Kraków 2025 Technical Conference Delivers Global Insight and Industry Momentum

The Wire & Cable Kraków 2025 International Technical Conference – held on 14 October at the Holiday Inn Kraków City Centre – was a standout moment in this year’s calendar, bringing together technical leaders, researchers, and manufacturers from across the globe. The conference underlined IWMA’s core mission: to promote collaboration, technical excellence, and global connectivity across the wire-and-cable industry.

 

A Strong International Turnout

With over 180 industry professionals in attendance, Kraków 2025 clearly demonstrated strong international interest across both ferrous and non-ferrous sectors.
The event was co-organised by IWMA alongside The Wire Association International (WAI), ACIMAF and AGH University of Kraków – reflecting a fruitful multilateral partnership for industry advancement.

“I was proud to see such a strong international turnout … with expert speakers and engaged delegates driving meaningful discussions,” said IWMA Chairman Willibert Dautzenberg. “Events like this highlight IWMA’s role in connecting expertise and supporting technical excellence worldwide.”

 

A Rich Technical Programme — Ferrous and Non-Ferrous Tracks

The conference delivered a deep and wide-ranging technical programme. Delegates could choose between two parallel tracks – ferrous or non-ferrous – covering topics from advanced drawing-die geometry and steel-cord production to sustainable lubricants for copper-wire drawing, AI-driven process optimisation, and digital inspection solutions for high-voltage cable manufacturing.

Speakers came from a diverse set of leading companies and academic institutions – among them Tata Steel, Bekaert, Hyperion Materials & Technologies, TKT Group / Feralpi Group, WiTechs, Metalube Group, and AGH University – underscoring the broad technical depth and global scope of the event.

 

Market Context & Strategic Insight

Industry-wide analysts presented market forecasts shaped by short-term headwinds and long-term structural opportunities – notably, expansion driven by electrification, renewable energy build-outs, data-centre growth and defence investments, despite some slowdown in key markets such as China.

Within Europe, the current climate reflects weaker construction and manufacturing activity, but there is optimism for a rebound in 2026 — particularly for steel wire-rod producers. The projected improvements are expected to be supported by more stable macroeconomic conditions and regulatory developments such as the EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).

As echoed by participants at the conference, the shift toward electrification, renewables, and grid-expansion is “redefining our sector.”

 

IWMA’s Role: Facilitating Collaboration, Innovation and Technical Excellence

Kraków 2025 was more than a single industry gathering – it was a powerful demonstration of what collaboration among associations, academia, manufacturers and suppliers can achieve. By partnering with WAI, ACIMAF and AGH University of Kraków, IWMA helped to bring together a broad coalition of stakeholders to exchange knowledge, explore innovations, and shape the future of wire and cable production.

As IWMA Executive Manager Jessica Bennett observed: “I was proud to see such a strong international turnout … with expert speakers and engaged delegates driving meaningful discussions.” She added that “events like this highlight IWMA’s role in connecting expertise and supporting technical excellence worldwide.”

 

Why Inter-Association Collaboration Matters – More Than Ever

Inter-association collaboration – such as that between IWMA, WAI, ACIMAF and AGH University – is not just a nice-to-have; it is essential. When associations combine their strengths, they provide members with access to a broader pool of technical expertise, geographic reach, and industry insight. Trade associations working together can achieve more rapid dissemination of best practices, coordinate standards, and present a unified voice on policy, regulation, and innovation.

For members, this means shared resources, shared knowledge, wider networking opportunities, and a larger collective influence when engaging with regulators, customers, or supply-chain partners. For the industry as a whole, strong collaboration between associations helps facilitate technological progress, harmonise standards, and support sustainable growth even amid global economic or regulatory shifts, exactly the kind of resilience and agility the 2025 Kraków conference demonstrated.

 

Looking Ahead: Continuing the Momentum

As Kraków 2025 concluded on a high note, participants praised its rich technical content, cooperative spirit, and networking opportunities. The event has left the global wire and cable community eagerly anticipating the next edition.

For IWMA, the message is clear: by leading and supporting such gatherings, and by working hand in hand with peer associations and academic partners, we strengthen our industry through collaboration, shared innovation and sustained growth. As Willibert Dautzenberg said: Kraków was not just a meeting – it was a sign of what we can achieve when the global industry comes together with purpose and vision.