Cubit Wire and Cable Company Inc.

 After the American Electric Cable Company ended operations in 2003, the machinery and equipment were purchased by a new corporation, the Cubit Wire and Cable Company, which began operating in 2004. 

The former corporation's commercial real estate holdings were sold to American Wire of New England, LLC, on January 22, 2004. This was a related entity to Cubit Wire and Cable Company Inc.

With the assistance of a loan from the Western Mass. Enterprise Fund, which assisted small businesses and entrepreneurs, Chicopee's Raul Hernandez bought the assets of the defunct American Electric Cable Company, and tripled employment in the first year. 

Mr. Hernandez was a native of Havana, Cuba, who came to the United States at age 13. He moved his family from Florida to Chicopee, where he maintained his residence. He was an electrical and electronic engineer who was once a partner in R. J. Wire in Florida. His initial intention was to move Cubit Wire and Cable Company to Florida. However, he discovered this area was rich in talented and dedicated employees, so he decided to stay in Holyoke. The city of Holyoke also offered tax incentives to encourage businesses to remain.

By 2007, the business was growing. Cubit Wire and Cable Company was honored as the small business of the year. The company produced custom cable to meet its customers' needs. Three floors of the building were in production, and he hired four workers for a second shift. Sales in 2007 were $3.7 million, and he hoped this would reach $4.5 million in 2008. He was looking for $300,000 in financing to construct a steel-fabricated building expansion.

A change in business practice from his predecessors was to use distributors, in addition to dealing directly with manufacturers, throughout the U. S., Canada, and Mexico.

The business used half a million pounds of copper during 2007. One of the challenges was the volatility of copper prices, which affected production costs. Like many other businesses, cash flow was a constant source of concern. Shipping to customers resulted in a thirty-day turnaround to get paid, while employees and other bills needed to be paid in the meantime.

The company had its struggles moving forward. On April 25, 2013, an auction was held to sell the business's assets, including real estate.

Citations:

Newspapers.com (paid subscription): Citations: Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican; Hartford (Connecticut) Courant; publication dates and pages are shown.