Innovative Utility Solutions | Southwire Utility Product Innovation

Innovating for Grid Modernization

Since 1950, Southwire has been at the forefront of utility innovation—developing products and technologies that strengthen transmission and distribution systems from the grid of yesterday to the grid of tomorrow.

Innovation Center of Excellence

D.B. Cofer Technology Center

At the D.B. Cofer Technology Center, we’re driving the next generation of utility innovation. Established in 1992 and named for D.B. “Pete” Cofer—Southwire’s first chief engineer—the 50,000 square foot center is the core of our research and development efforts. For more than three decades, it has served as a hub for advanced engineering, applied research, and practical solutions that power progress across the utility industry. Here, innovation meets real-world application—transforming customer challenges into practical, high-performance solutions that strengthen and modernize the grid.

World-Class Testing and Laboratory Capabilities

Our on-site laboratories perform comprehensive testing to meet or exceed industry standards, including those set by the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies (AEIC) and the Insulated Cable Engineers Association (ICEA).
Cofer Center testing ensures every Southwire product meets or exceeds the most rigorous performance and safety benchmarks, including:

ANSI/ICEA S-94-649 for concentric neutral cables
ANSI/ICEA S-97-682 for shielded cables using copper tape, longitudinally corrugated tape, or drain wire shields
AEIC CS8 for extruded dielectric shielded power cables

In addition, the Cofer Center features:

Flame testing facilities
A complete mechanical testing lab
A world-class metallurgy lab for chemical and physical material analysis
Specialized insulation labs for blending, analyzing, and testing both existing and new cable insulation compounds

Together, these capabilities ensure Southwire’s utility products deliver proven reliability, safety, and performance—from concept to field deployment.

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HS285^® Overhead Conductor

Engineered for modern grid demands, HS285^® is the industry’s leading high-temperature, low-sag conductor—delivering up to 21% more strength than standard ACSS for increased line capacity and reduced sag.

C^7® Overhead Conductor

Our innovative C^7® overhead conductor features a unique stranded composite core that delivers unmatched strength in extreme conditions—and it’s the only composite core conductor engineered by a conductor manufacturer, designed with a full understanding of utility needs.

Max Storm™ Overhead Conductor

Built to perform in severe weather, Max Storm™ has half the diameter of comparable ACSR conductors, reducing ice buildup, sag, and weight on transmission towers. A higher aluminum packing factor also minimizes wind resistance, improving reliability and efficiency in storm-prone regions.

VR2^® Vibration Resistant Conductor

Thanks to its unique dual conductor, spiral design, the VR2^® conductor delivers superior vibration and galloping resistance—without installation delays caused by bagging issues.

Proof Positive^® Products

Proof Positive^® is Southwire’s patented, traceable solution to copper theft—the only product of its kind on the market. Available in copper and copper-clad steel, each cable features a unique TraceID™ code printed every foot, creating a permanent “fingerprint” for verifying ownership and deterring theft.

PowerGlide^® 600VUD

Engineered with Glide Wire™ technology, PowerGlide^® 600VUD cable pulls smoothly through ducts with significantly less force—reducing installation friction and maintaining bundle integrity.

SIMpull^® Cable-in-Conduit

Southwire is the only product supplier that manufactures cable and conduit, providing a trusted solution that enables safer, faster, and more profitable installations, customized to meet each project’s unique needs.

SureSeal^® Self-Sealing Cable

Featuring a visco-elastic insulating material that automatically flows into insulation breaks to seal out moisture and prevent failures, SureSeal^® cables ensure longer cable life and greater system reliability.

PowerGlide^® MV

Designed for maximum efficiency, PowerGlide^® MV features an enhanced low-friction jacket that allows cables to slide easily through ductwork—enabling longer pulls or pushes with minimal or no lubricant required.

HPFF RetroFit Solution

A proven and cost-effective alternative for aging high-pressure fluid-filled (HPFF) systems—the retrofit solution helps utilities extend system life, eliminates the need for dialetric fluid, and utilizes their existing infrastructure to avoid the challenges of a complete replacement.