EuroWire March 2024

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Daniel Blais to lead WAI in 2024

New position to strengthen Reelex customer experience Reelex Packaging Solutions has created the new position of VP sales and service and hired David Troy to fill the role. Mr Troy comes to Reelex from Emerson Discrete Automation’s Branson Welding and Assembly division where he served as director of marketing and business development. Prior to Branson, he worked for Fujifilm as director of marketing. For Reelex, Mr Troy will be focusing on the sales and service structure, including building a sales team, improving the customer experience and streamlining processes. Tim Copp, VP of business development, will lead customer facing marketing activities and industry representation, and will focus his efforts on product development and creation of customer-specific packaging applications and solutions. Reelex Packaging Solutions, Inc www.reelex.com

The Wire Association International (WAI) has announced the appoint ment of Daniel Blais as the 71 st presi

Daniel Blais

Change in Troester management board Troester GmbH & Co KG, a manufacturer of equipment for the rubber, cable and compounding industry, started the new year with a significant change in the company’s management. As of 1 January, Dr Peter Schmidt, managing partner at Troester for many years, handed over the position of CEO to Thomas Holzer. This step is part of a corporate strategy that aims to maintain continuity in the management of the company while providing new stimulation for future development. Mr Holzer, who has been with the company since 2021, was previously managing director at Voith in Heidenheim, Germany. He commented, “Our common goal in the management board is to continue Troester’s success story and lead the company into new dimensions.” dent of the association for a one-year term that commenced on 1 January. Mr Blais will chair the board of directors of the 94-year-old association, which is headquartered in Madison, Connecticut, USA. Mr Blais is North America engineering and Canada manu- facturing utilities vice president for Prysmian Group, where he has worked since 1987. He is based at the company’s headquarters in Highland Heights, Kentucky, USA, and is responsible for the engineering across the North America manufacturing sites as well as leading the activities of the four Canadian manufacturing facilities. Having been a WAI member since 2011, Mr Blais joined the board of directors in 2018 and the executive committee in 2019. He was the co-chair of the 2022 conference programming committee, and was previously a member of the Interwire Industry 4.0 task force and the finance committee. He holds a BS degree in mechanical engineering from Sherbrooke University, Quebec, Canada. Commenting on his appointment, Mr Blais said, “The WAI continues to be the place where members and industry professionals come to find the latest information and educational material related to wire and cable. I look forward to leading the association on a journey to continuously improve its offerings to better support the needs of our members and industry professionals.” The Wire Association International is governed by a network of volunteers from around the world. Joining Mr Blais for the 2024 term are members of the association’s 2024 executive committee: first vice president Eric Bieberich (Fort Wayne Wire Die); second vice president David Fisher (James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp); Rebecca Cranford (Southwire Co); and immediate past president Kurt F Breischaft (SDI La Farga Copperworks). The Wire Association International, Inc www.wirenet.org

New VP of sales and marketing at Bergandi Bergandi Machinery has appointed Joe Penrod as VP of sales and marketing.

Joe Penrod

Mr Penrod has 20 years’ experience in the building products industry, starting in rebar and agricultural metals at Georgia Pacific and most recently leading product management and marketing at Alta Forest Products, the world’s largest producer of western red cedar fencing. Bergandi Machinery www.bergandi.com

(from left) Bernd Pielsticker, Dr Peter Schmidt and Thomas Holzer

Dr Schmidt will continue to actively support the company in his role as managing partner and CFO. Bernd Pielsticker will continue to manage the operational business as chief operating officer (COO). The company says that his expertise and skills will continue to make a significant contribution to Troester’s stability, efficiency and performance. Troester GmbH & Co KG www.troester.de

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March 2024