Carrollton, GA, March 18, 2010 -- The Marketing Roundtable of Georgia State University voted Southwire Company's Proof Positive Copper with Trace ID Technology the Grand Winner for the 18th Annual Marketing Awards for Excellence (MAX Awards) announced Friday, February 26. The MAX Awards, presented by GSU's Robinson College of Business Department of Marketing and the Atlanta Business Chronicle, honor eight outstanding product innovations developed or launched by Georgia companies in 2009.
Southwire Company's Proof Positive Copper with Trace ID Technology is an identifiable and traceable bare copper product designed to provide proof of ownership to utilities and recyclers struggling with copper stolen from substations and warehouses. “In talking with our customers, we determined that the traceability of stolen copper to prove ownership is the key element needed for prosecution,” says Carol Godfrey, Vice President of Southwire's Energy Division. “We designed the entire product to meet the needs of utilities, recyclers and prosecutors.”
Proof Positive Copper also provides long-term theft deterrence through its recognizable outer stranding. Visual identification is important to alerting recyclers to track what has likely been stolen. As word of the prosecution-friendly product makes it way to thieves, it deters them as well.
During initial testing at a Georgia Power substation in Atlanta in early 2009, the copper was actually stolen. Within two weeks, the thieves tried to recycle it. Employees at Schnitzer Southeast, the recycler, were able to identify the product, confirm the rightful utility owner, and notify law enforcement. “Just three weeks after the installation of Proof Positive Copper, three thieves were in jail awaiting trial on felony charges,” Godfrey states. “Georgia Power even reported a drop in theft for a period following the arrests. You can't ask for better success than that.”
“We at Georgia Power were certainly pleased with the results from the initial tests of Southwire's new copper wire,” noted Philip Peacock, Security investigations supervisor. “We believe this can be a good asset for us and we look forward to other opportunities to partner with Southwire in the future.”
Southwire currently manufactures Proof Positive Copper in bare copper sizes #2 through 4/0 with 7-strand and 19-strand configurations. To request a sample or to learn more about the offering, visit www.southwire.com/proofpositive.
About Southwire Company
A technology leader for over 59 years, Southwire Company is the leading wire and cable producer in North America. Southwire manufactures utility cable products including overhead and underground transmission and distribution cable, building wire and cable, industrial power cable, copper and aluminum rod, and continuous-casting rod technology. For more information about Southwire products, services, and technical resources please visit www.southwire.com.
