The Wire Association International

Liberty Steel & Wire’s effort to secure state support for a potential expansion of its Bartonville, Illinois, mill has suffered a setback, adding uncertainty to plans that could include plant upgrades and the relocation of the company’s U.S. headquarters to Peoria County. The proposed support was not included in legislation passed during the most recent Illinois legislative session. A company representative declined to comment on what comes next, leaving the status of the expansion plans unclear.

The first conductor order for Invenergy Transmission’s 800-mile Grain Belt Express HVDC project has been formally placed, marking the opening stage of a long-term supply agreement with Prysmian Group North America. The June 2026 order comes more than seven years after the project secured unanimous regulatory approvals in Kansas and Missouri in 2019, underscoring the lengthy regulatory and permitting process often associated with major U.S. transmission projects.

The Wire Association International (WAI), in partnership with Innovites, will introduce the REWIREcable Forum, a new one-day educational program focused on digital technology and transformation in wire and cable manufacturing. The inaugural forum will be held Thursday, May 6, 2027, in conjunction with Interwire 2027 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

The Wire Association International (WAI) will bring back several of its most popular training programs for Interwire 2027, complementing the event’s new educational initiatives with established courses focused on wire manufacturing and extrusion. The returning programs include WAI’s flagship Fundamentals of Wire Manufacturing Course and the Advanced Extrusion Workshop, which will be presented for the third time following strong industry demand.

The Wire Association International (WAI) is developing a new specialized education program focused on nonferrous rod production that will combine virtual instruction with in-person learning at Interwire 2027. Titled “From the Mine to the Line,” the program will provide participants with a comprehensive overview of copper and aluminum rod production, expanding WAI’s technical training portfolio into an important upstream segment of the wire manufacturing process.

The latest wire and cable people moves for July 2026 include leadership appointments and promotions at Sequel Wire and Cable, TROESTER, Reel Options, AFL, Marlin Steel and Essex Solutions. Sequel Wire and Cable has named Kurt Hennelly as president. He brings 30 years of senior leadership experience in the wire and cable industry, including executive roles at Southwire and Coleman Cable. His background includes manufacturing, sourcing, logistics, lean enterprise and operational transformation.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has approved a senior secured loan of up to $100 million for Tele-Fonika Kable (TFKable), reinforcing the bank’s continued support for cable manufacturing investments tied to grid modernization and renewable energy infrastructure.

For immediate release The Wire Association International, Inc. Madison, Connecticut, USA – July 1, 2026 – The Wire Association International, Inc. (WAI) has issued a Call for Presentations for its Interwire Conference & Trade Exposition slated for May 4-6, 2027, and for the REWIREcable Forum on May 6, 2027, both at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. The Interwire Conference theme is: Safety Starts Here. Safer Work. Stronger Industry.