The Wire Association International

Cenergy Holdings announced that its Hellenic Cables segment, through its wholly owned subsidiary Fulgor S.A., has been awarded a turnkey contract valued at approximately $1.73 billion by Greece’s Independent Power Transmission Operator (IPTO) for the Corinth–Kos high-voltage direct-current interconnection.

The Wire Association International has completed and launched Ferrous Heat Treatment, a new video-based course in the WAI Education Center. The course provides a focused introduction to the principles, processes, and practical considerations involved in heat treating ferrous wire products.

Japan’s Fujikura Ltd. plans to bring a new U.S. fiber-optic cable manufacturing operation online by 2030 as part of a proposed investment of up to $1.6 billion in U.S. optical-cable capacity. Per Nikkei, a Japanese business newspaper, President Naoki Okada said the company expects to select a site after assessing access to raw materials and energy, including hydrogen, as well as available government support.

The WAI Southeast Chapter will hold its annual Golf Tournament on Oct. 15 at Rock Barn Country Club in Conover, N.C., continuing a tradition at the venue that began in 2010. Rock Barn offers 36 holes of golf. Its public-access Tom Jackson Course was ranked No. 5 in North Carolina for 2024 by GolfPass. Last year, 116 golfers attended, the largest turnout since pre-COVID and a strong indicator of the chapter’s growth.

Membership in the Wire Association International extends well beyond event access, offering year-round tools such as WJI digital archives, education, technical papers, directories, savings, networking, and local chapters.

HEXPOL, a Malmö, Sweden-based polymers group, has agreed to acquire Vipa Group, an Ancarano, Italy-based manufacturer of thermoplastic compounds for wire and cable applications. A press release said the deal, valued at about $165 million, is expected to close this year. HEXPOL is already active in North America through its Compounding Americas operations, which include 13 production sites in the U.S. and Mexico, as well as other U.S. thermoplastics facilities.

The Southeast Chapter has named its 2026 scholarship winners, continuing a program established in 2008 to reinforce the value of higher education and provide added benefit to Chapter members. Audrey Brown is the daughter of Greg Brown, the director of manufacturing at Insteel Wire Products. She is attending UNC Wilmington, where she is seeking a degree in business. Meredith Hammontree is the daughter of Joseph Hammontree, the president of Temple Terrace Industries Inc.

Central Wire Industries, a Perth, Ontario-based specialty wire and cable manufacturer, has been acquired by Altair Industries. Terms were not disclosed; Altair plans operational and growth initiatives with management.

Fort Wayne, Indiana—Fort Wayne Metals has completed its transition to full ownership by Axel Johnson Inc. (AJI), according to a July 1 announcement from the companies. Founded in 1970, Fort Wayne Metals employs more than 1,700 people and operates 12 facilities in the United States and two in Europe.