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In 2025, the Midwest, New England, Southeast and Ohio Valley Chapters awarded 13 scholarships that had a combined total of $26,100.

WAI chapter members in good standing will be able to submit applications for 2026. The chapter scholarship programs are educational opportunities for academically qualified high school seniors who are children, grandchildren or dependents of WAI members in good standing. The sponsor must be a chapter member.

The deadline for applications is March 31. Further details about award amounts and how to apply will be in the January issue. Questions can be e-mailed to WAI Program Manager Vanessa Lewis at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

The WAI New England Chapter will return to the Cabaret Theatre at Mohegan Sun Resort & Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut, on Thursday, Jan. 29, 2026, for its annual meeting.

Registration is open for the regional networking event, which also serves as a fundraiser for the WAI New England Chapter Scholarship Fund. Highlights of the event will include the dinner, the introduction of the officers for 2026, a raffle, photo booth and a look back at 2025, which likely will go down as a good one.

The New England Chapter returned to the Tunxis Country Club in Farmington, Connecticut, for its 31st annual golf outing on what proved to be an utterly gorgeous day for the 143 golfers. The event was won by the Lloyd & Bouvier team of Michael Tucker, Darren Tucker, Joe Yabba and Gibson Yabba that shot a very respectable score of 15 under par.

A healthy donation from the golf event went to the chapter’s scholarship program. The chapter also announced the six 2025 winners of its scholarship program. Those included: Jack Bienvenue, stepson of Walter Parsell, facility engineering manager, Prysmian; John Hartline, son of Christopher Hartline, vice president of operations, RichardsApex; Luke McComiskey, son of Thomas McComiskey, vice president, The MGS Group; Erin Mulligan, daughter of Alan Mulligan, sales representative, Vandor Corporation; Michael Russo, son of James Russo, electrical engineer, MGS Manufacturing; and Ryan Delage, the recipient of the Intern Scholarship, sponsored by Gary Collette and Michael Renner of Sjogren Industries Inc. Each scholarship was for $2,500.

The meeting will also feature a very smart guest speaker. Dr. John Sviokla is a globally recognized authority on AI and digital transformation. An Executive Fellow at the Harvard Business School, where he earned his doctorate and MBA, he generated some of the earliest thought-leadership on the coming world of AI and digital competition. He has since guided senior executives through the full lifecycle of technology-led change. At the meeting, he will explain why every organization must move from human centric to a hybrid of human and AI intelligence and how to do it.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event at Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum levels. These can be purchased during event registration. Registration costs $160 for non-members and $135 for WAI New England Chapter members in good standing.

To register, visit www.wirenet.org. For questions or assistance with registration for the event, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Last modified on December 1, 2025

With six months to go, the Wire Association International is focused on making sure that key elements of the biennial event will match high expectations.

The May 6-7 Wire Expo schedule in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is designed for maximum cross-attendance with co-located Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo (EWPTE) at the Baird Center. The two events were previously co-located in 2010 at the venue now known as the Baird Center. The reunion comes at a time of industry growth and technological advancement, positioning the combined event as a catalyst for discovery and collaboration.

The EWPTE trade show attracts nearly 200 exhibitors and over 3,000 attendees from more than 40 states and 25 countries for the electrical wire harness, wire, and cable processing industries. The WHMA exclusively represents the cable and wire harness manufacturing industry

Conference sessions for Wire Expo have been updated to a 20-minute format to accommodate a dynamic lineup of relevant topics, along with a soon-to-be-announced keynote speaker. The Education program development is well underway. The first wave of confirmed speakers, new product showcases, and preliminary agenda details will be announced soon. Further details, such as registration, housing blocks and attendee matchmaking opportunities, will be posted online at www.wirenet.org and in future WJI issues.

Show hours for Wire Expo will be 9 am to 5 pm on Day 1 and 9 am to 3 pm on Day 2. The WAI’s iconic Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing Course will be presented on May 5.

Attendees will be pleased to see that both the conference and exhibits will take place directly on the show floor in Halls C and D. That will make for a seamless environment for learning, product discovery and networking. The Opening Reception will be held from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm in the 4th Floor Ballroom.

More than 100 companies have already confirmed to exhibit, supported by a competitive package priced at $3,450 that offers an efficient, business-ready setup. The package includes: pipe-and-drape back wall (8 ft) and side wall (3 ft); skirted 6 ft table with two chairs; a trash receptacle; a company ID sign; 120 V electric hookup; 200 lb freight service in and out of facility; and carpet. Event-related advertising is available in WJI and the Show Program. Sponsorships are also in development.

For more details on these opportunities, contact Director of Sales Shannon Timme at tel: 203-453-2777, ext. 126, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or Director of International Sales and Business Development Anna Bzowski at tel: 203-453-2777, ext.119, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Last modified on December 1, 2025

The Wire Association International’s Education Center has reached another important milestone with the release of the full packaged extrusion course, now available as a complete learning path for operators.

WAI Manager of Education John Markowski said that the new offering bundles all four parts of the extrusion curriculum (single layer extrusion overview, extrusion materials, extrusion applications, and special process considerations) into one comprehensive program designed to support skill-building of foundational knowledge. Each course will be available for separate purchase, enabling participants to also just focus on a specific area that matters most to their role.

To highlight the launch of the bundle, the Association recently hosted an “Extrusion Exploration” webinar, led by subject matter expert Richard Chamberlain, who guided the curriculum development. Attendance and engagement reflected growing interest in structured, accessible training for extrusion professionals.

“We’re beginning to see momentum build as more individuals and companies explore the platform,” said Markowski. “As we move into 2026, we’re looking forward to increased participation from learners and a steady rollout of new courses that will continue expanding the Education Center’s value to the industry.”

WAI encourages participation from members of the wire and cable community. Individuals and companies are invited to get involved as well, by presenting at conferences, submitting technical papers, leading webinars, contributing as subject matter experts, or serving on committees such as the Education Committee or the Paper Awards Committee. These opportunities offer valuable ways for professionals to stay current on industry trends while strengthening industry connections.

JDR, which is based in the U.K. and is part of the TFKable Group, announced that it has an MoU with the Emdad Group to establish a Middle East service base.

A press release said that agreement with the Emdad Group— a Saudi-based industrial services company —reflects the importance of the partnership and shared commitment to providing localized support to the energy industry. It also noted that there are plans to expand operations to Saudi Arabia in the near future, further strengthening our regional capabilities.

To be located within Emdad’s facility in Abu Dhabi (UAE), the new service base will provide access to skilled technicians, advanced equipment and faster mobilization, enabling immediate and efficient support for customers, the release said. The facility will serve as a regional hub for installation and termination services, equipment storage and rapid mobilization of spares to support both existing and forthcoming projects.

“This new service base represents another step forward in JDR’s mission to deliver reliable, responsive, and innovative subsea cable and umbilical solutions, ensuring greater efficiency and customer focus in every project.”

 

Egypt-based Kemet Industries Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with Emirati-Chinese firm Al Qalaa Red Flag to invest up to $3.5 billion in three mega industrial projects, one of which is for manufacturing optical fiber cables.

A press release from the principals said that the projects will be located in the Ain Sokhna Industrial Zone, part of the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE). The fiber optic plant will bolster Egypt’s expanding digital infrastructure sector, contributing to faster, more efficient high-speed networks.

Egypt has at least one major Egyptian-owned and operated fiber optic cable manufacturing plant: Elsewedy Communications Cables Factory, which opened earlier this year in 10th of Ramadan City. That plant was described as the largest telecom cables manufacturing facility in Egypt and the Middle East, producing both fiber optic and copper communications cables. Another fiber optic plant is run by Benya Cables, which operates in partnership with the Arab Organization for Industrialization and international technology partners. Benya, which is partly Egyptian-owned, is based in Egypt.

Al Qalaa Red Flag is a consortium with Emirati and Chinese ownership focused on industrial investments in Egypt. The other two “mega” projects are for manufacturing steel pipe factory and tires.

Nexans reports that its Halden plant in Norway marked a historic milestone as its cable-laying vessel, Nexans Aurora, departed with a record 9,731 tons of subsea cable.

A press release said that cargo represents the highest load ever in the company’s history, exceeding the previous record, set in 2023 for the Oseberg Project, by 256 tons. “This feat represents not only a record for Nexans Aurora but also for the Halden plant itself, which has been supplying large-scale cable solutions since its first delivery to Nexans Skagerrak in 1976.​”

The Halden’s newly expanded high-voltage subsea cable facility, completed in early 2024, enabled this scale of operations, more than doubling its capacity for state-of-the-art HVDC and HVAC cable production. The plant now employs around 1,000 people and houses the tallest building in Norway—its second extrusion tower—allowing simultaneous cable insulation across four production lines.​

This latest record highlights Halden’s role as a cornerstone in Nexans’ global supply chain, supporting key offshore wind farm, interconnector, and electrification projects worldwide.

Denmark’s NKT has joined the First Movers Coalition (FMC), reinforcing its commitment to the advancement of low-carbon aluminum across global supply chains.

A press release said that FMC, led by the World Economic Forum, brings together industry leaders to accelerate decarbonization in sectors that are traditionally challenging to abate. By participating in the FMC’s aluminium sector, NKT pledges that by 2030, at least 10% of its annual primary aluminum purchases will be low-carbon, in accordance with the coalition’s stringent emissions criteria. This move marks a notable strategic step in NKT’s broader objective to reduce the carbon intensity of its power cables—a priority that supports both the company’s sustainability targets and the decarbonization goals of its clients.

This strategic move supports NKT’s broader goal to reduce the carbon intensity of its power cables, aiding both its sustainability targets and those of its clients. The company’s pursuit of lower-carbon materials is already underway, highlighted by its April 2025 agreement with Norwegian group Hydro for REDUXA 4.0 aluminum—produced using renewable energy and featuring a carbon footprint 75% lower than the global average.

 NKT also secured first rights to Hydro’s upcoming REDUXA 3.0, furthering its role in Europe’s energy transition and grid modernization. The collaboration also sends a strong market signal, encouraging early adoption of climate technologies and reinforcing NKT’s position as a proactive force in the shift to greener infrastructure.

Madem-Moorecraft Reels USA, a subsidiary of the Madem Reels Group Brazil, announces a significant expansion of its wooden reel production capacity at its Tarboro, North Carolina facility.

A press release said that $7 million was invested in the project. It includes new production lines that use fully robotized machinery, enabling a 50% increase in the plant’s installed capacity.

Madem-Moorecraft already operates a solid logistics network with distribution centers in Texas, Georgia, Arizona, West Virginia, Ohio and North Carolina. As part of its expansion plan, the company is considering opening new distribution centers in Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Louisianna, Missouri, Maryland  and Pennsylvania, further enhancing its coverage and proximity to key customers. In addition to its Tarboro plant, Madem-Moorecraft also operates another industrial facility in Denton, Texas.

Madem Reels Group has manufacturing plants in Brazil,  Colombia, Mexico, Spain and Bahrain. It supplies some 200 cable producers in 45 countries.

New England Wire celebrated a sizeable expansion to its existing manufacturing plant in Lisbon, New Hampshire, on Sept. 22, 2025.

The company held an official ribbon cutting for the nearly 38,000-sq-ft expansion to the eastern side of the plant. The 78 ft by 487 ft addition houses machining and fabrication shops, specialty braiding and expanded silicone rubber extrusion, as well as having room for significant additional space for future capacity growth.

Moving the machine and fabrication shops together under one roof freed up almost 6,000 sq ft of space for future expansion and growth for the company’s tubing division, New England Tubing Technologies. Strategies are being formulated as to how best to use this additional space with both added capacity and new capabilities.

The Lisbon facility has seen multiple investment rounds over the past decade, reflecting continued demand for the company’s custom cable and tubing solutions in advanced medical, industrial, and telecommunications markets.

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Madison, CT 06443-2662

P: (203) 453-2777