghai Representative Office, P.R. China, Phone 21-63906191, Fax 21-63906192, E-Mail: nscc@public1.sta.net.cn · NIEHOFF of INDIA Private Limited, India, Phone 91-8 455 231 632, Fax 91- 8 455 231 629, E-Mail: daniel@noi.sify.net · NIEHOFF of Russia, Phone 7-095-230-5537, Fax 7-095-230-5539, E-Mail: info@niehoff.de

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Asian Focus Asian Focus Asia news briefs Taiwan’s Walsin Lihwa inaugurates new SCR copper plant in China in Nanjing Taiwan’s Walsin Lihwa recently held an opening ceremony at its new SCR copper plant in Nanjing, which represents its third manufacturing facility in China.

The new plant will increase the company’s annual output of copper rod to 650,000 tons, the highest in Asia and the third highest in the world, it noted.

Walsin Lihwa, which has been producing high-purity, low-oxygen copper materials since 1977, also has production plants production in Dongguan and Nanjing. Tthe company’s primary products are 8 mm copper rod and 2.6 mm copper wire for mainland China.

Company Chairman Yu-Lon Chiao said that the new plant enhances Walsin Lihwa’s “deployment across the Taiwan Strait” and will help it better meet customer needs by effective integration of production technology with finance, logistics, and risk management. The company also supplies the Taiwan domestic market and exports to Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Philippines. Walsin Lihwa Corporation, established in 1966, has been the leading manufacturer for copper, power cables, communication wires and specialty steel.

Danieli awarded upgrade for bar/rod mill in India Italy’s Danieli said it will conduct a major modernization of Mukand Ltd.’s bar and rod mill in India.

The upgraded mill will produce 5.5 to15-mm wire rod, 15 to 35-mm coiled bars (in up to 1.5-t coils), and 20 to 45-mm straight bars in low to high carbon, free cutting, low alloy, SBQ and spring steel qualities, plus ferritic, austenitic, and martensitic stainless steels at rates of up to 55 tph. The delivery will include a new 930-mm-dia housingless-type reversing shiftable rougher with associated front/back tables, plus miscellaneous auxiliary parts.

Startup is foreseen by the Q1 2007.

U.S.-based Sanlo announces plans to establish a manufacturing/distribution plant in China U.S.-based Sanlo, Inc., a manufacturer and distributor of bare and coated cable, cable assembly products and accessories, announced that it will establish a manufacturing and distribution facility in China.

The company reported that the site selection process for the new entity, Sanlo Wire Manufacture Company, Ltd., is being conducted. “Sanlo is fully committed to the cable and cable assembly manufacturing industry in China and to growing with our customers in this important region of the world market,” said Sanlo President/CEO Dennis Wolf. He said that Sanlo aims to enhance its cost competitiveness, increase service to customers who are moving operations to China, and broaden the product base with existing North American customers.

26 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

India speakers: more advances in steel technology Speakers during a four-day event that included the celebrating of India’s 44th National Metallurgists’ Day called for domestic steelmakers to be proactive when it comes to meeting projected steel demand for the country to increase its role as a global industrial player.

take proactive action. India is projected to consume 300 million MT of steel per year by 2025. It will also demand higher quality and higher performance steels.

He identified four specific areas to tackle the issues: technology and research, indigenous design capabilities with new design centers, raw material security

The metallurgists’ day event, held November 14, the birthday of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, India’s first Prime Minister, is celebrated each year by The Indian Institute of Metals (IIM), where it honors distinguished metallurgists of India for their contributions in the field of metallurgical education, research and industry. During the ceremony, jointly organized by IIM and Tata Steel Limited in Jamshedpur, Jharkhand, several speakers discussed the outlook for Indian steel manufacturers.

Dr.Akhilesh Das, minister of state for steel, government of India, was the chief guest, with Dr R.A. Mashelkar, director general, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), the guest of honor in the opening ceremony. Both dignitaries expressed optimism towards India’s rise as a global industrial power, with Mashelkar redefining the term “I.T.” as “Indian Talent,” a capacity that will help the country dominate the world.

IIM President Director B. Muthuraman, managing director of Tata Steel, delivered the presidential address to more than 900 delegates. He outlined future supply-demand imbalance in the steel sector and asked the policy makers to

with emphasis on iron ore, and infrastructure.

Similar sentiments were expressed a day before by experts from the global automotive industry during a symposium on Steels for Automotives (STATS).

Shinichi Takeuchi, joint managing director, Maruti Udyog Limited, India, reported that the Indian car maker, with a 52% market share, is still importing most of its automotive grade steel from Japan and Korea. He challenged the Indian steel industry to rise to the occasion and develop a 440 MPa strength steel.

The National Metallurgists’ Day was followed by IIM’s 60th Annual Technical Meeting on Nov. 15-16. Over 228 papers were presented during the two-day sessions, including a keynote paper,“Zero Failures not Zero Defects,” presented by Anand Bhagwat, managing director of WAI’s Indian subsidiary,WAI Wire and Cable Services Pvt. Ltd. He also presented a review paper,“Advances in Steel Tire Cord Technology.” The ATM was also well attended by metallurgists from around the world. The event was a good opportunity for networking with professionals from basic metals industry as well as academia.

Have news that belongs here? If so, e-mail it to editorial@wirenet.org.

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Inaugural Wire & Cable India event draws 4,500 attendees over 3 days Organizers of Wire & Cable India 2006 said that the event had a good debut in Mumbai, with some 4,500 attendees attending the three-day event held November 1618, 2006, at the Bandra-Kurla complex grounds.

The event was put on by the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), a nongovernment, not-for-profit, industry led and industry managed organization that plays a proactive role in India’s development process.

Event Chairman Pravin Agarwal, director, Sterlite Optical Technologies Ltd., spoke during the inaugural ceremony, with a positive message for both the new event and the wire and cable industry in India. He described Wire & Cable India 2006 “as a right step in the correct direction,” noting that the event was exclusively for materials, machinery and accessories for the production of wires and cables, wires and cable product and other related products and services.

Agarwal said that the event had good support, with sponsors including the Steel Wire Manufacturers Association of India (SWMAI) and the Telecom Cable Manufacturers Association (TCMA). That support helped bolster the event, which fielded about 125 exhibitors, with about half of them hailing from overseas.

Response from the attendees was

good in general, with approximately 4,500 attending over three days.

With about half of the exhibitor profile comprising international players from Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and China and Korea, Wire & Cable

India 2006 provided a common industry platform for meeting key clients and partners from across the globe in a comprehensive, costeffective format, the organizers noted.

The organizers pointed out that the exhibitors “unveiled some of the most modern wire manufacturing and finishing machinery, spring manufacturing machinery, cable and stranding machines, process technology tools, process technology materials, lubricants, measuring and controlling technology, process monitoring systems, quality assurance and measuring systems, drive and control technology,‘finished product’ testing system, all types of wires, cables, wire rods, bright, bars, sheet metal and specialty wires,” and more.

Among the participants was Jens

The inaugural holding of Wire & Cable India saw some 4,500 attendees attend the three-day event at the Bandra-Kurla complex grounds in Mumbai, India.

M. Pollak of Saarstahl-Export GmbH Dusseldorf, Germany, who said that it had been a very fruitful first timeever participation for his company in an Indian exhibition. He added that the caliber of visitors to their stall, and their discussions lead them to be very optimistic about the business opportunities that the event would result in, the organizers said.

A similar “first time participant” in a event in Mumbai, Sayantan Majumder of Ramsarup Infrastructure, said his company found participating for the first time in such an event in Mumbai both “exciting and challenging,” the organizers noted.

Majumder added that the Indian government’s mission statements on “housing for all” and “power for all” had meaning for participants at the event.

Similarly, Andrea Camparada of SAMPSISTEMI, Bologna, Italy, described the event as being timed perfectly, especially in light of the Indian market opening up to exports from European companies.

“We found the three day-long event to be very successful,” he said.

Hong June Lee, Business Development Manager, Lee Engineering Co. Ltd., Korea said potential in the Indian market was huge and that they not just made new business contacts but also renewed ties with Mumbai-based associates during the exhibition.

Represenatives for some 125 exhibiting companies from 20 countries were at Wire & Cable India 2006 to talk to attendees.

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Among the exhibitors was Anand Bhagwat, managing director of WAI Wire and Cable Services Pvt. Ltd., the WAI’s subsidiary based in Pune, India.

Bhagwat said that he thought the show was both well organized and well received, although he noted that as with any new event, attendees discussed a few things that could be improved. The show program guide, air-conditioning, security, and transportation were some of the opportunities for improvement, but overall, he observed, it was quite good for a first-time event.

Bhagwat, who represented the Wire Association International in the exhibition at booth No. D-5, reported good interactions with attendees.

“There was much interest in WAI’s products and membership benefits,” Bhagwat said, adding that he signed up some new members as well as subscribers to Wire Journal International. He attributed some of the interest he saw to the WAI’s recent holding of its International Technical Conference in New Delhi.

CII announced that Wire & Cable India will return to the same venue in two years, with the dates set for November 27-29, 2008. The show will have a similar format and “with the growing Indian market, many of the exhibitors expressed positive interest in returning back in 2008,” the CII reported.

Founded over 111 years ago, CII notes that it is India’s premier busi-

ness association, with a direct membership of over 6,300 organizations from the private as well as public sectors, including SMEs and MNCs, and an indirect membership of over 90,000 companies from around 336 national and regional sector associations.

For more information, go to www. wirecableindia.com. ■

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800-221-7335 www.reelomatic.com 28 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

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People Leggett & Platt announced filling positions related to the creation of five new segmentlevel business development positions. C. David Brown, was named Director of Business Development – Industrial Materials, reporting to Joe Downes.

He previously had been an analyst in Leggett’s Investor Relations Department and an analyst in Leggett’s M&A Department, where he worked on several key transactions and strategic studies. Before that he worked at Koch Industries, Inc., a diversified industrial company where he managed valuation and modeling of large derivative positions. He holds a B.S. degree

from Missouri State University and an MBA from the University of Arkansas. Joseph D. Harris was named Director of Business Development– Residential Furnishings. He has worked in the company’s M&A Department for the past seven years. He holds an MBA and a BS degree from Pittsburg State University. Jay M. Thompson, was named Director of Business Development–Commercial Fixturing & Components. He joined the company in 2003 as an attorney in its legal department, in 2005 became a staff vice president in the Fixture & Display Group and in 2006 became general manager at one

Obituary Marcel Clavien, a 30-year veteran of the wire industry, most recently with Cable Design Technologies (CDT), died Monday, November 20, at age 66.

A graduate of Worcester Polytechnic Institute, the Massachusetts native and resident was a Vietnam War veteran, serving as a Captain in the U.S. Marine Corps. After returning from Vietnam, he earned a Master’s degree in business from Stanford University in California. He worked briefly worked for Sperry Rand Corporation, then began his highly visible career in the wire and cable industry in 1970, taking the position of director of sales, TRW Crescent Wire & Cable. Between 1975 to 1995, he was Vice President Sales & Marketing for Alpha Wire; Vice President Electronic Cable Group for Anixter; and Vice President Sales & Marketing for Delta Surprenant. He joined CDT in 1995 as Vice President and General Manager

of the Manhattan Division. He was named Vice President, Corporate Agreements, for CDT in 1999, a position he also held through the Belden CDT merger during 2004. After retiring from Belden CDT at the end of 2004, he joined Anixter briefly as a senior account manager. Most recently he was New England regional senior account manager for A-Z Industries.

Clavien had held committee positions with IEEE and NEMA and was a board member of the International Wire & Cable Symposium, Inc., between 2003-2005, serving as Treasurer during 2004. He was a founding board member for the Wire & Cable Manufacturer’s Alliance (formerly Wire & Cable Clubs) in 2005 and was a recipient of its Distinguished Career Award in 2004.

He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Mireille Bruneteau Clavien; a son, Roland Clavien; a daughter, Simone Quinn; and three grandchildren.

30 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

of the fixture manufacturing facilities. He holds degrees from the University of Missouri and the University of Pennsylvania.

Steffan B. Sarkin, was named Vice President of Business Development–Aluminum Products. He has a decade of experience with two investment bank firms and a law office in South Africa. He holds multiple degrees in law and economics.

J. Mitchell Dolloff was named Director of Business Development–Specialized Products. He joined the company in 2000 as a director in the M&A Department. In 2002 he moved to operations and is president of the Tubular Products Unit (in the Industrial Materials segment).

He holds degrees from Vanderbilt University, and from Westminster College. Based in Carthage, Missouri, USA, Leggett & Platt Inc. is a leading North America producer of drawn steel wire.

Vollmer America Inc. has named Rhichard Barth as its Spare Parts and In House Service Manager. He previously was employed at Bristol-Babcock and at Sikorsky Aircraft where his responsibilities

Saudi Cable Co. reported the promotion of Mohammed Rafiq Haroon to general manager of production (PCP/TCP/ M&P). He had formerly worked as production manager for the company’s power cables plant but now will be responsible for that plant as well as the company’s telecommunication plant and its metal and plastics plant.

He earned a degree in engineering in 1982 and since then has worked in the cable manufacturing industry, starting with Saudi Cable Co. in 1992. The first company in the Middle East to receive ISO 9001:2000 certification, Saudi Cable Company produces complete cable systems for power (400 kV underground & 500 kV overhead) and telecom networks.

National Standard has named David Eckert as its director of weld wire sales and marketing, responsible for strengthening the distribution base, launching the company’s new marketing initiative, improving National Standard’s brand identity and advancing the company’s value proposition through extensive product education and training.

He has 18 years of sales and marketing experience, in both the North American and international markets. He was previously employed for 14 years at Thermadyne Industries, Inc., where he served in various sales and marketing roles, most recently as vice president of marketing/Americas. Based in Niles, Michigan, USA, National Standard is a leading producer of high-quality weld, tire bead, industrial and specialty wire.

Rhichard Barth

included ISO compliance, quality control and project management. Based in Canaan, Connecticut, USA,Vollmer America Inc. provides gauging, data acquisition and control systems to the wire industry.

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Allied Wire & Cable announced the recent filling of two positions. Mike Reardon has been named New England Sales Manager. He worked at Pacer Electronics for approxi-

Mike Reardon

mately 13 years, starting as a sales representative and eventually moving into sales management. Michael Rosa will serve as the New England Branch Manager. A 1992 graduate of the University of New Hampshire, he was employed at Pacer Electronics, his family’s busi-

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ness, starting out at the ground level for the distributor of wire and cable, for the electronics industry, that was founded by his father in 1976. He eventually became CEO and sold the business to Anixter Int’l in 1998.

Based in Merrimack, New Hampshire, USA, Allied Wire & Cable notes that it is one of the largest U.S. independent value-added manufacturer and distributor of wire and cable products for sectors that include aerospace, medical and automotive, among others.

AIM Inc. has named Zoe Borys as the company’s new director of marketing. She has more than 14 years of experience in marketing and sales, with past positions including Director of Operation for Chapman/Leonard Studio Production Services, Production Account Executive for the Motion Picture Division of the

Eastman Kodak Companies, and most recently, Marketing Executive for Panavision Incorporated. Based in Addison, Illinois, USA, AIM Inc. manufactures CNC wire bending equipment.

Nordson Corporation has named Eric Luftig as marketing manager for the company’s Adhesive Systems Group, responsible for the company’s packaging and product assem-

bly business group as well as leading efforts to identify and capitalize on trends in new and existing global markets. He will also oversee domestic marketing functions, including marketing communications, pricing, training and trade show support.

Most recently, he was global marketing manager for General Electric (GE) Silicones. He holds a BS degree in chemical engineering from the University of Massachusetts. Based in Westlake, Ohio, USA, Nordson Corporation supplies precision dispensing equipment that applies adhesives, sealants and coatings to a broad range of consumer and industrial products during manufacturing operations. ■

Eric Luftig

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Fiber Watch Pakistan contract calls for 107 cities to be fiber-connected Telekom Malaysia plans to invest $100 million to install a 4,100-km long fiber optic cable that will connect 107 cities in Pakistan, reports the Daily Times of Pakistan.

Sdn Bhd Yusof Annuar Yaacob, CEO of TM International, said that operations will partially start in February with full operations in the third quarter. Annuar, who spoke to media during the Second World Islamic Economic Forum Conference, said that the company plans to spend a total of $100 million on “Project Ittehad,” as the project is called.

This investment will be made through TM’s Pakistani subsidiary, broadband operator Multinet Pvt. Ltd., whose mission was to improve the state of the country’s communications solutions by leveraging TM’s global network assets, Asgher said.

“TM is Malaysia’s largest broadband oper-

ator and possesses valuable expertise which they are sharing with partners at Multinet in order to make our subsidiary the premier long haul and broadband operator in Pakistan in due time,” he added.

Multinet, the article said, currently provides broadband Internet access via wired and wireless media in the following cities: Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujrat, Multan, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Sialkot and Shaikhupura.

Annuar said that TM Malaysia has a string of other subsidiaries in Asia where it has substantial equity control in several key mobile operators such as Dialog Telekom Ltd of Sri Lanka (89.8%), TM International Bangladesh (70 %), Telekom Malaysia International Cambodia (100 %) and Indonesia’s PT Excelcomindo (59.6 %), the article said. It noted that TM’s combined regional subscriber numbers has

Tyco wins undersea fiber system job Tyco Telecommunications, a business unit of Tyco Electronics that specializes in undersea communications technology and marine services, announced that it has signed a contract with Houston-based BP America Inc. to supply an undersea fiber optic system serving offshore platforms in the Gulf of Mexico.

The system will comprise the undersea backbone of a regional communications network, providing diverse connectivity from BP’s Gulf of Mexico offshore production facilities back to the regional operating center in Houston, Texas, a press release said. It noted that the system will initially link seven deep-water production platforms with landings in Freeport, Texas and Pascagoula, Mississippi. The network incorporates an upgrade capability designed to support 64 platforms.

The release stated that the project stems from the increased emphasis on robustness and reliability that followed the devastating 2005 hurricane season, which it noted “was particularly chal-

34 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

lenging for traditional communications systems.”

Tyco said that it will deploy longhaul undersea telecommunications technologies adapted for the unique requirements of offshore applications; each platform will be served by a branch off of a deep-water trunk.

Using optical multiplexing in undersea branching units, each platform will have direct optical connectivity to both landing stations, ensuring continued operations, independent of any other platform in the system during hurricane events, it explained.

Tyco will manufacture the key elements of the fiber optic system at its U.S. plants in Newington, New Hampshire, and Lowell, Massachusetts, the release said. The Tyco Decisive, a 140-meter cable-laying vessel based at Tyco’s depot in Baltimore, Maryland, will deploy the undersea plant and make the connections to the offshore platforms, it said.

The system is scheduled for delivery in mid-2007.

topped 24 million across nine countries, including Malaysia.

Multinet Chief Executive Adnan Asgher said in the article that by virtue of TM’s partnership in the 20,000 km undersea cable, SMW-4, Multinet is able to provide international bandwidth on TM’s behalf, making Multinet the only private company in Pakistan to offer the greatest diversity for international connectivity services to Pakistan.

Asgher said that SMW-4’s multi-gigabit system allowed Multinet to offer carriers and enterprises connectivity from speeds of 64K and above.

Multinet Pakistan (Private) Limited (Multinet)’s principal activities are in local loop, LDI and other value added services such as DSL Broadband, Gigabit Metro Area Broadband, Wireless Broadband and allied services.

Fiber core endures 50 million f lexes U.S.-based W. L. Gore & Associates reports that its high flex cable assemblies achieved a milestone when its fiber optic core topped the 50 million cycle mark during a rolling flex test.

The multi-mode glass fiber optic core was tested at a 48 mm bend radius with no change in optical attenuation at 56 million cycles, a press release said. The core, it noted, was also tested at a 40 mm bend radius without cable chain with similar results.

The rolling flex test took place in Gore’s flex laboratoryin Germany. Per the release, test parameters were: bend radius 40 mm without cable chain and 48 with cable chain; stroke length 500 mm; acceleration approximately 30 m/sec; velocity 55 cycles/minute; temperature 20 to 25°C. The attenuation of the fiber optic lines was measured at 850 nm and 1300 nm continuously.

Both the power and fiber optic showed full function over 50 million cycles, it said. For more, go to www.gore.com/designacable. ■

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Fastener Update TRW Automotive has official opening for China plant TRW Automotive’s Engineered Fasteners & Components business announced that it has officially opened a new plant in Langfang, China. TRW Automotive Components (Langfang) Co. Ltd., a subsidiary of TRW Automotive Holdings Corp., will manufacture interior components such as air registers and center bezels.

Located 60 kilometers from Beijing, the new facility has some 6,900 sq m of operating space, a press release said.

The plant will initially be equipped with up to 20 injection molding machines, with the potential to increase this number to 50 by mid-2008, it said. The

plant, it added, is expected to employ up to 100 people by the end of 2007.

“This is a key step in developing our presence in China to support domestic and international vehicle manufacturers in this market,” said Edwin Schulze, general manager, TRW Engineered Fasteners & Components, China.

The release pointed out that this addition bolsters the Asian presence of Engineered Fasteners, which it noted established a fastening system plant in China’s Ningbo, Zhejiang Province in 1998. The Engineered Fasteners business has developed a diverse customer base and steadily increased its market

share, it said, and the Langfang plant “reflects TRW’s long-term expansion strategy in the growing Chinese market, and its intent on serving more customers in a greater geographic area.”

“We are delighted to host our custumer base in China and the Langfang government officials who supported the project to celebrate the opening of this facility,” Schultze said. “They are not only TRW customers, but also partners in our relentless pursuit of superior quality and value. This plant, as with all TRW manufacturing facilities around the world, will be dedicated to excellence, innovation and growth.”

MW Ind. sold to equity firm/company management U.S.-based MW Industries, Inc., a manufacturer and catalog marketer of custom engineered mechanical components that include fasteners, reported that it has been acquired by an investor group led by Brockway Moran & Partners, Inc., a Florida-based private equity firm, and company management.

MW Industries, headquartered in Logansport, Indiana, specializes in the manufacture of highly engineered springs, specialty fasteners and precision stampings used in a wide array of applications across a diverse set of end markets, a press release said. It employs more than 900 people in 12 operating divisions that are located in nine states across the United States, which facilitates best-in-class customer service and speed to market, it said.

MW Industries, which has a joint venture and sales office in China, serves a broad industrial customer base of blue chip companies through both its direct sales efforts and catalog operations, the release said.

“We are very pleased to announce this transaction, which underscores the successful execution of our business strategy,” said MW Industries

36 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

President and CEO Dan Sebastian.

“Brockway Moran & Partners has an established track record of working with management to build great companies and shares our vision for the continued growth and development of MW Industries.”

“This partnership provides us with the capital structure and financial resources to continue our strategy of aggressively investing in our business for organic growth, while also pursuing complementary acquisitions,” said MW Industries CFO James Callaghan.

“MW Industries is a great fit with our philosophy of investing in well-

managed companies with excellent growth potential,” said Peter Brockway, managing partner of Brockway Moran & Partners.

Brockway Moran & Partners, which notes that it has more than $1.3 billion of capital under management, seeks to acquire growth-oriented middle market companies in partnership with sound management teams. It invests in a broad spectrum of industries with significant experience in consumer, industrial and service businesses, and since 1998 has completed more than 40 acquisitions. ■

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Chapter Corner New England Chapter meeting: Jan. 18 will get to experience Dan LaRosa, considered America’s funniest motivational hypnotist. His shows are designed to both enlighten and entertain and the veteran hypnotist will take you on an adventure in imagination that you don’t want to miss!

“We learned last year that people wanted a chance to enjoy themselves and laugh, while networking with their industry colleagues,” said Annual Meeting Chair Keith Weber, Parker-Hannifin Co. “We invite members and guests to come experience the evening.”

Registration—$85, $75 for non-chapter WAI members and $65 for chapter members—includes the entire evening’s activities, from reception to entertainment.

For information on rooms, go to the www.mohegansun.com. Contact WAI’s Chip Marsh at cmarsh@wirenet.org or at tel. 203-453-1748. ■

wiedenbach apparatebau gmbh

The WAI New England Chapter will review the past year, introduce its 2007 leaders and have a little fun with motivational hypnotist Dan LaRosa at its 13th Annual Meeting at the Mohegan Sun Conference Center in Uncasville, Connecticut, USA, Thursday, January 18.

The chapter returns to the resort to celebrate its successes, network with colleagues and look ahead to the year’s upcoming activities. “With Wire Expo 2006 in Boston, we had a very busy yet very good year as a chapter,” said Chapter President Donald Schollin of Q-S Technologies, Inc. “I look forward to celebrating the year with members and guests.”

The evening begins with a networking reception at 5:30 pm, followed by a dinner buffet, the annual business meeting and introduction of 2007 officers and directors.

Once the business is concluded, attendees

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38 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Poland Chapter updates program for Zakopane The WAI’s Poland Chapter, a co-organizer along with Czêstochowska University of Technology of a technical conference March 1-3 in Zakopane, Poland, reports that as of press time it has received nearly three dozen technical papers.

Attendees at the Poland Chapter’s July 7, 2006, seminar held with Eldrut Ltd. at its plant in Zagnast, Poland..

As of press time, the technical program entitled, “Modern Technologies and Modelling of Manufacturing Processes of Wires and Wire Products,” has 35 papers, ferrous and nonferrous. Submissions have been received from the U.S., Japan, France, Belgium, Germany , Ukraine, Czech Republic and Poland, said Jan Pilarczyk, president of the Poland Chapter.

An Honorary Committee for the event includes the presidents or vice presidents of eight companies that are sponsoring the conference. The companies include Drumet S.A., Telefonika, ZDB Bohumin, Gorak FDW, Spawmet Ltd., Shymko Ltd. and Alwotech as well as the Wire Association International. WAI President Tom Moran is scheduled to represent the Association.

In addition to the technical program, the event will include an opening reception and Gala Dinner with Polish folk groups performing song and dance.

There is still time to register (till Feb. 15) for the event as well as to register for a tabletop display.

For more details go to conference website: www.konferencja.mim.pcz.czest.pl or e-mail chapter President Jan Pilarczyk at pilar@mim.pcz.czest.pl.

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The Only Event in North America Exclusively Focused on the Design and Manufacture of Advanced Fasteners and Precision Formed Parts...

Manufacturers....

Industry Suppliers....

Mark your calendar now and make plans to see and explore the widest array of fastener making machinery, materials, tooling, accessories, supplies and services at any trade show in North America— for every application.

IFE is sponsored by the International Fastener Machinery & Suppliers’ Association, a global trade organization which has represented and promoted the best interests of the fastener manufacturing industry since 1992. IFE ‘07 is also supported by the Industrial Fastener Institute.

Whether you’re designing intelligent fasteners with on-board sensors, incorporating the latest shape memory materials, or using advanced equipment to produce precision formed parts with built-in fastening capabilities, you’ll find the full spectrum of suppliers at IFE ‘07 who are ready to discuss your most demanding requirements—for both captive, in-plant operations as well as the increasingly sophisticated application-specific and specialty fastener demands of your customers.

IFE ‘07 is co-located with INTERWIRE, the largest and longest running wire and cable event in the Americas, which is sponsored by Wire Association International. The natural affinity between wire and cable, and fastener manufacturers creates a synergistic event which significantly expands the business opportunities for exhibitors at both shows...while providing an additional value for attendees.

Check out the list of exhibitors on the opposite IFE is North America’s only ‘machinery show’ for page, and plan now to be part of the success. For the fastener industry. Plan now to be a part of it. For more information contact us at: 203.794.0444; more information, e-mail us: toll-free at 800.688.1698, or by e-mail at: attendee@IFEtradeshow.com info@IFEtradeshow.com

Machinery...Materials...Tooling...Components...Accessories...

Supplies and Services...and Co-Location with INTERWIRE. It’s all here at IFE ‘07...And complete information on attending and exhibiting is just a ‘click’ away at: www.IFEtradeshow.com

Supported by the

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Media Support

INTERNATIONAL FASTENER & PRECISION FORMED PARTS MANUFACTURING E x p o s i t i o n a n d C o n f e r e n c e May 7-10, 2007 • I-X Center Cleveland, Ohio USA Co-located with Wire Association International

If you’re a supplier to the international fastener and precision formed parts manufacturing industry, make plans now to meet the active, buying market for the latest advances in machinery, materials, components, accessories, supplies and services—prospective customers you won’t meet at any other fastener show on the North American continent. With months to go until showtime, IFE ‘07 is more than 70% sold. Be sure you’re not shut out of the action...reserve your space today!

EXHIBITORS

(as of November 20, 2006)

American Fastener Journal Anderson Controls Arken Manufacturing, Inc. Asahi Sunac Corp.

Barbarotto International B.M. Rebuilders, Inc. Can-Eng Furnaces Carlo Salvi S.p.A. Chun Zu Machinery Industry Cold Header Machine Computer Insights, Inc. Creative Carbide Drawing Technology, Inc. ELP

E.W. Menn Fastener Equipment Corp

Fastener World Sponsored Companies FH Machinery Formatec GmbH Greenslade Fastener Services Hariton Machinery

Heroslam SAL Hilgeland-Nutap GmbH

Hydropulsor Industrial Fastener Institute

Intools Inc. J & J Carbide Tools, Inc. Jern Yao Enterprises Co., Ltd. Johnstown Wire Technologies, Inc.

Manufacturing Solutions, Inc. Mectron Inspection Systems, Inc. Metal Forming Systems, Inc. Nakashimada Engineering Works, Ltd National Machinery LLC OSG Tap & Die, Inc. PCC Precision Tool Group Plan-E-Tech, Inc. Push Up Tools Quality Rebuilding Corp.

Reed Machinery, Inc. Reg-Ellen Machine Tool Corp.

Rockford Manufacturing Group Rockform Tooling & Machining/Gator Die Supplies RTM Products

Sacma

Sakamura Machine Co. Ltd. Sanmei Company Scientific Forming Technologies SMART Technologies Sterling Die Talleres Saspi, SA Temsa Truform Equipment, Inc. USA Carbide Tooling Unimatic Engineering

Universal Punch Corp

Videx Machine Engineering Wrentham Tool Products

IFE is sponsored and produced by the International Fastener Machinery & Suppliers’ Association 107 Mill Plain Road • Danbury, Connecticut 06811 USA Tel: 203.794.0444 • 800.688.1698 • Fax: 203.743.4810 • info@IFEtradeshow.com

The Only Event in North America Exclusively Focused on the Design and Manufacture of Advanced Fasteners and Precision Formed Parts...

Manufacturers....

Industry Suppliers....

Mark your calendar now and make plans to see and explore the widest array of fastener making machinery, materials, tooling, accessories, supplies and services at any trade show in North America— for every application.

IFE is sponsored by the International Fastener Machinery & Suppliers’ Association, a global trade organization which has represented and promoted the best interests of the fastener manufacturing industry since 1992. IFE ‘07 is also supported by the Industrial Fastener Institute.

Whether you’re designing intelligent fasteners with on-board sensors, incorporating the latest shape memory materials, or using advanced equipment to produce precision formed parts with built-in fastening capabilities, you’ll find the full spectrum of suppliers at IFE ‘07 who are ready to discuss your most demanding requirements—for both captive, in-plant operations as well as the increasingly sophisticated application-specific and specialty fastener demands of your customers.

IFE ‘07 is co-located with INTERWIRE, the largest and longest running wire and cable event in the Americas, which is sponsored by Wire Association International. The natural affinity between wire and cable, and fastener manufacturers creates a synergistic event which significantly expands the business opportunities for exhibitors at both shows...while providing an additional value for attendees.

Check out the list of exhibitors on the opposite IFE is North America’s only ‘machinery show’ for page, and plan now to be part of the success. For the fastener industry. Plan now to be a part of it. For more information contact us at: 203.794.0444; more information, e-mail us: toll-free at 800.688.1698, or by e-mail at: attendee@IFEtradeshow.com info@IFEtradeshow.com

Machinery...Materials...Tooling...Components...Accessories...

Supplies and Services...and Co-Location with INTERWIRE. It’s all here at IFE ‘07...And complete information on attending and exhibiting is just a ‘click’ away at: www.IFEtradeshow.com

Supported by the

Industrial Fastener Institute

Media Support

INTERNATIONAL FASTENER & PRECISION FORMED PARTS MANUFACTURING E x p o s i t i o n a n d C o n f e r e n c e May 7-10, 2007 • I-X Center Cleveland, Ohio USA Co-located with Wire Association International

If you’re a supplier to the international fastener and precision formed parts manufacturing industry, make plans now to meet the active, buying market for the latest advances in machinery, materials, components, accessories, supplies and services—prospective customers you won’t meet at any other fastener show on the North American continent. With months to go until showtime, IFE ‘07 is more than 70% sold. Be sure you’re not shut out of the action...reserve your space today!

EXHIBITORS

(as of November 20, 2006)

American Fastener Journal Anderson Controls Arken Manufacturing, Inc. Asahi Sunac Corp.

Barbarotto International B.M. Rebuilders, Inc. Can-Eng Furnaces Carlo Salvi S.p.A. Chun Zu Machinery Industry Cold Header Machine Computer Insights, Inc. Creative Carbide Drawing Technology, Inc. ELP

E.W. Menn Fastener Equipment Corp

Fastener World Sponsored Companies FH Machinery Formatec GmbH Greenslade Fastener Services Hariton Machinery

Heroslam SAL Hilgeland-Nutap GmbH

Hydropulsor Industrial Fastener Institute

Intools Inc. J & J Carbide Tools, Inc. Jern Yao Enterprises Co., Ltd. Johnstown Wire Technologies, Inc.

Manufacturing Solutions, Inc. Mectron Inspection Systems, Inc. Metal Forming Systems, Inc. Nakashimada Engineering Works, Ltd National Machinery LLC OSG Tap & Die, Inc. PCC Precision Tool Group Plan-E-Tech, Inc. Push Up Tools Quality Rebuilding Corp.

Reed Machinery, Inc. Reg-Ellen Machine Tool Corp.

Rockford Manufacturing Group Rockform Tooling & Machining/Gator Die Supplies RTM Products

Sacma

Sakamura Machine Co. Ltd. Sanmei Company Scientific Forming Technologies SMART Technologies Sterling Die Talleres Saspi, SA Temsa Truform Equipment, Inc. USA Carbide Tooling Unimatic Engineering

Universal Punch Corp

Videx Machine Engineering Wrentham Tool Products

IFE is sponsored and produced by the International Fastener Machinery & Suppliers’ Association 107 Mill Plain Road • Danbury, Connecticut 06811 USA Tel: 203.794.0444 • 800.688.1698 • Fax: 203.743.4810 • info@IFEtradeshow.com

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WAI 2007: Report to members The following Report to the Members is intended to provide an overview of the Association’s activities during the 2006 year as well as a look forward. It addresses many, but not all, key elements of the operation.

Questions can be directed to President Tom Moran at tmoran@wirenet.org or Executive Director Steve Fetteroll at sfetteroll@wirenet.org.

2006.will be remembered as the year that The Wire Association International, Inc. (WAI) furthered its efforts to serve the global wire and cable industry by establishing a new company to service the Asian region.

The company, WAI Wire and Cable Services Pvt. Ltd. (WCS), is the organization’s first office outside of the United States in the 77 year history of the Association. WCS was officially incorporated under Indian law in June 2006 and is based in Pune, India.

This was no small step but it was one that the WAI’s Board of Directors heartily endorsed. It agreed that the Association, like much of the industry it serves, should have a presence in Asia. It further determined that it should be based in India because of the tremendous growth occurring in this region, the language commonalities and the early success of the local chapter that was formed in 2002.

In support of the decision, R.K. Tyagi, the president of the Indian Chapter and a mem-

ber of the WAI Board of Directors, observed, “WAI is a valuable resource to the Indian market that is now competing in a challenging global market.”

In October 2006, WAI held its first-ever International Technical Conference in New Delhi, India.

Wanting to open an office is one thing, but finding the right person to head it is just as important. In this case, if the WAI was given a wish list of attributes it could have asked for in a managing director and sole employee, it could not have done better. Anand W. Bhagwat is uniquely qualified to launch this new venture as he has more than 20 years of wire industry experience and an intimate knowledge of the Association, having served in a variety of capacities including President in 2005. He knows the country, many of the companies and key people there, and brings a “home field” advantage to the operation. Any company that has opened a new office can appreciate those attributes, and one could say that the WAI has been blessed.

In its initial six months of operation, WCS has There was a sense of energy on the show floor at Wire Expo established the framework 2006 in Boston.

42 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

for operating in the country and has begun implementing the short-term business plan.

An important first step has been interacting with the industry, assessing the needs of all segments and introducing The Wire Association International brand.

The company was formed just in time to assist the local planning committee in managing the 2006 International Technical Conference that was held October 5-7, 2006, in New Delhi, India.

This inaugural conference, which attracted 100 attendees, provided an excellent forum for introducing WCS to the region. More importantly, the conference provided meaningful educational programming and valuable networking opportunities for those in attendance.

WCS’s Bhagwat gives credit to the Chapter’s leadership, which provided the foundation from which WCS can now grow. “While I knew that the India Chapter was very dedicated and committed to organization’s mission, I was immediately impressed with the extensive network in which they are involved and the general awareness of the Association that they have generated in this market,” Bhagwat said.

Interwire A primary focus of the organization during the past year has been on Interwire planning.

At the center of the effort has been the positioning of Interwire 2007, along with the colocated International Fastener Exposition (IFE), for success at the I-X Center in Cleveland.

Moving the show into the Midwest has generated considerable interest from the industry as well as opportunities to refine this longstanding event. Two important related initiatives are the Exhibition Planning Committee’s emphasis on attracting attendees from outside of the U.S. and the Local Planning Committee’s decision to add a celebration to the exhibition floor on Wednesday afternoon of the show.

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Additionally, the Exhibition Planning Committee devoted considerable time in 2006 to evaluating location options for future Interwire shows, and announcements are expected during the year regarding Interwire venues for 2009 and 2011 as well as Wire Expo 2010.

Wire Journal International The Wire Journal International (WJI) continues to be the voice for the Association and a resource for information and analysis on the industry. The direction of the WJI is to continue to expand its international coverage, while integrating the Association’s growing web presence.

The magazine is currently delivered to 12,148 subscribers in 107 countries, and wirenet.org traffic exceeded 150,000 visitors. You can expect to see further changes ahead as more emphasis is being placed on practical information.

Another area that is being developed is electronic delivery of the WJI. There are many options to choose from with this technology and you can expect to see further news on this front soon.

Operational The realigned committees were fully operational in 2006 and the Association continues to receive considerable contributions from the 100 plus volunteers that serve on the 11 different committees (see WAI Committee chart on p. 44). The objective in realigning the committees in the 4th quarter of 2005 was to provide more focused activities for each of the groups to manage; recognizing that their schedules are extremely busy. The transition has gone well and refinements are expected to continue in an attempt to make volunteering less time consuming.

Look closely at the screen and you can see Anand Bhagwat, at home in India, taking part in a WAI staff meeting via a videoconference. wish to network and take advantage of regional meetings.

The 2006 Wire Expo, which was held in Boston, attracted over 2,400 attendees. The program included 307 exhibitors and 39 technical papers as well as several popular general sessions. The support of the event from the New England Chapter and key local companies contributed greatly to the success of the event, which included a reception at Fenway Park that even New York Yankee fans admitted enjoying.

Synergies and looking forward The Association is continuously seeking to extend value through cooperation with related industry groups. The 2007 co-location of Interwire and IFE in Cleveland is the result of collaboration with the International Fastener Machinery & Suppliers Association.

Similar cooperative efforts are being explored.

WAI’s immediate past president, Brian Bouvier, observed that, “The Board is committed to exploring synergistic opportunities that are consistent with WAI’s educational mission and serve the industry.” He further pointed out that the organization is proud to be working with a wide range of industry groups including ACIMAF, AWIA, ANTAAC, AWPA, CET, SWMAI, IWMA and WCISA. The goal for 2007 is to continue branding the Association through targeted educational programming and services tailored specifically for the market, growing readership of the Wire Journal International and establishing cooperative relationships, as well as pursuing other priorities.

Membership As of press time, the total number of Wire Association International members was 2,414, which includes 305 life members.

WAI currently has members in 67 different countries.

At the Reconvene Meeting, the Board of Directors approved the chartering of the Italy Chapter, which has become the Association’s third chapter outside the U.S., joining the India Chapter and the Polish Chapter.

Combined with the six U.S. chapters, WAI now has a total of nine chapters. Those chapters remain a key for members who

In 2006, WAI’s Board of Directors addressed a wide range of issues, from ways to further improve the technical programs and expand membership to international initiatives and ways to best improve Interwire for 2007 and beyond.

JANUARY 2006 43

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WAI News 2007 WAI organizational chart Below are the committees/boards, and chairmen, that will help direct the Association’s range of activities in 2007.

Board of Directors Thomas Moran (President) National Standard Co. Ronald Reed (1st Vice President) Horizon Wire & Cable Antonio Ayala (2nd Vice President) J.J. Lowe Associates Inc. Brian Bouvier (Immediate Past President) Lloyd and Bouvier Inc.

Oversight Committee Antonio Ayala, J.J. Lowe Associates, Inc..

Conference Programming Committee Nick Nickoletopoulos, Ivaco Rolling Mills Dane Armendariz, Henkel Surface Tech.

Education Committee Donnie Norton, Phifer Wire Products, Inc. Paper Awards Committee Mike Peacock Delphi Packard Electric Systems

Tom Moran Member Relations Committee Barry Mosemann, SAMP USA, Inc.

Eduardo Anaya, Indepa SC

Memorial Awards Committee Jack B. Salt

Dane Armendariz Henkel Surface Technologies

Publications Committee Kurt Breischaft, Belden CDT

Ferruccio Bellina, TKT Group

Exhibition Planning Committee Tom Maxwell, Jr., Die Quip Corporation

Kurt Breischaft, Belden CDT

Finance Committee Ron Schenk, RichardsApex, Inc.

Lawrence El-Hindi, Filtertech Inc. Masoud Garshasb Phelps Dodge Copper Products

Bylaws Committee Paul Pawlikowski Delphi Packard Electric Systems

William Jarae, Mittal Steel USA

Nominating Committee Dave Richards, RichardsApex, Inc.

Erik Macs, Fine International Corp.

Chapters A list of WAI Chapter presidents will be presented in the February issue.The chapters represent approximately 1,000 WAI members.

John W. Martin III, Mar-Mac Wire Inc. Thomas Maxwell, Jr., Die Quip Corp.

Nicolas Nickoletopoulos, Ivaco Inc. Dominique Perroud, SAMP USA Inc. William Rump, Davis Wire Corp.

Kenneth Scott, Consultant Andrew Stromer, Southwire Co. Raj Kumar Tyagi, Assomac Machines Ltd.

44 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

India Chapter Italy Chapter Mid-South Chapter Midwest Chapter New England Chapter Ohio Valley Chapter Poland Chapter Southeast Chapter Western Chapter

WAI President Tom Moran, a member of the WAI since 1991, has more than 30 years of experience in the wire and cable industry. Before joining National Standard Co. as plant manager last year, he was employed by Taubensee Steel & Wire, focusing on process and product improvement. He began his career with Sivaco New York in 1974 and held positions in operations management for 12 of his 21 years with that company. His technical and field experience encompass all areas of wire manufacturing and end use, and include a working knowledge of low and high-carbon, cold heading and annealed processing.

Moran is serving his second term on the WAI Board of Directors, and has been on the Executive Committee since 2003. Prior to the recent committee restructuring, he served on the Technical Council since 1998, and chaired the group in 2005.

He was a member of both the Ferrous and Suppliers Management Committees, as well as the Membership and Website Advisory Committees. He helped organize both the Wire Expo 2002 and Interwire 2003 events.

Moran is a member and past president of the WAI’s Midwest Chapter, as well as a frequent moderator for WAI technical programs.

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Thomas Moran to be the 2006 WAI president Thomas E. Moran will serve as WAI president for 2007, succeeding Brian Bouvier, Lloyd & Bouvier Inc. Other officers for 2007 include First Vice President Ron Reed, Horizon Wire & Cable.; and Second Vice President Antonio Ayala, J.J. Lowe & Associates.

The WAI officers are key to the direction and planning for events, products and services to serve the WAI’s more than 2,400 members.

Steven Fetteroll serves as executive director/secretary and David LaValley is the treasurer.

First Vice President Ronald Reed joined the Wire Associpositions as both chapter director and ation International in president. He has also 1988, and is serving his moderated numerous second term on the WAI technical programs for Board of Directors and WAI. his first as a member of Reed began his career in the Executive Committee. the wire industry in 1983 He was chairman of the as controller for Helix Electrical Management Wire Corporation in Committee, on which he Leominster, Massachuserved from 1995 until setts, USA. In 1993 he the recent reorganization. became division manager He now is a member of for Horizon Wire & the Executive Committee, Cable, also located in the Board of Directors Leominster. He is Chairand the Finance Commitman of the Board of Ronald Reed tee. He serves as a liaison Selectmen in Ashburnto the Education and Paper Awards ham, Massachusetts, USA. He holds a Committees.

B.S. degree in business administration Reed is a charter member of the from Fitchburg State College.

WAI’s New England Chapter and held

Second Vice President Antonio Ayala is currently Director, Latin-America Sales at J.J. Lowe Associates, Inc., a position he has held since 1998. His territories include Mexico, Central and South America.

Prior to joining J.J. Lowe, he was employed by AXA Group (Monterrey, Mexico), Conductores Latincasa (San Luis Potosi, Mexico) and Ericsson (Stockholm, Sweden).

Ayala holds a mechanical and electrical Engineering degree from The Engi-

neering University at Veracruz, Mexico, as well as an MBA from Ohio University.

Ayala has been a WAI member since 2001. He became a member of the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee in 2005,

and is currently the Chairman of the Oversight Committee as well as Executive Liaison to both the Exhibition Planning and Member Relations Committee.

Ayala instructed a short course on extrusion in 2005, and in 2004 he chaired the local committee that organized the International Technical Conference in Queretaro, Mexico.

Antonio Ayala

Executive Committee and Board of Directors for 2006 In 2007, the WAI Executive Committee will consist of President Tom Moran, National Standard Co.; First Vice President Ron Reed, Horizon Wire & Cable Co.; Second Vice President Antonio Ayala, J.J. Lowe & Associates; Immediate Past President Brian Bouvier, Lloyd & Bouvier Inc.; and member Dane Armendariz, Henkel Surface Technologies.

Continuing board members include: Bouvier; Moran; Reed; Armendariz; Ayala; and the following: Eduardo Anaya, Indepa SC; Ferruccio Bellina, TKT Group; Kurt F. Breischaft, Belden/CDT Inc.; and Lawrence El-Hindi, Filtertech, Inc. Also serving are, Masoud Garshasb, Phelps Dodge Copper Products; William

Jarae, Mittal Steel USA; Erik Macs, Fine International Corp.; Thomas Maxwell, Die Quip Corp.; Nicolas Nickelotopoulos, Ivaco Inc.; Dominique Perroud, SAMP USA Inc.; John Martin, III, Mar-Mac Wire; William Rump, Davis Wire Corp.; Ken Scott, consultant; Andrew Stromer, Southwire Co.; and Raj Kumar (R.K.) Tyagi, Assomac Machines Ltd.

JANUARY 2006 45

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The fundamentals to return to Interwire 2007 Three years ago at Wire Expo 2004, the WAI began an ambitious three-part educational program: Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing. This year, a new cycle will begin at Interwire 2007, with the return of Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing, a two-day program that combines traditional teaching with combined class discussions.

The March WJI issue will have full details about the program, which has evolved with input from attendees and instructors to make it even more practical. Elements of programs from the different cycles will be incorporated into the program to be presented at Interwire 2007 in Cleveland.

“We think attendees will like the way we’re refining the program,” said Marc Murray, WAI’s director of education.

“We’re also pleased to report that all of this year’s instructors are returning presenters from the course’s first threeyear cycle.”

Instructors include Anand Bhagwat, WAI Wire & Cable India Pvt. Ltd., India; Keith Donahue, Zumbach Electronics Corp., USA; Robert Glodowski, Stratcor, USA; David Gzesh, Henkel Technologies, USA; Marcus Paech, Witels Apparate-Maschinen Albert GmbH & Co., Germany; Horace Pops, Horace Pops Consulting, Inc., USA; and Robert M. Shemenski,

Call for Papers is issued for Wire 07 Bologna conference Contacts: in Europe, Phillip Knight, Abstracts for technical papers are IWMA, tel. 011-44-1926-834680; ebeing sought for Wire 07 Bolgna, to mail phillip@intras.co.uk; elsewhere, be held November 5-7, 2007, in Steve Fetteroll, WAI, tel. 001-203Bologna, Italy.

453-2777, ext. 132, e-mail sfetThe program is open to both ferrous teroll@wirenet.org. and nonferrous/electrical wire sectors.

The deadline for submitting a technical paper is February 1.

Authors will be notified of their acceptance status by March 1, accepted manuscripts are due on July 1.

The program is a multi-organizational industry effort that includes: The Associazione Costruttori Ital- Attendees atteneding the technical program at Prague 2005. iani Macchine Per Filo (ACIMAF), an Italian association that promotes Italian technology in the sector of machines and WAI contact info products for the wire and cable manufacturing industry; The International Name Wire and Machinery Association Steven J. Fetteroll, executive director (IWMA), a U.K. based association David B. LaValley, treasurer that is the world’s largest corporate Mark A. Marselli, editor-in-chief membership association for the wire, Charles H. (Chip) Marsh, membership director cable and wire product industries; Marc Murray, education director Comité Européen de la Tréfilerie Janice Swindells, director of marketing services (CET), which represents steel wire drawing in Europe; and the WAI. Robert Xeller, director of sales

46 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

RMS Consulting, Inc., USA. The initial program presented three phases: Principles, presented at Wire Expo 2004; Practices, presented at Interwire 2005; and Products, presented at Wire Expo 2006.

The Fundamentals program is designed to be of practical value to both operational and technical individuals who work in the nonferrous, ferrous or electrical sectors of the wire and cable industry. It is meant to assist wire and cable personnel who have various levels of knowledge. Students will further their understanding by participation in exercises, examples, case studies, etc.

A call for bloggers Are you a blogger at heart? If so, the WAI wants to hear from you. The Association is looking for multiple individuals interested in starting and running blogs at the WAI website.

The goal is to create a practical sounding board for the industry. We want to offer different types of blogs where people can feel free to comment on breaking industry news, stories you may have read, debate topics (i.e., balancing the need for open markets versus providing a “level playing field”), make the case for more industry R&D investment, suggest how industry trade shows (including WAI’s) could be better, to ???

If you have ideas, we want to hear from you. Send an e-mail to editorial@wirenet.org noting your background in the wire and cable industry and include any thoughts you might have on what you would like to blog about. ■

Phone e-mail 203-453-2777 x 115 sfetteroll@wirenet.org 203-453-0593 dlavalley@wirenet.org 203-453-7579 x 132 mmarselli@wirenet.org 203-453-1748 cmarsh@wirenet.org 203-453-2777 x 121 mmurray@wirenet.org 203-453-2777 x 117 jswindells@wirenet.org 203-458-7578 bxeller@wirenet.org

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Plenary speakers Dr. Arnab Sarkar, Nextrom (USA) Inc., and Patrick Steinemann, Goldman Sachs International.

More than 110 companies were represented at the IWCS/Focus event at the Suppliers’ Exhibition.

IWCS/Focus reports good showing for 2006 event The 55th IWCS/Focus Conference and Symposium in Providence, Rhode Island, USA, drew some 1,100 attendees with a combination of its technical and general programs, tabletop exhibits and opportunity for networking.

IWCS CEO/Director John Barteld reported that attendance “was about as expected, up about 5% from 2005.” The number of companies represented was about the same, some new ones and some absent in balance. The attendance proportion from North America was also consistent with 2005, he noted The main attraction of the event is the technical papers, and more than a hundred presentations were made in 16 sessions.

“The assessment of the post-conference

meeting was that the quality of technical papers “is not diminishing at all, and in fact is impressively rising,” Barteld said.

Aside from the technical papers, IWCS/Focus is known for its range of presentations on industry topics.

Principal analyst Rob Daniels, CRU International, highlighted the extent of China’s potential domestic demand, with a population some four times larger than that of the U.S. but only half the electrical consumption. He noted that China’s domestic cable production remains very fragmented, with its top five domestic producers accounting for about 10 to 11 percent of the market. By contrast, the top five U.S. producers account for about a third of the U.S. market, he noted. Another 10 percent

or so consumption (production) in China comes from foreign ventures while the majority of production, nearly 80 percent, comes from small- and medium-sized cable manufacturers, he pointed out. Many of those domestic companies operate regionally and little is known about them, he said, adding that those companies could number 5,000 or even 10,000. “Nobody really has a clear picture” of the total domestic Chinese market, he observed.

U.S. Senator Jack Reed, D-Rhode Island, spoke about U.S. trade policy, noting that the “citizens of the world all long for a level playing field that just doesn’t seem to be there.” He spoke in favor of international trade while acknowledging that to date the U.S. has not fared well with its trading

POF image not yet seeing stars in optical fiber industry POF World East, organized by the Plastic Optical Fiber Trade Organization (POFTO), repeated its co-location with IWCS/Focus at Providence in 2006.

The results, observed POF World East Organizer Paul Polishuk, who is co-chair of POFTA, was both good and bad. The good news was that there was good news to report, he explained. During a presentation in the Executive Forum on Monday, he said that creation of POF standards will help POF be a driver. “For the first time, POF has a seat at the table.”

POF has been used extensively in the

48 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

automotive industry, mostly in Europe, and the technology has the potential for even greater use in other applications, such as industrial controls, consumer electronics and supercomputers, Polishuk insisted.

One such use is for supercomputers that are hobbled by problems by bundles of copper wires on air flow, a challenge that POF can help meet, he noted. Keynote addresses on the State of the POF Industry and 40 Gbps Data Links Over Plastic Optical Fiber, the latter presented by Georgia Tech researchers, were very dynamic, Polishuk said. “However, despite the fact that

attendance was up and there were some exciting papers on POF technology and applications, the response from the wire and cable industry was disappointing.”

“POF still has a long way to go in convincing people that it is for real and that it should be paid attention,” Polishuk said. “It is almost like the glass optical fiber business was in its early stages. A big part of marketing was convincing end users that it was for real!”

For more details, contact Polishuk at ppolishuk@igigroup.com or go to www. pofworld.com or www.igigroup.com.

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If you had to make a cable that circled the world...

A 40,000-kilometer cable that ran underwater and underground, emerging in cities, towns and villages around the globe. A cable that had to last. A cable billions of people depended on not to fail. A cable that had to be manufactured on six continents.

Who would you turn to for jacket and insulation materials? Who could you count on for consistent quality? Purity?

The product portfolio and expertise to provide the right compounds for every environment? The capability for testing and validation to make sure your materials met specifications for performance and processing? Global manufacturing and support?

Certainly you would encounter a world of unexpected challenges. Who would you rely on, not just for materials, but for solutions?

If the world depended on your product, for power or telecommunications, you’d want to choose Dow Wire & Cable.

Don’t just buy materials.

Buy solutions.

Contact Dow Wire & Cable: w w w . d o w w i r e a n d c a b l e . c o m In USA and Canada: 1-800-441-4DOW / In Europe: 00800 3 694 6367 (800 783 825 from Italy, 990 3 694 6367 from Finland) / In Asia Pacific: +800-7776-7776 / Use reference #494-HOXPJ ®Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company Dow Wire & Cable is a global business unit of The Dow Chemical Company and its subsidiaries.

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Presentations ranged from professional development courses to a wide range of technical papers.

powers, especially in Asia.

One of the two plenary speakers, Patrick Steinemann, Executive Director, European Industrials Group, Goldman Sachs International, London, United Kingdom, presented “An Investor’s View of Wire & Cables.”

He made a good case by historical records that showed the wire and cable industry deserves more respect as a good sector for long-term investment.

The second plenary speaker, Dr. Arnab Sarkar, Vice President Nextrom (U.S.A.) Incorporated, presented “Recovery of the Optical Fiber and Cable Industry.” Sarkar drew much attention last year for his blunt and bleak outlook for optical fiber. This time, his presentation had more upside, including projections for a potential shortage for high-quality preform capacity.

Sarkar’s presentation furthered a talk by

IWCS CEO/Director John Barteld on the show floor at the Rhode Island Convention Center.

Patrick Fay, KMI/CRU, who the prior day had projected that worldwide demand for cabled fiber, bolstered by FTTX, would grow 10 percent a year.

Attendees also had opportunities to meet with industry suppliers at the Suppliers’ Exhibition, where more than 110 companies showcased products and services to the industry.

Stephen Hess, Kinrei USA, said that he exhibits to remain “in the loop” regarding any news and staying acquainted with customers. He said that it is “worthwhile and simpler to be at a show where customers come to you instead of having to be on the road to see them. For that reason, I will be exhibiting in Orlando and playing golf. I look forward to seeing Mickey again.”

Nextrom/Rosendahl noted that there was much interest by attendees, and contracts

were signed regarding Rosendahl´s complete manufacturing solutions for the production of RF Low Attenuation cables.

The next show, which will take place at the Coronado Springs Hotel and Convention Center in Lake Buena Vista, Florida (near Orlando), November 11 to 14, 2007, will include a Nov. 11 golf outing.

IWCS CEO/Director John Barteld said that he was optimistic about the 2007 event. “We will have a good following to Florida, although we may lose some of the ‘walk-in’ traffic for the exhibition,” he said.

While the New England location draws a lot of drive-in traffic and one-day visits, the Corondao facility is superb, the program will offer good content and the exhibitors will be pleased with a revised schedule with more access to attendees for more hours, and more convenience, he said.

IWCS and ECA agree to pursue closer relationship, possible affiliation The International Wire and Cable Symposium, Inc (IWCS) and the Electronic Components, Assemblies and Materials Association (ECA) have entered into a “Cooperation Agreement,” a step expected to lead to affiliation between the two groups within the next three years.

The agreement runs for three years, after which each party will assess the results of the collaboration and take further action to affiliate, the release said. “It is anticipated that the core IWCS program will remain in place, with new products and services added to address a broader audience of suppliers and users,” it said. Spokesman for the two organizations, which have worked closely at IWCS/Focus, said that the con50 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

cept makes sense given industry trends.

“The industry we serve has been shifting the focus of its innovation from the wire and cable itself increasingly towards interconnect and application technologies,” said IWCS Board Chairman John Sicotte. “In keeping with this trend, the scope of the IWCS forum is evolving to better address all the constituent and collective elements of end-to-end cable systems. This cooperation, and possible affiliation with the ECA, is a major step towards expanding the scope and role of the IWCS to better serve the changing needs and interests of the wire and cable industry.”

“ECA has been a strong supporter of IWCS for many years, having worked

together in expanding the IWCS program to include new programs such as the Executive Forum in the annual IWCS Conference, said ECA President Robert Willis.

“This (step) takes this support to a higher level. Technology and innovation are focused on systems and this new combination addresses that focus.”

ECA, the electronic components sector of the Electronic Industries Alliance (EIA), represents manufacturers and producers of passive, electro-mechanical, wire, cable and connector electronic components, component arrays and assemblies, and materials and support services. ■

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LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES HOT •TOPIC •HOT •REGION •HOT •PRODUCT LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES HOT •TOPIC •HOT •REGION •HOT •PRODUCT LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES HOT •TOPIC •HOT •REGION •HOT •PRODUCT LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES HOT •TOPIC •HOT •REGION •HOT •PRODUCT LEADING •CABTLEO•PCOCMAPBALNEIES HOT •TOPIC •HOT •RC EGOIOM N •PHOATN•PIREOSDUCT LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES HOT •TOPIC •HOT •REGION •HOT •PRODUCT LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES HOT •TOPIC •HOT •REGION •HOT •PRODUCT LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES HOT •TOPIC •HOT •REGION •HOT •PRODUCT LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES HOT •TOPIC •HOT •REGION •HOT •PRODUCT LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES A SPECIAL REPORT

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LEATDO PINCGA•BCL EABLE •COMPANIES L COMPANIES A SPECIAL REPORT

An Integer Research & WJI project This feature presents a snapshot of the world’s major wire and cable companies, based on excerpts from a report from U.K.-based Integer Research, as well as other information the company provided. The term “snapshot” is used because the industry is seldom static for long, and companies continue to make acquisitions, divest non-core operations, add or drop product sectors.

The following pages profile the world’s top 20 companies, including a description of the businesses as well as either a Q&A or analysis. It also includes brief summations of companies that ranked 21-50. Readers likely are familiar with most, if not all, the top 20 companies, but it is not easy for anyone to keep up with all their activity. Thus, this story serves as an industry playbill.

Integer Research, which based its rankings on revenues, notes that its evaluations exclude revenues that are not directly wire and cable. Further, the revenues figures that are listed for the companies refer strictly to Integer Research believes that its projections for 2006 global cable wire and cable revenue and do not include that of the revenue were on the mark. overall parent company, which may have substantial revenue from its other operations.

As revenues inherently favor the largest manufacturers, four companies that did not make the top 20 list were chosen by Integer Research to be highlighted. The story also has a Q&A with Integer (p. 82) and two pages of short “What’s Hot” Of the top 50 companies presented in pieces that look at regions, products with potential and some industry trends. this report, 16 are based in the U.S., six Collectively, this story presents a sense of the range of the capabilities and are from Japan, four each from Italy and resources of the global wire and cable industry. Integer Research estimates that the Germany, three each from South Korea top 50 cable companies employee approximately 300,000 people at more than 700 and Taiwan, two each from Mexico, The plants located in just about every country on the face of the earth.

Netherlands and Saudi Arabia, and one If one factors in all the suppliers of the machinery to those companies as well as all the essentials that make production possible, from the raw materials to dies and each from Australia, Belgium, Chile, lubricants, measuring equipment and more—then considers all the low key yet Denmark, France, Malaysia, Poland and vital roles that the industry plays in making society work—even in an age increasSouth Africa. An interesting point is that ingly dominated by the Internet, the importance of the wire and cable industry can while the hottest market continues to be be better appreciated.

China, no Chinese company made the top For more information on Integer Research, see p. 54.

50 list—yet.

Of Note:

Integer Research will have more to say on this report and other industry topics during Interwire 2007 in Cleveland, Ohio, USA, where its representatives will make a presentation on Wednesday, May 9.

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S LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES Nexans SA is a French-based cable company with a manufacturing presence in more than 30 countries worldwide. Nexans is Alcatel’s former cables and components segment, but Alcatel retained its optical fiber and some limited fiber optic cable manufacturing facilities.

These Alcatel operations were subsequently merged with those of Draka in 2005. Nexans competes with Prysmian (formerly Pirelli Cables), Draka in Europe, General Cable, and globally with Furukawa Electric and Sumitomo Electric.

Today, the global wire and cable maker employs 20,000 people and has three divisions: Power Cables; Telecommunications Cables and Electrical Wires. Nexans Power Cable Division is the company’s leading division, producing power cables for the infrastructure business and for different industrial markets such as oil and gas, shipbuilding, handling, automation, etc. The Electrical Wire Division is a world leader in copper wire, machine wire and wire rod. The Telecommunications Cables Division is second in the world for cabling solutions and a leader in copper wireline and special data transmission cables in the European market.

Nexans has approximately 100 cable manufacturing facilities throughout the world, with facilities for example in Canada, U.S., Brazil, France, Norway, Germany, Benelux, Switzerland, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Morocco, Nigeria, Lebanon, Egypt, Australia, South Korea, China, Vietnam and Japan.

In March 2001, Nexans acquired Daesung Cable’s (now Nexans Korea) operations in Korea, Vietnam and Tanzania. In 2002, it acquired Germany’s Petri, a specialist in the design, manufacture and sale of medium and low-voltage accessories for power cable networks, and Kukdong, a Korean producer of LAN data and ship cables. In 2003, it acquired the Brazilian company, Furukawa Cabos de Energia S.A. (FCE), which offers bare and insulated aluminum cables for transportation and power distribution networks. Then, it completed its product portfolio and strengthened its geographical presence by acquiring two companies based in Italy and Lebanon, Cabloswiss and Liban Cables.

Nexans was busy in 2005. It added to its Asian cable operations by opening Nexans (Shanghai) Wires and Cables Co. Ltd. in China to produce special cables. It set up a joint venture, Essex Nexans, with Superior Essex, which now owns 60 percent of Nexans’ magnet wire operations. At the same time, Nexans closed its Cormano magnet wire plant in Italy, but retained ownership of a CTC and rectangular magnet wire plant in Simcoe, Canada, and Tianjin, China. It acquired Swiss-based Confecta, a producer of high-value cable harness for the railway industry and also formed a joint venture (it owns 60%) with Nhat Linh Co. in Hanoi, Vietnam, to produce power cables.

In 2006, Nexans announced plans to develop a plant in Uglich, in the Yaroslavl Region in Russia, for the production of electric power and telecoms cables. It concluded a new joint venture with Viscas, a Japanese company, for manufacturing high-voltage power cables and submarine power cables. Viscas, owned by Furukawa Electric Co. Ltd. and Fujikura Ltd., will transfer its existing Tokyo Bay plant to the new entity, which will be 66 percent owned

by Nexans and 34 percent by Viscas. It also announced the closing of its acquisition of the Australian company Olex, leader of the southern Asia-Pacific cable industry. This acquisition reinforces Nexans’ position in energy cables and doubles its exposure to the buoyant markets of the Asia-Pacific region.

The global wire and cable maker employs 20,000 people

Q A AND

1

Nexans SA, France 2005 Revenues: US$5.084 billion

Q: Nexans has made many organizational moves the last few years: Is it likely to continue this path?

A:

Nexans will definitely pursue its constant strategy of external growth. This strategy has two major objectives. It aims at increasing Nexans’ presence in geographical areas with growth opportunities, and widening the Group’s product portfolio, developing high value added specialty products.

JANUARY 2007 53

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LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES L Profile: Integer Research Ltd. Integer Research, a London-based research and consulting company for wire and cable, and other commodity industries, provided the information in this story from its latest report from its Wire & Cable Financial Insight (W&C FI) service.

The report examines the world’s 60 largest cable producers, 50 of which have been presented in this story. The full report contains much more analysis and financial data, including information on both the leading public and private companies in North America, Europe and Asia. See p. 82 for a Q&A with WJI and Philip Radbourne, Integer Director, Wire & Cable Division.

“Integer Research’s goal is to provide companies the information they need to make the right decisions in the increasingly competitive cable market,” Radbourne said. “Our reports and consulting services,” he said, “can help a company as it tries to assess its strategy, investment, operations, merger and acquisition, technology, organization and environment.”

Radbourne explained that a major challenge is monitoring the performance of companies where disclosure of financial information can be fairly limited, which is especially true for private companies that have less reporting requirements. Integer’s analysts examine each of the largest cable companies in detail, he said. “This service is published annually, but it still takes months to compile. We have made sure that every company has total revenues, gross profit, operating profit, pretax profit and net profit information, as well as the corresponding margins.”

Oliver Hatfield, also an Integer director, said that the main financial information is used to compare financial performance of different companies, so the performance of a U.S. manufacturer can be compared to others, be Some key Integer Research staffers, l-r, include: Nora Gombos, analyst; Philip Radbourne, director, Wire & Cable Division, nonthey in Germany or Japan. “The data are ferrous; Tim Cheyne, director; Tracy Charles, analyst; Craig standardized and con- French, analyst; Oliver Hatfield, director, Wire & Cable Division, ferrous; and Alistair Wallace, analyst. verted from local currency into U.S. dollars. Our objective is to minimize the use of pro-forma financial statements, which we believe can be misleading.”

Integer also provides research and consultancy work that is both independent and confidential. Its team of analysts has provided specialist financial, strategy and benchmarking information to companies worldwide, both large and small. They travel extensively to Asia, Europe and the Americas.

For more details and information on the report, contact: Kingsley Maunder, Integer Research, tel. 44-20-7503-1265; fax 44-20-7503-1266; e-mail kingsley.maunder@integer-research.com; Internet www.integer-research.com.

54 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Of Note: In the last 18 months, Integer Research notes that it has worked on wire and cable projects that include: • assessment of global market for specialty cable; assessment of the global market for Electronic Wire (Hook-up/UL type) • outlook for global market for low smoke zero halogen cables, in a range of products, from LAN data cables, specialty cable to electronic/computer wire • investment projects/plant expansion feasibility work in the Caribbean, China, India, Vietnam, Eastern Europe and Russia • analysis of U.S. custom cable makers • strategic implications of Chinese CV/VCV power cable capacity on the Asian power cable market • development of Indian power cable market, and its impact on the Asian power cable market; development of the Chinese fiber optic cable market • impact of merger and acquisition on the European MV/HV/EHV power cable market • impact of ADSL on fiber optic versus copper telecom cable demand; developments in LAN data cable from Cat. 5e through to Cat. 6 (connectors) in the U.S. • developing markets for LAN data cables in Eastern Europe and Russia, combined with market development work – identifying channels to market

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S LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES 21

Sumitomo Electric Industries (SEI), Japan 2005 Revenues: US$4.366 billion

Sumitomo Electric Industries (SEI) is a leading Japanese based manufacturer of a wide range of industrial products. A part of the Sumitomo Group, SEI has a complex ownership structure, with numerous subsidiaries reporting both consolidated and non-consolidated results. SEI was established in 1897 originally as a cable maker, and today has more than 300 subsidiaries in more than 30 countries worldwide. The company has diversified in its history of over 100 years, and although still one of the leading wire and cable producers in Japan and worldwide, ahead of rivals Furukawa Electric and Fujikura, it now produces a wide range of products from wire and cable, ceramics, through electronic components, to automotive parts.

The company has two head offices in Japan in Osaka and Tokyo, and three main manufacturing plants in Japan, two of which manufacture wires and cables. SEI's other global sales and manufacturing operations are spread across locations in Asia, the U.S., Europe and in both Oceania and in Africa.

SEI’s operations are arranged under the following business segments: Automotive for the production of wiring harnesses and automotive parts; Information and Communications producing optical fibre cables, optical splicers, data links and network systems such as GE-PON, ADSL and traffic control systems; Electronics which manufactures electronic wires and cables, compound semiconductors, electronic components, irradiated products and flexible printed circuits (FPCs). The Electric Wire and Cable, Energy segment produces magnet wires, copper wire rods and electric power cables, and the Industrial Materials segment produces special steel wires and hard materials.

The company manufactures optical fiber and telecommunications cables at its main Japanese manufacturing plants in Yokohama and Osaka and at its subsidiaries and affiliates in Japan and overseas (such as Sumitomo Electric Lightwave Corp. in the U.S.), and high-grade optical fibers at the subsidiary Kiyohara Sumiden, Ltd. and in China.

SEI's electronic wire production including coaxial and flat-ribbon cables takes place at the two Japanese subsidiaries Sumitomo (SEI) Electronic Wire, Inc. and Sumitomo Electric Flat Components, Inc. and also at more than ten overseas affiliates.

Automotive wires/wiring harnesses are manufactured by the Japanese subsidiary Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Ltd. and by more than 110 subsidiaries and affiliates in Japan and overseas. Together with the group’s continued automotive wiring harness production expansion into China, SEI’s wiring harness operations have followed major customers globally, with group investments into Eastern Europe. In March 2006, SEI acquired Volkswagen Bordnetze GmbH (VWBN), a leading manufacturer of automotive wiring harness in Germany. The acquisition is 60% owned by SEI, 40% by Sumitomo Wiring Systems.

SEI today has more than 300 subsidiaries in 30 countries

Editor’s note: Sumitomo Electric Industries states that its wire and cable revenues for its fiscal year as of the end of March 2006 are US$7.95 billion. As noted in the introduction to this feature, Integer Research’s methodology excludes revenue that is not directly wire and cable and adjusts for revenue from acquisitions.

Integer Analysis: Sumitomo Electric has continued to maintain its position as one of the leading wire and cable companies worldwide through 2005 and 2006.

The company did face some tough times as the global fiber optic cable market slumped five years ago. It has now emerged stronger and more nimble. It has a pre-eminent position worldwide supplying into the consumer electronic markets – with a range of electronic wire, flexible printed circuits and a range of semiconductors.

Sumitomo has been aggressive in its expansion into the Chinese market too, moving many of its labor intensive operations from Japan. It has also expanded further into the automotive wiring harness business with the acquisition of the wiring harness operations of Volkswagen Bordnetze. As more and more complex electronic devices find their way into the modern passenger car, Sumitomo seems well positioned to benefit from this market.

JANUARY 2007 55

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LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES L Prysmian Cables & Systems is the new name for what used to be the cable division of Pirelli & Co. SpA, until Pirelli sold its cable operations to Goldman Sachs Capital Partners in July 2005. Prysmian Cables’ roots in the cable industry started over 130 years ago, and over the years it has established itself as a worldwide leader in the cables market in both the telecom and energy sectors. It operates 54 production facilities in 21 countries on five continents, maintains a presence in 41 countries, and employs more than 12,000 people.

Based in Milan, Italy, Prysmian is now a private company and is no longer listed on any stock exchanges.

The company plans to maintain its existing product portfolio and continue to operate and develop its business in the two core cable sectors of telecoms and energy. Its electrical cable products range from extremely high to very low voltage cables for land, submarine and overhead applications. In addition, Prysmian has achieved a leading position in turn-key projects of underwater links and in cable products for critical applications (resistance to extremely high temperatures, fire, chemical agents and nuclear radiation). Its telecoms selection is just as comprehensive, featuring a full range of fiber optic cables, along with copper telecom cables and xDSL cables.

Prysmian owns some of the most modern manufacturing facilities worldwide, as well as the Giulio Verne, one of the world’s most sophisticated cable-laying ships. Its assets include four advanced R&D centers in Europe and the U.S. It recently announced that production has begun at a new cable plant in Vila Velha, in the southeastern section of Brazil, that will produce umbilical cables for the offshore power industry. During 2006, it finalized the acquisition of the cable business activities of China’s Tianjin Angel Group Co. Ltd., a leading manufacturer of specialized cables for industrial and OEM applications, with two factories in Tianjin with approximately 300 employees. It also signed an agreement with Poland’s EKSA SP. ZO. O., a distributor of energy and telecoms cables and systems, to a 20 percent stake of the company with the possibility to buy more in the future.

Prysmian operates 54 production facilities in 21 countries on five continents

56 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Prysmian CEO Valerio Battista.

Q A AND

3

Prysmian Cables & Systems, Italy 2005 Revenues: US$4.123 billion

Q: Strategically, how does Prysmian see its energy and telecom sectors fitting in the years ahead?

A:

Prysmian intends to confirm and further strengthen its prominent position in both the energy and telecommunication cables industry. This will be done by focusing on high added value and high technology market segments and by improving customer service (especially with the development of complex integrated systems and services for networks installation, management and after sales).

The key leverages for us are innovation and R&D, which will result in new products and services and innovations in production processes, such as the new P-Laser system.

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S LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES 4

Furukawa Electric, Japan 2005 Revenues: US$2.613 billion

Furukawa Electric is a global optical fiber and fiber optic cable producer that also manufactures bare, magnet and aluminum wire, insulated wire and cables and power cables.

The second largest Japanese wire and cable producer after Sumitomo Electric, Furukawa Electric enhanced its status by acquiring Lucent’s OFS (Optical Fiber Solutions) through a joint venture (82%/18%) with CommScope in 2001. However, in 2003, OFS posted substantial losses due to the decline in U.S. demand for optical fiber networks. In 2004, Furukawa Electric took over full ownership of OFS through its U.S. subsidiary, Furukawa Electric North America Inc. The company has its headquarters in Tokyo, and operates a global network of manufacturing plants in Japan, the rest of Asia, Europe and in North America.

Furukawa Electric has listings on the Tokyo, Floor and Xetra Stock Exchanges.

Furukawa is 41% owned by financial institutions, 26% by individual investors, 22% by foreign corporations, and 8% by domestic corporations. Securities companies hold the remaining shares.

The company has six divisions. Its Telecommunication Division produces optical fiber and fiber optic cable, including nonzero dispersion-shifted optical fibre (NZDSF), dispersion compensating fibre (DCF) and erbium-doped fiber (EDF) and photonics (WMD modules).

The Energy Division produces bare, magnet and aluminum wire, insulated wire and cable and power cables. The company’s Electronics and Automotive Systems Division produces batteries and electronic materials, while the Metal Division produces copper alloy sheets, bars, aluminum sheets and plates and extruded products.

Light Metals produces aluminum extruded and rolled products. Finally, Furukawa’s Service Division is involved in real estate and distribution.

Furukawa has 28 manufacturing plants in Asia, outside of Japan. The most recent addition was the new automotive wiring harness production plant set up in Shenzen, China, in September 2005.

Furukawa has extensive global wire and cable manufacturing operations that include 11 wire and cable plants in Japan, some run by Furukawa Electric’s subsidiaries, and others through joint ventures.

Furukawa North America’s U.S. operations include OFS and a joint venture, Delphi Furukawa Wiring Systems LLC, which was set up with majority shareholder Delphi Corp. (80%/20%) in December 2004. It supplies automotive wire and wire harnesses to companies such as Toyota in North America.

Furukawa North America’s U.S. operations include OFS and a joint venture, Delphi Furukuawa Wiring Systems LLC

Integer Analysis: Furukawa continues to struggle following the acquisition of OFS in 2001.

Despite its restructuring efforts and disposal of OFS assets, the Telecommunications segment has struggled to return to profitability. Looking ahead, Furukawa has announced plans to continue focusing its efforts in the automotive and electronics sectors where it sees future growth.

Furukawa has 28 manufacturing plants in Asia, outside of Japan

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LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES Based in Highland Heights, Kentucky, USA, General Cable is one of the largest manufacturers of wire and cable products in North America. It was originally incorporated in New Jersey in 1927. At that time it brought together the plant facilities and manufacturing experience of several older companies founded in the late 19th century, including Phillips Wire and Safety Cable Company, and Standard Underground Cable.

General Cable was part of Penn Central until it was incorporated in its current form in 1994 after it was acquired by Wassall PLC. In 1997 it became a separate publicly traded company. It employs more than 7,700 people at its 29 manufacturing facilities located in 11 countries, with sales representation around the globe.

General Cable is a global leader in the development, design, manufacture, marketing and distribution of copper, aluminum and fiber optic wire and cable products for the energy, industrial, specialty and communications markets. Its operations are divided into eight reportable segments: North American Electric Utility, International Electric Utility, North American Portable Power and Control, North American Electrical Infrastructure, International Electrical Infrastructure, Transportation and Industrial Harnesses, Telecommunications and Networking.

North American Electric Utility cable products include low-, medium- and high-voltage power distribution and power transmission products.

International Electric Utility cable products include low-, medium-, high- and extra-high-voltage power distribution and power transmission products. North American Portable Power and Control cable products include electronic signal, control, sound and security cables, and flexible cords. North American Electrical Infrastructure cable products include low- and medium-voltage industrial instrumentation, power and control cables. International Electrical Infrastructure cable products include maintenance cords and cables, flexible construction cables, and industrial instrumentation, power and control cables. Transportation and Industrial Harnesses cable products include automotive wire and cable and application-specific wire harnesses and assemblies. Telecommunications wire and cable products include low-voltage outside plant wire and cable products for aerial, buried and duct applications. Networking products include low-voltage network and other information technology cables.

General Cable has plants in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Spain, Portugal, France, Turkey, Brazil, Angola, New Zealand and Fiji. In 2005, General Cable made several acquisitions to expand its business. It purchased Safran SA’s former power and telecom cables business SILEC SA; Draka Comteq’s North American electronic and data-communication cable businesses, which included well-known brands Helix and HiTemp; and Beru SA, an auto aftermarket firm based in Cuernavaca, Mexico. However, 2005 was also a year of plant closures. General Cable shut down its plant in Bonham, Texas, which produced copper telephone exchange cable, and it also closed its fiber optic cable manufacturing plant in Dayville, Connecticut. The production from this plant was relocated to its recently acquired facility in Franklin, Massachusetts, which produces copper and fiber optic communications products. Both Bonham and Dayville had already been operating at less than 50% of capacity.

29 global cable manufacturing facilities located in 11 countries

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Q A AND

5

General Cable Corporation, USA 2005 Revenues: US$2.280 billion

Q: How does General Cable seek acquisition candidates?

A:

Our merger and acquisition (M&A) activity is primarily focused on companies that allow us to enter new markets or expand our offering of energy infrastructure or high-value added industrial cable products. General Cable typically looks for companies that are leaders in their local market and will benefit from its expertise in Lean Six Sigma manufacturing, logistics and operating systems. It may rationalize production between facilities to create centers of excellence, thereby, maximizing efficiencies. Recent acquisitions have actually experienced a significant increase in capital investment in order to optimize manufacturing capabilities.

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LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES L Southwire is one of the largest U.S.-based wire and cable companies, a world leader in copper and aluminum rod production, and a market leader in power cable and building wire. Roy Richards founded Southwire in 1950 in Carrollton, Georgia, where it continues to be based. The company developed the SCR (Southwire Continuous Rod) process, which gave it considerable cost advantages.

Continuous-cast technology helped position Southwire in the forefront of the wire and cable industry. Southwire grew with electrification of the southern States after World War II. Today, it employs about 4,000 workers in North America.

Southwire has production plants located in the U.S., Canada and Mexico. It is a privately held company and as a result it does not publish information on its ownership structure or its total revenues. There is, however, limited information on many of the operations on a state-by-state basis.

Southwire operates four business divisions. The Energy Division produces bare overhead conductors, insulated cables to 600V, MV cables to 46kV, and HV cables to 230kV, as well as bare copper and power generation cables. Its Electrical Division produces building wire. Southwire’s OEM Division markets copper rod, aluminum rod and wire products to original equipment manufacturers for use in their products.

The SCR Division designs and sells SCR systems to copper, aluminum and wire and cable production companies worldwide.

Southwire has numerous facilities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico that manufacture copper and aluminum wire rod, drawn copper wire and power cables such as LV, MV HV and EHV. The company sold its data cable operations in Peachtree City to General Cable, in 2001, in return for General Cable’s building wire assets. Following this, in December 2002, Southwire embarked on a (50/50) joint venture with NTK Cables of Denmark, in a technical partnership to develop, manufacture and install superconducting systems for the commercial market.

Most recently, Southwire announced that it has acquired Cable Tech’s plant in Stouffville, Ontario, Canada, which manufactures wire and cable products used in the residential, commercial construction and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) markets. Other recent acquisitions include the purchase of Allflex, including two plants that produce metal-clad (MC) cable in Rocky Mount, North Carolina and Long Beach, California, in 2004; the purchase of Decorp, innovator of Flatwire Technology, in 2005; and the purchase of Essex Electrical Products, including a manufacturing plant in Florence, Alabama, in 2005.

Southwire also commissioned a superconducting cable for a substation last September in Columbus, Ohio, that is providing power to about 7,500 customers.

Southwire notes that its continued commitment to improving customer service through innovative use of technology earned it a spot among the top 25 companies in InformationWeek’s 2006 listing of the U.S.’s top 500 leading information technology users.

Today, Southwire employs about 4,000 workers in North America

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6

Southwire Company, USA 2005 Revenues: US$2.280 billion

Q: What is the long-term potential for Southwire’s HTS business?

A:

Southwire sees great opportunity in the emerging market for high-temperature superconducting (HTS) cables. As urban utilities in the United States address growing load demand in an environment where the public is increasingly concerned over right-ofway and environmental impact, HTS cables provide solutions. This technology allows utilities to deliver transmission-level power at the legacy distribution voltage level with low impact and a small footprint. This market will only grow and Southwire’s Triax HTS cable system is designed to serve these needs.

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S LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES 7

Draka Holding NV, The Netherlands 2005 Revenues: US$2.238 billion

Draka Holding N.V. is the holding company of 67 operating companies in 26 countries in Europe, America and Asia. Its companies engage worldwide in the development, production and sale of cable and cable systems, and employ approximately 8,800 people. Draka has two main product groups: low-voltage and special-purpose cables, under the name Draka Cableteq, and communication cable under the name Draka Comteq. Draka Comteq is the result of the 2004 merger between Draka Holding’s telecommunications cable business and the optical fibre section of Alcatel SA, in which Draka holds the controlling 50.1 %, while Alcatel holds the remaining stock.

Draka Holding has production facilities worldwide, and these underwent major restructuring in 2005. Draka Cableteq launched its “Stop, Swap and Share” project to improve its finances, resulting in such actions as the closure of the factory in Leeds (UK), the reduction in the workforce in the Netherlands and the downsizing of the European wire and cable assembly activities. In addition, Draka Holding sold its NK Networks & Services GmbH unit to French group VINCI SA, NKF Electronics BV was sold to Optelecom Inc. and the optical fiber division, Draka Comteq, finalized the sale of its electronic cable and copper data communication cable activities in the U.S. to General Cable.

Draka Holding also bought the remaining 49% stake in Russian cable manufacturer Neva Cables from Russian state-owned telecommunications operator North-West Telecom. Draka stopped its fibre optic cable production at two of its plants, in Germany and Finland, and some of the equipment from Finland was transferred to Neva Cables in St. Petersburg. Furthermore, Draka Comteq restarted its optical fiber manufacturing at the facility in Claremont, North Carolina, which was formerly owned fully by Alcatel.

Draka Cableteq, which is the main low-voltage cable division, has experienced more favorable market conditions in Europe in the last 12 months. It has seen higher gross profit margins, which have been driven in part by a general macroeconomic recovery, particularly in Germany. Further costs savings have also helped the company improve its operating profit margins, through the first six months of 2006. Growth from the division’s specialty cable segment, in particular on higher margin halogen-free, fire-resistant cable has boosted profitability. Within the rubber cable division, further growth has come from the strategic focus on specialty cable for the wind power, solar power, and mining markets. The acquisition of Cornelia Thies Kabeltechnik GmbH (Germany) in October 2006 fits well with this strategy and has consolidated Draka’s position as a leading supplier to wind turbine OEMs in the global wind power market.

Draka Holding has production facilities worldwide and these underwent major restructuring in 2005

Integer Analysis: Draka has continued with its “Stop, Swap or Share” program. This has helped the company focus management time on the main elements that will drive the company forward over the next decade. It has absorbed the fiber optic cable operations of Alcatel globally, through its Draka Comteq operations, while selling off what it sees as non-core assets.

Draka is also open to joint ventures, and it will be interesting to see where the company sees its next key move globally. Certainly, in the specialty cable sector, it continues to compete with Prysmian, and a combination of these assets in Europe would increase competition with market leader Nexans.

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LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES LS Cable, the largest South Korean cable company, was spun off from Korean Conglomerate LG Group in 2003 and had its name changed from LG Cable in 2005. The company’s core business is focused in the industrial electric, electronic and materials sectors. LS Cable operates through four divisions: Electric Power Systems; Telecommunications; Electronic Components; and Materials and Industrial Machinery. It employs approximately 3,300 people in 10 countries. It is led by LS Cable CEO Christopher Koo, who owns a third of the company’s shares.

LS Cable’s Korean manufacturing plants are located in Anyang, Kumi, Indong, Jeonju and Jeongeup. Its overseas manufacturing operations include a Malaysian joint venture in Penang; Chinese plants located in Wuxi, Tianjin, Qingdao and Yantai ; and two Vietnamese subsidiaries in Hanoi and Haiphong. It also has nine sales branches for overseas sales and marketing.

Through its overseas sales branches, LS Cable seeks to achieve the crucial position in emerging markets such as China, India and the Middle East as well as enhancing the product leadership for the developed regions of the U.S. and E.U. LS Cable is trying to secure new projects for the EHV and communication cable market in the Middle East by enhancing the sales networks of its Dubai and Amman branches. It has also set up a new India branch in the first half of 2006 and sees much opportunity for the cable business in the fast growing infra-industry of India.

LS Cable, which has employed an advanced ERP system, manufactures a wide range of wire and cable products including XLPE EHV power cables, NZDS premium optical fiber and fiber optic cables, magnet wire, specialty and electronic wire and cables. Upstream, LS Cable also produces aluminum and copper wire rod. Its plant in Anyang produces LV power, electronic wire, signal and control, specialty and ship cables as well as the electric components such as connectors and lead frame.

In December 2004, LS Cable acquired Jinro Cables to expand the company’s business in the offshore and shipboard cable market. That merger helped LS Cable achieve the top position in the global shipboard market, with more than 30% of the market share. Its electrical power division landed a US$60 million contract for 345 KV extra high voltage cable project in 2006 from the largest electricity generator in New York State. That turnkey project, which included cables and cabling components, will provide 700 MW electricity for the Long Island region in southeastern New York.

LS Cable employs approximately 3,300 people in 10 countries

62 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Q A AND

8

LS Cable, South Korea 2005 Revenues: US$1.954 billion

Q: Where is LS Cable focusing its resources for future growth?

A:

LS Cable is continuously investing in R&D for Fiber to the Home (FTTH), Hybrid Fiber & Coax (HFC) business expansion and stabilization, and also super conductor cable and Ultra-capacitor (UC). It is seeking to hire and train talented people qualified to compete in the global market, including through its overseas branches. LS Cable is also focusing on increasing its communication parts/ materials business.

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LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES L 9

Fujikura Ltd., Japan 2005 Revenues: US$1.744 billion

Fujikura Ltd. is a large global cable maker, competing with the top two Japanese cable makers Sumitomo Electric and Furukawa Electric. The company was founded in Tokyo in 1910. Fujikura is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange and has secondary listings on the German Floor and Xetra Stock Exchanges. Fujikura’s majority shareholders include the Japan Trustees Services Bank, the Mitsubishi Trust and the Mitsui Life Insurance Company. The company has 52 consolidated subsidiaries and a number of non-consolidated overseas operations.

Fujikura has a well-established position in the fiber optic cable, optical components and connectors markets. Through its automotive wire and wiring harness operations, Fujikura is also one of the leading suppliers to car producer Ford, through its automotive wiring harness joint venture with Alcoa-Fujikura competing with Leoni, Delphi and Sumitomo Wiring Systems (SWS). Fujikura has four main wire and cable production facilities in Japan. It also has a number of overseas operations located in China, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam, Mexico, Russia, India and in the USA. Fujikura has four business segments. The Telecoms segment produces copper and fiber optic telecom cable, splicers and fiber optic cable connectors.

Electronics and Automotive manufactures FPCs (Flexible Printed Circuit boards), electronics and automotive wire and parts.

Fujikura’s Power Cables Segment produces signal and control, instrumentation and low, medium and high voltage power cables, as well as extra high voltage power cables, as well as enameled and building wire. Fujikura’s other segment deals in real estate and new product development. Sakura, Fujikura’s largest Japanese plant, produces optical fiber and copper telecoms cables, electronic wire and signal and control cables. The Numazu plant produces bare, aluminum, cotton rubber sheathed and enameled wires, power cables, special cables and SUS flexible tube for indoor gas pipe works. The Suzuka plant produces XLPE power cables, bare wire, PVC and fiber optic cables. The newest Futtsu plant produces extra high voltage (EHV) power cables, fiber optic cable, as well as submarine and shipboard cables.

In recent years Fujikura has expanded into China. It now has five sites in China manufacturing electronics and fiber optic cables. The company also has fiber optic manufacturing operations in the U.S. Russia, Malaysia, India, Indonesia and Thailand. The separation of U.S.-based Alcoa Fujikura Limited (AFL) was completed in April 2005. This released ownership of AFL Automotive to Alcoa and allowed Fujikura’s U.S. subsidiary, America Fujikura Ltd., to acquire complete ownership of the AFL telecommunications business. This AFL telecommunications business specializes in OPGW for the fiber to the home (FTTH) market.

In September 2006, Fujikura acquired a 60 percent equity stake in wire harness manufacturer Auxiliar de Componentes Electricos, S.A. Fujikura notes that it is building a global network of manufacturing and marketing centers to support its business in the automotive electrical/electroncis segment, and in particular, wire harnesses, and has already established a presence in Asia, most notably in China, as well as in North Carolina.

The company has 52 consolidated subsidiaries

64 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Integer Analysis: Fujikura has found that as the market has improved globally for fiber optic cable, splicing systems and its associated range of connectors, so has its performance in the cable business.

This was certainly one of the company’s strong points, and it has continued to build on this position in other associated markets such as the automotive sector, where an increasing range of fiber optic cable connectors and splicing systems are currently being designed into a new generation of passenger cars.

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S LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES 10

Hitachi Cable Ltd., Japan 2005 Revenues: US$1.608 billion

Hitachi Cable Ltd. (Hitachi) is a leading Japanese cable maker. It was established in 1956 when the Japanese Keiretsu Hitachi Corporation formed the company for its wire and copper rolled products.

Hitachi Cable Ltd. falls under the Hitachi Corporation, which started in 1918.

Hitachi Cable is the fourth largest Japanese cable maker on a revenue basis behind Sumitomo Electric, Furukawa and Fujikura.

The company provides products and services under the following categories: wires and cables, copper products, rubber products, electronic components, information network, antenna and coaxial cable and optical products as well as compound semiconductors. In the 2006 financial year Hitachi had 15,000 workers worldwide.

The company has its head office in Japan, and manufacturing operations located in Asia, North America and Europe. Hitachi Cable Ltd. is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. The Hitachi Group holds 51.1% of the issued stock of the company, with the remainder being held by Japanese financial funds.

Hitachi Cable Ltd. produces a full range of wire and cable products. The Information and Telecommunications Networking Division has a strong position in optical submarine cable systems, AWG, and other optical products.

The company’s wire and cable divisions product range includes flexible and submarine power cables, ACSR, magnet wires and Electric Discharge Machine (EDM) Wire. Hitachi’s electronic wire and cables include ribbon cables, coaxial cables, robot cables, optical fibers and wiring devices, and other processed metal products.

Hitachi also produces copper strips for compound semiconductors and semiconductor packaging materials. The company operates a Sophisticated Materials Division, which produces compound semiconductors and copper strips and a Sales Companies Division.

Hitachi Cable has five main operations in Japan. The plants are located in Densen, Hitaka, Toyoura, Takasago and Tschiura. The other overseas operations are largely based in ASEAN countries, China and North America. Hitachi Cable America acts as a holding company for the three American subsidiaries, and two European sub-subsidiaries. Hitachi has a number of joint venture operations in Thailand, in conjunction with Bangkok Cable.

Hitachi Cable has five main operations in Japan, others in ASEAN countries, China and North America

Integer Analysis: Hitachi Cable, like Furukawa, often uses Sumitomo Electric as a benchmark for its cable operations. While Furukawa sought to compete with Sumitomo in the fiber optic cable market, Hitachi was looking at the power and specialty cable operations.

As part of this strategic focus, the group has focused management resources in low cost China, where it has 11 manufacturing facilities. It should not be forgotten that Hitachi Cable is part of a much larger parent Hitachi Group. It, in particular, has been quite aggressive on moving many of its manufacturing operations to China in recent years.

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LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES Superior Essex Inc. is the world’s largest magnet wire/winding wire producer, as well as a leading U.S. producer of outside plant copper communications cables and of local area network copper cables and fiber optic cables.

The company can trace its history back to 1930, when the Essex Wire Corporation was founded in Detroit, Michigan, and then relocated to Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Superior Cable was founded in 1954, in Hickory, North Carolina, and in 1998, Superior Telecom acquired Essex Group. The combination formed Superior Essex, which is today based in Atlanta, Georgia.

In 2003, the company emerged from a financial restructuring with a substantially improved balance sheet, reduced leverage and positioned for future growth. The company participated in the industry consolidation taking place in North America in 2004 when it acquired Belden’s North American outside plant communications wire and cable business. That same year, the company acquired Nexans’ U.S. magnet wire inventory and certain U.S. customers.

Superior Essex’s growth became more global in 2005 and 2006 when it acquired 60 percent ownership in Essex Nexans, a European magnet wire joint venture with Nexans. During this timeframe, the company also began expanding into China with a Greenfield magnet wire facility in the city of Suzhou.

The company operates more than 20 plants worldwide, with facilities in the United States, Mexico, France, Germany, Portugal, China and the United Kingdom. It is listed on the NASDAQ in New York, and has four main business segments: Communication Cable, North American Magnet Wire and Distribution, European Magnet Wire and Distribution, and Copper Rod.

In 2003, the company emerged from a financial restructuring with a substantially improved balance sheet, reduced leverage and positioned for future growth

66 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Q A AND

11

Superior Essex Inc., USA 2005 Revenues: US$1.501 billion

Q: Will Superior seek to continue its recent pace of growth?

A:

We will continue our course of strategic expansion and growth. However, we will not grow big just for the sake of being bigger. We will continue to take advantage of calculated and well-researched opportunities; look for cost-savings opportunities within our existing businesses; successfully integrate our acquired operations; stay strategically focused on our core businesses; remain stable, profitable and growing; stay on a path of cash flow generation, while strengthening our capital base; and be the leader and innovator in our industries.

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LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES L 12

Walsin Lihwa, Taiwan 2005 Revenues: US$1.391 billion

Walsin Lihwa (Walsin) is a leading Taiwanese producer of bare copper wire, wire and cable and specialty steel products in the Asian region. The company competes domestically with Pacific Electric. In recent years the company has diversified strategically, expanding into the high-tech industries. Walsin Electric Wire and Cable Corporation was founded in 1966 as a manufacturer of aluminum cables.

The company merged with Walsin Marine Transport, a producer of copper conductors, in 1969, forming Walsin Lihwa. In 1995, Walsin set up operations in China sharing technical partnerships with both Fujikura and Sumitomo.

Walsin has its headquarters in Taipei, with wire and cable manufacturing operations located in Taiwan, mainland China and in Malaysia. Walsin Lihwa listed on the Taiwanese Stock Exchange in 1972. Investment institutions largely hold the company’s shares, with HSBC & Goldman International Investment holding 4.8% of the shares, and the Country Stable Fund Committee holding 3.1%.

The company operates three core business segments. The Copper Segment manufactures bare copper wire products using the SCR continuous casting and rolling process. Walsin Lihwa has the largest copper wire market share in Taiwan, and is the largest producer of bare copper wire in mainland China. The company operates five SCR lines. The Power Cable and Wire business produces LV, MV and HV power cables, communication cables, optical fiber, SM fiber optics and fiber ribbon cables and steel wires.

The Group’s Special Steel Business manufactures billet and slab, wire rods, straight bars, stainless steel pipes and tubes. The high-tech companies operated by Walsin produce a range of electronic components, Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs), optoelectronics and semiconductors.

Walsin’s Taiwanese operations include Hsin Chuang, which produces building and automotive wire, LV, HV and EHV power cables, and signal and control and special cables. The Yang Mei plant produces ACSR, steel wire and bare aluminum conductors. The company has expanded aggressively in recent years, setting up more than 10 production sites in mainland China and Malaysia. The main operations in China are managed by Shanghai-based Walsin Lihwa Investment Company Ltd. The group’s copper telecoms producing companies include Shanghai Walsin, Jiangsu Walsin Panasian and Wuhan Walsin Ltd. Shanghai Walsin also produces fibre optic cables.

In 1995, Walsin set up Nanjing Walsin Fujikura Optical Communication Ltd. in conjunction with Fujikura to produce SM optical fibers and fibre optic cables. In the same year Hangzhou Walsin Power Cables & Wire Co., Ltd., was set up in cooperation with Sumitomo Electric to manufacture MV and HV power cables. The company recently purchased its fifth SCR copper rod system in 2005, further expanding capacity at its Nanjing plant by 300,000 metric tons per year. In December 2006, Walsin Lihwa officially opened its second SCR copper plant in Nanjing. Combined with its other operations, the company’s annual output of copper rod has increased to 650,000 metric tons, the highest in Asia and the third highest in the world.

The company has expanded aggressively in recent years, setting up more than 10 production sites in mainland China and Malaysia

68 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Integer Analysis: Walsin has recently looked to phase out production of a number of products in Taiwan, from electronic wire, through to power cables and even fiber optic cable. In part this also reflects the higher cost structure of the Taiwanese cable sector, and the massive shift in manufacturing that has been seen to mainland China. In the longer term Walsin is likely to continue looking for opportunities to become a major supplier into China, rather than investing in new or niche product sectors.

Of note: Walsin Liwa Corporation President Bonny Kao is believed to be the only female CEO in the Top 50. She has been one of the key drivers behind the renewed vigor with which Walsin has been expanding its operations in China. It is becoming one of the leading suppliers of copper and aluminum rod in China, rather than seeking to move up the value chain, as other Taiwanese producers have done.

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S LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES Belden CDT Inc. was formed from the merger of Belden Inc. and Cable Design Technologies Corporation in July 2004, with Belden taking a 55% stake in the new company, CDT a 45% share. The company has since been renamed, and now is known simply as Belden.

The U.S.-based manufacturer of electrical, electronic and telecom cables has more than 5,200 employees in 26 countries. Belden’s products are mainly used in specialty electronics, telecom and data networking markets.

Based in St. Louis, Missouri, Belden now has operations in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, United Kingdom, Sweden, Denmark, Hungary and Czech Republic; and sales offices in other parts of Europe, Asia and Latin America. The company reported total revenues of US$966 million in 2004, and these increased to US$1.35 billion in 2005. The company operates through two business divisions: the Networking and the Electronics Divisions. The Electronics Division makes a range of multi-conductor data cables, including shielded and unshielded UTP/STP cables for computer networking, branded as Belden MediaTwist.

The Communications Division designs, manufactures and sells metallic cable products largely for communications and networking applications. These products are sold to local exchange carriers (LECs) directly or via value added resellers designated by the LECs. The two divisions’ product ranges include multiconductor cables, coaxial cables, fiber optic cables, composite cables and lead/hook up cables.

Belden has production plants based in North America and Europe. At the time this study was done, its U.S. plants included facilities in Richmond, Indiana, and two in Kentucky in Monticello and Tompkinsville, all of which produce LAN data, coaxial, signal and control and special cables. It has since announced that the Tompkinsville plant will be closed, along with a plant in Fort Mill, South Carolina. Belden has a plant in Chicago, Illinois, that produces copper wire, special, coaxial, and signal and control cables as well as bare wire. The company also operates plants in Leominster, Massachusetts, and in Manchester, Connecticut, in the U.S., and in Cobourg, Ontario, in Canada. It has another plant in Tijuana and most recently announced it would open a plant in Nogales, Mexico, with some production from the Tompkinsville and Fort Mill plants shifted there, the remainder to other Belden plants.

The European operations include the Venlo plant in The Netherlands, which manufactures copper telecom and LAN data cables, as wells as SM and MM fiber optic cables. Belden Budapest, formerly Siemens Duna Kabel, also produces copper telecom and LAN data cables, as well as signal and control and special cables.

Belden also has European operations in Italy, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Germany. The company recently announced the sale of their Blackley telecoms cable plant in the U.K., as well as plans to close the Örebro plant in Sweden. The new Nogales plant will be Belden’s second in Nogales, with the third Mexican plant in Tijuana.

The company has 5,200 employees in 26 countries

Q A AND

13

Belden, USA 2005 Revenues: US$1.255 billion

Q: Belden has made a number of organizational moves: what was the goal and are more likely?

A:

Belden launched a new strategic plan during 2006 that has several initiatives for organic growth. It positions the company to expand into faster growing emerging markets and includes a regional manufacturing strategy which will reduce the number of plants, consolidate Belden’s capacity, and provide for capacity in low-cost regions near our major markets in the Americas, Europe and Asia. It includes initiatives in lean manufacturing and lean enterprise techniques. Belden will continue to examine its opportunities to grow and to be a more effective supplier to its customers.

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LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES 14

Phelps Dodge Industries, USA 2005 Revenues: US$1.189 billion

The history of Phelps Dodge Corporation (PD), one of the world’s largest producers of copper and copper wire rod, dates back to 1834. The company, which operates through two divisions: Phelps Dodge Mining Company (PDMC) and Phelps Dodge Industries (PDI), employs more than 13,500 people worldwide.

Phelps Dodge Industries comprises Phelps Dodge Wire and Cable (PDWC), which manufactures wire and cable products in North and South America, as well as Asia.

Based in Phoenix, Arizona, Phelps Dodge is publicly listed. The parent company is better known for its mining operations, and it has taken steps to make that its priority. In 2005, Phelps Dodge sold its North American magnet wire assets to Rea Magnet Wire Company, Inc., which included manufacturing facilities, property and equipment in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Monterrey, Mexico. The sale did not include its One Technology Center building in Fort Wayne, which was closed in 2006 as a result of the sale. Phelps Dodge continues to be a primary supplier of copper rod to Rea. In 2006, Phelps Dodge Corporation also sold its Phelps Dodge High Performance Conductors (HPC) business to International Wire Group (IWG), which comprised manufacturing operations in Inman, South Carolina, and Trenton, Georgia.

The transaction did not include a Phelps Dodge facility at Elizabeth, New Jersey, which will become a unit of the Phelps Dodge Smelting, Refining and Rod Group.

Phelps Dodge Corporation is integrated upstream into copper mining, refining and smelting. Its mining division, Phelps Dodge Mining Company, is one of the world’s largest producers of copper wire rod. The Wire and Cable division produces a complete line of wire and cable products, including magnet wire, power cables, telecommunications cables, specialty conductors, building wire, copper and aluminum rod and flexible cords.

Phelps Dodge Wire and Cable has manufacturing operations in Latin America, Asia and Africa. It also has a newly constructed magnet wire plant in Suzhou, China, which came into operation in 2004. The same year, they closed their magnet wire production plant in Mureck, Austria, and set up a strategic partnership with German wire maker Schwering & Hasse Elektrodraht GmbH, under which the German company received all of Phelps Dodge’s magnet wire equipment, customers and sales network connected to their Austrian operation.

Phelps Dodge is likely to be acquired by Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold Inc. by the end of the first quarter, a deal that will see the two companies combined into “the world’s largest publicly traded copper company.” No definitive plans have been disclosed regarding the Phelps Dodge Wire and Cable business. However, as noted above, the company has moved in recent years to divest portions of that business.

Phelps Dodge Corporation’s two divisions employ more than 13,500 people worldwide

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Integer Analysis: Many in the North American cable market believe that Phelps Dodge will retain its copper wire rod operations in the longer term. They are thought to be quite profitable, even given some of the tougher times three or four years ago. However, many of the wire and cable making operations that Phelps Dodge still owns have only really returned to profitability in the last 12 months.

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QUEINS: YOUR BEST PARTNER FOR CABLE MACHINES MANUFACTURING RANGE FOR NEW MACHINES

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LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES L 15

Taihan Electric Wire, South Korea 2005 Revenues: US$1.187 billion

Taihan Electric Wire (Taihan) is a leading South Korean cable maker, and competes domestically with market leader LS Cable. In addition to a wide range of power and communication wire and cable products, the company also produces stainless steel products. In recent years Taihan has diversified into the rental and leisure industry. Taihan was set up as the first wire and cable company in Korea after the Korean War in 1955. It has 799 employees at its operations in South Korea, and more overseas.

Based in Seoul, Taihan has manufacturing facilities in the Kyonggi Province in Anyang, Sihung and Ansan Optomagic. The Ansan Optomagic plant produces optical fiber and preforms using the VAD process with equipment bought from Sumitomo Electric. Taihan’s Anyang plant has an SCR line. Taihan has joint venture manufacturing operations in South Africa and in Vietnam. Taihan closed its copper cable plants in China in 2002 due to intense local competition.

Listed on the Korean Stock Exchange, Taihan is 27% owned by Samyang Metal Co. Ltd. and 20% by Sull Yoon-suk. Local Korean institutions, funds and private investors hold the remaining shares.Taihan’s wire and cable products include a range of power cables up to 345kV, including XLPE, PVC insulated wire and oil filled power cables.

Taihan also produces CATV coaxial, specialty, ACSR, signal and control and halogen-free fire resistant cables, as well as trolley wire, magnet wire, copper rod and covered conductors. Taihan provides wire and cable turnkey project services including systems design, engineering, product supply, testing and installation work.

Taihan’s main manufacturing plant in Anyang has a VCV line and produces XLPE and oil filled power cables up to 345kV. Anyang also produces copper telecoms and fibre optic cables. The Sihung plant manufactures specialty, signal and control and halogenfree, fire-resistant cable. Sihung also makes magnet wire and covered conductors.

In 2000, Taihan set up M-Tec, a joint venture with Malesa Holdings, based in Gauteng, South Africa. M-Tec supplies fiber optic cable into the domestic market.

A second joint venture, the TSC Company Ltd., was set up in Vietnam in December 2005. The operation is a joint venture with Sacom, the largest domestic manufacturer of telecommunications cables. The TSC plant started development in February 2006. TSC plans to provide power, fiber optic and copper telecoms cables.

Taihan Electric Wire has some 800 employees at its operations in South Korea, and more overseas

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Integer Analysis: Taihan Electric has continued to compete domestically with LS Cable in South Korea in recent years. The company put up stiff resistance to the takeover of Jinro Industries by LS Cable, but was not successful. This certainly strengthened LS Cable’s domestic position, but accentuated the need for Taihan Electric to focus efforts overseas.

Taihan Electric has looked specifically in emerging economies such as Vietnam and China, as well as on the clean energy sector. The company plans to leverage off its competencies in engineering, expanding its involvement in turnkey power transmission and communications network products, both locally and abroad.

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S LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES 16

CommScope, USA 2005 Revenues: US$1.150 billion

Based in Hickory, North Carolina, USA, CommScope manufactures cable and connectivity infrastructure solutions for high performance wired and wireless communications networks worldwide. Backed by strong research and development, it is the global leader in structured cabling systems for business enterprise applications and the world’s largest manufacturer of coaxial cable used for hybrid fiber coaxial applications in cable television networks. Its carrier business provides wireless cabling solutions and secure environmental enclosures that are used by telecommunication service providers to protect equipment for wireless access, switching and broadband applications.

Listed on the New York Stock Exchange, CommScope is a global company with more than $1.5 billion in revenue. By combining technical expertise and proprietary technology with global manufacturing capability, it provides infrastructure solutions to enterprise and broadband customers in more than 130 countries.

For enterprise infrastructures, CommScope offers solutions that include global end-to-end copper and fiber structured cabling solutions for connecting phones,

workstations, Local Area Networks (LANs), and other critical communications devices through buildings or across campuses. Its coaxial and fiber optic cables are used in Hybrid Fiber Coaxial (HFC) networks to meet the high bandwidth needs of cable television, video on demand, high-speed Internet access, cable telephony and other interactive services.

The company has 11 manufacturing facilities located around the world, with U.S. operations in North Carolina, Texas, Nebraska and Nevada; and elsewhere in Seneffe, Belgium; Jaguariúna, Brazil; Bray, Ireland; Brisbane, Australia; and Suzhou, China.

Q A AND

CommScope provides solutions to enterprise and broadband customers in more than 130 countries.

Q: How has CommScope’s entrance into China gone so far?

A:

CommScope’s facility in Suzhou, China, has been in operation since May 2005. Since that time, it has become such an effective part of the company’s global supply chain that the facility has already more than doubled in size to accommodate increased Asian and global demand for the broadband products it produces. Prior to opening the Suzhou facility, CommScope did not have a manufacturing presence in the APAC region.

The company chose this location to improve its competitive position and enhance customer service for its Asian customers.

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LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES L 17

Yazaki Corporation, Japan 2005 Revenues: US$893 million

Japan’s Yazaki Corporation, a cable maker, is one of the largest producers of automotive wire and auto wire harnesses globally. It competes in this market with Sumitomo Wiring Systems, Delphi, Fujikura and Leonische. Yazaki was founded in 1929, selling automotive wire. Later it integrated downstream manufacture of wiring harnesses, which is now Yazaki’s main product. The group is comprised of 97 companies; 91 of these are located outside of Japan, and in 2006 it had 10,560 workers in Japan, and 132,920 worldwide.

As a privately held company, Yazaki Corp releases little financial information in English, but does report non-consolidated data in Japanese annually. Yazaki has three main cable plants in Japan. The largest, at Numazu, produces insulated wire, power cable up to 33kV, telecoms cable, aluminum power cable, and combined optical fiber and wiring harnesses for residential applications.

Wholly owned Yazaki Fibre Optic Cable Co. Ltd., a previous Lucent/OFS joint venture, produces optical fiber. The Fuji factory produces insulated wire, flat vinyl cables and plastic wire. The Hodosawa factory produces wiring harnesses for housing, device harnesses and optical connectors. The company has a number of smaller Japan-based plants producing wiring harnesses.

The company also has cable-making interests in ASEAN and China. Yazaki’s four Thai-based companies produce building wire, auto wire; LV, MV, HV and EHV power cable to 116kV and ACSR. These operations include a fiber optic cable operation, Optoconnect, which operates a plant in Phra Pradaeng. In May 2005, the company signaled its intention to increase investment in China. It plans to make its Yantai Yazaki auto wire plant in Shandong, China, one of its largest wire and cable manufacturing plants in Asia.

Yazaki continues to expand operations in Eastern Europe, with new plants set up in Gemlik, Turkey, and Yambol, Bulgaria, for auto harness production.

The company recently expanded capacity at its Slovakian operations, which supplies auto harness to Ford and Chrysler. Yazaki Saltano de Ovar-Productos Electricos Lda., based in Portugal, produces auto wire, which supplies the group’s downstream harness producers in Portugal, Spain and Eastern Europe. Yazaki has additional auto harness manufacturing plants in the U.S., Mexico and in South Africa.

It plans to make its Yantai Yazaki auto wire plant in Shandong one of its largest manufacturing plants in Asia

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Integer Analysis: Yazaki plans to enhance its presence in the automotive market globally.

Domestically it has been forced to diversify into new business sectors.

This is part of the ongoing trend in Japan, as companies follow a customer offshore, which leads to a hollowing out of the Japanese manufacturing industry.

Yazaki has continued to come under pressure in its core automotive wiring harness operations worldwide. It is still quite strange that in Japan the company produces a full range of wire and cable products – yet outside Japan – the production is all wiring harnesses or joint ventures to make automotive wire.

In the long run, it will be interesting to see if Yazaki in Japan makes any decision on whether to keep or sell off its Japanese cable making business.

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S LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES Marmon Wire & Cable is a business sector within The Marmon Group of companies. The Marmon Group is one of America’s largest private industrial organizations, comprising more than 125 business units that operate independently within diverse business sectors. Collective revenues exceeded US$5.9 billion in 2005.

The Marmon Group started in 1953 when brothers Jay and Robert Pritzker acquired a caster company (Colson); Robert led operations of the growing enterprise until his retirement in 2002. Frank Ptak is the current CEO. Marmon Group member businesses employ 21,500 people and operate more than 250 production facilities. Member companies are owned by Marmon Holdings, Inc., which is controlled by the Pritzker family. The family’s other interests include Hyatt hotels.

Marmon Wire & Cable operates through 13 business units at 20 manufacturing locations. Henry West is president of Marmon Wire & Cable LLC. Most of Marmon’s cable operations are in North America, but it also has operations in the U.K. In the U.S., Marmon businesses produce residential wire products at Cerro Wire & Cable plants in Alabama, Indiana and Utah, and the Owl Wire and Cable plant in New York; and power cables at the Aetna plant in Virginia, Hendrix plant in New Hampshire and Kerite plant in Connecticut. Signal and control and specialty cables are manufactured by Rockbestos-Surprenant in Connecticut; Dekoron in Texas, Harbour in Vermont, Cable USA in Florida, Comtran in Massachusetts and Dekoron Unitherm in Florida.

The group’s Canadian operations manufacture RF cables, signal and control cables, and a range of specialty cables at the Harbour plant in Quebec. The European operations manufacture Cat5e LAN data cables at General Cable in Andover, England.

Marmon produces a wide range of high performance wire and cable products for industrial applications in the appliance, microwave, aerospace and specialty electronics sectors. These products vary from copper rod and copper wire to LV, MV and HV EPR and XLPE insulated power cables. In addition, Marmon produces a range of coaxial, LAN and multi-conductor cables.

Marmon Wire & Cable operates through 13 business units at 20 different manufacturing locations

Q A AND

18

Marmon Group, USA 2005 Revenues: US$880 million

Q: Marmon has become a major player in the specialty cable market in North America, as well as the building and power cable sectors.

How do all these businesses fit together?

A:

Each Marmon Group member business operates under its own management within a sector structure that provides access to the experience and expertise of other members in related businesses and markets. This allows Marmon Wire & Cable businesses to focus on product innovations in their respective key markets, but also to pool resources when a major customer needs multiple products.

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LEADING •CABLE •COMPAINES L TELE-FONIKA Kable SA is a privately held wire and cable manufacturer based in Poland. Since its modest beginnings in 1992, it has become one of the biggest cable producers in Central and Eastern Europe.

The company expanded from its small base through the 1990s by absorbing a number of leading cable makers in Poland, including Krakowska Fabryka Kabli SA (1998) and Elektrim Kable SA (2002). Today, the company employs around 3,500 people.

TELE-FONIKA used to be based in Myslenice, Poland, but relocated its head office to Krakow in 2005. Although Elektrim and KFK used to be listed, TELEFONIKA Kable is not and releases very little financial information. Boguslaw Cupial, reportedly one of the richest men in Poland, owns the company.

TELE-FONIKA specializes in low to high voltage power cables, rubber insulated power cables, ship building and mining cables, and its range of products includes enameled wire, fiber optic cables, bare conductors, copper telecommunication and electronic data cables. TELE-FONIKA’s plants are located in Kraków, Myslenice, Szczecin and Bydgoszcz in Poland. It delivers products to customers in more than 60 countries.

It has been reported that TELE-FONIKA plans to open a manufacturing plant in Ukraine together with a local cable manufacturer. The company exports about 65 percent of its production to many countries in Europe, with neighboring Germany one of its most important markets. The growth of its exports to Europe will likely follow the GDP growth in those different regions.

The Copper Cable Company in the U.K., which is wholly owned by TELE-FONIKA, has been particularly successful in increasing the company’s market share in the building wire and low voltage power cable business in that region.

Revenues are thought to have increased to more than US$20 million in 2005, which is a significant share for a company producing cable in Poland. The company has also found success in some other Northern European cable markets, in the Netherlands, Ireland and parts of Scandinavia.

TELE-FONIKA has a subsidiary trading company in the U.S. and is looking to find long-term partners in Africa as well as the Middle and Far East.

TELE-FONIKA delivers products to customers in more than 60 countries

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19

TELE-FONIKA Kable SA, Poland 2005 Revenues: US$842 million

Q: What products does TELEFONIKA Kable see as having the best long-term potential?

A:

Medium and low voltage energy cables offer us the best opportunities.

We have gained synergies through our acquisitions of Krakow Cable Factory and Elektrim Kable and we can compete because we do not see any difference in raw materials cost or energy cost in comparison to our competitors in different countries.

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Leoni AG, Germany 2005 Revenues: US$830 million

Based in Nuremberg, Germany, Leoni AG is one of the largest wire and cable producers in Western Europe. The company is a leading producer of automotive wire and cable. The business is operated through its two divisions: Wire & Cable and Wiring Systems.

Leoni’s Wire & Cable division has its main operations in Germany in Roth, Weissenburg and Kötzting. The headquarters of the Wiring Systems Division are located in Kitzingen and encompass the Lilienthal and Neuburg operations. Leoni also has a wide range of operations worldwide in North America, Asia and Central/Eastern Europe, which include productions sites in Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, Mexico, China and Brazil.

In 2005, Leoni purchased Stolberg-based cable manufacturer Kerpen GmbH & Co. KG, one of its largest acquisitions in the last decade. In the same year, Leoni also joined forces with Swiss cable manufacturer Studer Draht- und Kabelwerk AG to create Leoni & Studer Transportation Systems. The company offers all-in-one solutions for wiring rolling stock. Last July, Leoni acquired Studer, a deal that will allow Leoni to benefit from Studer’s technology, which includes halogen-free installation cables.

Studer, in return, gains access to Leoni’s distribution network.

Listed in the Frankfurt, Munich and other stock exchanges, Leoni’s product range comprises two categories of cable: standard cables, made to national and international standards as well as to manufacturer standards; and special cables, produced for very specific applications and “tailor-made” to the customer’s requirements. Leoni offers wires and cable for electrical engineering, automotive cables, data cables (copper and fiber optic), power cables, telecom cables and temperature resistant thermocouple cables.

The Wiring Systems Division is a global partner in the development and delivery of wiring system solutions and cable assemblies for the automotive industry. It also focuses on the development of complete wiring systems and the associated electronics and has developed a strong reputation in the automotive industry.

The Wiring System Division’s customer base includes car manufacturers such as Audi, Aston-Martin, Bentley, BMW, DaimlerChrysler, General Motors, Lamborghini, Land Rover, Porsche, Rolls Royce, and a number of commercial vehicle manufacturers and automotive suppliers. Leoni will obtain further beneficial impetus from Leoni HighTemp Solutions GmbH, the high temperature cable specialist based in North-Rhine Westphalia, that will shortly commence production, and from the Austrian, Gmünd-based NBG Fiber-Optic GmbH, acquired in 2006, which will strengthen the glass fiber cable systems business.

During 2006 Leoni gained further large-scale orders from, among others, customers Audi, BMW Group, DaimlerChrysler and General Motors as well as from the commercial vehicle industry. About half involve new projects from which Leoni will generate considerable additional sales. The other orders involve key follow-on projects that will also ensure utilization of Leoni’s capacity over the medium term.

In 2005, Leoni purchased Kerpen GmbH, one of its largest acquisitions in the last decade

Integer Analysis: Leoni exited the copper LAN data cable market a few years ago as tough market conditions caused the company’s withdrawal. It will be interesting to see what Leoni does with Kerpen since the acquisition now means that the company is now one of the leading players in the LAN data cable market, with a strong share of the shielded (STP) LAN data cable market in Germany, Austria and other parts of Northern Europe.

The Studer acquisition should also benefit a range of Leoni’s cable operations as Studer had a really strong position in some key markets such as specialty cable, and a range of low halogen, fire-resistant cables, used in the railway, infrastructure, airport and transport sectors. This has strengthened the competition in the specialty cable market with Draka, Nexans, Prysmian and even Belgian producer Eupen.

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LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES L #21 Xignux, Mexico 2005 Revenue US$795.6 million Xignux is one of the largest manufacturers of wire and cable in Mexico and North America. It has seven business units with 35 plants, and operates 50 distribution centers in Mexico, U.S., Argentina and Brazil.

It employs more than 27,000 people. Products include: bare copper, aluminum cables, and LV power cable. #23 Tyco International Ltd., USA 2005 Revenues US$646 million Tyco, which employs 250,000 people in 80 countries, manufactures wire and cable products through four business divisions Electronics, Fire and Security Services, Healthcare and Engineered Products and Services.

#24 NKT Cables, Denmark 2005 Revenues US$586.7 million NKT Cables produces low, medium and high voltage cables, overhead lines with integrated optical fibers, PVC- and halogen-free cables, communication cables and contact wire for catenary systems. It has 10 plants in five European countries and China with 2,000 employees. #25 Grupo Carso SA de C.V., Mexico Revenues US$586.1 million The Grupo Condumex subsidiary, the largest cable maker in Mexico, manufactures high, medium, and low voltage power wire and cable, telecom and automotive industry cables. The Queretaro I and II plants produce copper and single mode and multi-mode fiber optic telecom cables, as well as coaxial and multiconductor cables. #27 Tai-I Wire and Cable Company Ltd. (Tai-I), Taiwan 2005 Revenues US$516.2 million Tai-I, a leading second tier Taiwanese wire and cable producer, focuses on the magnet wire market. Products include OF copper and wire rod, enameled wire, insulated wire, LV power cable and telecoms cable and XLPE insulated power cables. It has three production plants in Taiwan. #28 Elektrisola Inc., Germany 2005 Revenues US$509.7 million Elektrisola is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of ultra-fine high enameled wire in the world. Its enameled wire is fed

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22

Encore Wire Corporation, USA 2005 Revenues: US$758 million

Why highlighted: Encore Wire has been successful in one of the toughest markets in the world for cable makers. It has expanded its business in the North American market in a range of products from building wire to power cables. The company focuses on its order fill rate, which it notes is the highest in the industry. Its website most recently pegs that figure at 99.95 percent.

Of note: Encore has used a business model, where it is very efficient, lean, while at the same time it has been able to reward its staff. This at a time when many cable plants across a range of sectors in the North American market were shutting down and consolidating. The company may have been helped by the housing boom in the USA over the last few years, but we believe that even with the recent softening in new build and housing starts in the USA, that Encore will continue to move from strength to strength.

Encore Wire Corporation (Encore) is a North American manufacturer of building wire and cable used in the residential and commercial wire markets. The company’s main products include a range of low voltage energy cables such as building wire and power cable. Encore also produces feeder cables, circuit and branch wiring for commercial application, as well as sheathed cable used in manufactured housing and residential properties. It has a built up a niche in the production of colored “True Colors” copper building wire.

The company was co-founded by Vincent Rego in McKinney, Texas, in 1989. The plant shipped its first cable in 1990. Rego had a long history in the cable business going back to Narragansett Wire in Rhode Island in the 1950s.

Today, the company has grown from its original six employees to more than 640.

The company has a very simple business model, that being to ensure that it is a low cost producer, with high quality and with simple channels to market. Through the ups and downs of the last 10 years, Encore has been able to expand its operations and gain market share in the competitive building wire market.

Publicly listed, Encore Wire grants stock options to many of its employees. The company produces a range of non-metallic (NM) sheathed cable used in interior wiring in homes and apartments. The product line includes underground feeder (UF) cable used for outside lighting and other applications remote from residential properties. Encore also manufactures THWN-2 cable, produced with copper as the conductor, mainly used for electrical distribution in commercial and industrial buildings.

The company, still based in McKinney, has expanded its plant numerous times over the last few years, as it has gained market share in the U.S. building wire market. In 2005 it announced that it would expand its operations with the construction of a new 160,000-sq-ft building at its McKinney location for manufacture of armored cable, a product that is new for it but was in demand from some of its building wire customers. Encore’s products are sent out to various warehouses across North America, and are sold through large-volume distributors.

Worth Noting

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Wilms Group (Wilms), Germany 2005 Revenues US$584 million

Why highlighted: Wilms Group has become one of the leading producers in Germany yet it has a very low profile. You will not see much advertising or even a stand at exhibitions, but Wilms, rather quietly, is really a price leader in many of its main business segments. One of its more notable acquisitions was the former ABB cable operation in Mannheim, Germany, a leading power cable operation.

Of note: Wilms Group, one of the largest cable companies in the world is run by one person: Herr Wilms. He is the key person in the company. While some cable producers have sought to produce cable in the Czech Republic, or other parts of Eastern Europe, he has managed to keep many of the operations in Germany, focusing on costs.

Wilms is one of the largest producers of wire and cable products in Western Europe.

As a privately held company there are no consolidated accounts on the group. The Group consists of independent legal companies acquired by Herr Johannes (Hans) Erich Wilms over the past 20 years. It was started up in Unna, Westphalia in 1974, specializing in water treatment. Wilms now has 18 operations, 14 of which are wire and cable companies with about 2,000 employees. It is the largest cable producer in Germany in terms of volume, competing with Nexans.

The company has operations in Germany and Austria.

Wilms has no corporate headquarters, and is operated by owner Herr Wilms. One of the subsidiaries, Sudkabel, does however have other minority investors. The wire and cable operations include 14 autonomous companies, each operating as a separate legal entity. Hans Wilms has a seat on each board of these companies, which he controls strategically and operationally.

The group produces a range of wire and cable products including copper telecoms cables from Cat. 3 to Cat. 6. In addition Wilms makes flexible cord sets, LV, MV and HV XPLE power cables, building wire, electronic and appliance wiring, data cables and OEM wiring harnesses. The company also has the capability of producing OPGW and both single and multimode fiber optic cables.

Wilms has three plants in Berlin, Germany: KWB Kabel and Bayka Starkstrumkabel, which produce LV, MV and HV power cable and special cables. A third plant Glasfaserkabel, produces SM and MM fiber optic cables. The Starkstrumkabel and Glasfaserkabel plants are the company’s most recent German-based acquisitions.

The company’s Bavarian based operations include Denkendorf Klasing Kabel, located in Denkendorf, which produces electronic wire and LAN data cables, and its Roth Bayka plant located south of Nuremberg, which produces copper telecoms, fiber optic and a range of power, special and signal and control cables.

Wilms also has two plants in Saxony in eastern Germany. These include Plauen Voka and Falkenstein Voka Kabel, which produce LAN data, specialty and signal and control cables. In January 2004, Wilms acquired ABB’s cable plant in Mannheim, in west Germany, which changed its name to Sudkabel GmbH. This plant manufactures specialty and LV, MV and HV power cables. Wilms recently acquired its Austrian subsidiary, Pengg Kabel, from NKT Cables in January 2005. Pengg has two plants, Kapfenberg and Wartberg, which manufacture copper and fiber based telecoms and signal cables.

Worth Noting

downstream to OEMs for use in the automotive, industrial electronic, computer, appliance, multimedia and watch markets.

It has manufacturing operations in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Mexico, China, U.S. and Malaysia. #29 SWCC SHOWA Holdings, Japan 2005 Revenues US$463.5 million Showa Electric Wire and Cable Company (SWCC) became SWCC SHOWA Holdings Company Ltd. in 2006. It has plants in Japan, Indonesia, China, Malaysia and Vietnam. Its business segments make products from power cables to fiber optics. #30 Riyadh Cables, Saudi Arabia 2005 Revenues US$448 million Riyadh is one of the Middle East’s leading manufacturers and exporters of power and telecommunication cables, from small PVC insulated building wires to high voltage cables. #31 Corning Inc., USA 2005 Revenues US$435 million Corning is the world’s largest producer of optical fiber and a leading supplier of fiber optic cable. Its telecom unit provides optical fiber technology for premises, fiber-tothe-premises access, metropolitan, longhaul, and submarine networks. #32 The Okonite Company, USA 2005 Revenues US$405 million Okonite, which has six manufacturing plants and 1,700 employees, produces low and high voltage cable, control cable, instrumentation cable, special purpose cable and products and transportation wire and cables as well as EPR insulated cables. #33 Andrew Corporation, USA 2005 Revenues US$401 million Andrew Corp. is one of the world’s largest producers of wireless products (coax cables and more). It has plants in the U.S., Australia, China, England, India and Scotland. #34 Gaon Cable Ltd., South Korea 2005 Revenues US$396.8 million Gaon, formerly Heesung Cable, is a leader in the domestic power cable market. It has two plants in Korea with a staff of 420 people. Its telecom division produces STP and UTP data cables and fiber optic cable.

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LEADING •CABLE •COMPAINES L # 36 Madeco, Chile 2005 Revenues US$377.7 million Madeco, the leading cable maker in South America (Chile, Brazil, Peru and Argentina), produced finished and semi-finished nonferrous products that include: copper and fiber optic telecom cable, building and magnet wire, mining cable, and copper rod. #38 Allied Electronics Corp., South Africa 2005 Revenues US$360.1 million Altron makes wire and cable products for sectors including power electronics, telecom, power electrical, multi-media and information technology as well as low/ medium voltage power cables and more.

#39 Ta Ya Electric Wire & Cable, Taiwan 2005 Revenues US$354.7 million Ta Ya, a producer of electric cords and drawn copper wire, now has nine subsidiaries that make PVC compounds and bare copper wire, magnet wire, power cable and copper/fiber optic telecom cable. #40 Saudi Cable Company, Saudi Arabia 2005 Revenues US$316 million SCC is a leading manufacture of power and telecom cables in the Middle East. Its segments make energy and telecom cable (SCC Cables and Mass Cables) and aluminum/alloy conductors (Midal Cables). #41 Lapp Kabel, Germany 2005 Revenues $310.8 million Lapp has a strong market position in the flexible power cable market worldwide and is big in LAN data cable. Its has 15 operations worldwide with more than 500 employees. #42 IRCE, Italy 2005 Revenues US$310 million IRCE specializes in making winding wires for electric machines and insulated energy cables. It has four plants that make copperand aluminum-enameled wire and cable and other products. # 43 TKH Group NV, The Netherlands 2005 Revenues $298.6 million TKH’s primary focus is on ICT systems, network related services and specialty cable. Its Cable Group focuses increasingly on market niches. #44 Kabelwerk Eupen, Belgium 2005 Revenues US$292.2 million Kabelwerk, a global supplier of special

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35

Leader Universal Holdings Berhad, Malaysia 2005 Revenues US$379 million

Why highlighted: The ASEAN market went through a cyclical downturn, from 1998-2003, but Leader seems to have been able to survive and prosper. Despite some tough decisions faced by the company at its Indian operations, they are now in a strong position to benefit from future growth in the Malaysian, Singaporean cable market.

Of note: In 2006, Leader announced plans to upgrade its operations in Johor and Penang, spurred on by the growth in power generation projects. Leader also announced its plans to expand further into South Asia as a power generator producer this year, following its success in Cambodia. It will be interesting to see what direction the company takes and how it performs in the next few years.

Leader Universal Holdings Berhad (LUH) is an investment holding company of the largest wire and cable manufacturer in the ASEAN region. It was established in 1990 from the merger of Universal Cable and Leader Cable, and the company is organized into two main business divisions, namely Telecommunication & Power (T&P) Division and Diversified Business (DB) Division.

The company is based in Penang, Malaysia. It is listed on the Kuala Lumpur Stock Exchange. Leader Universal is a public company with a number of Malaysian investors holding more than 50% of the shares.

The T&P Division is the larger of the two divisions, manufacturing wire and cable products. The company produces a complete range of cables, including low to high-tension power cables, copper telecom cables, communication cables and specialty cables for different industries. The company is also a specialist turnkey contractor for electrical power cable projects.

The company’s domestic wire and cable production plants are located in Penang Island, Penang mainland, Kedah and Johor. In 1994, the company expanded beyond the borders of Malaysia, and established manufacturing facilities in Singapore, the Philippines and China. Leader Universal also used to have a co-owned plant in India (Incab Industries), but there were huge disagreements over ownership, and Leader lost control of it in 2000.

In 2005, Leader Universal announced it agreed to sell a 70% stake in its subsidiary Leader Optic Fiber Cable Sdn Bhd, a maker and distributor of fiber optic cable, to Tugu Empayar Sdn Bhd and Arah Sistematik Sdn Bhd. Tugu Empayar and Arah Sistematik will each acquire a 35% stake in Leader Optic Fiber Cable.

However, Leader has been expanding its business in other areas and for the last eight years it has been an independent power producer (IPP) in Cambodia.

Worth Noting

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cables, is the largest and only independent Belgian producer of wire and cable (signal and control; building;, low/medium voltage power; coax; copper and fiber optic telecom); lo-smoke, low-halogen a specialty.

Rea Magnet Wire, USA 2005 Revenues US$375 million

Why highlighted: Rea has recently taken over the magnet wire operations of Phelps Dodge in the U.S. and Mexico. This will have a major impact on revenues for 2006, where it will jump up the global rankings.

Of note: Rea has probably been affected by the growth in raw material prices like most other companies in the industry, it is difficult to guess to what extent. However, it will be interesting to see how the company continues to develop and perform with its new North American operations (Phelps Dodge’s North American magnet wire operations), and further expansion into China (joint venture company JingdaRea).

The Rea Magnet Wire Company is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of magnet and non-ferrous wire products. Victor Rea, along with Jay Boeshore and Edward Snyder, set up the company in 1933. In 1960 it was taken over by leading aluminum company Alcoa, who also acquired Algonquin Industries in 1983 and merged this operation into Rea Magnet Wire. In 1986, Rea ended up back in private hands when it was purchased by a group of Rea and Algonquin senior managers. Today, Rea is organized into three independently operated business divisions: Magnet Wire Division, Algonquin Industries Division and Diversified Products Division. In February 2006, Rea Magnet Wire also finalized the purchase of Phelps Dodge’s North American magnet wire operations. The purchase included manufacturing facilities, property and equipment at Fort Wayne, Indiana and Monterrey, Mexico.

Rea’s corporate headquarters is in Fort Wayne, Indiana in the U.S. The company is privately held and not listed, and releases very little public information.

Rea produces copper, aluminum and brass insulated magnet wire and bare wire used in the manufacture of motors, transformers and coils. Rea also manufactures a number of specialty wire products. The Magnet Wire Division focuses on film insulated copper and aluminum magnet wire. The Algonquin Industries Division’s products include conductors (tape-insulated) copper and aluminum rectangular magnet wire. The Diversified Products Division deals with the development and production of specialty wire products.

Rea Magnet Wire employs over 800 people, with plants located in North America and China. The Magnet Wire Division has plants in Lafayette and Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Las Cruces, New Mexico. In addition to the three North American plants, the Magnet Wire Division operates two plants in China. In 2003, it formed a joint venture with Tongling Jingda, China’s largest manufacturer of magnet wire.

The joint venture, known as Jingda-Rea, now operates a plant in Nanhai, north of Hong Kong, and one in Tianjin, southeast of Beijing, the latter since 2004. The Algonquin Industries Division has operations in Guilford, Connecticut; Ashland, Virginia; and Osceola, Arkansas. Its Diversified Products Division is based in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Worth Noting

#45 Delphi, USA 2005 Revenues US$290 million Despite operating in Chapter 11 and having announced that it will drastically pare down its U.S. operations, the company remains one of the largest global producers of automotive components, including automotive wiring harnesses. Its wire and cable unit in Warren is one of eight in U.S. targeted to continue. #46 The Leviton Group, USA 2005 Revenues US$262 million The Leviton Group’s main divisions (Leviton Voice and Data, Leviton Lighting Controls and American Insulated Wire), produces fiber, copper and connectivity products, lighting controls and structure wiring products, and portable and flexible cords. #47 General Cavi S.p.A., Italy 2005 Revenues US$252.4 million General Cavi’s units (Unicavi SpA, Rubber Cables SRL, GRS SRL, G.Ecol Cables SRL, EQ Cables SRL and G.C.R.E SRL) produce building wire, power cables, telecom cables, co-axial, RF and special cables and signal/control cables. #48 Olex Cables, Australia 2005 Revenues US$252 million Olex Cables, one of the largest wire and cable producers in Australia and New Zealand, manufactures energy cables, from low voltage general wiring, through to high voltage power cables and specialty wire and cable. Its R&D has been focused on fire resistant and fire retardant cables. #49 La Triveneta Cavi, Italy 2005 Revenues US$246.2 million La Triveneta Cavi is one of the largest cable makers in Italy. Its four plants make power cables, specialist signal and control cables, RF and UHF coaxial cables. #50 Amphenol Corporation, USA 2005 Revenues US$245 million Amphenol Corp.’s Times Fiber Corp. makes coaxial and fiber optic cables. Its Spectra Strip unit makes copper and fiber optic flat ribbon cable, as well as specialist computer and data cables.

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Q A Philip Radbourne Integer Research WJI: Can the incredible degree of investment in China continue?

Radbourne: No, it cannot continue at this pace. Over the next three-four years, there is going to be a major problem in Asia for exports of many commodity products, such as building wire and power cable. We would expect a 10 year horizon in Asia, especially in China, where many companies will be forced to consolidate, mostly in the commodity sector. This will be a key driving factor forcing Chinese producers to upgrade their product mix, which will in turn be the key export threat.

China is now in a metals intensive phase, with huge volumes of copper and aluminum power cables being installed in a range of infrastructure across China. In addition we have the shift of manufacturing to China – so that there is additional demand for cables – such as cord sets, wiring harnesses and electronic wire and cable, which are ultimately exported globally. It is this combination of the massive increase in fixed investment, combined with the globalization of manufacturing that has led to this historic boom in demand in China.

WJI: Do currency exchange rates and subsidies favor Asian companies?

Radbourne: In the long run, currency exchange rates are not the key advantage. One major issue that has emerged has been the impact of import tariffs on raw materials as well as some polymers.

Only a few years ago, sending copper wire from Taiwan or Japan to China would not have been a major issue, but with high copper prices, the 10% import tariff can eat into company margins.

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WJI: Is your next top manufacturers’ list likely to look quite different?

Radbourne: We think in the next 5-6 years, we will see a handful of the leading Chinese producers start to look overseas for exports, initially, and then look at integrating downstream. Leading players would be companies such as Shanghai Cable, which has strong links with Raychem. There are others that have joint ventures with leading Japanese and Taiwanese cable makers.

WJI: For a cable company, is bigger inherently better?

Radbourne: No. There are some economies of scale for commodity grade products, which are all about price, but there is no real long-term evidence that larger is better. The trend towards conglomerates has lessened as there is less desire for companies to own a range of businesses.

Philip Radbourne, Integer Director, Wire & Cable Division.

WJI: Do you see further commodization of value-added cable products?

Radbourne: We think that most cable products that could be shifted have been shifted. What has remained is related to cables and products that cannot be shipped via container, where delivery and client contact are the key elements in the purchase decision rather than price and quality. Commodity grade cables, such as building wire, are not shipped in from China as transport would wipe out any margins and they

can be made most efficiently by major regional players. That would be Southwire and Encore Wire in the U.S. and Nexans, Draka, Prysmian and Wilms in Europe; and LS Cable in Korea, as all dominate their home markets. Market share is a key advantage.

WJI: Are steep copper prices most responsible for higher industry profits?

Is the industry in a normal cycle?

Radbourne: Higher copper prices are part of the inherent nature of the business cycle. Since they are generally driven by periods of tighter copper supplies and stock, we would also expect higher wire and cable profit margins.

Structural issues can and do overlie the typical business cycle. In the U.S., the NAFTA agreement had a big influence on the location of cable companies and their move to follow their customers. In Europe, the fall of the Berlin Wall and collapse in communism suddenly opened up a number of new markets. However, these failed to materialize in Germany, causing major structural capacity problems. The other major regional influence has been in Asia. We have seen the industrialization and then maturation in turn of the Japanese, Taiwanese and then South Korean economies.

WJI: Has the trend of manufacturers relocating to be closer to customers been successful? Could some companies be going too far in this direction?

Radbourne: No, companies can never go too far in moving. It is about maintaining a customer relationship. For instance, in the case of China, many leading television set makers have started production there in recent years. The leading cable producers have really had no choice but to follow their customers.

The alternative is to let the local Chinese producers “in the door.”

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S LEADING •CABLE •COMPANIES What’s Hot: Regions

hot

What’s Hot: Product Sectors

REGION

China. China simply cannot be ignored. It is one of the leading economies in the world as well as the largest production base for a range of OEM wire and cable products. Its cable makers consume large quantities of copper, aluminum, polymers and other raw materials. China should not be thought of as just one country in terms of investment. Certainly the geographic focus of this investment has shifted north-eastward through time. Original investment flowed north of Hong Kong to the Guangzhou province. In part, this was Taiwanese investment, which was originally excluded from direct investment in China. It then shifted up to the middle coastal region, opposite Taiwan, to the “Greater Shanghai region,” which includes Shanghai, its province and various locations in Jiangsu province such Suzhou, Wuxi and Nanjing. The focus for the next three to five years is likely to be in Northern China, in the Shandong and Dalian provinces. There are more than 3,000 cable makers in China that make reasonable quality wire and cable. More than 1,000 of these produce cable that might be exported into Western Europe, North America and the rest of Asia. Within this 1,000, there are probably 300 overseas operations that are joint ventures with overseas cable makers. Of these, between 80-100 have the potential to emerge as global players in the few next years. They will certainly be the ones to watch in the next five years.

Rest of Asia. India wants nothing more (or less) than to top China. This appears to be more of a hope than an aspiration in the short term. It has a way to go due to its infrastructure, which needs much improvement, and its bureaucracy, which is getting better but is still not as easy to work with as in China. Indeed, there are still many forms that need to be filled in “triplicate” when dealing with government organizations. What it does have going for it is a large youthful population and a desire to better itself. India’s wire and cable industry at this point needs more investment in technology to raise itself to a truly competitive level. It also needs a greater level of management expertise. It may be a ground floor for a very worthwhile market, but it will require patience and a long-term perspective. Vietnam, has taken on the status of the original ASEAN countries, in terms of an alternate investment base for Japanese, Taiwanese and South Korean “set makers” – companies such as Sony, Panasonic, Toshiba, Matsushita, etc. Companies increasingly want to hedge their bets, locating a plant in China and one in Malaysia, Indonesia or Thailand for example. That trend is driven by labor costs, initially. There is also an element of political risk analysis too. At some point, electronic, signal and control cable producers, and automotive wire/wire harness companies may set up operations here. So, Vietnam is likely to see increased investments.

South America. Brazil remains the key market here. The country remains in a bit of a hang-over from the problems with the telecoms sector. On the other hand, investment has been going into infrastructure – power utility and also industrial companies expanding their operations – mining companies etc.

hot

PRODUCT

Infrastructure. Demand for better infrastructure has meant a lot of business for wire and cable. In addition to China, Eastern Europe is experiencing strong growth as is Western Europe.

The U.S. is a mature market but it has a very big appetite for power and its power networks are considered old and not overly reliable. Environmental concerns has meant that more new interconnect cables are buried underground.

Those factors translate to more need for low- and medium-voltage power cables for electrical utilities as well as cables for alternative energy sources, such as onshore and offshore wind farms. These sites, which represent new sources of energy, need to be able to transmit power back into the national grid networks.

High-tech cables. Across North America and Western Europe, and key parts of Asia (China, Taiwan, Japan and Korea), continued investment in the wireless and wireline data services arena has driven demand for fiber optic cable (although prices are still tough), copper telecom cable, for the last mile/km (for ADSL), and upcoming ADSL2+, and VDSL deployment.

Across Europe, Asia and North America, growing data transfer needs have driven demand for fiber optic cables, high capacity LAN cables and a range of signal and control cables. In the short term, as various media begin to overlap, PC and home entertainment systems will drive broadband demand.

Lower broadband prices, and higher machine and transfer rates will continue to underpin this market. As yet, small to medium sized companies can still cope with copper infrastructure – for the LAN data cables.

What’s Hot: Regions (cont’d.)

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hot

PRODUCT

Automotive. With China estimated to sell as many as 20 million motor vehicles by 2020, up from a little over 6 million in 2006, the long-term outlook is very good for the auto industry, especially manufacturers of wiring harnesses. In the global auto sector, wiring increasingly appears to be moving from just simple electrical powering to developing a complex wiring harness – full of electronic (high end and often critical system) systems.

Much of the knowledge from consumer electronics and industrial systems have moved into this sector.

High-tech solutions are especially welcomed, such as Leoni’s introduction last year of new ABS cables, a critical function. As the number of drivers in the world climb, the automotive sector appears well set.

Other value-added cables. Other strong cable sectors include those used for medical equipment (electronic wire, special cables), rolling stock, (high specification signal and control cable, and specialty cables). Even domestic appliance production and consumer electronics have driven demand for a range of signal and control cables across Western and Eastern Europe. This may have meant that cables have been imported from China, in some instances, but European producers such as Leoni, Nexans, Draka and Prysmian have been able to benefit. Across a range of sectors – fire resistance and high-temperature resistance continue to be key areas for development for a range of wire and cable companies.

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What’s Hot: Regions (cont’d.)

hot REGION

Africa. The story out of Africa depends on which part of Africa you are talking about. In West Africa, companies have been looking at Nigeria and Ghana for a while, but nothing really has happened. However, be aware that China is in the background, encouraging major investment and offering loan agreements. This is very likely to benefit Chinese cable makers – who may find themselves winning some nice contracts to supply cables – in the mineral-rich (alumina, iron ore, etc.)

African countries. In terms of development, there is further investment in South Africa, especially with the Soccer World Cup coming up. For the long term, there may be potential in East Africa in Kenya and Tanzania.

Western Europe. Western Europe has been through some tough times over the last decade. One major structural trend through the late 1990s was harmonizing cable products. That plus the enlargement of the EU has effectively created a single market in terms of production. Leading players in Europe (Nexans, Draka and Prysmian, General Cable and Wilms) have to be careful where they locate their production. This has resulted in a great deal of consolidation/movement of production plants. The one outlier is Wilms, which is mainly German-based in terms of production, but the addition of the Austrian operations is also an interesting move.

Eastern Europe. Eastern Europe initially was a location for cheaper cable making. Now, it has potential for a range of infrastructure. For example, the enlarged EU offers opportunities to cable makers in the Baltic states. There is a trend for cable makers to set up operations to target the growth in domestic demand. This can range from LAN data cables to power cable as countries here now can choose to bury some of their overhead power cable network, starting with low- and medium voltage categories. Russia is a big unknown due to risks such as volatility, politically uncertainty, and opaque and variable tax regime. Yet there is plenty of potential for special cables, and infrastructure, especially in the Moscow-St. Petersburg regions. Some key suppliers are emerging, such as Sevkabel.

Overview In whatever country they are located, top companies share a dynamic and outward looking management. Some countries seem to have really successful management – for making cable – where there is a natural link between the technical aspects of cable making and the managerial knowledge – of strategy and marketing. We find that the French, Swiss, Germans, Swedes and Dutch seem to lead the market in terms of thinking in Europe – and they have a real global outlook on their operations. In North America, of course, from a European perspective, Mexican, U.S. and Canadian producers have a similar outlook, given their markets.

There are no real global North American cable makers – although General Cable has expanded its operations into Europe recently with the Safran cable acquisition.

In Asia, the Japanese cable producers emerged as leading global players, and certainly dominate the Asian market, with their extensive network of cable making operations. A few Taiwanese and Korea producers also emerged as regional players. The next step has to be that some of the leading Chinese producers will move up the value chain.

– Integer Research

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2006 Article Index The year in review The following is a listing of all WJI technical articles, features and news items that appeared during calendar year

2006. Items are arranged by categories. For reprints, contact the WAI at tel. 203-453-2777; fax 203-453-8384.

2006 WJI Cover Stories

Asian Focus

Jan.: “Fiber versus Copper: the last leg.” p. 42.

More major investment is heading to India, Jan., p. 20.

Feb.: “Industry & the Internet,” p. 52.

March: “Wire Expo 2006 preview,” p. 40.

April: “Take-ups & Payoffs,” p. 70.

McDonald’s opens first drive-thru in China, Jan., p. 20.

China seeks better productivity, energy use, Jan., p. 20.

May: “Industry Trends: Manufacturing,” p. 36.

June: “Industry Trends: Suppliers,” p. 39.

Challenges, yes, but China growth outlook is good for the next 20 years, Jan., p. 21.

Profile: ETL SEMKO presence in Asia, Feb., p. 26.

Business subtleties in Asia cannot be overlooked, Feb., p. 28.

Interview: Anand Bhagwat, WAI Asia Office Dir., March, p. 20.

Mittal bid for Arcelor: a global study in irony, March, p. 22.

Mittal focus on more than just bid for Arcelor, April, p. 28.

A Chinese perspective of the U.S. trade deficit: trade has benefits for both, April, p. 29.

India-China rivalry for energy resources intensifies, April, p. 30.

July: “Equipment: Part 1,” p. 54.

Aug.: “Preview: ITC India,” p. 40.

Sept.: “Equipment: Part 2,” p. 38.

Dec.: “Asian Outlook,” p. 48.

Superconductors a growth area for China, Aug., p. 24.

Interview: Finolex Cables Limited MD Deepak Chhabria, Aug., p. 25.

Mittal-Arcelor deal has impact beyond steel, Aug., p. 27.

Mittal letter outlines need for more mergers, Sept., p. 20.

China okays major consolidation plans, Sept., p. 20.

Labor challenges a threat to China’s factories, Sept., p. 20.

First holding of Wire & Cable India 2006: Nov. 16-18, Oct., p. 22.

More Chinese businesses crack World Top 500 list, Oct., p. 22.

Profile: JLC Electromet Pvt. Ltd., Jaipur, India, Oct., p. 22.

Official word from China: piracy will be confronted, 100-day campaign held, Oct., p. 26.

U.S.-China trade deficit: why yuan’s value matters, Nov., p. 22.

Labor shortages are more noticeable in China, May, p. 22.

Asia’s long-term crisis: not energy, not materials, but a basic of life, Nov., p. 23.

Three attributes of successful multinationals in Asia, May, p. 23.

Tata Steel embarks on India’s largest takeover, Dec., p. 20.

Need for raw materials, power, a major concern, June, p. 26.

Morgan Construction to build 2 mills in India, Dec., p. 20.

Messe show move to Bangkok next year reflects changing industry, June, p. 27.

Hebei Province suspends 151 new projects, Dec., p. 20.

Will Asia buy into the concept of a single currency? June, p. 28.

LS Cable wins US$52 million cable order, Dec., p. 20.

Oct.: “Reels & Spools,” p. 50.

Nov.: “Fastener & spring-making equipment,” p. 44.

Post Olympics will be the economic test for China, July, p. 48.

Driven to ask: what is an American-made car? July, p. 26.

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The Chinese conundrum in Africa, Dec., p. 21.

Fastener Update

Asia bandwidth growth seen, Dec., p. 21.

California company pays fine, Jan., p. 28.

Profits narrow, but U.S. companies continue to expand in China, Dec., p. 21.

Anti-dumping duties imposed, Jan., p. 28.

Chapter Corner (See WAI Chapter Corner)

Conferences/Exhibitions IWCS/Focus wrapup, Jan., p. 36. wire Düsseldorf 2006 preview, Feb., p. 60.

Atlantic Fasteners now employee-owned, Jan., p. 28.

Sundram Fasteners to acquire Textron unit in Germany, Feb., p. 38.

Exhibition in Singapore to include fasteners, and more, March, p. 28.

Fastener Fair reports that the outlook is good for April 5-6 fastener event, March, p. 28.

Fastener show to be held in China this September, April, p. 38.

ISANTA names 2006 officers, April, p. 39.

Fastener event to be co-located at Interwire 2007, May, p. 26.

World industrial fastener demand to be $55 billion by 2010, June, p. 36.

Grainger opens 1st Master Branch operation in China , Nov., p.32.

EFDA president outlines challenges to fastener industry, Dec., p. 30.

Anixter International acquire’s Italy’s MFU Holdings S.p.A., Dec., p. 30.

NFDA names new officers, June, p. 36.

Fastener Fair attendees top 1,000, June, p. 36.

Industrial Fasteners Institute names new officers, July, p. 36.

Wire Expo 2006 preview, March, p. 40.

Study sees continued growth for Chinese hardware, Aug., p. 32.

Update: Wire Expo 2006, April, p. 48.

ASTM honors fastener expert, Aug., p. 33.

Update: Wire Expo 2006, May, p. 32.

Wrapup: wire Düsseldorf, June, p. 44.

Wrapup: Wire Expo 2006, July, p. 42.

Preview: ITC India, August, p. 40.

Preview: wire China 2006, August, p. 50.

Ohio Rod Products acquires Rhode Island Fabricators, Sept., p. 26.

JWA acquires Scorpion Fasteners, Sept., p. 26.

Bisco Industries opens its 34th facility, Sept., p. 26.

SPRING WORLD Preview, Sept., p. 32.

New U.S. fastener company is formed in Illinois, Oct., p. 34.

“IWCS/Focus Preview,” Oct., p. 44.

Fastener event scheduled for 2007, Oct., p. 34.

wire China wrapup, Nov., p. 42.

Armstrong Fastening acquired, Oct., p. 34.

SPRING WORLD: overall results are positive, Dec., p. 40.

Alcoa to add two manufacturing facilities in China, Nov., p.29.

ITC in New Delhi provides introduction for WAI, Dec., p. 42.

Milzcik to head Barnes Group, Nov., p.29.

Würth plans China venture, Nov., p.32.

86 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Fiber Watch Verizon continues to roll out its fiber network, Jan., p. 26.

FPT Telecom fiber network is on-line, Jan., p. 26.

Corning reports more fiber FTTH deployments, Jan., p. 26.

Alcatel provides super-fast data link for 2 universities, Feb., p.34.

Service will locate ‘dark fiber’ facilities in U.S. cities, March, p. 26.

ABI says Europe ups FTTH use, March, p. 26.

Alcatel completes Paris deployment, March, p. 26.

Lucent to manage PCL network, March, p. 26.

Stuttgart school chooses Nextrom fiber technology, April, p. 36.

New Zealand fiber network noted, April, p. 36.

Alcatel chosen for upgrade, April, p. 36.

Work begun on cable network in Caribbean, April, p. 36.

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Alcatel inaugurates submarine cable system in Jamaica, May, p. 25.

Verizon on 6-million pace for deploying fiber...but will the big investment pay off?

Nov.., p. 26.

Telepak chooses Corning for Mississippi FTTH deployment, May, p. 25.

Nextrom delivers fiber draw tower to Chinese company, Dec., p. 27.

Corning: half fiber demand from North America/China, June, p. 34.

Japanese wireless company to acquire fiber network, Dec., p. 27.

Mexican utility awards consortium fiber optic network project, June, p. 34.

Industry News: January

Alcatel to supply FTTU, July, p. 34.

Copperfield acquires International Wire Group’s insulating plant operations, p. 10.

POF market to top $2 billion, July, p. 34.

Southwire plans to buy GenTek wire business, p. 10.

Russian firm buys 1 millionth km of Corning fiber, July, p. 34.

Bekaert to close Michigan wire plant, p. 10.

Alcatel lands INFN project, Aug., p. 30.

ADC Krone gets U.K. project, Aug., p. 30.

Nextrom preform technology is chosen by CNSR, Aug., p. 30.

Verizon to make big investment in fiber for its New Jersey network, Sept., p. 24.

Offer them FiOS, Sept., p. 24.

Prysmian reports $171 million deal, p. 11.

Report: FTTP remains the big story for 2006, Sept., p. 24.

PolyOne to close U.K. facility, p. 11.

FTTX market ok through 2010, Oct., p. 33.

Copper: ‘red gold’ continues to top historic records, p. 11.

Draka awarded FTTH contract, Oct., p. 33.

Kalas to enter irrigation market, p. 12.

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JANUARY 2007 87

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Delphi saga continues, p. 12.

Page 88

IMGC reports getting expanded defense contract for HTS development, p. 16.

AMSC reports multiple news announcements, p. 13.

Teknor Apex notes 4 foreign units working, p. 16.

Morgan to upgrade Nucor steel mill in Nebraska, p. 14.

Industry veteran forms consulting firm for nonferrous companies, p. 19.

August Neuhoff marks its 125th anniversary, p. 14.

AMSC notes confirmation of expanded HTS contract, p. 19.

Tyco International plans to break operations to 3 separate companies, p. 15.

Precision Payoff chooses Cemanco, p. 17.

Davis-Standard sees results from Merritt acquisition, restructures business units, p. 22.

Mittal Canada finishes Stelco buy, wants to create single wire group, p. 15.

Court approves Stelco sale of subsidiaries to Mittal Canada, Inc., p. 18.

York Wire & Cable has new site, good outlook, p. 22.

Peruvian company gives order to Italy’s Danieli to upgrade to mini-mill, p. 16.

Sea-Me-We 4 cable network opens, p. 18.

East Penn named to FORTUNE’s top 100 list, p. 23.

Desmak Machinery says Locton Ltd. to take over, p. 16.

WCMA names Charles D. Scott award winners, p. 23.

Electronic Magic reports new name, p. 16.

Mathiasen to sell enameling plant, p. 12.

AMSC wire used in super-fast train test that saw speeds top 300 mph, p. 14.

Anti-dumping case highlights challenge of global business motivations, p. 16.

Gerdau Ameristeel plant in Beaumont, Texas, resumes operations, p. 17.

Industry News: February Nexans reports Thai submarine cable contract, p. 10.

Maillefer opens service office in North America for parts, service and more, p. 25.

WSJ notes wire failure role in matter of cardiac defibrillators from Guidant Corp., p. 25.

Industry News: March Belgium’s Bekaert acquires Delta Wire Corp., p. 10.

Bhagwat named to head WAI India office, p. 10.

Leggett & Platt closes Andrews Wire plant, p. 10.

Mittal bid for Arcelor leads to world-class clash, p. 10.

Fisk Alloy acquires former Strandflex unit, p. 10.

ITC nixes dumping claims brought by U.S. rod producers, p. 10.

Arcelor rejects Mittal’s $22 billion bid, p. 10.

General Cable buys Mexican distributor, p. 10.

Industry Trends: The ferrous outlook, p. 10.

Danieli to supply wire rod line for Ori Martin’s bar and rod mill in Brescia, Italy, p. 13.

Wardwell Braiding Machine in process of merging its two plants in Germany, p. 13.

WPM buys former General Cable plant in Bonham, Texas, p. 11.

New base for World Class Wire and Cable, p. 11.

Industry Trends: Telecom, p. 11.

Gerdau S.A. seeking expansion to Eastern Europe and Asian markets, p. 12.

Usha Martin building U.S. wire rope plant, considering China entry, p. 12.

Germany’s Saarstahl makes bid for Conflandey and Port d’Atelier plants, p. 13.

88 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Forming Systems president meets with Ireland’s Prime Minister, p. 19.

SMI reports spring sector is flat, but at okay level, p. 19.

Industry News: April Fastener event to be co-located at Interwire 2007, p. 12.

AIW to put $26 million in facility in Georgia, p. 12.

Phelps Dodge to sell its conductors unit to IWG, p. 12.

AWPA: past year good, challenges likely ahead, p. 13.

Rod inventory remains a key market indicator, p. 16.

Bartell plans to expand New York facility, p. 16.

Artos Engineering celebrates its 95th, p. 16.

Southwire Company announces plans to expand its Rocky Mount operation, p. 20.

Whitney Blake acquires ASC’s AWC division, p. 20.

Cable warning: power lines not a child’s game, p. 20.

Bekaert seeks stronger position in Russia, in talks with several companies, p. 22.

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Messe show to move to Thailand in 2007, p. 22.

Phelps Dodge Corp. completes sale to IWG, p. 18.

EMC opens support office in South Carolina, p. 19.

Morgan Construction reports on contracts from Nucor and Cascade Steel, p. 24.

IWCS/Focus to be held in Providence in 2008, p. 19.

Cable Consultants to represent Swiss company, p. 19.

Belden CDT changes organization structure for North America, p. 24.

APA names Calsak Corp. as new distributor, p. 19.

NEPTCO reports Chinese sourcing agreement, p. 19.

UPCAST business bought by management, partner, p. 26.

ABB reports Swedish wind farm contract, p. 19.

Sandvik to phase out Italian Kanthal unit, p. 26.

CommScope finalizes Trilogy acquisition, p. 26.

Axis Computer picked by U.S. cablemaker, p. 26.

Summit City names Mexico sales rep, p.

27.

Bekaert to reorganize its U.K. carding business, p. 27.

Industry News: May Severstal Group acquires U.K.’s Carrington Wire, p. 12.

Belden sells U.K. unit, announces intentions to close Swedish plant, p. 12.

Southwire completes Cable Tech acquisition, p. 12.

Nucor Corporation to acquire Connecticut Steel Corporation for $43 million, p. 13.

Japan’s Sumitomo reports plans to acquire German wire harness business, p. 16.

Ethiopian company said to commission gabion wire factory, p. 16.

Bekaert acquires Cold Drawn Products Ltd., supplier of specialized shaped wires, p. 17.

NUMAMERICA is new U.S. distributor for NUMALLIANCE, p. 17.

Italy’s Danieli acquires Sweden’s HB Wicon, p. 18.

Whitney Blake buys Mexican company, p. 18.

Mathiasen Machinery to sell enameling line, p. 18.

Wheelabrator Group opens Mexican subsidiary, p. 20.

Borealis Compounds notes safety milestone, p. 20.

Publisher of industry magazines is sold, p. 20.

Cemanco names reps for Central/South America, p. 21.

Houston Wire & Cable plans to go public, p. 21.

Cable Consultants to represent Swiss maker of extruders, tooling, p. 21.

Industry News: June Copperweld Bimetallics acquired by its manager, p. 10.

Communication Supply Corporation acquires Calvert Wire & Cable, p. 23.

New company formed from sale of Manchester unit of Belden CDT, p. 10.

Danieli commissions bar and rod mill in Turkey, p. 23.

Coleman Cable to close Miami Lakes facility, p. 10.

AMSC demonstrates full-scale HTS degaussing cable for military ships, p. 24.

Nexans lands US$9 million offshore contract, p. 11.

AIW celebrates topping the one billionth pound mark for wire produced, p. 24.

Buss AG separates from Coperion Group, p. 11.

Industry News: July

Insteel to exit industrial wire, sees potential for its reinforcement products, p. 12.

Cumerio acquires majority interest in Swiss specialty rod producer, p. 14.

IISI has official opening of new office in Beijing, p. 14.

Techint and SMS Demag announce plans to acquire LOI Thermprocess, p. 16.

Cable Consultants to represent SKET’s nonferrous machinery, p. 16.

Cemanco names representative for Central and South America, p. 19.

Belden to close 2 U.S. plants, plans to build a new facility in Mexico, outsource, p. 10.

Leoni plans to acquire Swiss cable manufacturer, p. 10.

Badger Plus buys spool maker GMP Genpak, p. 10.

Nexans completes challenging underground link on Belgian coast, p. 11.

Danieli notes success in 3-mill project in Russia, p. 11.

AMSC reports increase in HTS motor contract , p. 11.

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SMI reports members optimistic about 2006 , p. 21.

Meltech Engineering acquires Biwater Machinery and Johnson Technology, p. 14.

AT&T names Corning as Outstanding Supplier, p. 21.

IGC reports record performance for its second-generation HTS wire, p. 22.

Condat Corp. acquires powered products unit from RichardsApex, p. 14.

Anixter International acquires Connecticut wire and cable distributor, p. 22.

IISI sees strong world growth in finished steel products, p. 23.

ADC Telecommunications announces plan to buy Andrew Corp. in stock deal, p. 24.

PolyOne expands in Europe with Polish plant, p. 24.

Prysmian Cables & Systems reports landing a record energy link contract, p. 12.

Industry News: August

Alcatel to provide submarine cable network to link Morocco and France, p. 16.

Morgan Construction reports bar/rod contract, p.

16.

Flooding damages Amphenol Corp. cable plant in Sidney, New York, p. 19.

For one elusive prize hole, Strandberg is an ace at WCMA golf tourney, p. 19.

Jury sides with welding wire producers in court case over effect of fumes, p. 20.

FTM study sees growth for data center cabling, p. 20.

Germany’s Woywod reports Leoni order, p. 12.

WRCA to head joint venture for world’s largest wire rope plant, p. 10.

Reichenbach to represent Gauder Group in Brazil, p. 16.

IWG to sell its insulated wire activities in Mexico and Philippines to Draka, p. 10.

Wardwell reports joint venture in China, Japanese rep named, p. 16.

ABB nets $180 million order for undersea transmission link, p. 11.

Nexans awarded U.K. wind farm cable contract, p. 19.

Draka Comteq to close factory in Oulu, Finland, p. 11.

Lincoln Electric wins exporting award, p. 19.

Mordica Memorial Award presented to Vincent Rego, p. 11.

Prysmian reports record Chinese order, Mexican OPGW contract, p. 10.

Prysmian buys stake in Polish company to consolidate its presence there, p. 20.

Mittal-Arcelor saga continues to play out, p. 20.

Southwire Company commissions its 11th SCR® copper rod system in China, p. 12.

Bekaert to expand production capacity in Indonesia, p. 10.

Aumann partner buys division from ATS, p. 12.

Nexans and AMSC part of live-grid HTS project, p. 10.

Knill Group updates the status of its Nextrom fiber optic business, p. 21.

Ratified IEEE standard clarifies use of 10 G/bit Ethernet copper cables, p. 21.

IWCS announces preliminary program for 2006 IWCS/Focus conference, p. 22.

WCISA adds 3 new member companies, p. 22.

Industry News: September

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90 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

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Optical Cable says ‘no way’ to Superior Essex offer, p. 11.

Alcatel ship laying cable for Alaska project, will provide 1 Terabit/sec capacity, p. 19.

Alcatel reports US$53 million submarine cable network contract, p. 16.

Morgan Construction reports Argentina contract, p. 11.

Turkish plant starts up high-speed wire rod line, p. 19.

Study predicts moderate growth for U.S. insulated wire and cable demand, p. 18.

Two bids but no close for Andrew Corporation, p. 11.

CommScope celebrates 30th anniversary, notes continued focus on ‘last mile,’ p. 20.

Airbus A380 wiring woes stem from complexity; questions exist on change, p. 18.

Thomas Wire Die buys Stoney Creek Precision, p. 11.

Hitachi Cable Manchester notes 20th anniversary, p. 20.

Many Delphi Corporation employees sign up for buy-out: is it too many? p. 20.

Study shows wire and cable industry better off, with revenues and profits up, p. 12.

3rd General Cable plant wins ‘Top 10’ award, p. 21.

EME 2006 returns to Indiana with full exhibits and technical program, p. 12.

InterWire Group opens facility in Michigan, p. 21.

Arcelor Mittal announces new teams, execs say company ready to lead industry, p. 14.

Loos & Co. Inc. signs agreement with Boeing, p. 21.

Nexans enters cable alliance with Japan’s Viscas, p. 15.

Industry News: December

AIM Inc. completes demonstration site, p. 15.

Nexans plans to acquire Australian cabler Olex,Dec., p. 10.

Study says unrepeatered submarine fiber optic systems is a growth market, p. 16.

IWG to establish plant in Kenwood, New York, Dec., p. 10.

General Cable has 3 best plant candidates, p. 16.

Bekaert to close its steel cord plant in Tennessee, Dec., p. 10.

Alcatel part of consortium that will use cable network to explore neutrinos, p. 19.

Industry News: October Nexans awarded $85 million contract to provide high voltage power cables, p. 10.

Belden enters wireless partnership with Extricom, p. 10.

Industry News: November Wardwell Braiding to close its Germany operations, will shift production, p. 10.

Belden to outsource some manufacturing from its plant in The Netherlands, p. 10.

Russian firm bids $2.3 billion for Oregon Steel, Dec., p. 10.

Petron Atlantic to buy Atlantic Wire/Northeast, Dec., p. 10.

Freeport McMorRan to buy Phelps Dodge, Dec., p. 10.

Russia-Finland cable decision postponed, p. 10.

Change in ballast technology leads to closure of Gallman Wire, p. 10.

Specialty wire rope made at Loos & Co. honors legacy of John Roebling, p. 11.

Mittal Open House showcases its expanded capabilities in Canada, p. 11.

Bekaert reports higher sales, challenges, Asia focus, p. 12.

Fisk Alloys acquires assets of Houston’s Medallion Wire & Cable, p. 12.

HTS cable design advance made, p. 13.

Maillefer joins Odeskabel to celebrate 20th anniversary of ATKT-100, p. 13.

Leoni to open high-temp cable plant in Germany, Dec., p. 12.

Nexans awarded Middle East power cable contract worth US$125 million, p. 14.

NEPTCO opens manufacturing plant in China, Dec., p. 12.

AIM names SOCO as rep for Taiwan, Malaysia, p. 14.

Wire Rope Corp. to get new fund owner, Dec., p. 12.

Dubai opens compounding plant, p. 14.

Chromatics to discontinue production of heavy metal-based colorants, p. 14.

Bulgarian company expands with second copper wire rod system, p. 16.

Auction of Volex assets set for November 9th, p. 16.

Tensolite Company gets ‘dream’ order from Boeing, p. 16.

CONDUSAL opens new plant, plans more expansion, U.S. exports, Dec., p. 11.

Nexans hold inauguration for power cable plant in Japan, Dec., p. 12.

IEWC agrees to buy Colonial Wire & Cable, Dec. p. 12.

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Davis-Standard management and investor group buy out company, Dec., p. 14.

Layoffs reported at General Cable and Southwire Company, p. 14.

Page 92

Technical Articles: “Fracture criteria prediction in wiredrawing using finite element modeling,” by Samarth Tandon, Sachin P. Deshmukh, Rajiv S. Mishra, K. Krishnamurthy and R. Tayloe, Jan., p. 58.

“Effect of strain hardening exponent on the occurrence of central burst in the aluminum wiredrawing process,” by Seyed Mojtaba Koohpayeh and A. Karimi Taheri, Jan., p. 63.

“Thermal behavior in solid wiredrawing lubricants,” by Katherine Helmetag, Ronald Carlone, and Gabriel Kirsch., Jan., p. 65.

Spinnaker acquires supplier of coil winding and automation equipment, Dec. p. 15.

Baldor Electric to buy Reliance Electric, Dec., p. 15.

AIM marks opening of new facility in Greece, Dec., p. 16.

Composite Technology Corp. notes Lamifil to be supplier, Dec., p. 16.

Ajex & Turner to represent Metalube, Dec., p. 16.

These trade winds blow fair for American Superconductor Corp., Dec., p. 16.

PolyOne opens new R&D color lab in Ohio, Dec. p. 17.

Davis-Standard reports extruder sales, Dec., p. 17.

Hitachi Cable withdraws from auto wire niche, Dec., p. 17.

SEC charges former Delphi executives with fraud, Dec., p. 18.

Graeber winner of new award by WCMA, Dec., p. 18.

92 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

“Some experiences in manufacturing of tin plated brass square wires with a size 1.2 mm,”

by Bogdan Golis, Henryk Dyja, Jan Pilarczyk and Zbigniew Blazejowski, May, p. 48.

“Dosing systems and mixing techniques in cable extrusion for efficient production,” by Andreas Haus and Martin Deters, May, p. 53.

“GE’s new Flexible NORYL™ resin for wire coating underscores company’s drive into electronics industry,” by R. Welland, C. Suganuma, E. Burghout and P. Siebert, May, p. 58.

“Failure analysis of explanted 316L stainless steel sternal wires,” by Chung-Ming Shih, Shing-Jong Lin, Chun-Che Shih and Yea-Yang Su, Feb., p. 110.

“Wiredrawing work hardening rate prediction from rod composition and Stelmor® cooling rate variables,” by Surya P. Gade, Peter M. Power, Bhaskar Yalamanchili, Malur N. Srinivasan and Victor Zaloom, June, p. 53.

“Increasing drawing fluid longevity in copper wiredrawing applications,” by Matt Hathaway, Feb., p. 117.

“The advantages of Alumoweld® fasteners in pressure treated wood,” by Henry Jarboe, June, p. 58.

“Control of strengthening mechanisms in the manufacture of steel tire cord,” by Thomas W. Tyl, Feb., p. 122.

“Integrating online machine condition monitoring with quality monitoring in the cable industry,” by Patrick Carney, Antonio Ginart, Irtaza Barlas and J. Lewis Dorrity, June, p. 64.

“A quantitative study on the different lubrication modes for wiredrawing of 80% Ni-20%Cr wire,” by Roger N. Wright, Chitra Baid and Kamal Baid, March, p. 146.

“Assessment of rod resistivity as a test for the cross-welding compatibility of various lowcarbon grades,” by Shashidhara Papanna, Peter M. Power, Bhaskar Yalamanchili and Malur N. Srinivasan, March, p. 151.

“A workability criterion for internal ductile fracture in the steel cold heading process,”

by Amar Sabih, James A. Nemes, Nicolas Nickoletopoulos and Michel Hone, March, p. 155.

“Turnkey solution for LAN Cat. 6, LAN Cat. 7, and coax cable production,” by Pierre-Yves Bonvin, March, p. 160.

“Advance of beta titanium alloy TIMETAL® LCB in automotive spring applications,” Yoji Kosaka and Kurt Faller, April, p. 87.

“Quality of spring wires—effect of decarburization of a wire rod and application of pressure dies,” by Bogdan Golis, Jan W. Pilarczyk, Ryszard Budzik and Wieslaw Waszkielewicz, July, p. 66.

“Coolant filtration practices and healthy emulsion,” by Thomas Horn, July, p. 70.

“Development of magnesium alloy fine wire by cold drawing for fabrication of microscrews,” by Kazunari Yoshida, Ken-ichi Komaki and Takahiro Aramaki, July, p. 74.

“The metallurgy of archaeological wire: a tool for the modern metallurgist,” by Rebecca Victoria Slater, Aug., p. 58.

“Stainless steel pickling processes with non-toxic Cleanox® solutions,” by Paolo Giordani, Mauro Rigamonti and Valentino Gasparetto, Aug., p. 62.

“Bond strength of PC wire in concrete,” by Toshio Maehata and Hiroichi Ioka, April, p. 94.

“Twist and tension” by Andy Blackmore, April, p. 98.

“Optimization of drawing lubricant performance in copper wiredrawing systems,” by Michael Quinn, Aug., p. 67.

“Development of steels for automotive electrical parts with low electric power,” by Masamichi Chiba and Goro Anan, April, p. 103.

Development of PVDF for use in limited combustible fiber optic cables,” by James J. Henry, Sept., p. 60.

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“Effect of additional shear strain layer on tensile strength and ductility of fine drawn wire,” by Satoshi Kajino and Motoo Asakawa, Sept., p. 64.

“Spool package edge correction algorithm for fiber and fine wire spooling applications,” by Lenson Wong and Alex White, Sept., p. 69.

“Examination of the constancy of pre-curved wire,” by Veronika Geinitz, Hans-Jürgen Schorcht and Mathias Weiß, Oct., p. 72.

Page 93

WAI Chapter Corner Poland Chapter holds meetings, debuts website, Jan., p. 35.

New England Chapter meeting to take a lighter approach, Jan., p. 35.

Membership drive offers chance to contribute (and win $$$), Feb., p. 46.

New England Chapter has good start to 2006, March, p. 34.

Western Chapter announces officers and event dates, June, p. 41.

Chapter awards two scholarships at Wire Expo, July, p. 40.

Ohio Valley Chapter to hold its 4th annual golf tourney in August, July, 40.

“Copper rod and wire welds’ influence on drawing performance,” by Christian Raskin, Nov., p. 56.

Western Chapter plans Sept. event, July, p. 40.

“Super-plastic behavior of duplex stainless steel wires,” by R. Gerosa, B. Rivolta, M. Cusolito and M. Valsecchi, Nov., p. 62.

Southeast Chapter to take on new golf course, Aug., p. 36.

Midwest Chapter golf outing: members versus balls, Aug., p. 36.

“On the selection of wires and surface engineering for maximum spring fatigue performance,” by Mark Hayes, Nov., p. 66.

“Fields of application of nickel-plated copper conductor,” by Selcuk Harput, Dec. p. 65.

Poland Chapter creates/issues award, plans seminar, June, p. 40.

New England Chapter tourney to return to Kettle Brook, June, p. 42.

“Design of a pressure drawing die,” by L.B. Vazquez, I.R. Rivero, A.M. Delgado and V.R. Andrade, Oct., p. 82.

“Criteria of central bursting—experimental verification,” by Jan Krnác, Robert Kruzel, Jan W. Pilarczyk and Bogdan Golis, Dec. p. 58.

WAI Midwest Chapter schedules golf tourney for June 16, May, p. 30.

Midwest Chapter gains insight into ferrous tech advances, June, p. 41.

“The development of dual phase steels for the manufacture of high strength fasteners without heat treatment,” by David Staddon and Keith Lings, Oct., p. 78.

“FE-analysis for multistage shape drawing for linear-motion guide rails,” by Kazunari Yoshida, Shinji Fukano, Satoru Tsuihiji, Masaki Matsuzawa and Tetsuo Shinohara, Dec. p. 54.

Seminar draws more than 30 attendees to Poland, May, p. 30.

Jaap to address copper futures at Western Chapter tour/meeting, Aug., p. 37.

Midwest Chapter elects new leadership; plans for April program, March, p. 37.

Midwest Chapter to hear Mittal’s Sussman, golf date set, April, p. 44.

New England Chapter has had active role in Wire Expo, April, p. 47.

Members of WAI’s Poland Chapter visit Guilford headquarters, Aug., p. 37.

New England Chapter expects big crowd for 12th tourney, Aug., p. 37.

Mid-South Chapter Golf tourney scheduled, Sept., p. 28.

Poland Chapter seminar draws 30 attendees to Eldrut Ltd., Sept., p. 28.

JANUARY 2007 93

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Page 94

New England annual meeting Jan. 18, Dec., p. 35.

Electrical Wire Handbook Part 2 can now be ordered, March, p. 31.

New England Chapter meeting should be ‘electrifying’, Sept., p. 31.

Western golf tourney a ‘top 40’, Dec., p. 35.

Roadshow Workshop to include Mittal mill, April, p. 40.

3-way tie at Ohio Valley Golf tourney, Oct., p. 40.

Sparks (and hoops) fly at New England Chapter program, Dec., p. 35.

Western Chapter to hit the greens, Sept., p. 29.

WAI News WAI 2006: Report to members, Jan., p. 30.

Abstracts due this month for WAI ITC in New Delhi, April, p. 42.

2005 awards for winning papers at Interwire, ITC, Jan., p. 31.

Interwire Committee likes what it sees at I-X Center, May, p. 28.

Bouvier to serve as 2006 WAI president, Jan., p. 31.

WAI Road Show on extrusion does well in Mexico, May, p. 28.

Mexico Road Show set for March 7, Jan., p. 34.

2006 WAI Membership Drive report: early results are good, May, p. 28.

Interwire 2007: a strategic move, Jan., p. 34.

Wire Expo 2006: Boston awaits, floorplans sent, Jan., p. 34.

Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing, Phase III: Products, Feb., p. 40.

Wire Expo 2006: event to feature a ‘change of pace,’ Feb., p. 43.

Southeast Chapter draws largest ever field for 5th tourney, Oct., p. 40.

Road Show Workshop to make first stop at Wire Expo, Feb., p. 40.

New England chapter program to present electrical challenges, Oct., p. 43 Last call for Western Chapter’s Sixth ‘Wild West Shootout’, Oct., p. 43.

WAI Road Show will be ‘en español’, Feb., p. 40.

Steady booth sales reported for Wire Expo, Feb., p. 40.

Record attendance (and less rain) for NE golf tourney, Nov., p. 38.

Mid-South Chapter enjoys golf outing, Nov., p. 40.

New England Chapter notes, Nov., p. 40.

Western Chapter tours Okonite, hears talk

by Jaap, Nov., p. 40.11/27/2006 9:21 AM whatsnextinsight.qxp

Membership campaign is underway for WAI, April, p. 42.

Mittal co-sponsored workshop gets good attendee rating, June, p. 39.

Membership campaign update: numbers helped

by Düsseldorf, June, p. 39.

Interwire 2007 update: nearly 200 Cleveland exhibitors contracted, June, p. 39.

ITC to offer opportunity for contacts in India market, July, p. 37.

WAI Membership Program adds 50+ members, July, 38.

Volunteering takes many forms, produces benefits, Aug., p. 34.

Conon retires as tech director; Murray to succeed her, March, p. 30.

WCISA a supporting sponsor of Interwire, Aug., p. 34.

WAI update time, Aug., p. 34.

Mittal to sponsor Indiana Road Show this April, March, p. 31.

Tata Steel executive to be a keynote speaker at India ITC, Sept., p. 27.

Breischaft is named the 2006 WireLink Page 2

WAI’s Road Show workshop to make return to Cleveland, Sept., p. 27.

Scholar for WAI, March, p. 31.

INSIDE

February 2007 ®

WIRE JOURNAL I N T E R N A T I O N A L

INSIGHT:

Reporting on: Testing & Measuring

To test and measure the results of your corporate or product message, add an ad to your marketing mix in any upcoming issue of Wire Journal International (WJI) contact Bob Xeller or Anna Bzowski on WJI’s sales staff.

Tel.: 001-203-453-2777 E-mail: bxeller@wirenet.org or abzowski@wirenet.org

E

007

ate or g mix ational n WJI’s

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WAI to hold Reconvene at Spring World®, Sept., p. 27.

Co-locations among topics slated for Reconvene, Oct., p. 38.

Association’s BOD nominates 4 directors, Sept., p. 27.

Road Show stops in Cleveland, Oct., p. 38.

Authors invited to present papers at Interwire 2007, Oct., p. 36.

Publications Committee meeting ‘shows’ results, Oct., p. 39.

WAI board oks by-laws changes, Oct., p. 39.

WAI welcomes Italy Chapter, Nov., p. 36.

Petrohilos winner of Mordica Memorial Award, Dec., p. 36.

AWPA returns as a supporting sponsor to Interwire 2007, Dec., p. 36.

Donnellan Memorial Award goes to Sharon Young, Dec., p. 37.

Wiredrawing workshop makes successful return to Cleveland, Dec., p. 38.

Reconvene hosts wide range of association discussions, Dec., p. 39.

WAI among those at AWIA meeting honoring Loudon, Dec., p. 39. ■

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Development of B-Nb micro-alloyed medium carbon steels with high ductility for severe wiredrawing This process has been shown to improve the ductility of the input material by tying up nitrogen and refining the microstructure.

By Mario Confente, André Lefort and Michael Klemm

This paper presents the advantages

and drawbacks of the conventional process for severe drawing of B-Nb micro-alloyed medium carbon steel with high ductility.

Typically, the starting stock is usually 5.5 or 6.5 mm as-rolled wire rod that is first either pickled or mechanically descaled, depending on the drawing shop’s normal practice. It then undergoes a primary drawing operation to a diameter chosen to adapt the final mechanical properties, the size generally between 3 and 1.8 mm, corresponding to a reduction of 70 to 90%.

The wire is then patented as follows. It is austenitized by passing through a furnace at about 900°C, the temperature and residence time depending on the steel grade and the wire diameter, together with the final microstructure required and any solutioning operations that may be necessary.

It is then quenched in a bath of molten lead at a temperature between 500 and

Fig. 1. As-drawn 0.8% carbon wire.

96 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

550°C, the exact temperature and holding time depending on the steel grade and wire diameter as well as on the type of microstructure sought, which is usually a very fine pearlite that offers an excellent combination of strength and ductility.

Regarding water cooling, pickling and coiling, Figs. 1-3 show that the patenting treatment both regenerates the cold worked structure and produces a pearlite finer than that obtained on the raw wire after cooling in the Stelmor plant. After treatment, the wire is given a further cold working reduction, either by drawing (to about 1 mm), by cold rolling, or both.

good ductility conferred by the fine pearlite structure. Further, the post-drawing pickling treatment provides a wire surface that facilitates lubrication during the final drawing pass.

Process disadvantages

Simply by adapting the wire diameter subjected to the intermediate patenting treatment, this process enables the required final strength level to be readily obtained, together with the low scatter in properties and

The conventional process has a number of drawbacks, which are listed below.

High cost. In addition to the extra costs related to energy consumption and maintenance of the patenting line, the intermediate heat treatment significantly increases the overall process time, particularly since the patenting plant is often a “bottleneck” in many customer drawing shops.

Risk of breakage due to segregation. Hard high carbon steels can show segregation problems, leading either to the formation of martensite in grades with 0.6 to 0.8% carbon and/or cementite in hyper eutectoid steels with more than 0.8% carbon. See Figs. 4-5.

Fig. 2. Cold worked wire.

Fig. 3. Patented wire.

Process advantages

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Fig. 4. Alignments of secondary cementite.

Fig. 5. Martensite.

Fig. 7. Decohesions at martensite.

Fig. 8. Schematic presentation of strain hardening during drawing..

Fig. 8. Difference in surface appearance.

Mario Confente is director, Mittal Steel Europe Research Center, Gandrange, France. He has spent most of his career spent as an engineer/metallurgist in R&D at Ascometal and Unimétal. He previously was head of the research center of Mittal Steel Europe. A metallurgist with a PhD, he graduated from University of Nancy, France. Michael Klemm works for Mittal Steel Hamburg in Germany. He previously was general manager at Ispat Hamburger Stahlwerke GmbH, Hamburg, with responsibilities in quality control and customer service.

Fig. 6. Cup and cone fracture.

Both these constituents, martensite and cementite, have a very high hardness, and the composite nature of the metal in these zones can cause the formation of microcracks, leading to cup-and-cone type fractures during drawing. See Figs. 6-7.

Non-conforming microstructures.The continuous patenting operation requires excellent process control to achieve the required

Confente He joined Ispat in 1977 and has served as a research engineer. He holds a degree in material science from the Technical University in Clausthal, Germany, as well as a doctoral degree, also in material science. André Lefort is the head of the wiredrawing department, Mittal Steel Europe Research Center, Gandrange, France. A metal-

final fine pearlite structure. Close control is required both for the temperature and time of austenitizing, together with the austenite grain size, and also for the lead bath treatment, where the temperature must correspond exactly to the pearlite nose on the appropriate TTT curve. The holding time must be sufficient to ensure complete transformation of the austenite.

Lefort lurgist, he graduated from the School of Heat Treatments of Reims, France.

Most of his career spent in R&D at Unimétal. Since 1999, he has headed the wiredrawing department of Mittal Steel Europe R&D. This paper was presented at WAI’s International Technical Conference, Prague, The Czech Republic, October 2005.

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Fig. 9. Influence of carbon on strength for steels with and without boron.

If the required conditions are not obtained, the structure may have inadequate mechanical properties, and could cause breakages during subsequent cold processing.

Environmental problems. Legislation concerning lead use is becoming increasingly stringent and the risks of lead entrainment during patenting remain possible, even though they are relatively well controlled in modern drawing shops. From an environmental standpoint, any changes concerning the reduction in lead bath treatments will therefore always be welcome.

New grade development to eliminate intermediate patenting Approach chosen and difficulties to be overcome. The goal is to replace the usual hard steel (0.7/0.8% C) with a medium carbon grade enabling the required strength level to be obtained directly by strain hardening during drawing, as shown in Fig. 8 This can be achieved by an appropriate choice of steel grade. Nevertheless, while the attainment of the required strength level by direct drawing appears relatively accessible by suitably choosing the starting diame-

Fig. 11. 0.4% carbon steel with boron.

98 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Fig. 10. Influence of carbon on ductility for steels with and without boron.

ter and grade, it is more difficult to obtain a ductility equivalent to that achieved by patenting. High ductility is essential to ensure good deformability during final drawing and avoid breakages, and to achieve adequate residual ductility in the final product as required by applications.

Moreover, intermediate patenting is accompanied by a pickling treatment, to promote retention of the final drawing lubricant in surface micro-asperities and ensure a good surface finish at the end of the process.

From the above, it is obvious that elimination of intermediate patenting will demand efforts in two directions: optimization of steel ductility by the choice of a steel with an appropriate microstructure; and improvement of the lubrication at the end of the direct drawing operation.

Ductility optimization. Within the framework of the present study, the goal was to enhance the ductility by adding boron to conventional medium carbon steels. Boron is added for two reasons: it ties up nitrogen, which has an embrittling effect and lowers ductility; and it retards the austenite?pearlite transformation, limiting the amount of fer-

rite while at the same time producing a finer pearlite structure.

Test results. A range of carbon contents between 0.4 and 0.7% was studied, with boron added for the above reasons. For each carbon level, the mechanical properties and microstructures were compared with and without boron.

Effect of boron on strength. Fig. 9 shows the influence of boron on mechanical strength is shown below as a function of carbon content. For medium carbon levels (0.4 to 0.6%), the addition of boron has no significant effect on the tensile strength.

Effect of boron on ductility. Fig. 10 shows the influence of boron on tensile ductility as a function of carbon content.

For medium carbon grades, the addition of boron improves the ductility more the lower the carbon level. For 0.45% carbon, the gain in ductility is at least 5 points, which is quite considerable.

Effect of boron on microstructure. Figs.

12-15 show the microstructures obtained for various carbon contents with and without boron. The addition of boron can be seen to limit the amount of ferrite, the phenomenon

Fig. 12. 0.4% carbon steel.

Fig. 13. 0.55% carbon steel with boron.

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Fig. 14. 0.55% carbon steel.

Fig. 15. 0.7% carbon steel with boron.

Fig. 17. Ductility as a function of cold work.

being more marked the lower the carbon content.

The proportion of nitrogen in combined form was measured on several specimens and revealed an interesting effect of boron.

Standard grades without boron; combined N = 35% (28 / 41%). Experimental boron-containing grades combined N = 95% (90 / 100%) Test grade choice and results. To check the beneficial effect of boron on properties after drawing, a grade with 0.44% carbon was chosen, with a small amount of niobium added to improve the ductility.

After having determined the intrinsic properties of the alloy, the variation in tensile strength and reduction of area was studied after drawing on the experimental test unit in the research laboratory (simulation of severe drawing).

Table 1 shows the mechanical properties of the as-rolled wire rod. Table 2 shows the variation of the properties after drawing.

The results reveal that the addition of boron and niobium has not modified the strength of the basic grade but has improved the properties over most of the drawing

Fig. 16. 0.7% carbon steel.

Table 1. Variation of properties after drawing.

range studied, covering the majority of cases concerned in practice. However, in final drawing (i.e. at the end of the range studied), the positions of the two curves appear

to be reversed. This can happen because for very large amounts of cold work, particularly when the cementite lamellae are initially fine (case of the boron-containing grade),

Table 3. Mechanical values of as-rolled wire rod.

Fig. 18. Grade containing boron, niobium and chromium.

Fig. 19. Boron-containing grade.

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Fig. 20. Tensile strength as a function of cold work.

Fig. 21. Reduction of area as a function of cold work.

Fig. 22. Comparison of the drawing curve and customer specifications.

Fig. 23. Boron-containing grade.

thinning towards the end of drawing can result in the lamellae redissolving in the ferrite, leading to a reduction in ductility. See Fig. 17.

Grade improvement to limit ductility loss

To limit the more marked reduction in ductility during final drawing, the alloy chemistry was modified. The carbon content was maintained at a level of 0.45%, with additions of boron and niobium to improve the ductility of the initial wire, and a small chromium addition was made to limit redissolution of the cementite lamellae in the ferrite during the final stages of drawing.

Initial wire mechanical properties.Table 3 shows the tensile properties of the initial wire. Compared to the chromium-free alloy, the addition of chromium slightly improves the strength of the initial wire, while at the same time conserving the same ductility.

Microstructure. The microstructures were compared for wires containing either only 100 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

boron or boron, niobium and chromium, and are shown in Figs. 18-19. The addition of niobium and chromium limits the amount of ferrite.

Post-drawing properties. Fig. 20 shows the strain hardening curves for the boron and boron-niobium-chromium grades. Fig. 21 shows the reduction of areas a function of cold work. The chromium and niobium containing alloy shows slightly higher strength throughout the drawing range, with a higher reduction in area and a slightly retarded drop in ductility at high drawing ratios.

Industrial validation. Industrial trials are currently underway. To determine the products liable to be concerned, customer specifications for UTS and R of A are placed on the drawing curves to compare them with the values obtained on the experimental material. See Figs. 22 and 23.

Conclusions To provide a solution to the process variations desired by customers, especially the elimination of patenting for certain applica-

tions, Mittal Steel Hamburg is developing medium carbon steels with additions of boron, niobium and chromium to improve the ductility of the input material by tying up nitrogen and refining the microstructure.

Encouraging results have been obtained, with strength and ductility levels close to those achieved on high carbon steel wires subjected to an intermediate patenting treatment.

Further progress is still required in terms of ductility and uniformity of the properties, and further effort will be made to optimize the chemistry and rod rolling conditions.

However, the approach followed is already of considerable interest as regards to cost reduction and the elimination of environmental problems related to the use of lead baths, and also prevents the occurrence of breakages due to segregation phenomena observed in high carbon grades. â–

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Estimation of quality of copper coatings on low carbon steel wires An equation has been developed that can predict, for some instances, the thickness of a copper coating, post wiredrawing, for wires.

By Wieslaw Waszkielewicz, Bogdan Golis, Ryszard Budzik, Jan W. Pilarczyk and Zbigniew Muskalski

The present study is devoted to the

currentless deposition of copper on steel wires as a result of the exchange reaction .

A key step in the process is the application of a lubricant substrate coating on the wire after etching and rinsing.

This coating reduces pressures and drawing forces and helps prevent steel sticking to the tool by reducing friction.

The coating takes up and retains enough lubricant on the wire surface to create favorable friction conditions during the wire deformation process.

Commonly used lubricant substrate coatings include: browning (sulling), liming, boraxing, phosphatizing, waterglass application and, the subject of this paper: copper plating. Such coatings1 should provide good adhesion to the steel surface; ease of plastic deformation; proper geometrical structure of the surface to hold the lubricant; ease of carrying pressures; resistance to temperature, harmlessness to the operators and environment; and capability of being easily removed form the surface, and corrosion resistance.

The principal methods for producing copper-coated steel wires are currentless copper plating by chemical exchange reaction and copper electroplating.

In metal plating engineering, the concept of currentless deposition of metals include such metal-coating application

processes where no electric current source is used2. This method is based on the quantitative determination of the nobleness of a metal, i.e. the value of electrochemical potential formed on the interface of the metal relative to the solution its ions3. It follows from this that free copper can be separated from the solution of an acidified copper salt (e.g. copper sulfate, CuSO 4 ) by immersing the less noble iron (i.e. steel wire) in the solution. The following chemical reaction will then happen: Cu SO4 + Fe → Fe SO4 + Cu

Eq. (1)

The reaction described by Eq. (1) involves the passage of a certain amount of iron to the solution, with a certain amount of copper separating from the solution and covering the surface of the steel wire. This process is known as the currentless deposition of copper by exchange reaction. This process of wire copper plating and the subsequent drawing of the wire produces copper coatings on the steel wire that are very thin (about 0.02 to 0.5 μm). Copper plating continues developing to the point where the steel wire surface has been coated with copper. Such produced copper coatings can be used as lubricant substrates in wiredrawing, facilitating the drawing process, or as special-purpose coats. The method is a low-cost process. The currentless cop-

per plating bath includes the following main components: copper sulfate, CuSO4, sulfuric acid, H2SO4, and other proprietary substances. The copper plating bath manufacturers do not disclose the detailed composition of their bath.

Generally, the quality and thickness of a copper coating deposited on the wire surface will be influenced by three main bath components: copper sulfate, iron sulfate and other additives, as well as the solution temperature reaching 35°C and the time the steel wire is in the bath.

In industrial practice, it is difficult to run the chemical wire copper plating to assure the proper coat quality. Assuming that the main water solution component in the chemical copper plating process can be CuSO 4 alone, in the absence of sulfuric acid, the hydrolysis reaction may proceed in the solution4 Cu2SO4 + H2O → Cu2O + H2SO4 Eq. (2) As coating a wire surface with copper oxide (having a red color) impairs the coat quality, sulfuric acid is needed in the bath. Juchwiec notes that4 the presence of sulfuric acid and oxygen in the copper plating bath (stirring the bath or moving the charge) prevents hydrolysis.

Cu2SO4 + H2SO4 + O2→ Cu2SO4 + H2O

Eq. (3)

Juchwiec recommends the use of a JANUARY 2007 101

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copper plating water solution that has: 0.8÷1.2% copper sulfate, 2 to 4.5% sulfuric acid and an addition of joiner’s glue (150 g/1 m3 of solution).

The concentration of copper sulfate in the bath should not be increased as it dissolves harder when in an excessive amount. With increasing sulfuric acid concentration, the solubility of copper sulfate decreases2. However, in the steel wire copper-plating process, copper sulfate solubility increases with increasing temperature, causing the deposition of a coarse-grained coat. The temperature to produce a dense, fine-crystalline copper coat should not exceed 10 to 20°C5.

Generally, it is assumed that increasing iron sulfate concentration also contributes to the coarse grain structure of copper. A copper plating bath is deemed spent if its concentrations are, respectively: CuSO4 – 1 to 3 g/l, H2SO4 – approx. 15 g/l, and FeSO4 – approx.

100 g/l. In Poland, many wire manufacturers make products called SNAGS6 or CUPRODINE 3097 in the composition of the copper plating bath, in addition

Waszkielewicz

Golis

Wieslaw Waszkielewicz is a member of the faculty at AGH University of Science and Technology, Krakow, Poland. He is the author or co-author of more than 150 papers on management and marketing in the steel industry. Bogdan Golis is a professor of plastic working in the department of metallurgy and materials engineering at CUT. He joined Czestochowa in 1987. He previously worked in Poland’s Central Laboratory where he was responsible for scientific and research cooperation with other countries. He has more than 30 years of experience in the wire and rope

102 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

to copper sulfate and sulfuric acid.

Some manufacturers also use a combined method of wire copper plating in after-etching−copper plating baths of the following composition:50-75 g/l H2SO4, do 25 g/l CuSO4 · 5 H2O, ok.

0,36 g/l – colloidal substances.

The copper coating added to on a wire in a properly run process normally ranges from 0.4 to 0.6 μm, depending on the bath chemical composition.

Some authors believe that copper coatings more than 0.6 μm thick increase the cost of the copper plating process too much while others say a copper coating less than 0.4 μm thick makes it difficult to use a multi-stage wiredrawing process on high-drawing speed drawing machines difficult1,5,9.

The efficiency of a wiredrawing process depends on the drawing speed and the degree of deformation. As the magnitude of the degree of deformation limits the drawing process, better efficiency is usually sought by increasing drawing speed. Increasing the drawing speed means that the drawing power,

Budzik industry. He holds a doctor of technology sciences degree and a master of science degree in metallurgy from Czestochowa. He is the author or coauthor of more than 100 papers.

Ryszard Budzik is head of the department of management and logistics at Czestochowa. He has practical experience in metallurgy, management, and the evaluation of industrial enterprises. He is the author or coauthor of more than 180 papers. Jan W. Pilarczyk is an associate professor at this CUT department. He works on the development of new technology of wire drawing and metal products. He

which is also dependent on the type of lubricant substrate coat and lubricant used, increases proportionally.

To appreciate the role of the copper plating process in such wiredrawing technologies (both wet and dry), one must understand the relationship between the type of substrate coat (including copper coat) and the proper choice of lubricant.

In 1967, the authors10 published the results of extensive studies establishing correlations between the type of substrate coat (phosphatized, browned, copper or zinc plated) and the power used at a specified drawing speed for steel wires wet and dry drawn, respectively. The correlation is defined by the value of the coefficient (K)

Eq. (4)

where: V1, V4 = speeds of drawing a finished

Pilarczyk

Muskalski

is the author or co-author of more than 170 technical papers. He is currently president of the Poland Chapter of Wire Association international.

Zbigniew Muskalski is a lecturer in the department of metallurgy and materials engineering at Czestochowa.

He holds a Ph.D. degree from the Central Institute for Mining in Katowice, Poland. He is the author or co-author of more than 20 papers.

This paper was presented at WAI’s International Technical Conference, Prague, The Czech Republic, October 2005.

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Table 1. Coefficient K in different drawing conditions. drum in the 1:4 gear (in the tests, V4/V1=2.89) W1, W4 = powers of drawing a finished drum on the 1 st and 4 th gears, respectively Table 1 gives the value of the coefficient “K” as obtained from tests10. It follows that for copper plating and zinc plating it is more favorable to apply dry drawing than wet drawing, because of the lower power consumption. Therefore, dry drawing of these wires (K < 1) is preferred in industrial practice. On the contrary, phosphatized or browned wires are more favorably to be wet drawn. It should be noted that the lubricant for the dry drawing of wires was sodium soap powder while oil-water emulsions were used10. Phosphatized or browned lubricant substrates are rough and have pores, to which oil-water emulsion penetrates, and lesser friction occurs in the die approach cone at the moment of deformation.

Metallic lubricant substrate coats of copper and zinc are less suitable for wet drawing, as they are more dense, less rough and their particles tend to stick to the die working surfaces, thereby increasing friction. During dry drawing, the lubricant better separates the friction surfaces and carries loads more easily, thus reducing the consumption of friction power. As a consequence, the (dry) drawing of steel wire with copper lubricant substrate coats takes place in the conditions of a lower friction coefficient, the visible result of which is the appearance of the wire surface – the red color of copper (in the case of wet drawing, the wire surface is more pink in color)10.

The authors10 also found that a 2.96 mm-diameter steel wire with a copper

coat (5.6 g/m2), as dry drawn with a single draft, showed a drawing force lower by approx. 6% (2150 N) compared to the same wire with a phosphatized lubricant substrate coat (5.63 g/m2).

The process of dry drawing of steel wires with phosphatized lubricant substrate coats takes place in less favorable conditions, as more intensive smoothing of the lubricant substrate coat occurs during deformation and the adhesion of the lubricant (soap powder) to this coat is poorer, which causes an increase in friction resistance.

Tests within present study Tests were done to assess the copper coatings applied on welding wires. The basic feature of these coats is their thickness as determined on finished wires. In addition, the adhesion of the coat to the steel substrate and its corrosion resistance are also important.

The scope of the tests covered the practical process of manufacturing welding wires in diameters of 0.6 – 0.8 – 1.2 – 1.6 mm, as conducted by a known manufacturer. The process of manufacturing wires copper plated by the chemical method was carried out according to the following draw schemes: 1.54 mm wire (copper plated) – 1.4 – 1.27 – 1.15 – 1.04 – 0.94 – 0.86 – 0.78 – 0.71 – 0.64 – 0.58 mm; 2.0 wire (copper plated) – 1.8 – 1.65 – 1.49 – 1.36 – 1.24 – 1.14 – 1.04 − 0.94 – 0.85 – 0.78 mm; 2.25 wire (copper plated) – 2.06 – 1.87 – 1.71 – 1.56 – 1.43 – 1.3 – 1.19 mm; 2.25 wire (copper plated) – 2.09 – 1.9 – 1.74 – 1.59 mm.

The above draw schemes (overall degrees of deformation) are associated with the requirements of determining

tensile strength on finished wires.

The condition of copper coat surfaces were also assessed in terms of their appearance, while taking into account their brightness and color. The assessment was made with a naked eye in artificial light with magnifying glass at 5x. The copper coat thickness was examined per the PN-87/H-04605 standard, using the complete dissolution method.

The coat thickness was calculated in micrometers from the formula below:

Eq. (5)

where: m1 = mass of the sample before dissolution, g m2 = mass of the sample after dissolution, g A= surface of the sample, cm2 d Cu = mass of copper (d Cu =8.93 g/mm3) Measurements were made on three samples of each wire type, with the average thickness values shown in Table 2. The tensile tests on the wires were done per the PN-83/H-04316 standard. Table 2 shows the average values of the relative tensile strength (Rm) obtained from the measurements. The copper coat adhesion tests were carried out by winding the wire onto a round core of a diameter corresponding to four times the diameter of the finished wire being wound. The absence of any cracks, delamination and scratches in the coat after the winding test is taken as evidence of its good adhesion.

The corrosion resistance tests were done per the PN-76/H-046602 standard.

In the first stage of the tests, changes on the surface of finished wires were examined in atmospheric conditions. In the second stage, changes occurring on the surface of the finished wires were examined by immersing them in a 10% NH 4 Cl solution. Observations were made after 24 – 48 −72 – 96 −120 hours. Table 3 shows the results.

The thickness of the copper coating on the finished wire is dependent on the thickness of copper on the initial wire and its deformation during drawing.

The question arose whether it is possi-

JANUARY 2007 103

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was introduced.

All theoretical functions describing the variations of copper coat thickness on the wires examined are quadratic equations of the following type h = y = ax2 + bx + c where: x = ε Fig. 1 shows the values of the coefficients of the above equation for the tested draw schemes and also plots those equations.

The average values of copper coat ing thickness determined on finished wires of diameters of 1.59 – 1.19 – 0.78 – 0.58 amounted to 0.335 – 0.335 – 0.34 – 0.345 μm, respectively, not exceed the value of 0.35 μm as given in the technical specifications.

When assessing the condition of copper coat surfaces in terms of external appearance it can be found that the finished wire surfaces are clean and smooth. The copper coat covers the entire wire surface and has a uniform colour.

The performed examination of copper coat adhesion to the finished wires showed the absence of any cracks, delamination and scratches in the winding test. Thus, the adhesion of the coats was considered good.

The values of the average tensile strength of finished welding wires of diameters: 1.59 – 1.19 – 0.78 – 0.58 mm were, respectively: 1140 – 1251 – 1525 – 1450 MPa, and meet the requirements set out in the technical specifications.

It follows from the table 3 that with increasing logarithmic wire deformation in the drawing process a fairly proportional copper coat loss occurs. This implies that the changes in copper coat thickness are characterized by the ratio of .

Table 2. Result summary of wire Rm and copper coat thickness. ble to predict the theoretical copper coat thickness by a factory that manufactures welding wires by its own technology.

To answer this question requires a logical correlation of the elements shown in Table 2 (columns 3 and 5).

The concept of true (logarithmic) strain was introduced to replace the overall draft.

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Eq. (6)

The concept of the relative copper thickness reduction Δh = hp - hn relative to the copper thickness (hp) on the initial wire, or

It has been found that this relative thickness in % versus true strain ε is a linear function and the following equations (and correlations coefficients R) have been determined for considered

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been found as the best approximation of obtained results.

References:

Table 3. Summary of the results of corrosion tests in atmospheric conditions.

Fig. 1. Copper thickness variations vs true strain for wires drawn in 4 steps (2.25-1.59 mm, 2.25-1.19 mm, 2.0-..78 mm, 1.55 to .58 mm). wires drawing:

Conclusions

Fig. 1 shows that the theoretical graphs of the variation of copper coat thickness are only similar for the draw schemes 2.0/0.78 and 1.55/0.58. It is obvious that the more practical data there is, the better this theoretical function will work.

A possible method of solving the problem to establish theoretical relationships for the changes of copper thickness on wires drawn has been shown.

Different technologies are used in manufacturing welding wire, but copper coatings are usually applied by the chemical method, i.e. by exchange reaction. Tests of welding wires (steel, grade SG2, DIN8559, diameters: 0.6 – 0.8 – 1.2 – 1.6 mm) produced by one Polish manufacturer met the specified technical requirements. The tests have shown that it is difficult to establish general relationships for the changes of copper coat thickness on wires of different diameters as a function of deformation, even for a single manufacturer. For specified draw schemes. the theoretical variations of copper coat thickness can be predicted by taking different functions for the evaluation. For the determination of copper thickness variations, functions of the second degree have

1. B. Golis, F. Knap, J.W. Pilarczyk: Wybrane zagadnienia z teorii i praktyki ciągnienia. Częś ć 4. Obróbka powierzchni walcówki i drutu stalowego. Wydawnictwo Politechniki Częstochowskiej, Częstochowa 1994.

2. Poradnik galwanotechnika. Praca zbiorowa. WNT, Warsaw 1973.

3. W. Trzebiatowski: Chemia nieorganiczna. Wyd. VI. PWN, Warsaw 1971.

4.J.A. Juchwiec: Voloczylnoe proizvodstvo. Izd.”Metalurgya”.

Moscow 1965.

5. B. Golis, F. Knap, J.W. Pilarczyk: Wybrane zagadnienia z teorii i praktyki ciągnienia. Część 6. Pokrywanie i ciągnienie drutów stalowych z powłokami: cynku, miedzi, cyny. Wydawnictwo Politechniki Częstochowskiej, Częstochowa 1994.

6.Rhone-Paulenc Specialites Chimiges (Paris) – France. Technological lubricants for the plastic working of metals. The 5th Symposium in Poland, Zabrze, November 1991.

7. T. Dolnicki: Dobór powłok podsmarowych przy ciągnieniu drutu ze stali średnio i wysokowęglowych. Biuletyn ZPWM 1961 no. 21, p. 33-45.

8. B. Golis, J.W. Pilarczyk i inni: Sposób kombinowany miedziowania z jednoczesnym dotrawianiem. Sprawozdanie nr 49/5/90/II. Department of Plastic Working, Częstochowa University of Technology.

9. B. Golis, J.W. Pilarczyk, Z. Błażejewski: Druty stalowe seria Metalurgia no. 35. Częstochowa University of Technology, Częstochowa 2003.

10. Smazka dla vtloczenya prowoloki.

NIIMETIZ. Materialy nautchnoproizvodennogo seminarya. 2629.10.1965. Magnitogorsk. ■

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Computer-aided tool design and simulation of the wire rolling process Advanced software addresses factors from developing the individual forming stages to simulation of generated tools for a more complete understanding of the rolling process.

By Stefan Freitag, Albert Sedlmaier and Stefan Ruess

Production of shaped wires, especially

those with cross-sections of less than 100 mm², has gained greatly in importance in recent years. These are flat wires or special shapes for very different branches of industry, like precision mechanical engineering, textiles, electrical engineering and metal fittings. Of special importance is shaped wires as bound semi-finishes, again for precision mechanical engineering (e.g. the watch and clock producing industry) and also for suppliers to the automobile industry (e.g. windshield wiper arms)1.

To produce these shaped wires, round or rectangular wires are usually formed progressively by drawing dies or wire rollers. With each step the wire takes on more of the required shape. The materi-

al tends to shift in a longitudinal direction, and is difficult to press into boundary regions. The design and production effort for new shapes is relatively large.

For early detection and avoidance of possible design defects, it is desirable to have a continuous process chain from design through to tool verification.

COPRAÂŽ wire rolling and wire drawing software offers such an environment. It supports the entire process from development of the individual forming stages of the wire through to simulation of the generated tools.

Designers are relieved from some of the time-consuming work steps and can concentrate on essentials. The software (COPRA WR) has three steps.

Interactive design. Interactive design

of the forming stages are aided by available experience. The designer draws the forming stages and can set the faces in the required percentage relationship using COPRA WR. Automatic layout. Automatic layout of the forming stages is done by specifying the starting and final cross-section. If no starting cross-section is stated, it is assumed to be round. The degree of forming and the estimated reduction of the cross-section can be specified.

Design verification. Verification of the design is done by finite element simulation. The deformation is computed based on the roller geometry and the starting cross-section. The actual shape to be expected can be verified in the individual stages with an examination of changes in the material 2.

Forming stage design

Fig. 1. Wire contour.

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Fig. 2. Calculated rolling steps.

The designer first draws the required final cross-section of the wire. COPRA WR requires a closed polyline. Transitions between arcs and straight lines or two arcs with a different radius must run tangentially so there are no restrictions to the final cross-section design.

They can be loaded from a database or developed by in-house design tools. See Figs. 1-2.

The individual forming stages are computed backwards step by step from this final cross-section to the starting cross-section. Round wires are often

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Fig. 3. Dialogue for shaping steps.

Fig. 4. dialogue box for manual input of cross sectional reduction per shaping step.

formed, so this is the default. The designer only needs enter how many wire forming steps and the percentage share of forming in each step. It will seldom be necessary to modify or match single stages manually.

The user’s entries produce a fast result, in contrast to a purely manual design. To generate forming stages manually, the COPRA wire rolling/ drawing module offers a function for setting the faces in the required relationships to allow for the lengthening or resulting reduction of the cross-section.

This function is also relevant for the above mentioned manual modification, because here the face relationships of the forming stages alter. Knowing how much the wire will taper through the individual rollers is usually a matter of the designer’s experience, but is verified by the later FEA simulation. See Figs. 3-4.

entries for the size of the gap between the rollers and the radius of the segment curvatures. Only these rollers are automatically generated.

The COPRA software also offers tool administration for machine data and rollers. With similar shape cross-sections the first forming stages may be the same. Here it would be possible to use existing rollers of already produced wire. These similar cross-sections can be found in the database by an algorithm based on Fourier coefficients. See Fig. 5.

FEM analysis The most important aspect of cold roll forming design likely is simulation and verification of the generated tools. This is an ideal application for finite element analysis, originally used for aircraft construction. It was soon found that it is suitable for purposes throughout engineering, especially for computing cold rolling solutions and stress analysis 3.

Finite element analysis (FEA) gives the designer a powerful tool for indepth examination of the rolling process to see if it can shape the wire as desired, how stress occurs inside the wire and what effect it has as well as to recon-

Roller forming The roller contours are automatically generated from the configured forming stages of the wire. The resulting rollers can be further modified, for diameter or width, with the roll design module of the COPRA software. If a Turks Head stand is available on a machine, the side rollers for it can also be designed.

During wire rolling, if a number of wires are to be rolled in a machine simultaneously the designer can state the number of segments. Thus, depending on the user’s entry, several contours are formed on the roller. As a consequence, only the top and bottom rollers can be used. The user also provides

Freitag Stefan Freitag is a founder and managing director of data M Software GmbH, Valley, Germany. He has a degree in mechanical engineering from the Technical University of Munich, Germany. Albert Sedlmaier is a founder and managing director of data M. He was previously a research engineer at the Technical

Sedlmaier University of Munich. He has a degree in mechanical engineering from Technical University. Stefan Ruess is a software developer for data M. This paper was presented at WAI’s International Technical Conference, Prague, The Czech Republic, October 2005.

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Fig. 5. Automatically generated roll design.

Fig. 6. Material dialogue.

struct material flux on X, Y and Z axes.

In the COPRA wire rolling module, data M offers commercial FEA software specialized for a nonlinear FEM problem, the process of wire drawing or rolling. The software runs on PCs under the Windows operating system. The module processes all data for simulation, so the user need not be an FEA specialist. The software generates the finite element model fully automatically, and the designer only has to start it.

Roller model. The generated rollers are presented as complete rollers. The rotation axes are read from the tool data and written into the roller model. Contact data with friction values are determined automatically and entered in the FEA model. The roll diameters are, in relation to the wire dimensions, comparatively big. However, in the simulation model the rollers do not influence one another, so it is possible for two top rollers in consecutive stands to intersect for example. This cannot occur in reality. In simulation this is a time-saving because the computing steps between two rollers in which there is pure form-

108 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

ing are kept as small as possible.

All segments of a roller are produced in the roller model, whereby only one wire model is generated and one segment is tested because the others possess the same shape and consequently form the wire in the same way.

Wire model. To create a suitable wire model, the data of the starting cross-section (usually a round wire) is compared to those of the forming stages and the final cross-section to obtain a criterion for generating the network. The ground area is discretized by a networking algorithm, very suitable for metal forming, after M.S. Joun and M.C. Lee4.

This algorithm was specially expanded and adapted for wire forming to produce an optimal mesh.

Users have the possibility of setting various parameters to influence the meshing algorithm. They can enter factors for element size on the X and Y or Z axes. This has an effect on the number of elements of course. Consequently the values should not result in unnecessarily small elements. A value can also be entered to influence the length of the

wire piece if forming in one pass exceeds the length of the wire. The following rule of thumb applies to the computing time: Double the number of elements will quadruple the time to compute.

The wire geometry is checked for symmetry to keep the number of elements as small as possible. If cases of symmetry are found, only a half or a quarter of the cross-section is discretized. The nodes on the symmetry faces are automatically assigned the necessary boundary conditions, i.e. no displacement on the X or Y axis. In this way the number of elements is halved or quartered on average to save computing time.

Material properties. The user enters the material properties in a dialog, and the COPRA software enters them in the model. It is irrelevant whether the flow curve or the material specifications are known â&#x20AC;&#x201C; the software can work with both. The friction between wire and roller is added from the entry to compute the simulation in conditions that are as real as possible. See. Fig. 6.

Evaluation. The finite element calculation lets the user see fast whether the wire is getting formed as wished, or the rollers need to be modified in any way.

The strong displacement on the Z axis is also allowed for, and the designer can thus also calculate how fast the individual rollers have to be driven so that the wire does not bulge or is drawn excessively. See Figs. 7-8.

The inner stress condition can also be seen after analysis, enabling one to find out how the wire will react after cold rolling, e.g. whether it becomes brittle or will tear easily. Also visible is whether the wire arches or remains

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Fig. 7. Horizontal displacement of wire cross section.

straight. See Fig. 9.

The FEA component of COPRA software allows the user fast application of the major analytical tools. Among other things, one can change back and forth fast between the individual passes, or only have the rollers of one pass displayed if they are concealed by other rollers in the view.

It is also possible to display just one slice of the wire model through the

Fig. 8. Strain hardening of the rolled wire cross section.

complete rolling train. The faces of the contours can be set in relation after the individual passes. One can see whether the pass produces the required reduction, or whether it is exceeded and the material has shifted too much lengthwise and crosswise.

The designer can output these evaluations both as a graphic model and in diagrams easily generated by the COPRA software. The findings from

simulation enable the rollers to be improved and matched, creating virtually perfect rollers without accompanying material costs.

References 1. Umformtechnik Handbuch für Industrie und Wissenschaft Band 2 Massivumformung Springerverlag Berlin Heidelberg S.318.

2. COPRA® WR Softwarelösung für das Drahtwalzen von Profilen; COPRA® Wire Rolling; Technical Brochure; data M Software 06/2005.

3. Bibliographisches Institut & F. A. Brockhaus AG, Mannheim; Spektrum Akademischer Verlag GmbH, Heidelberg, 2003, Sat_Wolf, Bayern.

4. Quadrilateral Finite-Element Generation and mesh quality control for metal forming simulation, Int’l Journal For Numerical Methods in Engineering; Vol. 40; S. 4059-4075; 1997. ■

Fig. 9. Strain hardening in rolled material and its effect on wire straightness.

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Products Dispensing system joins wire end for ‘non-stop’ wire changes U.S.-based ELCo Enterprises, Inc. describes its Non-Stop™ Wire Dispensing System as an innovative new package that can cut downtime associated with wire changeovers.

The system, a press release said, employs a unique process that joins the end wire from an empty drum with the start wire of the next full drum, eliminating costly downtime for wire changeover and optimizing production time. A smooth operating wire guide

arm handles the wire transfer during the automatic change, with no manual operator action required, it said.

“With our easy-to-use Butt Welder, both butt-welding and flash removal operations take only seconds and the two wire ends may even be joined during the welding cycle,” the release said. The system works with either one or two station robotic cells (2 or 4 drums) and is available for both 500 lb and 1,000 lb Accu-Pak drums, it noted.

An optional docking station that holds the butt welder and a deburring tool is also available, it said.

Contact: ELCo Enterprises, Inc., tel. 866-5847281; www.wire-wizard.com.

Synthetic lube for a variety of metal-working applications is environmentally friendly U.S.-based Harry Miller Corp., has introduced Aqualube 2029, a synthetic stamping lubricant made from renewable resources that it said provides excellent lubricity and may be used for metal stamping, drawing and blanking operations.

w nt

s s

The product, a press release said, contains no mineral oils, chlorine, sulfur, or DEA. It provides indoor rust protection to stamped parts, and is easily removed by spray or immersion cleaning processes.

Aqualube 2029, it said, offers an alternative

Canterbury.

A World Of Solutions ForWire & Cable Extrusion.

s e,

s e rs

,

For quality and innovation in Wire & Cable extrusion, look to Canterbury Engineering. Our vast design and manufacturing capabilities offer a complete line of tooling products and services for your every need, including: Crossheads, In-Line Heads, Tip, Dies, Screws, Barrels, and more. For more information contact: Canterbury Engineering at 1-800-241-7650, or see us online at www.canterburyengineering.com

110 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

to vanishing oils, thus eliminating VOCs, and may be a suitable replacement for environmentally undesirable lubricants in many applications.

Contact: Harry Miller Corp., www.harrymillercorp.com.

Company reports that its UL cable verification a Cat. 6 industry first Hitachi Cable Manchester (HCM), a manufacturer of copper and fiber optic communications cables, announced that Underwriters Laboratories has verified its Supra 10GTM cable as meeting the requirements of Draft 5 of TIA/EIA 568-B.2-10 (Cat. 6A), making it the world’s first fully verified Cat. 6A cable.

“Though other manufacturers have acquired the easier to achieve channel performance verification, which includes jacks, patch panels and patch cables, only HCM has been able to make a fully component compliant Cat. 6A cable,” a press release said.

“Testing to 500 MHz while surpassing the alien crosstalk requirements was not an easy task,” said HCM Research & Development Manager Kevin Boisvert, who described the development process for the Supra 10GTM as challenging.

“However, with HCM’s experience in developing and designing unique, high-performance category cables in shielded, hybrid and bundled cable configurations, I was confident we’d be able to engineer a cable that would meet and exceed the requirements of the standard.”

Supra 10GTM is now available through HCM approved distributors.

Contact: Hitachi Cable Manchester, tel. 800-772-0116, www.hcm.hitachi.com.

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Company has expanded bonding capabilities World Class Wire & Cable, Inc., reports that it can now manufacture two, three or four parallel conductors with wire as small as a 2 conductor 24 AWG to as large as a 4 conductor 12 AWG and 3 conductor 10 AWG. A press release noted that the company has added two new bonders to its plant in Wisconsin. The equipment, it said, takes individual PVC lead wires and heat bonds them together in a parallel configuration.

The equipment can even bond wire that has been custom striped and/or printed, it said.

At an average speed of 20-25 feet per minute, the process is not fast but as there are three machines the company notes that it is ready and able to service customer’s bonding requirements.

The company adds that it maintains an extensive inventory to provide quick response to customer orders.

Contact: World Class Wire & Cable, Inc., tel. 262-951-7714; fax 262-951-7877; www.wcwc.com.

Line of fluropolymer resins excels for thermoplastics in building plenums Arkema Inc., reports that its Kynar® 1000 HD fluoropolymer resin was tested to the Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials (ASTM E84) procedure and results showed full compliance with the maximum rating of 25/50 specified for the use of thermoplastic materials in the plenum area.

Kynar, a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) resin with a molecular weight

appropriate for use in either extruded or molded components, has a flame spread and smoke developed rating of 0/5, press release said. The product maintains its useful mechanical and chemical resistance properties at temperatures up to 50°C (300°F), it said, noting that the high-purity performance polymer has high mechanical, abrasion, permeation, and thermal

resistance. The Kynar resin can be specified for uses such as cable ties and wire jacketing, among others.

The resin has a melting point range of 337-340ºF (169-171ºC), a tensile yield strength of 6500-8000 psi (45-55 MPa) and a tensile break strength of 5000-8000 psi (34-55 MPa) Contact: Arkema Inc., www. arkema-inc.com.

OEM Replacement Parts & Rebuild Programs

Product Line: • The Watson Machine Co. • Watson/Kinrei •The New England Butt Co. • The Edmands Co. • Peachtree Fiberoptics • Wire Machinery Corporation of America (WMCA)

Parts Available: • Standard Replacement • Custom Machined Bows, Gears, Bells/Pulleys Auxiliary Equipment: Measuring Machines/Counters Delivery: Next Day on Stocked Items Service Technicians: 24 Hours a Day

Parts & Service Co. Division of Kinrei of America

Peachtree, New England Butt Co., WMCA and the Edmands Co. 26 North Center Street, Orange, New Jersey 07050 Tel: 973-677-9500 • Fax: 973-673-0907 • E-mail: lschneider@kinreiusa.com

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Line of data cable assemblies offers a much longer reach U.S.-based W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore) has introduced a line of high data rate cable assemblies that it said more than triples the reach of its Double Data Rate (DDR) InfiniBand™ cables and reduces the size and weight.

GORE™ Extended Reach DDR Cable Assemblies employs the patented selfequalizing GORE™ EYE-OPENER+® conductor technology and Q:Active™ ultra-small, low power analog semicon-

ductors from Quellan to deliver exceptional signal fidelity over longer distances in the smallest cross-sectional area, a press release said. Cable solutions are available from 24 to 30 gauge at lengths ranging from 5 to 50 meters, it said.

“The small and light-weight cables significantly reduce cable bundle size allowing for increased system airflow along with ease of routability and flexibility,” the release said. “They also offer

improved performance resulting from low power consumption, low latency, reduced crosstalk and increased margins.”

Contact: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., tel. 302-292-5100 or 49-91-446010; www.gore.com.

Three-phase AC motor drive offers flexibility and lower usage costs for large machinery U.S.-based Baldor Electric Company reports that it is launching a ground-breaking range of three-phase AC motor drives that it said will provide users with significant potential for cost saving.

The new drives, the MotiFlex e100 range, can be used in both centralized control and distributed “intelligent drive” scenarios for example, in both cases with substantial savings in typical electrical power

components, a press release said.

The technology introduces the flexibility of Ethernet Powerlink and TCP/IP connectivity into the high-power machine building sector and a focus on modularity, combined with novel design features, to provides significant potential cost savings, the release said.

The initial launch of MotiFlex e100 provides drives rated for output powers up to

16 A, in five steps of 1.5, 3, 6, 10.5 and 16 A, with higher power versions to soon follow. The release said that its Ethernet hub enables systems to be built using a simple daisy-chain connection scheme that makes it possible to greatly reduce the costs of building large multi-axis systems.

Contact: Baldor Electric Company, www.baldormotion.com.

Genca.Your Complete Source for Wire & Cable Extrusion Tooling Products.

Genca, setting the standard in excellence with innovative solutions and quality engineering for a wide range of extrusion tooling products, including: Crossheads, In-Line Heads, Tips, Dies, Screws, Barrels Breaker Plates, and much more. For more information, contact Genca at 1-800-237-5448 or visit us online at www.genca.com.

THE PINNACLE OF INNOVATION

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Insulator coating a plus for utility maintenance U.S.-based Dow Corning announced that Sylgard® HVIC+, its newest onepart silicone high voltage insulator coating (HVIC) for electrical system maintenance, provides long-term water repellency to protect against power distribution interruptions due to arcing and flashover from salt spray, industrial pollutants and desert sand.

Sylgard HVIC+ offers long-term water repellency/hydrophobicity, which prevents contaminants on the surface of the insulators from becoming wet and producing a conductive layer, which contributes to an increase in leakage currents, dryband arcing, and ultimately flashover, a press release said. It noted that the product, which requires only one application, is unaffected by salt air, airborne pollutants, rain and humidity.

Contact: Dow Corning, www. dowcorning.com.

Product meets IEEE specifications for 10GBASE-T SYSTIMAX Solutions™ from CommScope, in collaboration with Solarflare™ Communications, reports that its SYSTIMAX® GigaSPEED® X10D Solution has performed to specifications in full-day certification test demonstrations of 10GBASE-T technology on 100 meter links held at Solarflare’s labs in Irvine, California.

A press release said that more stress tests are being done to continue the collaborative engineering effort planned in the SYSTIMAX cabling labs in Richardson, Texas. The ability to utilize high-performance Ethernet connections for copper cabling is expected to lower the cost of 10 Gb/s networking, making it more accessible to data centers and enterprises, it said.

The recently published IEEE 802.3an-2006 Standard for 10GBASET requires all 10GBASE-T physical layer chips to reach 100 meters on Category 6A cabling. The California-

based tests were conducted using Solarflare’s 10GBASE-T physical layer (PHY) evaluation boards and a 100-meter SYSTIMAX GigaSPEED X10D UTP channel in a worst-case, full-reach, 4-connector channel configuration (as specified in the TIA: Addendum 10 for Category 6A and ISO/IEC 11801: 2002 Amendment 1 for Class EA draft standards).

10Gb/s Ethernet traffic was carried simultaneously on all six disturbing channels, simulating a worst-case environment for alien crosstalk, the release said. There were no errors detected during the certification demonstrations on channel lengths up to 100 meters. A Solarflare spokesman said “that 10GBASE-T provides error-free transmission exceeding the 10^-12 error rate requirement in the IEEE 802.3 10GBASE-T standard.”

Contact: SYSTIMAX at www. systimax.com.

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Gravimetric feeder has optional liquid feeder for greater usage range U.S.-based Process Control Corporation has expanded its line of X-Series continuous gravimetric blending systems with the addition of an optional gravimetric liquid feeder that it said makes it possible to accommodate “just about any type and form of ingredient required.”

The blender can accurately weigh, meter and blend pellet materials, flake and/or regrind materials, non-flowable powder materials and now liquids, a press release said. A strategically positioned nozzle

sprays and coats the solids with the liquid ingredient as they pass through the cascade chamber to ensure optimum blend homogenization just prior to the processing machine, it said.

The blender uses a precise auger/gearmotor combination, then mixes or blends the materials, the release said. The company’s new patent pending method of blending solid and liquid materials without mechanical agitation makes the technology work even better, it said. The sophisticated

control system recognizes any deviation from the given set points and corrects immediately in order to deliver the best possible results.

Contact: Process Control Corporation, Internet www.process-control.com.

Switch testing device can assess switches and keypads per DIN regulations German’s burster GmbH & Co. KG reports that its switch testing device, DIGISWITCH model 5410, offers a high value and comfortable solution especially for testing switches and keypads according to valid DIN regulations 41635 and 41636.

The device can measure up to five units per second, making it particulalyr suitable for online testing during

114 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

switch production. It can also be used for sample checks in the laboratory or at manual workstations, as well as for quality and other mechanical parts that during assembly have to be checked by click effect for their solid jointing.

With the simultaneous capture of force, displacement and switch point, DIGISWITCH acquires the complete switch characteristic and evaluates the

data with the help of specific attributes such as actuating force, restoring force, pre-travel and return travel displacement, the release said.

Contact: burster GmbH & Co. KG, tel. 49-7224-645-19; Internet www.burster.com. ■

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Media NEMA publishes guidelines for cable tray installation The National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) has released VE 2-2006, Cable Tray Installation Guidelines, a third edition publication that serves as a practical guide for the proper installation of cable tray systems.

The guide, a press release said, addresses shipping, handling, storing, and installing cable tray systems as well as providing information on maintenance and system modification. It notes that cable tray system design must comply with NEC Article 392,

NEMA VE 1, and NEMA FG 1, and follow safe work practices as described in NFPA 70E. The guidelines in this publication, it said, are useful to engineers, contractors, and maintenance personnel.

The publication has been revised to reference the 2005 version of the National Electrical Code, and provides clarification for grounding and bonding cable trays, as well as recent cable tray product developments, the release said.

It can be downloaded for free or bought in hard copy at NEMA’s website, www.nema.org/stds/ve2.cfm.

Contact: NEMA, tel. 303-397-7956; Internet www.nema.org.

Bulletin C4.200 covers arc welding process in 96 pages U.S.-based Lincoln Electric has published a 96-page GMAW Welding Guide, downloadable at its website, which it notes is a comprehensive handbook that focuses on today’s dominant welding process, gas metal arc welding (GMAW) or as it is often referred to, MIG welding.

Bulletin C4.200 provides insight into improvements into the MIG welding process, including an in-depth look at the MIG welding process and its applications, a press release said.

The guide includes technical data and direction, providing them with the opportunity to optimize the operation of the MIG process and all of its variants, it said, adding that it goes into detail into: modes

of metal transfer; components of the welding arc; list of appropriate shielding gases; and advanced welding processes used for MIG. Also included in the guide is an overview of GMAW equipment, guns and accessories; an in-depth look at the MIG welding of carbon and low alloy steels, stainless steels and aluminum alloys; procedure guidelines for general welding practices, as well as STT II welding and rapid-arc welding; a glossary; and discussion of proper arc welding safety precautions.

Contact: Lincoln Electric, tel. 216-4818100; Internet ww.lincolnelectric.com.

WAI Store offers CDs of past technical conferences The WAI Store offers CDs of the technical proceedings from the Association’s international technical conferences from 2006 through 2003, with prior proceedings available in hard copy.

The CDs make it easy for people to search topics of interest in the proceedings. They are available for the 2006 ITC in New Delhi, India; the WAI’s 76th Annual Convention at Boston, Massachusetts; the 2005 ITC in

Prague, the Czech Republic; the 75th Annual Convention at Interwire 2005; the 2004 ITC in Mexico; the WAI’s 74th Annual Convention in Cleveland, Ohio; the 2003 ITC in Stresa, Italy; and the WAI’s 73rd Annual Convention at Interwire 2003.

The WAI Store also has past Mordica Lectures and more. Contact: Wire Association International at its website, www.wirenet.org, and click on “WAI Store.”

Video shows how cable jacket strippers can safely reclaim cable cores U.S.-based Huestis Industrial is offering a video that shows how its cable jacket strippers can help reclaim costly cable cores by removing jackets from cables with core/conductor diameters ranging from .030” (.79 mm) - 4” (101 mm).

The video shows how the Huestis design can remove cable jackets quickly and efficiently without damaging the valuable core, a press release said. A hardened steel stripper shoe, sized closely to the core or conductor diameter, separates the jacket from the core and a rotating steel saw blade then neatly slices the jacket for disposal or recovery, it said. The blade rides in a closed groove in the shoe, separated from the core, making core damage virtually impossible, it noted.

Once removed, the jacket can pay out on the floor, to a granulator, or to a separate take-up for rejacketing or salvage, the release said. Optional accessories include a puller for heavy applications, integral preheater for stiff inflexible jackets, or a jacket puller/chopper for semiautomatic, easy jacket disposal. Single conductors, large strands, or both outer and inner jackets may be removed in one highly productive operation, it said.

“Speed of jacket removal varies according to jacket material and consistency,” noted Huestis’s Joe Snee. “A thin, smooth jacket may run at several hundred feet per minute, while a stiff, irregular jacket may require more attention.” he added.

Contact: Huestis Industrial, tel. 401253-5500; fax 401-253-7350, e-mail: jsnee@huestis.com. ■

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CALL

FOR WIRE

PAPERS

07

BOLOGNA

International Wire & Cable Conference • 5-7 November

INTERNATIONAL WIRE & CABLE CONFERENCE

5-7 NOVEMBER 2007 YOU ARE INVITED TO SHARE YOUR EXPERTISE AT THE 2007 WIRE AND CABLE TECHNICAL CONFERENCE IN BOLOGNA, ITALY. YOUR

CONTRIBUTIONS WILL ADD CONSIDERABLY

TO A PROGRAM THAT CURRENTLY INCLUDES VISITS TO INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED

DUCATI,

AND

FERRARI. A

LIMITED NUMBER OF PAPERS WILL BE ACCEPTED

FROM BOTH THE STEEL WIRE AND NONFERROUS/ ELECTRICAL WIRE INDUSTRY SEGMENTS.

BOLOGNA, ITALY From the beginning of the 19th century, and up until today, Bologna has played a leading role contributing to a modern industrial transformation, as the origin of precision and innovation in the field of mechanical and electro-mechanical products.

As an innovator in the wire and cable industry, there is no better setting for you to share your knowledge and continue the evolution of the worldwide wire and cable industry.

CONFERENCE

A BSTRACTS ALL

ARE DUE ON

1 FEBRUARY 2007.

AUTHORS WILL BE NOTIFIED OF THE ACCEPTANCE

STATUS OF THEIR ABSTRACT BY MANUSCRIPTS WILL BE DUE ON

TO

1 MARCH. ACCEPTED 1 JULY.

ASSIST THE ORGANIZERS IN PROPERLY ASSESSING

THE SCOPE AND CONTENT OF YOUR PROPOSED TECHNICAL ARTICLE, PLEASE SUBMIT A ABSTRACT, TYPED IN

250-WORD

ENGLISH.

CONTACTS: MR. PHILLIP K NIGHT, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, INTERNATIONAL WIRE & MACHINERY ASSOCIATION, (011) +44 1926 834680, EMAIL AT PHILLIP@INTRAS.CO.UK

MR. STEVEN FETTEROLL, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, THE WIRE ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL, (001) 203.453.1777 EMAIL AT SFETTEROLL@WIRENET.ORG

.................................................................................

ORGANIZED BY:

Associazione Costruttori Italiani Macchine Per Filo

C.E.T.

Comité Européen de la Tréfilerie

International Wire & Machinery Association

The Wire Association International, Inc.

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WJI Classified Ad Information Wire Journal International classified advertising is the most cost-effective way to get your sales message out through WJI’s circulation of more than 13,000.

WAI MEMBERS seeking employment are entitled to FREE “Position Wanted” classified ads. Limit: one ad per issue, maximum three ads per year. This WAI membership benefit is not transferable to nonmembers or to companies.

receipt. Mail responses to: WJI, Box number (from entry), Guilford, CT 06437-0578, USA. PAYMENT POLICY: No agency commissions or cash discounts allowed. Advertisements must be prepaid unless credit terms have been previously arranged.

CLASSIFIED AD RATES: • $1.25 per word for Wire Journal International (20 word minimum). • Blind box numbers, add $10. • Boldface headlines, add $5 per line (up to 18 characters per line). Be sure to specify category.

DEADLINES: Copy is due a full month in advance, i.e., by March 1 for publication in the April issue. Classifieds booked on-line run for at least one month, on-line, from the date of booking. WJI “Print classifieds” booked on-line as an “add-on” to an “on-line classified” booking will run in the next available issue of the WJI.

BLIND BOX INFO: Blind box numbers assure advertiser confidentiality in both the WJI and the on-line publication.

Responses are mailed out within two business days after

USE OF ORDER BLANK on reverse side. Please e-mail copy to classified@wirenet.org or fax copy to 203-453-8384. Telephone orders will not be accepted.

POSITION WANTED

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

POSITION SOUGHT BY MEXICAN ENGINEER. Mexican Engineer with 20 years experience in products, process and equipment for low and high carbon steel wire seeks position. His philosophy is to look for the full satisfaction of internal and external clients, to foment the continuous improvements, the collaboration, the communication and the team work in order to make the administrative and operative processes as simple as possible. He has knowledge and experienced in development and implementation of ISO 9001:2000 Quality Systems, 6 Sigma Philosophy, 5’S and Balanced Score Card tools. Please send an e-mail to cta_5959@hotmail.com.

entious and outgoing individual with above average communication skills who is able to organize their own efforts within a large territory for a broad product line. Frequent overnight travel to central and South Indiana, Northern Kentucky, western OH. We provide all computer and communications gear required for you to work from your home office. Experience is desired in one or more areas of production related to wire bending, tube bending or spring forming, including setup, tool making, engineering or sales.

Contact: Send resume by email or fax to: dfisher@wafios.com - or fax to Donald Fisher 203-481-9854.

PERSONNEL SERVICES CAREER OPPORTUNITIES METALLURGIST WANTED. Experienced metallurgist opening available in an established company in the ferrous steel industry. Applicant should have experience in dealing with Japanese automotive transplant business. The qualified applicant should have experience in the ferrous metal arena from hot melt to the cold heading industry.

Please send responses to Blind Box 1-1.

MACHINERY SALES ENGINEER .

Representative needed to serve the Wire, Tube, and Spring forming industries. Hit the road as a regional Sales Engineer for a leading international machinery builder. This progressive company seeks an alert, consci-

“LET OUR SUCCESS BE YOUR SUCCESS.” Wire Resources is the foremost recruiting firm in the Wire & Cable Industry. For 30 plus years our clients have secured the services of thousands of key individual contributors, managers and executives. For corporations we provide recruitment, outplacement, and salary assessment functions. For the job seeker exploring new opportunities, we provide a wealth of information. Our services are performed in absolute confidence. Contact: WIRE RESOURCES, INC. 522 E. Putnam Ave, Greenwich, CT 06830, tel: 203-6223000 or 800-394-WIRE, email: wri@wireresources. com, Internet www.wireresources.com.

JANUARY 2007 117

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WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL CLASSIFIED AD INFORMATION NAME _________________________________________________________________________TITLE _________________________________________________________ COMPANY ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ CITY ________________________________________STATE _______________POSTAL CODE _____________________COUNTRY _______________________________ PHONE ______________________________FAX________________________________EMAIL _______________________________________________________________ AD CATEGORY____________ ISSUE YOUR AD BEGINS___________ NUMBER OF ISSUES RUN _______LAST ISSUE ________________RUN TILL FURTHER NOTICE? YES____ NO ____ FULL RUN (WJI & ON-LINE) YES____ NO ____

BLIND BOX? YES____ NO ____

WAI MEMBER? YES____ NO ____ WAI MEMBERSHIP # ______________________ (Applies only to “Position Wanted”)

Send to: Attn: Classifieds Wire Journal International P.O. Box 578 Guilford, CT 06437-0578 USA

HEADLINE (MAXIMUM 18 CHARACTERS) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ HEADLINE, 2ND LINE (18 CHARACTERS) _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ENTER COPY HERE: RATE: Head @ $5 line $ _________ Full run: word count @ 1.25 $ _________ Blind box @ $10 $ _________ Total cost of insertion $ _________

PERSONNEL SERVICES

COMMISSION BROKERS, INC. EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRE & CABLE INDUSTRY APPRAISERS • COMMISSION BROKERS • INDIVIDUAL PIECES OR ENTIRE PLANTS

FOR SALE

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 6 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

-

NEB 16-C Harness Braider NEB 12-Head 18” Planetary Cabler COOK BH36 Cabler D/S 3.5” 36:1 L/D Nitrogen Gas Extrusion Line D/S 2.5” 30:1 L/D Nitrogen Gas Extrusion Line D/S 3.5” 24:1 L/D Jacket Extrusion Line D/S 2” 24:1 L/D Hi-Temp Extrusion Line MERRITT DAVIS 1.25” 24:1 L/D Vertical Extruder BARTELL 60”, 72” Payoffs and Take-ups 30” Core Neutralizer Payoff CORTINOVIS 72-Wire 16” Rigid Strander NEB 18-Head 22” Rigid Strander CEECO 7-Wire 22” Tubular Strander, Encircling Bearing DAVIS STANDARD 30” Dual Reel Take-up SYNCRO DFH Spooler, 30” Reel w/ENDEX Dancer DAVIS ELECTRIC Model CRS30 Rewinder VIDEOJET Model 37e InkJet Printer, new 2000 SCHLEUNIGER Model PF3000 Payoff ADVANTAGE Chiller, Model MK-25AM-41HBX, 9/98 Complete PVC Compound Facility Contact: Martin Kenner

COMMISSION BROKERS, INC.

P.O. Box 8456 • Cranston, RI 02920-0456 • Tel. (401) 943-3777 • Fax: (401) 943-3670 WEB: www.commissionbrokers.com • E-MAIL: marty137@aol.com

118 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

DUNHILL PROFESSIONAL SEARCH OF GREENWOOD. Serving the Wire and Cable Industry since 1978. Phone: 864-3665555; e-mail dunhill@ wctel.net. Contact: Hal Freese.

DIES APOLLO DIA-CARB COMPANY. Buy & sell new/used Natural & PCD DIAMOND DIES. Fair prices & excellent lead times. Contact Paulette, Owner-Sales, by telephone at 1-508-226-1508 or by e-mail at apollodie@wmconnect.com.

CARBIDE SPECIALISTS, INC. offers excellent quality, price and delivery on all your carbide wire die needs (R2-R12). Yes, you can have all three! Give us an opportunity to prove it. For personal attention to your specific requirements, contact Ray Northern at 440-951-4027 or fax 440-954-9094.

MOLONEY DIE COMPANY. Low prices on all sizes of new, used and recut carbide dies. We also recut tapered nibs. Fast turnaround. Quality service since 1985. Tel. 904388-3654.

MACHINERY WWW.URBANOASSOCIATES.COM. For New & Used Wire & Cable Equipment. Tel. 727-863-4700; fax 727-863-4711; or by e-mail at urbassoc@verizon.net.

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Thank you for supporting WAI’s product family.

MACHINERY

MACHINERY

AJAX #5 (1") AND AJAX #4 (3/4") Wire draw/straighten/cut off machines complete with uncoilers, shot blasters, tooling, 1978/1979. Contact Westway Machinery Ltd., tel. 905-803-9999, fax 905-803-9109.

haul-off; television equipment; cable guide equipment; lifting equipment; transmission; operator’s station; manual, drawings, additional specs. Price negotiable. Basic Wire & Cable, tel. 800-227-4292. ■

KRUPP MADE FOR BICC. ROTATING REWINDING LINE (1984). LIKE NEW, under power, consists of rotating payoff - 4 ft; rotating take-up - 6 ft; rotating caterpillar

Serving the non-ferrous and ferrous industries since 1983

WAI AI STO TORE RE

International Technical

Conference ROAD SHOW WORKSHOP

Land A Job Where You Can Catch Dinner Here’s your chance to work at a place that’s an engineer’s dream and a nature lover’s paradise.

Northwire is looking for design, manufacturing and quality engineers to join our team in Osceola, Wisconsin…on the banks of the scenic St. Croix River.

Northwire produces high-quality custom wire and cable products. The key to our success is meeting customer needs through problem-solving, solution-oriented engineering. This is how we keep growing when other companies are laying people off.

And since you have a life outside work, the area is alive with activities—hunting, fishing, canoeing and even music in the park. You get the best of both worlds: small town charm with big city opportunity.

And we’re just 45 minutes from Minneapolis/St. Paul.

Give us a call and earn a living where the standard of living is high.

The Wire Association International, Inc. 1570 Boston Post Road • P.O. Box 578 Guilford, CT 06437-0578 USA Tel.: (001) 203-453-2777 • Fax: (001) 203-453-8384 Web site: www.wirenet.org

1-800-468-1516 www.northwire.com/fish1 © 2006 Northwire, Inc. All rights reserved.

Northwire is an equal opportunity employer.

JANUARY 2007 119

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Advertisersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Index/Key Contacts ADVERTISER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PAGE

ADVERTISER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PAGE

Anbao Wire & Mesh Co. Ltd. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114 BJ Hur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 86-335-389-3600

Esteves - DWD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39 Steve Marcum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 260-728-9272

Beta LaserMike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1 Rick Kristensen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 937-233-9935

George Evans Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 David Evans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ph. 309-757-8300

Bongard Trading GmbH & Co. KG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .117 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 49-23-78-91-55

Fisk Alloy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14 Eric Fisk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 973-427-7550

Canterbury Engineering Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110 Brian Schemenaur, Bill Holmes . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 800-241-7650

Fort Wayne Wire Die, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Don Bieberich/John Downey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 260-747-1681

Carris Reels, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .67 David Ferraro . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 802-773-9111

FMS Force Measuring Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9 Paul Smith . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 847-392-7872

Central Wire/Techalloy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13 Stan Merrick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 800-638-1458

GENCA Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 Brian Schemenaur, Bill Holmes . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 727- 524-3622

Commission Brokers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .118 Martin Kenner . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ph. 401-943-3777

Gem Gravure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C2 David Gemelli . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 781-878-0456

CommScope Bimetals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47 Paul Bedder, Bob Calliham . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 704-883-8015

Gimax Srl/Cable Consultants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17-18 Enrico Romagnolo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 39-0444-551790

Conneaut Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37 John Santos . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 800-955-YARN

IFMA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40-41 Ray Zirkle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 203-794-0444

Cortinovis SpA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Dr. Sergio Cortinovis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 39-03531-3222

IWG High Performance Conductors Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .864-472-9022

Die Quip Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112 Tom Maxwell, Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 412-833-1662

Kinrei of America/Donnelly Reels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111 Steve Hess . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 973-677-9500

Dow Wire & Cable . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 800-441-4369

Mathiasen Machinery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119 Mark Mathiasen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 860-873-1423

Encore Wire Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 972- 562-9473

Micro Products Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Bill Keiler . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 630-787-9350

SALES OFFICES NORTH AMERICA

EUROPE

Robert J. Xeller Anna Bzowski Wire Journal International 1570 Boston Post Road P.O. Box 578 Guilford, CT 06437-0578 USA Tel: (203) 453-2777 Fax: (203) 453-8384

U.K., France, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Denmark & Scandinavia Jennie Franks P.O. Box 33 Moulton Newmarket, Suffolk, England CB88SH Tel: +44-1638-751132 Fax: +44-1638-750933 E-mail: franksco@ btopenworld.com

120 WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

FAR EAST Germany, Austria, & Switzerland Dagmar Melcher Media Service International P.O. Box 103 D-82402 Seeshaupt Germany Tel: +49-8801-914681 Fax: +49-8801-914683 E-mail: DMelcher@t-online.de

Anand Bhagwat Pune, India Tel: +91-985-083-8467 E-mail abhagwat@wirenet.org

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ADVERTISER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PAGE

ADVERTISER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PAGE

Niehoff Endex North America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 609-467-4884

Sealeze . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2 Eliz Rinehart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 804- 275-1075

Northwire Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .119 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 800-468-1516

Sheaves Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93 Stew Walton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 866-344-6786

NUMAMERICA/NUMALLIANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C3 Wes Wassell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 563-386-9590

SIKORA AG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Jeff Swinchatt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 770-486-1233

Paramount Die Company Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .87 Richard Sarver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 410-272-4600

SIKORA International-USA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Jeff Swinchatt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 770-486-1233

Pressure Welding Machines Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22 Steve Mepsted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 44-1233-820847

Singleton Reels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .90 Mike Geiger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 330-274-2961

Properzi International, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32-33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 563-386-9590

Sjogren Industries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113 Carl Sjogren . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 508-987-3206

Prysmian Cables & Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 39-02-6449 2928

Summit City Ent. Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 Craig Martenson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 260-478-6954

Reel-O-Matic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28 Brian Rich . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 405-672-0000

Sweed Machinery Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .95 Curt Spivey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 541-855-1512

Queins & Company GmbH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71 H. G. Queins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 49-2472-8080

Talladega Machinery & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 Bob Douglas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ph. 256-480-5096

Sanxin Wire Die . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11 Doug Thornton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 434-906-2340

Tubular Products Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31 Steve Brown . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ph. 205- 856-1300

VISIT OUR UPDATED WEB SITE

LARGEST INVENTORY OF WIRE & CABLE MACHINERY IN THE WORLD

www.wireandplastic.com

NEW JUST PURCHASED FROM MAGNET WIRE PLANT NEW PURCHASES SYNCRO FX-13 Rod Breakdown Line for Copper, L-R, EXTRUSION LINES w/FX-13 Drawer, F Annealer, Bekaert 36” Coiler; Syncro PLANETARY CABLER Pointer/Stringer, Micro J7C Welder.

EXPL231 3 1/2” D.Std. 24:Butt 1 Therm III jacketing line.

CBR751 22” Watson 37 wire (6+12+18) planetary COOK Rod Breakdown Line Aluminum, L-R, w/Cook (2) Skalteks A12PS, 40” Hallfor belt cat, Viteck TDV-260-3 cabling line with dual capstan, taper, binder, 84” shaftDH4+8 Syncro 36” Coiler,CTC Micro 22” vert.Drawer, accumEndex 16’, (2)Annealer, D.E. TURA 36” takeups, less takeup, 72” S/L payoff.

J7C Butt Welder. tape payoff, cone former, binder, Lasermike, Zumbach TAKEUPS CAPAC, Fusion UV cure, Hall footage counter, Videojet TKU846 NEW Samp 560mm dual shaftless parallel 9900 printer, trough.

RECENT PURCHASES axis hi speed takeup forJacketing telephone.

EXPL232(4)6”760mm NRM 24:1 CBR807 Samp, Modelline, BM760D, Yr. of Mfg. TKU845 EKP50 parallel axis hi(2) Skaltek A12PS payoff,mm s (2)dual 60” reel Bartell takeups w/OH 1997.

(10)Nokia 1993-1995. traverse, 36” Royle B/W capstan, 30” horiz accum, 30T speed takeups.

WRD766 Syncro C17DC Tandem Telephone Wire DrawCarrier chiller, Zumbach CAPAC, Videojet 9900shaft printer, TKU837 36” Davis Electric parallel ing/anneal/Preheat/Dancer, DCTAP-36, drive (1990’s).

Hall footage counters, Fusion cure,18 trough.

CBR869 22” Kraft planetary cabler, wire. 24” conc. w/dancer. taper, 72” wheel capstan, 60” takeup.

EXPL230 6” Davis Standard 24:1mTherm Jacketing TKU792 NEW Rosendahl 2.2 portalIIItire type traCBR870 16”40” Kabmatik 12 +belt 12 Planetary cabler, 1982, line, (1987), MGS/Hall caterpuller, (2) 60” Bartell versing take up w/accum.

30” dual capstan, Hi-Speed taper, 1.6m portal payoff & takeups, 10 ton chiller, Zumbach CAPAC, laserTKU841 60” - 96” Bartell shaftless take Beta ups/payoff. takeup, individual VAC drives. mike, footage counter, trough, Viteck TDV-240-4 22” vert Skaltek portal payoffs & takeups Models: UX25T, EXP727 45mm Nokia Maillefer piggyback extruder, 24:1 16’ accumulator.

L/D, (1996).

UX28T, U30T, U20T, U16T, U25T, U12P4K, U26T, EXPL229 4 1/2” Davis Standard 24:1 Thermatic III, 1997, EXPL287 Tandem Line with Samp TRB 2, annealer, mulA12P-4K,Line, A204, AX26, AX28, A30, A264K. Jacketing tipass capstan. 40” Hall belt caterpuller, Viteck TDV-400COILERS 4 22” vert. accum, (2) 60” Bartell takeups, EXPL289 - D.Std. 3 1/2” Extrusion Line withfootage 30” B.W. CLR127Viteck (5) Reelex/Windings dual figure 8 UV winders, counter, Videojet, ton chiller, trough, fusion cure capstan, 87520 ft horiz.

Accum, DR-30 takeup. oven, dryer, (2) Skaltekbandmarker A12PS payoffs.

Modelhopper D1000/D1001.

PRN159 Medek & Schoerner RC707, EXTRUDERS EXPL233 4 1/2” Davis Standard 24:1 Therm III, 1995, (1996).

Jacketing (2) 48” Hall driven Payoffs, Lot: D. St.Line, extruders, 6” 24:1, 4 1/2” 24:1,30”Sterling 3 1/2” 24:1, SHAFTLESS TAKEUPS/PAYOFFS dual capstan, Viteck TDV-300-4 2 1/2” 24:1 vertical, 2” 24:1. 14” vertical accum, (2) Takeups: 40”, 42”, 48”, 60”, 72”, lasermike, 96” portal. trough, Bartell: 60” BartellHall takeups, footage counter, 60”, 72”,UV 84”,cure 96”.oven, print head.

Fusion

SYNCRO C-13 Intermediate Drawing Line for Copper., EXTRUDERS w/Syncro C-13 Syncro 16” Spooler.

EXP604 NEWDrawing SampMachine, Deangeli TE35/24, 1 1/2” ver(3) SYNCRO Withinhi-temp the Past(FEP), Five yrs, w/New EXP637 (2) 1Upgraded 3/4” Entwistle, Thertical extruder with motor.

Controls, Syncro BG-16 Drawers, Syncro C-35-Zone.

Annealers, moflite extruders, 24:1 L/D, 42” Centerline, EXP588 2 1/2” D.Std. extruder, 24:1, Thermatic.

III, Endex 630mm Spoolers.

CABLERS w/40 HP AC Vector.

Gem Band Marker Gems Model Super S. CBR798 48” Entwistle single twist rotating takeup, CABLERS w/conc. unit oscillating plate, 25 CBR759 22”binder, 37W 1+6+12+18 NEBconc rigid binder, strander, pair 16” payoff.

(1989), max, 3” - 18” lay Payoffs: Bartell 48”, 60”, 250 72”, RPM 84”, 96”. dual capstan. range, 1” OD max, 6000 LB max, 30 HP DC cradle CBR741/CBR743 36” Cook S. twist bunchers, DUAL UPS drive, HI 15SPEED HP AC TAKE reel(3) drive.

BH-36, Yr. Mfg. 14”EKP50 conc. taper, also (1) BHNokia EKP5 (1) 1972, Yr. 2001, CBR800 48” Northampton (NMC)(4) D. 1997, Twist EKP100-124 strander 30, BH24, Yr. traverse, 1978. S/L cradle, dual capstan, (2) 1995 (bow(3) type), Uhing TKU903 (7) 24” Clipper dual hi speed takeup, shaftless, CBR716/CBR722 (9) 760 mm Samp D.T. bunchers, conc. binders. parallel axis,Yr. Model BM760-D, Mfg.PS-24HS 1997/92late 1990’s.

REWINDERS TKU968 36” D.Elec. dual take up Rebuilt recently CBR718/CBR719 (2) 48” Cook BH-48 S.T. cablers w/caliper VCD703 GE PLC. RWD377disc (2) brakes, 1.6m Skaltek cutdrives, to length lines with with conc.

Taper, multipass A164K payoff, U16T takeup,payoff.

L100 cutter counter, CBR708 60” Ceeco 1+6 planetary cabler.

Dual 24” LINES WIRE DRAWING dancer accumulator, footage counter.

(1 - w/SC4 WRD722 Nextrom 7 wire annealer, ECC taper, 72” Cat, 96”multi-wire, portal trav. takeup.630mm sinaccumulator). gle spooler,2.2m stem Pourtier P/Os, 1999, 100twisting HP DC,line 20 HP CBR720 drum (5) DC 1.8m RWD376 40” Viteck rewind line with S/L takeup, S/Lfor annealer, Touch Screen controls. binder. rotating payoffs, rot. Cat, driven payoff, dancer, Betatapers, sparker & counter.

WRD717 Nextrom 12 wire multiwire drawer w/annealer, WIRE DRAWING COILERS (2) 630/800mm spoolers, 12 stem payoff, 100 HP DC WRD677/WRD678 (2) Samp 1412 wire, die, drawer, 50(1) HPReelex annealer.

(1995).

AWG 2.05mm, CLR157 D1000 dualEnter with D.E. 36”31 driven MLS/5T.14 with annealers, (2) TE/65-M 630 mm Finish AWG 0.10mm, 29 dies, 5000 FPM, MGH529A. payoff,28Hall accum, footage counter, controls, 24” dual WRD770 MT25.2 w wire drawer, w/annealer, (2) spoolers.

(1997/1993). rewinder,Samp 1990’s.

630mm TE65-M spoolers, Yr. Mfg.die 1987/1989.

WRD689 Cook DH 5+8 roddriven machine, CLR158 Reelex D1000 dual13 w/40” Hall payoff, WRD769 Niehoff M40 drawer 17 die, with GBC rod drawer accum, footage counter, 24” dual rewinder, 1990’s.

5 die, VG-30 annealer (1997), Samp 800mm spooler

D.Std. 2.1/2” Extruder, for Nylon Model 250-Slll, Therm. III. CLR156 Reelex D1000 dualHead coilerupgrade with controls, Syncro 18”(2) Barrel Packer, ENDEX 1145, ceramics, RA5, 300 KVA annealer, 30” spooler, dancer/accum. w/motor control panel.

Mfg 1980’s.

Emco Filter(2) System South Side drawbox CLR154 Reelex S500 (1)MF-2428, LH, 1 RH,Mag single w/ WRD690 Syncro F13 13 die, 350 HP drive, take ups. dancer. controls, RA5, 300 KVA annealer, 30” spooler, 30” drop CLR155 (2) Reelex D500, (1) RH, single w/controls, coiler. dancer.

WRD691 (4) Syncro C13 inter. Dwg. Machine,

BRAIDERS (1993) 5/16”-22 AWG. ceramics, 100 HP DC, C3 annealer, 30” spooler.

WRD700 Samp MS200 (TRB-3) lines withModel RC15 H, on BRD303(3) (10)Wardwell 16Carrier Rebuilt, TUBULAR STRANDER annealer, TE42 40 DC(still Eurotherm drive. wire, mot 30” xspooler, 16” frames. in crates) TBR143 30” Stolberger 12+ wire tubular stranBRD302 16LINES Carrier, on wire, motorder, dual(41) cap,Wardwell 84” Bartell takeup.

INSULATING/JACKETING ized, Model G/H, 30” extruding or 24C braider EXPL252 3 1/2” D.Std line,1+6 (2)frames.

Skaltek A12PS TBR145/TBR146 (2) 630mm (2) 1+12 BRD305 Wardwell 24 Carrier cable. portal payoffs, 3 1/2” 24:1 Thermatic II extruder, Touch 630mm Ceeco tubular stranders, encircling Screen panel with Eurotherm controllers, hopper, loader, DANCERS/ACCUMULATORS bearing, spin safe cradles. dryer, 60” MGS belt caterpuller, Beta dia., (2) 36”/40” D.E. DAN187 (6) Reelex motorized AC300 dancers.

MISCELLANEOUS TURA S/L take ups, Viteck accumulator.

DAN184 (16) dancers 10’ +/Unit Irradiation Yr. Mfg. -Energy (3) 3 1/2”Sciences linesHall as above available, w/Skaltek A12 1990, P4K & 40” Hall DRAWING T/U. nitrogen generator.

WIRE LINE EXPL262 4 1/2” D. Std. 24:1 Therm III Ext. Line (1996), WRD717 Nextrom 12 wire multiwire drawer w/anneal150 DC Reliance drive, 30” Clipper dual driven flyer P/O, er, (2) 630/800mm spoolers, 12 stem payoff, 100 HP multipass capstan, Clipper PA-30 dual T/U, spark tester, DC drawer, 50 HP annealer. (1995). Enter 12 AWG Zumbach dia., Gem printer, trough, loader, colormeter, 2.05mm, 38 AWG 29 dies, 5000 FPM, Roots tech Finish preheater, chiller0.10mm, etc.

MGH529A. EXPL265 3 1/2” 24:1 EXT. line w/(2) 72” Bartell P/O’s, (2) WRD718 (20) Syncro Drawing 84” Bartell T/U’s, 60” D.E.Machine belt cat.,AG-16 W & SWire corrugator, Machine, 5000-FPM, Syncro Annealer/spooler, WST Nordson pumps. annealing controls

Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp. 100 Franklin Street Bristol, CT 06010 USA Phone (860) 583-4646 Fax: (860) 589-5707 sales@wireandplastic.com www.wireandplastic.com

JANUARY 2007 121

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