Industry News

WCMA report announcements and news events received and confirmed by our Members, as well as other qualified industry sources. Content will focus on key commercial events, such as confirmed merger and acquisition activity, new start-ups and firms, and Executive changes and appointments. Contact Ed Fenton, WCMA Executive Director at 860-841-7720 or ed@wcmainc.org with announcements.

WCMA strongly suggests that our Members also contacting editors at recognized industry trade publications show as collaborators on our home page or by visiting our Association and Media page.

  • July 20th, 2020

    Nexans To Sell Berk-Tek to Leviton, To Close Chester plant

    Nexans has executed an agreement to sell Berk-Tek to Leviton for US$202 million combining one integrated product and solutions provider to the network cabling industry. Many in the datacomm space are aware that Berk-Tek and Leviton signed a marketing alliance in 2013.  Christopher Guérin, Nexans CEO: “Our Berk-Tek colleagues will join a long-term partner with the best strategic fit to… Read More

  • July 6th, 2020

    Accel International Adds Florida Site to Expansion Plans

    Accel International Holdings, Inc., Meriden, Connecticut, will locate a new 150,000 square foot manufacturing facility in Port St. Lucie, Florida, at the Tradition Center for Commerce, which is expected to generate 125 new jobs by 2021.  The company is scheduled to break ground later this year on a 10 acre site.  According to Anthony Oh, President and CEO, an overall… Read More

  • July 2nd, 2020

    Avient Combines PolyOne with the Clariant Color & Additive Masterbatch Businesses

    PolyOne completed the acquisition of Clariant’s global color and additive masterbatch business.  The combined business will be called Avient Corp., and be comprosed of 3 separate business units: Speciaty Engineered Materials, Avient Distribution and Color, and Additives & Inks where the legacy Clariant Masterbatch business will now reside. Michael Garratt, is President, responsible for Europe, the Middle East & Africa… Read More

  • June 24th, 2020

    Cerrowire Adds Sales Reps

    Cerro Wire, Hartselle, Alabama, named Kevin Watkins as director of sales for the Eastern U.S, reporting to Vice President of Sales, Toby Robin.  Prior to joining Cerro, Watkins worked as the northeast regional manager for Kris-Tech, with a primary focus on the electrical distribution sales channel.Chris Marlow also joined Cerrowire as the director of strategic accounts for the company’s electrical… Read More

  • June 23rd, 2020

    #2 Distributor WESCO/Anixter Closes, And Other Rankings

    WESCO International, Inc. completed its merger with Anixter International Inc., making Anixter a wholly-owned subsidiary of WESCO, and creating what is estimated by the companies to be a $17 billion per year combined enterprise behind only Sonepar North America as #1.Complete details of the deal are easily found on line on either company website.  WCMA observes that the companies expected… Read More

  • June 19th, 2020

    Freeport Ongoing Rod Supply

    On June 17, we announced the closure of our Norwich rod mill to gain efficiencies with our two other rod mill operations. Freeport-McMoRan remains committed to serving the North American wire and cable industry and will continue to honor our commitments by delivering high-quality rod and exceptional customer care to our valued customers through our long-standing operations in El Paso,… Read More

  • June 12th, 2020

    Copperweld Acquires Seminole Wire & Cable

    Copperweld Group, Inc., a part of Kinderhook Industries, LLC, acquired Seminole Wire & Cable Co., Inc., Pennsauken, NJ, a producer and supplier of specialty wire and cable and value added fimished products.Founded in 1962, Seminole manufactures blasting & connecting wire for mining, buried wire for pet containment and AV wire for broadcasting. Seminole also supports clients with research and development,… Read More

  • June 12th, 2020

    Fisk and Thermo Technologies Not to Combine

    Fisk Alloy Wire, Hawthorne, New Jersey, and Thermo Technologies, Annecy, France, announced that they will not proceed with the previously announced acquisition of Fisk by Thermo Technologies in February this year.Fisk and Thermo Technologies have mutually and amicably come to the conclusion that now is not a good time to combine the companies with the impact of Covid-19 on countries,… Read More

  • June 5th, 2020

    Belden's Vestjens Succeeds Stroup

    Belden Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, named Roel Vestjens as President and CEO.  Previously, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Vestjens succeeds John Stroup who has been name Executive Chairman of Belden's Board of Directors after holding the top positions.Vestjens joined Belden in 2006 as Director of Marketing for the EMEA region. Since then he held roles of increasing responsibility… Read More

  • June 2nd, 2020

    WESCO Anixter Leadership Team Announced

    WESCO International, Inc. and Anixter International Inc. announced the future leadership team and organizational structure that will become effective upon the completion of the merger of the two companies. The transaction is expected to close in the second or third quarter of 2020.John Engel, WESCO's Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer said the senior leadership team will head up three… Read More