Southwire Co., Carrollton, Ga., has agreed to purchase certain assets of American Insulated Wire Corp. (AIW), a subsidiary of Leviton Manufacturing Co. Inc., Melville, N.Y., that's well known in the electrical industry as a manufacturer of portable cord, cordsets, electronic wire and cable and other cabling products. Last week's NAED Western Conference in San Diego was buzzing with rumors of the acquisition.
Southwire will acquire the AIW brands and two manufacturing facilities in Douglas, Ga., and Coffeyville, Kan., both of which produce a variety of electrical wire and cable products for the commercial, industrial, retail and OEM markets. The purchase of AIW, which is now based in Mansfield, Mass., but for years was headquartered in Pawtucket, R.I., is expected to close by the end of February.
“Acquiring AIW will allow us to diversify our product offering while continuing to strengthen our position in our core copper building wire business,” said Stuart Thorn, Southwire CEO.
Leviton acquired AIW in 1936. Donald J. Hendler, Leviton President and CEO, said the company no longer fit into Leviton's shift toward “more value-added systems and solutions.”