Nexans North America, founded on February 11, 1911, as Canada Wire & Cable, began operations by supplying power cables to the hydropower market in Ontario. Today, Nexans has 11 facilities and more than 1500 employees throughout North America.

Products offered by the company also expanded and by 1920, it came to include building wire, weatherproof wires, and bare rectangular copper wire. The company eventually acquired several rubber mills and, by 1931, a copper rod mill, still operating today in Montreal East, Que.

“Not many companies make it to 100 years, and those that do all have the same characteristics: the ability to innovate and provide relevant products, a focus on customer service, operational excellence, and most importantly, exceptional people,” said Steve Hall, president. “We are proud of our 100 year history, but we are already focused on our next 100 years.”

In recognition of its 100th anniversary, Nexans has created the Nexans CONNECTS program for community outreach and support.

“…Under Nexans CONNECTS we are expanding our capabilities for outreach. Partnering with respected organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, our employees can participate in organized service programs,” said Carlos Sanchez, vice president, EWD & Human Resources.

The program also establishes several scholarship opportunities for the families of Nexans North America employees.

CLICK HERE for Nexans North America – Canadian site

CLICK HERE for Nexans North America 100th anniversary information.

Check out this timeline:

• February 11, 1911 – Canada Wire is founded in Toronto, Ont., manufacturing types of electrical cables and steel rope wires. 
• 1931 – Montreal, Que. – Canada Wire opens its copper rod mill in Montreal to fill the Toronto plant requirements and supply large quantities of wire to the U.S. market. 
• 1945 – Chester Cable Corporation is founded in Chester, N.Y., primarily as a building wire manufacturer servicing the local market. 
• 1956 – Weyburn, Sask., plant opens as Western Wire & Cable. 
• 1950s-1960s – Canada Wire opens sales and manufacturing locations across Canada.
• May 1, 1961 – Berkshire Technical Products (Berk-Tek) is founded by Joseph L. Boscov in Reading, Pa.
• 1965 – Fergus, Ont., – facility construction is begun as a joint venture between Canada Wire and Cable and Essex Wire. Construction is completed in 1966. The operation is called Fergus Cables Ltd.
• 1967 – Chester purchases a planetary cabler, enabling the manufacture of flexible and specialty cables, expanding the product line to better service the market.
• 1968 – Canada Wire and Cable buys out Essex’s share of Fergus Cables and forms a subsidiary company called Canwireco Ltd.  
• 1971 – Weyburn plant purchased by Canada Wire. After a serious plant fire, the facility was moved to its current location.
• 1986 – Berk-Tek begins to manufacture fiber optic cable.
• October 1988 – Milton, Ont., – Distribution facility opens.  
• 1990 – The Valley Group is founded in Ridgefield, Conn.
• 1991 – Canada Wire is purchased by Alcatel. All North American facilities begin to operate under the name of Alcatel Canada Wire.  
• 1991-1992 – Weyburn plant undergoes major restructuring and expansion of 36,000 square feet. Plant is refocused to produce power cables.  
• 1993 – Berk-Tek purchased by Alcatel and becomes part of Alcatel Canada Wire, but operates under the name Berk-Tek, an Alcatel company. 
• 1996 – Weyburn undergoes major expansion. Nexans North America headquarters moves to Markham, Ont.
• 2000 – Weyburn undergoes another expansion of 44,000 sf.  
• 2001 – Nexans is created  when Alcatel announces IPO of Cables Division.
• July 2006 – Newburgh, N.Y., – Distribution facility opens. 
• January 2007 – The Valley Group is acquired by Nexans.   
• February 11, 2011 – Nexans North America celebrates 100 years of service to its customers.