It felt like old (better) times for the WAI’s New England Chapter, which held its annual meeting at the Mohegan Sun Casino in Montville, Connecticut, where 120 members and guests were able to mingle, recognize their new leaders, network, listen to an inspiring keynote speaker, get a keepsake photo, raise money for a good cause and just interact as the wire and cable industry does so well, given a chance.
The new officers for 2023 are President Jessica Foss, Electric Cable Compounds; Vice President Ryan Carbray, Alphagary; and Secretary Mike Roussel, Celanese Corp. The Past President is Mike Sarni, Insulated Wire, Inc.
Maxing out the capacity of the Mohegan’s Cabaret Theater, the gathering was akin to those held in pre-Covid times, enough that the Annual Dinner Committee will discuss other venue options within Mohegan for the 2024 meeting.
Speaking later, Jessica Foss, market development manager for Electric Cable Compounds, was pleased with the solid attendance, and observed that the chapter’s role continues to serve an important need. “Since I joined the industry, the Chapter has exemplified the tight knit community that is wire and cable. We certainly want the chapter to grow and have an even greater presence in the industry. To achieve this, we will continue to host events and programs that foster fraternity through networking and educational opportunities that offer an opportunity to expand one’s knowledge in a specific area. That includes getting to see other companies’ operations. I think it is also important that our annual events have a fresh feel each year.”
Keynote speaker Michelle Dray, creator of the “Getting Unstuck & Leading Fearlessly” program, presenting a different focus on personnel. Her 11-week program is designed for women, but she told attendees that it also applied to men. She explained the different signs of “career stuck-ness, and how they were different for industry newcomers (0-five years) or those who have been around longer, but also face plateau issues. Her message worked, and she had very good reviews.
The dinner itself was again well done. There was a review of chapter activity in 2022. As the society continues to adjust to life with Covid, the chapter’s annual golf tournament on Sept. 10 was a strong step forward to “normalcy,” with a maxed out field of 148 golfers at the Tunxis Country Club in Farmington, Connecticut. The Oct. 25 tour of the RFS plant in Meriden saw some 50 members take part, touring the operations, followed by a dinner at a well-chosen restaurant steps away from the Connecticut River. As of Feb. 10, the chapter numbers 266 members, by far the largest WAI chapter.
The raffle continues to support the chapter’s scholarship program. For hockey fans in attendance, the grand raffle prize, sponsored by Lloyd & Bouvier, was a pair of golden ducats: two tickets to a Bruins vs. Toronto Maple Leafs game. Gem Gravure Co., Inc., continued its legacy of generosity, providing tickets to Boston Red Sox games. The Mohegan Sun also donated two tickets to an Air Supply concert.
You didn’t have to win to walk away with a good memory as award winning photographer Ashley Abel worked a photobooth where attendees could get a free headshot or take a fun group photo with industry colleagues. Abel took the photos on this page.
Finally, a new concept suggested by golf committee chair Jim Evans, approved by the Chapter’s board, was introduced: a trophy for the winning team. It was presented to Proterial Cable America (formerly Hitachi America).
The ante may just have been upped some for bragging rights for the Sept. 11, 2023, golf
Tourney.
The Wire Association International (WAI), Inc. announces details of its annual conference program, offered May 9-11 in conjunction with INTERWIRE at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Presentations include two keynote addresses; a featured speaker; focused sessions on Industry 4.0, the Workforce, and Extrusion/Polymers; Industry Outlook panel sessions; nine technical sessions; a Mordica lecture; and production solution demonstrations as outlined below. All are included with Conference and Exhibit registration.
WAI’s popular Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing course is offered as a pre-show option on May 8 for those either new to the industry or in need of a refresher.
KEYNOTES
Srinivas Siripurapu, Chief Innovation and R&D Officer, Prysmian, delivers his keynote address on May 9: “Innovation, Investments & Incentives – Electrifying the wire and cable industry for a brighter future.”
Rich Stinson, President and CEO of Southwire Co. presents “The future is electrified!” on May 10.
FEATURED SPEAKER
Dr. Mary Ellen Weber, astronaut, executive, aviator, and scientist presents: “To boldly go: The experience of space flight” on May 10. Dr. Weber offers a second presentation that afternoon at the WAI Theater in exhibit Hall A titled: “A new era of space travel: Commercial space, NASA, tourism, the Moon, and Mars.”
INDUSTRY 4.0 SESSIONS
• “How AI will change wire & cable manufacturing,” Willem Sundblad, Oden Technologies.
• “The future of industrial work: How Smart AI is helping to unlock the true potential of today’s workforce,” Russ Fadel, Augmentir.
• “Unleashing the full potential of Industrial IoT with GPT-3,” Andrés Cartagena Ruiz, 40Factory.
• “Lessons from the journey to a connected enterprise, Will Berry, Sr. VP engineering and modernization, Southwire Co.
WORKFORCE SESSIONS
• “Behind the numbers…Establishing world class safety and training programs,” Rob Caillet, VP of environmental, health and safely, Encore Wire.
• “The state of the manufacturing workplace,” Matt Dionne, Managing partner, TYGES Executive and professional search firm.
• Executive panel: Adapting to the workforce challenges with senior industry leaders. Moderator Drew Richards, president RichardsApex; Panelists: Joe Barrett, president, Davis Wire; David Fisher, president, James Monroe Wire & Cable.
EXTRUSION/POLYMER SESSIONS
• “Advanced extrusion technology,” Mikko Lahti, R & D director, Maillefer Extrusion.
• “Polymer technology for wire and cable applications,” David Lindsay, market manager-energy, North America, Borealis.
• “What are you risking by using outdated controls on your extruder?”, Scott Barlow, CEO, Integrated Control Technologies.
INDUSTRY OUTLOOK
• “Can the cable industry avoid the impending economic downturn?” Aisling Hubert, editor, CRU.
• Executive Panel – “Steel Market.”
• Executive Panel – “Copper Supply and Demand.”
Conference and Exhibit registration also includes presentations at the WAI Theater in exhibit Hall A, featuring:
TECHNICAL SESSIONS
• “In-situ evaluation of the performance of wire drawing using multiple sensors.”
• “The future of industrial work - How Smart AI is helping to unlock the true potential of today’s workforce.”
• “Inline surface dimensional flaw detection and outer diameter/ovality measurements using laser line triangulation.”
• “Manufacturing high-quality fine copper wire at a low cost by combining three-roll rolling and wire drawing.”
• “Application of polymer lubricants to replace zinc phosphate in wire drawing.”
• “Thermo-mechanical and air patenting in modern rolling: characteristics and advantages.”
• “Achieving high quality in wire using eddy current testing.”
• “Inline profiling of magnet wires for e-mobility.”
• “UPCAST oxygen free copper rod metallurgy, OFHC/OFE wire manufacturing, and other practicalities.”
MORDICA LECTURE
Presentation by Dr. Bruce Kiefer, “Ferrous rod – Before it gets to be wire.”
PRODUCTION SOLUTION DEMONSTRATIONS
Manufacturing challenges and common process hurdles are reviewed at these live demos offered May 10 and 11 featuring:
• “Factors affecting wire production from precoats to lubricants.”
• “Wire breaks.”
• “Wire drawing die material and profile specification considerations.”
EXHIBITS
300 exhibiting companies participate at the INTERWIRE marketplace to showcase the latest products and developed technologies available to wire and cable manufacturers; 80 product categories are represented. WAI introduces more than 30 new exhibiting companies to the INTERWIRE this year.
Conference and exhibit schedule, details, and registration information is available on the event website: www.interwire23.com.
EVENT BACKGROUND:
Introduced in 1981, INTERWIRE is the largest and longest-running wire and cable marketplace in the Americas. Hosted biennially, Interwire is an international trade event that includes exhibiting companies, speakers, and visitors from more than 50 countries.
WAI, founded in 1930, is a not-for-profit association with more than 2000 individual members in 50 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 Trade Exhibition and the WAI Operations Summit & Wire Expo and publishes the Wire Journal International and the Wire Journal International Reference Guide.
Wire Reel Moving Devices: A Proactive Approach to Safety that Improves Productivity and Profitability
Sponsored by PowerPusher
In recent years, improving worker safety has become an important focus in most industries, as job-related injuries can result in employee absenteeism, reduced productivity, and increased costs. Many material handling applications including reel moving, pose serious health and safety risks, requiring workers to move heavy loads either through sheer manpower or by using equipment that is unstable, difficult to control or ergonomically deficient. To overcome these safety challenges, the development of battery-operated tug devices allows employees to single-handedly move materials weighing thousands of pounds without exposing them to unnecessary risk of injury. Battery operated tugs enhance safety by preventing operator strain and reducing potential collisions on busy plant floors, resulting in improved productivity and efficiency—ultimately impacting a company’s overall profitability.
Material handling applications often require operators to move objects weighing thousands of pounds, which can result in serious safety and health consequences. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2021, an estimated 2.6 million workers in the United States suffered nonfatal work-related injuries, which not only affects productivity, but also directly impacts a company’s bottom line. Each injury results in workers’ compensation, insurance increases, lost productivity, and diverse indirect costs, which amount to billions of dollars each year nationwide.
Traditionally, industries have been utilizing manpower, forklift trucks and pallet jacks to transport goods throughout a facility. While effective solutions for moving goods, these devices create worker vulnerability by exposing them to potential injury, such as muscle strains, nerve damage or in some cases, even death. Lacking stability and control, forklifts and pallet jacks increase the likelihood of incidental contact with personnel and equipment, while manpower can lead to injuries resulting from overexertion.
With today’s industries moving faster than ever, implementing solutions that adhere to strict safety regulations without impacting productivity is crucial to meeting growing customer demands. The development of battery-operated tug units, which are capable of effortlessly moving thousands of pounds, eliminates excess strain or exertion to personnel for increased material handling safety. With their inherent stability, tugs accommodate uneven surfaces without tipping, and are engineered to simplify material mobility. This allows facility managers to not only minimize risk of injury, but also improve efficiency, productivity, and profitability.
Please visit our site to see the Compact Walk-Behind Electric Pushers & Tugs for Any Application.
Nu-Star Inc., parent company of PowerPusher®, is a global manufacturer of engineered solutions for material handling needs since 1959, and operates facilities in the US and UK. Learn more about their years of experience as a leading designer, manufacturer and innovator in the industry who provides state-of-the-art, reliable, cost-effective load-moving solutions that deliver tangible productivity and safety benefits in a wide variety of applications. Learn more at www.powerpusher.com and view the complete line of PowerPusher electric material handling tugs. To contact PowerPusher directly, call 800.800.9274 or visit https://powerpusher.com/contact/.
| Category | To Convert From | To | Multiple by |
| Acceleration | $ ft/s^2 $ | $ m^2/s^2 $ | $0.3048$ |
| $ in/s^2 $ | $ m^2/s^2 $ | $ 2.5400x10^{-2}$ | |
| Area | $ ft^2 $ | $ m^2 $ | $9.29030x10^{-2}$ |
| $ in^2 $ | $ m^2 $ | $ 6.4516x10^{-4}$ | |
| Density | $ g/cm^3 $ | $ kg/m^3 $ | $1.0000x10^3$ |
| $ in^2 $ | $ m^2 $ | $ 6.4516x10^{-4}$ |
General Formula: Ohms/M Ft = $\frac{1000 R}{D^2}$
$^d0000 = (K^{39})(d_{36})$
Solving for K:
K=$\sqrt [39] {\frac {0.4600}{0.0050}}$
It is not rare for finished wire to be marked. This often happens on stripper blocks and causes quality complaints. Below is a series of specific steps you can take to identify the source of the marking.