8/9/21 LEONI, global solution provider for energy and data management in automotive and other industries, has been named top performing supplier in North America by U.S. truck manufacturer PACCAR Inc.

LEONI Wiring Systems, Inc. was recognized within the Supplier Performance Management (SPM) program with the Leader Level Award. PACCAR is a leading global manufacturer of DAF, Kenworth and Peterbilt light, medium and heavy-duty commercial vehicles.

The award is of particular significance to LEONI in a year in which extraordinary challenges had to be overcome due to the global pandemic. It recognizes LEONI's outstanding customer focus to ensure product development, operations and aftermarket support, and alignment with PACCAR’s key business objectives. 
The award recognizes not only the close customer relationship between PACCAR and LEONI Wiring Systems, Inc., but also in particular LEONI's plants in Arad, Romania, and Durango and Hermosillo, Mexico. These plants contributed significantly to this award with their consistently high level of performance related to quality and delivery.

Ron Augustyn, PACCAR Vice President of Global Purchasing, recognized Leoni's achievements, saying, "PACCAR is pleased with the level of engagement from our suppliers in this very rigorous SPM program. Our suppliers create value for PACCAR, its customers and dealers, and their own companies under this program."
Jeremy Tibbett, SVP Account Management Trucks & Powertrain, received the award on behalf of LEONI: "We are very excited to receive the 2020 SPM Leader
award on behalf of the global LEONI team supporting PACCAR. It is a strong indication that our cross functional team has the proper focus, dedication, flexibility, and commitment to consistently perform on the highest levels to ensure customer satisfaction. And it further underlines the strategic working partnership and alignment between PACCAR and LEONI to ensure our mutual success."

8/9/21  Prysmian Group proudly launched their first Global eNclusion Week, a five-day digital initiative with 50+ events and 120 speakers highlighting the importance of building diverse and inclusive workspaces. The series of digital panels and workshops focused on four main themes: Gender Diversity; Diversity & Inclusion (in all forms); Inclusive Culture in the workplace; and Generational Diversity & Inclusion. Over 4,600 participants attended with almost a third of the participants joining six or more events.

The highest attended North America session was How to be a Better Ally, which featured Melissa DePino and Michelle Saahene of From Privilege to Progress. The duo shared the impactful story of the day they met – when two Black men were unjustly arrested in a Philadelphia Starbucks while waiting for a friend – and the conversation that incident sparked for them and the rest of the world. Throughout the session, attendees learned about checking their unexamined biases, in the workplace and everywhere, and steps to take to become a better ally.

Other North America sessions featured Prysmian Group employees and experts from partner companies. Panels discussed supporting the LGBTQ+ community, the importance of inclusion in every employee’s day-to-day job, how the pandemic challenged the mindset of management to embrace a new approach, appreciating all generations and inclusive hiring.

The week-long event, held May 12-21, showcased education, listening and acceptance and is just one phase in the company’s overall diversity and inclusion strategy put forth by their Side by Side program. As the world leader in the energy and telecom cable systems industry, the company accepts the responsibility to embody a more inclusive culture.

8/6/21  Everyone wants a bargain but buying by lowest price continues to be a bad idea. Merchants on Instagram are selling counterfeit Apple phone chargers, lightning cable, and USB power adapters at a steep discount. Only these products tend to explode, causing overheating, fires, and injury such as burns and shocks. A USA Today study checked the safety limits of electricity flowing through 400 fake iPhone adapters and found a 99% failure rate. 

About 1 million online listings selling counterfeit Apple products, usually from China and Hong Kong, have become a multi-million-dollar operation targeting mostly consumers in Europe and the U.S., according to a report by Ghost Data Team published on Bloomberg.com. Ghost Data studied 163 sellers of counterfeit products on Instagram, and these companies uploaded 50,000 sales posts in the last year. U.S. investigators have determined that overseas-manufactured counterfeits take a circuitous route through several companies before reaching retail markets in the U.S.

 Counterfeits have been a persistent problem. Instagram parent company Facebook says it continues to devote resources to taking down sites that sells such products, yet you can still find such offers advertised on Instagram and Facebook. One seller grossed $140,000 in a single day, according to Ghost Data. Amazon is also plagued by counterfeits.

 If you see an ad for an AirPod Pro for $25 that typically sells for $249, you can be assured that you are not looking at a bargain. You are looking at junk. Also, if a photo of a product shows no logo, and there is no description for short circuit protection or accompanying product information, scroll on.

8/9/21  

CommScope announced that Tom Cloonan, Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of the company’s Broadband Networks segment, has been appointed the interim CTO of the company as it evaluates its longer-term strategic requirements. He replaces Morgan Kurk, who stepped down as CTO and segment leader of the Broadband Networks. Cloonan, who joined CommScope through its acquisition of ARRIS acquisition, served as CTO of the Network and Cloud segment, among other positions, since 2002. He holds a BSEE degree from Illinois Institute of Technology, a MSEE degree from Purdue University and a PhD in physics from Heriot-Watt University in Scotland. The company also reported that Ric Johnsen, who served as senior vice president, Converged Network Solutions (CNS), Broadband Networks, will assume leadership of the entire Broadband Networks segment. Previously, he led CommScope’s Network Cable and Connectivity business for nearly 11 years. Past employers included Alcatel, where he was vice president of the optical fiber business for Europe and Asia. The U.S. Army veteran holds a B.S. degree in general engineering from the United States Military Academy, and an MS degree in communications engineering from the United States Naval Postgraduate School. Based in Hickory, North Carolina, CommScope is a global leader in network connectivity.

Cimteq has promoted James Concannon from technical account manager to commercial account manager, responsible for the company’s European and U.K. sales regions. He joined the company in 2018, and was lauded for being a well-established and productive member of the sales team. Prior to joining Cimteq, he worked for Thomson Reuters for more than five years as a client services manager and as the client liaison team lead. He also worked for more than five years for Avox Limited. He holds a degree from Yale College Wrexham. Based in Wrexham, U.S., Cimteq supplies software and services designed to help wire and cable manufacturers optimize their processes.

Earlier this year, David Galas was promoted to president of OMCG Inc. He joined the company in 2019 as national sales manager with considerable industry experience. Prior to OMCG, he served most recently as a regional sales manager for WAFIOS Machinery for five years. Before that, he was a U.S. business development manager for Numalliance North America for more than four years. Other employers included Pro-Tech Machine Tool, Inc., where he was a territory sales manager for more than 14 years; Ellison Technology; and PCC Airfoils, SMP. He holds a B.S. degree in applied science in manufacturing engineering from Miami University. Part of Italy’s OMCG Srl, and based in Bensenville, Illinois, USA, OMCG Inc. supplies wire, tube and strip forming equipment. 

Obituary
Albert “Al” Bavosi, a pioneer in the marking and coding field, died July 13 at age 78.
Bavosi was the co-founder and owner of Wachusett Marking Co., started in 1976, which was later sold to Gem Gravure in the early 2000s. The Massachusetts native was a Vietnam Veteran, having served in the U.S. Air Force as a crew chief stationed at Bien Hoa Air Base in South Vietnam. He returned home to West Boylston, and in 1976, he and his uncle Joe Bacchiocchi and brother Donny started Wachusett Marking Company. He was known for exceptional mechanical skills and strong work ethic in developing and manufacturing metal-marking wheels. Thirty-three years later, he sold the company to a big competitor, Gem Gravure, but even after the sale he continued to work for the company until he retired a few years ago.
Gem Gravure Executive Vice President Paul Gemelli said that Bavosi “was a terrific guy with a strong work ethic, a great sense of humor, and an outgoing personality. ... My father (the late David Gemelli) and Al always had a very close relationship. In particular, my father always respected Al for starting and building up his own business, and like everyone he just enjoyed being around him.
Bavosi is survived by his wife of 52 years, Kathleen Ann (Villnave) Bavosi; four children, Michele DeVillers, Amie Moore, Timothy Bavosi and Jennifer Cadwallader; a brother, Donald Bavosi; 11 grandchildren; and 13 nieces and nephews.