About Rea Magnet Wire
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Powering What's Next with Excellence
Rea Magnet Wire has a rich heritage of innovation and a commitment to setting the highest industry standards, empowering us to power what’s next. Alongside advancements in magnet wire technology, our company has grown through an unwavering dedication to integrity, exceptional service, and responsiveness to our customers. Today, we remain privately owned and are guided by a leadership team that fosters open communication, career growth, diversity, and corporate responsibility, ensuring that we continue to lead the way in shaping the future of our industry.
A Historical Timeline of Innovation and Growth
Today
- Rea currently employs over 900 people worldwide who are focused on providing exceptional products and service.
2024
- Rea expands the Lafayette, Indiana plant to serve the growing North American electric vehicle and energy markets.
2023
- Rea is aquired by Elektrisola, a privately-held company based in Germany. Founded in 1948, Elektrisola operates 19 plants in 7 countries with 43 sales offices in 25 countries.
2023
- Rea divests from Tongling Jingda joint venture.
2018
- Rea introduces NanoMax – the best inverter duty wire on the market for the most challenging, high-efficiency, high-speed, and variable-speed motor applications. NanoMax leads in efficiency, scrape resistance, and varnish compatibility.
2014
- Rea introduces NanoShield, which is used in critical applications including US Department of Energy (DOE) standards for premium efficiency motors.
2013
- Jim Vann, Rea Chairman of the Board, wins ANKH Award from The Copper Club.
2008
- Rea closes Las Cruces, New Mexico facility.
2006
- Rea purchases the assets of Phelps Dodge Magnet Wire Company, with plants in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and Monterrey, Mexico.
2003
- Rea acquires Southwire Specialty Products Division (SSP), located in Osceola, Arkansas.
2002
- Rea forms a joint venture with Tongling Jingda of China, China’s largest magnet wire producer, and opens its first facility in Nantai, China.
2001
- Rea purchases Hanover Manufacturing in Ashland, Virginia, from Alcoa.
1998
- Rea constructs a state-of-the-art magnet wire facility in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
1997
- Rea introduces Pulseshield, which is resistant to voltage stresses generated by high-frequency, fast-rise time and voltage spikes typically introduced by IGBT-type inverters.
1994
- Magnexflex is introduced, featuring aluminum conductors insulated with a high-temperature engineered resin; the new enameled polymer coatings have been very successful in transformer applications.
1993
- Rea streamlines operations, selling Texas Magnet Wire and the Laurinburg plant and closing the Adams Center Road facility.
1988
- Rea joins forces with Fujikura Ltd. and acquires Texas Magnet Wire Co. based in El Paso, Texas. Rea Magnet Wire Company becomes a global organization with three brands: Rea Magnet Wire, Rea Engineered Wire Products, and Algonquin Industries.
1986
- Buena Vista, Virginia plant is closed.
1985
- Alcoa sells Rea, Algonquin, and PEP Industries to RMG, a new company chaired by Bob Rea and funded by Allen & Company. It introduces Super Hyslik wire for electric motors, increasing reliability and abrasion resistance.
1984
- Rea Magnet Wire sets a new record with $100 million in sales.
1983
- Rea purchases Algonquin Industries of Guilford, Connecticut.
1981
- Special Products Group is formed focusing on wire products other than film-insulated wire, such as high-temperature wire, magnet wire handling tools, and re-spooling equipment.
1975
- Rea diversifies into wire-related products by purchasing Dixie Wire and Professional Electrical Products (PEP) of Nashville, Tennessee.
1974
- Rea purchases General Cable Corporation’s Buena Vista, Virginia plant.
1965-67
- Lafayette plant expansions occur.
1962
- Rea opens a second facility in Fort Wayne at Adams Center Road.
1960
- Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) purchases Rea Magnet Wire, ending the Rea family’s tenure at the helm.
1959
- Rea constructs its first manufacturing plant outside Fort Wayne, a 100,000-square-foot facility in Lafayette, Indiana.
1954
- Samuel Rea is elected president of Rea and begins emphasizing advancements in Engineering, Research, and Development.
1941
- Rea manufacturing provides critical support to WWII effort, operating continuously.
1935
- Rea reaches a production milestone of 10,000 pounds of Single-B Silk enameled wire on three-inch spools.
1933
- Victor Rea forms Rea Magnet Wire, leasing the Woodward Engineering Building in Fort Wayne to produce wire for the Rea Magnet Wire Corporation. Rea becomes the first independent producer of enameled wire in the country.
1929
- Victor Rea is named Works Manager of Dudlo.
1927
- Dudlo is part of a $50 million merger with several other wire and cable companies. The result of the merger is named the General Cable Corporation.
1907
- George A. Jacobs invented an insulating process that allows copper wire to be manufactured in extremely fine gauges, contributing to the development of high-speed electric motors. He formed the Dudlo Company.
Rea Wire Magnet Team
At Rea, we’ve carefully built an exceptional team with a focus on long-term vision. Our founders established a culture of stability, innovation, and corporate responsibility, values that our team members embody every day. This commitment makes Rea an outstanding place for career growth. See firsthand how our principles drive our success.
Start Your Career Here
Are you a dedicated worker with strong integrity who sees opportunities in challenges? If so, Rea could be the perfect place for your skills and character to thrive. Explore our current job openings to see where you might fit.
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Featured News
Please join us in welcoming Chris Billingsley to Rea Magnet Wire Company as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Chris comes to Rea with more than 20 years of manufacturing, engineering, and leadership experience. Most recently, he was Vice President/General Manager of Zip-Pak, an Illinois Tool Works Company in Carol Stream, Illinois. Prior to this, he held increasingly responsible positions over 12 years with James Hardie Building Products including ...
MagneFlex Expansion at Lafayette Plant
Rea began producing MagneFlex with its acquisition of the Ashland, Virginia, plant in 2001. The Ashland plant currently has multiple insulating lines and rewind lines and was Rea’s only manufacturing location for MagneFlex until the Lafayette, Indiana, plant installed and started up its first line in 2018. Due to increasing ...
Rea’s 90th Anniversary
What an accomplishment! Victor Rea would be so proud of how we have taken care of his legacy for the past 90 years. While our vision, mission, and strategies have evolved throughout the years to focus on the success of our customers, we have tried to stay true to his ...
