WAI, in collaboration with Hyperion Materials & Technologies (HMT), will present a two-part webinar series in September free to WAI members for wire die tool makers and wire producers that will provide insights into PCD and TC wire dies.

Part 1, Differentiating High-Quality PCD Wire Dies, will be held Wednesday, Sept. 17, at 11 am EST, presented by HMT’s Hector Ferrer Ribas, a business development specialist-carbide metal cutting, and Andrew Gledhill, technical manager. They will focus on identifying PCD wire dies. Topics will include fundamental material properties, common defects like EDM cutting issues and cracks, and the impact of quality on Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Attendees will also receive a checklist to assess superior products and learn about innovations in PCD materials.

Part 2, Key Differentiators in Carbide Wire Dies, will be held Wednesday, Sept. 24, at 11 am EST, will highlight the defining features of high-quality carbide wire dies. Attendees will explore red flags such as casing issues, breakage, and porosity, along with an assessment checklist to evaluate manufacturing quality and material consistency. The webinar will also cover advancements in carbide materials, testing methods, and the importance of traceability and certifications.

Both sessions will be recorded for those unable to attend live, with that access free to WAI members. They will offer a convenient opportunity for industry professionals to deepen their understanding of wire die quality and advancements. For more updates on these events and programs, visit wirenet.org. 

Registration is now open online for Wire & Cable Krakow Conference, to be held Oct. 14 at the Holiday Inn Krakow City Centre in Krakow, Poland.

The program for the one-day event is largely complete, with some two dozen abstracts having been submitted on topics such as sustainability, production efficiency, and product development emerging as key themes. Organizers of the event include ACIMAF, the AGH University of Krakow, IWMA and the WAI.

Final details, including attendee registration pricing, tabletop exhibits, and sponsorship options, are still being determined. For more details, visit wirecable25.com or reach out to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

WAI’s education program is advancing on multiple fronts as the Association continues building a robust library of technical training designed for early-career professionals in the wire and cable industry.

WAI’s Education Center’s goal is to deliver the best possible learning experience, and while the Association has done a lot in-house, with the help of industry volunteers, it has contracted with a professional instructional designer to enhance the structure and interactivity of the courses. “We think that members will appreciate the results as they are released over this year and the following ones,” said John Markowski, WAI’s manager of education.

The collaboration, Markowski said, will allow WAI to translate complex technical content into engaging, easy-to-follow lessons that better support learner retention and engagement. From interactive elements to improved pacing and flow, the goal is to make each course more intuitive and impactful.

On the content side, development is continuing to move full speed ahead, Markowski said. The third course in WAI’s extrusion series—focused on extrusion materials—is nearing completion and will be released soon. That course builds on the foundational knowledge introduced in earlier modules and dives deeper into the properties and performance of materials used in the extrusion process.

Markowski said that the WAI has also begun production on a new Fundamentals of Drawing Dies course that is already about halfway complete. This course—led by subject matter expert Eric Bieberich, president of Fort Wayne Wire Die—will serve as a key learning tool for individuals entering the wire industry.

Ian Rand has joined Southwire as Vice President and President of Canada Business. He will provide oversight and guidance to the organization based at Southwire Canada’s new corporate headquarters in Mississauga, Ontario. He served as Senior Vice President Canada for Prysmian and General Cable from 2010-2019, before taking his most recent position as general manager for Omnicable Canada. Based in Carrollton, Georgia, USA, Southwire is the largest manufacturer of copper and aluminum rod, wire and cable in the United States.

 Teknor Apex has named Patricia Mishic O’Brien as chief sustainability officer. She has extensive experience driving transformational, sustainable growth across diverse industries. She most recently was chief commercial officer at UBQ Materials, where she was responsible for sales, marketing, sales operations and technical service and development. Prior to that she held senior leadership roles at various companies in the materials science industry. She holds a B.S. degree in business administration from Youngstown State University and an MBA from the University of Akron. Based in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, Teknor Apex is a global leader in custom polymer compounding.

 Todd Hesser has joined the high-temperature sales team at Radix. He has more than 25 years of experience in the oil and gas industry. In his new role, he will focus on supporting regional Energy OEM and MRO customer accounts. Based in Glenwillow, Ohio, Radix Wire specializes in high-performance, extreme-temperature wire and cable.

Fred Carr was named a plant director for Prysmian. He has more than 20 years of plant management experience, most recently serving as the director of operations at Atkore. He previously held similar management roles at Alkegen, Parker Hannifin, and Federal Mogul. He holds multiple degrees from the University of Illinois in mechanical engineering as well as a PhD from the University of Notre Dame. He is in charge of Prysmian’s plant in Marshall, Texas, which manufactures a range of power cables.