The Rhône Group, a U.S.-based global private equity firm, has acquired Copperweld Bimetallics (Copperweld) from Kinderhook Industries for an undisclosed price.

A Sept. 9 press release from Kinderhook—which acquired Copperweld in 2019 from THL Credit Advisors—reported the sale. Copperweld, founded in 1915, was described as the sole U.S. manufacturer dedicated to copper-clad (CCS) and aluminum-clad (CCA) wire. Its products are used in building wire, utilities, infrastructure, renewable energy and mobile technology markets.

Based in Fayetteville, Tennessee, Copperweld’s business includes additional plants in Texas and the U.K., and a distribution center in Belgium, with total employment near 400. Copperweld will continue to operate under its current management.

Kinderhook noted that during its ownership, Copperweld grew into a $65 million business by scaling operations and acquisitions, which included the 2020 purchase of Seminole Wire & Cable Co. Kinderhook continues to hold two distributors of wire, Kingwire and Cameron Wire & Cable, the latter of which also provides value-added services.

The Rhône Group is a global private equity firm with about $11 billion in assets under management, specializes in middle-market and larger investments across industrials, consumer, energy, materials, and healthcare sectors. This marks its lone activity for wire and cable.

Denmark’s NKT has signed a contract with Energinet to deliver an HVDC power cable system for the offshore interconnector linking the Bornholm Energy Island to the power grid on Zealand.

A press release said that Energinet, a Danish transmission system operator (TSO), selected NKT to provide the 525 kV high-voltage direct current (HVDC) on- and off-shore power cable systems for the Danish connection to the Bornholm Energy Island. The contract, valued at approximately $757 million, includes the design, manufacture and installation of a power cable system that includes a 200 km offshore route and a 16.8 km onshore route.

NKT will produce the power cables at its high-voltage factory in Karlskrona, Sweden, and is located close to the installation site. Bornholm Energy Island is a landmark renewable energy project located in the Baltic Sea, designed to receive up to 3.8 GW of offshore wind power from planned offshore wind farms. The energy will be transmitted to Germany and Denmark via two HVDC offshore interconnector systems.

With this award from Energinet, NKT will connect the energy island to both the Danish and German power grids. This follows the turnkey contract awarded to NKT in 2023 as part of a large framework agreement with German TSO 50Hertz to connect the island to the German grid.

“Bornholm Energy Island is a key project for Europe to enhance energy security and the exchange of renewable energy,” said NKT President and CEO Claes Westerlind “With this award, we reaffirm our strong commitment to building the sustainable and secure energy infrastructure Europe needs, and demonstrate our proven high-voltage power cable capabilities.”

Offshore installation is planned to be carried out by the new vessel, NKT Eleonora, which is currently under construction. Once operational in 2027, the vessel will be one of the most advanced and fuel-efficient cable layers in the industry.

WAI has set October 2 as the date for the Points Meeting for Wire Expo 2026 at its headquarters in Madison, Connecticut, where space allocation will officially launch for the event set for May 6-7, 2026, at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The Points Meeting is critical for companies to select exhibit spaces based on a points system that rewards frequent and long-time supporters. Director of Sales Shannon Timme commented that Wisconsin is an excellent location, with Milwaukee positioned in a key hub of the Midwest’s industrial corridor, while also offering visitors the chance to experience downtown and regional hospitality. Bolstered by co-location with EWPTE, Wire Expo 2026 is expected to see even greater results, she added.

At the last Points Meeting on Oct. 11, 2023, for Wire Expo 2024, 91 companies participated, resulting in 102 floor spaces being claimed for the expo held June 11-12, 2024, at Mohegan Sun Resort and Casino in Uncasville, Connecticut—representing more than 60% of available booth space. Two months after the meeting, nearly 70% of 2024 expo floor space had been reserved, with 10% of exhibitors being new. The event sold out.

Vanessa Lewis has joined the Wire Association International as project manager, serving as the primary contact for WAI member relations.

Lewis, a 2024 graduate of Purchase College at SUNY, holds a B.S. degree in communications. She previously worked as a production assistant at the Ridgefield Playhouse in Ridgefield, Connecticut. Her responsibilities include managing chapters, overseeing new member onboarding and renewals, and providing project management support for WAI’s meeting planning, circulation and association management software (AMS).

Lewis will act as the staff liaison to the Member Relations Committee and all chapters. She has already met with Member Relations Committee Chairman Brian Steinbruegge of Insteel Industries to ensure a smooth transition. Her first WAI event was the Ohio Valley Chapter Outing on August 21. She will provide on-site support at the New England and Southeast Chapter outings in September and October.

“I am pleased to have Vanessa join our dedicated team,” said WAI Executive Director Steve Fetteroll, who noted that in her short time at WAI, Lewis has already impressed her colleagues. Fetteroll added that Lewis will also be involved in WAI’s transition to a new AMS, which is in its early phases, as well as the upcoming deployment of the new wirenet.org site.