The WAI New England Chapter has rescheduled its previously planned Aug. 7 educational meeting at FENN’s plant in East Berlin, Connecticut, to October 9. The annual educational meeting will include a plant tour and a networking dinner, featuring food and drink trucks for the celebration.
The cost is $105, or $85 for WAI members. All proceeds support the WAI New England Chapter Scholarship Fund, helping invest in the next generation of industry professionals.
The Ohio Valley Chapter (OVC) will hold its golf tournament and target shooting event 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.kensingtongolf.com), while the OVC 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.
Meanwhile, the New England Chapter returns to the Tunxis Country Club (www.tunxisgolf.com) on Monday, Sept. 8, for its highly anticipated 31st annual Golf Tournament, with 140 golfers expected to participate. The event will feature a DJ, raffle prizes, awards, and ample time to reconnect with colleagues and make new industry connections in a relaxed setting. If you’re not interested in golf, you can register for just the afternoon portion.
Closing out the schedule will be the WAI Southeast Chapter’s Annual Golf Outing on Thursday, Oct. 16, at the Rock Barn Country Club and Spa (www.rockbarn.com) in Conover, North Carolina. See more in the next issue.
Registration for all these events can be made through the individual chapter pages at www.wirenet.org. These events, a perfect blend of camaraderie and competition, are an excellent way to meet peers, support good causes (such as college scholarship programs), and enjoy a day on the links.
The WAI Midwest Chapter established this scholarship program, administered by The Wire Foundation, to improve educational opportunities for academically qualified high school seniors or college students who are children, grandchildren, or dependents of WAI Midwest Chapter members in good standing.
The Chapter made this commitment to reinforce the value of higher education in today’s society and to provide members with an opportunity to benefit from their membership in WAI and the Chapter. Below are the winners.
Mia Robillard is the daughter of Brad Robillard, owner, Elk Technologies. She is attending The Ohio State University, where she is seeking a degree in mechanical engineering.
Hailey Walker is the daughter of Robert Sears (Retired), BS Wire. She is attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where she is seeking a degree in English.
Amy Skolozynski is the daughter of Stephen Skolozynski, general manager, Master Spring & Wire Form Co. She is attending the University of Iowa, where she is seeking a degree in English and creative writing.
The WAI will partner with Hyperion Materials & Technologies to host a two-part technical webinar series via zoom in September focused on wire die quality designed for wire die tool makers and wire producers.
Part 1: Differentiating High-Quality PCD Wire Dies will be presented at 11 am EST on Sept. 17. Presenters Hector Ferrer Ribas and Andrew Gledhill will cover the fundamentals of carbide and PCD, explaining how to separate high-quality wire dies from substandard ones. An interactive segment will include “red flags” such as EDM cutting problems and cracks. Also covered will be the causes/impact of material defects on Total Cost of Ownership (TOC). It will provide a checklist to assess product quality based on manufacturing processes, material consistency, traceability and supplier expertise as well as cover innovations in PCD materials, testing methods, certifications and quality assurance.
Part 2: Key Differentiators in Carbide Wire Dies will be presented at 11 am EST on Sept. 24. It will focus on identifying quality indicators in carbide wire dies. The presenters will outline common defects such as casing issues, breakage, cavities, pores, and scratches. Attendees will learn about the causes of these problems and how they affect TCO. A practical checklist will help evaluate wire dies based on consistency, process control, and supplier standards. The session will also address testing methods, material traceability, and recent innovations in carbide materials.
Each webinar requires separate registration. You may register for one or both using the register now buttons above. The cost is free for WAI members and $75 per session for non-members. Non-members planning to attend should consider joining WAI for $150 per year during checkout to access the webinars for free.
For more information or for assistance with registering, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The WAI Education Center has publicly released the introductory videos from its four completed courses. These videos, shared on LinkedIn, YouTube, and via email, showcase the high-quality content and end with a call to action to enroll.
Interest has grown since Interwire this past May. Notably, Prysmian enrolled 18 extrusion operators from its Colombia plant in all three available extrusion courses, with more expected to follow.
Multiple new courses are in development, such as Extrusion – Special Process Considerations and Introduction to Wire Dies. WAI is working with instructional designers to add interactive activities and expanded quizzes to selected courses.
For more details, go to wirenet.org or contact WAI at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
The Wire Association International will co-locate Wire Expo next year with the Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo (EWPTE) on May 6-7, 2026, at the Baird Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.
Bringing the Expos together under one roof creates meaningful opportunities for industry professionals to explore the entire value chain. The co-location enables manufacturers, suppliers, distributors and end-users to see and experience novel technologies, forge strategic partnerships and advance the industry.
The two events previously colocated 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.
WAI First Vice President David Fisher said that he looks forward to the co-location. “It’s a great chance for both groups to co-mingle and truly get a feel for each side of the wire and cable industry—from manufacturing to downstream end use, and all the products and equipment that go into it. The people who make this happen are key to the success of both groups.”
“The co-location of the Wire Expo and the EWPTE will create a unique opportunity for attendees to collaborate, establish valuable new contacts, and learn from industry leaders and experts,” said David Bergman, VP, international relations, Global Electronics Association, and executive director, WHMA.
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, established in 1993, is the only trade association exclusively representing the cable and wire harness manufacturing industry.
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.
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..
Madison, Connecticut, USA – May 19, 2025 – The Wire Association International Inc. (WAI) reports excellent results following the staging of its biennial Interwire Conference & Trade Exposition and its 4th Global Continuous Casting Forum (GCCF), held May 13-15 and May 12-15, respectively, in Hall A of the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
WAI welcomed 3,386 visitors from 46 countries and 42 U.S. states. Attendees from 450 manufacturing facilities were represented. 350 companies exhibited this year.
The collective programs, which featured 85 speakers, offered a vast selection of topics. Both conference programs and the sold-out exhibition provided participants with boundless opportunities for fact-finding, exploring new manufacturing technologies, and networking throughout the week.
WAI’s 2025 President Eric Bieberich said “Interwire 2025 lived up to this year’s theme—Shaping the Future of Wire Making, Uniting People & Technology—with courses and planning sessions focused on the wire and cable industry’s future. Keynote and conference sessions showcased technological advancements and leadership insights, while the show floor buzzed with business opportunities, fostering collaboration and leaving me optimistic about our industry’s future.”
During its Annual Meeting WAI bestowed its highest honors on the following four award winners. Mordica Memorial Award: Emmanuel De Moor, Colorado School of Mines; Donnellan Memorial Award: Thomas M. Heberling, formerly of Southwire Company; President’s Award: Willem Sundblad, Oden Technologies; and the WAI Champion Award: Andrea Pirondini, Prysmian.
Interwire highlights included:
• Pre-show, one-day Fundamentals of wire manufacturing course;
• Keynote speaker Andrea Pirondini, CEO, Prysmian North America, who presented: Linking the future: Driving tomorrow’s wire solutions;
• Keynote speaker Chris Tuff, best-selling author of the Millennial Whisperer, who presented: Creating a culture of connection;
• Featured speaker Willem Sundblad, CEO & Co-Founder, Oden Technologies, who presented: The future of manufacturing; and the
• Welcome Reception at Mercedes-Benz Stadium that hosted more than 1,000 people. New additions this year included:
• The Advanced Extrusion Workshop at Southwire’s Carrollton campus;
• The Fireside Chat with keynote speaker Chris Tuff and Rebecca Cranford, SVP, Southwire Company LLC;
• Introduction of WAI’s new Education Center;
• The Taste of the South Happy Hour and WJI Relaxation Lounge; and
• The Global Roundabout station offering cultural food/beverage samples from various sponsors.
Commenting on the GCCF, Chair, Chris Tucker, said: “I’m extremely proud of what we achieved with this year’s Global Continuous Casting Forum at Interwire. Bringing together experts from across the global industry allowed for meaningful discussion on both current practices and emerging technologies. It’s a strong signal that this community is committed to progress.”
Global Continuous Casting Forum highlights included:
• Networking receptions & awards dinner;
• Aurubis Richmond plant tour;
• Advances in Casting Technology;
• Global Cu/Al/Scrap Markets;
• Copper & Aluminum Technical Sessions;
• Lubrication, Testing, Automation, & Safety Sessions; and a
• Sustainable Operations & Panel Discussion.
Interwire Sponsors
Elite: Gem Gravure Co. Inc.; James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp.; Lloyd & Bouvier Inc.; Prysmian; SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS; Setic & Pourtier; and Southwire Company LLC
Platinum: Carris Reels Inc.; and Wire & Plastic Machinery Corp.
Gold: Niehoff Endex; and RichardsApex Inc.
Silver: Fort Wayne Wire Die; The MGS Group; SIKORA International Corp.; Sonoco Reels & Spools; Strecker; and Troester GmbH & Co. KG
Bronze: Baum’s Castorine Co. Inc.; ENKOTEC; Esteves Group; Cable Components Group; Gendon Polymer Services, Inc.; Precision Reel/Payoffs; and Sjogren Industries Inc. Industry Partner: Wire and Cable Industry Suppliers Association
GCCF Sponsors
Platinum: Freeport McMoRan; Prysmian; RichardsApex Inc.; Rio Tinto; SDI LaFarga COPPERWORKS; Southwire Company LLC
Gold: Continuus-Properzi SpA
Silver: Quaker Houghton; Saint-Gobain; SMS Group; TotalEnergies; UPCAST OY
The next staging of Interwire will be May 4-6, 2027, at the Georgia World Congress Center
The Wire Association Int.
71 Bradley Road, Suite 9
Madison, CT 06443-2662
P: (203) 453-2777
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