For immediate release

The Wire Association International, Inc.

Interwire 2011 recharges industry with new programs and energy.
Attendance rebounds with 19% surge.

GUILFORD, Connecticut, USA – May 11, 2011 – The Wire Association International (WAI), Inc.’s 81st Annual Convention and its flagship Interwire trade exposition came to a successful conclusion May 5th after a four-day conference at the Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Georgia, USA, where attendance figures surged beyond the Association’s past two Interwire events. Total attendance reached 4,022, up 19% from the 2009 event in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. Attendees came from 53 countries.

“Interwire had tremendous support from the wire and cable manufacturing community. More than 750 wire and cable facilities sent representatives—many sent multiple attendees—all with action items to accomplish at Interwire,” said WAI President Dominique Perroud.

Convention highlights

Three new theme days set the tone for the week, providing an organizational format into which a robust offering of nearly 100 technical and operational presentations were assembled. Themes were metals and materials; manufacturing best practices; and green initiatives.

On Monday, May 2, WAI bestowed its highest honors on Dr. Kazunari Yoshida, Tokai University, Japan, and Thomas E. Moran, National Standard Co., winners of WAI’s Mordica Memorial Award and Donnellan Memorial Award, respectively. Also Monday, Southwire hosted a tour of two of its Carrollton facilities; and Tuesday evening more than 1,100 participants networked at WAI’s annual opening reception.

The first-time Global Continuous Casting Forum for copper practitioners, which ran concurrently with Interwire, exceeded planning estimates and reached full capacity at 205 participants from 25 countries. The program featured 34 industry-leading presenters. “The presenters, panel members, moderators, and keynote speaker represent the best of the best within our industry. Manufacturers, OEMs, and suppliers all networked and were supported by great exhibits on the floor. This truly was the most comprehensive program of its kind ever developed,” said Gary Spence, VP Nonferrous Metals, Encore Wire.

Keynote speaker and astronaut Mike Mullane, encouraged listeners to “Dream Big” at his presentation on Wednesday, May 4, when he also shared experiences from living and working in space.

Exhibition highlights

More than 400 companies were represented at the three-day exhibition. Production solution demonstrations, held through the hall, covered topics ranging from surface treatment technology and roll straightening to FEP foaming technology, wiredrawing lubricants, and wire breaks.

Exhibitors shared optimism as a result of Interwire. “It’s GREAT to be back in Atlanta! Between location, improving business levels, and general optimism, the mood at Interwire was refreshing. Show days can be long—but traffic, developing projects, and positive sentiment made this Interwire productive,” said Dave Ferraro, VP Sales & Mktg., Carris Reels.

“Interwire 2011 has seen improvements compared to recent years. It gave us an indication of an upward economical trend in North America. The OM Lesmo Group and Lesmo Machinery America, Inc. booths were visited by several customers and new prospects. In all, we hope that the discussions at Interwire will turn to be real projects very soon,” said Allan Brown, Sales Mgr., Lesmo Machinery America Inc.

Interwire had the support of exclusive sponsors: Southwire and ExxonMobil Chemical; educational sponsors: Sonoco Products; Gem Gravure Co. Inc.; and Dow Wire & Cable Co.; Cyber café sponsors: Chemson Inc. and Sonoco Products; 5K sponsor: LEONI Wire Inc.; Directional sign sponsors: SIKORA International Corp. and Skaltek Inc.; Lanyard sponsor: Carris Reels Inc.;
hospitality suite sponsors: C.H. Robinson Worldwide Inc.; J.B. Hunt; Southeastern Freight Lines; and Tenold Transportation LP.

The American Wire Producers Association (AWPA) reported more than 160 attendees at its 2011 Wire Rod Supply Chain Conference. The 33 sponsoring organizations included AWPA member companies, affiliated associations, and industry press. “Holding this conference alongside WAI’s convention continues to be a formula for success and we are looking forward to 2012 in Dallas, May 21-23,” said Kimberly Korbel, AWPA Executive Director.

Interwire will return to Atlanta, Georgia, USA, April 23-25, 2013.

The Wire Association International, Inc., founded in 1930, is a worldwide technical society for wire and cable industry professionals. WAI is dedicated to the promotion, collection and dissemination of technical, manufacturing and general business information and trends in the industry. It organizes events such as the Interwire and Wire Expo trade shows, technical webinars, and annual International Technical Conferences. Its publications and technical products include Wire Journal International (WJI) and the annual WJI Reference Guide as well as a host of technical handbooks, reports, and DVDs. Contact WAI for details at Tel.: 001-203-453-2777; Fax: 001-203-453-8384.

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Media Contact: Janice Swindells at Tel.: 001-203-453-2777, ext. 117 or jswindells@wirenet.org.

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