Prysmian held a groundbreaking ceremony on June 19 at the Encore Wire campus in McKinney, Texas, which will undergo a massive expansion, part of a $500 million project over five years that will see the addition of a state-of-the-art medium voltage cable production facility totaling more than 650,000 sq ft.

A press release said that the investment includes $249 million Prysmian’s Board of Directors approved earlier this year. The groundbreaking “marks a significant advancement for the company, nearly a year after Prysmian’s acquisition of Encore Wire to serve electrical customers in North America through Encore’s outstanding service model.” Expected online in 2027, the plant will significantly increase Prysmian’s medium voltage capacity and add 120 new jobs.

“This new plant will be one of the largest standalone facilities on our campus, which is the largest vertically integrated cable factory on the planet and is a major milestone in the Prysmian/Encore Wire growth,” said Prysmian North America CEO Andrea Pirondini.

Encore Wire started in 1989 with a 68,000 sq-ft industrial warehouse building in McKinney. Over the past 35 years, Encore has grown to over 3.5 million sq ft across 460 acres.

In addition to Prysmian leaders, U. S. Representative Keith Self’s District Director Michelle Bishop presented a Congressional certificate to Pirondini marking the importance of this investment. Governor Greg Abbott also issued a proclamation commemorating the groundbreaking. McKinney’s new Mayor Bill Cox joined other local leaders for the ceremony, including the Michael Kowski from McKinney Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

Guests signed a commemorative beam that will be placed in a prominent location in the new facility. The medium voltage plant is the first phase of Prysmian’s investments in McKinney. For more on the vertically integrated campus, visit Encore Wire’s website.

ArcelorMittal’s decision to permanently close its Hamilton, Ontario wire plant and consolidate wire drawing operations in Montreal marks a significant moment for Canada’s wire industry, with ripple effects across the broader steel sector. The closure, announced in June, will eliminate 153 jobs and end wire production at a facility that has served telecommunications, construction and automotive markets for decades.

While the move was described as being part of a restructuring to improve operational efficiency and long-term competitiveness, multiple media reports observed that it also underscored the unique pressures facing Canada’s wire segment, a sector that is distinct from “big steel” in both scale and market dynamics.

Of note, the decision comes on the heels of the U.S. doubling tariffs on steel and aluminum imports to 50%, a move that industry leaders and union officials alike say has accelerated job losses and squeezed margins. ArcelorMittal’s CEO, Stéphane Brochu, cited the need to “strengthen competitiveness and ensure better long-term profitability” as a driving factor, while union leaders described the closure as a “horrible day” for the workforce, many of whom learned of the news as they arrived for their shifts.

One industry observer, Murat Askin, principal at Staalx, a steel industry consultancy, observed that the Canadian steel industry is very much reliant on the U.S. market. “This includes wire and wire rod producers. Both Arcelor and Ivaco have announced job cuts and production reductions. So far, however, wire rod mills haven’t announced any dramatic plant closures. Canadian wire rod producers are prime suppliers for the cold heading quality wire rods that are mostly used in automotive applications. It’s difficult to move the supply to another international supplier that is not approved by automotive customers. Therefore, Canadian mills continue to ship to the U.S. with reduced quantities. The conditions, however, are not sustainable as no mill operates efficiently at half capacity.”

Unlike large integrated steel plants, wire mills are more exposed to market volatility and less able to absorb the shocks of tariffs and dumping. The Hamilton plant reportedly lost $2.6 million annually over the last five years, a figure attributed to both global price competition and declining demand.

Askin points out that “help may be on the way,” with Canada and Mexico in talks with the U.S. about potential trade remedies, including lowering tariffs or implementing a quota system. However, for Hamilton’s wire workers, these solutions may come too late.

Local officials, including Hamilton’s mayor, have called for urgent federal action, warning that the loss of specialized wire production capacity could have long-term consequences for both the city and Canada’s manufacturing supply chains.

Cooper Runzel has been promoted from director of operations to COO of Lake Cable. The son of company founder-owner Bill Runzel, Cooper Runzel has made a name for himself since he started at the family business as a line operator in 2008. He worked in a series of positions while completing his degree at Loyola University. He sparked the company’s focus on Industry 4.0 technology. He was plant manager in 2016 and vice president of insulating manufacturing in 2022. A member of WAI’s board of directors, at Interwire 2025 he made a presentation (Leading the Next Generation) in the conference sessions. Based in Bensenville, Illinois, Lake Cable LLC specializes in cable for the industrial, utility, OEM and broadcast sectors.

Conor Farese is the newest member of the board of directors for family-owned Southwire Co. He is the first member of the third generation of the Richards family to serve on the board. He now operates his own strategy consultancy and serves as an adjunct professor at UC Berkeley’s College of Environmental Design. His work spans sectors that include healthcare, climate, energy and technology. He regularly speaks and coaches leaders on strategy, storytelling and product design. He most recently spent six years at global design firm IDEO working with Fortune 500 companies and startups. He previously worked with Southwire as a business development specialist and was a contributing player on the corporate strategy team. He follows in the footsteps of multiple family members, including his grandfather, Southwire’s founder Roy Richards, Sr. Other family board members include Farese’s uncles, Roy Richards, Jr., and Lee Richards, and his mother, Nancy Richards Farese. He holds an undergraduate degree in environmental studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and an MBA from the University of California, Berkley. Based in Carrollton, Georgia, Southwire is one of the world’s largest wire and cable manufacturers.

Dean Hatley has rejoined Davis Wire Corporation as sales director, a position he had previously held before joining Liberty Engineered Wire Products (EWP) in 2022. Prior to that, Hatley had worked for 34 years for Insteel Wire Products Company, which acquired EWP in 2022. Based in Irwindale, California, Davis Wire has a diverse product line and is one of the largest U.S. galvanized wire manufacturers.

Tri Star Metals has announced that Nick Pigott and Seth Fischer have assumed new roles and joined the company’s executive committee. Pigott, formerly vice president of stainless wire and nickel alloys, now serves as executive vice president. Fischer, previously vice president of sales and aerospace products, is executive vice president, commercial. Both have been with Tri Star Metals for over 15 years. They join Jay Mandel, Jim Roach, Bryan Hitchcock, and George Antonopoulos on the executive committee. Antonopoulos continues as chief financial officer. The company also noted that Pigott, Fischer, and Antonopoulos have become shareholders in Tri Star Metals. Based in Freeport, Illinois, Tri Star Metals manufactures stainless steel and nickel alloy wire and bar.

Stainless Steel Products has named industry veteran Mike Fredrickson as the company’s director of sales/operations. He has more than 40 years of experience across multiple industries, including cable, brush, specialty metals and beyond, and is known for his deep technical knowledge, customer-first mindset and ability to cultivate long-term partnerships. Most of his career was at Loos & Co., where he worked for 39 years as sales manager of the wire division. He also worked at Jewel Wire and Midalloy Specialty Materials. Based in West Reading, Pennsylvania, Stainless Steel Products manufactures ferrous and nonferrous round wire, rolls flat wire, and provides straightening and cutting, crimping and specialty packaging.

Attendees of Wire & Cable Kraków are in for a treat when the international conference is held Tuesday, Oct. 14, at the Holiday Inn Kraków City Centre in Kraków, Poland.

Wire & Cable Kraków will be packed with innovation, insight and international collaboration. The conference program calls for 29 expert speakers to share their knowledge in this single-day technical blitz. The program will explore topics such as production efficiency, product development and sustainability. Ferrous and nonferrous sessions will run concurrently, offering something for everyone in the wire and cable world.

Scheduled speakers come from companies that include Tata Steel, the MFL Group, InnoVites, SAMP Group, Eder Engineering, Hyperion, TKT Group, Windak Group, Aeroel Marposs, Niehoff, WiTechs,

the Pittini Group, AGH University, CRU, Paramount Die, Metalube, Bekaert, Taymer Europe, Tokai University, Czestochowa University of Technology, University of Milano-Bicocca and Celanese.

A tabletop exhibition will be held by the conference. Space is limited to 25 companies. Contact WAI via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more details on getting a tabletop. Go to wirecable25.com for the latest info.

The WAI is a lead organizer, joining ACIMAF, the AGH University of Kraków and the International Wire & Machinery Association (IWMA). The conference is also backed by media partner Expometals.net, supported by WJI, and sponsored by the International Wire and Cable Machine Exhibitors Association (IWCEA). Media support also comes from Expometals.net. The International Wire and Cable Machine Exhibitors Association (IWCEA) is also an event sponsor. More sponsorship opportunities are available.

The event is designed to be more than “just a conference.” The experience begins early with a welcome dinner on Monday, Oct. 13 at the historic Stara Zajezdnia Kraków by DeSilva in the heart of Kazimierz. An optional private tour of the famed Wieliczka Salt Mine—with hotel transport—is also on the agenda.

Hotel rooms can be booked now for the Holiday Inn Kraków City Centre via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or calling tel. +48-12-619-00-51. Mention the password (THE WIRE KRAKÓW) when reserving.

This September, WAI’s Education Center, in collaboration with Hyperion Materials & Technologies, will host a two-part technical webinar series on consecutive Wednesday for wire die tool makers and wire producers. The sessions will offer in-depth guidance on evaluating PCD and carbide wire die quality, focusing on practical takeaways, red flag detection and cost-saving insights.

Part One: Differentiating High-Quality PCD Wire Dies. The first webinar, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at 11 am EST, will take place virtually via Zoom. Led by Hector Ferrer Ribas and Andrew Gledhill, the presentation will cover the fundamentals of carbide and polycrystalline diamond (PCD) dies, noting what separates premium wire dies from substandard alternatives. Attendees will learn to spot red flags such as EDM cutting problems and cracks, explore how defects affect Total Cost of Ownership and receive a die quality checklist. An interactive segment will reinforce key learning points and highlight the latest advancements in PCD materials and quality assurance practices.

Part Two: Key Differentiators in Carbide Wire Dies. The second webinar, Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2025, at 11 am EST Time, is also via Zoom. It will focus on identifying what makes a high-quality carbide wire die. Topics include common quality issues like casing problems, breakage, pores and scratches, along with their causes and consequences. Attendees will gain tools to evaluate manufacturing processes, material consistency, and traceability. The program will also cover innovations in carbide die materials and the importance of certifications and testing methods.

Each session is free for WAI members and $75 for non-members. Separate registration is required for each part. Not a member? Consider joining, as annual WAI membership is $150, and has year-round savings/benefits. Registration is now open. Don’t miss this chance to strengthen your technical expertise and make better-informed tooling decisions.

The Midwest Chapter will lead off the slate of WAI chapter golf tournaments on July 31 when it goes to a new location: the White Pines Golf Club in Bensenville, Illinois. Located just west of Chicago, the site has two 18-hole championship courses (east & west course), situated on over 260 acres. For more about the course, go to www.whitepinesgolf.com.

Up next will be the Ohio Valley Chapter (OVC), on Thursday, Aug. 21. As with its prior event, the OVC will offer a unique split activity format. Golfers will play at the Kensington Country Club. (www.kennsingtongolf.com). The shooting event will again be held at the Training Range (www.thetrainingrange.com) in nearby Austintown. Following both events, the Ohio Valley Chapter will hold an educational program.

The New England Chapter returns to the Tunxis Country Club (www.tunxisgolf.com) on Monday, Sept. 8, while the WAI Southeast Chapter event will be held Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Rock Barn Country Club and Spa (www.rockbarn.com) in Conover, North Carolina.

Registration can be made at wirenet.org at the individual chapter pages. The events are a great time to meet with peers, support good causes (college scholarship programs) and enjoy a day on the links.

WAI’s Poland Chapter was an active part of a key 75th anniversary at Poland’s Częstochowa University of Technology (CUT) in Częstochowa, which along with the AGH University of Science and Technology in Krakow, Poland, has accounted for dozens of technical papers being presented at WAI events.

The Poland Chapter, while small in numbers, has been most productive since it was founded in the U.S. in 1999, and recognized in Poland in 2002. Three of its members from either CUT or AGH have won the Association’s Mordica Memorial Award for the excellence of their technical research and papers. It has also supported Wire & Cable Poland 2025, to be held Oct. 14, in Krakow, Poland.

The June 6th celebration of the establishment of the Faculty of Production Engineering and Materials Technology was organized by the university, helped by Jan Pilarczyk, the driving force behind the creation of the Poland Chapter. It was held under the honorary patronage of the current CUT rector, Marek Warzecha, PhD, DSc, a CUT associate professor. The Faculty, one of the oldest units of the University, dates back to 1949, when the Department of Metal Technology was established at the then Faculty of Mechanics.

The ceremony highlighted the role of the Poland Chapter. Over 20 years, in cooperation with the Institute of Plastic Processing and Automation of the Faculty of Production Engineering and Materials Technology, the chapter staged 10 international seminars and nine international conferences.

 Multiple participants were cited for their efforts over the years Those include the MSC Management Board of Agnieszka Gwiazdowicz, Piotr Milewski, Maciej Górak and Jan Pilarczyk.

“On behalf of the Faculty authorities and myself, I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all former and current Faculty employees for their invaluable contribution to its development and achievements to date,” said Pilarczyk, who is retiring from chapter duties this year. He has presented multiple technical papers over the years and was the 2004 winner of the WAI’s Mordica Memorial Award. The two other prior winners include the late Bogdan Golis, CUT, in 2000, and Tadeusz Knych, AGH, 2015.

The June 6th event marked important accomplishments, but it also featured another element that Pilarczyk explained has been important to the chapter over the years: camaraderie. He also thanked all those that have been part of the activities to date and wishes them continued success in the Poland Chapter’s mission of furthering industry education and cooperation.

For immediate release
The Wire Association International, Inc.

Madison, Connecticut, USA – June 17, 2025 – The Wire Association International Inc. (WAI) reports its participation as a co-organizer of the International Technical Conference Wire & Cable Kraków in Poland on 14 October 2025, at the Holiday Inn Kraków City Centre Hotel.
Production efficiency, product development, and sustainability are some of the key topics that will be covered by the 29 speakers during this one-day conference. Both ferrous and nonferrous tracks are planned.

WAI is joined by three co-organizers including: the Associazione Costruttori Italiani Macchine Per Filo (ACIMAF), AGH University of Kraków, and the International Wire & Machinery Association (IWMA). The groups also have a media partnership with Expometals.net; the support of Wire Journal International; and the sponsorship of the International Wire and Cable Machine Exhibitors Association (IWCEA).

Pre-conference activities on 13 October include a dinner reception at Stara Zajezdnia Kraków by DeSilva—an historic building in the centre of Kraków’s Kazimierz, and an optional guided tour of the Wieliczka Salt Mine with private transportation to and from the hotel.
A concurrent tabletop exhibit is being planned to accomodate 25 exhibiting companies. For information about exhibiting, please contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Registration information and additional event details will be released shortly on the event website: wirecable25.com

To book lodging at the Holiday Inn Kraków City Centre Hotel contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call +48 12 619 00 51 and provide the password: THE WIRE KRAKÓW.

WAI, founded in 1930, is a not-for-profit association with 1700 individual members in 38 countries and Wire Journal International subscribers in 94 countries. The association serves the educational needs of the wire and cable manufacturing industry through a variety of products and services. WAI manages the Interwire Conference & Trade Exhibition and Wire Expo; it publishes the Wire Journal International and the Wire Journal International Reference Guide.
Media Contacts: Janice E. Swindells, Director Marketing & Corporate Communications, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 001-203-453-2777, x. 117; Steven J. Fetteroll, Executive Director, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., Tel.: 001-203-453-1777.

As part of a strategic reorganization of its commercial and operational leadership that was completed earlier this year, the SAMP Group announced that Marcel Baettig was appointed chief executive officer (CEO). He has deep expertise in business strategy, operations, and organizational transformation across global markets, most recently at Humatica AG, where he advised portfolio companies and listed firms on strategic organizational alignment, including SAMP Group. He replaced outgoing CEO Jouni Heinonen, whose assignment as CEO had been planned to be short term, and is now serving in board positions. Two senior executives were also promoted. Giorgio Albertazzi was promoted from sales director EMEA to appointed chief commercial officer (CCO). He has been with the company for more than two decades and was described as being instrumental in growing the company’s presence across the EMEA region. He holds a degree in economics. Matteo Nascetti was promoted from general manager to chief operating officer (COO). He has nearly two decades of experience in machinery and precision engineering, and was said to have had a key role in optimizing production processes and boosting operational performance. Based near Bologna, Italy, the SAMP Group provides equipment for the entire wire and cable production chain, including rod breakdown lines, multi-wire drawing lines, extrusion lines, bunching machines and engineering solutions.

 Neal Hamer as joined the American Wire Group as director of engineering - power equipment, responsible for driving the company’s technical strategy and expanding the in-house engineering capabilities to support the growing power equipment segment. He will assess AWG’s current technical landscape across transformers, switchgear and substation solutions, while aligning supplier specifications with industry standards. He most recently was director, operations electrical engineering, for Invenergy LLC, where he worked in multiple positions for more than 11 years. Prior to that he was a protection engineer for GE Energy for four years. Based in Miami, Florida, American Wire Group manufactures wire, cable and related products for the power utility and renewable energy industries. 

Jack Ritter has joined the Service Wire team as an inside sales representative in the Houston sales office. He will be serving utility markets in the Midwest. He worked for the company while he was getting his B.S. degree in industrial distribution from Texas A&M University. In other Service Wire news, two company employees were selected to tED Magazine’s prestigious “30 Under 35” list. Matt Cardwell, corporate manufacturing engineering manager, joined the company in 2018. In 2019, he was instrumental in the build-out and commissioning of the new Houston plant before returning to West Virginia to take on his current role. He was described as “a strong leader and one of the best engineers in the industry.” Sarah Wotring, who has worked as an inside sales representative for more than three years, was described as “an energetic problem-solver ... (who continually produces) outstanding results.” She has demonstrated a keen ability to manage strong sales relations. Based in Culloden, West Virginia, Service Wire Co., manufactures wire and cable for sectors from industrial to utility, and more. 

Last year, the WAI’s Board of Directors met at Wire Expo to discuss the Association’s future. That focus continued at Interwire 2025, where the board met in a meeting led by Consultant Eric Curtis, Curtis Strategy.

The meeting served as an update and further discussions about the Centennial Plan that was presented to the WAI’s BoD last October. In it, four pillars were identified as crucial: an Education & Training Center; trade shows & conferences; WJI and WAI media platform; and member users/customers. Key beliefs of the mission include that wire drawing and extrusion are specific processes that cannot be serviced by other industry associations; that technology, digital platforms and AI are paramount; and that in-person events will remain important to hybrid workforces.

At the 2025 meeting, held the day before the event started, board members split into three groups that each discussed areas where the WAI should be active as well as the biggest concerns the industry faces. A wide range of topics were discussed, with one of the most important areas being for WAI to firmly establish itself as “the place to go” for technical information. As for concerns, everyone’s list included the loss of industry expertise as more industry veterans retire.

“Our industry, like many others, needs help for securing and keeping reliable employees,” observed WAI President Eric Bieberich. “The WAI has dedicated volunteers who with the help of staff can help create programs that can make a difference. It’s vital that we do so in an effective way, and meetings like this one we just had are essential.”

The Association has already been active in heightening its educational focus through its video-based education courses available for purchase. Last year, the Board voted to fund the initiative, which has been led by WAI Manager of Education John Markowski, who made a presentation on this at Interwire at the WAI Theater. He noted that to date, four courses have been created so far, covering single-layer extrusion, extrusion materials, extrusion applications, and an introduction to ferrous metallurgy, with others (extrusion special process considerations, wire drawing dies, lubricants, and wire breaks) expected to be released in the near future. Individuals or companies interested in knowing more about the courses now available can contact Markowski at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..