D.B. Cofer Technology Center
Since its opening in 1992, the D.B. Cofer Technology Center, named for D.B. "Pete" Cofer, Southwire's first chief engineer, has been a premier source for answers to difficult application questions and value-add research.
Southwire’s Cofer Center is a dedicated 50,000 square foot on-site research and development center staffed with industry experts including metallurgists, polymer chemists, and process and applications engineers. In this environment, the link between real-world customer needs and truly innovative – and practical – solutions starts with advanced research.
World-Class Testing and Laboratory Operations Ensure Quality
Cofer Center labs are equipped to conduct industry-accepted qualification testing to standards set by the Association of Edison Illuminating Companies (AEIC) and the Insulated Cable Engineers Association (ICEA).
Cofer Center testing helps ensure that new and existing Southwire products reliably meet or exceed the requirements of ANSI/ICEA S-94-649 for concentric neutral cables, ANSI/ICEA S-97-682 for cables that use copper tape shields, longitudinally corrugated tape, or drain wire shields, and the AEIC supplement, CS8. Cofer Center capabilities include flame testing facilities, a complete mechanical testing facility, and a world-class metallurgy lab for chemical and physical analysis of materials. Cofer Center insulation experts blend, analyze, and test existing and new cable insulation compounds.
