PDIC has 10 production plants in Central and South America, sub-Saharan Africa, and in the Asia/Pacific region. The company manufactures a broad range of cable products ranging from bare copper and aluminium cables, building wire, special cables for mines, etc., to medium- and high-voltage cables. Its geographical location in copper- and -aluminium producing countries means it can buy metals at exceptionally competitive prices. In 2006, PDIC had a turnover of 1,200 million dollars and a workforce of 3,000.

PDIC is a very profitable company with high productivity, a firmly established use of Lean techniques throughout the organisation, and extremely high levels of safety. It has a permanent commercial presence in 19 countries. The Phelps Dodge brand is well-known and respected internationally and the company has a history of over 50 years on the cable market. 

Phelps Dodge geographical area of operations is complementary to General Cable’s and the only country in which they coincide is Brazil. The integration of both companies will lead to significant synergies in sales, logistics and purchasing and will also prompt the sharing of the best production practices of each.

The current members of PDIC’s executive team will continue in their posts and report directly to General Cable Corporation Chairman and CEO, Gregory B. Kenny. The Chairman of PDIC, Mathias Sandoval, has an extensive 24-year track record in the sector and thorough knowledge of the markets in which PDIC has interests. His integration into General Cable executive team also greatly strengthens the Company.     

With this acquisition, General Cable Corporation is now one of the world’s three largest companies in its sector, is spreading its international presence evenly and increasing its involvement in countries with a high potential for development and costs that are competitive on a world scale. The extensive commercial network of Phelps Dodge will also facilitate the export of special products from General Cable’s plants in Europe.

The combination of General Cable and PDIC business will give rise to a company with 44% of its sales in the North American sector, 27% in Europe and the Middle East, 15% in Central and South America, and 14% in Africa and the Asia/Pacific region.

Regarding the operation, General Cable Chairman and CEO, Gregory B. Kenny, stated that “the acquisition of PDIC is a really unique opportunity that will enable us to speed up the expansion of General Cable on the world’s main emerging markets”. He also pointed out that PDIC “shares many of the characteristic features of General Cable such as emphasis on safety, Lean procedure-based manufacturing and the philosophy of being a sole supplier, able to cover all customer needs”.