Energy, information exchange marked Wire Expo’s favorable return to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, May 6-7
The Wire Association International Inc. (WAI) reports energy, enthusiasm, and many highlights following the staging of its biennial Wire Expo Operation Summit & Exhibits held May 6-7, 2026, at the Baird Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. The event, co-located with the Wiring Harness Manufacturer’s Association (WHMA)/Global Electronics Association’s Electrical Wire Processing Technology Expo (EWPTE), enabled visitors to have free, reciprocal entry to the adjacent show.
WAI welcomed 1,045 visitors from 44 U.S. states and 21 countries including 271 visitors who crossed over from the EWPTE show. Attendees from 105 manufacturing facilities were represented. 150 companies exhibited this year.
The WAI conference program, which was organized under this year’s theme: “Accelerating Progress Together – Where wire, innovation & industry connect,” featured 24 speakers who presented a compelling selection of topics at the WAI Theater within the exhibit hall. This new format provided visitors with immediate access to educational presentations, exhibits, production solutions demonstrations, a view of the downstream end-use market in the neighboring hall, and boundless opportunities to explore new manufacturing technologies.
WAI’s 2026 President David M. Fisher said “Co-locating with the Wire Processing show was a definite WIN for Wire Expo 2026. With attendees being able to see both shows, as well as having all our presentations and awards on the show floor kept everyone engaged together to network and share ideas in one place. I want to thank the staff, vendors, and sponsors for making Wire Expo 2026 a great success. A special thanks to Charter Steel for graciously hosting the plant tour in a beautiful city.”
During its 96th Annual Meeting WAI bestowed its highest honors on the following four award winners. Mordica Memorial Award: Kiran Manchiraju, Southwire Company; Donnellan Memorial Award: James (Jim) York, Insteel Industries; President’s Award: Marco Gerardo, MFL Group; and the WAI Champion Award: John W. Mellowes, Charter Manufacturing.
Wire Expo highlights included:
• The pre-show Fundamentals of wire manufacturing course attended by 97 people;
• Keynote speaker John W. Mellowes, CEO & Owner, Charter Manufacturing Company, Inc., who presented: “Charter Steel: Built on Partnership - Navigating the Complexities of Today’s Steel Market”;
• Keynote speaker Dr. John Sviokla, who presented: “The Next Productivity Curve: Where AI Creates Value in Industrial Settings”;
• A Welcome Reception at the Baird Center Ballroom and Sky View Terrace, sponsored by Southwire Company, that hosted more than 300 people; and
• The Advanced Extrusion Workshop.
New additions this year included:
• Charter Steel Plant Tour;
• The Wire Association Social Hour, sponsored by James Monroe Wire & Cable Corp. and Lloyd & Bouvier Inc.;
• The Young Professionals Outing; and
• An electric bike giveaway.
The last time the biennial Wire Expo was held in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was in 2010; the next staging of Wire Expo will
be in June 2028.
WAI, founded in 1930, is a not-for-profit association with 1700 individual members in 38 countries and Wire Journal International subscribers in 94 countries. The association serves the educational needs of the wire and cable manufacturing industry through a variety of products and services. WAI manages the Interwire Conference & Trade Exhibition and Wire Expo;it publishes the Wire Journal International and the Wire Journal International Reference Guide.
