Top Cable Companies: Part I

WIRE JOURNAL JANUARY 2009

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I N T E R N A T I O N A L w w w. w i r e n e t . o r g

Top Cable Companies:

Part 1

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WIRE JOURNAL

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

Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

CONTENTS

Volume 42 | Number 1 | January 2009

F EATURES

Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Industry News . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Asian Focus . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Fiber Watch . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Fastener Update . . . . . . . . . 24

Report to Members . . . . . . . . . 26 WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll highlights a range of Association activity and focus.

IWCS Wrapup . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 WAI News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

The return to Providence was positive for IWCS.

Chapter Corner . . . . . . . . . . 34

Top Cable Companies . . . . . . . . 38

2008 WJI article index. . . . . . 66

This two-part feature, a co-venture with U.K.-based Integer Research, looks at some of the world’s top cable companies, provides an industry outlook and more.

Technical Papers . . . . . . . 78-92

T ECHNICAL P APERS

Products/Media . . . . . . . . . . 94 Classified . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99 Career Opportunities . . . . . . 99 Advertisers’ Index . . . . . . . 102

Helicord—a novel method of achieving excellent sliding properties of wire, conductors and cables Gerhard Boockmann and Michaela Boockmann . . . . . . . 78 Dynamic preventative maintenance systems (DPMS) for purchasing in the manufacture of steel tire cord Ronald E. Alexander and Thomas W. Tyl . . . . . . . . . . .84 Particle size influence on drawing performance of dry powder wiredrawing lubricants David P. Gzesh, Christine Pallin and Frédéric Deschampt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88

Cover: U.K.-based Integer Research and WJI have teamed up again to present a look at the world’s top cable companies. This two-part feature begins with a focus on North America and Europe. See p. 38. Photo by Bill Branch.

JANUARY 2009 | 3

INSIDE THIS ISSUE FOCUS

. . . . . . . . . . . .16

CONTENTS

A SIA

Finolex Cables Managing Director Deepak Chhabria lights a ceremonial lamp during the official opening of Wire & Cable India 2008, which was held November 2022. The event fared reasonably well but attendees may most likely remember the horrific events that took place the following week in Mumbai.

4 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

R EPORT

TO MEMBERS

. . . . . .26

During a meeting at WAI headquarters, 2009 WAI President Antonio Ayala discusses the year to come with, l-r, First Vice President Dane Armendariz, 2007 WAI President Tom Moran, Second Vice President Dominique Perroud and 2008 WAI President Ron Reed. Some of the issues that the Association is focusing on include maximizing the return of its subsidiary in India, offering more value to its Interwire and Wire Expo trade shows and further improving its electronic capabilities as well as the quality and scope of WJI.

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EDITORIAL WIRE JOURNAL

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EDITORIAL

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

Looking past today’s headlines to prepare for the future of the industry

Publisher | Steven J. Fetteroll Editor-in-Chief | Mark Marselli Editor | Barbara Douglas

Today, I can see financial problems and a recession not only in my country, Mexico, but in the United States and many countries. Recession means lack of demand for areas such as housing, automotive and industrial equipment, which also leads to lack of sales of cables and wires.

What is important is for companies not to get caught up in the panic that seems to be just about everywhere. In this type of crisis, the response of some companies is to fire personnel. But I say that this is the time for wire and cable manufacturers and suppliers to look for different options. Cutting jobs may be needed, but it should not be the first step. It is far better to work three days a week than to dismiss personnel, because when you do, you have also dismissed their experience, and that is a company asset that is hard and expensive to later replace. Companies should consider other options, such as entering new product markets or adding other lines to sell, such as connectors, or exporting more or using extruders to produce profiles or tubes.

I recommend using the resources at www.wirenet.org, the WAI’s web site. There you can click on the Virtual Trade Show for an extensive data base of companies and products around the world and more and search the abstracts of technical papers as well as what is available at the WAI Store, and the on-line e-Institute. And do not forget the Forums, where you can place questions and receive answers from colleagues around the world.

The WAI serves members through its nine chapters, its Interwire and Wire Expo trade shows and its Asia subsidiary as well as Wire Journal International and the WJI’s Reference Guide, which has information for more than 3,200 producers and suppliers. Resources matter. If you are not a WAI member, this is the time to make it your industry association as it has much information and aid to offer.

Finally, I ask for your help to make Interwire 2009 a success. To suppliers, I say, acquire your stand, and to producers and clients, I say, go and visit the exhibits and send your engineers, directors, etc., as this is a valuable investment in your future. It may be the place where you can find the directions and solutions you need. This is a cyclical industry, and we have seen bad times before, but eventually times get better, and companies must be ready for those better days that most certainly will come.

Antonio Ayala WAI President

Senior Graphic Designer | Bill Branch Director of Sales | Robert Xeller Advertising Sales | Anna Bzowski Director of Marketing Services | Janice E. Swindells Graphic Artist | Adrienne E. Simpson Proofreader | Livia Jacobs Circulation Manager | Jan Valois Publications Advisory Board Antonio Ayala | J.J. Lowe, Mexico Ferruccio Bellina | TKT Group/President ACIMAF, Italy Anand Bhagwat | Wire and Cable Services, India Malcom Michael | AWAI, Australia 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 Corporation Technical Advisors John Drummond | Scotia Group R. M. Shemenski | RMS Consulting, Inc.

WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL (ISSN-0277-4275) published monthly by The Wire Journal, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of The Wire Association International, Inc., which is located at 1570 Boston Post Road, P.O. Box 578, Guilford, CT 06437-0578, USA, and can be contacted at tel.

203-453-2777; fax 203-453-8384; Internet wirenet.org; e-mail mmarselli@wirenet.org. Address all correspondence concerning advertising production, editorial and circulation to the above address. WJI is printed in USA. Subscription rates: $110 per year, USA; $120 per year, Canada and Mexico; other countries, $140 per year (includes air mail). Back copies: $10 WAI members, $15 non-members. 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. © 2009 by Wire Journal, Inc. All rights reserved. The Publisher of WJI assumes no responsibility for the validity of manufacturers’ claims made herein. Back issues of WJI are on microfilm and available from University Microfilm, 300 North Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106, USA. Phone: 313761-4700.

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

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CALENDAR

CALENDAR March 2-4, 2009: Cables 2009 Cologne, Germany. To be held at the Maritim Hotel.

Contact: Applied Market Information Ltd., tel. 44-117924-9442; info@amiplastics.com; www.amiplastics.com.

April 25-30, 2009: Interwire 2009 Cleveland, Ohio, USA. To be held at the International Exposition Center (I-X Center), Interwire incorporates the Interwire Trade Exposition, the technical program and the WAI’s 79th Annual Convention. It addresses ferrous and nonferrous manufacturing, and electrical/data/voice segments as well as wire forming and related wire and wire products. Contact: WAI, www.wirenet.org.

May 12-15, 2009: wire Moscow Moscow, Russia. To be held at the Expo Centre Krasnya.

Contact: Messe Düsseldorf North America, tel. 312781-5180; fax 312-781-5188; info@mdna.com; www.mdna.com.

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June 22-26, 2009: NPE 2009 Chicago, Illinois, USA. NPE 2009, organized by The Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc. (SPI), NPE 2009 will take place at Chicago’s McCormick Place.

Contact: NPE 2009, www.npe.org.

October 13-15, 2009: Wire Southeast Asia Bangkok, Thailand. To be held at the BITEC Exhibition Centre in Bangkok, this event, formerly known as wire Singapore, is organized by Messe Düsseldorf Asia Pte Ltd., Singapore. Contact: Messe Düsseldorf North America, tel. 312-781-5180; fax 312-781-5188; info@mdna.com; www.mdna.com.

October 24-27, 2009: Exhibition & Conference for Wire & Cable New Delhi, India.The 9th International Exhibition & Conference for Wire & Cable will present wire and cable, fasteners and springs and more at the Pragati Maidan.

Contact: www.intechtradefairs.com.

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Nov. 8-11, 2009: 58th IWCS Conference™ Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. To be held at the Charlotte Convention Center. Contact: IWCS, www.iwcs.org;phudak@iwcs.org; tel 732-389-0990.

April 12-16, 2010: wire Düsseldorf Düsseldorf, Germany. To be held at the Messe fairgrounds. Contact: Messe Düsseldorf North America, tel. 312-781-5180; info@mdna.com.

May 11-12, 2009: Wire Expo 2010 Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. To be held at the Midwest Airlines Center, this event includes the WAI’s 80th Annual Convention, trade show and technical program.

It will be co-located with The National Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo. ■

WIRE ASSOCIATION I NT ’L EVENTS For more information, contact the WAI, USA. Tel. 001-203453-2777; fax 001-203-453-8384; Internet www.wirenet.org.

January 29, 2009: New England Chapter Annual Meeting Uncasville, Connecticut, USA, See p. 34.

March 3-5, 2009: Modern technologies and modelling of drawing and manufacturing processes of metal products Zakapone, Poland. Members of the WAI’s Poland Chapter are among the organizers of this event, which will present theoretical and practical research results. Contact: Dr. Sylwia Wiewiórowska, wiewior@mim. pcz.czest.pl; www.konferencja.mim.pcz.czest.pl.

April 25-30, 2009: Interwire 2009 Cleveland, Ohio, USA. See main listing.

Nov. 2, 2009: New Technology for Global Markets Istanbul, Turkey. See main listing.

JANUARY 2009 | 9

CALENDAR

Nov. 2, 2009: New Technology for Global Markets Istanbul, Turkey. This biennial conference is jointly organized by the IWMA, CET, ACIMAF and the WAI. Prior conferences have been held in Bologna, Italy (2007), Prague, The Czech Republic (2005), and Stresa, Italy (2003). Contact:WAI, www.wirenet.org.

INDUSTRY NEWS

INDUSTRY NEWS Bekaert plans to close Hemiksem plant, cut 264 employees in Belgium Citing multiple factors that have made it difficult for manufacturing to remain competitive in Belgium, Bekaert announced reorganization plans that call for closing its Hemiksem plant, cutting 264 positions, and concentrating its steel wire production at its Zwevegem plant.

“Management regrets the need to propose this measure, but sees no other option to safeguard the long-term position of its wire activities in Europe,” a press release said.

The decision, it said, was reached during “an extraordinary works council meeting,” and Bekaert management has informed its Belgian plants of the plan to reorganize the production activities for steel wire in the country. The closing of the Hemiksem production plant, which produces steel wire for various industrial applications, has to follow specific steps.

The release listed the following factors for the decision.

“Bekaert has observed a structural downward movement in the market for these product lines in Western Europe.

Aggressive competition, mainly from Central Europe and Asia, is putting continuous pressure on sales prices. In addition, exports to non-European countries have practically ceased as a result of the strong euro and the expansion of local capacity in export markets.

“Bekaert clients are also experiencing an increase in competition due to imports from low-wage countries.

In order to maintain their competitive position, they are increasingly moving their activities to Central Europe, where they prefer locally-based suppliers, causing a strong decrease in demand in Western Europe. The company is particularly confronted with overcapacity in the market for galvanized low-carbon wire.

“These external developments are having an increasingly strong impact on the profitability of Bekaert Hemiksem and on the competitive position of Bekaert in the European market, calling for a reorganization of the production platform in Belgium.

“As a result of the intended reorganization, the production of steel wire in Belgium will be concentrated in the Zwevegem plant, which will continue to focus on the high-end spectrum of the product range.”

and cables that WireCo will engineer for this project include 75 mm and 90 mm wire rope suspension hangers, which connect the floating bridge box girders and the tower. As a result, it said, this will be the first suspension bridge engineered to require no connection between the tower and the deck.

The company will also supply the hand rope assemblies that allow access to the 2.56-foot diameter main cable, the release said. “Using an elegant, futuristic design that mixes form with function, the new structure will carry daily traffic in excess of 280,000 vehicles or more than 102 million vehicles yearly,” it said.

Artist’s likeness of the new San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge, which will use WireCo WorldGroup wire.

The bridge, whose single tower will rise 525 feet, will connect the 1.2-mile elevated skyway viaduct from Oakland to Treasure Island with two, parallel roadways (each with five lanes) and a 15-foot-wide bicycle/pedestrian path.

The company said approximately 41,000 feet (7.77 miles) of 75 mm diameter and 15,000 feet (2.84 miles) of 90 mm diameter galvanized bridge rope will be produced to fabricate the 200 suspenders required to support the deck of the structure. A total of 930,000 pounds of steel wire rope will be produced for the monumental project, it said, noting that more than 100 tractor trailers will coordinate the delivery of the completed wire rope suspenders and components from Missouri to California for installation on the structure.

Bridge project calls for lots of wire

Belden to cut 1,800 jobs worldwide

WireCo WorldGroup reports that it has been awarded the contract for wire rope suspenders and cables to be used on the new San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge.

The distinctive, single tower structure will be the world’s longest single span, self-anchored suspension bridge, a press release said. The wire rope suspender

In response to the bleak market conditions, U.S.-based Belden Inc., announced that it plans to cut 1,800 jobs worldwide, or 20 percent of its workforce, and consolidate some manufacturing operations, as demand for its products has continued to soften.

The industry has seen a steady stream of layoffs and

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

10 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

INDUSTRY NEWS

some plant closings, but the scope of the Belden announcement was a shock. The company did not provide details as to what specific changes it planned to make but said that its goal was to streamline its manufacturing, sales and administrative functions worldwide.

The restructuring, it said, is expected to save $30 million in 2009 and $50 million annually starting in 2011. The company said that it expects to post between $55 million and $65 million, or 85 cents to $1 per share, in restructuring charges, some in the current quarter. The charges include severance and other costs of $35 million to $40 million.

Belden CEO John Stroup said that, due to the status of the major global markets, it was “necessary for us to further adjust our cost structure so that we can continue to be competitive under such conditions.” He added that with the changes, Belden is “well-positioned to capture market share and successfully execute other strategic initiatives even in a challenging market.”

In other news, Belden reported that Trapeze Networks, a Belden subsidiary, has acquired Newbury Networks for an undisclosed amount. Newbury Networks, which provides software systems to boost efficiencies and track warehouse items, posted 2007 revenues of $56 million, it said.

Leoni opens new plant in Mexico Germany’s Leoni AG reports that it has opened a new production facility in the Mexican state of Durango that will supply cable harnesses to end users that include U.S. commercial vehicle manufacturers.

Leoni noted in a press release that it has recently gained share of the commercial vehicle market in America and continues to grow despite the automotive industry crisis.

To be able to handle the rising project volume, the company said that it has commissioned the new production facility and “thereby strengthened its strategic position in the NAFTA area.” The plant, which covers an area of about 210,000 sq ft, will initially produce mainly wiring systems for commercial vehicle manufacturers based in the U.S., it said, noting that production is currently ramping up with about 150 employees. By the end of 2009, the Durango plant should employee more than 1,000 people, it said.

The modern factory, built in just six months, is the Leoni Group’s third production facility in Mexico, the release said. “The good infrastructure, a large number of available skilled people as well as operating costs that can be planned long-term argued in favor of the location,” said Uwe H. Lamann, a member of the management board in charge of the wiring systems division. “The production facility in Durango is of major significance to our expansion strategy and relationships with customers on the U.S. market.”

Leoni was also able to further improve its overall cost situation in Mexico by building the plant, it said.

JANUARY 2009 | 11

INDUSTRY NEWS

Global steel production could change to positive direction …

The news may be unsettling for just about all manufacturing sectors, but even as headlines of capacity reductions and plant closings continue to stream in, some steel company executives are predicting an increase in steel production this year.

ArcelorMittal, which announced plans to cut global production by a third, believes that it is feasible that there could be production increases in the first quarter of this year. In an interview with Bloomberg, AreclorMittal Chairman and Chief Executive Lakshmi N. Mittal said that the demand picture could change for steel. Noting that inventory levels are low, he was quoted as saying, “We are in a period of high economic uncertainty. The impact on steel markets is becoming more apparent as we move into the later part of this year. We are currently reviewing our forecasts for 2009, which had been prepared this summer before current events. However, we continue to expect growth in steel demand in 2009 and for the medium term, above the world GDP growth rate.”

The article noted that similar perspectives have been made by POSCO CEO Ku-Taek Lee, chairman of the World Steel Association. The story noted that the problem is not lack of product demand but of funding.

In the short run, however, the end result is that production capacity has continued to be held back. In the U.S., MittalArcelor on December 3 closed its Georgetown wire rod mill, which has some 300 employees, and had scheduled it to not reopen until January 12. A company spokeswoman told The Sun News that, “We ... look forward to many of our employees returning to work as soon as it is warranted by market conditions.” The article noted that steel wire rod production dropped from 36,000 tons to about 5,000 tons the prior month.

Editor’s note: the above story, from mid-December, shows how quickly and sharply downwards the steel outlook has changed.

… but U.K. CEO warns that ‘green’ efforts could come with a price tag Speaking at the UN Climate Change conference in Poznan, Corus CEO Philippe Varin, whose company employs some 25,000 steel workers in the U.K., declared that Corus will move its European operations to China if regulations governing carbon emissions are not changed.

What makes the statement of special interest is that Varin is also chairman of the World Steel Association’s Climate Change Policy Group. He said that politicians had to help fund new clean energy technologies because if Corus was forced “to buy CO2 credits on the market without a system to improve our production process, then we will not produce steel in Europe.” In his statement, he said that deploying technology to meet desired emission reductions “is extremely expensive, costing EUR 200 mil-

12 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

lion to EUR 300 million to upgrade a one million ton production plant. There is no way for us to fund this and pay penalties for our CO2 emissions. This would wipe out all of our profits and put us at a competitive disadvantage with manufacturers in nations which are not subject to carbon caps. The only way forward is through improved technology, but this costs money and a carbon tax is not the answer, because manufacturers will just move the growth to other countries. Not only will that kill European industry, but we will produce twice as much CO2.”

Layoffs reported for Ivy Steel & Wire Ivy Steel & Wire, which had not had a layoff since 1991, had its third layoff of 2008 in December, cutting 20 employees. An article in stjoenews.net quoted the plant’s division manager, Craig Studley, as saying, “We’re tied to the construction industry, and it’s been a very rough year.” He said that there had been some layoffs in March, although most of the employees were back at work by summer through normal attrition, and a second layoff of 16 workers in October.

At one point, the company’s work force numbered 150 employees, but it’s been some time since the steel wire manufacturer had such numbers and the outlook is unclear, Studley said. “The crystal ball is broke, so we have no idea what’s to come.”

Southwire Co. acquires CableTech U.S.-based Southwire Company has acquired CableTech Global, L.P., a wholly owned subsidiary of GenTek Inc., in a deal valued at up to approximately $11.2 million.

CableTech, based in Mineral Wells, Texas, manufactures wire and cable products used in industrial applications and for various other selected markets. A press release from its former parent company, GenTek, said that the business was sold for $9.5 million as well as some accounts receivables that could result in additional cash of up to approximately $1.7 million. GenTek President and CEO William E. Redmond, Jr., said that the deal represents another step by the company to focus on its core chemicals and valve actuation systems businesses.

A press release from Southwire said that the acquisition builds upon its plan to invest and grow in the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) market. “We are very pleased to have the opportunity to strengthen our product lines that are central to Southwire’s strategic growth plan,” said Southwire President and CEO Stu Thorn.

“This acquisition demonstrates our strong commitment to the OEM market, an area where we see potential for tremendous growth. The acquisition also allows us to further build upon our industry leading fill rates and lead times.”

Southwire will continue to operate the Mineral Wells facility, the release said, noting that the plant’s location

Madem Reels reports that its new U.S. plant is off to a very good start Brazilian-based Madem Reels reports that its Madem Reels USA Inc. plant in Chattanooga, Tennessee, has

cable manufacturer based in Eastern Jakarta that employs more than 700 people. The company, which is certified to ISO 9001, ISO 14000 and OHSAS 18001, produces aluminum and copper rods, both non-insulated and insulated aluminum and copper electrical cables, as well as control, flexible and instrument cables for domestic and international markets.

The deal is contingent on PT KMI passing qualification requirements successfully, the release said, adding that it has already manufactured qualification samples and that the vetting process should be complete in the first half of 2009. CTC’s ACCC composite core production will remain at its operations in Irvine, California, where capacities have been expanded in recent months in anticipation of increased demand, it said. The agreement, it said, provides for PT KMI “to assume much of the Indonesian country risks of foreign exchange and payment making the servicing of the market by CTC Cable simpler and more effective. CTC Cable will continue to provide support and training of installers in the Indonesian market.”

Egypt’s El Sewedy Cables acquisitions puts it in the wind-energy sector

Employees at Madem Reels USA’s plant in Chattanooga, which just finished its first year of operations.

completed a successful year since its first production machines arrived in the U.S. for commissioning.

A press release said that the occasion was highlighted with a ceremony that included Chattanooga Mayor Ron Littlefield, Hamilton County Mayor Claude Ramsey and other authorities and business partners.

Madem Group Sales Director Leandro Mazzoccato said that the plant started out with 15 employees but now numbers 70, with 20 added for the second shift. The operation, he noted, has 145,000 sq ft of covered area, and services customers in Georgia, West Virginia, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana and North Carolina. A second shift began late last year at the plant, which has production, assembly and recycling operations, he said, adding that the company has nine other warehouses in the U.S.

Indonesian company to strand conductors for U.S.-based CTC U.S.-based Composite Technology Corporation (CTC) announced that its Asian subsidiary has signed agreements with a cable manufacturer in Indonesia that will strand aluminum wire around CTC’s Aluminum Conductor Composite Core (ACCC™) conductors for the Indonesian market.

A press release described PT KMI as a publicly traded

El Sewedy Cables, an Egyptian cable manufacturer, has expanded its scope with a US$40 million investment in M. Torres Olvega, a Spanish wind-energy equipment manufacturer, and a new joint venture agreement with SIAG, a German windmill tower manufacturer, to form the Sewedy Wind Energy Group.

A press release said that El Sewedy Cables, which has factories in the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe, acquired 30% of the wind-energy division of M. Torres Olvega with an option to acquire the remainder in 2011.

“These two important developments mark the entry of El Sewedy into a new market segment that is still virgin territory in Egypt. SWEG will provide complete solutions for wind technology,” said El Sewedy Cables CEO Ahmed El Sewedy.

Owl Wire has layoffs at Canastota Owl Wire and Cable has laid off a dozen employees at its plant in Canastota, New York, USA. Company President Bob Raiti said that because of the current economic situation, the company had to reduce the size of its workforce, which was a little more than 100 employees, The Oneida Dispatch Daily reported.

In the article, Raiti said that Owl Wire’s product lines are for sectors such as building and construction, consumer electronics and auto, “all of which have suffered as of late.” He said that there are no plans to lay off more employees, though market conditions may not have bottomed out. “I don’t think we’ve seen the depth of it,” he was cited as saying. The company, the article said, also has locations in Rome and Boonville that have not seen layoffs at this point.

JANUARY 2009 | 13

INDUSTRY NEWS

fits well with Southwire’s family of manufacturing facilities and customer service centers. This plant will provide Southwire’s OEM Division with valuable added capacity, it said.

In other news, the company announced that it will supply an SCR copper rod system to China’s Changzhou Jinyuan Copper Company of China. See p. 17.

INDUSTRY NEWS

UPCAST OY marks caster milestone Finland’s UPCAST OY is celebrating 40 years of UPCAST® technology in the rod and tube casting industry, noting that it was in 1968 that the development work done at Outokumpu’s Pori Plant culminated in the first successful upward test casting.

At the time, commercially available casting methods for copper and copper alloys were done in a downwards or horizontal direction, and the cast products were large in cross-sectional area and required many downstream steps in further processing, a press release said.

Outokumpu’s Pori Plant elected to find a way to cast rod or tube that was closer to the size of the final product, and a couple of years later, the first production line was installed at the plant. “This first UPCAST production unit is still in operation and has been kept up-to-date through several upgrades and modifications,” it said. A second line, for copper alloys, was commissioned for an outside customer only a year after the first one.

collectively have annual capacity of more than one and a half million tons of oxygen-free copper and copper alloy rod.

Mathiasen Machinery reports contract to sell complete plant U.S.-based Mathiasen Machinery, Inc. (MMI), reports that it has been awarded an exclusive contract to sell a complete wire and cable manufacturing plant that specializes in producing aluminum, copper clad aluminum and copper fine wire.

Equipment at the 100,000-sq-ft plant in the southern U.S. is still installed and operational, a press release said.

It noted that the equipment includes: Syncro aluminum and copper rod drawing lines, intermediate and fine wire drawing lines; Bartell tubular stranders; and Hacoba bobbin winders, tinning lines, annealers and more. The entire operation can be bought, including the building, property, office furniture and all maintenance and tool room equipment, it said.

MMI buys and sells used wire and cable machinery.

For more details, contact Mike or Mark Mathiasen at mmi@mathiasen-machinery.com, tel. 860-873-1423.

Report: polymer market in Europe should be relatively good in 2009

Gathered by the first UPCAST® system in Pori, Finland, on November 6, 1968, are Väinö Vastamäki, foundry foreman; Timo Lohikoski, technical director of foundries; and Heimo Hocksell, chief foreman of foundries.

Eventually, sales and development of upward casting technology was made into its own business entity within Outokumpu’s copper division, called the JAVA-unit (later renamed Outokumpu Castform Oy). Some 21 lines were sold by the end of 1970s, 50 by 1983 and 100 by 1993, the release said. It noted that in the 21st century, Outokumpu Group’s management then focused on stainless steel products and divested its copper products division. This was followed later by an announcement from the new owner (Nordic Capital) to concentrate in copper semis production and to sell or close down all of its newly acquired technology companies. Castform Oy’s management joined forces with two outside investors to ensure the continuity of UPCAST business activities and in 2006 UPCAST OY was born. Today, the company notes, more than 170 UPCAST lines have been sold that

14 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

A new report from U.K.-based AMI Consulting is optimistic for the European cables industry in 2009, predicting that demand for cable infrastructure, and subsequently, polymers, will persist.

A press release said that the multi-client study by AMI quantifies consumption of insulation and jacketing polymers in the whole EU-27+3 European cables industry by country, by application and by polymer. The report updates similar primary market research by AMI in 2004, it said, noting that the latest data show that “growth in this specialist niche market for polymers has outpaced the rest of the European plastics industry, and grown faster than European GDP.” Market growth, the release said, has been driven by EU-supported initiatives to modernize and upgrade power transmission networks and this trend will continue to support demand in 2009. Market trends, which vary widely, are analyzed in the report by country across the continent with growth generally weaker in the mature EU-15+3 Western European economies, it said.

The market for PVC cables compounds recovered in 2004-2008 after losing some market share in Western Europe between 1996 and 2004, said the release, which cited the following. “The price of PVC compounds has stayed much lower than those of polyethylene cables compounds, whose prices have risen and fallen in line with oil and ethylene prices. PVC is, of course, less ethylene-intensive than PE. Consumption of polyethylene cables compounds has grown strongly since 2004, with this market driven by strong demand for LSF0H and

Gem Gravure enters printing venture with Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s KBA-Metronic AG U.S.-based Gem Gravure, a supplier of fluids and marking equipment for the wire and cable industry, reports that it has entered an agreement with Germanyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s KBA-Metronic AG, a supplier of continuous ink jet, laser, hot foil coding and thermal transfer equipment.

The two companies, a press release said, have formed a new company, OnCode, Inc., that it said will market, sell and service the coding equipment and supplies across North America. OnCode is now the exclusive supplier of KBA-Metronic printers for the U.S. and Canada, it said, noting that the Gem Gravureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s fluids and KBAMetronicâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s coding systems present â&#x20AC;&#x153;unbeatable solutions to customer requirements.â&#x20AC;? â&#x20AC;&#x153;We are excited to start this new chapter in Gem history,â&#x20AC;? said Gem Gravure President David Gemelli. â&#x20AC;&#x153;(This) provides our current customers with the best in ink jet printers while we continue to support their current equipment. In addition, it allows us to offer unique, high tech coding solutions to new markets.â&#x20AC;?

OnCode, based in Hanover, Massachusetts, with sales and service representatives across North America, will supply KBA Metronic alphaJET ink jet printers, laser, thermal transfer and hot foil coders as well as the full range of Gem Gravure fluids, the release said. â&#x20AC;&#x153;The U.S. industrial marking and coding world will experience a merger of German reliability and the American spirit of customer orientation by this venture,â&#x20AC;? said KBA-Metronic AG CEO Helge Hansen.

Amaral notes new location, expanded product lines and larger territory area Citing an expanding client base, U.S.-based Amaral Automation reports that it has moved to a new, larger location in Cumberland, Rhode Island, that serves as both an office and a warehouse. Company President Rick Amaral said that with increased staff there was more need for the extra space to provide â&#x20AC;&#x153;additional customer service, sales and marketing activities, allow for future growth and provide faster lead times for customers by being able to maintain inventory of products.â&#x20AC;?

The company notes that it has also has expanded its product line and its territory, which had been New

England, to now include New York, New Jersey and Eastern Pennsylvania. Recent product additions include: Yield Management, which offers braiding machines, strand and bobbin detectors along with Wardwell replacement parts; Cemanco, which offers mechanical rolling ring drive traverses, adjustable guide rollers and straighteners, ceramics, pulleys, sheaves, wheels and cable cutters; Industrial Indexing Solutions (IIS), which offers a wide variety of automation products and services to OEM and end users, including automatic controllers, single and multi-axis servos, stepper controls as well as Toshiba robots; and New England Temperature Solutions (NETS), which offers pressure transducers, temperature and humidity sensors along with digital control and display units, manufactured by Gneuss, Eurotherm and Ascon.

Amaral also represents B & H Tool Co., Bardac, Diagraph, Engineered Control Systems (ECS), Maag Pump Systems, Powetec Industrial Motors, Rosendahl/ Nextrom, Tulsa Power, Vulcan, W. Gillies Technologies and Zumbach, as well as being the North American distributor for U.Kâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Pressure Welding Machines (PWM).

Its contact info is insidesales@amaralautomation.com, www.amaralautomation.com, tel. 401-405-0755. â&#x2013;

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INDUSTRY NEWS

XLPE grades,â&#x20AC;? it said. The study forecasts future growth by country, application and polymer to 2012, which the release noted will be driven mainly by infrastructure investments in the newer EU accession countries. â&#x20AC;&#x153;... recovery is anticipated for 2010 to 2012 and this will deliver overall growth to bring the market to 1.6 million metric tons by 2012,â&#x20AC;? it said. The report presents polymer consumption by Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top players, by individual plant, for 2008.

Contact: Applied Market Information Ltd., ks@amiplastics.com, tel. 44-1179-249442.

ASIAN FOCUS

ASIAN FOCUS Timing was the ultimate key for those at Wire & Cable India 2008 Wire & Cable India 2008 will long be remembered by those who attended or exhibited at the show in Mumbai, not for the event itself, but for the tragedy that happened the following week, when terrorists killed more than 190 people in this showcase city of more than 13 million people.

As fate would have it, the event was held the week before the nightmare, and the wrapup in the press release by the organizers, the Confederation of India Industry, focused on the show, which it noted had been successful.

The CII exhibition, held over a three-day period, was designed to enable “the various stakeholders of the wire and cable sector to participate, showcase their new technology products, seek business networking and identify business opportunities,” the release said. The event saw participation from more than 225 exhibitors from India and abroad, including 125-plus companies from 23 countries that included the U.S., Switzerland, U.K., Germany, France, UAE, Spain, Netherlands and Finland, among others. There were also country pavilions from China, Taiwan, Italy and Austria.

Speaking during opening ceremonies was Finolex Cables Ltd. Managing Director Deepak Chhabria, who served as the event chairman. “India has a huge role to play in the wire and cable sector, which is projected to have tremendous potential in the long term. As the investments in real estate, infrastructure, power, telecom and other sectors would grow, the growth of this sector is only predictable,” he said.

At the Association’s booth, WAI India subsidiary director Anand Bhagwat, l, speaks to Finolex Cables Ltd. Managing Director Deepak Chhabria. At back, WAI Membership Director Chip Marsh signs up a new WJI subscriber.

Finolex Cables Ltd. Managing Director Deepak Chhabria lights a ceremonial lamp to open Wire & Cable India 2008.

In his presentation, Chhabria provided an overview of the key segments in the wire and cable sector with patterns of growth in house wiring, power and telecom segments. He singled out the building wiring segment as a sector that should have good demand as the real estate sector has grown from 16.3% in 2004-05 to 17.5% in 2005-06. Further, he said, government investment in housing is a priority in its five year plans, and hence, wire and cable and house wiring will be on an upswing.

“With electricity production growing at 3% per year, China and India leading in consumption and an investment of US$252 billion planned over 2007-12, a huge potential is seen for power cables,” Chhabria said. He noted that worldwide demand for fiber cable has increased from 6 million fiber kilometers in 2005 to 133 million fiber kilometers in 2008. “And with the demand of mobile phones growing tremendously,” he added, “demand for fiber cable will only grow in the long term.”

Also speaking at the event was Pradeep Mallick, chairman, CII Trade Fairs Sub-Committee. He observed that India is increasingly becoming a global destination and it is recognized globally that India’s cautious regulatory approach is the path to follow for sustainable development. The Indian Government is on focusing the sectors of telecom, power, engineering and automobiles among others, and the wire and

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

16 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Southwire to supply rod mill in China

The entrance to the tented area that housed Wire & Cable India 2008 in Mumbai, India. cable sector thus has huge growth potential as demand for better technological solutions in this sector continues to grow, he declared.

“We have not come for a one-time sale, but to build a long lasting relationship with India,” Austrian Wire & Cable Machinery Manufacturers Association (AWCMA) President Dr. Kurt Eder said in the press release.

The event drew mixed reviews, some of which were due to circumstances beyond the organizer’s control, and others that were of a more logistic nature.

“It was a case of the right people in the right place at the wrong time,” said Martino Castelli, M.F.L. SA. He described the tone of the event as rather confused and “under a sort of panic” due to the uncertain economic situation. “India itself is not in a too bad situation but it is definitely influenced from the export business and the global market price,” he said. The real panic, he added, were the events of the following week as many exhibitors had been staying or going to the locations that were the targets of terrorists.

Regarding the venue, he said that he hopes the next event will be held in a building, rather than under a tented area.

The exhibition, in general, was successful, said Anand Bhagwat, who head’s the WAI’s subsidiary in India. “The attendance this year was lighter than 2006, although I haven’t seen any official number.” He noted that exhibitors were not especially pleased with the site for the event, and because of it there are plans to move it to a different location in Mumbai in 2010.

Still, there was business to be discussed, as one exhibitor noted. “The show was very good for us and we will certainly return,” said Leandro Mazzoccato, Madem Reels.

The WAI was among the exhibitors, and WAI Membership Director Chip Marsh said that more than 200 new subscribers for WJI were signed up as well a few new Association members.

U.S.-based Southwire Company announced that its SCR Technologies business recently signed a contract to supply Changzhou Jinyuan Copper Company a 48-metric-ton-perhour copper rod system that will include a 13-stand Morgan rolling mill.

This represents the first SCR system for Changzhou Jinyuan, which produces copper rod, the release said. “We are both honored and excited that Changzhou Jinyuan chose the SCR system and joined the SCR Technologies family,” said Will Berry, president of SCR Technologies.

The system will be capable of producing rod sizes ranging from 8 mm up to 25 mm, the release said. It will include SCR technology such as a twin fork loader for furnace charging and the latest in computerized remote monitoring (Ex-Ray) system for trouble shooting and real-time process evaluation by a Southwire expert. The new rod line will be commissioned in China in 2010, it said.

Malaysian company to make solar panels Malaysia-based P.I.E. Industrial Bhd plans to make solar panel cables this year to further diversify its manufacturing capability and mitigate the impact of the global recession and is now applying for the relevant TUV certification from Germany to manufacture the solar panel cables. The certification is expected by mid-2009. “There are new multinational corporations in the country involved in the solar panel business and we look forward to supplying to them,” said reports at the company’s website and at Star News.

“The new solar panel cable business will enable us to service new customers’ needs and tap into new markets,” group managing director Alvin Mui said. Mui added that the group's multiple-product manufacturing capability had helped to make the company resilient, even during economic slowdown. “During a global recession, there will be even more companies that can no longer produce cost-effectively and will need to outsource their manufacturing activities.

There are also single-product companies that require our contract manufacturing services, as they will no longer be cost-effective,” he said in the reports.

Mui said P.I.E. is now also more focused on producing lower volume but a higher mix of industrial electronic products which could yield better profit margins. The group will start construction work on a new plant in Seberang Jaya soon. “We will invest … in the facility that will allow us to expand the cable and wire manufacturing business, which contributes about 35% to group revenue. The new plant will be ready in the third quarter of 2009,” he said. ■

JANUARY 2009 | 17

ASIAN FOCUS

ASIAN NEWS BRIEFS

PEOPLE

PEOPLE General Cable Corporation has named Lance G. Bates as vice president, U.S. sales. He has over 18 years of sales experience. Since 2007, he was president and COO, global accounts and strategic markets divisions, for Cintas Corporation, in Cincinnati, Ohio. He previously worked in executive positions for General Electric Healthcare and INPHACT, Inc., a provider of healthcare information technology services. He holds a B.S. degree in industrial engineering from the University of Cincinnati and an MBA Lance G. Bates from the University of Chicago, Graduate School of Business. Based in Highland Heights, Kentucky, USA, General Cable Corporation is a global supplier of wire and cable products for the energy, industrial, specialty and communications markets.

PennEngineering has promoted Jay McKenna to the newly created position of global product manager-new prod-

18 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

ucts, responsible for the development and worldwide launch of new PEM fastener products, overseeing and monitoring new PEM fastener product market activities in all regions of the world, and leading product line strategy, tactics, and manufacturing plans. He joined PennEngineering in 1988, and served recently as special products manager. Based in Danboro, Pennsylvania, USA, Penn Engineering manufactures a wide range of fasteners and fastener-installation equipment.

Bjรถrn Klaas has joined Colorant Chromatics Group as managing director, working from the Colorant Chromatics AG office in Cham. He previously was employed for 12 years with Clariant in manufacturing, technical service, sales and marketing on a global level in a multinational environment. The current management team of Philippe Franรงois and Haakon Karlsen will remain active as supervisory board members. Based in Switzerland, the Colorant Chromatics Group produces colorant and additive concentrates and compounds for high performance polymers and fluoropolymers. (continued on p. 20)

On November 12, 2008, Dimitri Stein was awarded a PhD degree in electrical engineering from the Technische Universität Berlin in Germany. It was a touching moment and one that was long overdue. Stein had completed his university requirements in 1943, but was forced to go into hiding after a proNazi academic discovered he was of Jewish descent. He had previously been arrested by the Gestapo for anti-Nazi activities.

After the war, Stein, whose father was murdered by the Nazis, emigrated in 1947 to the United States where he became an academic and businessman. In 1962, he founded Cable Consultants Corporation (CCC), which provides North American manufacturing firms with access to European technical development, primarily in electric cable technology. Over the years Stein With Dimitri Stein and his wife, Sophie, for was known as a pioneer, initiating a unique high-frequency field cable design that is still used today as well as a proprietary cable construction the graduation ceremony, was his friend, known as the “Wellmantel,” that is still used in the power cable field.

Gerhard Ziemek, and his wife, Rita, at left.

In the 1950s, Stein had approached the university about his degree but was turned away. Encouraged by a friend, Dr. Gerhard Ziemek, to try again, he did, and this time his voice was heard. The university arranged for Stein’s dissertation to be examined. It had been lost but its key findings had been published in a journal. The school’s head of engineering assessed Stein’s knowledge of electrical engineering in the field in 1943. He passed. “We couldn’t undo the injustice against Mr. Stein, but we did what we could to restore Mr Stein’s honor,” said Horst Bamberg, the head of adminstration for the university’s faculty of electrical engineering.

Stein, who continues to serve as president emeritus at CCC, whose principals include his sons David and Alex, told a reporter in Berlin that he had accepted his doctorate “with a tear in one eye and a smile in the other.”

JANUARY 2009 | 19

PEOPLE

More than 6 decades later, industry veteran awarded doctorate degree

PEOPLE

GENCA announced the retirement of two veteran employees. Northeast Customer Sales Engineer William “Bill” Holmes began his 46-year career working with his father designing and building take-ups, pay offs and associated upstream and downstream equipment at Federal Manufacturing. He previously sold equipment for Entwistle, then GENCA, where he sold the company’s new line of extruders and auxiliary equipment. He later worked for Davis-Standard Corporation, where he was a top salesman. He returned to GENCA as a consultant in 2004 and late last year reduced his work schedule and announced his retirement. After 37 years with GENCA, Jim Rathert has also announced his retirement. His first position was as a design engineer with Bramlett Manufacturing in Clearwater, Florida, USA. In 1971, he joined GENCA as a design engineer and cost estimator. He helped develop and implement a standard cost system and a computer oriented, cross-referencing class code and bill of materials system. He was promoted to production manager. After the sale of GENCA, Rathert continued with the company as plant manager, and eventually, general manager. Based in Clearwater, Florida, USA, GENCA has over 60 years’ experience in extrusion tooling design and manufacture.

The Thermoplastic Elastomer Division of Teknor Apex Company has named Nick Sandland senior market manager for industrial products, responsible for TPE business throughout the Americas in such sectors as appliances, electrical and electronics, gaskets and seals, wheels and casters, and wire and cable. He will also lead work with Nick Sandland the division’s distributor, Channel Prime Alliance, in the U.S. and Canada. For three years, he served Teknor Apex as its European market manager for TPEs, based in England. Before joining Teknor Apex, he spent 18 years in the polymer industry. Teknor Apex UK has named Barry Galpin European business development manager for thermoplastic elastomers, responsible for TPE marketing and overseeing sales activity through the netBarry Galpin work of distributors representing the

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Beta LaserMike has named Carl Incao as district sales manager for its Atlantic Coast territory. He has 25 years of experience working with precision laser measurement and control systems in the wire, cable and extrusion industries, including more than 12 years as a factorydirect sales engineer for Beta LaserMike. He holds a degree in electrical engineering and an MBA. The company also reported that Les Jenson was awarded the 2008 Wire & Cable Technology Technical Achievement award for his work in the development of dual-beam laser Doppler interferometer technology. He was a member of the TSI Inc. design team that developed some of the very

first dual-beam laser doppler interferometers for the research fluid mechanics market in 1978. In 1984, he developed a non-contact length and speed measurement gauge, LaserSpeed®; in 1998, the LaserSpeed Model LS50; in 2001, the LaserSpeed Model LS200; and in 2007, the LaserSpeed LS9000 gauge, which can automatically Les Jenson measure forward and reverse direction and also measure the product at a standstill. Based in Dayton, Ohio, USA, Beta LaserMike offers precision measuring technology for wire and cable. ■

JANUARY 2009 | 21

PEOPLE

company’s TPE compounds across Europe. He previously worked for Hutchinson Worldwide’s Paulstra Division, which he joined in 1999 as sales manager for automotive anti-vibration products. In 2006, he moved from the U.K. to Paris to become key account manager of Paulstra’s global sales to Renault-Nissan and associated companies.

He replaces Nick Sandland. Based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, USA, Teknor Apex Company supplies compounds and colorants for a range of industries that include wire and cable.

FIBER WATCH

FIBERWATCH Nexans partners in FTTH with Sumitomo Electric in Europe Nexans and Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd., (SEI), announced that they have reached an agreement to collaborate in optical fiber cable business for terrestrial telecommunications in Europe.

The agreement targets the deployment of fiber-to-thehome networks, and more generally, FTTx applications.

SEI has entered into a joint venture agreement with Nexans to acquire 40% of the share capital of Opticable, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Nexans, based in Belgium, which designs and manufactures optical fiber cables for telecom terrestrial application, Nexans reported. The transaction is subject to the approval of antitrust authorities and is expected to close by early 2009, it said.

Through investing in the Nexans subsidiary of Opticable in Belgium, SEI will join Nexans in enhancing the joint activity of both companies in the European FTTH market. The synergies of Nexans’ cable manufacturing facilities and its sales and network engineering competences, combined with SEI’s optical fiber production capacity and FTTH communications technology, are expected to bring added value to the European FTTH market, Nexans said.

Nexans strategic operations CCO Pascal Portevin, said, “This joint venture agreement constitutes the last phase of the Nexans telecom strategy. After divesting in telecom copper infrastructure cable with the sale of its Santander unit, Nexans strengthens its position in the FTTH growing sector.”

Fiber growth stays on FTTH track The Fiber-to-the-Home Council, a non-profit association consisting of companies and organizations that deliver video, Internet and/or voice services over high-bandwidth, next-generation, direct fiber optic connections, reported that the upgrading of North America’s last mile networks with end-to-end fiber is continuing at a robust pace, arriving at more than 1.6 million households over the past year, bringing the total number of FTTH subscribers to 3.76 million.

The study, by RVA Market Research, pegged the annual growth rate in North America at 76 percent, the highest of any country or region in the world.

The updated deployment statistics were announced at the FTTH 2008 Conference & Expo.

The study also shows fiber to the home networks now passing 13.8 million North American homes, up from

22 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

9.55 million a year ago, and that the number of homes receiving video services over FTTH more than doubled over the past year, from slightly more than one million in September 2007 to nearly 2.2 million today.

Meanwhile, the overall “take rate” – the percentage of those offered FTTH service who decide to subscribe – went up for the fifth straight six-month period, and now stands at more than 30 percent.

“This continued growth in the number of connections and in the take rate is evidence of what consumers think about fiber-to-the-home – it is fast becoming the technology of choice for receiving high-bandwidth Internet and superior video services,” said Joe Savage, president of the FTTH Council.

The study also found that average data download speeds for FTTH subscribers continued to rise – to 7 megabits per second from 5.2 Mbps a year ago – as providers increased available bandwidth in their service offerings. This compares to a median real-time Internet download speed of 2.3 Mbps among all Internet users, as determined by the Communications Workers of America in their recent Speed Matters survey of more than 230,000 people, FTTH said.

Mike Render of RVA LLC, who authored the study, noted that the sustained high growth rate for FTTH connections is disproving many of the claims that skeptics made about the technology just a few years ago.

“They said FTTH would never work for overbuilds, in rural areas, in multi-tenant buildings or in places where there was already competition to provide these services,” Render said. “They said no one would ever need or pay for 7 megabits of download speed. And now we are finding that those concerns are not panning out.”

Asia reports continued regional growth in FTTH market penetration, according to an updated global ranking issued by the FTTH Councils of Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America. South Korea, Hong Kong, Japan and Taiwan now occupy the top four positions in the ranking, and the Asian region now accounts for more than 27 million of the world’s estimated 32 million fiber-to-the-home connections, according to the report. South Korea now has nearly 37 percent of its households connected to fiber, with Hong Kong at 27 percent, Japan at 24 percent and Taiwan at 7.7 percent, it said. And while China ranked 11th in terms of market penetration, growth in the number of connections to 7.5 million means that China is now second only to Japan in the number of households with FTTH. Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Denmark and Slovenia occupied the fifth through ninth positions in the ranking, with market penetration ranging from 7.5 percent to 3.2 percent, the report noted. The Netherlands and Italy were in the 12th and 13th positions, each with market penetration of 1.4 percent. ■

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FASTENER UPDATE

FASTENER UPDATE Esterline to acquire NMC Group U.S.-based Esterline, a world-wide supplier to the aerospace and defense industry, announced an agreement to acquire Nylon Molding Corporation (NMC), a designer and manufacturer of specialized fasteners for the aerospace/defense industry, for approximately $90 million.

Esterline will fund the acquisition with available cash.

“Nylon Molding fits perfectly within our Advanced Materials segment, extending our product offering to include specialized plastic and composite-adhesive-bonded fasteners,” said Esterline CEO Robert W. Cremin.

“The transaction also continues our strategy to consolidate manufacturers of superior aerospace systems and components,” he said.

NMC, first incorporated in 1946, is a privately held company employing 100 people at its Pomona, California, operation. Cremin said that NMC will continue to run as a stand-alone operation reporting to Esterline Engineered Materials in Brea, California.

According to a press release, operations within the Esterline’s advanced materials segment focus on technologies including high-temperature-resistant materials and components used for a wide range of military and commercial aerospace purposes, and combustible ordnance and electronic warfare countermeasure products.

Talks sought on WTO rules dispute In the face of the European Union’s anti-dumping measures, which impose import duties of up to 87 percent on steel fasteners from China, the China Industrial Fastener Association, representing 47 fastener makers, appealed to the Ministry of Commerce, asking for the case to be brought to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The European Commission charged Chinese fastener makers of dumping on the European market.

According to information found on the WTO’s official Fasteners have become a contentious website at press matter between China and the time, China has European Union. not filed a notice of appeal on the EU anti-dumping ruling. China’s Ministry of Commerce has not commented on the EU’s latest decision, which could impact more than 3,000 Chinese businesses. However, China General Machine Components 24 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Industry Association and five other industrial associations filed the complaint to the Ministry of Commerce on behalf of the country’s iron and steel-fastener makers, a press release said.

The European Voice reported that the duties will affect annual imports, which were valued at US$733.47 million in 2007. The products concerned include bolts, screws and washers used in variety of goods. The anti-dumping levies are to run for five years and can run as high as 87 percent, reported EU business online. The decision covers up to 200 types of China-made fasteners widely used in cars, large household appliances and machinery in the EU, CRIEnglish.com said.

China first to launch code standard China Daily reported that needles, fasteners, and even lighters can now be traded through e-commerce as China releases a code standard for small commodities. The article said that this makes China the first country to have such a code standard, which covers 1.7 million varieties of small commodities, said Liu Bisong, a research fellow with the China National Institute of Standardization.

The code, jointly compiled by the Ministry of Commerce, the General Administration of Customs and national standardization research institutes, was officially put in use as a national standard on November 1, 2008, China Daily said. The code uses 12 digits to categorize commodities, 11 digits for trademark registration and nine digits to identify the place of origin. The code can also help producers protect intellectual property rights and improve quality supervision, it said.

Industrial Fasteners releases report Britain’s Industrial Fasteners Market’s latest research report spotlights mechanical fastening devices, categorized by threaded and non-threaded fasteners.

The study includes bolts, high tensile bolts, nails, nonferrous fasteners, nuts, pressed nails, rivets, screws, self locking nuts, stainless steel bolts, washers, and wire nails, a press release said.

Coverage includes market size and trends, market segmentation, seasonal and regional sales, supply sources, industry structure, demand structure and a five-year forecast, illustrated by tables and diagrams. For more information, go to www.companiesandmarkets.com.

Atlantic Fasteners earns award Millitech, Inc., a Massachusetts-based provider of millimeter-wave technology and manufacturing expertise to the military and aerospace markets, has awarded Atlantic Fasteners its 2008 Certificate of Appreciation.

A supplier of commercial and mil-spec/aerospace fasteners to Millitech, Atlantic Fasteners is a certified fasten-

Kimball expands distribution center Kimball Midwest has successfully completed an expansion from 40,000 to 65,000 sq ft at its Dallas (Grand Prairie) Texas distribution center.

The move was completed in October, with the first order shipping three days later. The new distribution center is expected to support the company’s anticipated continued growth and high service level into the coming years, a press release said. “This investment in infrastructure is a dividend from the string of years with rapid sales growth for Kimball Midwest here in the southwest,” said Divisional Sales Manager Jesse Tatum.

Kimball Midwest was founded in 1923, and is a nationwide distributor of maintenance hardware supplies, which include fasteners, with representation throughout the continental US. In a separate report, Kimball Midwest recorded 2008 3rd quarter sales up 22% over last year, with 99.9% of orders shipped the day they are received and a fill rate of 98.7% of all items ordered. Kimball Midwest reports it is also beginning to enjoy the positive results of its new Armor Coat and Metric Blue fastener lines as well as its Cryo-Maxx drill bit line, which have been well-received by the industry.

CRF fastener ideal for telecom towers Coating developer and fastener supplier Corrosion Resistant Fasteners Director Verne Hartman said in a press release that CoastalCote fasteners, the newest addition to the company’s product line, have proven successful under stringent salt spray testing conditions conducted by the South African Bureau of Standards.

“The CoastalCoat product achieved a new world record for corrosion resistance, lasting 5,700 hours in a salt spray test,” Hartman said.

The release said that the CoastalCote fastener coating has a higher resistance to corrosion than previously known coatings, and narrows the gap between existing

coatings, such as hot tip galvanized coatings, electrozinc coatings, and stainless-steel fasteners. CoastalCote is being used by a company that conducts maintenance on the Vodacom towers, the release notes.

Corrosion Resistant Fasteners also announced that it is in negotiations with a telecom tower manufacturer to supply the company with CoastalCote fasteners for new towers being built on the South African coastline.

Fasteners standards book released The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) International released a new publication that provides all of the standards developed by the ASTM International Committee F16 on fasteners.

“ASTM Standards for Mechanical Fasteners and Related Processes: 2nd Edition,” was compiled from more than 15 volumes of the Annual Book of ASTM Standards, and includes the most commonly referenced documents from the standards.

This is the most comprehensive ASTM fastener volume ever offered for use in the construction, automotive, military, railroad, shipbuilding, boiler and pressure vessel sectors, a press release said. In addition to fasteners, the 150 standards cover their raw materials, inspection, testing procedures and quality assurance.

Several other topics of interest range from hydrogen embrittlement to requirements for organic and inorganic coatings, it noted.

Rivet nuts boast stronger threads Sherex Fastening Solutions, a manufacturer and distributor of blind rivet nuts, announced the launch of a fully cold-formed version of M10 rivet nuts in 304 stainless steel.

The benefits of the cold formed product version compared with the machined product version include stronger Sherex Fastening Solutions’s cold-formed threads, wider M10 rivet nuts in 304 stainless steel. product offering and larger production quantities, according to a Sherex fact sheet, which added that the new design also offers improved cost competitiveness.

Currently, there are four different types available in 1st grip range, and other versions are available upon request.

Sherex Fastening Solutions offers Sherex blind rivet nuts, brass inserts, and other specialty fastening products.

Go to www.sherex.com for details. ■

JANUARY 2009 | 25

FASTENER UPDATE

er supplier headquartered in West Springfield, Massachusetts.

The award was presented to John Kraus, Atlantic Fasteners vice president of sales, who noted that Atlantic’s average rating was 97 percent for quality, ontime delivery and accurate documentation for seven of the last eight quarters. Only suppliers with an average rating above 95 percent for at least three of the last eight quarters are eligible for the award, the release said.

Atlantic’s military-aerospace division earned the Gold Medalist Supplier award from the U.S. Government’s Defense Supply Center of Richmond, Virginia, two years in a row. The award, the release said, reflects perfect quality and on-time delivery for shipments from Atlantic to the Defense Supply Center during one year.

Atlantic Fasteners notes that it is a 100% employeeowned company that stocks military-aerospace and commercial fasteners.

REPORT

TO MEMBERS

REPORT

2008 WAI Report to Members The following information from WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll provides an overview of the activities of The Wire Association International, Inc., and its operations, both for its membership as well as its readership and customers.

State of membership and the industry Wire Association International provides products and services to the highly diverse, world-wide wire and cable industry. We have a total of 2,332 individual members compared to 2,462 at this same time last year. The membership is involved in everything from fine wire applications found in the medical industry to suspension cable used to make bridges. While the majority of the membership, 72%, resides in the United States, we have members in 59 countries.

The creation in 2006 of WAI’s India subsidiary, WAI Wire and Cable Services, combined with the formation of the Italy chapter in 2007 and the established India and Poland chapters, reflects the Association’s intentions to become more international. This direction mirrors the industry, which is becoming more globally diverse each year. Through mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures, or aggressive expansions, the industry is evolving and every company is being impacted. The global influences can be felt at the supplier, competitor and customer levels and as a result, monitoring the costs of freight, oil, steel, and copper as well as currency rates has become a critical function within each company.

As WAI’s 2008 President Ron Reed stated, “2008 will be remembered as a year that began with favorable economic conditions, soaring commodity prices and strong quarterly profits, and ended in the darkest economic period in decades.”

Financial markets shuddered as the free-flowing credit conditions reversed and consumer spending declined dramatically worldwide. Commodity demand stopped, inventories quickly accumulated and prices for oil, steel, and copper were cut in half in weeks. As a result, wire and cable production was dramatically reduced or idled as the year came

WAI President Ron Reed addresses the audience at WAI’s 2008 Annual Meeting at Wire Expo 2008.

26 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

to a close. The New Year comes with a sense of optimism that the worst is nearly complete and growth will return in many, if not all, sectors as the year moves forward. Credit will gradually reach consumers and infrastructure projects throughout the world will push the global economy forward.

However, there most certainly will be a sense of anxiety tied to commodity prices, politics, the auto industry and currency.

Serving the industry WAI is uniquely positioned to assist companies during this challenging period when information and education will be critical.

In April, we will produce the Interwire Trade Exposition which has become the industry marketplace for the Americas. For the second consecutive WAI is uniquely show, the event will be held in con- positioned to assist junction with the companies during this International Fastener challenging period Exposition. when information Collectively, the event is projected and education will to include more be critical. than 5,000 participants, 500 exhibiting companies and nearly 150,000 square feet of exhibitions. In 2007, 88% of the exhibitors reported being either satisfied or more than satisfied with the quality of attendance and we expect that trend to continue. The key decision makers that are visiting with the exhibitors will take full advantage of the educational program that includes a blend of technical and practical information to ensure they stay current with industry best practices.

The 2009 Interwire show has been accepted into the U.S. Department of Commerce’s International Buyer Program, which means that the event will be promoted by U.S. consulates throughout the world. This program will bring more qualified buyers from around the globe to the show.

As the publishers of the Wire Journal International (WJI) for the past 40 years, our aim is to be a valued source for information in today’s demanding world. With our unique monthly frequency, access to comprehensive technical papers in the world and our growing global readership, WJI is a link that connects the industry. Our circulation of 12,000 individuals has an equal balance of ferrous and nonferrous subscribers as well as a balance of technical, operational, sales and administrative readers.

From recent reader surveys, we know that WJI’s magazine redesign (February 2008) was well received and that the “pass-along effect” increases the number of readers to more

Combined reader response to two surveys in 2008 gave good overall scores to Wire Journal International.

JANUARY 2009 | 27

REPORT

than 20,000 per issue. We also know that the readers support the advertisers, as 81% reported visiting an advertiser’s website, 46% saved information for future reference, 41% requested more information, 31% recommended a purchase and 26% purchased a product or service.

Our goal is to continuously improve the value of WJI to ensure that it remains an important resource. To that end, we have added an editor, Barbara Douglas (see p.

30), who will give us the ability to further research features, cover more segSome 200 attendees attended the opening ceremonies at WAI’s International ments and push more content to the web. Technical Conference in Monterrey, Mexico.

In two short years, Wire and Cable Services Pvt. Ltd (WCS) has become While webinars are a valuable tool, especially for a global our source for news and information involving the wire and audience, WAI remains committed to delivering high quality cable industry in India, and we will further develop that nectraditional seminars and conferences around the globe. In essary link over next several years. Through the efforts of 2008, under the leadership of WAI’s 1st Vice President WCS’s managing director, Anand Bhagwat, we now have Antonio Ayala, WAI conducted a highly successful confer1,000 readers in India and a growing reputation in the counence in the key Mexican industry center of Monterrey that try. attracted 240 participants and rave reviews from all involved.

In India and around the world, we have learned that the In 2009, WAI will once again work with ACIMAF, CET value of WAI membership is viewed very differently. As a and IWMA in producing a conference that will be held in result, we are committed to utilizing the web to deliver more Istanbul, Turkey.

This cooperative arrangement provides products and services through WAI’s website, wirenet.org.

WAI with the ability to reach regions that may be otherwise Our initial step was to provide a database of industry compaunavailable to the organization, if working independently. It nies, WAI’s Virtual Trade Show, with excellent search capaalso reflects the Association’s desire to work with others, bilities. We have followed that by conducting much of our both now and in future.

Another such example is the willingcommittee business through the Internet and in November ness of the fastener equipment makers to co-locate with the 2008, we conducted our first educational program through Interwire show, which brings more value to both shows. the website. The webinar, on the economic outlook for the WAI has entered into a similar arrangement with the organindustry, was free to members, and attracted 35 participants izers of the Wire Processing Show relative to the 2010 Wire on the day of the event and an equal number of people Expo (see p. 33). And finally, the feature in this WJI issue through archive capabilities. WAI’s Education Committee, would not have been possible without Integer Research. chaired by Donnie Norton, sees webinars as a terrific opporWAI is grateful to the many individuals and organizations tunity to cost-effectively perform the Association’s educathat support our products and services and to the many voltional mission. The goal is to increase the value of memberunteers that serve the organization with their guidance and ship by offering a combination of six practical and general expertise.

■ information webinars in the 2009 year.

WAI NEWS

WAI

NEWS

Antonio Ayala to serve as WAI president in 2009 Antonio Ayala will serve as WAI president for 2009, succeeding Ron Reed, Horizon Wire & Cable.

Other officers for 2009 include First Vice President Dane Armendariz, Henkel Corporation; and Second Vice President Dominique Perroud, SAMP USA, Inc. 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.

President: Antonio Ayala Antonio R. Ayala, a member of the Wire Association International since 2001, 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).

He became a member of the WAI’s Board of Directors and the Executive Committee in 2005, and was chairman of

the Oversight Committee. He has served as executive liaison to the Education, Exhibition Planning, Member Relations, Nominating and Publications committees. He was a primary organizer for the 2008 International Technical Conference, held in Monterrey, Mexico, and was chairman of the 2004 Conference in Queretaro, Mexico. In 2005, Ayala instructed a short course on extrusion, and has translated a variety of printed educational and promotional materials directed at the Latin American and South American wire and cable markets.

He holds a mechanical and electrical engineering degree from The Engineering University at Veracruz, Mexico, and an MBA from Ohio University.

First Vice President: Dane Armendariz Dane Armendariz, a member of the Wire Association International since 1993, is currently serving his second term as a member of the Board of Directors, and is a member of the Executive Committee. He served on the Oversight Committee, co-chaired the Conference Programming Committee and was chairman of the Suppliers Management Committee, where he served from 1996 until the committee was reorganized. He has served on the Exhibition Planning Committee and was a member of the Interwire Site Evaluation Task Force in 2004.

In addition to serving as Interwire committee chairman in

2009 WAI organizational chart Below are the committees/boards and chairmen that will help direct the WAI’s activities in 2009.

Board of Directors Antonio Ayala (President), J.J. Lowe Associates Dane Armendariz (1st Vice President), Henkel Corporation Dominique Perroud (2nd Vice President), SAMP USA, Inc. Ronald Reed (Immediate Past President) Horizon Wire & Cable

Board members Louis Arcuri, ECD, Inc. Ferruccio Bellina, TKT Group Neville Crabbe, Leoni Wire, Inc. Masoud Garshasb, Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc.

28 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Kevin Hunter, Solon Specialty Wire Erik Macs, Fine International Corp.

Thomas Maxwell, Jr., Die Quip Corp.

Malcolm Michael, Australasian Wire Industry Association Nicholas Nickoletopoulos, Ivaco Rolling Mills Ralph Noonan, Etna Products Inc. Donnie Norton, Phifer Wire Inc. Mahesh Poddar, Miki Wire Works, (P) Ltd. Jose Ranc, Whitney Blake Donald Schollin, Q-S Technologies, Inc. Kenneth Scott, consultant Mark Spencer, W. Gillies Technologies LLC. Andrew Stromer, TMC Raj Kumar (R.K.) Tyagi, Assomac Machines Ltd.

Bylaws Committee Paul Pawlikowski, Delphi Packard Electric Systems

neering and product management for Nokia-Maillefer, both in Switzerland and in the U.S. He joined SAMP in 1997 and since 1999, has been the managing director of SAMP USA in Williamsport, Maryland.

Perroud received an electrical engineering degree from the ETS School in Fribourg, Switzerland, and a MBA from the University of Massachusetts in Amherst.

Executive Committee and Board of Directors for 2009

Dominique Perroud, a member of the Wire Association International since 2000, is currently serving on the Exhibition Planning Committee. He was also a member of the Interwire Site Evaluation Task Force in 2004.

He has been involved in the wire and cable industry on the machinery supplier side of the business for the past 25 years, and has developed expertise on a wide range of products including extrusion, wire drawing and bunching equipment. He began his career with Brown Boveri in Baden, Switzerland, now known as ABB, as a project engineer in one of their electrical automation divisions. Since 1981, he has held various positions in engi-

In 2009, the WAI Executive Committee will consist of President Antonio Ayala, J.J. Lowe Associates; First Vice President Dane Armendariz, Henkel Corporation; Second Vice President Dominique Perroud, SAMP USA, Inc.; Immediate Past President Ronald Reed, Horizon Wire & Cable; and Nicholas Nickoletopoulos, Ivaco Rolling Mills.

WAIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Board of Directors includes continuing members Ayala, Armendariz, Perroud, Reed and Nickoletopoulos.

Also serving are, Louis Arcuri, ECD, Inc.; Ferruccio Bellina, TKT Group; Neville D. Crabbe, Leoni Wire, Inc.; Masoud Garshasb, Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc.; Kevin Hunter, Solon Specialty Wire; Erik A. Macs, Fine International Corp.; and Thomas Maxwell, Jr., Die Quip Corp.

Also, Malcolm Michael, Australasian Wire Industry Association; Ralph Noonan, Etna Products Inc.; Donnie Norton, Phifer Wire Inc.; Mahesh Poddar, Miki Wire Works, (P) Ltd.; Jose Ranc; Whitney Blake; Donald D. Schollin, Q-S Technologies, Inc.; Kenneth Scott, consultant; Mark Spencer, W. Gillies Technologies, LLC.; Andrew J. Stromer, TMC; and Raj Kumar Tyagi, Assomac Machines Ltd.

Conference Programming Committee

Nominating Committee

Second Vice President: Dominique Perroud

Masoud Garshasb, Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold Inc. Nicholas Nickoletopoulos, Ivaco Rolling Mills

Scott Higgins

Oversight Committee Education Committee Donnie Norton, Phifer Wire Inc.

Exhibition Planning Committee Anthony De Rosa, Cortinovis America LLC

Finance Committee Ronald Schenk, RichardsApex Inc.

Memorial Awards Committee Brian Bouvier, Lloyd & Bouvier Inc.

Member Relations Committee

Dominique Perroud, SAMP USA Inc.

Paper Awards Committee Erik Macs, Fine International Corp.

Publications Committee David Stackpole, Nutmeg Wire Inc. Donald Schollin, Q-S Technologies Inc.

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

Donald Schollin, Q-S Technologies Inc.

JANUARY 2009 | 29

WAI NEWS

2005, he has served on organizing committees for Interwire 99 and Wire Expos 1998 and 2004. He also participated in the establishment of the Ohio Chapter of WAI in 2003, is a board member of the chapter, and currently serves as secretary.

A veteran of more than 30 years in the surface treatment industry, Armendariz has worked in the fields of zinc phosphate, specialty coatings, drawing compounds, and most processes used in the treatment of ferrous metals. Currently, he works primarily with new processes and environmentally-friendly products for the wire, tube, and stainless steel industries. A Pittsburgh native, he holds a B.S. degree in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh.

WAI NEWS

IFE to return as co-locating partner with Interwire in 2009 The International Fasteners Exposition (IFE) will once again be co-located with Interwire at the I-X Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA, where the trade shows will display their collective technology from April 27-30.

IFE is put on by the International Fastener Machinery & Suppliers Association, Inc. (IFMSA), whose members supply machinery, equipment, tooling materials, testing and technical services for the fastener and precision formed part industries.

As of press time, IFE exhibitors included: AMM (American Metal Market); Anderson Controls, Inc.; Barbarotto International; BM Rebuilders; Carlo Salvi, S.p.A.; Reed Machinery; Chi Ning Co. Ltd., Cinco Industries; Cold Header Machine; Creative Carbide; Fastener World; FIN (Fastener Industry News); Gem International; Hariton Machinery; Impact Global Machinery; Ingramatic Tortona; Intools, Ltd.; I-Tech International; IFMA (International Fastener Machinery & Suppliers Association); Jaguar Industry Ltd.; Jian Hwa Enterprise Ltd.; J + J Carbide; KCS Enterprise; Kingwin Precision Co. Ltd.; Konfu Enterprise Co. Ltd.; Metal Forming Systems, Inc.; Nedschroef Herentals; ORT Italia S.p.A.; Plan-E-Tech Industries, Inc.; Reed Machinery, Inc.; Rockford Manufacturing Corp.; Sacma Machinery Corp.; Sakamura USA, Inc.; Scientific Forming Technologies Corp.; Talleres Saspi SA; Te Hung Enterprise Co., Ltd.; Truform Equipment, Inc.; Universal Punch Corp.; USA Carbide Tooling; and Wrentham Tool Products.

For more information, contact Ray Zirkle, IFMSA, tel. 203-794-0444, www.ifmsainfo.com.

to Interwire and this program will do just that. It will also help U.S. companies, both manufacturers and suppliers, looking to export.”

The IBP program works in multiple ways. It will help identify qualified attendees from other countries; invite them to attend Interwire, both singly and in large groups; make sure travel arrangements run smoothly; and set up appointments for them at the show to meet with exhibitors who are part of the programs. Staff around the world in U.S. embassies and consulates will make official contact with prospective attendees on behalf of Interwire/IFE. At the I-X Center, the IBP program will be located in the International Business Center on the main entryway. There will be meeting rooms for attendees to meet with exhibitors and translators and DOC staffers will present sessions on how they can help U.S. companies export, or export better.

Douglas joins WJI as editor Journalism veteran Barbara Douglas has joined Wire Journal International as editor of the WAI’s monthly magazine, reporting to Editor-in-Chief Mark Marselli.

Douglas served as senior editor from 1998 to 2007 for a Connecticut chain of newspapers, overseeing reporters and editors, assistants, photographers and columnists; copyediting, writing weekly op-eds, columns, news and feature stories, doing page design and layout and digital photo editing. Most recently, she was an editor for The New Haven Register in Connecticut.

Good response to new International Buyer Program at Interwire 2009 As of press time, more than three dozen exhibitors for Interwire 2009 have requested to take part in the International Buyer Program (IBP), to be offered for the first time ever at Interwire 2009/IFE 2009.

The program, offered by the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC), provides free services for qualified U.S. exhibitors, attracting international buyers to leading U.S. trade events and helping them connect with U.S. exhibitors before, during and after the show as well as providing expert counseling to exhibitors who sign up for the program. The IBP will use the government’s resources to find international attendees to meet with participating U.S. exhibitors at Interwire.

The program is available to companies that are a U.S.based entity whose products derive more than 51 percent of their value from U.S. origin. Note: this figure may include indirect value, such as R&D and marketing.

“We’re pleased to announce that Interwire was chosen to be part of (the) DOC’s 2009 International Buyer Program (IBP),” said WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll. “We’re constantly looking for ways to attract more quality attendees 30 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

WJI’s new editor, Barbara Douglas.

She holds an M.A. degree in humanities with a concentration in creative writing from Wesleyan University in Connecticut, and a B.A. degree in journalism and an M.A. degree in English literature from Southern Connecticut State University. Also a certified master gardener, she has taught journalism and poetry to adult education students and her interests range from blacksmithing and kayaking to organic gardening and riding her Harley-Davidson. (continued)

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January 09 International Technical

Conference Proceedings

The official location and date has been set for WAI’s 2009 International Technical Conference, which will be held at Istanbul, Turkey, on November 2, 2009.

The event, New Technology for Global Markets, will mark the fourth time the WAI has taken part in a jointly organized conference, joining forces with the U.K.-based International Wire and Machinery Association (IWMA), France’s Comite Européen de la Tréfilerie (CET) and Italy-based Associazione Costruttori Italiani Macchine Per Filo (ACIMAF). Prior conferences have been held in Bologna, Italy (2007), Prague, The Czech Republic (2005) and Stresa, Italy (2003). More details will follow in future issues.

Co-located event to add value for attendees at Wire Expo 2010 The date and location has been set for Wire Expo 2010, but in addition to going to a two-day format, the biggest news is that the WAI has linked its “traveling” event with an aligned industry that should result in a plus for the nonferrous-minded wire and cable sectors.

Wire Expo will join The National Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo (Wire Processing) at the Midwest Airlines Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on May 11-12. Many Wire Expo attendees should be familiar with at least some of the exhibitors and attendee base for the event, which features new products and services for electronic cable assemblies, cord sets, wiring harnesses and other products within the wire processing industry.

At its website, Wire Processing notes that it provides a venue for attendees to “meet over 100 world-class suppliers and service companies in the wire and cable processing industry.” Total attendance for the event is approximately 2,000, it reports.

Per the organizers, more than 60 percent of 2008 Wire Processing attendees came from outside the Midwest, with exhibitors who represented countries worldwide. The event “attracts industry buyers who normally do not attend other

Activity at the 2008 National Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo in Milwaukee.

assembly and industrial shows. Instead of the wire processing industry being represented by just a few booths in a big catch-all industrial show, this is your industry’s show - a show tailored expressly for those in the electrical wire and cable processing and related industries.”

Wire Processing has more than 100 suppliers and service companies who are there to meet buyers in sectors that include: Aeronautical/Aerospace; Computers & Related Equipment; Household Appliances; Telecommunications; Industrial Equipment; Medical Equipment; Motors & Generators; Scientific & Other; Instruments; and Automotive. Specific products to be showcased include: Cutting & Stripping Machines; Wire Terminators; Wire PreFeeding Machines; Wire Harness Taping Machines; Wire & Cable Specialty; Cut-Off Machines; Co-Ax Cable Strippers; Wire Harness Assembly Boards; Wire & Cable; Interconnect Products; Wire Cutting Machine Blades; Wire Marking Machines; Test Equipment; Crimping Machines; Twist Tie Machines; Ultrasonic Welding Equipment; Wire Soldering Equipment; Ink Jet Marking Systems; Braiding Machines; Cable Assemblies; Coil Winding Equipment; Connectors & Accessories; Electronics; and Cord Sets.

Exhibitors signed up for the next National Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo, to be held May 20-21, 2009, include: 3M, Advanced Cable Ties Inc., Amtech/Branson Ultrasonics Corp., AMTI/Division of Maxant, Anixter, Application Tooling Solutions, Applitek Technologies Corp., Artos Engineering, Assembly Resources, Brady Corp., C. Davis Systems, Carpenter Mfg., Cembre Inc., Chad Industries, Cirris Systems, Clinton Instrument Co., Commission Brokers Inc., Composite & Wire Machinery, Connector Specifier, Conntek Integrated Solutions Inc., Control Micro Systems Inc., Control Systemation/Control Laser, Crimping & Stamping Technologies, Daniels Manufacturing Corp., Diamond Die & Mold Co., DuPage Tying Solutions, Dynalab Test Systems, ECC, Electro Insulation Corp., The Eraser Company Inc., ETCO Inc., Eubanks/Cablescan, Global Automation Inc., Grayline Inc., Hale Manufacturing Inc. and Heilind Electronics.

Also, HellermannTyton, Industrial Electric Wire & Cable Inc., ITW/Ark-Les Corp., Joyal, A Division of AWE Inc., Kingsley Machine Co., Kodera/Tri-Tech Machine Sales, Komax Corp., Lakes Precision Inc., Lapp Tannehill, Marsh Electronics Inc., Master Appliance Heat Tools, Mechtrix Corp., Mello Co., Minnesota Wire, Multi/Cable Corp., National Plastics & Seals, New England Wire Technologies, OES, Panduit Corp., Phoenix Contact, Pressmaster, Radix Wire Co., Schafer Megomat USA Inc., Schleuniger Inc., Shinmaywa (America) Ltd., SLE Electronics USA, Sonics & Materials Inc., Sonobond Ultrasonics, Southwire Co., Spectrum Technologies, Spirig Advanced Technologies Inc., Stapla Ultrasonics Corp., Start International, Steinel, Stranco Products, Tri-Tech/Kodera Machine Sales, TSR, TTI, Inc., Tyco Electronics, Unified Wire & Cable, US Tech, Weetech Inc., Wezag Tools Inc., WHMA, Wire & Cable Technology International and Wiring Harness News. ■

JANUARY 2009 | 33

WAI NEWS

Location set for 2009 ITC: Istanbul

CHAPTER CORNER

CHAPTER CORNER Customer satisfaction reaches a new high at Southeast Golf tourney Scott Ferguson, general manager of Hefner Builders, knows how to make customers happy. Three of them, anyway, as Ferguson and his customers won the Southeast Chapter’s golf tourney for the second straight year at the Rock Barn Golf Course in Conover, North Carolina, USA. “I think the bosses are going to accuse us of playing too much golf,” quipped Ferguson, who said that it was a stunning day for his three favorite customers: Randy Dula and Gary Green, NEPTCO; and Steve Spoon, Stafast.

“We played better than last year,” he said. “We just went out thinking that we were going to win again, and by golly, that’s what happened,” he said. Everybody had some great moments at different holes, including one “We just went out especially thinking that we were memorable 35 ft putt by going to win again, Randy that and by golly, that’s broke twice to what happened,” different directions on its Scott Ferguson improbable way to the cup,” he said. “That was one of those putts that you know there’s just no way it’s going to go in, but it did. Another great shot was by Gary Greene, who hit a 200-yard 5-iron over water where we sank the putt for eagle. It was our iron of the day.”

Last year, the Ferguson-led team shot a blistering 18 under par to win. “We played even better this year,” he said, adding that the team is going to seek a three-peat next year. About the only thing the team did not do was ace the $10,000 designated hole. “Maybe next year,” he joked.

What makes the win especially noteworthy is that the event, which last year had 87 players, had a record 107 players. “It was a great day for golf all around, especially for Scott’s foursome,” said tournament co-chairman Steve Vannais, Davis-Standard. “We’re hoping some teams are going to press Scott’s team next year. I think there may be a few players out there wanting to topple the champs.”

Vannais also thanked the following sponsors who helped make the event possible: Premium Sponsorships: Beverage Cart, Tulsa Power Inc.; Beverage Cart, Zumbach Electronics; Clubhouse Awards Dinner, Rosendahl Nextrom Technologies and Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp.; Pre-Tournament Lunch, Process Control Inc.; Closest to the Pin, Sonoco ProductsBaker Division and Davis-Standard; Long Drive, Okonite,

34 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

TDC and Rosendahl Nextrom Technologies; Accurate Drive, Sikora International and $10,000 Hole In One, Commission Brokers/Martin Kenner.

Corporate Hole Sponsorships included: Amaral Automation-PWM Welders; American Kuhne; Beta LaserMike; Breen Color Concentrates; Canterbury Engineering; Chromatics Inc.; Clinton Instrument Co.; CommScope BiMetals; Fluoropolymer Resources Inc.; GENCA; Guill Tool & Engineering; Haynes Wire Co.; J J Lowe; Kyocera Industrial Ceramics Corp.; Moorecraft Reels; Okonite; and Sonoco Crellin.

“The sponsors really help the chapter put on a good event,” said tournament co-chairman Tim McElhany of Process Control. “We appreciate their support and that of the companies who donated prizes.”

Plans are already underway for the chapter’s 8th annual tournament in 2009.

New England Chapter to hold 15th annual meeting this month The WAI New England Chapter, the first Association chapter to be created, will reach a milestone on Thursday, January 29, when members return to the friendly confines of the Mohegan Sun Resort Conference Center in Uncasville, Connecticut, USA, for its 15th Annual Meeting.

In addition to celebrating the accomplishments of the past year and introducing the 2009 officers and directors, attendees will hear differentiation expert Duane Cashin deliver the keynote message.

“The annual meeting provides our members and guests with the opportunity to get the year off to a great start in a fun, relaxed setting,” said 2008 chapter President Paul McDermott of Q-S Technologies, Inc. “With this being our 15th annual meeting, we want to celebrate the past year’s accomplishments as well as offer additional value with Duane Cashin’s talk.”

Cashin draws from his 20-plus years of experience as a top salesman and entrepreneur to deliver clear insight on how to effectively differentiate one’s offering in today’s marketplace. With a blend of storytelling, humor, passion, and straight talk, he challenges his audiences to rethink everything, from their approach to communicating to selling and serving. In preparing for his talk, Cashin will speak with several individuals to get a better sense of the industry and to tailor his remarks.

The evening begins with a reception at 5 pm followed by a dinner buffet at 6:15 pm and then the program and introduction of 2009 chapter leadership. At the conclusion of the event, guests will be free to enjoy the resort.

The Annual Meeting is consistently one of the best attended events of the year, and companies are invited to sponsor the evening at one of three levels: Gold ($300); Silver ($200); and Bronze ($100). All sponsors will be

Dozens of papers scheduled for Zakopane conference this March WAI Poland Chapter President Jan Pilarczyk reports that some 40 papers, ferrous and nonferrous, have been submitted by authors from the U.S., Russia, Georgia, Czech Republic and Poland, for sessions and poster sessions on March 5-8, in Zakopane, Poland.

“The volume of papers is up from when this same event was held in 2007,” said Pilarczyk, an associate professor at Czestochowa University of Technology (CUT), who is among those involved in the event planning. He is a member of the conference scientific committee, which is

led by a fellow CUT assistant professor, Zbigniew Muskalski. The Organizing Committee is headed by Sylwia Wiewiórowska, also a CUT assistant professor.

The conference theme is “Modern Technologies and Modelling of Drawing and Manufacturing Processes of Metal Products,” and papers will be published in an electronic version on the Conference Proceedings and a highly regarded Polish magazine, Hutnik-Wiadmosci Hutnicze, he said. Registration is open and slots for tabletop displays are available, he said.

Zakopane has been a familiar location for the Association. Shortly after the Poland Chapter was formed, it hosted the WAI’s International Technical Conference there in 1999. Technical conferences have been held there since in 2005 and in 2007, when a total of 105 people attended the first event that was similar to the one being held there in March.

Conference topics include: steel wire and wire products; nonferrous wire and wire products; electrical wires and special products; and poster papers.

Contact: Sylwia Wiewiórowska, tel. 48-34-3250-745, wiewior@mim.pcz.czest.pl. The conference website is www.konferencja.mim.pcz.czest.pl. ■

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• WERNER & PFLEIDERER PVC compounding Used rigid- / planetary stranders, tubularand skipplant, stranNIEHOFF double twist bunchers D 630 (24,8”) type KOMBIPLAST KP 1500, 1300 – 2900 kg/h ders, drumtwisters, taping lines in good condition!

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JANUARY 2009 | 35

CHAPTER CORNER

recognized at the event with signage and in the program, as well as in the WJI wrap-up article. Gold sponsors will also be recognized with an individual slide featuring their logo during the evening’s festivities.

Registration is $80, $70 for WAI members and $65 for chapter members and their guests, which includes the entire evening’s activities.

The registration deadline is Friday, January 23. Forms may be downloaded from the New England Chapter web page. For more information, contact Chip Marsh at tel.

203-453-1748 or cmarsh@wirenet.org.

EVENT WRAPUP

Return to Providence International Wire and Cable Symposium organizers reported very good results for the 57th Annual IWCS™ Conference, held November 9-12 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence, Rhode Island, USA. The event drew more than 1150 attendees, which is the highest total since the organization’s 50th anniversary conference in 2001, a press release said. It noted that the Focus Suppliers’ Exhibition had 150 display stands while the Technical Symposium featured 90 papers covering developments for wire and cable and connectivity.

The keynote speaker at the Plenary Session, Ray Rapuano, strategic manager, real estate and construction, for Cisco, Inc., gave an impressive presentation on the inevitable need for more “intelligent” buildings. As he explained, multiple factors supporting that direction include the need for more bandwidth, better use of building space and practical gains that can be attained by using a common cabling platform. The biggest single factor, however, is a green one: buildings use half of all energy, and that percentage can be substantially reduced by intelligent building designs that can provide significant long-term savings.

The Executive Forum included eight speakers on a range of topics, including a presentation by Rob Daniels, CRU International, on “World Wire and Cable Markets”. He noted

The IWCS™ reported that it had 150 tabletop exhibits.

36 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Attendees had some 90 technical papers to choose from. that until recently, he had been projecting an upturn in cable market growth, but that outlook was “dependent on whether the global economy enters a prolonged recession.” Patrick Fay, KMI Research/CRU International, whose presentation was on “Fiber Optic Markets and Prospects,” said that the fiber outlook appears to be better than for market sectors such as automotive, construction and appliances. He predicted that DSL technology would “go by the wayside” in 10 years as fiber has decided advantages.

Other speakers included Robert Shrouds, DuPont, “The Economic Environment for Wire and Cable”; Kevin St. Cyr, Berk-Tek, “An Introduction to the Communications Cable and Connectivity Association”; Marty Curran, Corning Incorporated, “Perspective on Global Optical Fiber Market”; Brian Monks, Underwriters Laboratories, “Counterfeit Products”; Vincent DeGiorgio, Factory Mutual, “Increased Safety in Cables and Transit Systems in Data Centers”; Dale Reed, Emerson Network Power, “Bandwidth Demand”; and Cary Eskow, Avnet Electronics Marketing, “High Brightness LED Technologies, Impact on Cables and Connectors”.

The 2008 event saw IWCS continue to expand its range via its work with the International Institute of Connector and Interconnection Technology (IICIT) and the Communications

EVENT WRAPUP

Cables and Connectivity Association (CCCA), the goal being to expand its wire and cable scope to complete systems. The relationship is expected to be seen in future conferences.

WCS will next be held Nov. 8 to 11, 2009, in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA. Go to www.iwcs.org for more details.

What exhibitors thought “IWCS was a very good show for us. Providence is a very good place for this show for a lot of reasons. It exceeded our expectations for booth traffic and led to some very good conversations with existing and potential customers. I haven’t decided on the show next year. The consensus of the folks I spoke with is that Charlotte will be a good venue, but I am sorry to see it not be in Providence.” Marc Normandin, sales and marketing manager, Dyneon LLC, a 3M Company.

“I have always attended this show with low expectations and hope to meet a few new contacts, review projects with other exhibitors (who are also customers) and have the opportunity to say hello to at least 20 good customers. Based on that assumption, the show was a success. I like Providence as it is an easy drive, but I like the show to move every year or two so I can see customers from a different area. The show always attracts a few local new potential customers in addition to those existing customers in that area. I did not like the week chosen as Tuesday was Veterans Day and many customers were off work and did not attend.

Tuesday is generally the busiest day, but this year it was very slow. I like Charlotte as a location next year as I have a large customer base in the area and will use part of the week for sales calls as well as expecting a larger turnout. I have already booked my booth.” Jim Zampogna, The MGS Group.

“I thought the show was very good. I love Providence, seeing lots of customers, other suppliers and competitors.

Unfortunately things have slowed down and not much result-

B&H President Peter Neville chats with WAI’s Anna Bzowski at the Association’s booth at IWCS. ed from the show. The real benefit was seeing everybody in the industry and finding out what is going on. As far as next year in Charlotte, I have not made a decision.” Peter Neville, B&H Tool Company.

“We were pleased as we saw a lot of our customers from the North East region. It is not the type of show where orders are placed but we were able to discuss the various products which we have to offer. For the most part visitors to our booth also like the event in Providence because it is fairly convenient for them to attend. The activity level was fair to good with respect to visitor traffic. It was much better than Orlando. We would prefer that the show remain in Providence, however we do plan to exhibit in Charlotte, although we would not expect the same number of visitors.

The Focus show was first in Cherry Hill, NJ, and then Philadelphia. The IWCS was also in Philadelphia. Perhaps it’s time to make Providence the permanent location for this conference/exhibition?” Joe Snee, Amaral Automation.

“We feel that exhibiting has tremendous benefits for Breen Color in Providence. The geography alone has a genuine history directly related to the wire and cable industry. Even with a downgraded market, it is a value to send people to the show as well as to exhibit.

We had a very busy booth both days, and feel that we achieved the visibility and marketing impact we wanted to make as a supplier. I am highly optimistic that the same will occur in Charlotte next year; geographically it could mirror the same dynamic as Providence does in the Northeast with plenty of end-users now located in the Southeast.” Lori Parent, Breen Color Concentrates. ■

Total attendance at IWCS exceeded 1,150, organizers report.

JANUARY 2009 | 37

Top Cable Companies: FEATURE

Part 1

A 2-part report by Integer Research & WJI

T

wo years ago, U.K.-based Integer Research and WJI teamed up to profile the world’s

top cable companies. At the time, the cable industry as a whole was faring quite well and profiles of companies highlighted many major expansions and news of ambitious projects to come.

How things can change.

This feature had originally been designed to be an update of the 2007 feature, presenting a look at some of the world’s top cable companies, this time by regions. It still does that, including profiles of manufacturers based in North America and Europe. But as it became clear that the market had changed, so did the focus of this feature, which two years ago was on which companies would make the most of the seemingly endless potential in emerging markets, the need for more infrastructure, demand for “green” products and the like.

Here, Integer Research Director Philip Radbourne provides his thoughts on the wire and cable industry in a Q&A with WJI, and copper analyst John Gross explains how and why copper prices ran awry.

This first part includes information about some of the top cable companies in Europe and North America.

These regions are largely viewed as mature markets with dim domestic growth outlooks, but they remain home to many of the top cable companies, and while much focus has been placed on emerging markets, there still is much demand in these regions for wire and cable products for infrastructure, energy and more.

As with the prior feature, the ratings in this segment and the list of the top 50 cable companies (half of which is continued at wirenet.org at “WJI Extra”) should be seen as a “snapshot” because it is as of a specific time: 38 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

FEATURE A harsh fourth quarter in 2008 spoiled what had until then looked like a very good year for the wire and cable industry. Chart courtesy Integer Research. the end of 2007. The industry has seldom remained static for long, and it must be noted that the stunning economic reversals that took place in the latter part of 2008 have magnified that condition.

Integer Research notes that its assessments went by the latest date for which full data were available. Its evaluations exclude revenues that are not directly wire and cable related and do not include those of the overall parent company. See below for more details on Integer’s publications and p. 41 for more about its methodology.

The second part, to be presented in the February issue, will present profiles of other regions, including Asia, South

America, Africa and some sub-regions of Europe as well as other information, including a look at what products are likely to fare best in the current economic climate.

Despite the current bleak economic conditions, Integer Research notes that wire and cable manufacturers continue to employ hundreds of thousands of people. Add in suppliers of machinery as well as all the essentials that make production possible, from the raw materials to dies and lubricants, measuring equipment and more, and the industry remains a vital cog to world growth.

Top Cable Companies: how rankings were determined In addition to its private reports for customers, Integer Research provides a range of information via three regular reports. These include: • Integer Financial Insight, Wire & Cable, an annual, in-depth industry overview examining the current market conditions alongside complete sets of the last published annual results for the top 100 companies, with analysis of private and government-owned companies, available online to download for presentations.

• Integer Financial Bulletin, Wire & Cable, a quarterly update with the latest industry developments and company results; and • Integer Quarterly Insight, Wire & Cable, a unique global tracking service that shows monthly production and trade data for every wire and cable product for every country by volume and value. Companies are ranked by revenues as well as production numbers; revenues derived from wire and cable sales are shown as well as overall company or group revenues; financial data in the balance sheet and Profit & Loss is standardized and local currencies converted into U.S. dollars so that companies can be benchmarked on the same basis; company profiles are based on the latest available full-year financial results, in this case 2007, although analysis reflects activity through 2008; and hard-to-find private and government-owned companies are included for a complete industry overview.

See p. 41 for more details on Integer Research.

JANUARY 2009 | 39

FEATURE

Q&A: Integer Research Below, Integer Research Director Philip Radbourne shares his thoughts on the current industry status and outlook in this Q&A with WJI. WJI: How does economic uncertainty affect the business planning and decision-making process for wire and cable manufacturers? What are your clients asking you?

Radbourne: The current climate makes it very difficult to do business planning. Right now, companies want to know more about the slowdown. Is what is happening to them typical of their sector? Is it the same for their competitors?

Adjusting to declined manufacturing volume is a challenge.

Unless you have been in a business that has seen this rate of slowdown before, it can be difficult to respond.

A lot of the questions we get are related to business planning. They want to know more about the current rate of decline in the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), wire and cable production indicators and even core indicators such as fixed investment through 2009.

WJI: There is much angst about the global aspects of the economic downturn, but is the wire and cable industry truly dealing with a unique set of conditions? What makes this different from past down cycles?

Radbourne: No, in some key ways the current situation is not unique. Many U.S. companies saw similar rates of decline in the telecom sector in 2001 and 2002, which led to a collapse in demand for fiber optic cable from telecoms.

That meant layoffs, factory closures, etc. That ended up with significant job losses for many good people at the leading fiber optic cable producers and the optical fiber manufacturers, who were the worst hit. It has only been in the last few years that the sector has recovered. The current downturn certainly is worrisome, but the results of the down cycle are not that much different, albeit that this may be more widespread.

WJI: As more governments announce major infrastructure initiatives, does this affect the traditional supply-demand equation, essentially increasing demand for some product sectors and not helping others? What will that do to competition for that business?

Radbourne: The supply-demand balance and equation comes into play again. When demand declines, utilization rates fall and companies get tough in terms of pricing. Even government contracts can fail to make up for the gap in industrial demand. In many cases, a slowing economy also means that utilities will also start cutting their investment, so it can get quite tough.

40 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

WJI: Are emerging market manufacturers any better or worse off?

Radbourne: Emerging economies are not necessarily better off. If the supply-demand balance and growth rates have been high, you can actually find overinvestment. We saw that happen in the ASEAN countries in 1997, and even in the fiber optic cable market in the U.S. and Europe in 1999 and 2000.

WJI: Are any cable products recession proof?

Radbourne: No, unless a company is making military cable for the Chinese or has some long-term government contracts for infrastructure.

WJI: In a period such as this, who is better off: large companies with resources or smaller companies that are able to become extremely lean?

Radbourne: Deep pockets and assets have to help.

WJI: Are major acquisitions more or less likely if the current economic outlook does not improve?

Radbourne: Less likely. In the current climate about survival strategies, this would have to be a very carefully thought out and long-term committed acquisition.

That said, there are several companies that might be able to do Philip Radbourne this, but it is a risky move.

The financing aspect would be a real challenge as potential sources of funding are not going to be easy to come by. And then you have to really know who you are getting. Marmon Wire owner Warren Buffett put it this way, “You only find out who is swimming naked when the tide goes out.” What that means here is that an opportunity is only good if it will pay off, and about right now that means being the lowest cost producer. If a company makes an acquisition, it is going to have to come in, make changes and cut costs and bear that pain. Will the acquired company prove worth the investment in time and resources? A delay means that you might get a bargain when the market starts to turn.

WJI: If a worse-case economic scenario takes place, what happens to the industry as we know it?

Radbourne: The volumes might decline by 10% globally in one year, which is really tough, but even if it does the industry will still carry on making cable. The returns won’t be good, but the industry is not going to go away. The problem is that as the industry contracts, many good employees leave, never to rejoin, including some people with lots of valuable experience.

WJI: Do you see any positive signs for the industry?

Radbourne: Yes, the industry has been used to lean years, and there are people with those memories, so they know how to respond. Many people in the U.S. can remember 2003, and even in Western Europe there was very little reinvestment in additional capacity in that period. The focus was all about reinvesting in a more efficient plant.

It can be tougher for publicly traded companies because they have to divert resources to analysts asking why conditions are so tough, what you are going to do about it and questioning the merit of a long-term decision during a short-term crisis period. In contrast, private companies can divert all their resources to battling through the downturn and tougher pricing and margin environment, making decisions for their future.

U.K.-based Integer Research, a research and consultancy company, has worked with a number of the world’s leading wire and cable companies since the predecessor to this story was published in January 2007. It notes the following.

In addition to its three publications (see p. 39), the company has consulted with investors for a wide range of projects, including potential acquisition targets in key emerging markets in the Middle East, North Africa and ASEAN regions.

It has also been active in global fiber optic cable markets as well as the more specialized markets for signal and control cable, electronic wire and cable and speciality wire and cable products. Some recent projects it has worked on include: • Investment projects and market estimates for power cable operations in India • Advice/Pre-feasibility study on acquisition of a cable factory in North Africa for a Middle Eastern investor • Specialty cable demand in Latin America/Middle East • Global MV, HV & EHV Power Cable forecast • Submarine power cable forecasts

WJI: How will the industry know when conditions have bottomed out?

Radbourne: You don’t, really, only when you are looking backwards in the rearview mirror. I would also say that it is important to look at leading indicators such as the PMI, which is important because it provides a picture of future activity. When that starts to turn, or when the downward trend has lost momentum or stopped declining – say that it heads above 40 again for more than six months and then reaches and stays at 50 for seven or eight months – then you will know that conditions have bottomed out. We’ve seen that happen in previous downturns.

WJI: What do you think will happen?

Radbourne: I think that the first and second quarter events for 2009 are already written globally. The question is, how/what can U.S. President Obama do from January onwards? It’s going to be a tough call. Who would want that job now?

As long as governments do not make policy mistakes – for example, increase tariff barriers – then the global economy will recover. The credit crunch of course has to ease, so that banks start lending again at reasonable rates, and right now, it is like the gears have jammed.

• Global demand for electronic wire for signal/control sectors • Electronic wire demand, focus on Ukraine and Hungary • Magnet wire analysis for Asia and Eastern Europe • Global demand analysis of building wire and power cable, using macro/investment indicators such as PMIs, GDP, industrial production, sub-sectoral construction GDP and Gross Fixed Capital Formation.

Integer Research staff travel extensively to fulfill its mission. Its research and consultancy work is both independent and confidential. Its global presence and working relationships with cable companies have enabled it to build an unrivalled database of wire and cable production, trade and apparent consumption on a country-by-country basis worldwide. The company’s methodology, which combines tools such as global HS8544 trade data, PRODCOM data and company financials, is now being used by many leading global cable makers through 2008, helping them pinpoint areas of weakness and strength in demand through 2009.

To contact or for more information on Integer Research, call Kristian Wyatt at tel. 44-207-503-1265 or go to www.integer-research.com.

JANUARY 2009 | 41

FEATURE

Company Profile

2009 Top 25 Companies FEATURE

(revenues as of end fiscal 2007) 1. Nexans SA France, US$8.551 b.

14. Tele-Fonika Kable, SA Poland, US$1.908 b.

#1 Nexans Company continues to thrive and invest in key markets, has firm grasp of top position.

2. Prysmian Cables & Systems Italy, US$6.977 b.

15. Leoni AG Germany, US$1.888 b.

3. Sumitomo Electric Industries Japan, US$6.439 b.

16. The Marmon Group USA, US$1.660 b.

# 7 LS Cable Growth efforts got huge boost from acquisition of Superior Essex in 2008.

4. Southwire Company USA, US$4.550 b.

5. General Cable Corporation USA, US$4.215 b.

6. Furukawa Electric Japan, US$4.159 b.

# 19 Wilms Group Perhaps the world’s “quietest” cable company.

Extremely efficient, similar to Southwire.

# 20 Belden Had been on roll until LAN downturn in late 2008, workforce cut by 20 percent.

7. LS Cable South Korea, US$3.810 b.

8. Draka Holding, NV The Netherlands, US$3.557 b.

9. Superior Essex, Inc. USA, US$2.893 b.

10. Fujikura Ltd. Japan, US$2.661 b.

11. Hitachi Cable Ltd. Japan, US$2.449 b.

12. Walsin Lihwa Taiwan, US$2.347 b.

13. Taihan Electric Wire South Korea, US$2.097 b.

17. CommScope USA, US$1.641 b.

18. Riyadh Cables Saudi Arabia, US$1.601 b.

19. Wilms Group Germany, US$1.566 b.

20. Belden, Inc. USA, US$1.465 b.

21. El Sewedy Cables Egypt, US$1.387 b.

22. NKT Holdings Denmark, US$1.332 b.

23. Rea Magnet Wire USA, US$1.302 b.

24. Encore Wire Corporation USA, US$1.101 b.

25. Pacific Electric Wire & Cable Co. Taiwan, US$1.052 b.

For complete top 50 list, go to wirenet.org, click on “Wire Journal,” then“WJI Extra.”

2007 Top 25 Companies 1. Nexans SA France, US$5.085 b.

14. Phelps Dodge Industries USA, US$1.189 b.

2. Sumitomo Electric Industries Japan, US$4.366 b.

15. Taihan Electric Wire South Korea, US$1.187 b.

3. Prysmian Cables & Systems Italy, US$ 3.916 b.

16. CommScope USA, US$1.150 b.

4. Furukawa Electric Japan, US$3.016 b.

17. Yazaki Corporation Japan US$893 m.

5. Southwire Company USA, US$2.800 b.

18. Marmon Group USA, US$880 m.

6. Draka Holding NV The Netherlands, US$2.306 b.

19. Tele-Fonika Kable, SA Poland, US$843 m.

7. General Cable Corporation USA, US$2.281 b.

20. Leoni AG Germany, US$830 m.

8. LS Cable South Korea, US$1.955 b.

21. Encore Wire Corporation USA, US$758 m.

9. Fujikura Ltd. Japan, US$1.744 b.

22. Xignux Mexico, US$602 m.

10. Hitachi Cable Ltd. Japan, US$1.609 b.

23. Tyco International Ltd. USA, US$546 m.

11. Superior Essex, Inc. USA, US$1.501 b.

24 NKT Holdings Denmark, US$587 m.

12. Walsin Lihwa Taiwan, US$1.391 b.

25. Grupo Caro SA de C.V. Mexico, US$586.1 m.

13. Belden, Inc. USA, US$1.255 b.

For complete top 50 list, go to wirenet.org, click on “Wire Journal,” then“WJI Extra.”

FEATURE

(revenues as of end fiscal 2005)

#3 Prysmian Cables & Systems Demand for energy cables continues to be a strength for company.

#14 Phelps Dodge Industries In 2008 was sold to General Cable, whose global presence got a huge boost.

# 18 The Marmon Group Low-key company made big news by its 2008 acquisition by Warren Buffett.

# 21 Xignux and # 25 Grupo Caro SA de C.V. Two Mexican companies show considerable strength in Americas.

FEATURE

This Integer Research chart reflects the European cable slowdown.

Europe Europe is the world’s second-smallest continent by surface area, covering about 10,180,000 sq km (3,930,000 sq mi), about 6.8 percent of the planet’s land area. Europe has some 50 states, with Russia the largest by both area and population. It is the third most populous continent after Asia and Africa, with a population of 731,000,000, about 11 percent of the world’s population, although U.N. projections call for that to drop to 7 percent by 2050.

Even though the European Union has seen harsh times, it remains a substantial entity. In 2008, the European Union, which includes the economies of 27 member states, was projected by the IMF to generate about $18.5 trillion in nominal GDP. The EU economy consists of a single market and is represented as a unified entity in the WTO. As a whole, the EU accounts for about 31 percent of the world’s total economic output. By 2000, the EU dominated the economy of Europe, at that time including its five largest economies: Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Spain.

Those countries not opting for the common euro include the U.K., Denmark, and Sweden. Some former Soviet Bloc countries have seen a resurgence in manufacturing/investment activity, but such further progress may be difficult as the IMF projects that growth will slow down significantly in the emerging economies in Europe as well.

Integer perspective. In the last few months, conditions in the wire and cable industry in Europe have turned cloudier.

Many leading indicators have become significantly more pessimistic in recent months across much of Europe. The weakest markets in terms of GDP growth have been Denmark and Italy, while in the building and construction sector the U.K., Ireland and Spain are reporting ever more negative figures.

44 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

We also use some very short-term leading indicators to track historic demand for wire and cable on a monthly basis.

We know that there is a very good relationship between fixed investment and cable demand, and also that confidence indicators such as Purchasing Manager’s Indices can be a very good proxy for demand six months out. Right now, where visibility is so unclear, the latest PMIs across Europe suggest that demand is going to weaken further for a range of wire and cable products through H1 2009 in Western and Eastern Europe.

The effects on wire and cable producers has already become evident from Q3 2008 results, with companies battling falling demand and write-downs on inventory due to the drop in copper price. Contrasting this trend in the building and construction sector, the specialty cable market has been strong in Europe, with further take-over activity and even new investment in capacity and new cable making factories.

There have also been a few key recent trends, one of which has been an increase in the number of acquisitions of smaller second-tier cable makers by the leading producers. We have seen Prysmian take over Facab Lynen, Nexans acquire Intercond and Leoni take over Silitherm in Italy. Leoni has made the largest investments in terms of organic growth, while LS Cable has grown by its 2008 acquisition of Superior Essex, which includes its European magnet wire operations. Those actions are signs of strength, but it should be noted that those decisions were made during a growth period for the industry. One would expect to see this type of activity slow in the coming year, as companies will concentrate on making sure that their own houses are in order, so to speak, before they seek to add more capacity or make further acquisitions. With the credit markets as tight as they are, it would be difficult for most companies to fund such ventures anyway.

Nexans SA, France, #1 Nexans, formed in 2000, produces and supplies cables to the infrastructure, industry, building and LAN markets.

Based in Paris, it operates almost 100 production sites and has an industrial presence in 39 countries worldwide. The company employed 22,800 people worldwide in 2008.

In 2007, Nexans reported sales of €7.4 billion. In 2007, Nexans sold 39% of its wire and cable production to infrastructure markets, 31% to industry and 30% to building.

European markets were 55% of Nexans’ sales and North America was 19% of sales. The remaining sales are divided equally between Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World (ROW).

Nexans’ business is divided into three divisions: power cables, telecommunications cables and electrical wire. In 2007, results were particularly strong from the energy sector, which reported year-on-year growth of 21.8%, at constant exchange rates and nonferrous metals prices. Besides a solid organic growth, energy infrastructure cables also benefited from the integration of Olex, the leader in the southern Asia-Pacific cable industry, acquired by Nexans in December 2006.

FEATURE

2007 Revenues, US$8.551 b.

A Nexans employee processes copper reels at a stranding machine at a company plant in Charleroi, Belgium.

JANUARY 2009 | 45

FEATURE

Telecoms sales increased by 12% year-on-year in 2007.

The electrical wires segment is the only one that reported a year-on-year fall in sales in 2007. Nexans has decided to refocus only on its own internal requirements.

Currently, Nexans’ strategy is to focus on the company’s core businesses and to expand into high-growth countries.

In line with these objectives, the company has expanded its business in China with the opening of its third Chinese production plant in Nanning, and expanded into India with the signing of a draft agreement to enter into a joint venture with Polycab.

In addition, Nexans has become a leader in the South American cable market with the acquisition of Madeco, South America’s leading cable manufacturer. In 2008, Nexans has pursued its strategy aiming at increasing its presence in emerging geographical areas and at widening the Group’s product portfolio. The Group signed a joint venture agreement for the creation of a company producing in Qatar. Nexans also finalized the acquisition of the Italian company Intercond, a leading European manufacturer of special cables, mainly for industrial equipment.

During the last six months, Nexans finalized strategic operations that reflect the constant dynamism of its strategy as far as geographical redeployment and evolution of its portfolio are concerned. Nexans opened its first plant in Russia in November 2008, and in December 2008, it signed a joint venture agreement with Sumitomo Electric Industries to collaborate in optical fiber cable business for terrestrial telecommunications in Europe. Through this partnership, Nexans strengthens its position in the FTTH growing sector, after divesting in telecom copper infrastructures cable with the sale of its Spanish Santander unit earlier in 2008.

Prysmian Cables & Systems, Italy, #2 2007 Revenues, US$6.977 b.

Milan-based Prysmian was set up when Pirelli & C. SpA, an Italian holding company, sold its Pirelli Cavi cable division to Goldman Sachs Capital Partners in 2005. Listed on the Milan Stock Exchange Blue Chip index, in 2007 it reported sales topping €5.1 billion, up from €5 billion in 2006.

The company focuses on high-tech cables and systems for the energy and telecom industry. In particular, the company produced cables and systems for underground and submarine power transmission and for underground power distribution in the energy cables business division, and Prysmian’s Systems division produces optical cables and fibers and copper cables for video, data and voice transmission.

With a strong market position in Western Europe, Latin America and North America, Prysmian has also sought to increase its market share in parts of Asia in the last two years. Employing more than 12,000 people worldwide,

46 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Prysmian Cables & Systems CEO Valerio Battista.

Prysmian sells its products across the globe, operating 54 plants in 21 countries, with subsidiary stakes in 36 countries.

In addition, the company has seven R&D centers in Europe, the U.S. and South America.

Prysmian calculates that organic growth of sales rose by 8.2% year-on-year in 2007. Sales were generally strong in 2007, with revenues boosted by high demand for cables from the oil and gas sector. Prysmian had strong sales in Brazil. In response to this demand for growth, Prysmian opened a plant in Vila Velha, Espírito Santo, Brazil, in December 2006, which became operational in March 2007.

Revenue results were weaker from North America, which suffered a 23.5% fall, and in Europe, where sales were modest, reporting a 3.7% rise. In December 2007, Prysmian and India’s Nicco Corporation established Nicco Cables Ltd., a partnership company. A further development in 2007 was the acquisition of International Wire and Cable, a New Zealand manufacturer. In 2008, it acquired German cabler Facab-Lynen GmbH, a manufacturer of industrial cables. It also announced ambitious plans for China, where it formed a holding company (Prysmian China Investment Co. Ltd.), that would link the company’s five main companies operating in the country. It opened a new plant in Tianjin, which makes specialty cables for sectors from oil and gas to wind farms and nuclear energy.

Draka Holding NV, The Netherlands, #8 2007 Revenues: US$3.557 b.

Draka Holding, a global cable producer, manufactures products that range from low- and medium-voltage cable, ranging to instrumentation cables to fire-resistant and halogen-free cables. The company, founded in 1910 by Jan Teewis Duyvis in The Netherlands, operated 68 manufacturing plants, sales and support offices worldwide and employed 9,500 people in 2007.

Tele-Fonika Kable SA, Poland, #14 2007 Revenues: US$1.908 b.

Tele-Fonika Kable, a leading Eastern European producer of wire and cable, supplies copper, aluminum and fiber optic cables to the power industry telecommunications, electronics, ship building and mining industries. Founded in 1992 and with five production plants in Poland, Tele-Fonika is a

privately-owned company, owned by Boguslaw Cupial, and based in Krakow. It has grown through investment projects and the acquisition of Krakowska Fabryka Kabli SA in 1998 and Elektrim Kable SA in 2002.

FEATURE

Following the fiber optic slowdown in 2002-03, Draka restructured its optical fiber and fiber optic cable operations.

Draka’s business activities are now organized into two groups: Draka Cableteq and Draka Comteq. Draka Comteq became a fully-owned subsidiary in 2007 when Draka acquired Alcatel-Lucent’s 49.9% stake. Draka Cableteq focuses on low-voltage and special-purpose cable, and Draka Comteq consists of communication and fiber optic cables.

In 2007, Draka expanded in numerous business areas. It invested US$23.3 million in its Rubber Cable Division to increase capacity for cable for wind turbines and also invested in increased production of medium-voltage power cables.

Also, the Elevator Products Division formed a second joint venture with Nontong Hongyao Mechanic Electric. The acquisition of DeBiase Lift Components s.r.l. in Italy further expanded the lifts/elevators division.

Draka’s revenues increased by 11.3% year-on-year in 2007 to US$3.85 billion. The 2006 acquisitions of International Wire Group, Cornelia Thies Kabeltechnik GmbH and Nantong Zhongyao Mechanic Electric Co., Ltd., boosted revenues by 5.5%, and organic growth in revenues contributed 5.8%. In particular, Draka saw very strong sales from its rubber cables operations, in transport, oil and gas and shipbuilding worldwide, as well as the new and emerging market of offshore and onshore wind turbines. In response to a slowing auto market and logistical challenges, in 2008 the company closed plants in Vigo, Spain, and Llanelli, Wales.

An XLPE line at Tele-Fonika’s plant in Krakow, Poland.

Following acquisitions in 2007, Tele-Fonika operates production sites in Zajecar, Serbia, and Chernihiv, Ukraine. In total, Tele-Fonika has 11 subsidiaries located across Europe, in the U.S. and UAE. Tele-Fonika has continued strategic business improvements in its trade network, which expanded with the establishment of four affiliate companies in Europe located in Budapest, Hungary; Ptuj in Sloveni; Bratislava in Slovakia; and in Kiev, The Ukraine. In 2008, the company registered TF Kable Nordic AB in Sweden as a subsidiary trade partner to improve management of sales within Scandinavia. The company has also expanded warehouse capacity due to increased sales in 2007 for its UAB TeleFonika Baltic operation, which is responsible for markets in Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Russia and Georgia.

Power cables accounted for the largest share of TeleFonika’s revenues, followed by installation wire and flexible cables and telecom cables. Sales of magnet wires, bare con-

JANUARY 2009 | 47

FEATURE

ductors, control cables and shipboard cables are the company’s smallest production groups. The company sells its products in more than 80 countries worldwide. The company’s leading exports are medium- and high-voltage cables and cables in rubber, for use in mining industries, ship-making industries and wind farms. In 2007, Tele-Fonika Kable benefitted from a growing European and U.S. wind energy industry, for which the company provided 4,000 km of cable.

The Wiring System division as a whole also reported strong results, a rise of more than 3% year-on-year in 2007, despite a fall in sales in some product models. The main development in this division was the company’s takeover of the Valeo’s wiring system operations, signed in Q4 2007.

In 2008, Leoni opened a new production facility in the Mexican state of Durango that will supply cable harnesses to customers. The company also announced that its Wiring Systems Division acquired the wiring systems business of Itelma, a Russian automotive component supplier.

Leoni AG, Germany,#15 2007 Revenues: US$1.888 b.

Wilms GmbH, Germany, #19

Leonische Werke Roth-Nürnberg AG, better known as Leoni AG, was formed in 1917 from the merger of three companies: Johann Balthasar Stieber & Sohn/Nuremberg, Johann Philipp Stieber/Roth, and Vereinigte Leonische Fabriken/Nuremberg. The company produces wires and cable for electrical engineering, automotive cables, data cables, fiber optic cables, power cables, telecoms cables and temperature resistant thermocouple cables. The company, based in Nuremberg, Bavaria, Germany, is listed on the Frankfurt, Munich stock exchange. At the end of 2007, Leoni AG had more than 53,000 employees worldwide. Its operations included 86 consolidated companies and operated production facilities, development centers and sales offices in 30 countries worldwide. Leoni’s key sales regions are in Europe, Asia and North and South America.

Leoni’s operations are divided into two divisions: the wiring systems division and the wire and cable solutions division. The wiring systems division produces harnesses and complete wiring systems primarily sold to the international automotive industry. The wire and cable solutions division produces wires, standard and special cables as well as complete cable systems for a variety of industrial applications for companies in automation, infrastructure engineering, machinery, plant engineering and robotics, as well as the medical equipment industry, among others. Both divisions are subdivided into business units by customer groups and market segments.

The Wire and Cable Solutions division benefited from strong demand in 2007, which enabled it to efficiently use capacity and achieve total revenues of €1.380 billion, up from €1.154 billion the prior year. Throughout the year, Leoni invested capital in several projects in order to maintain and expand its business performance in this division. The company set up a new production plant for high temperature cables, Leoni HighTemp Solutions, located in Halver, NorthRhine Westphalia, Germany, and acquired Silitherm, an Italian producer of silicone-insulated cables. Leoni expanded its business in electrical appliance cables through the acquisition of Furas, located in Piera, Spain, a leading producer of codesets for electrical appliances, and set up a rubber-insulated cable plant in Changzhou.

2007 Revenues: US$1.566 b.

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Germany-based Wilms GmbH (The Wilms Group), is owned by Johannes (Hans) Erich Wilms, and through him, the business controls more than 10 cable-making operations across Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. The company has more than 18 cable-making operations and over 2,000 employees. The Wilms Group is the center of several autonomous businesses across Germany involved in water treatment, wire and cable.

Wilms Group companies produce wire and cable products, from building wire and low/medium voltage power cable to electronic wire. Through its Sudkabel subsidiary in Mannheim, it also produces ultra-high XLPE voltage power cables up to 500kV. The company also produces a range of data cable, copper and fiber optic telecom cable.

Wilms acquired its Austrian subsidiary, Pengg Kabel, from NKT Cables in 2005. At its plants in Kapfenberg and Wartberg, Pengg manufactures copper and fiber-based telecom cables, respectively. In July 2007, Wilms acquired Kabelovna Decin Podmokly (KDP) in Decin, from Belden.

KDP had been making a net loss through 2002-2005, and only just returned to profits in 2006.

Wilms Group is one of the lowest cost producers in Western Europe, and through the dispersed nature of the operations, with very low headquarters overheads, the company continues to take market share, despite stiff competition from companies like NKT and Tele-Fonika.

Wilms has built up a solid position in the German, Austrian and Czech markets for a range of European harmonized commodity-type wire and cable, as well as a simple range of UL hook-up wire. The company has also been successful at its project-based, high-voltage power cable business in Sudkabel. It has a U.K. office to help win business. The company is still competing with Nexans, Prysmian and NKT Cables in Germany, as well as facing further competition from producers such as Tele-Fonika. However, through 2008, demand has been slowing and Wilms, like other leading cable producers, is likely to face a tougher H2 2008 and H1 2009. With lower raw material prices for copper and polymers and a low-cost structure, Wilms should see continued long-term health of the cable operations.

FEATURE

This Integer Research chart shows the cable industry’s ups and downs.

North America North America, which includes Canada, Mexico and the U.S., covers an area of about 24,709,000 sq km (9,540,000 sq m), about 15.5 percent of the planet’s land area. As of July 2008, its population was estimated at nearly 529 million people, fourth in population after Asia, Africa and Europe.

As an affluent, high-tech industrial society in the trillion-dollar class, Canada resembles the U.S. in its market-oriented economic system, pattern of production and affluent living standards. Exports account for roughly a third of GDP. Canada enjoys a substantial trade surplus with its principal trading partner, the U.S., which absorbs 80% of Canadian exports each year. Mexico has a free market economy in the trillion-dollar class. It contains a mixture of modern and outmoded industry and agriculture, increasingly dominated by the private sector. Recent administrations have expanded competition in seaports, railroads, telecommunications, electricity generation, natural gas distribution, and airports.

Per capita income is one-fourth that of the U.S.; income distribution remains highly unequal. Trade with the U.S. and Canada has tripled since the implementation of NAFTA in 1994. Mexico has 12 free trade agreements with over 40 countries including, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, the European Free Trade Area, and Japan, putting more than 90% of trade under free trade agreements. Along with Canada, Mexico is a part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the only Latin American member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

Integer perspective. The current weakness in North American end wire and cable markets is primarily driven by the impact of declining new residential construction activity on utility cables, a continuing decline in copper telecom cable demand and delays in transmission projects. In the 50 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

second quarter, demand slowed more broadly, and margins were pressured in the quarter compared to the prior-year period across a broad spectrum of product lines in North America as a result of the weak economy and competitive environment, as well as surging raw material and energy input costs. Though demand has continued to deteriorate, copper prices have fallen significantly since the end of Q3 2008. Furthermore, trends may reverse for costs of optical cable as the decrease in the price of oil has a direct effect on the manufacture and transportation costs of optical cable.

Southwire Company, U.S., #4 2007 Revenues: US$4.55 billion 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.

Reels of Southwire’s SIMpull THHN building wire.

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FEATURE

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 4,200 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.

The division continues to offer groundbreaking new products such as SureSeal self-healing cable, HS285 and PowerGlide.

Southwire’s Electrical Division produces innovative building wire products, such as Romex SIMpull, SIMpull THHN and MCAP. The division also markets FlatWire, an ultra-thin wire that allows the new low-voltage lighting fixtures to be mounted anywhere on walls or ceilings and connected to an electrical outlet without drilling holes, pulling electrical wires or using extension cords. Its 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. Southwire continues to invest in growth opportunities, including a few in the OEM market, that further diversify its offering of products. The company notes that its innovative use of technology to further improve customer service earned it the sixth spot among the companies in InformationWeek’s 2008 listing of the U.S.’s top 500 leading information technology users.

WJI: What have been the most significant changes in your business in the last six months, and have these had a material impact on your planning for 2009?

Southwire: Even as recession has set in and construction markets have plummeted, Southwire continues to invest for future growth in key areas. In August, we purchased Centrilift’s water pump cable business, followed by the acquisition of CableTech’s Mineral Wells, Texas plant in November. We are investing $6.5 million to refit our Watkinsville, Georgia plant to produce bare copper strand that we once purchased from suppliers outside of Southwire.

These strategic projects, along with planned investments in our energy cable business, position Southwire for continued, diversified growth.

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General Cable Corp., U.S., #5 2007 Revenues: US$4.215 b.

General Cable Corporation 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 and specialty, and communications markets. The company offers competitive strengths in such areas as breadth of product line, brand recognition, distribution and logistics, sales and service and operating efficiency.

Energy cables include low-, medium- and high-voltage power distribution and power transmission products.

Industrial and Specialty products are application-specific cables for uses such as electrical power generation (traditional fuels, alternative and renewable sources, and distributed generation); the oil, gas and petrochemical industries; mining; industrial automation; marine; military and aerospace applications; power applications in the telecom industry; and other key industrial segments. Communications wire and cable products transmit low-voltage signals for voice, data, video and control applications.

A General Cable Corporation employee manning a cabler run.

The company, headquartered in Highland Heights, Kentucky, was originally incorporated in 1927, bringing together plant facilities and the manufacturing experience of several older companies from the 1800s, including Phillips Wire and Safety Cable, and Standard Underground Cable founded by George Westinghouse.

In 2008, General Cable continued to execute its globalization strategy and is now one of the world’s top five wire and cable companies, with an expansive product portfolio and a truly global presence. In the last 12 months, the company completed the acquisition of Phelps Dodge International Corporation (PDIC), which had production and distribution positions in 19 countries and established General Cable’s presence in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa and Southeast Asia; entered into a joint venture with Enica

FEATURE

Biskra in Algeria; and increased its equity ownership in Phelps Dodge Philippines, Inc. Today, General Cable operates 46 manufacturing facilities in 23 countries and has nearly 13,000 associates worldwide.

Revenues in 2008 are expected to exceed $6 billion.

WJI: What have been the most significant changes in your business in the last six months, and have these had a material impact on your planning for 2009?

General Cable: Balancing investment opportunities in an economic environment that values liquidity due to tight global credit markets. What does this mean exactly? We are using General Cable’s cash flow and available borrowings to continue to expand the business into new geographies. In the last couple of quarters, we have completed the acquisition of a majority interest in Enica Biskra We continue to have and Phelps Dodge Philippines, Inc. many opportunities We continue to to further expand have many opporaround the globe. tunities to further expand around the General Cable Corp. globe. We also converted an existing General Cable facility in Mexico to make industrial products for the Mexican market and continue to invest in new products such as submarine cable.

These actions must be constantly weighed against other investment opportunities such as repurchasing General Cable stock in the open market, buying back debt which is trading at historically very low levels, and maintaining adequate liquidity to fund ongoing operations, counter potential increasing copper and aluminum prices, or preparing for a long period of economic downturn and credit tightness.

This balancing of liquidity against investment opportunities and the unknown future environment played an important role in the company’s planning for 2009 and beyond.

CommScope, U.S., #17 2007 Revenues: US$1.641 b.

U.S.-based CommScope, Inc., is a world leader in infrastructure solutions for communication networks. Through its Andrew® brand, it is a global leader in radio frequency subsystem solutions for wireless networks. Through its SYSTIMAX® and Uniprise® brands, CommScope is a world leader in network infrastructure solutions, delivering a complete end-to-end physical layer solution, including cables and connectivity, enclosures, intelligent software and network design services, for business enterprise applications.

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An assortment of CommScope cable.

CommScope is a leading manufacturer of coaxial cable for broadband cable television networks and one of the leading North American providers of environmentally secure cabinets for DSL and FTTN applications. Backed by strong research and development, CommScope combines technical expertise and proprietary technology with global manufacturing capability to provide customers with infrastructure solutions for evolving global communications networks in more than 130 countries around the world.

The company, founded in 1976 and listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol CTV, operates multiple manufacturing and distribution facilities in all major regions of the world. In the third quarter of 2008, non-U.S. sales represented 53.5 percent of the company’s total quarterly revenues of $513 million.

Following CommScope’s acquisition of Andrew Corporation in December 2007, the company’s business is reported in four segments: Enterprise, Broadband, Wireless Network Solutions and Antenna, Cable and Cabinet Group.

The combined company had pro-forma 2007 revenues of $4.1 billion.

The Enterprise segment’s main business is the sale of structured cabling solutions to multinational companies. The segment accounted for 22% of sales in the third quarter 2008. The broadband segment’s revenues amounted to 15% of sales in the third quarter 2008, the majority from sales of coaxial and fiber cable to cable television system operators.

The Antenna, Cable and Cabinet Group segment, accounting for 47% of third quarter 2008 sales, is a global leader in wireless network infrastructure such as base station antennas, microwave antennas, cable products and secure environmental enclosures. The Wireless Network Solutions segment accounted for 16% of third quarter 2008 revenues, through its sales of integral components for wireless base stations, coverage and capacity solutions, caller location services and network planning and optimization products.

FEATURE

WJI: What have been the most significant changes in your business in the last six months, and have these had a material impact on your planning for 2009?

CommScope: The acquisition of Andrew Corporation in late 2007 was transformational for CommScope. We are now a global leader in infrastructure solutions for both wireless and wired networks. This dramatic change has strengthened our global competitive position and will continue to shape CommScope over the long term. As we look ahead, we remain focused on delivering advanced connectivity solutions to our customers. Despite a challenging economic outlook for 2009, ongoing demand for bandwidth continues to create opportunity. IP traffic growth in wireless markets, communications infrastructure needs in emerging markets and Enterprise network complexity all create opportunities for global leaders like CommScope.

The Marmon Group, U.S., #16, 2007 Revenues: US$1.660 b.

This traditionally low-key company saw that status change in 2008 when Berkshire Hathaway Inc., the investment company of billionaire Warren Buffett, paid $4.5 billion to acquire 60-percent of Marmon Holdings Inc., whose 125 business units include 13 wire and cable companies.

For Buffett, who has icon status in the business world for his investments, the acquisition of The Marmon Group will represent his largest-ever deal. He also announced his intention to buy the remaining 40 percent of The Marmon Group over the next five years, a figure that going by his $4.5 billion deal would work out to another $1.8 billion. Based in Omaha, Nebraska, Berkshire Hathaway has more than 60 subsidiaries.

The Marmon Group is organized into nine sectors, which are categorized into four business segments: electrical components; transportation equipment services; construction; and industrial components and retail solutions. The electrical components segment consists of 13 wire and cable companies. The segment sells predominantly into energy-related markets, residential and non-residential construction markets. Most of Marmon’s cable operations are in North America. It also has some operations in Europe and China.

Marmon produces power cables at its Aetna plant in Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA, and its Hartselle Cerro plant, Alabama, USA. The company’s signal and control and special cables are produced by Rockbestos Suprenant in East Granby, Connecticut, USA, by Clinton Suprenant in Clinton, Connecticut, USA, and by Cape Coral Unitherm in Florida, USA. In Canada, operations include various data, signal and special cables at the Farnham Harbour plant, Quebec.

In Europe, the company manufactures data, signal and special cables at its Thatcham General Cable in Berkshire, and at its Andover PIC Hampshire and Carrickfergus Getty facilities in Northern Ireland. Marmon also has a plant in

56 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Dongguan, Guangdong, China, which manufactures signal and control cable cables, cord sets, OEM wiring harnesses and specialty cables.

Recent developments in Marmon’s wire and cable segment include the acquisition of TE Wire & Cable, formally known as R² Technologies, LLC, in Q3 2007. TE Wire & Cable, headquartered in Saddle Brook, New Jersey, USA, is a producer of thermocouple wire and cable, which it sells to customers worldwide. A further development was the company’s formation of the RSCC Wire & Cable Group in Q4 2007. In line with the company’s announcement in 2006 that it would focus the development of its wire and cable segment more on energy end uses, the RSCC Wire & Cable Group will support Marmon’s growth in the oil and gas, industrial and nuclear utility markets.

Belden Inc., U.S., #20 2007 Revenues: US$1.465 b.

Belden is a producer of wire and cable with headquarters in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. The company produces electronic cables, connectivity products and other items for the specialty electronics and data networking markets. The company’s main products include copper cables, fiber optic cables, connectors, cable management products, and Power over Ethernet.

The company announced in “… it was ‘necessary December 2008 that it would cut for us to further 1,800 jobs worldadjust our cost wide, or 20 percent structure so that we of its workforce, and consolidate can continue to be some manufacturcompetitive under ing operations, as demand for its such conditions.’” products has conJohn Stroup tinued to soften.

Belden CEO The company said that its goal was to

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streamline its manufacturing, sales and administrative functions worldwide. The restructuring, it said, is expected to save $30 million in 2009 and $50 million annually starting in 2011.

Belden CEO John Stroup said that, due to the status of the major global markets, it was “necessary for us to further adjust our cost structure so that we can continue to be competitive under such conditions.” With the changes, he said, Belden is “well-positioned to capture market share and successfully execute other strategic initiatives even in a challenging market.”

Prior to the last quarter of 2008, Belden had been looking quite promising operation-wise. In July 2008, Belden completed its $133 million acquisition of Trapeze Networks, which has since acquired Newbury Networks, a supplier of software systems to boost efficiencies and track warehouse items. In 2007, approximately 55% of its sales were to international customers and it was strategically based, with manufacturing plants in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, China and Europe. The business was formerly known as Belden CDT Inc., which was formed from the 2004 merger of Belden Inc. and Cable Design Technologies Corp.

The company reports its business under four segments: Belden America segment, specialty products segment, the Europe segment and the Asia Pacific segment. The Belden America segment accounted for 43% of total revenues in 2007. The segment further divides its sales into four market areas, the industrial market, cables for security applications, the networking markets and the communications market.

Sales from the Europe segment amounted to approximately 30% of total sales in 2007, including operations of Hirschmann business, which was acquired in March 2007, and Lumberg Automation business, acquired in April 2007.

The Asia Pacific segment’s share of total revenues rose to 15% in 2007, up from 4% in 2006, due to the acquisition of LTK Wiring Co. Ltd., acquired in March 2007. The specialty products segment accounted for 12% of revenues in 2007.

Its products are sold mainly to the networking market, the transportation market and defense market.

As noted above, Belden had a good year in 2007, with total revenues of US$2 billion. Revenues were boosted by three major acquisitions in 2007, contributing US$495 m., a 33.1% year-on-year revenue increase. Organic revenues rose due to high selling prices and favorable product mix. The company 58 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Grupo Carso S.A. Mexico, #34 2007 Revenues: US$797 m.

Grupo Carso S.A. de C.V. is one of the leading industrial conglomerates in Mexico. The company controls a wide range of companies that operate in the industrial, services, retail and consumer goods sectors. The company was founded by one of the world’s richest men, Carlos Slim, who built on the businesses set up by his father in the 1940s.

Grupo Carso has its headquarters in Mexico The company was City, Mexico, and is listed on the founded by one of Mexico Stock the world’s richest Exchange (BMV). men, Carlos Slim, who Its subsidiary, Grupo Condumex built on the business(Condumex), es set up by his operates the comfather in the 1940s. pany’s wire and cable business.

Condumex dates back to the 1950s when the company began producing power cables, and it then expanded into telecommunication cables. The company became part of Grupo Carso in the early 1990s. Today, the company produces a wide range of wire and cable products, from power cable, telecom cable, data cables through to a range of fiber optic telecom cables.

Condumex also produces a range of electrical engineering products, such as power generation equipment and transformers, as well as automotive parts and electronic components. Condumex reports through five business sectors, and does release quarterly information on its performance. The sectors include automotive parts, cables, electronic, energy total development projects and its Nacobre units.

Condumex operates seven manufacturing plants in Mexico. In addition, the company operates Cablena do Brasil LTDA, which has two manufacturing plants in Itepuva, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, which produce automotive wire and automotive wiring harness. Its Cablena España operations in Zaragoza, Spain, produce a mix of building wire, low voltage power cable and automotive wiring.

Condumex key sales of wire and cable come from its domestic revenues in Mexico, where it competes with Xignux and IUSA. However, it has also built up its export business in recent years, and these exports also complement its operations in Brazil and Spain. Today, it has representation in more than 40 countries. (story continued on p. 62.)

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also benefited from favorable exchange rate effects. These positive effects were, in part, offset by a decrease in sales volumes due to the sale of its telecom cable operations in the Czech Republic and, more generally, Belden’s strategic portfolio management initiative, which deemphasized lower-margin products.

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INTERWIRE â&#x20AC;˘ IFE 2009 EXHIBITING COMPANIES as of December 2008 ABC Plastics Inc. ABP Induction Ace Metal Inc. ACM AB - KSM AEB International Inc. AIM Inc. All Forming Machinery Inc. Amacoil Inc. Amaral Automation Associates American Kuhne Inc. Ameritherm Inc. Ametek Specialty Metal Products Anbao Wire & Mesh Co. Ltd. A. Appiani Srl Aurum Chemicals Corp.

AW Machinery LLC AWPA American Wire Producers Association AXIS Computer Systems Inc. Aztech Lubricants LLC B & H Tool Co. Inc. Balloffet Die Corp.

Bao Zhang Galvanized Iron Wire Co., Ltd. Bartell Machinery Systems LLC Base Ten Consulting Inc. BCS Industries LLC Beijing Holland Trading Co. Ltd. Bekaert Corp.

Besel Basim San Tic Ltd. Sti Beta LaserMike Beta Systems Srl BJ Holland Blachford Corp.

BMR Group Maschinenfabrik Bock GmbH & Co. KG Bongard Machines USA LLC Boockmann GmbH/The Slover Group Boxy SpA Breen Color Concentrates Inc. Brookfield Wire Co. Butt Welders USA Caballe SA Cable Consultants Corp.

Canterbury Engineering Co. Carpenter Technology Corp.

Carris Reels Inc. Cemanco LC Central Wire Industries Ltd. CeramTec AG CERSA-MCI Chin Pu Jir Enterprise Co. Ltd. Cimteq Ltd. Clifford Welding Systems (Pty.) Ltd. Clinton Instrument Co. CM Furnaces Inc. CMEC International Exhibition Ltd. CN Wire Corp.

Coats North America.

Cometo Snc Commission Brokers Inc. Condat Corp.

Conductix Wampfler-Delachaux Confederation of Indian Industry Conneaut Industries Inc. Continuus-Properzi SpA CoorsTek Cortinovis Machinery America Inc. CRU North America Inc. Dandong Decheng Chemical Co. Davis-Standard LLC Davis Wire Design & Engineering LLC Die Quip Corp.

Domeks Makine Ltd. Sti Donnelly Reels Dynamex Corp.

E-Beam Services Inc. Ebner Furnaces Inc. Ebner Industrieofenbau ECD Inc. Engineered Control Systems Inc. Engineered Machinery Group Enkotec Co. Inc. ERA Wire Inc. Er-Bakir Elektrolitik Bakir Esteves Group Etna-Bechem Lubricants Ltd. Etna Products Inc. Eurobend SA Eurodraw Energy SpA Eurolls Group Eurowire Magazine George Evans Corp.

EVG Inc. Exel Fil SA Fabritex Inc. FIB Belgium SA Fiber-Line Inc. Fil-Tec Inc. Filtertech Inc. Fine International Corp.

Fisk Alloy Wire Inc. FLYMCA SL FMS Force Measuring Systems AG FMS USA Inc. Fort Wayne Wire Die Inc. Fortune Machinery Corp.

Frey Group LLC Frigeco Srl Frontier Composites & Castings Inc. FSP-One Karl Fuhr GmbH & Co. KG T. Fukase & Co. Ltd. Fushi Copperweld Garg Sales Inc. Gauder SA Gavlick Machinery Corp.

Gem Gravure Co. Inc. GEMCO Electrical GENCA Corp.

Germ-Allcard (KP America) W. Gillies Technologies LLC Gimax Srl GMP-Slovakia Rudolf Grauer AG Guill Tool & Engineering Co. Hafner & Krullmann GmbH Vom Hagen & Funke GmbH Heacock Metal & Machine Co. Inc. Heany Industries Inc. Hearl Heaton Heatbath Corp.

Henkel Corp.

Heritage Wire Die Inc. Hezel GmbH & Co. KG Gebruder The Heico Group Hilgeland-Nutap GmbH Hofmann Ceramic GmbH Houghton International Inc. Howar Equipment Inc. Huestis Industrial Huettner Maschineenfabrik GmbH ICE Wire Line Equipment Inc. IDEAL Welding Systems Ideal-Werk India Steel Works Ltd. Industrial Steel & Wire Co. Industrial Heating Magazine Innovites Inosym Ltd. InterWire Products Intras Ltd. Iowa Steel & Wire Italian Trade Commission ITO-SIN (Deyang) Wire & Cable Equipment Co. Ltd. IWE Spools & Handling GmbH IWG High Performance Conductors Inc. IWMA International Wire & Machinery Association Joe Tools Kamatics Corp.

Kemaite Optic & Electric Products Co. Ltd. King Steel Corp.

Kinrei of America KMK GmbH Ernst Koch GmbH & Co. KG Albert Krenn Friedr Krollmann GmbH Kuhar Metallizing Co. Inc. Lamnea Bruk AB Lamnea Bruk USA Lang Vision (Shanghai) Cable Material Co. LaserLinc Inc. Laurel Wire Co.

Leggett & Platt Wire Group Leoni Wire Inc. Lesmo Machinery America Inc. Lloyd & Bouvier Inc. Loos & Co. Inc. J.J. Lowe Associates Inc. L-S Industries Klaus Jakob Messlechnik AG M + E Macchine + Engineering Srl MacDermid Inc. Madem Reels USA Inc. Madem SA Magnetic Technologies Ltd. Magnus Equipment MAGPOWR Maillefer SA Mapre Belgium SA Mario Frigerio SpA Markem-Imaje USA Mathiasen Machinery Inc. William McCaskie Inc. Merritt Davis Metavan NV MFL USA Service Corp - Frigerio The MGS Group (MGS-HallNorthampton) MGS Manufacturing - The MGS Group Micro Products Co. Microdia Mikrotek Machines Ltd. Morgan-Koch Corp.

Mossberg Reel LLC /Boxy Group National Standard National Strand Products Inc. NEPTCO Inc. Nextrom Oy Niagara Composites Industries Inc. Maschinenfabrik Niehoff Niehoff Endex North America Inc. Northampton Machinery Co. The MGS Group Northeast Steel Corp.

Norwalk Innovation Inc. NTB Hitech Ceramics NUMAMERICA/NUMALLIANCE Ohio Rod Products Oklahoma Steel & Wire OM Frigerio OM Lesmo OMA USA Inc. OMCG North America Inc. OMCG SpA PA Industries Panchmahal Steel Ltd. Paramount Die Co. Inc. Parkway-Kew Corp.

Pave Automation Design PEKUtech GmbH Phifer Wire Inc.

Pioneer Machinery Co. Ltd. Pittsburgh Carbide Die Co. Pittsfield Plastics Eng. Inc. Plasmait GmbH Plasticolor/Woywod GmbH Polyone Pourtier SAS Power Sonics LLC Precision Die Technologies Inc. Premier Wire Die PrintSafe Process Control Corp.

Progress Maschinen & Automation Properzi International Inc. Proton Products Ltd. PWM PWT Ltd. QED Wire Lines Inc. Qinhuangdao Yanda-Guohai Stainless Steel Co. Ltd. Qual-Fab Inc. Queins & Co. GmbH Raajratna Stainless Wire (USA) Inc. Rad-Con Inc. Radcliff Wire Co. Inc. Radyne Corp.

Rainbow Rubber & Plastics Rautomead Ltd. Reelex Packaging Solutions Inc. Reel-O-Matic R.G. Attachments Ltd. RichardsApex Inc. Rimjhim Ispat Ltd. Rizzardi Rohmann LP Rosendahl Maschinen GmbH Rosendahl Nextrom Technologies Roteq Machinery Inc. Saarsteel Inc. SAMP SpA (SAMPSISTEMI) SAMP USA Inc. Sanxin Wire Die Inc. SARK-USA Inc. Sarkuysan SA H A Schlatter AG Schlatter Inc. Schnell (Wire System) SpA Schunk Graphite Technology Sealeze Setic SAS Shanghai Nanyang Shanghai Yingong Wire Products Equipment Co. Ltd. Shijiazhuang Kingway Metal Products Co. Shuster-Mettler Corp.

Sictra Srl SIKORA International Corp.

Simpacks continued on reverse

Singleton Reels Sirio Wire Srl Sivaco Wire Group Sjogren Industries Inc. Skaltek Inc. SKET Verseilmaschinenbau GmbH Sonoco Crellin Inc. Sonoco Products South Fence Machinery Ltd. SPX Precision Components FENN Division Staku-Anlagenbau GmbH Steuler Anlagenbau GmbH & Co. KG August Strecker GmbH & Co. KG Summit City Enterprises T & T Marketing Inc. TAK Enterprises Inc. Talladega Machinery & Supply Taubensee Steel and Wire Co. Taylor Tech Union Ltd. Taymer Industries Inc. Team Meccanica Srl Techalloy Welding Products Technical Marketing Services Teknor Apex Co. Tensor Machinery Ltd. Teurema Thermcraft Inc. Thermoplastics Engineering Corp.

Timco Inc. Tremefil SA Troester GmbH & Co. KG Tubular Products Co. Tulsa Power LLC United Wire Co. Inc. Unitek North America Inc. Uniwire International Ltd. Urbano Associates US Synthetic Wire Die Vandor Corporation Vitari SpA Vollmer America Inc. Wafios AG Wafios Machinery Corp.

Wardwell Braiding Machine Co. Wardwell Italy SRL Watson Parts & Service Weber & Scher Mfg. Co. Inc. Welding Wire Machineries Srl Windak Wire & Cable Asia Magazine Wire & Cable Technology International Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp. wire 2010/Messe Düsseldorf North America The Wire Association International Inc. Wire Journal International Wire Lab Co.

Wire Machine Systems Inc. WireCo WorldGroup WireWorld Witels Albert USA Ltd. Woodburn Diamond Die Inc. World B.C. Co. Ltd. Worth Steel & Machinery Inc. Woywod Kunststoff Maschinen GmbH Wyrepak Industries Inc. Yield Management Corp.

Zapp Precision Wire Inc. Zhejiang Minmetals Zumbach Electronics Corp.

IFE EXHIBITING COMPANIES American Metal Market (AMM) Anderson Controls, Inc. Barbarotto International BM Rebuilders Carlo Salvi, S.p.A. Chi Ning Co. Ltd. Cinco Industries Cold Header Machine Creative Carbide Fastener World Fastener Industry News (FIN) Gem International Hariton Machinery Impact Global Machinery Ingramatic Tortona Intools Ltd. I-Tech International International Fastener Machinery & Suppliers Association (IFMA) Jagular Industry Ltd. Jian Hwa Enterprise Ltd. J + J Carbide KCS Enterprise Kingwin Precision Co. Ltd. Konfu Enterprise Co. Ltd. Metal Forming Systems, Inc. Nedschroef Herentals ORT Italia S.p.A. Plan-E-Tech Industries Inc. Reed Machinery Inc. Rockford Manufacturing Corp.

Sacma Machinery Corp.

Sakamura USA Inc. Scientific Forming Technologies Corp.

Talleres Saspi SA Te Hung Enterprise Co. Ltd. Truform Equipment Inc. Universal Punch Corp.

U.S.A. Carbide Tooling Wrentham Tool Products

2008 copper prices: a period of extremes Below, John E. Gross, a veteran copper analyst, discusses the volatile copper markets and answers questions from WJI. If one believes that history has a way of repeating itself, then the stunning year in terms of the price for copper may not be so surprising. But industry consumers of the red metal would have to be truly stoic in nature not to be numbed by what has happened in such a short time. It was just a little more than a half year ago, July 2, 2008, to be exact, that the Comex price of copper closed at a record high $4.08 per pound. Today, copper is trading at the $1.35 range, down $2.73, or two thirds of that historic peak, and it may well fall further.

How and why did the market rise this way? What caused the precipitous fall? To better understand what is happening now it helps to look back at events and facts that read more like fiction than reality.

One can say the roots of this bull market have their origin in 2002, following the dot.com bubble burst that dropped equity prices sharply lower. Coupled with the horrific 9/11 attack that shook the global John E. Gross economy, the copper market was in a near depression. Global copper consumption in 2002 declined by almost 200,000 metric tons (MT), or 1.3%, the first such loss in a decade. Copper prices slumped to the 60¢ range, a near 15-year low and a blow to cable companies with large inventories.

In response to the ensuing weak demand, depressed prices and excess inventories (a record high 1.27 million MT), producers slashed output in 2002 and 2003 as losses mounted. As actions were being taken to restore market balance, an “x” factor began to have an effect: China. Consumption there continued to rise, and in 2002, China topped the U.S., then the world’s largest producer and consumer of refined copper, in both production and consumption. That change in the world order of supply and demand was a key element for the events that would follow.

Typically, bull markets don’t begin with a bang. Rather, the early stages tend to be long drawn-out affairs, with periods of doubt that the markets will ever fully recover again. But recover they did. By the fourth quarter of 2003, inventories held in exchange warehouses had fallen some 575,000 MT, or 45% from the peak, with the price closing above the $1 level for the first time since 1997.

As 2004 got underway, it became increasingly apparent that a rising trend was developing, one that attracted the attention of the speculative community, including major hedge funds.

Wild changes in copper prices in 2008 made for the best and worst of times for some wire and cable producers.

From this point, it appeared the bull market had run its course and lower prices would follow. But that did not happen. Throughout 2007, the concept of a long-term bull market in commodities, a “Super Cycle” of sorts, was gaining credibility. The thought was that a new world order was emerging, one where the developing BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) economies, among others, would have an insatiable appetite for commodities for many years to come.

Once again, the copper market reacted. Prices moved higher and not just for copper. Crude oil hit a new high of $145 per barrel and copper soared back to its previous high of $4.08.

High times continued in 2008 until yet another factor came into play: the global economy, suddenly and stunningly, was in turmoil. The first flames erupting in the U.S. domestic housing market ultimately turned into a full-fledged, global conflagration. Major financial institutions suffered massive losses. Markets that had embraced the wonders of easy credit suddenly became risk adverse. Commodity prices began to collapse. In October 2008, copper fell more than $1 a pound, an unprecedented loss in value for inventories.

Today, the global economy and markets face significant problems, some that are deeply complex. Current thinking is that copper prices will fall until the excesses of the past several years are eliminated from the financial system. If history is our guide, however, once this phase of contraction is completed, a new cycle of growth will commence for the economy and for copper. And then, maybe, we will find ourselves asking the same questions a decade or so from now.

WJI: Is there a lesson to be learned from what happened or is it that as long as the current financial tools for hedging exists, this same cycle can and will be repeated?

Gross: Cycles in the copper market reflect, in large part, global economic cycles, interwoven with production and consumption of copper itself, as well as inherent speculative influences that are a necessary and integral component of a properly functioning market. Thus, we will see reoccurring cycles in the market. However with a greater level of oversight, we would not have an excessive level of volatility.

We have seen in the past ten years where a greater level of oversight (not greater regulation) by the CFTC, Comex and London Metal Exchange is necessary to prevent unusual and destructive market behavior.

WJI: Was the damage caused by wild price fluctuations in copper prices avoidable?

Gross: Potentially, yes. Nobody has control over the market price of a commodity, but there are ways to offset the downturns. The key is to have a proactive strategy to offset price risk. For example, a company selling a product for future delivery can lock in the metal price at the time of order with a corresponding purchase of metal in the futures market. It could also offset concerns about a drop in inventory value by selling in the futures market. Thus, if the market price fell, reducing the value of inventories, the futures market transaction would be rising in value, negating the physical inventory loss.

WJI: If you were the copper czar of the world, is there any one action you would suggest be implemented?

Gross: Contrary to the view that a “bubble” cannot be identified until well after the fact, enough evidence exists that the early stages of such conditions can be identified.

Thus, the appropriate actions, be it through regulation, oversight, trading/position limits, financial requirements and or tax levies, can and should be brought to bear to prevent a massive speculative bubble from forming. ■ John E. Gross is president of J.E. Gross & Co., Inc, a metals management and consultancy firm established in 1987, and publisher of The Copper Journal, an industry newsletter that summarizes key fundamental, economic and financial indicators affecting global metal markets.

Contact: tel. 401-667-0478, cuj144@aol.com, www.copperjournal.com.

JANUARY 2009 | 63

FEATURE

One by one, they climbed on board, and with vast sums of money, multiplied many times by leverage, bought massive quantities of copper. That collective push was enough to shift the price curve from a gradually rising slope to a far more vertical path that was fed by increasingly higher prices.

Aside from a few volatile periods, copper pricing by and large over the last 40-50 years has been docile in nature.

Many companies would buy inventory for months out without concerns of major price swings, but during the first half of 2006, the price could climb 10¢ a pound in a single session, with more than a few days seeing a 20¢ advance.

This was not your grandfather’s copper market, and another factor, an outside influence, was about to come to play that would make the market even harder for industry veterans to fathom. Two major speculators, with opposing market views, fought for supremacy in a test of nerves that only one could win. By May 2006, the copper market was in a full panic mode. By the time the battle was over, copper had soared 44¢ in a single day, closing at $4.08 on May 23. The market slid to $3.10 a few weeks later, and by February 2007, it stood at $2.40, off 40% from the high.

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Hotel Reservation Form Deadline: April 17, 2009

April 25-30, 2009 • Cleveland, Ohio, USA

COMPLETE THIS FORM AND MAIL, CALL OR FAX (One copy per room) MAIL: Interwire/IFE Housing Bureau 100 Public Square, Suite 100 Cleveland, OH 44113-2290

PHONE: Toll Free: 866-557-0943 International: (001) 506-637-0317 FAX: (001) 506-433-3033 MEMBER RATES* NONMEMBER RATES SINGLE/DOUBLE SINGLE/DOUBLE

HOTEL

EMAIL: Send reservation to: housing@positivelycleveland.com INTERNET: Register online at: www.wirenet.org DISTANCE/TRAVEL TIME TO AND FROM I-X CENTER

1. Renaissance Cleveland** (headquarters hotel)

$164/$164

$174/$174

13.5 miles/20-30 minutes (downtown Cleveland)

2. Cleveland Marriott at Key Center**

$169/$169

$179/$179

13.5 miles/20-30 minutes (downtown Cleveland)

3. Crowne Plaza City Centre

$139/$139

$149/$149

13.5 miles/20-30 minutes (downtown Cleveland)

4. Crowne Plaza Cleveland Airport

$119/$119

$129/$129

3.5 miles/10-15 minutes

5. Doubletree Hotel Cleveland Downtown/Lakeside

$135/$135

$145/$145

14 miles/20-30 minutes (downtown Cleveland)

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$135/$135

$145/$145

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7. Marriott Cleveland Airport**

$144/$144

$154/$154

4.5 miles/10-15 minutes

8. Sheraton Cleveland Airport

$137/$137

$147/$147

1.75 miles/5-10 minutes

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MODIFICATION/CANCELLATION Continue to modify and/or cancel reservations through any of these methods with no penalty until April 17, 2009 at 5pm Eastern Daylight Saving Time. After this time, please contact your hotel directly. Cancellations made AFTER April 17th will incur a $15 cancellation fee. In addition, any cancellations made within 3 days of scheduled arrival date may have credit card charged one night’s room and tax. Do not contact your hotel until after April 17th, they will not have record of your reservation until then.

ARTICLE INDEX

2008 Article Article Index Index 2008 2008 WJI Cover Stories Jan.: “Ferrous Report,” p. 38.

Feb.: “wire Düsseldorf preview,” p. 49.

March: “Reels & Spools,” p. 46.

April: “Wire Expo 2008 Preview,” p. 43.

May: “Insulated Wire & Cable,” p. 42.

June: “Take-ups and payoffs,” p. 46.

July: “Equipment: Part 1,” p. 46.

Aug.: “2008 ITC Mexico preview,” p. 48.

Sept.: “Equipment: Part 2,” p. 58.

Oct.: “Ancillary Equipment,” p. 56.

Nov.: “Spring & Fastener Equipment,” p. 44.

Dec.: “Industry Trends: family businesses,” p. 48.

Asian Focus Prysmian contract calls for it to supply power cables to China for 2008 Olympic Village site, Jan., p. 22.

Shanghai PSB HV Power Transmission Project, Jan., p. 22.

Bejing PSB Olympic Village to Bajia 220 kV power transmission project, Jan., p. 22.

The Fujian Province Fuzhou to Fengban 220 kV, I, II project, Jan., p. 22.

Hubei PSB Qingshan to Beiyangqiao 220 kV power transmission project, Jan., p. 22.

Arcelor-Mittal: India acquisitions better than greenfields, Jan., p. 22.

66 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

New Cessna to be flying high - and built in China, Jan., p. 22.

As production goes up in China and India, so does need for coal, Jan., p. 23.

Asia-Pacific region to see stronger growth in Fiber-to-the-Home, Feb., p. 28.

Eliminating outdated steel a challenge, Feb., p. 28.

Chinese Fastener industry advised not to overdo price-cutting, Feb., p. 28.

Asian news briefs, Feb., p. 29.

Auto technology, trends and outlooks were highlighted at India conference, March, p. 20.

China to lay first submarine cable this year, March, p. 21.

Asian Development Bank provides funding to Cambodia for building transmission line, March, p. 21.

Interview: R. S. Vaidyanathan, CEO, Polycab Wires & Cables Ltd., April, p. 24.

Nexans enters joint venture with India’s Polycab, April, p. 25.

China power grid projects powering growth, country’s private enterprise has majority share, April, p. 25.

ARTICLE INDEX U.S.: should next president get tougher with China on trade policy? May, p. 22.

Kiswire plans $80 million cable factory, May, p. 23.

CTC reports on conductor sales to China, May, p. 23.

China economy now 2nd largest based on PPP, May, p. 23.

Belden Regional Road Show in Asia shared tech in 5 cities in 8 days, June, p. 22.

Agreement to create Europe India Gateway, June, p. 22.

Usha Martin seeks duty relief on some exports, June, p. 23.

Wire rod a leader in Chinese export decline, June, p. 23.

Sterlite reports power cable contracts from PGCIL, June, p. 23.

A need for raw materials leads to jockeying for position in Asia, July, p. 30.

Iljin Electric wins largest-ever power cable deal, July, p. 31.

Taiwan’s Yieh Hsing expands wire rod output, July, p. 31.

India’s Cords Cable reports Middle East order, July, p. 31.

Prysmian has ambitious plans for its presence and growth in China, Aug., p. 22.

Sterlite reports two major contracts, Aug., p. 23.

Report: China manufacturing to top U.S. soon, but news not all bad, Sept., p. 24.

ArcelorMittal interest in China Oriental reduced, Sept., p. 25.

Prysmian wins Chinese cable contract, Sept., p. 25.

Wire and cable a part of Chinese show to be held this November, Oct., p. 24.

Land use thwarts some development in India, but one idea shows promise, Oct., p. 24.

ArcelorMittal expects big profits, but plans overall program designed to save US$4 billion, Oct., p 25.

Shaky U.S. finance markets could lead to bigger role for Asia leaders, Nov., p. 24.

A personal touch for Beijing autos ... but drivers can’t get too carried away, Nov., p. 24.

ACL Cables to open rod plant in Sri Lanka, Nov., p. 25.

Sterlite to supply fiber optics to BSNL, Nov., p. 25.

Shanghai company develops submarine cable,” Dec., p. 28.

New guidelines issued for foreign investment in China, Dec., p. 28.

LS Cable wins US$52 million cable order, Dec., p. 20.

Mexico 2008 ITC preview, Aug., p. 48.

Wire Expo 2008 wrapup, Aug., p. 60.

Spring World 2008 preview, Sept., p. 52.

2008 IWCS preview, Oct., p. 52. wire China wrapup, Nov., p. 42.

Wrapup: SpringWorld 2008, Nov., p. 44

Chapter Corner (See WAI Chapter Corner)

Conferences/Exhibitions Wrapup: 2007 IWCS, Jan., p. 36. wire Düsseldorf preview, Feb., p. 48.

Wire Expo 2008 preview, April, p. 42.

Wire Expo 2008 update, May, p. 50.

Wrapup: wire Düsseldorf, June, p. 38.

Wire China 2008 preview, Aug., p. 38.

Wrapup: wire Southeast Asia, Dec., p. 26 Wrapup: Wire Bologna 2007, Dec., p. 46.

Fastener Update UID program offers practical distribution education, Jan., p. 27.

Fastener company closes after more than a century in business, Feb., p. 36.

JANUARY 2009 | 67

ARTICLE INDEX

Top 10 Chinese fastener brands, Feb., p. 36.

German company expands with the acquisition of 2 fastener companies, March, p. 28.

NFDA to celebrate 40th anniversary, March, p. 28.

Company website offers updated fastener industry information, March, p. 28.

Fastener Fair is June 11-12 in U.K., April, p. 32.

Bisco Industries opens 36th facility, April, p. 32.

Reed Machinery to rep for Carlo Salvi, April, p. 32.

Boeing ‘Dream’ plane highlights changes forced on fastener industry, May, p. 28.

Sundram Fasteners plans expansion, May, p. 28.

Fastener exhibition set for Hungary, May, p. 28.

Fastener hides surfaces for clean look, July. p. 36.

NFDA to develop member reports, Aug., p. 28.

Fastener Fair Coventry draws well, Aug., p. 28.

Lombard invests in Taiwan company, Aug., p. 28.

Anixter acquires QSN/QSM, Sept., p. 30.

ITC finds against steel nails from China, four U.S. companies cleared, Sept., p. 30.

B/E Aerospace to open plant, Sept., p. 31.

Anixter buys 2 European fastener firms, Oct., p. 34.

ITW is named an American beauty, Oct., p. 34.

Software aids process of fastener production, Oct., p. 36.

Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner is less of a “dream” for fastener manufacturers, Nov., p. 32.

Commerce Department finds against steel threaded rod from China, Nov., p. 34.

Anixter completes WCWC buy, Nov., p. 34.

Precision Castparts acquires Seattlebased aerospace company, Dec., p. 30.

NFDA endorses training program, strengthens partnership with 2 bodies, Dec. p. 30.

Fiber Watch

Uses of composites in prototype jet requires fewer fasteners, June, p. 28.

Updated book offers far more parts, June, p. 28.

Honeywell sells unit to BE Aerospace, July, p. 36.

U.S. DOC ‘nails’ Chinese companies, okays producers from the UAE, July, p. 36.

68 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Leoni expands fiber optics business, Jan., p. 26.

South Africa okays undersea cable, Jan., p. 26.

Corning reports its first sale of ‘bendable’ fiber, Jan., p. 26.

Nexans lays 30-ton submarine cable across Lake Constance in Germany, Feb., p. 32.

EASSy project gets further funding, Feb., p. 32.

OFS introduces bendable optical cable, Feb., p. 32.

Prysmian Cables & Systems to supply German town with FTTH network, March, p. 24.

Fiber cable designed for airport uses, March, p. 24.

Prysmian reports Libyan cable contract, April, p. 31.

Corning offers product suite for European MDU market, April, p. 31.

Australia to offer more broadband, April, p. 31.

Top 5 list: why fiber over copper, April, p. 31.

Based on results to date, U.S. business use of optical fiber has long way to go, May, p. 26.

Philippine service to be expanded, May, p. 26.

FOA supports new fiber nomenclature, May, p. 26.

FTTH subscribers up sharply, June, p. 26.

Politics - with a fiber optic edge/pledge, June, p. 26.

Offer them broadband access, and the broadband-hungry are willing to row, July, p. 34.

Fiber flying high in wire harness role, July, p. 34.

Fiber showing strong gains over copper, Aug., p. 26.

Cuba and Venezuela plan fiber link, Aug., p. 26.

Fiber performed at Olympic-level, Sept., p. 28.

Greece to invest in its fiber network, catch up to other European countries, Oct., p. 32.

Cable launch set for June 2009, Oct., p. 32.

Alcatel-Lucent wins defense contract, Oct., p. 32.

Verizon: FiOS on fiber path to success, Nov., p. 30.

Verizon gambles on FiOS network, Dec., p. 28.

Marshall Islands to invest in submarine fiber optic cable, Dec., p. 28.

Suo Cable Net taps Alcatel-Lucent for GPON use in Japan, Dec., p. 28.

Industry News: January Lincoln Electric enters joint venture with Chinese company, p. 10.

Alcatel-Lucent to link East Africa to the Gulf, p. 10.

Rolled Metal Products acquires Torrington Brass & Steel, p. 12.

WireCo WorldGroup reports acquisition of U.S. Reel Corporation, p. 12.

The Intertek Group relocates its wire and cable testing lab to Texas, p. 16.

Beta Steel merges its operations with MNP Corp., p. 16.

Amaral to rep for Rosendahl Nextrom, p. 16.

Fushi International to invest in Copperweld, p. 19.

Rautomead supplies 2nd caster for Lamifil, p. 19.

Morgan: upgrade good for ArcelorMittal plant, p. 19.

Channel Prime to rep for Teknor Apex TPEs, p. 19.

ARTICLE INDEX

Kobe Steel reports joint venture in China, p. 10.

Nexans reports 5-year, US$82 million extension to Canadian cable contract, p. 10.

New dates for Interwire 2009, p. 11.

B3 Cable Solutions plans to acquire cable business from Usha Martin, p. 11.

Arcelor-Mittal reports investment to expand wire rod capacity in Brazil, p. 11.

Prysmian reports contracts in China, p. 11.

The InterWire Group opens Mexico facility, p. 12.

Evraz bids U.S. $2.3 billion for Oregon Steel, p. 12.

Prysmian wins South American power contract, p. 12.

JANUARY 2009 | 69

ARTICLE INDEX

Industry News: April

CommScope okay on Andrews Corp.; acquisition requires a divestiture, p. 21.

TELE-FONIKA updates int’l status, reports new offices, names, p. 21.

Industry News: February Germany’s Siemens to acquire Morgan Construction Company, p. 10.

Wire Expo: a call for booth listings, p. 10.

Warren Buffett to buy Marmon Group, p. 10.

Marmon Group’s cable company roster, p. 11.

General Cable unit gets 1st sub. power contract, p. 12.

IWG acquires Hamilton Products, p. 12.

IFE to co-locate with Interwire in 2009, p. 14.

Wire Expo 2008: only 23 booths remain, p. 16.

Leoni Group acquires Robot-tec, p. 16.

Teknor Apex Company division to cease use of lead in PVC products, p. 18.

ABB power cable deal with Chinese power supplier sets 2 industry firsts, p. 20.

Draka to be sole Draka Comteq owner, p. 20.

April 12th WCMA dinner to honor 2008 industry award winners, p. 20.

Russian firm adds reinforcing wire strand capacity, p. 22.

SuperPower to get DOE technology, p. 22.

Cimteq notes 10th year mark as provider of cable industry software, p. 26.

Industry News: March Prysmian lands a US$34 million power cable contract in Middle East, p. 10.

Leoni awarded big Swiss contract, p. 10.

70 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Superior Essex to consolidate its North American magnet wire network, p. 10.

Momentum builds for wire Düsseldorf, p. 11.

New cabling association formed, p. 11.

Bekaert plans new steel cord plant in Russia, p. 12.

Cable outages plague Internet service, p. 13.

Arcelor Mittal India gets first okay for big steel project in state of Orissa, p. 13.

Etna Products in European joint venture, p. 13.

Davis-Standard to host seminar, p. 14.

IISI: global crude steel production was up 7.5%, p. 14.

Gerdau Ameristeel to expand mill, p. 15.

TAK to represent Tekno-Detaljer, p. 16.

Extrusion tool company formed, p. 16.

4th General Cable plant chosen as a ‘Best Plant’ winner, p. 19.

Gehr Ind. to shut plant, Commission Brokers to handle machinery sale, p. 19.

ISW opens warehouse in Houston, Texas, p. 20.

New NIMSCO location, p. 20.

Leoni Group plans to acquire a half-interest in Korean wire company, p. 10.

Japan’s Kobe Steel to establish welding materials company in China, p. 10.

Prysmian lands Libya telecom deal, p. 10.

Bekaert plans to acquire full ownership of Beksa (Turkey), p. 10.

Cables: the art of untangling them, p. 11.

Keystone reduces salaried ranks, gets billionaire shareholder, p. 12.

South African company opens telecommunication facility, p. 12.

TELE-FONIKA reports 2 cable deals, p. 12.

Consortium to build optical fiber cable system linking U.S. and Japan, p. 12.

Sictra Srl joins The Eurolls Group, p. 14.

Niles Expanded Metals to represent mesh-wire cloth manufacturer, p. 16.

Officers named for ANTAAC, Mexican wire association, p. 16.

U.S. ITC determines spring products were sold at less than fair value, p. 16.

China 2007 wire/cable exports up, p. 16.

U.S. communications cable systems market tops $13 billion in 2007, p. 16.

New location in Pennsylvania for Allied Wire & Cable, p. 19.

PolyOne opens 3rd color development center in China, p. 19.

Rea Magnet Wire reestablishes CTC operations at Fort Wayne plant, p. 20.

Northern Wire cited by John Deere in supplier recognition program, p. 20.

Gem Gravure Co. awarded ISO 9001:2000 certification, p. 22.

Sea Wire and Cable, Inc. awarded AS9100 certification, p. 22.

Industry News: May CommScope seeks okay to close operation in Seneffe, Belgium, p. 10.

Nexans logs marine cable deal in China, p. 10.

ARTICLE INDEX

Southwire to expand Florence plant, p. 10.

Prysmian awarded umbilicals contract, p. 11.

ArcelorMittal to close Canadian mill, p. 12.

Nexans wins contract for power cable system between Finland and Sweden, p. 14.

Northwire expands, relocates in Asia, p. 14.

Berkshire Hathaway completes initial acquisition of Marmon Holdings, p. 14.

Morgan Con. to supply rod mill in Brazil, p. 16.

Superior Essex may close French plant, p. 16.

Alloy Engineering celebrates 65 years of doing business, cites strong growth, p. 16.

Lincoln Electric acquires ElectroArco, p. 16.

Koch and WTHK enter joint venture, p. 16.

Wiring issues grounds American Airline, p. 19.

New name for ESTEVES, p. 20.

Study: strong SCS market, fiber to expand copper lead, p. 20.

JANUARY 2009 | 71

ARTICLE INDEX

AT&T: copper not by the numbers, p. 21.

IMin buys kaolin business from Huber, p. 21.

Industry News: June CommScope to close Brazil facility, p. 10.

Melrose to buy FKI Plc, the parent company of Bridon International, p. 10.

Tele-Fonika subsidiary supplying high-voltage cable for Odessa, p. 10.

Draka to close Vigo plant in Spain, p. 11.

Sonoco offers waste reduction service, p. 11.

Sam Dong Co. opens Tennessee plant, p. 12.

Carlisle completes its buy of Carlyle Inc., p. 12.

Belden Inc. to lay off 135 employees at Richmond plant, p. 13.

Watermill Group acquires C&M, p. 13.

German subsidiary of General Cable awarded fiber optic contract, p. 14.

72 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

NKT lands Dutch cable contract, p. 14.

PWM names Amaral as new U.S./Canadian distributor, p. 14.

Fushi Copperweld expansion on target for Dalian, China facility, p. 15.

Saudi order represents Gauder Group’s 700th drum twister line, p. 16.

EU may act on rod imports from China, Moldova and Turkey, p. 16.

Prysmian contracts include cables for Kazakhstan oil and gas facility, p. 19.

Furukawa-Draka settle patent suit, p. 21.

Russian company reports wire advance, p. 21.

Industry News: July South Korea’s LS Cable to acquire Superior Essex for $900 million, p. 12.

International Wire Group to acquire the U.S. business of Global Wire, p. 12.

CommScope to expand reel recycling, p. 13.

General Cable Corporation continues its steady path of global acquisitions, p. 14.

Rea Magnet Wire enters 2 JVs in China, p. 14.

Ansteel and Bekaert enter partnership, p. 14.

Prysmian buys German cabler, p. 16.

U.S. ITC: 6 wire rod duty orders to continue, Canadian one to end, p. 19.

Lincoln Electric Holdings plans to build consumables plant in China, p. 19.

El Sewedy Cables to build plant in Egypt, p. 20.

Schleuniger Group acquires PAWO AG, p. 23.

Leoni lands contract from Airbus, p. 23.

Ashland Distribution China to represent Teknor Apex in China, p.

24.

Repco Industries to represent Sikora, p. 24.

Rea Magnet celebrates 75 year mark, p. 25.

Autac reports OEM contracts, p. 25.

Davis-Standard LLC to host extrusion workshop in October, p. 26 Belden to buy WLAN equipment/software firm, p. 26 Friedrich Kocks GmbH opens office in China, p. 26

Industry News: August Bekaert to close Belgium plant as part of reorganization in Europe, p. 10.

Prysmian-led consortium lands power cable contract in Qatar, p. 10.

Mexican wire company plans to open Texas plant, p. 10.

Open House for new Champlain Cable facility, p. 11.

NEC and Sumitomo report plans to buy cable firm from Longreach Group, p. 12.

Superior Essex to close French plant, p. 12.

U.K. company wins wind farm contract, p. 12.

China: steady growth projected for insulated wire and cable through 2011, p. 12.

SEA Wire and Cable to expand plant, p. 14.

IWG plans to consider ‘strategic alternatives’, p. 14.

Bekaert to sell its coating activities unit, p. 16.

Date set for return of wire Düsseldorf in 2010, p. 16.

Schleuniger acquires PAWO Systems, p. 19.

IEWC acquires Control Master Products, p. 19.

Sterlite seeks to buy ASARCO, p. 19.

American Kuhne moves to new location, p. 20.

Malaysia power cable project to continue despite loss of key company, p. 20.

Niehoff extends ties with Russian body, p. 20.

Mechel OAO subsidiary chooses Ernst Koch for plant expansion, p. 20.

Atlantic Wire to close operations, p. 10.

Molex Incorporated unit acquires majority share in Turkish cablemaker, p. 10.

Draka to close wire plant in U.K., p. 10.

Ceremony celebrates 1 billion ft of defect-free cable production, p. 11.

Severstal unit buys Redaelli Tecna, Italian-based wire-rope producer, p. 12.

CommScope reports consolidations, p. 14.

CCPI acquires Able Wire Company, p. 16.

PS Costruzioni reports a significant contract with the El-Sewedy Group, p. 16.

WireCo WorldGroup makes capital investment to expand its capacity, p. 20.

Italy’s OMD celebrates its 60th anniversary, p. 20.

REELEX adds R&D wing, p. 21.

Tenova Group acquires majority share in Core Furnace Systems, p. 21.

IWCS event to include an expanded role by CCCA in technical program, p. 22.

1 year out, new company reports positive signs for its equipment, p. 22.

Eurolls Group to celebrate growth, opening of new Cortinovis factory, at special event in Italy on Oc. 10, p. 23.

Nexans closes Intercond deal, p. 23.

Industry News: October SARK to open U.S. production plant, first such venture for Turkish business, p. 12.

Gerdau to build mill in Argentina, p. 12.

Anixter International agrees to acquire World Class Wire & Cable, p. 12.

Gauder Group demonstration of technology ends with welcome ‘twist’, p. 12.

U.S. Department of Commerce to be a key supporter of Interwire 2009, p. 13.

Nucor plans to restart Kingman mill, p. 13.

American Kuhne reports sale of its 1000th extruder since 1997, p. 14.

Electrical Manufacturing Expo to be held November 3-5 in Orlando, p. 14.

Draka to close Wales plant, p. 14.

Prysmian reports winning submarine power link cable contract in Qatar, p. 16.

Company outlook still unclear, but not its cable production, p. 16.

Madem Group: company has invested $45 million over the last 5 years, p. 18.

Italy’s Continuus-Properzi reports contract from Pakistan company, p. 20.

ArcelorMittal unit in Germany orders steel wire rod mill from SMS Meer, p. 20.

Lincoln Electric notes completion of mill update for subsidiary, p. 21.

Sonoco Products Company earns key certifications for stewardship, p. 22.

B&H Tool reports Brazilian contract, p. 22.

IWMA seeks both applicants and contributions for scholarship fund, p. 22.

ITC determines imports from China threaten U.S. wire garment industry, p. 22.

Bekaert notes changes in Latin America units, p. 16.

New location in Wisconsin for AWC, p. 18.

U.S. subsidiary of TELE-FONIKA rushes cable needed for Hurricane Ike relief, p. 18.

Italian companies join forces to offer full welding wire equipment lines, p. 20.

W. L. Gore joins Ethernet Alliance, p. 21.

Oktoberfest draws 150 attendees, p. 22.

Industry News: November El Sewedy Cables reports plans to build $150 million cable plant in Saudi Arabia, p. 10.

New Cortinovis Machinery plant opens, 3 Eurolls operations now in 1 complex, p. 10.

Government support: Interwire 2009, p. 11.

Alaska fiber project attains milestone, p. 11.

Niehoff GmbH building new plant for headquarters in Schwabach, Germany, p. 12.

Coleman Cable to shift Oswego Wire work, cut 53 positions at plant, p. 14.

IISI changes name, notes new members, p. 16.

AMSC ships superconductor wire, p. 22.

New location for FMS USA, p. 22.

Davis-Standard opens new office, p. 22.

RAD-CON relocates corporate offices, p. 22.

Industry News: December CommScope to close Georgia plant, will transfer production to Mexico, p. 10.

JANUARY 2009 | 73

ARTICLE INDEX

Industry News: September

Study projects strong growth for U.S. structured cabling through 2013, p. 16.

Scott Brass closes 2 plants, p. 16.

Air Nail files for 2nd bankruptcy, p. 18.

India’s Sterlite wins power grid order, p. 18.

Cable company to locate business in Mexico to export from industrial park, p. 18.

Bekaert and Angong Steel establish steel tire cord joint venture in China, p. 18.

Liha completes wire company acquisition in China, p. 19.

3M reports purchase of Italy’s Grafoplast SpA, p. 20.

Superior Essex among those cutting workforce, p. 20.

Technical Articles: “Effect of additional shear strain layer on microstructure and tensile strength of fine drawn wire,” by Satoshi Kajino and Motoo Asakawa, Jan., p. 58.

“A wiredrawing teaching laboratory at Rensselaer,” by Roger N. Wright, Jan., p. 64.

“New TCHP drawing dies with unprecedented performance,” by Richard E. Toth, John M. Keane and Ivi Smid, Jan., p. 68.

“Failure mechanism of cemented

FEBRUARY 2009

ARTICLE INDEX

Carris Reels buys half-interest in the reel business of J. Hamelin Industries, p. 10.

Cerro Wire layoffs likely permanent, p. 10.

Cable Connection and Wilco Wire Technology announce mergers, p. 10.

Niehoff Endex hosts open house, p. 11.

Final wishes of Pelican Wire founder turns company over to employees, p. 12.

74 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

tungsten carbide dies in the wire drawing process of steel cord filament,” by Randy Lu, Luis Minarro, Yea-Yang Su and Robert Shemenski, Feb., p. 136.

“Emerging applications for copperclad steel and aluminum wire,” by Alan Gibson, Feb., p. 142.

“Simulation of temperatures in the wiredrawing process,” by Magnus Jarl and Henrik Overstam, Feb., p. 150.

“Improved cold-drawn eutectoid steel wires based on residual stress measurement and simulation — Part 1: residual stress characterization,” by J.M. Atienza, J. Ruiz-Hervias and M. Elices, March, p. 70.

“The influence of surface treatments on the risks of delayed fracture on high-strength cold-headed bolts,” by Dr. B. Resiak, Dr. M. Confente, René Cathiard and Bernard Stark, March, p. 76.

“PVC improvement: a new range of eco-compounds,” by Claudia Attanasio and Laura Colloca, March, p. 80.

“The application of Laser Doppler Velocimetry for the non-contact speed/length measurement and sequential printing of wire and cable products to decrease costs and improve productivity,” by Les Jenson and Mike Kordik, April, p. 164.

“The influence of surface treatments on the risks of delayed fracture on

S PECIAL R EPORT: T OP C ABLE C OMPANIES – PART 2 Also featuring: • Compounds & Colorants

Komami, Motoo Asakawa, Satoshi Kajino and Hiroaki Kubota, July, p. 68.

“Advanced semi-automatic straightening technology,” by Marcus Paech, July, p. 74.

“Thermodynamic wire transformation process in the manufacture of steel tire cord,” by Thomas W. Tyl, July, p. 80.

“Mordica Lecture: My professional career and experiences in the wire industry,” by Dr. Bhaskar Yalamanchili, Aug., p. 74.

“The Mobile Impact Tester for cold heading research at Ivaco Rolling Mills, by Michel Hone, Nicholas Nickoletopoulos and Darryl Seaman, Aug., p. 82.

“Fire refined copper rod production in a clean environment,” by Giulio Properzi and Vladimir Djukic, Aug., p. 88.

“Analysis of the forming of points in wire nails,” by Lucas Franciga, Jorgelina Geisler, Paulo Cetlin and Cristiano Cunha, Sept., p. 70.

“Improvement of straightness in coiled bar with roller leveler straightener,” by Ryota Hamada, Motoo Asakawa, M. Nagahira and M. Amari, Sept., p. 81.

“Decoding codes, standards and fire safety markings,” by Per Nelson, Marc Normandin, and Thomas Muehle, Sept., p. 88.

ARTICLE INDEX

high-strength cold-headed bolts,” by Walt Ogrodnik, April, p. 170.

“Rod cooling solutions to wire opportunities,” by Christian Bonilla and Dmitri Sidorenko, April, p. 176.

“Development of ultra high-strength wire for offshore applications,” by Andrew Bell, Shaun Hobson, John Wilkinson, Chris O’Connor and Sara Sefton, May, p. 78.

“Drawing of shape-memory alloy wire and development of easy-release screw,” by Kazunari Yoshida, Akihito Ema, and Ken-ichi Komaki, May, p. 89.

“Optimization of strength and forming behavior of SiCr-alloyed oil-hardened spring steel wire,” by Dr. Kersten Liebermann, Prof. Hans-Jürgen Schorcht, Prof. Mathias Weib and Prof. Ulf Kletzin, May, p. 95.

“Processing of wire from antiquity to the future,” by Horace Pops, June, p. 78.

“Leoni Histral® - The cadmium-free alternative for cable manufacturers,”

by Maik Bayersdorfer, Martin Kemethmueller, Wolfgang Steuff and Michael Scharf, June, p. 89.

“Plasma: a clean and cost-effective alternative to chemical and heat treatment,” by Igor Rogelj, June, p. 95.

“The effect of thermal expansion of dies on dimensional accuracy in drawn bar and wire,” by Ryosuke

“Steel patenting technology in the manufacture of steel tire cord,” Thomas W. Tyl, Oct., p. 80.

“Fabrication of shaped medical testing wire by drawing,” Kazunari Yoshida and Miki Matsunaga, Oct., p. 88.

“FEM simulation of wire fracture phenomena during multi-pass drawing,” Andriej Milenin, B.P. Gautham, Sharad Goyal, Jan W. Pilarczyk and Zbigniew Muskalski, Oct., p. 93.

“Evaluation of motor winding insulation performance under pulse waveforms through electrical measurements,” Andrea Cavallini,

WIRE JOURNAL

®

Hats off to the world’s top cable companies highlighted in February’s Wire Journal International (WJI).

WJI editors tip their hats to the best in the industry with an extended view of the world by region in this second part of the series that that began with a feature in the January 2009 issue.

Be a part of the magic with a display ad touting your company’s top feats, while all eyes will be focused on the industry’s crowning achievements. A second feature on compound and colorant topics will share the stage.

To formally reserve ad space we invite you to call the WJI Sales team today, before this offer disappears.

INTERNATIONAL

Contact WJI’s Sales Team: Tel.: 001-203-453-2777 Bob Xeller E-mail: bxeller@wirenet.org Anna Bzowski E-mail: abzowski@wirenet.org

JANUARY 2009 | 75

ARTICLE INDEX

Davide Fabiani, and Gian Carlo Montanari, Nov., p. 60.

“Effect of die semi-angle and multipass drawing on additional shear strain layer,” Kazuki Hosoda, Motoo Asakawa, Satoshi Kajino and Y. Maeda, Nov., p. 68.

“Zinc-aluminum coating: management of Galfan® lines,” René Branders and Andrew Stacey, Nov., p. 74 “Effect of high-speed drawing on properties of high-carbon steel wires,” by Ivo Nemec, Bogdan Golis, Jan W. Pilarczyk, Ryszard Budzik and Wieslaw Waszkielewicz, Dec. p. 63.

“Effects of initial strength and initial diameter of as-patented state on delamination sensitivity of UHT steel cords,”

by Takanari Hamada and Naoyuki Sano, Dec. p. 69.

“Effect of back-tension in drawing on diameter of bar and wire,” by Hiroaki Kubota, Motoo Asakawa and Satoshi Kajino,” Dec. p. 75.

WAI Chapter Corner Kain the featured speaker at Western Chapter meeting, Jan., p. 34.

New England Chapter has scheduled its 2008 annual meeting for January.

Jan., p. 35.

76 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Poland Chapter reports plans for 2008, Feb., p. 41.

Good memories (and magic) at New England Chapter’s Annual Meeting, March, p. 32.

Ohio Valley Chapter is ready to welcome Wire Expo attendees, March, p. 33.

New England Chapter Scholarship Program seeks applicants for 2008, March, p. 33.

Western Chapter learns about science and use of Nitinol at dinner meeting, March, p. 33.

WAI chapters set golf dates for 2008, April, p. 40.

Midwest Chapter starts scholarship program with Wire Foundation, April, p. 40.

Southeast Chapter becomes 3rd to offer scholarship program, May, p. 38.

Midwest Chapter to tee it up June 23rd, May, p. 39.

Ohio Valley Chapter sets Aug. 7 date for its 6th Annual Golf Tournament, June, p. 34.

Last call: Midwest Chapter tourney, June, p. 34.

New date for Southeast golf tourney, June, p. 34.

Poland and India chapters are both active at 2008 wire Düsseldorf, June, p. 36.

Scholarship winners named for 2008, July, p. 42.

Midwest golf tourney a huge success, Aug., p. 34.

Date set for New England tourney, Aug., p. 34.

3-way tie for first at Ohio Valley Chapter’s 6th Annual Tourney, Sept., p. 38.

Midwest Chapter meeting speaker to assess economy, manufacturing, Sept., p. 38.

New England chapter speaker topic: energy independence technology, Sept., p. 39.

Mid-South Chapter to challenge ‘Fighting Joe’ golf course this month, Sept., p. 39.

Wild West Shootout Golf Tournament set for next month, Sept., p. 40.

Southeast Chapter Golf Tournament: possible shot for first 100+ field, Sept., p. 42.

New England Chapter Golf tourney: a great day for a record field of players, Oct., p. 44.

Midwest Chapter meeting speaker to assess economy, manufacturing, Oct., p. 46.

Abstracts sought for Poland technical conference in 2009, Oct., p. 47.

Southeast Chapter Golf Tourney is the next one up for all golfers, Oct., p. 47.

Speaker assures chapter that ‘green’ energy approach can be win-win deal, Nov., p. 40 Good day + good course = great time for Western Chapter, Dec., p. 38.

New England Chapter returns Jan. 29 to Mohegan Sun for annual meeting, Dec., p. 40.

WAI News WAI 2008: Report to members, Jan., p. 28.

2008 Association organizational chart, Jan., p. 32.

Ron Reed to serve as 2008 WAI president, Jan., p. 33.

Call for papers issued for 2008 ITC Conference, Feb., p. 38.

Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing, Feb., p. 38.

Best WAI papers for 2007 named, Feb., p. 38.

IFE to return to Cleveland for Interwire in 2009, Feb., p. 39.

‘Fundamentals’ schedule set for Wire Expo 2008, March, p. 30.

Indicators point to a good start for Interwire 2009, April, p. 34.

Introducing WJI Extra, April, p. 37.

What’s new on-line at WJI Extra, April, p. 37.

WAI’s Ferrous Wire Handbook to be introduced at Wire Expo 2008, May, p. 31.

Clockwinders continue to celebrate long-time tradition, May, p. 35.

WJI: official magazine at India event, May, p. 36.

Full program slated for Mexico ITC, Oct., p. 39.

WJI Reference Guide: it’s time to update your company listing for 2009, Oct., p. 40.

Reconvene: WAI business continues next month Oct., p. 43.

Government support for Interwire 2009: how the IBP program works, Nov., p. 36.

Commerce Dept. to support Interwire exhibitors, Nov., p. 36.

Trade association CEO: IBP export program worked, Nov., p. 37.

Two believers in other DOC programs, Nov., p. 39.

Reconvene: big decisions announced for Wire Expo 2010, Dec., p. 32.

2009 Mordica Memorial Award goes to Belgium’s Aernoudt, Dec., p. 34.

Bhagwat winner of WAI’s 2009 Donnellan award, Dec., p. 35.

Association’s first webinar features Fed official, cable industry analyst, Dec., p. 35. ■

JANUARY 2009 | 77

ARTICLE INDEX

Program shaping up for Mexico ITC, June, p. 30.

Interwire a ‘Top 200’ trade show event, June, p. 32.

Poland technical symposium draws attendees from 14 companies, June, p. 33.

Monterrey should be an apt host for WAI’s upcoming ITC in Mexico, July, p. 38.

Wanted: industry photo for the cover of the Association’s 2009 Reference Guide, July, 41.

Reconvene set for November 11, Aug., p. 30.

New team at work on program for ‘09, Aug., p. 33.

Timely tradition continues at WAI, Sept., p. 32.

Mexico ITC update, Sept., p. 33.

U.S. Commerce Department will be among the supporters for Interwire, Oct., p. 38.

TECHNICAL PAPERS

TECHNICAL PAPER Helicordâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;a novel method of achieving excellent sliding properties of wire, conductors, and cables Application of polytetrafluoroethylene dispersion by Helicord process can replace the use of talcum powder and its disadvantages, including contamination of subsequent production steps during post-production surface treatment.

By Gerhard Boockmann and Michaela Boockmann

In the wire and cable industry, not only is a smooth and clean surface important for high quality, but also good sliding properties of the product, in order to maintain the smoothness once achieved during following production steps and thus avoid wear of tools and reduce downtime in manufacturing.

The sliding agent most commonly used in many cables at this time is talcum powder, which is cheap, relatively easy to distribute, and provides no serious health issues for workers.

It does, however, usually travel with the conductor and contaminate subsequent production steps.

With the dust settling in all areas of a plant where those following steps are performed, it may not only affect the production quality in certain cases, but also causes considerable expenditure for regular cleaning.

A replacement for this talcum powder has long been sought, and as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), has all the desired

properties, the idea of replacing talcum by PTFE dispersion is not a new one.

Applying PTFE as a powder would not solve the problems described before. Applying PTFE from a dispersion was found to be impossible in industrial production lines.

During tests of different methods of application to the wire surface, it turned out that, due to its properties, it would not stick to the surface as desired and caused the same problems as talc powder if applied as a powder.

Applied as a dispersion, it would coagulate in all types of valves and flaps, and thus corrupt the metering and flow control equipment used in the process.

It has recently been discovered that the Helicord process, when being used with a specially designed metering device, provides a means to distribute PTFE onto wire or cable surfaces evenly and reliably, finally opening up a possibility of

Fig. 1. Depiction of cord wrapped around a wire.

Fig. 2. Braided round cord (upper) and flat, shoelace-like cord (lower) wrapped around a 1.2 mm diameter wire.

78 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Chemical and physical properties of PTFE PTFE is a white solid, with a density of about 2.2 g/cm³. Its melting point is approximately 620.6°F1, but its properties degrade above 500°F. PTFE has excellent dielectric properties. This is especially true at high radio frequencies, making it suitable for use as an insulator in cables. It is commonly used as a water repellent in textiles. It is also well-known that PTFE, among others, has excellent sliding properties as a solid material. Its coefficient of friction is 0.1 or less, which is the lowest of any known solid material. PTFE is available as solid, powder, or as dispersion.

Dispersions are based on water or isopropanol as homogenous phase with solid contents.

Coating processes used on PTFE Processes tested for coating wire or cables with PTFE so far include extrusion, spraying, and bathing. Extrusion processes surely work quite reliably, but layers applied are just too thick for acting as an anti-adhesive only. Spraying and bathing with

Fig. 3. Abrasive braided cords based on combined viscose-aramide, coated with bonded SiC (left), bonded Al2O3 (center) or un-bonded SiC (right).

PTFE dispersion often produce uneven layers, due to surface tension causing formation of droplets.

Besides that the wire needs to be dried after the coating process, either by heating, which causes high energy consumption, or by air blowing, which not only causes high energy consumption, but also formation of dust and loss of material. Spraying also means loss of material, adhesion of PTFE to the surface is usually weak, and often the PTFE would coagulate in the spray nozzle, making the process unreliable and causing costly downtime in production.

Functional principle of Helicord The functional principle of Helicord is based on the friction force between a relatively fast running wire or cable and a slowly moving, and therefore constantly renewed, textile cord wrapped around it (Figs. 1 and 2), giving a multiple 360° contact3-5. The friction force is determined by cord pre-tension, the number of loops around the wire, the angle between wire and cord, the length of the contact zone, properties of the cord, and roughness of the wire surface. Applications of Helicord can be divided into three groups: cleaning, grinding or polishing, and coating.

Cleaning. The operating conditions for wire cleaning are: wire and cord run in opposite directions, so that the wire only has contact to clean, unused cord where it leaves the contact zone; pretension-regulated cord release from the supply spool, and; collection of the cord under controlled speed.

Cleaning is performed by wiping with dry, absorptive cord.

If required, the cleaning process can be supported by cleaning liquids, such as aqueous solutions or solvents, metered onto the cord by a pump. The actual setup, including the combination of device, cord and optional liquid metering pump, depends on

Fig. 4. Helicord NB55.

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replacing talcum powder in cable production and keeping manufacturing plants clean.

TECHNICAL PAPERS

wire or cable properties before and after preparation and the type of impurities to clean off.

Grinding or polishing. Grinding or polishing of wire is performed similar to cleaning, except for the use of abrasive cords instead of dry absorptive cords. After the abrading process, a second Helicord device is needed, using a dry cord, wiping off loose abraded particles. Abrasive treatment is necessary for removing oxide layers or impurities that have penetrated the surface very deeply, which usually happens during dry drawing processes.

Coating. For the application of coatings, the operating conditions are: wire and cord run in the same direction; speed regulated cord release from the supply spool, and; collection of the cord under controlled tension.

The result is a high extraction of the coating material at the first contact of cord and wire and its even distribution where the wire leaves the contact zone. Wax-like coatings are metered and distributed uniformly on the wire surface by using impregnated cords, supported, if necessary, by a heating device2. The lubricant applied during this process is dosed through the calibration and the speed of the yarn. The following formula is valid: Herein, M is the quantity of lubricant applied on the wire surface (mg/m²), G is the difference in weight of the yarn per meter before and after the application (mg/m), d is the diameter of the drive roll (mm), n is the rotation speed of the drive motor (min-1), V is the wire speed (m/min), D is the diameter

(mm), and F is a corrective factor for the variable drive motor speed.

The yarn consumption can be evaluated as follows: This equals approximately 12 spools per line a year. Liquids or particle-containing dispersions (graphite- or MoS2-dispersions) are metered by a pump. Additions of anti-adhesives, anti-oxidants, primers, “anti stick’’ media, flux aids, slide aids and strip aids are possible and increasingly used with Helicord process in the wire and cable industry.

The applied amount per surface unit can be calculated similar to the case of impregnated cord, which is a great advantage compared to the use of various other application methods.

Application of PTFE dispersion. Although the application of PTFE dispersion to wire or cable surfaces is a coating process like many others, it needs to be done in a different way than previously described due to the very special properties of PTFE. While in most cases Helicord produces best coating results when used in the wire and cord in same direction run mode, this is not true for the application of PTFE. In this case, usually high adhesion of PTFE to the surface and uniform coating is demanded. During the very first test runs, it was soon discovered that this could only be achieved by using the opposite direction run mode, so as to not only distribute the chemical on the surface evenly, as coating as previously described would do, but polish it onto the surface.

On a wire treated that way, the PTFE could in fact not even be

Fig. 5. Helicord NB56.

Fig. 6. Liquid metering pump.

Fig. 7. Wire produced by the 3-step Helicord process.

80 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Cords and devices Cords. Depending on the application and product to be treated, different cords have to be used in order to achieve optimal results. For dry and liquid-supported cleaning, different types of dry round and flat braided cords are available. The basic materials include viscose, polyamide, polyester and aramide. These cords are also used for application of anti-adhesives, anti-corrosives, sliding agents, primers and other additives. The application of PTFE dispersion onto the surface of wire and cable, as described in this paper, may be the most impressive use. In that case, the most preferred cord at this time is a flat braided cord based on textured polyamide.

Abrasive treatment is done by cords containing bonded or un-bonded abrasive particles, such as silicon carbide or aluminum oxide (Fig. 3). After abrasive treatment it is necessary to wipe off the abraded impurities and dust in a second step, using a dry braided cord, to prevent it from travelling into following production steps.

For lubrication of magnet and welding wires with different types of wax, special impregnated Helilub yarns and cords were developed.

Helicord machines NB55 and NB56. The basic devices are NB55 (Fig. 4) and NB56 (Fig. 5).

NB55. The NB55 is a simple model with a manual looping unit, which means the user has to set a certain number of loops himself. It is capable of both cleaning and lubricating applications, but due to the manual control requires attention whenever there are any changes in the environmental parameters. It is therefore recommended as a low-cost laboratory solution. The operating parameters of NB55 are: Cord speed, 4 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 120 cm/min; cord pretension, 2 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 80 N; range of friction force, 6 â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 300 N. NB56. The NB56 is actually a low-cost version of the NB55 and capable only of simple coating applications, as it is not suitable for the wire and cord in opposite directions run mode.

NB57. The NB57 now is the most common model in industrial applications. Being PLC-controlled, it features an automatic looping unit and a friction-controlled operation mode. This means the operator no longer has to set a fixed number of loops, but can enter a value of cord pre-tension and tension, thus determining a certain value of friction between wire surface and cord. The Helicord machine will adjust the number of loops constantly in order to achieve that friction.

Other features include better handling through full integration of all equipment modules, such as a liquid metering

pump or heating unit, and use of an easy-to-use operator panel, allowing the operator to access and change all relevant process parameters very quickly.

Liquid metering pump. For metering cleaning liquids, liquid coatings or additives onto the wire or cable, a liquid metering pump (Fig. 6) was designed. It is based on a gear pump and, in most of the current applications, delivers up to 10 ml/min depending on the setting of a frequency inverter. The dosage of the liquid metering pump is controlled by the wire speed as well as the cord speed, which also depends on the wire speed.

The wire speed is read out by either an internal signal from a wire speed sensor, or an external signal from the wire production line control via an interface. Since the metering pump is mounted to the same frame as the Helicord device, it does not consume any extra space and in-line use of Helicord is not affected.

Metering unit for PTFE-dispersion. Due to the properties of PTFE, both previously described, and the functional principle of Helicord, it is obvious that Helicord process is capable of polishing dispersed PTFE onto wire surfaces. Until very recently, the main problem preventing anyone from doing so was simply the task of metering the dispersion onto the wire without the PTFE particles coagulating in the wrong place.

This task is now performed by a special dispersion metering unit, which avoids putting shear stress to the PTFE. This is achieved by not pumping the dispersion itself, but an expulsion liquid that transmits the force to the dispersion shear stressfree6.

The device consists of two dimensionally stable containers filled with said expulsion liquid, each container holding a flexible bag inside. These bags are filled with PTFE dispersion and connected to a PTFE-filled reservoir and an outlet by a system of valves, working with very poor shear stress.

Initially, the bags should be empty, and the containers completely filled with expulsion liquid. When starting up the process, the dispersion in the reservoir is filled into the bags by slightly compressed air (approximately 200 mbar) on the surface of the dispersion in the main PTFE reservoir.

Expanding now, the bags drive the expulsion liquid out of the containers, into a pump reservoir. Once this startup is over, regular metering is done by pumping a precisely metered amount of expulsion liquid out of the pump reservoir into one container, thus squeezing a certain amount of dispersion out of the bag inside this container, and through the outlet onto the wire being prepared.

At the same time, the bag in the second container is being refilled or in a waiting status, so that when the bag currently being in use is empty, the device will switch between the two containers without interrupting the coating process5. This way, a very precise and reliable high-quality coating process is achieved. Due to the sophisticated setup and control of this dispersion metering unit, it is compatible only with PLCcontrolled Helicord machines, the NB57 series.

Application examples and results Cleaning and application of PTFE dispersion on aluminum wire for the food industry. For wire intended for use in the food

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TECHNICAL PAPERS

seen, as only a very thin layer is applied, but it could also not be rubbed off, as would often happen when PTFE powder is used.

As the PTFE is brought onto the wire right where needed, loss of material is minimal, consisting only of flakes formed of excess PTFE coagulating where the dispersion is polished onto the wire. These flakes can easily be collected, and as the liquid homogenous phase of the dispersion is taken away by the cord constantly moving, there is also no contamination of following production steps6.

TECHNICAL PAPERS

industry, very strict laws and narrow limits regarding any chemical used in the production apply. Being commonly used as anti-stick aid in frying pans and others, PTFE is also ideal as a sliding aid for these applications. For food applications, a two-step surface treatment is necessary; first, removal of drawing lubricant residuals, mainly mineral oils and particles, then application of PTFE. Wire speed in this case was 1000 m/min.

For the first step, a flat braided cord based on textured polyamide and textured aramide at 8 loops and 50 cm/min, and a cleaning liquid at 3 ml/min was used. Cord pretension was set to 12 N, and a friction force of approximately 47 N was obtained. After this treatment, the residual mineral oils were below 2 mg/m2.

For the second step, the same cord at 1m/min and 6 loops, pre-tension set to 10 N and a 20% PTFE dispersion in isopropanol at 6 ml/min were used. The friction force obtained was 30 N. The coefficient of friction was reduced from 0.32 to 0.11; the aspect of the wire was enhanced.

Lubrication of isolated stranded wire. The application of strip aids onto isolated wire is maybe one of the most common uses of talcum powder. Due to the disadvantages involved, a replacement for this dusty, dirty stuff has long been sought after. Applied by Helicord process, PTFE finally turned out not only to be a high quality replacement, but also to pay off in long terms. This has been proven in off-line as well as in-line applications.

Off-line application. The product to be treated off-line was an AWG 22 polyolefine-insulated stranded copper wire with a final diameter of 1.65 mm. The coefficient of friction before treatment ranged between 0.47 and 0.53.

Application of PTFE was done using a dry round cord moving at 1 m/min, and 6 loops around the conductor.

Cord pre-tension was set to 10 N, so a friction force of 30 N occurred. A customer-specific PTFE dispersion was metered onto the wire and cord at 0.8 ml/min. As this was off-line, the wire speed was limited to 50 m/min by the spoolers used.

The result of this treatment was a clean dry even surface of the insulation. The coefficient of friction now ranged between 0.27 and 0.36.

In-line application. The product to be treated in-line was a polyolefine-insulated stranded copper wire with a final diameter of 2.79 mm. As this wire was to be used in encapsulated applications, an anti-adhesive medium needed to be applied to prevent the resin from sticking to the insulation and thus ripping and breaking it.

Application of PTFE was done using a dry flat cord moving at 1 m/min, and an average of 6 loops around the conductor. Cord pre-tension was set to 10 N, and friction force was set to 30 N and controlled by an automatic looping unit. A 20% PTFE dispersion was metered onto the wire and cord at 0.8 ml/min. In this case the wire speed of 200 m/min was given by the user’s line speed. The result of this treatment was a clean dry even surface. The resin did not stick to the insulation, not even after trying to rub off the PTFE layer with a dry cloth.

82 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Cleaning and application of PTFE on welding wire - step process with abrasive treatment. This is maybe one of the most comprehensive uses of Helicord at this time, and the most sophisticated setup, justified to use on more brittle aluminum alloys that are drawn with powder lubricants.

The tasks to be fulfilled directly after drawing to a wire diameter of 1 mm – which are removing drawing lubricant residues, giving the wire a shiny metallic look, and applying a PTFE-based lubricant – require splitting the process into three different treatments (Fig. 7).

The first step is an abrasive treatment, using an abrasive cord at 6 loops and 20 cm/min in the opposite direction run mode, applying a cord pre-tension of 7 N, thus obtaining a friction force of 35 N. As previously described, this demands a cleaning process right afterwards, in order to wipe off the abraded particles. In this case, the same settings as in the first step and a flat braided cord are used, obtaining a friction force of 20 N. In the third step, the final lubrication, a round braided cord, the same settings again, a dispersion metering unit and a 20% dispersion of PTFE in isopropanol at 1.5 ml/min are used, obtaining a friction force of 15 N. Using this setup, the wire is given a very smooth, shiny surface with a metallic gloss by the abrasive treatment and wiping in the first and second step. The PTFE-layer applied in the third step provides very good feedability, finally opening to users the possibility to further develop their products. Latest trials suggest that the same results could be achieved in a 2-step process.

Step process. In some cases, cleaning and lubricating welding wire with PTFE has been proven to be possible in only one step; that is if either the wire is very clean already, or soluble drawing lubricants have been used. The actual efficiency can best be demonstrated by the following example: The product to be treated was a 1.2 mm flux-cored stainless steel welding wire. The requirement was to improve feedability; this was controlled by measuring the friction of the wire in a feeding tube of a specific test setup.

Before treatment, the friction of the wire, as usually sold and used, was an average of over 100 N. Measurements showed that feedability was not only bad, but also very inconsistent, which could easily disrupt any continuous welding process.

This wire was then treated by Helicord process, using a flat viscose-based cord at approximately 35 N and a 2% dispersion of PTFE in isopropanol at approximately 16 ml/m2.

The result was an average friction force of the wire in the test setup of about 4 N. Consistency was much improved, with a variability of friction of about +/- 1 N. On this wire, other types of dispersions have been successfully tested also, with similar, but not quite as good results. Of course, the choice of lubricant and cord as well as of process parameters always depends on the properties and condition of the wire.

However, comparing results of different test series, it becomes evident that lubrication with PTFE, due to its chemical and physical properties, is superior to many other processes and,

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in the welding wire industry, will open new perspectives in product quality and process reliability.

Conclusion Seeing the given application examples and experience gained so far, it is evident that application of PTFE dispersion

by Helicord process can replace the use of talcum powder and the disadvantages that come with it. The reduction of cost caused in following production steps and by downtime for cleaning have to be taken into account for a cost comparison.

Of course the basic material, PTFE, comes at a price higher than that of talc, but as it is applied as a dispersion containing only a small percentage, being effective as sliding, release and strip agent as well as anti-adhesive in extremely thin layers, it is definitely cost-effective.

References 1. http://www2.dupont.com/Teflon_Industrial/en_US/tech _info/techinfo_compare.html.

2. USP 5,382,455 and USP 5,409,535; “Method and Apparatus for Imparting a Sliding Capacity to a Wire,” Priority, Feb. 18th, 1991, Germany.

3. U.S. Application No. 499,410; “Process and Apparatus for Cleaning Wires or the Outer Surface of a Tube,” Priority, Aug. 6th, 2005, Germany.

4. K. Boockmann, G. Boockmann, R. Fichtner and R. Slover, “A Novel Welding Wire Surface Preparation,” Fabtech & AWS Welding Show 2006, Oct. 30-Nov. 2, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. 5. G. Boockmann, M. Boockmann and R. Slover, “A Novel Surface Preparation Technique for the Cable and Conductor Industry by Helicord Process,” IWCS 2007, Nov. 11-14, Orlando, Florida, USA. 6. Patent pending: “Verfahren und Vorrichtung zum Beschichten strangförmiger Materialien mit Fluorpolymerschichten aus Dispersionen,” applied for December 29, 2007. ■

M. Boockmann and G. Boockmann Gerhard Boockmann is the founder and president of Boockmann GmbH, Unterebers-bach, Germany. He is a chemical engineer from the Engineering School of Hamburg, Germany. He previously worked for Schramm AG, which was taken over by Reichhold Chem., Inc., where he dealt with electro-insulating materials. Michaela Boockmann is an electrical engineer who works in sales for Boockmann. She wrote her thesis at Boockmann and began working for the company in 2007. She received a degree from the Würzburg-Schweinfurt University of Applied Sciences, Würzburg, Germany, and holds a post-graduate degree in business engineering. This paper was presented at WAI’s 78th Annual Convention, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, June 2008.

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TECHNICAL PAPER Dynamic preventative maintenance systems (DPMS) for purchasing in the manufacture of steel tire cord Initiation of an effective management program for the PM function in a machine-intensive production facility can result in savings to the plant and help lift product quality to new standards, providing the basis for passing a new supplier program at a potential customer location.

By Ronald E. Alexander and Thomas W. Tyl

Typical steel tire cord manufacturers have relatively large numbers of fine drawing and twisting machines. Large numbers of similar or identical machines lend themselves to dynamic preventative maintenance systems with clarity and these are considered for discussion. However, this does not indicate that DPMS should not be used when small numbers of machines are involved; advantages are analogous. Ideally, during any given week equipment is scheduled for PM of components that historically fail after a given period of service. In addition, a smaller percentage of machines will have similar parts fail due to infant mortality, improper installation, unforeseen abuse and other reasons. Replacement parts are traditionally withdrawn from stores to complete PM and breakdown maintenance. Parts withdraw from stores trigger reorder when a specified low number of parts remain unused in the system. In more advanced systems reorder of a specified number of like-parts can be automatically sent to vendors via fax or email while in less advanced systems store room personnel, lower level purchasing personnel or (in the worst case) higher level purchasing personnel physically reorder the specified number of parts. In some parts systems signatures are required of certain managers (Purchasing, Engineering Operations) before parts can be reordered.

Even in the most advanced, well managed storerooms system scenarios of the previous paragraph effectively increase the cost of parts by 20 to 30 percent; this includes the time value of money as paid-for parts wait in stores, costs associated with re-ordering, costs associated with low-volume ordering and shipping and handling costs. For less advanced stores systems, costs premiums upwards of 40 to 50 percent can apply due to manual reorder, inventory and approval systems.

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Costs can reach an even higher level if reorder initiates re-bidding to help ensure purchase of “lowest cost” parts.

“Piles of Parts” associated with traditional PM and equipment breakdown programs also include the following: Part hoarding. Checking the toolbox, locker or storage area of maintenance technicians commonly reveals unused repair parts stored for personal use. The motivation behind this behavior is simple. At some time, the maintenance technician ran out of a critical part and was unable to repair a machine, so to prepare for this eventuality the technicians created their own storage facility. Now, one must realize that the intention of the maintenance technician is pure. They wish to complete their job. However, one maintenance technician storing one part is very different from all maintenance technicians storing multiplies of several parts. In fact, it is common for maintenance technicians in traditional PM and equipment breakdown programs to personally store more of certain parts than are kept in the storeroom!

Parts at vendors. Maintenance technicians do it, storeroom clerks do it, engineers do it, managers do it and purchasing agents do it – pick up the phone and ask a local vendor to manufacture a few parts in case of emergency. Obviously, this may or may not include a purchase order, meaning the parts either are or are not on the books. However, morally and legally the parts belong to the company.

Emergency parts orders. Insanity can be described as placing an emergency part order when the same part sits in a maintenance technician’s toolbox or has been ordered off the books and is waiting at a vendor’s location. An emergency part order can cost three to five times the value of a part ordered with legitimate lead times.

parts from the storeroom at one time triggering an emergency purchase order for all of the parts. The next maintenance cycle requiring the parts is not due for six months.

High costs of small volume orders. Although 20 of a particular part are used per week, the parts are ordered on a monthly basis after the Parts Inventory is completed by the storeroom clerk. Cost could be reduced dramatically if one order covering requirements for an entire year is placed per year with one vendor.

Many suppliers of the same part. Five different outside vendors supply identical parts, each having 20 percent of the total requirement.

Dynamic preventative maintenance systems Requirements are as follows: ● Review of the maintenance and repair parts needs based on consumption pattern data. The data must be separated into PM parts and emergency repair parts; ● Twelve-month planning of PM projects including firm dates and an exact number of parts required; ● Calculation of PM parts requirements with delivery targets about one week in advance of the scheduled maintenance.

Deliver PM parts and assemblies directly to the maintenance manager without entering the storeroom; and ● Conduct aggressive bidding for one-year lots of identical parts or assemblies.

Award contracts to parts assembly vendors who are responsible to manufacture or purchase all of the parts in an assembly. The parts assembly vendor is completely responsible for the quality of the assembly.

Complete revisions of storeroom inventory quotas to include only emergency repair parts.

Establish controls for auditing parts flow including bar coding of all parts and assemblies and bar coding to identify all involved teammates.

Following is a discussion of each of these phases of this program with the exception of the “needs” program as this must be determined by knowledge of each production facility.

Long range planning and parts requirements A twelve-month preventative maintenance program, usually coinciding with fiscal budget timing, will be needed six or more months in advance of program initiation. Generally, plants with many different machine types and multiples of each type will require a three-year plan to accommodate the various cycles of parts replacements. The plan must be updated annually to allow for changing conditions; it is the basic plan to provide a management approved twelve-month program for preventative maintenance. This plan includes part and assembly requirements with firm delivery timing. The program begs for IT, including bar coding requirements, to automatically inventory parts and assemblies and help capture program savings from inventory reductions and price concessions.

The DPMS must include automatic notification for design engineers to flag high usage parts so that engineering is alerted to consider a part redesign, making the older part obsolete.

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Personnel transporting parts. Particularly for emergency parts orders, it is common for a maintenance technician or engineer to travel to a parts vendor to pick up an emergency part. Any one of these teammates are some of the highest paid teammates in the manufacturing facility. How often is the time involved in picking up emergency parts accounted for in the total price of the part – it is not taken into account.

Parts assembly by technicians. Skilled technicians should be paid to complete preventative maintenance and emergency repair on equipment. The tools necessary to complete their job, including complete assemblies that are commonly changed, should be available for them to complete their work with the shortest amount of down time. It is by far less expensive to pay non-company, semi-skilled labor to complete assemblies than it is to pay a skilled maintenance technician to complete semiskilled work. Misusing skilled technicians in this manner also increases the number of technicians necessary to staff a maintenance organization.

Parts inventories. Commonly completed on a monthly or quarterly basis by a storeroom clerk, parts inventories are rarely factored into the value of a part.

Parts outages. Even with hoarding and parts at vendors, parts outages occur and result in excessive machine down time. How do parts outages occur? The quarterly inventory has not been completed, the technician hoarding the parts is not on shift and the engineer that called the vendor to manufacture and store the part is on vacation.

Equipment down time. Here is a nightmare scenario. Infant mortality occurs to a part on a plating line that should not have failed. The plating line goes down effectively stopping 1/3 of the plant’s production. The part is an assembly that has yet to be assembled by a maintenance technician. The maintenance technician discovers that one part in the assembly is missing.

Although there is a horde of the part on another shift, the maintenance technician is unaware of the horde. The maintenance technician calls the purchasing manager who places an emergency order for the missing assembly part. The maintenance technician drives to the vendor’s location, picks up the part, completes the assembly and then replaces the assembly. How often is machine down time figured into the value of the part – it is not considered.

Poor fitting parts. Poorly manufactured parts should be supplied by a vendor only once. Unfortunately, the same vendor has the lowest price so the purchasing department continues to order from the same vendor.

Unassembled parts. Unbelievably it happens, an assembly is ordered from one vendor using a separate print for each part and the vendor delivers all of the parts in a box unassembled.

Outdated parts. Parts are ordered from a vendor that does not have the latest revision of the part’s drawing.

Drawing revisions. Every time a part is quoted a drawing is included with the request for quote, but the wrong drawing revision is included in the package. An outdated part is delivered with the order.

Purchasing emergencies. A maintenance manager, knowing that a number of preventative maintenance procedures will be completed in the next two weeks, withdraws all of the required

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With few exceptions, wholesale implementation of redesigned parts should coincide with a reordering or re-quoting point to assure that all obsolete parts are consumed and not reordered. It is essential that the engineering group convert the redesigned part or assembly into a procurement requisition package with new accurate quantities and delivery times. This may include involvement from the storeroom, parts currently on order, and any that have been sent out to vendors for repair or assembly. Once all requirements have been refined, requisitions must be cut and forwarded to the purchasing department.

Bidding parts supply and assembly Purchasing department should be supplied with requirements along with computer-generated requisitions electronically approved as required. Purchasing must conduct aggressive negotiation based on annual requirements. Vendors must be informed of the DPMS; this will constitute the majority of business they will receive for the upcoming year. Vendors cannot afford to miss this opportunity. In order to obtain aggressive quote responses, vendors must be supplied with complete sets of drawings for machine shop production items. Parts grouped into assemblies must be well defined since the assembly will be bid as a complete set of parts including assembly. All vendors participating in the DPMS program must understand commitment to the tire cord manufacturer since they will prosper or fail based on delivery and quality provided. It is essential to have after hours and weekend contacts for all vendors in the unlikely case of an emergency.

Choice of vendors is critical to success and they are partners in DPMS. Further, DPMS provides the ability for vendors to plan their production and acquisitions to optimize utilization of equipment, personnel and economies of scale. DPMS will help develop a good customer vendor relationship, paying off in better quality parts and assemblies, lower prices, better utilization of maintenance teammates and higher profits for vendors.

Vendors are required to participate in a bar coding program and provide pick up and delivery services and vendor stocking of parts and assemblies. Small, high volume items like nuts, bolts and washers should be considered for consignment inventory stock, but the main theme is “just-in-time” where the vendor is responsible for managing parts inventories for maintenance and emergency usage. The bar coding system for preventative maintenance parts should work as follows: ● Each part or assembly is assigned a unique bar code including as a minimum the proper part or assembly revision number, the required delivery date, the purchase order number and the vendor code; ● Each vendor generates the proper bar code for the part or assembly being supplied. The bar code is firmly attached to the shipment of parts or assemblies; ● Upon delivery the shipment of parts or assemblies are scanned into a computer database as one shipment using a bar code scanner. Individual parts or assemblies are not scanned for maintenance deliveries; ● Delivery is confirmed by scanning the bar code of a pre-

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ventative maintenance teammate; ● The computer database compares the delivered parts or assemblies with requirements, including the required delivery date. Payment is generated based on the later of the expected delivery date or actual delivery date; and ● A yearly report is generated for every vendor including a statistical Ppk value for on time delivery where early and late deliveries are considered defects. Vendors with low Ppk values are prohibited from participating in future DPMS programs.

In addition to new parts and assemblies, DPMS includes repair and reassembly of all part and assembly requirements.

DPMS does not allow for in-house “rebuild” rooms and machine shops; these are extremely expensive in terms of floor space, parts inventory, salaries and legacy costs. DPMS demands that repair and reassembly be done more economically offsite through proper planning. There must be a system for collecting and evaluating used parts for repair and reassembly, and an appropriate bar code must accompany every part or assembly to be repaired. The bar code must be scanned when the part or assembly leaves the plant and rescanned when the part or assembly is returned as a usable part or assembly. When possible, community sponsored workshops for the handicapped, such as Goodwill, Sheltered Workshops, Industries for the Blind, etc., should be utilized for simple assemblies to improve community relations and reduce costs. When assembly of parts utilizes a communitysponsored workshop, the one parts vendor supplying all parts for the assembly or rebuild must deliver directly to the assembly location and the just-in-time principle must continue to be observed. In this case, the contract must keep the onus for justin-time delivery to the community-sponsored workshop and the tire cord manufacturing plant on the vendor responsible for manufacture of the parts.

Revision of storeroom quotas Initially, it may be difficult to determine exactly how many parts and assemblies are intended solely for breakdown repair.

However, it is initially better to err on the side of lower storeroom inventories; there generally will be parts and assemblies available at vendor locations. As the program matures, exact storeroom parts and assembly quotas will become obvious. In any case, both maintenance and breakdown parts and assemblies must be included in the annual bid to realize additional savings. Once the storeroom quotas have been set, a bar coding system similar to the maintenance bar coding system must be initiated for the storeroom. The storeroom bar coding system should work as follows: Each part or assembly is assigned a unique bar code including as a minimum the proper part or assembly revision number, the required delivery date, the purchase order number and the vendor code.

Each vendor generates the proper bar code for the part or assembly being supplied. The bar code is firmly attached to each part or assembly being delivered.

Upon delivery, each part or assembly is scanned into a computer database using a bar code scanner. Individual parts or

Controls A DPMS program requires few controls to insure that part and assembly supply is available when needed, that no more material is on the books than necessary, and that there is an audit trail of all company owned materials. The controls are automatic since bar coding keeps track of incoming and outgoing material; it is also obvious when a maintenance shipment is incomplete or missing and appropriate action can be taken when required. Yearly Ppk data generated automatically by the DPMS bar coding system automatically evaluates vendor partners.

Savings It should be obvious and acknowledged that considerable and subtle savings will take place by implementation of a DPMS program. The amount of such savings will vary with the size of the production facility, the number and type of machines, and the current proficiency level of the PM program.

An amazing amount of savings will come from the ability of the purchasing department to be able to quote annual quantities, owned by the vendor partners until received by the plant.

Another easily documented savings is the overall reduction of inventory normally held at various locations in the plant to prevent an outage of parts for critical machines. Savings in the area of 30% are common on these items alone.

There are, however, many dollars saved in other ways that are not always documented as a part of this program. An example is that the PM technicians no longer need to make multiple trips to the storeroom as the parts now come to them. Further, the assembly of parts at lower-cost facilities can reduce personnel needs, floor space requirements, repair machinery installations and legacy costs. Often the assemblers become more expert at the assembly job and the parts last longer due to a better fit. The reduction in storeroom activity may allow a reduction of personnel involved in that activity as well. Generally, a well-managed PM program can be the cornerstone of any waste reduction program. ■

Ronald E. Alexander is president of Carolina Warehouse & Services, LLC, specializing in storage and logistics of tire cord wire and related packaging material. He retired after 15 years at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company’s wire plant in Asheboro, North Carolina, USA, producing truck and earthmover Alexander wire construction. His responsibilities included purchasing, receiving, stores and production, and shipping scheduling functions. He was previously employed for 24 years at Goodyear’s headquarters in Akron, Ohio, USA, where he progressed from buyer to division manager, textile and wire purchasing. He was responsible for as many as five buyers and the entire Tyl requirements for textile fabrics, yarn, tire wire, and bead wire for the company’s US plants. He graduated from Akron University with a bachelor of science degree in marketing and a minor in chemistry and finance. Thomas W. Tyl is the principal for Tire Wire Technology (TWT), LLC, Siler City, North Carolina, USA. He recently retired from the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. He has worked for 22 years in steel reinforcement. He invented the Liquid Quenchant Fluidized Bed Technology (patent pending); Torsional Wire Treatment (patent pending), a unique die design that improves the torsional properties of drawn wire; and a coating method that avoids iron oxide formation and decarburization during the patenting process (patent pending). He holds a master of engineering degree in metallurgical engineering and materials science from Carnegie Mellon University, an M.B.A. in manufacturing management from the University of Pittsburgh, and a B.S. degree in materials science from North Carolina State University. This paper was presented at WAI’s International Technical Conference, Monterrey, Mexico, USA, October 2008.

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assemblies are scanned for storeroom deliveries.

Delivery is confirmed by scanning the bar code of a designated plant teammate. Generally, the designated teammate can be a light duty teammate temporarily assigned to the storeroom.

The computer database compares the delivered parts or assemblies with requirements, including the required delivery date. Payment is generated based on the later of the expected delivery date or actual delivery date.

A yearly report is generated for every vendor including a statistical Ppk value for on time delivery where early and late deliveries are considered defects. Vendors with low Ppk values are prohibited from participating in future DPMS programs.

When a part is removed from the storeroom by a maintenance teammate both the part and the teammates bar code is scanned. The computer database automatically keeps track of usage and reorder points.

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TECHNICAL PAPER Particle size influence on drawing performance of dry powder wiredrawing lubricants This study found that smaller dry lubricant particles require more energy to begin flowing and that a more uniform size distribution, with fewer very small particles, enhances the overall flowability during wiredrawing.

By David P. Gzesh, Christine Pallin and Frédéric Deschampt

Wiredrawing dry lubricants are composed of irregular to regular platelets or beads. The particles range from an average mean diameter of > 0.05 mm to < 5 mm for segregated powders and up to 10 mm for ground products. The variation in shape and size influences the soap powders’ flowability in the soapbox and the products’ ability to lubricate effectively.

Over the years, suppliers have empirically known that different particle geometries and granulometries produce different lubrication characteristics that affect the final amount of lubricant residual left on the wire. Wiredrawers have empirically known that particle size uniformity gives the best wiredrawing results. To better understand powder

characteristics and provide better control of particle properties, the science of powder rheology becomes useful.

Rheology, which can be defined as the science of flow and deformation of matter, can help researchers characterize products and help them determine optimal formulas and improve process efficiency.

Recent studies that examine powder rheology1 are providing the underlying understanding of what wiredrawing operators have long known about lubricant flow in the soapbox. These studies emphasize the importance of a narrow/consistent particle size distribution for improving lubricant performance.

Table 1. Particle size distribution of a ground calcium based lubricant vs. its flowabilty or Flow Rate Index.

Fig. 1. Wiredrawing lubricant powder behavior.

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Table 2. Particle size distribution of soluble ground and beaded products vs. the stability index and flow rate index.

In addition to powder characteristics of size, distribution and shape, many other factors can affect a product’s rheology. These include: surface texture, cohesivity, surface coating, particle interaction, wear or attrition characteristic, propensity to electro-static charge, hardness, stiffness, strength and fracture toughness. The last four factors affect friability, which is the tendency of the powder to break down into smaller particles or powder.

In addition, the following external factors can dramatically affect the lubricants’ performance: flow rate, compaction condition, vibration, temperature, humidity, electro-static charge, aeration, transportation experience, container surface effects and storage time. Of those variables, the most notable are humidity, vibration and aeration.

The Appendix at the end of this paper, lists the different test parameters with their definitions. These parameters are used to characterize the effects of the variables listed above on the powdered lubricants’ ability to lubricate efficiently.

Lubricant application process in wiredrawing. Fig. 1 shows how rod or wire is passed through a box containing a dry powdered lubricant preceding the drawing die. As it travels through this box, the powdered lubricant flows in the direction of the moving wire (Zone 1). As the powder continues to flow, it begins to pulverize into smaller particles and coat the wire surface (Zone 2). When the coated metal reaches the deformation zone inside the die (Zone 3), the

Fig. 2. Energy required to start particle movement as a function of the flow rate for the products listed in Table 2, thus providing the Stability Index [SI= Test 7¸ Test 1] and Flow Rate Index [FRI = Test 11¸ Test 8].

heat and pressure associated with metal deformation, causes the solid powder to fuse into a viscous, plasticized film that forms a hydrodynamic lubricant film which separates the wire from the die (Zone 4).

Intuitively, the amount of lubricant that can transform into a hydrodynamic lubricant film in Zone 3 is going to be dependent on the powders’ flowability. This in turn will be dependent on the friability and compaction of the powder.

Likewise, if the powder compacts to the point at which flowability is hindered, the phenomenon of “tunneling” occurs, during which an evacuated area around the wire is formed. Without the pulverized powder lubricant falling onto the wire surface, the lubricant stops flowing into the die at Zone 3, causing the hydrodynamic lubricant film to become thinner. At the point where the hydrodynamic film becomes too thin to separate the wire surface from the die, metal-to-metal contact occurs, with the result of either scratching or wire breakage. Thus, for efficient lubrication, it becomes apparent that one must control the powder’s physical characteristics as well as the chemical composition, which determines the softening point viscosity, boundary lubrication, thermal stability and other properties2.

Powdered lubricant characterization. Over the years, wiredrawing lubricant suppliers have given the industry a variety of particle appearances. These include ground, milled and beaded/sieved particles. The ground material is generally made by pounding or smashing larger particles

Fig. 3. The particle flow rate stability of the products from Table 2 as they are exposed to aeration.

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Powder rheology factors and applications

TECHNICAL PAPERS Fig. 4. Effect of soap chemistry on flowablity.

Table 3. Particle size distribution of the “good” and the “bad” performing lubricants.

Fig. 6. Example of a “good” and a “bad” performing soluble lubricant.

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Fig. 5. Effect of aeration on lubricant chemistry flowability.

Table 4. Soluble soap flowabilty rate as a function of moisture.

Fig. 7. Effect of aeration on a “good” and a “bad” performing soluble lubricant.

sometimes are called “tails,” and the very small particles that often are referred to as “dust.” The resulting particle size distribution is generally tighter than that of a similar average particle size (Xm) ground product. See Table 2.

Fig. 2 shows how the particles in Table 2 behave once the particles begin flowing in a series of measurements. From these measurements, one can define the Stability Index (SI) as the ratio of the energy requirements from Test 7 divided

by Test 1 at a constant flow rate. A ratio close to 1.0 indicates good stability. The FRI is measured as the ratio of Test 11 divided by Test 8 where the particle flow velocity has been decreased by an order of magnitude over a series of measurements.

Fig. 2 shows that the beaded products in red and green have very stable flow rates compared with the ground material in blue as the curves are nearly flat from Tests 1-7.

Likewise, Fig. 3 shows that when air is introduced into the particle mix (sometimes called fluidization), the amount of energy required to induce flow can change drastically, especially for a ground/milled product. This large change in energy is usually associated with dusting during handling by the operators or dust emissions from the soapbox during processing.

Figs. 4 and 5 show the differences between soluble, mixed/partially soluble and insoluble lubricants. As the lubricant becomes more insoluble, its ability to flow uniformly is reduced. This suggests that one of the main reasons for using soluble soaps on high speed drawing machines running faster than 15 m/s may be the stable flow rate exhibited by soluble soaps and not just the higher soft-

Fig. 8. Effect of moisture on a soluble soaps flowability.

Fig. 9. Effect of aeration on soluble soaps with various amounts of moisture.

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through a screen. The screen holes are generally from 1 mm to 12 mm in diameter. This produces irregularly shaped particles commonly defined as very fine to extra coarse. The smaller the grinding screen, the tighter the particle size range obtained. The larger screens produce a broader particle size distribution that will be more heavily influenced by the friability of the particle. Typically, lean calcium-based lubricants are more friable than either richer sodium or calcium based lubricants and thus have a broader particle size range for a given grinding screen configuration. The flowability, or Flow Rate Index (FRI), will vary based on the product’s particle size distribution as shown in Table 1, where the terms D10%, D50% and D90% indicate the percent (%) that is smaller than the particle size in mm i.e., D90% =2.47 indicates that 90% of the particles are smaller than 2.47 mm; 10% are larger than 2.47mm. Xm is the average particle size.

Table 1 shows that the smaller the average particle size, the higher the FRI and the more energy required to start the particles moving. A higher FRI also suggests a more unstable flow condition, which will require changes in agitation to keep the particles flowing uniformly. Figs. 2 and 3 show this effect for different particle sizes.

The beaded/sieved particles are produced by a variety of proprietary techniques, mostly with sodium soaps, that are usually based on the equipment the lubricant supplier has available. Suffice to say, the particles that are generated can range from almost spherical to flattened ellipsoids. The common practice is then to pass the particles through a series of sifting screens to remove very large particles that

TECHNICAL PAPERS Appendix. Powder rheology test parameters.

ening points that are usually considered.

Table 3 gives the particle size index of two soluble soaps; one that performed poor or badly, the other acceptable or good. The poor sample was causing very high soap consumption and dirty wire.

The particle size of the good sample is significantly larger. Fig. 6 shows that the flowability of the good sample is much better than the bad sample, while Fig. 7 suggests the high consumption is due to the dustiness of the sample that was suggested in Fig. 3.

Table 4 and Figs. 8 and 9 show the effect of moisture on the flowability of a soluble soap. Interestingly, while the dry and normal soaps show good flowability, the normal soap requires less energy to initiate flow. This causes a dry soap to be more friable while a wet soap tends to be stickier. The stickiness can cause lump formation, which hinders flowability.

Conclusion This study demonstrated the following: • Smaller particles require more energy to begin flowing; • Soluble soaps require less energy than calcium soaps to begin flowing, which makes sodium soaps more useful for high-speed drawing; • More uniform particle size distribution with the minimization of very small particles enhances flowabilty; and • Soluble soaps require some moisture – not too little and not too much – to enhance flowability.

References 1. Internet description from U.K.-based Freeman Technology can be found at company website at www.freemantech.co.uk.

2. D. Gzesh, et al., “Wire Drawing Lubricant Chemistry,” Wire & Cable Technology, March 1999, p. 61. ■

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At the time this paper was written, David P. Gzesh was the product manager for Condat Corporation, Saline, Michigan, USA. For the last 22 years, he has been with the various successors of the RH Miller Company, beginning with Pennwalt, Elf Atochem, Henkel, and then Condat. He has been Gzesh involved with product development and customer technical service of metal-working lubricants for more than 30 years. He holds both bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemistry from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a longtime member of the Wire Association International, the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers and the Pallin American Chemical Society.

Christine Pallin is the quality control and analysis manager for Condat SA, Lyon, France.

She has worked for 19 years at Condat, where she has been dedicated to the development of new analytical techniques. She holds a technician chemist degree from the University of Lyon.

Frédéric Deschampt is the R&D laboratory manager of the hot Deschampt and cold metal-forming laboratory for lubricants at Condat SA. For the last six years, he has been in charge of the development of products used in the wiredrawing industry. He has been involved with product development and customer technical service of metal-forging lubricants and foundry for more than 10 years. He holds a chemical engineering degree from the Institut de Chimie – Physique Industrielles, Lyon, now called École Supérieure de Chimie Physique Électronique. This paper was presented at WAI’s 78th Annual Convention, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, June 2008.

CALL FOR

PAPERS

INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL CONFERENCE

SHARE YOUR INSIGHT. PUBLISH YOUR FINDINGS. Abstract submissions are welcome for original papers to be presented at the Istanbul Cable & Wire 09 International Technical Conference in Istanbul, Turkey.

Program organizers seek manuscripts that specifically address any of the following topics. See online abstract submission instructions below.

Authors will be notified of abstract acceptance. The highest ranking papers (as judged by the organizers) will be published in future issues of Wire Journal International. Selected papers will also be published by the IWMA in its media.

Ferrous—The manufac ture o f steel wire fo r st r u c t u r a l a p p li c at i o ns: • mesh production; • stainless steel rebar applications; • suspension bridge ropes: design, construction, and manufacturing; • rust preventative fillers for suspension bridge ropes; • sheaving of suspension bridge ropes with PVC or similar materials; • dry drawing lubricants for high-carbon steel wire; • offshore applications for steel rope; and • metallurgical designs and aspects of rod production for high-carbon steel rope.

Nonferrous—Recent developments in nonferrous wire and c able technologies:

2-3 November 2009 • Istanbul, Turkey “New Technology for Global Markets” A b s trac t De ad l i ne : April 6, 2009

Author Notific ation: May 4, 2009

Manuscript Deadline: August 4, 2009

• fire-resistant cable; • communication and data cable update; • new developments in wire processing; • new developments in rod and wire production; • plating of nonferrous wire (silver, nickel); • copper-clad conductors (bi-metal conductors); • undersea cables; and • the work of the Leonardo Power Quality Initiative, Europe’s cooperative of professionals and academics dedicated to improving power quality, particularly as it applies to Turkey.

S u b mi t yo u r a b st r a c t o nli ne : 1. Log on to www.wirenet.org.

2. Click on the horizontal “Technical” tab on the main page.

3. Select the “Call for Papers” tab from the drop-down menu.

4. Complete and submit the abstract form.

For more information contact: Marc Murray, Director of Education, The Wire Association International, Inc., 1570 Boston Post Rd., P.O. Box 578, Guilford, CT 06437-0578 USA, Tel.: (001) 203-453-2777 ext. 121, Fax: (001) 203-453-8384, E-mail: mmurray@wirenet.org.

Conference 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.

PRODUCTS & MEDIA

PRODUCTS & MEDIA PRODUCTS Low-flame, low-smoke formulation offers alternative to fluoropolymers U.S.-based Teknor Apex Company has introduced new formulation technology for FireGUARD® low-flame, low-smoke plenum compounds.

The I/O formulations eliminate much of the cost of connectorization in plant or campus data networks by making possible continuous indoor/outdoor (I/O) optical fiber cables, a press release said.

The I/O formulations provide the UV resistance and anti-microbial properties required for outdoor exposure without tradeoffs in the physical, electrical, and flame and smoke properties available with standard FireGUARD grades, it said.

The new formulations are available for all FireGUARD compounds used as jackets in optical fiber cable applications, it noted, adding that FireGUARD compounds are vinyl-based and provide cost and performance alternatives to fluoropolymers in plenum cable.

Like all wire and cable compounds from Teknor Apex, FireGUARD products are RoHS-compliant, the release said.

Contact: Teknor Apex Company, www.teknorapex.com.

Emulsifier eliminates use of APFO from production of fluoropolymers U.S.-based Dyneon, a 3M business, announced that with the introduction of Dyneon™ ADONA™ Emulsifier, the company has completely eliminated the use of ammonium perfluorooctanoate (APFO), a salt derived from perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), from its production of fluoropolymers.

With the development of its new emulsifier technology, Dyneon is on track to be the first to achieve the goal of eliminating the use of PFOA, seven years ahead of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s 2010/15 PFOA Stewardship Program goal, a press release said.

PFOA, in particular its ammonium salt, APFO, has played a historical role as a polymerization aid in the manufacture of certain fluoropolymers, the release said. In 2006, the EPA invited Dyneon and seven other companies to participate in a voluntary program to try to eliminate global emissions of

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PFOA by 2015. 3M announced its phase-out of the production of APFO in 2000, it said. Dyneon has offered to license this APFO containment technology to other companies in the industry, it explained. W With the introduction of Dyneon ADONA Emulsifier, the company is now the first to take the final step in eliminating APFO entirely from manufacturing processes, the release said. The new emulsifier is suitable for recovery, recycle and reuse using Dyneon’s existing containment technology, it said.

The elimination of APFO from Dyneon’s manufacturing processes had made possible the transition to a fluoropolymer product portfolio for the company’s aqueous dispersions and non-dispersion products, the release explained. It added that Dyneon’s experience with the product has shown that there are essentially no differences between Dyneon products made using APFO and products made using Dyneon ADONA Emulsifier.

Contact: Dyneon, tel. 651-733-5353, www.dyneon.com.

High-capacity machine series can produce a wide range of nail lengths Denmark-based Enkotec has introduced its new NX series of high-capacity nail machines with six machine variants.

While incorporating many of the features from Enkotec’s earlier series of high-speed nail machines, such as a compact, space-saving design, a production speed of up to 2,000 quality nails per minute and open-door construction, the NX machines offer additional and improved features, a press release said.

It is now possible to cover nail lengths from 32 mm up to as much as 127 mm (1¼” to 5”) and to process wire diameters from 1.8 to 4.2 mm (.073”-.165”), the release said.

The NX machine features a redesigned method of adjusting the timing of the insertion of a nail blank into the headforming die ring, the released noted, adding that instead of using the traditional ETP bushing solution, the insertion timing can be made by loosening or tightening one screw in the NX machines.

The system has been supplemented with an active ejection system, pushing and dragging the nails out of the dies and ensuring the safe evacuation of all finished nails from the machine, it said.

The press release explained that the new models come with a modernized, strengthened tooling system. The new construction principles applied in the headforming die rings make it easier to replace die-ring parts.

Contact: Enkotec, www.enkotec.com.

Contact: Belden, tel. 1-800-BELDEN, www.belden.com/industrial.

As a result of U.S.-based Henkel Corporation’s acquisition of the National Starch businesses last year, the company notes that it has expanded its range of metal solutions with the addition of the Acheson product lines.

Acheson specialty coatings, process lubricants and lubricant application systems are exclusively available through Henkel, a press release said. Combined, the Henkel and Acheson product portfolios offer the most comprehensive line of metal solutions available globally, it said.

Henkel’s metals processing group has developed a line of specialty products for anodizing aluminum and painted extrusions, conversion coatings and cleaners, and coil coating products, the release said. From initial design to the final stage of assembly, Henkel also helps customers achieve increased productivity and lower maintenance costs in machinery manufacturing, metal pretreatments, auto-deposition coatings and metal-working fluids, it noted.

Contact: Henkel Corporation, tel. 866-332-7024, www.henkelna.com, matina.kakar@us.henkel.com.

High flex flat cable boosts camera link performance

Twisted pair Ethernet cable is suited for a variety of applications U.S.-based Belden reports that it is offering a new Category 6 DataTuff® Twisted Pair cable, expanding its family of industrial Ethernet cables.

The new cable is EtherNet/IP compliant and is a round construction, which makes it well-suited for sealed Industrial Ethernet connectivity applications, a press release said.

Belden developed the new Cat. 6 Industrial Ethernet cable in response to the trend towards “future proofing” of mission-critical network and automation system backbones being installed in discrete industrial manufacturing, processing plants and large industrial infrastructures, such as water treatment and utility plants, airports, transportation terminals and shipyards, the release noted. For these applications, building or upgrading to meet the Cat. 6 performance standard (TIA/EIA 568-B2-1) provides assurance that the network will be well-equipped not only to support today’s increasingly sophisticated data communications, but also new and emerging technologies, it said.

The cable features a solid bare copper conductor and a heavy-duty oil- and sunlight-resistant jacket and Belden’s exclusive bonded-pair technology, a patented design that bonds the individual insulated conductors of each pair along the full length of the cable. The bonded-pair cables maintain a consistent distance between conductors, with no twisting or performance-robbing gaps, resulting in superior electrical performance both before and after installation, the release said.

U.S.-based W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore) announced that its Gore Camera Link® High Flex Flat Cables now enable the new line of Intercon 1 Infini Flex Camera Link cable assemblies to perform in high flex motion control and vision applications requiring more than 10 million flex cycles.

This offering allows Intercon 1 to expand its portfolio of Camera Link cable assemblies, providing customers with reliable high flex cable solutions, a press release said.

Intercon 1, a division of Nortech Systems, Inc., and a supplier of machine vision analog and digital video cable assemblies, will be an exclusive reseller in North America and Europe for GORE Camera Link High Flex Flat Cables, the release noted.

Contact: W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., tel. 800-4454673, 610-268-1930, www.gore.com.

Cable company offers rapid-cycle delivery for high-volume products U.S.-based Hendrix Wire & Cable, a provider of overhead and underground power distribution products, notes that it offers a range of 15kV to 34.5 kV TRXLP-insulated medium voltage cable, with several custom delivery options.

The cables are available in several options, including aluminum or copper conductor, full and reduced neutral, and customer-specified cut-lengths. A press release noted that Hendrix will work with customers to develop a delivery method that is best suited to the client’s demand profile.

For long-term clients, some options include a capacityplan cycle which allows customers to schedule delivery each month to match seasonal demand; a vendor-managed inventory option, in which Hendrix makes recommendations based on the customer’s forecast usage and on an inventory turnover target or a maximum inventory value; a rapid-cycle delivery option for high-volume products, allowing clients to place orders on an as-needed basis for delivery within two weeks time, the release said.

Aspects of each delivery option may be combined to create a solution that best meets demand profile for high- and low-volume products, the release notes. Hendrix notes that it can provide engineering support to assist clients in aligning their cable specifications with industry standards.

Contact: Hendrix Wire & Cable, www.hendrix-wc.com.

World’s first free angle HDMI cable assures fast data transfer U.S.-based Panasonic announced the launch of the world’s first free angle HDMI cable, compliant with Version 1.3a specification, which assures 1080p high data transfer speed of up to 10.2 Gbps.

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Company’s expanded product lines present more metal solution options

PRODUCTS & MEDIA

The new HDMI cables provide an easy solution for flat display panel installation and will be available in lengths of 1.5 m and 3 m, a press release said.

The HDMI cable has been adopted by a wide range of digital devices, including flat panel display DVD/Blu-ray recorder, digital still cameras, video cameras, home theater systems and others. However with the current HDMI cables, 3.5 in. of space may be needed between the panel and the wall to connect the HDMI cable, causing limitations for easy installation, the release said. The cable has flexibility of 180 degrees and thanks to the unique construction the required space for the connection can be minimized to 1.2 in. away from the wall, Panasonic notes.

Contact: Panasonic, www.panasonic.com.

Winding system can process both wire and cable to coils and spools Italy’s PS Costruzioni Meccaniche Srl reports that it offers a new automatic coil/spool winding line, Mod. PS 200/8 COMBO, which can wind wires and cables onto both coils and spools by means of a fully automatic system.

The coil/spool winding line makes it possible for the user to produce two products – coils and spools – by purchasing a single line, a press release said. It can process a wide range of cables, including insulated flexible cables from 2 mm to 10 mm, solid insulated wires from 2 mm to 5 mm, multicore flexible cables from 2.5 mm to 10 mm, and flat cables (5.5 x 3.5 mm to 13 x 5.5 mm). The coil technology includes an interchangeable internal core (70 mm to 115 mm) with a height of 35 mm to 114 mm.

Spool production flange diameters span 120 mm to 230 mm, barrel diameters from 40 mm to 109 mm, it said.

Contact: PS Costruzioni Meccaniche Srl, ps@pscostruzioni.com, www.pscostruzioni.com.

Test cables offer improved microwave adaptor response U.S.-based Times Microwave Systems notes that the frequency response of the new QMA-SMA, QMA-Type N and QMA-TNC adaptors make them suitable for use up to 18 GHz for most microwave applications.

A press release said that the SilverLine test cables with QMA plug and QMA jack adaptor exhibit a VSWR of 1.30:1 through 18 GHz. Also improved are the ruggedness and durability of the QMA interface, doubling the mating life, the release noted.

The snap on, pull off adaptors feature18 GHz operation (SMA, Type N, TNC), 5,000 mate life cycle, 360° DUT rotation while mated, and all stainless-steel construction, Times Microwave Systems says.

Contact: Times Microwave Systems, tel. 800-TMSCOAX (867-2629), www.timesmicrowave.com.

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Brands integration boosts Industrial Ethernet solutions U.S.-based Belden has announced a new integrated cable, active component and connectivity marketing initiative for the most demanding and mission-critical industrial manufacturing environments.

Belden has integrated the Hirschmann and Lumberg Automation brands under the Belden umbrella, bringing fully integrated solutions to the industrial marketplace, a press release said. Hirschmann industrial switches and networking devices perform well in extreme conditions, including high temperature environments and where MTBF is crucial, it said.

Together, this new family of Belden brands can provide industrial end-users and OEMs with complete, end-to-end solutions for Industrial Ethernet, supporting leading protocols like EtherNet/IP, and other automation applications that are critical to their operations, the release noted.

With the addition of the Hirschmann and Lumberg Automation brands to the Belden industrial products portfolio, Belden is now the leading provider of communications networking solutions for discrete, process and infrastructure applications at the systems and components level, the release said.

Contact: Belden, tel. 314-854-8054, www.belden.com.

Hand-held industrial labelers work with fewer key strokes U.S.-based Brother International Corporation has introduced two new models in its P-touch EDGE™ line of hand-held industrial labeling tools. The PT-7600 and PT7500, feature Brother® smart technology, which offers users a quick and cost-effective solution for the layout and printing of labels with a few key strokes.

A press release said that instead of entering data for each type of layout or specific labeling application, the technology manages the data like a database, so that users only have to enter data one time and can then use it for any layout. To make individual labels for the cables that connect to each of the ports, the tools use a single key to change the layout and then print, with no retyping necessary. Brother International Corporation said this process can then be repeated for individual labels for corresponding face plates.

The industrial labeling tools use TZ tape, an extremely reliable, low cost and widely available, interchangeable tape cartridge solution, the company notes.

Contact: Brother International Corporation, www.brother.com.

Sweeping device empties Gaylords without operator intervention U.S.-based Maguire Products, Inc., has introduced The Sweeper™, a new tool for emptying Gaylord boxes that needs no operator intervention and leaves a minute amount of pellets behind. The Sweeper replaces bulky, expensive tilters and eliminates the need for an operator

Wire feed unit has drive rolls that prevent wire shaving and reshaping U.S.-based ELCo Enterprises, Inc., announced that it has made several enhancements to its patent-pending Wire Pilot® Wire Feed Assist.

A press release said that the new unit now features high-performance, hard-chromed, u-groove drive rolls.

The drive rolls are more wear resistant, provide better grip and have rounded shoulders along the grooves to prevent wire shaving and reshaping that can occur with vgrooved or standard u-grooved drive rolls, it said, adding that they are also compatible with both ferrous and nonferrous wire.

In addition to the new drive rolls, the Wire Pilot features an improved face plate design and a silencer/ reclassifier that is now standard on all motors to prevent excess oil run-off and reduce noise, the release said. The Wire Pilot Feed Assist is designed to help a wire feeder move wire through the conduit in welding applications where the use of large diameter wire or long conduit runs are a necessity, it said.

Contact: ELCo Enterprises, Inc., tel. 866-584-7281, shall@wire-wizard.com, www.wire-wizard.com.

MEDIA Study predicts positive five-year growth in LAN network applications U.S.-based FTM Consulting announced in its latest study, “U.S. Structured Cabling Systems Market,” that the market will grow at a compound annual growth rate of 20.1% during the next five years.

This growth will be fueled by increased use of SCS in data centers and the initial deployment, a press release explained.

“The SCS market is now poised for renewed growth.

This growth will not come from LAN cabling, as in the past, but from new applications being added onto the existing enterprise’s LAN network,” the release said.

“These add-on applications are subnets that are interconnected to the enterprise’s primary network. This includes data center interconnectivity, VOIP using the existing network backbone, and video over IP being integrated into the primary network. Other applications that will provide smaller growth include the addition of wireless networks in certain areas of the building.”

According to the study, the total SCS market is projected to grow from $6.4 billion in 2008 to $16.0 billion by 2013. One of the report’s major findings is that UTP cabling will remain the largest portion of the market during the next five years.

Contact: FTM Consulting, tel. 717-533-4990, www.ftmconsultinginc.com.

Industrial Ethernet user guide explains difference in performance Belden announced the release of its new Industrial Ethernet User Guide, a 16-page brochure offering specific information about the dramatic performance differences between commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) Ethernet components typically used in office environments, and Belden’s industrial-grade components.

A press release explained that Belden products for Industrial Ethernet applications include Belden Industrial Ethernet Cables, Hirschmann Switches, and Lumberg Automation Connectivity Components.

The user guide also provides product information, an at-a-glance cable selection guide, and a detailed description of nine critical tests that prove the superiority of Belden industrial-grade cables over COTS cables, it said.

The guide is available for download at the Belden website, www.belden.com/industrial. ■

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to repeatedly vacuum the bottom of a Gaylord when resin levels are low, a press release said. It continuously sweeps the length and breadth of the top level of resin in the container as it uses vacuum to transfer the resin to a processing machine or dryer. The device descends along with the level of resin in the Gaylord until the container is empty, it said.

Because the system removes resin from the Gaylord without unwanted interruptions, there is no need for operators to stand by to ensure that the processing machine does not run out of material or that un-dried material does not enter the process, the release noted.

The Sweeper is mounted on a structural steel stand that straddles the Gaylord, giving access to a forklift truck or pallet jack for putting full Gaylords in place or removing empties. Above the Gaylord is a set of vertical rails on which a counter-balanced trolley can move up and down. The trolley carries a standard aluminum conveying tube, which in turn is coupled to a lower, rotating tube that is driven by a very low-speed (1 rpm) gear motor.

A vacuum switch ensures that The Sweeper is operating only while the vacuum loading system is pulling material. The entire unit plugs into a standard 115 volt outlet and requires less than 2 amps, the release said.

Contact: Maguire Products, Inc., www.maguire.com.

WIRE ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL MEMBERS seeking employment positions 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.

CLASSIFIED AD RATES: • $1.30 per word for Wire Journal International and on-line classifieds at wirenet.org (20 word minimum). • Blind box numbers, add $25. • Boldface headlines, add $6 per line (up to 18 characters per line). Specify category.

BLIND BOX INFO: Blind box numbers assure the confidentiality of the advertiser in both the WJI and the on-line publication. Responses are mailed out within two business

POSITION WANTED Specialized engineer in the wiring manufacture industry (building wire, power cable, instrumentation cable, control cable, telephone cable) with over 30 years of experience in the areas of maintenance, mounting, quality control, planning & production programming, software for design, manufacturing engineering, product engineering, ISO internal auditing & SAP implementing. Offers consulting services on projects for efficiency & productivity increase, waste decrease, improvement on manufacturing times in different processes such as drawing, stranded, insulation, wiring, jackets & CCV lines.

E-mail: williamcastano@cable.net.co.

days after receipt. Responses to Blind Box ads should be addressed to: Wire Journal International, Box number (as it appears in print or on-line), P.O. Box 578, Guilford, CT 06437-0578 USA. PAYMENT POLICY: All ads must be pre-paid.

DEADLINES: Copy is due a full month in advance, i.e., it must be received 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. Wire Journal International “Print classifieds” booked on-line as an “add-on” to an “online classified” booking will run in the next available issue of the WJI.

Contact: E-mail Peter Carino at pcarino@wireresources.com or Jack Cutler at jcutler@wireresources.com, w w w. w i r e r e s o u r c e s . c o m . Wi re Resources, Inc., 522 E. Putnam Ave, Greenwich, CT 06830, 203-622-3000 or 800-394-WIRE. PURGING COMPOUNDS AMERICA’S OLDEST SUPPLIER. Since 1948 we've supplied millions of pounds so we know a little bit about JIT deliveries and customer satisfaction.

We sell for less because our costs are less. BUY SMART - WE DO. Alan Plastics Co., Inc. PH: (781) 821-0700 FX: (781) 828-2087. E-mail: alplas@aol.com, www.alplastic.com.

DIES MOLONEY DIE COMPANY. Low prices on all sizes of new, used and recut carbide dies. We also recut tapered nibs. Fast turn-around. Quality service since 1985. Tel. 904-388-3654.

APOLLO DIA-CARB COMPANY. Buy & sell new/used Natural & PCD DIAMOND DIES. Fair prices & excellent lead times. Contact Paulette, Owner-Sales, by telephone at 1-508226-1508 or by e-mail at apollodie@wmconnect.com.

MACHINERY RECONDITIONED KINREI DOUBLE TWIST BUNCHERS FOR SALE. (5)-HK560 High Double Twists

PERSONNEL SERVICES “LET OUR SUCCESS BE YOUR SUCCESS” Wire Resources is the foremost recruiting firm in the Wire & Cable Industry. Since 1967 we have partnered with industry manufacturers to secure the services of thousands of key individual contributors, managers and executives. For corporations we provide recruitment, outplacement, and salary assessment functions. For the professional exploring a new opportunity, we provide career evaluation and guidance. Our services are performed in absolute confidence.

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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___________E-mail 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”)

Bunchers and (1) NB-450 reconditioned, with partial warranty, currently available for use as either Buncher/Strander or Cabler/Twinner.

All can be sold in an “as is” or in a reconditioned state. Machines may be currently viewed at Kinrei of America in New Jersey. These machines are in

excellent condition and were built in 1999/2000 with approximately 13,000 hours of production time manufacturing Litz Wire. Pictures as well as complete details available by contacting Mitch Jacobsen at 973-494-6143 or email mjacobsen@kinreiusa.com.

COMMISSION BROKERS, INC. EQUIPMENT SPECIALISTS TO THE ELECTRICAL WIRE & CABLE INDUSTRY APPRAISERS • COMMISSION BROKERS • INDIVIDUAL PIECES OR ENTIRE PLANTS

FOR SALE 1 1 1 3 1 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 1 1

NEB 64-Carrier CB-1 Cabler Braider WATSON 36” Rotating Cabler Line NORTHAMPTON ST1000 Cabler, 1999 NORTHAMPTON 630mm Cablers/Bunchers - CEECO 6-Bobbin 60” Closer - MGS Model LC50.4 Caterpuller Capstan - NIEHOFF M15 Wire Drawer, Annealer, SG45 Spooler - D/S 4.5” 24:1 L/D Extruder, 200HP Motor, 1999 - D/S 100mm 24:1 L/D Extrusion Line, 1998 - D/S 3” 24:1 L/D Extruder - D/S 2.5” 24:1 L/D Nylon Extruder - D/S 2” 30:1 L/D Hi-Temp Extrusion Line - D/S 1.25” 30:1 L/D Hi-Temp Extruder - D/S 2” 24:1 L/D Extruder - TULSA 24” Motorized Shaftless Payoffs, Model HSPO-1, 12/02 - NEXTROM 1000mm Rotating Take-up w/Group Twinner - D/S 36” H.S. Dual Reel Take-up, twin Motors -

1 - CLIPPER PS36 Parallel Axis Dual Reel Take-up, 1999 1 - ENTWISTLE 36” Dual Reel Take-up, Model THE 24/36 4 - D/S 30” Dual Reel Take-ups 1 - DAVIS ELECTRIC Model TAP30 Parallel Axis Dual Take-up 4 - NOKIA Model EKP50 Parallel Axis Dual Reel Take-ups 7 - CLIPPER Model SP16 Dual Spoolers 3 - TULSA/KENRAKE Model WTR-656 Respoolers 2 - TEC Model 24STC Hi-Speed Twisters, rated 1300rpm w/2-Wire Payoffs 1 - ADVANTAGE Chiller, Model MK-25AM41HBX, 9/98 1 - NEW ENGLAND BUTT 60” Dual Wheel Capstan Assembly 1 - SCHLEUNIGER OS9400 OmniStripper, 1999 1 - SCHLEUNIGER CPS1500 Coiler 1 - SCHLEUNIGER WS500 Wire Stacker 1 - RAYMOND 3000lb Stacker Forklift

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

100 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

Please e-mail the requested information to: WAI’s Cindy Kirmss at ckirmss@wirenet.org.

For more details, you can call her at 203-453-2777, ext. 116.

WWW.URBANOASSOCIATES. COM. For New (Hakusan Heat Pressure Welders, Ferrous & NonFerrous; Marldon Rolling Ring Traverses) & Used Wire & Cable Equipment. Tel. 727-863-4700 or by e-mail: urbassoc@ verizon.net.

MEDIA FERROUS WIRE HANDBOOK. The most recent in a series of handbooks published by WAI, this comprehensive hard-cover book is a new, definitive industry resource for ferrous wire written by members of the Association and edited by former WAI President Robert M. Shemenski. It is a modern-day reference tool for those working directly in the steel wire or manufacturing, engineering, or operations sectors of the industry. At 1,168 pages, the publication’s comprehensive 36 chapters cover a broad range of topics. List Price is $235, $195 for WAI members. To purchase, go to wirenet.org and click on The WAI Bookstore.

ANNEALING: PARTS 1-3.

This three-part video set presents information from industry expert Dr. Horace Pops. The set, which has a total running time of 1 hr., 36 min., includes: Annealing Part 1: Principles of Annealing (28 min.); Annealing, Part 2: Annealing of Copper and Aluminum Wire (31 min.); and Annealing, Part 3: Annealing Problems (37 min.). The set can be ordered for $285, $225 for WAI

members, plus shipping, or by individual parts for $95, $75 for WAI members, plus shipping. To order, go to wirenet.org and click on the icon at the lower right side for the WAI Store.

THE BOOK OF WIRE & CABLE TERMS. This 350-page book is an indispensable publication covering both ferrous and nonferrous terminology. More than 5,000 entries are offered. Price $75, $50 for WAI members, plus shipping. WIRE BREAKS,

by Horace Pops and Julie Steininger.

2003, 49 pages. Breakage of copper, steel, or aluminum wire is one of the most common and costly problems facing the wire industry today. To help minimize the number of breaks, drawing personnel must first be able to recognize and identify the type and cause of material failure. With this need in mind, the following reference manual was prepared. It contains pictures of the most frequent examples of broken wires found in the wire mill and at the customer’s facility. Although some of these photographs were taken at high magnification with a scanning electron microscope, adequate visual examination of the broken ends can be made in the plant using either a magnifying glass or a low power stereomicroscope.

In addition, many pictures of cross-sections are included that were obtained in the laboratory using metallographic techniques The photomicrographs do provide useful supplemental information that helps to confirm and explain

the nature of the wire breaks. List price: $15, WAI member price: $10. To purchase, go to wirenet.org and click on The WAI Bookstore.

INTRODUCTION TO EXTRUSION SET (DVD). This video series (total running time of 1 hr., 45 min.) by extrusion expert Tom Black includes Part 1, Materials & Equipment (50 min.), and Part 2, Extrusion Processing (55 min). List Price: $425, WAI Member Price: $325. To purchase, go to wirenet.org and click on The WAI Bookstore. ■

Serving the non-ferrous and ferrous industries since 1983

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CLASSIFIEDS

FOR SALE. 7/8 HRS Vaughn. Start .220 Finish to .052. 3500 FPM - 35 HP DC ea Block. Machine mounted Deadblock - 24” Controls. 6/7 HRS Vaughn. Start .310 max 2000 FPM - 45 HP ea Block Controls. Please contact Box 01-01.

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX ADVERTISER . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PAGE

ADVERTISER . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PAGE

Amaral Automation Associates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

Mario Frigerio SpA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2

Anbao Wire & Mesh Co Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Mathiasen Machinery Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101

Beta LaserMike . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

Millennium Steel & Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53

Bongard Trading GmbH & Co KG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .101

Milliman Extrusion Tool & Design Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Cable Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cover 2

Niehoff GmbH & Co KG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

Carris Reels Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31

Paramount Die C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Commission Brokers Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100

Power Sonics LLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21

Durant Tool Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .77

Pressure Welding Machines Ltd . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .71

Gauder SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20

Properzi International Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cover 3

George Evans Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .100

Queins & Co GmbH . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35

Huestis Industrial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59

Sanxin Wire Die, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12

Integer Research . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Sealeze A Unit of Jason Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51

International Fastener Machinery & Suppliers Association (IFMSA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57

Sheaves Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Joe-Tools Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8 Kinrei of America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20 Madem SA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49

Sikora International Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7 Sjogren Industries Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18 Sweed Machinery Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .99 Talladega Machinery & Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

Manner Plastics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45

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

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 sales@wirenet.org

U.K., France, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Denmark & Scandinavia Jennie Franks David Franks & Co. 63 St. Andrew’s Road Cambridge CB4 1DH, England Tel/Fax: 44-1223-360472 franksco@btopenworld.com

102 | WIRE JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL

SALES OFFICES ASIA/WAI INDIA OFFICE Germany, Austria, & Switzerland Dagmar Melcher Media Service International P.O. Box 103 D-82402 Seeshaupt Germany Tel: 49-8801-914682 Fax: 49-8801-914683 dmelcher@t-online.de

Anand Bhagwat Wire & Cable Services Pvt. Ltd. (WCS) Mobile 91-98-508-38467 abhagwat@wirenet.org

ADVERTISER . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PAGE

Teknor Apex Vinyl Div . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5 Tubular Products Co . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

WIRE ASSOCIATION INTERNATIONAL ADS

Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .103 Woodburn Diamond Die Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58 Wyrepak Industries Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15 Zumbach Electronics Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Cover 4

WAI Membership . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32 Interwire 2009/IFE 2009 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .60-62, 64-65 Call for Papers: Istanbul . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .93 Ferrous Handbook . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .104

JANUARY 2009 | 103

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

ADVERTISER . . . . . . . . . . . . . .PAGE

FIND OUT WHAT DRAWS STEEL WIRE MAKERS TO

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Introducing the new definitive industry resource for ferrous wire—edited by Dr. Robert M. Shemenski—and offered exclusively through WAI. • New material • 1160+ pages strong • 36 chapters long

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The Ferrous Wire Handbook is published by 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

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www.properzi.com · hq@properzi.it HEADQUARTERS Continuus-Properzi S.p.A. Via Emilia Km 310, 26858 Sordio (LO), Italy Phone: +39. 02. 988 49 21 Fax: +39. 02. 981 03 58 hq @ properzi.it

FRANCE DIVISION Properzi France Parc d’activité du Vert Galant 78 Avenue du Château 27745 Saint Ouen l’Aumône, France Phone: +33. 1. 34 32 34 80 Fax: +33. 1. 34 32 34 89 info @ properzi.fr

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